Verizon today introduced a new set of mobile service plans, and nowhere in them does the company offer to subsidize new phones. One step up is 3GB a month for $45.
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Under Verizon’s revamped system, there are no single-line options or family plans. You’d have to pay a little bit of the $649 off each month in your Verizon bill. And an “x-large” offers 12GB for $80. Subscribers will be free to change to a different plan whenever they feel like it. That’s information definitely worth knowing if you want to avoid the hefty $15 per GB overage fee Verizon will charge you once you hit your allowance limit. Make sense? The less good news is that you won’t necessarily save any money with the new plans which take effect starting August 13th.
The shift to wireless has been felt by union workers, said Bob Master, an assistant to CWA’s New York Office Vice President. That’s why so many things in our lives come in familiar sizes, from small to XL. In addition, workers might be asked to pay “thousands more dollars” in health care costs due to higher deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance costs, according to the CWA’s website.
Why this matters: As the nation’s largest carrier, what Verizon does impacts not just its customers but the entire industry. If you still need more proof, look no further than the new data plans Verizon unveiled on Friday that bear a resemblance to the Simple Choice plans T-Mobile debuted a couple of years ago. All plans come with unlimited voice and texts and starts at $30 per month. Customers who need even more data can talk with their Verizon Wireless representative for more details. As usual, the pricing is not really friendly or tailored for anyone, but Verizon is under the odd impression that it’s easier to understand.
Verizon is also simplifying the smartphone access cost. That fee lowers to $10/month for tablets and Wi-Fi hotspots, and $5 for smartwatches that require data plans. Each data bucket can be shared with up to 10 devices.
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All new customers, and existing customers who want to move to the new plan, will buy or upgrade to new smartphones using Verizon’s device payment option, formerly known as Verizon Edge, or by paying the retail price. If a family does switch over, it’s likely their overall fees will go up.
