Verizon announces Nationwide Unlimited Talk and Talk & Text plans
By Vlad Savov 
posted January 15th 2010 8:42AM
posted January 15th 2010 8:42AM
Yesterday we heard some rumblings about Verizon making alterations to its calling plans, and wouldn't you know it, here's the official PR setting the record straight. Firstly, there's an Unlimited Talk plan for $69.99 per month, which can be augmented with free text, picture, and video messaging by moving up to the Unlimited Talk & Text plan at $89.99. Family SharePlan varieties -- which cover the service costs for the first two lines -- are also going to be available, priced at $119.99 for Talk and $149.99 for Talk & Text. Monthly Unlimited Prepaid options complete the new unveilings, costing $5 more than contract-bound subscribers would have to pay -- i.e. $74.99 and $94.99. A less happy rumor confirmation is that all but the simplest of phones will require a $9.99 25MB mobile data add-on, while smartphone owners will have to pony up $29.99 for the Unlimited mobile data stuff. All these changes are coming into effect on January 18, as speculated, though current Verizon customers won't be affected unless they opt to move to one of the new plans. Hit the read link for the full announcement and more details.
Yes, I did read the press release. Phones such as the Chocolate Touch and enV3 are going to require data. The enV3 is a texting phone. Requiring data will only cause less people to buy it.
I don't even have VZW.
WTF are you smoking? Where did I say anything about big companies?
@notquitecenter
I don't think their evil, I just think their plans are expensive. But you missed something, that new $10 data plan charge will hit all the semi-smart phones, like the Lg Chocolate and EnVy for people with new contracts. Regular Smart phones like Blackberry's and Windows Mobile devices have been an additional $30 for years now. My issue is the additional fee for Text messaging when you buy a Data plan, TEXTS ARE DATA.
I'm not getting out of my contract early, I'm waiting until it ends, once it does I'm switching to Sprint, because their plans are cheaper and its network works well enough for my traveling needs. I don't know about most people but I doubt I will need 3G services in Wyoming or North Dakota. I live in NY and travel mostly along the east coast, which is greatly supported by Sprint.
@LowSky well, technically speaking text messages are carried through the voice network, but that's a different story all together. my point was that people think that they're existing service will change and it's the end of the world. no one will be forced to change to these new plans.
Yea, I'm really, really going to be switching to T-Mobile pre-paid. They have a plan with 500 minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, mobile to mobile, and unlimited messaging, for $40 a month. I'll drop the upfront $400 on an Android handset if it means I can avoid the contract, fees and taxes, and mandatory data plans.
I don't need mobile web, I just want the performance, the inter, and the apps of a smartphone. The only times I'll need to get on the web would be to jump on AIM, Facebook, or a VOIP, all of which I'd be doing at home within range of my wireless router. The fuck with these bullshit, mandatory data plans.
@kenny goo
Watch out. On the G1, at least, you need Data to get through the setup wizard. It won't work with just Wifi. Once you get past that you're fine without a data plan though. Make sure you can get through the setup wizard for your phone before you leave the store.
@StalkyTheFish
Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't aware of that. I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I go to get a phone and a plan.
@kenny goo
Umm. You should ask carefully, as this may vary depending on the particular model. I have T-mo with no data. Hell, I don't even have any sort of a t-mo signal at my house. My N1 set up fine over WiFi.
And the other day I called T-mo with a question (from my landline) and once I had keyed in my mobile number their system immediately switched me to HTC support. So, even though I had not told them that I had the N1, they knew anyway. They knew just because of my phone talking to the ATT or T-mo regular GSM network towers.
I told the nice lady at HTC that I did not want HTC support and she sent me right back to T-mo no trouble.
I could care less if you get a signal in a cave. I don't plan to be in a cave anytime soon, I get service 95% of everywhere I go on Sprint (NYC). I pay 58 & change (employee discount, which I stopped being an employee 6 yrs ago lmao) for unlimited mobile to mobile, unlimited data and 450 mins towards dinosaur lane lines. And know that ima get the jump on 4G with Sprint over Verizon. It's a no brainer
So, Unlimited Talk N Text from Verizon for me and my wife would cost me $149.99 a month (plus at least $20 more for taxes and fees).
Or I could use Page Plus (which uses the Verizon network) and pay $79.90 ($39.95 each) with no additional taxes.
Hmmm, to save $70+ a month or not... tough decision...
Still, even with that being said, it's nice to see Verizon prices come down.
i have AT&T MY PLAN IS TWO LINE FAMILY PLAN UNLIMITED EVERYTHING TEXT, DATA, VOICE PLUS UNLIMITED TALK BOTH PHONE FOR $89.99 TRUST ME IT PAYS
I stuck with Sprint and got a Hero for 99 and the fiancee a BB Curve for free.
1500 mins, call any carrier w/o charge, unlimited texting, data, nights/weekends @ 7pm (which is nice since our families are 2-3 timezones in front of us) for 129.99 - 15% employer discount (which I get with any of the large carriers) = 110.49 / 2 since we keep finances seperate = ~60/mo w/ taxes. I'm going to try and get them to tack on some extra breaks for being a Sprint cust since 2002 since we're still within the 30-day thing.
We'd be paying ~200/mo for comparable service on Verizon. F that
I keep reading these comments about Verizon having the best coverage but most of use live in a metropolitan area. It is no doubt that Verizon has the best coverage nationwide but do most people really need this blanket of coverage? Do people on here who speak about Verizon's coverage really travel enough to pay a premium for having coverage?
I am willing to bet more than half the people only really need coverage in their greater city and maybe coverage when they travel to other large cities where smaller carriers or more likely to have solid coverage.
FCC needs to put mandate where then can charge based on not how much people use data but rather throttle through different speed levels similar to what internet cable. The business model present today for telecoms don't provide incentive to promote investment in infrastructure for continuous faster speeds. Is it really no surprise that we are behind in speeds relative other developed countries.
@JohnMKeynes
Well one thing u are missing about living in major metropolitan areas is the in-building coverage. When i had t-mobile here in boston (now i know this is subjective so don't flame just using as an example) it did not get good coverage inside the buildings i was working in,sprint also had none however AT&T and VZW did. See sometimes its not just about traveling its how the carriers frequency works in concrete buildings. with vzw and at&t in particular VZW i see people make calls in sub-basements, here in boston. My att iphone does a great job too dont get me wrong, but vzw is amazing where if i'm making a call in an elevator and i drop to one bar and miss a few words here or there, the vzw phones seem to just stay without static. In those same circumstances tmobile and sprint would just have no service. I have friends with t-mobile and sprint and they can never get service once they walk deeper into buildings but my iphone is fine.
So in conclusion john, it's more than just rural coverage it's about phenomenal in-building coverage
and no its not surprise that we are behind. We are too lazy to push for more as a society. They seem to just know better in europe at times, i swear we can learn a thing or too from them.
T-Mobile FOR THE WIN!!!! - D
Does this affect current customers plans?
I signed up for sprint when I used to live in Seattle about 9 years ago.
I signed up for 2 lines with 2000 anytime nationwide minutes shared for $85/month. I also have $5 unlimited data, $0 for unlimited texting on both lines. No per month charge for the second line. Through my company I get a 20% discount off that price.
Needless to say every time I get a new phone/extend a contract they try to get me off the plan. I threaten to walk so I still have it. Currently out of contract on both lines.
Phone selection lacks at Sprint but every time I consider changing I add up the extortion pricing for anything else and I end up staying right where I am at.
Anyways, I travel the Western U.S. for my job and my coverage is really good.
I rarely ever have a need to call customer service so no issues for me.
Wow... Woopy-do!
Sprint now has had $60 plan for just about everything!
Unlimited Blackberry, Data, TXT, mobile to mobile to any service and 1500 minutes to any land line that includes night and weekends 7-7 free.
All the prices in the US suck, I get unlimited Talk, Text & Data for about $70/month and that includes Any phone for free if you get a 2 year contract, and we got some of the worlds best covering mobile networks. Beat that US!
I am paying $60 a month for 500 minutes and unlimited Android Data on Tmobile. I can add unlimited texts for $5 more per month. I think I will stick with this.
I forgot to mention I am not under contract.