Verizon Wireless announces $30 unlimited browsing plan for smartphones

Verizon Wireless has been slow to catch up with the smartphone data access plans offered by competing carriers, with premium prices and some confusing options, but things are taking a real turn for the better. The new "E-mail and Web for Smartphone" plan goes for a mere $30 a month when paired with a qualifying voice plan, and is available with the SMT5800, XV6800 and the MOTO Q9m, with other devices to hop on board in the coming months. Verizon's press release is very careful to tout unlimited email and web browsing, not data, and we have a feeling Verizon will be clamping down pretty hard on anybody trying to tether with this plan.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[PS3guy @ Apr 14th 2008 12:49PM]

No thanks I got Wifi.

[Derek @ Apr 14th 2008 12:43PM]

so i wont be able to get this on my aging vx6700?

[periks19 @ Apr 14th 2008 12:53PM]

Is to much sprint still is 15 a month for unlimited data on any device.

[GTMac @ Apr 15th 2008 12:49PM]

Yes, but it's Sprint.

[Erwos @ Apr 14th 2008 1:07PM]

Yes, it's Sprint... who has the best data network, hands-down.

Plus, if you add data to a second line, it's only $12.50.

[sjdurfey @ Apr 14th 2008 3:58PM]

my friend's dad pays $10 per month for an unlimited data plan with his blackberry from AT&T. Why does verizon feel the need to rip off its customers?

[THizzle7XU @ Apr 14th 2008 7:56PM]

Ya, so my AT&T Blackjack gets 3G unlimited data for only $20 a month and it can be tethered to any PC with a USB port. Nice Verizon, way to be competitive.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 14th 2008 1:07PM]

somehow, phone companies convinced the public that they should be paying $49.99 and up for data plans - even when you pay around the same amount for Cable.


I pay just $29 a month for FIOS.

I could never take out a $49.99^ data plan without feeling ripped off.

[Cubscouldlose @ Apr 14th 2008 2:06PM]

I use my Sprint CDMA card everywhere including home. Saved my ass a few times. Would never be without it now(like cell phone). For $49.99 /month its money well spent.

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Apr 14th 2008 1:08PM]

Whoa, what a deal... NOT. That's the cost of Sprint's 500 minutes SERO plan, which includes unlimited SMS and unlimited data.

[Nate @ Apr 14th 2008 1:11PM]

Who cares? SERO plans are unadvertised and aren't available to everyone.

[melloncollie @ Apr 14th 2008 1:26PM]

Ohoho,
but they are available to everyone.
I'm paying $57 a month for 1250 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text messages, unlimited nights and weekends starting at 7, and total equipment protection under a SERO plan. I don't even have distant family or friends that work for Sprint.

[Nate @ Apr 14th 2008 1:48PM]

You're missing the point. SERO isn't offered in all regions, regardless of how many Sprint employees you know.

[Nate @ Apr 14th 2008 1:51PM]

... or don't know, for that matter.

[Jordan K @ Apr 14th 2008 4:16PM]

does verizon have any program like SERO?

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Apr 14th 2008 5:20PM]

If SERO is not available in your area: http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/SPRINT_SERO#Help.21_It_says_SERO_is_not_available_in_my_area.2C_Now_what_do_I_do.3F

[Nate @ Apr 14th 2008 10:19PM]

I'm well aware of the hoops that can be jumped through to get a SERO plan if you're out of area.

The average user isn't going to go through the trouble to get this. Hell, I'm not what you would call an average user, and I'm not willing to do it.

This is not a viable solution. At the very least, it's pretty lame to use it as a comparison to advertised plans available to anyone who walks into any store across the country.

[Todd @ Apr 14th 2008 1:12PM]

( Tiny 4 point text at bottom )"....Unlimited restricted to 2 gigabytes a month...."

[Rollins @ Apr 14th 2008 1:27PM]

I'm guessing you're saying that jokingly, but I just want to make sure - it doesn't actually say that somewhere, does it?

[Mark @ Apr 14th 2008 1:12PM]

no tethering? that's bs.

[Rollins @ Apr 14th 2008 2:05PM]

That was meant to be a reply to Todd.

That's the first time I've ever had a comment not go where I meant it to - I wonder if I misclicked.

[Michael Chastain @ Apr 14th 2008 5:46PM]

The current Verizon mobile "unlimited" plan actually is limited to 5GB per month, so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a 2GB/mo. cap.

Before you trash on Verizon read the TOS of other providers. They're all pretty heinous, and have serious limitations whether or not they spell out a specific GB limit.

[Loker @ Apr 14th 2008 9:46PM]

Actually if you read over Sprint's TOS it reads almost exactly like a wireline providers TOS not a wireless providers....pretty much anything you can do on your home connection can be done on your Sprint connection and as much as you want to do it...

[fd @ Apr 14th 2008 1:14PM]

High time to lower the price on the 5GB "unlimited" wireless data plan (broadband access) for mobile devices. They updated the terms since I last looked, allowing for a few more uses, but $80 before fees and pre-tax is still too much.

[Ubuntu 7.10 WindowsXP @ Apr 14th 2008 1:13PM]

Every network has its downfalls. Its just some still think those downfalls are strengths, like this price.

[Phil @ Apr 14th 2008 1:19PM]

I have a business account and as is typical of Verizon Wireless, the guy tells me that I cannot use this new service with "Corporate E-mail" What a scam. I was advised that I could not use Wireless Sync with the account, while my phone, a 6800, works with wireless sync. Another useless offering from VZW with loads of preconditions that make the plan worthless!

[Nate @ Apr 14th 2008 1:50PM]

Useless to you doesn't mean useless to everyone else.

[Rollins @ Apr 14th 2008 1:20PM]

Well this is a step in the right direction. I was wondering when the hell their smartphone plans would finally match their BlackBerry plans.

[tartis99 @ Apr 14th 2008 1:26PM]

Sprint = $15 unlimited Smartphone data. I cannot leave Sprint at this price.

[Samurai Jack @ Apr 14th 2008 1:30PM]

That's OK... if they have too many quarters like the last couple Sprint will soon be leaving you.

[Dave @ Apr 14th 2008 1:58PM]

@Samurai Jack (and others who share SJ's sentiment):

You may be right, as there doesn't seem to be anything to be overjoyed about Sprint's performance as a company. Until then, I can't see the potential failure of Sprint as a company as any significant barrier to using them to save money now. It might be a bit of a pain if I managed cell phone plans for a company, but as an individual I just don't see this as a problem I have to deal with yet.

Somehow, I imagine Sprint would either get taken over or try the airlines' favorite: chapter 11. Someone wake me up when something like this happens, k?

[botrax @ Apr 14th 2008 1:32PM]

Good luck getting anything like this in Canada. That is fucked up.

[kalikahuna @ Apr 14th 2008 1:47PM]

all of these smartphone/pda data plans are a load of crap. You are basically paying extra each month for your pda phone to do what it is inherently capable of doing.

I've been using ATT/Cingular's MediaNet plan for like 4 yrs to get unlimited internet for 19.99. This worked for my qtek 9600, my blackjack and my treo 750 and I don't see why this wouldnt work for any other smartphone/pda. Even when they upgraded to 3G, I didnt change anything and I still got the boost to 3G speeds. It's practically criminal that they charge smartphone/PDA users 30-50/month just because those phones are more "computer" like than a cheaper clamshell or whatever.

[ZouZou146 @ Apr 14th 2008 2:12PM]

Just spoke to my corp. rep and Verizon never notified their sales force of the press release.

[Matt @ Apr 14th 2008 2:30PM]

Maybe I'm missing something there, but already with verizon we have:


BroadbandAccess Connect - 1st Month Free, $15/month thereafter
Turn your BlackBerry® or PDA/Smartphone into your wireless modem
5 GB($0.49/MB Overage) of data access for high-speed wireless Internet access! With BroadbandAccess Connect, connect to the Internet remotely using your device.

And right in the PDA / Smartphone / Blackberry Plans:

Data usage from within the National Enhanced Services and the Extended National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Areas.


The last data usage bit is only for e-mail...... so I'm failing to see where in the plans any of this isn't already covered / is cheaper. I have the standard blackberry plan + broadbandaccess connect and i've had no issues tethering.

[JP @ Apr 14th 2008 2:26PM]

Now if only they had a phone with a browser that didn't suck. I have the Q9m and canceled my data plan day 2 because I don't feel like trying navigate webpages with controls that are simply primitive...

[Niraj @ Apr 14th 2008 3:04PM]

It's running Windows Mobile, which means you have at least 3 or 4 alternative browser options, and most of them are free.

[Doug @ Apr 14th 2008 3:06PM]

Verizon is 1) overpriced and 2)unreliable for mobile downloads (thier service intercepts or blocks lots of content that it shouldn't).
I don't know why so many people use verizon when T-Mobile is only $20 for unlimited internet and they don't block your downloads.

[Jordan K @ Apr 14th 2008 4:05PM]

because t-mobile does not have the most reliable service in most areas

[sjdurfey @ Apr 14th 2008 4:03PM]

availability. only verizon works where i live.

[periks19 @ Apr 14th 2008 4:54PM]

Why would you pay 20 a month for unlimited data for tmobile when the internet is way slow compared to sprint $15 evdo or RevA if you get a mogul. I understand you probably like tmobile and happy with them anyone is free to choose what carrier they please but money saving wise for data sprint would be the best choice faster browsing and better data coverage than all only one that is comparable with Sprint is VZW but is way overpriced.

[Johan S @ Apr 14th 2008 3:44PM]

What's the point? Verizon doesn't have any phones with a decent browser/browsing experience.

[Michael Chastain @ Apr 14th 2008 5:50PM]

Speak for yourself. Opera 9 and Skyfire (both beta) are meeting my needs just fine.

[Hooterman @ Apr 14th 2008 3:56PM]

Probably a big noob question here, but can somebody explain to me this part

"Verizon's press release is very careful to tout unlimited email and web browsing, not data"

If I'm not planning on tethering my phone to my laptop at all, what limits does this new plan have that I would run into with just phone usage?

[Cagrino @ Apr 14th 2008 4:18PM]

Just don't do anything that will greatly exceed 2GB of data usage a month and you will be fine.

"Unlimited" does not mean "no limits" when you're talking corporate double speak. you have to read the fine print.

[Hooterman @ Apr 14th 2008 4:23PM]

So essentially think of this as a $30 2GB/month plan?

[Cagrino @ Apr 14th 2008 4:28PM]

You got it.

[Michael Chastain @ Apr 14th 2008 5:54PM]

Examples of prohibited usage include: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including continuous Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications that are broadcast to multiple servers or recipients such that they could enable “bots” or similar routines (as set forth in more detail in (iii) below) or otherwise denigrate network capacity or functionality; (ii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections; (iii) “auto-responders,” “cancel-bots,” or similar automated or manual routines that generate amounts of net traffic that could disrupt net user groups or e-mail use by others; (iv) generating “spam” or unsolicited commercial or bulk e-mail (or activities that facilitate the dissemination of such e-mail); (v) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other users or systems to use either Verizon Wireless’ services or the Internet-based resources of others, including the generation or dissemination of viruses, malware, or “denial of service” attacks; (vi) accessing, or attempting to access without authority, the information, accounts or devices of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, Verizon Wireless’ or another entity’s network or systems; or (vii) running software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer’s connection would otherwise be idle, or “keep alive” functions, unless they adhere to Verizon Wireless’ requirements for such usage, which may be changed from time to time. By way of example only, you may not use a Data Plan or Feature for web broadcasting, or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices.

http://b2b.vzw.com/broadband/bba_terms.html

[gabe @ Apr 14th 2008 3:58PM]

my tzones is only 5.99 - beat that.

[Chandler @ Apr 14th 2008 7:35PM]

At TMO's extremely slow EDGE speeds, you shouldn't pay anymore than $5.99.