Verizon’s new simple plans start with $20 a smartphone, then add a data plan of small ($30), medium ($45), large (60) or extra large ($80).
Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless service company, is following rival by simplifying its plans and and phone subsidies.
Beginning August 13, new Verizon customers must pay the full price for new phones upfront or opt for a monthly payment plan.
And instead of more than a dozen different voice, text and data plans, Verizon will charge $20 per smartphone. Customers then choose from four data plans:
• 1 GB for $30/month
• 3 GB for $45/month
• 6 GB for $60/month
• 12 GB for $80/month
All data plans are shareable so a family with up to 10 devices (Verizon’s limit) could buy service for 10 smartphones and the 12 GB plan. Total monthly bill: $280 a month, excluding taxes, fees and any monthly payment plan for the phones.
The new prices seem to save customers about $20 a month but savings, of course, will vary based on what the customer buys, said Meagan Dorsch, a Verizon spokeswoman. But it’s easy-ish to figure out.
The equation is essentially:
Phone plan + data plan + voice/text plan = your monthly bill.
“This new approach will keep our plans competitive and future proof because of their flexibility. Customers can decide at any time whether they want to move to a S, M, L or XL plan. And they can add devices at any time and share data among up to 10 devices,” she said.
For a family of four who own their smartphones and need 3 GB of data a month, the cost is $125, excluding taxes and fees.
Currently on Verizon’s site, its charges $15 to $25 per smartphone plus an extra $40 to $80 for data between 2 GB to 10 GB. So in the same scenario as above, a family of four would pay $150 a month, excluding the cost of phones, taxes and other fees.
Also by comparison, T-Mobile offers four phones and 3 GB of data for $110 per month. Currently, however, T-Mobile is offering a deal that gives a 4-phone plan 10 GB of shared data , excluding tax, fees and the device.
Existing Verizon customers can stay with their current plans but if they decide to upgrade, there could be extra charges. According to an AP report, “Verizon says there will be restrictions, but it didn’t elaborate. For instance, it wasn’t immediately clear whether customers keeping the current plan would still qualify for subsidized phones.”
And it’s uncertain if Verizon will drop the prices of its higher-priced data plans, which top out at 100 GB a month for $750 on its More Everything Plan.
Besides the $20 for each smartphone, Verizon will charge $10 a month to add a tablet or (a portable Wi-Fi hot spot) and $5 a month to add a smart watch or other connected device.
