Verizon tweaking low-end data plans, using ’3G’ distinction to upcharge for LTE

Well, that didn’t last very long at all: looks like Verizon is killing off its $15 150MB data plan for smartphones altogether, instead corralling folks into the $30 unlimited option. Of course, with the proliferation of data-hungry smartphone apps on Android ( and soon, the iPhone ), 250MB per month of usage is becoming less and less reasonable by the day, so we can’t say we’re terribly surprised. Meanwhile, the $9.99 25MB feature phone data option is getting a bump up to 75MB with $10 per 75MB overage, a slight drop from the 20 cent / MB overage that those customers deal with currently. Finally, you’ll notice that the $30 unlimited plan is now qualified as applying to “feature phones and 3G smartphones,” not merely “smartphones” as they were before — a nod to the fact that Verizon’s upcoming LTE handsets won’t be eligible for the same pricing. What, did you think you were going to be blazing on your ThunderBolt at 20 or 30Mbps without a care in the world? [Thanks, anonymous tipster] Verizon tweaking low-end data plans, using ’3G’ distinction to upcharge for LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Posted by on January 24, 2011. Filed under News, Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry