Verizon Wireless and AT&T are revamping their calling plans, charging less for voice but more for data.
Verizon Wireless is simplifying things, explains ZDNet. The company is streamlining its handset lineup from 80 devices to 50. The new Verizon wireless plans kick in Jan. 18. “This is about data and upselling customers to LTE,” said Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam on a conference call.
Beginning Monday, Nationwide Unlimited Talk plans for individuals (voice calls only) will cost $69.99 per month. If you want messaging, you’ll need to pay for them individually or add a texting plan. You can get both voice and messaging with a Nationwide Unlimited Talk & Text plan for $89.99 per month. Customers using basic phones will continue to pay $1.99 per megabyte if they don’t pick a data plan, but now all “smartphones” will require a $9.95/month basic data plan. The $29.99 per month for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Android devices won’t change.
AT&T is now matching that $69.99 per month (voice calls only) offer. Text message plans will remain $20 a month for unlimited usage, so they’re matching Verizon’s $89.99 unlimited voice + text offering too.
Smartphone owners will have the option to get unlimited voice plus data for $99.99, a discount over previous $129.99 unlimited iPhone plans. But you still have to pay $20 on top of that if you want unlimited texting too. So that’s $119.99 for truly unlimited iPhone usage.
