SharedDataPlan
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US Cellular may give customers more data for the same money
US Cellular's shared data plan subscribers might be able to enjoy more data sometime soon. That'll be the case anyway, if the carrier's truly increasing its shared data subscribers' caps, as indicated by a leaked internal document unearthed by Droid Life. If the memo is legit, then the $40 shared plan will come with 1GB of data that triples the original 300MB, the $50 tier will come with a 2GB cap instead of 1GB and the $60 plan will net subscribers 3GB of data, up from 2GB. The company is reportedly bumping up current subscribers' data allotments automatically, though it's giving new customers the choice to sign up for an introductory 300MB tier for $15 a month. In addition to higher shared data caps, US Cellular is apparently going to launch a $60 single line plan with 1GB of data for a limited time.
US Cellular's shared data plans: here are the pricing details
It'll probably come as no shock to those who've been keeping even a loose eye on trends in the carrier space, but US Cellular is about to usher in its own take on shared data. Family plans have quickly become the norm, with data taking precedence over text and voice, and USCC's take on things looks awfully familiar. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find any real pricing differences here than what you'll find over on Verizon Wireless. For a point-by-point breakdown, head on past the break. %Gallery-195927%
Verizon CFO buries his head in the sand, claims unlimited data is 'going by the wayside'
"La la la la. I can't hear you." Verizon's CFO, Fran Shammo, might've just as well made those comments with his hands firmly cupped over his ears, as the firm's chief number cruncher told attendees at today's Goldman Sachs investor conference, "Unlimited is just a word, it doesn't really mean anything." While Sprint and T-Mobile would certainly take issue with that statement, Shammo then dug the hole deeper by saying, "That whole unlimited thing, I think, is going by the wayside." These comments were made in the context of Shammo playing up the carrier's shared data plans, wherein he explained his belief that consumers "think they consume a lot more data than they really do." Shammo also revealed that Verizon has converted more subscribers and devices over to the new scheme than it'd initially anticipated. Naturally, change within any industry takes time, but now that Sprint is in a position to offer unlimited data at a meaningful speed and T-Mobile has climbed aboard the bandwagon, Verizon may have to change its tune if a significant number of consumers decide that unlimited isn't dead after all. You can view the entire transcript at the source link below, but consider this: would you take unlimited plans into consideration when shopping between carriers, or is Mr. Shammo right that consumers really don't use that much data? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.
Verizon reveals 20 GB shared data plan
Remember Verizon's announcement of the Share Everything plans earlier this summer? The company has now revealed five additional tiers of data capacity that aren't posted on the Verizon website but can be purchased through arrangement with customer service personnel. As with the rest of the features of the Share Everything data plans, the 20 GB data bucket can be shared among 10 mobile devices. Verizon spokesman Brenda Raney noted that most of the company's customers use less than 2 GB of data per month. However, it's possible to top that amount easily just by downloading one high-definition full-length movie, and if several people on your Share Everything plan like watching movies, you can blow through 20 GB very quickly. So, how much is all of this data going to cost you? The 20 GB shared data plan costs $150 per month, which is $50 less per month for the same amount than AT&T's upcoming Mobile Share plans. You can also pick 12 GB for $110 per month, 14 GB for $120 per month, 16 GB for $130 per month, or 18 GB for $140 per month. The shared plans charge a set monthly fee for each device, then add the shared data bucket on top of that monthly cost.
AT&T to launch shared data plans in August
Following competitor Verizon, which began offering a shared voice/text/data plan in June, AT&T today announced a similar plan to begin in late August of 2012. The plan, known as the AT&T Mobile Share Plan, offers anywhere from 1 to 20 GB of shared data per month in addition to unlimited talk and text for a set fee that ranges from $40 for 1 GB to $200 for 20 GB. Data over the monthly plan costs $15 per GB. Each smartphone added to the plan also pays a specific monthly fee that declines from $45 per phone for the 1 GB plan to $30 per phone for 10 GB or more, and tablets and gaming devices can be added for $10 each per month. Adding a mobile hotspot device to your plan adds $20 per month, while adding a basic or message phone to the plan costs $30 per month. One advantage of the AT&T plan is that it offers free unlimited access at more than 30,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide that does not count against the monthly data limit. [via AppleInsider]
Verizon shared data plans are due in mid-summer, target users with multiple devices
On a call discussing Verizon's Q1 earnings report, CFO Francis Shammo has once again touched on the company's promised shared data plans, targeting their launch in mid-summer. He also noted that he expected this to drive growth in the wireless business, because the plan is apparently designed to allow customers to easily add "other devices" to it. You can do your best to tease more meaning out of his statement from the full transcript at Seeking Alpha, we'll be carefully considering how many data hogs are allowed at our share house for the summer.
Verizon CFO says shared data plans coming mid-year
We've already heard from Verizon's CEO Lowell McAdam that the carrier was planning to offer shared data plans. And leaks have indicated that the carrier is already prepping its backend system for the change. Now CFO Fran Shammo has narrowed down the time frame a bit for us, telling a group of investors that family data plans should debut towards the middle of the year. But, he was quick to clarify this isn't as simple as setting a launch date. The shift to the new billing system will take time and not everyone will be migrated on day one. Still, Shammo indicated it will be an important part of the ongoing transition to 4G and its future plans for mobile dominance.Update: We mistakenly identified Fran Shammo as the CTO when, in fact, he is the CFO.
Verizon shared data plans show up in employee training materials, still on track?
Verizon said it was working on a shared data solution for 2012, and according to an anonymous tipster, the new packages could be rolling out soon. We've been told that training material for an update to the outfit's internal account management application includes screenshots (one of which you can see above) that show a new section labeled "account level data plans." The new section apparently shows an account level charge for data allowance and a 9.99 charge per line. There's no word on exactly when these backend tweaks might translate into a new family data plan, but if it pans out the way we hope, AT&T's Ralph de la Vega may have to reconsider his oath of silence on Ma Bell's own data sharing plans.[Thanks, Anon]
Verizon CEO says shared data plans coming in 2012
Verizon is gearing up to offer shared data plans sometime in 2012. That's straight from CEO Lowell McAdam, who told the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference this morning, "I think in 2012 we will see it... Getting to one bill and getting to account-level pricing is our goal." Sharing data the way they do family plan minutes is something many consumers have been clamoring for and AT&T's CEO Ralph de la Vega indicated earlier this year that his carrier was planning to offer such an option. Soon enough you might be able to buy a chunk of minutes and data then pile on the lines for a flat rate.
