Verizon to hike prices, but boost data caps & perks to match competition

Verizon will soon raise the prices on all of its standard plans, but with the tradeoff of higher data caps and various other perks, according to a report.

The carrier's "S" plan will jump $5 to $35 per month, but double data from 1 to 2 gigabytes, a CNET source explained. The "M" plan's cost should rise by the same amount to $50, growing data from 3 to 4 gigabytes.

Price hikes will allegedly be more severe on upper tiers, beginning with the "L" plan costing $10 more per month at $70, with data increased from 6 to 8 gigabytes. The "XL" option will go up $10 to $90, seeing data improved from 12 gigabytes to 16.

The top-end "XXL" plan will likewise increase by $10 to $110, but come with 24 gigabytes of data versus 18.

On top of better caps, Verizon is expected to launch "Carryover Data," finally allowing customers to rollover unused data to following months. AT&T and T-Mobile have had similar plans in place for well over a year.

Subscribers to Verizon's XL and XXL plans should meanwhile get unlimited calls from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico, and the ability to use their normal plan limits when traveling to those countries. They will also have access to a "safety mode," which cuts out the chance of overage fees but with throttled data speeds once their monthly limit is hit.

People on plans below the XL threshold will supposedly have to pay $5 for safety mode, and may also be expected to pay for North American roaming benefits. Versions of both perks are included by default with T-Mobile's Simple Choice plans — AT&T and Sprint have their own roaming benefits, but more restricted.

Existing Verizon customers will get to keep their current plans unless they choose to switch. It's not clear when the new tiers will launch, but Verizon has said it will make some form of announcement later this week.