Verizon to drop subsidized phone pricing in new plans coming August 13

Beginning August 13, new customers will pay $30 per month for 1 gigabyte of shared data, $45 for 3 gigabytes, $60 for 6 gigabytes, or $80 per month for 12 gigabytes. Device access fees will be $20 for a smartphone, $10 for a tablet or wireless hotspot, and $5 for any other "connected device," such as a cellular-equipped smartwatch.

Up to 10 devices will be able to share the same plan. For each gigabyte over a plan's limit, however, people will have to pay $15.

In place of subsidies, subscribers will either have to buy a device outright or add two-year financing. In the case of the latter, fees will vary based on device cost.

People already with Verizon will be able to retain their existing subscriptions, or switch to one of the new ones. There may be "some restrictions" on keeping current plans, according to Verizon, but the carrier didn't elaborate.

The decision to jettison subsidies also does away with the Edge upgrade program, and follows in the steps of T-Mobile. While subsidies are useful in attracting customers, carriers often lose money on the initial device sale, and customers end up being locked into a contract that can only be escaped with an early termination fee.