Verizon Moving Closer to Shared Data Plans?

[MacRumors]

Verizon and other carriers have been talking for some time about the idea of shared data plans that would allow users to draw from a single monthly allotment of cellular data for multiple mobile devices, much the same way family plans can share minutes among their phones. While European carriers have led the way in allowing users with both an iPhone and iPad to share a single bucket of data, Verizon and AT&T have indicated they are working on similar workings with Verizon indicating early last month that such plans were likely to launch in 2012.

Engadget now reports that Verizon appears to be continuing to make progress on shared data plans, with the offerings now showing up in employee training materials.

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.

U.S. carriers have so far opted to offer the iPhone under traditional postpaid service arrangements with multi-year contracts locking in customers and enabling the carriers to offer subsidized pricing on the hardware. Conversely, the iPad has been sold at unsubsidized prices (with 3G models carrying a $130 premium over their Wi-Fi-only counterparts) with data service offered on an as-needed basis through contract-free data plans that carry no activation fees.

Article Link: Verizon Moving Closer to Shared Data Plans?

 

[maattp]

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$9.99 per line to use the data that you already paid for? Yeah, sounds like a great deal. You guys get ripped off royally. Canadian plans are looking better and better lmao.

 

[tasset]

Watching this very closely. I suspect the sister bells will rig this in such a way that your mathematic savings are a pittance, such as:
-$30 for 2gb shared data
-every line/device in addition to the main line that "shares" this data is $9.99 for no additional data

 

[Sandman1969]

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$9.99 per line to use the data that you already paid for? Yeah, sounds like a great deal. You guys get ripped off royally. Canadian plans are looking better and better lmao.

No different than 9.99 to share the minutes we already pay for!

I will be interested to see how this works out. Could make my life easier and cheaper depending on the Tiers AT&T goes with and how Tethering is affected.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

sigh

These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates????

 

[wickerman1893]

This is just a horrible attempt to get those users with unlimited data on a plan with a limit. For as long as I can I'm holding on to my unlimited data...

 

[voonyx]

These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates????

Because the goal of the company is to get as much profit as possible.

 

[linkismyhero]

This is just a horrible attempt to get those users with unlimited data on a plan with a limit. For as long as I can I'm holding on to my unlimited data...

Agreed. I work in mobile phones, and every time a carrier messes around with data I'm wary.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Because the goal of the company is to get as much profit as possible.

Well yes this makes sense. My question was more of a hypothetical.

 

[wordoflife]

$9.99 per line to use the data that you already paid for? Yeah, sounds like a great deal. You guys get ripped off royally. Canadian plans are looking better and better lmao.

I completely agree with you, but not sure how I'd feel on a 3 year term.

I think I've given up on US carriers though. Not really expecting anything out of this. They'll probably end up screwing us one way or another through this plan.

 

[voonyx]

Well yes this makes sense. My question was more of a hypothetical.

LOL oh ok. Yeah unfortunately carriers don't give a crap about their customers. But if you think about it, would you if you were the head of that carrier? Probably not, because being nice would just lead to bankruptcy.

 

[k1121j]

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I saw this coming. it's a good excuse to charge more for less or the same data. get a good plan while u still can

 

[wickerman1893]

Agreed. I work in mobile phones, and every time a carrier messes around with data I'm wary.

Yes exactly....it's almost like you know all they are trying to do is kick you off of unlimited

 

[k1121j]

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This is just a horrible attempt to get those users with unlimited data on a plan with a limit. For as long as I can I'm holding on to my unlimited data...

oh but it is limited I got one oh and throttled

 

[KingZorb]

Awesome!

I'm actually looking forward to this on AT&T.

Well, actually, I'm looking forward to AFFORDABLE family data plans on AT&T. If they come out with something that works, I'll be adding iPhones for my wife, my son and my daughter!

 

[summitRun]

Dear ATT

$30 for 3GB WITH tethering and I'll gladly hand over my UDP...

 

[littyboy]

Those who are thinking they are going to charge the extra $9.99/per line to use the shared data are completely wrong.

The $9.99 you pay is for the additional line/number that you are holding. So now that you already have the additional lines, your data is shared without fees.

It's just as if you added family texting into your plan. You are not charged additionally per line to use it since its one charge only.

So don't think you'll get charged extra for additional phones to use the data you already "paid" for.

However, don't assume that the price will be the same for a 2GB data on a single line vs a 2GB on a shared line.

 

[iSRS]

This is just a horrible attempt to get those users with unlimited data on a plan with a limit. For as long as I can I'm holding on to my unlimited data...

Agreed, but depending on the price/allowance, this would likely get my wife off a dumb/messaging phone to an iPhone...

No different than 9.99 to share the minutes we already pay for!

I will be interested to see how this works out. Could make my life easier and cheaper depending on the Tiers AT&T goes with and how Tethering is affected.

Agreed.

 

[AustinIllini]

I guess if it's 9.99 to add someone to a line, it could be worth it. My sister could go on my dad's 2 gig plan. He honestly never uses close to his monthly alottment. That sure beats having two plans, 2 gigs each, for $50

 

[JHankwitz]

These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates????

Like, duh! Every company is in business to make profit, just as you and I go to work every day for a paycheck. If you don't use your whole paycheck, do you expect your boss to pay you less? Same thing.

 

[Ryth]

This is pretty much why I refuse to get any smart phone...the data plans, heck even the talk plans/text plans, are absurdly over-priced.

I'll stick with a pay as you go phone and an iPad that is wi-fi/3G if needed for a trip.

Ridiculous.

Too bad Apple can't buy their own phone spectrum (well I'm sure they could with that cash).

Like, duh! Every company is in business to make profit, just as you and I go to work every day for a paycheck. If you don't use your whole paycheck, do you expect your boss to pay you less? Same thing.

No that is not the same thing...my lord on one of the most horrible analogies ever.

If you don't use your whole paycheck, you still have access to the rest of the cash in your bank account. You work for $X, you get $X.

The problem is if we pay for 2GB, then we should have that 2GB till we use it up, then be able to buy more. Instead...the remainder that isn't used is taken back from us and then we have to buy again.

The comparison here is that if people buy 2GB of data and don't use it, it should carry over...just like if you were to buy anything that isn't perishable, you have it till you use it up.

 

[Herdfan]

Watching this very closely. I suspect the sister bells will rig this in such a way that your mathematic savings are a pittance, such as:
-$30 for 2gb shared data
-every line/device in addition to the main line that "shares" this data is $9.99 for no additional data

Let's see:

2x$30 data plans + 2x$25 data plans = $110.00

vs.

1x$30 + 3x$10 = $60.

The base data plan would have to go over $80 for it to not be cheaper. Of course, 2GB total won't cut it.

AT&T will need to follow this pretty quickly or I will pay their ETF's and go to Verizon.

 

[KindredMAC]

I wonder how a "Use less than your allotment and get a rebate" plan would go over...

Say User-A has a 2GB plan and pays $30/month. User-A only uses 500MB of data in essence "not clogging up the airwaves" as everyone claims. User-A gets a $5 rebate posted to their next monthly bill.

Now say User-B has a 2GB plan and uses somewhere around 1.5GB. They would not see a rebate since they used a considerable amount of their allotment.

In this model the network is rewarding those who do not tax the networks and providing an incentive.

What do you guys think?

 

[bluesboy77]

No thanks, I'll keep my unlimited plan.

 

[daxomni]

Because the goal of the company is to get as much profit as possible.

Is this not true everywhere? Why does Europe continue to pay less than America? Why hasn't "the market" corrected the situation as consumers clamor for more choices at lower rates? Instead the American market just keeps making things worse by lowering data allotments and raising fees as the phones they offer and the apps they run continue to use more and more bandwidth.