Verizon Offering Customers and Small Businesses 15GB Extra Hotspot Data for Free

[MacRumors]

Verizon today announced that it is adding an additional 15GB of LTE data to all consumer and small business plans automatically to support its customers who are currently working from home.

The 15GB of data will be available from March 25 to April 30, with Verizon adding 15GB of data to postpaid metered customers, prepaid customers, and Jetpack owners automatically. For those with an unlimited data plan, the extra data can be used as hotspot data.

Verizon is offering the extra data to all consumer wireless plans available since 2015, and for small business customers with 50 lines or less.

Verizon is also waiving overage charges and has pledged not to terminate service for customers who are unable to pay at this time.

"We understand the hardships that many of our customers are facing, and we're doing our part to ensure they have broadband internet connectivity during this unprecedented time," said Ronan Dunne, CEO Verizon Consumer Group. "With so many Americans working and learning remotely from home, having access to reliable and affordable internet is more important than ever before."

For new low-income who subscribe to Verizon's Lifeline discount program, Verizon is waiving fees for the next two months.

Article Link: Verizon Offering Customers and Small Businesses 15GB Extra Hotspot Data for Free

 

[nutmac]

With all the people staying at home, many with broadband Internet, I am guessing people are consuming less cellular data in general. It's still a nice gesture (which lags T-Mobile's by few weeks), and no doubt valuable to low income family or those without broadband.

 

[iCamera]

woopty effing do! how generous after ripping people off for years

 

[I7guy]

Good job Verizon. I won’t need it because of my excellent broadband service, but I’m sure there are those who can make use of the extra allotment.

 

[cane811]

woopty effing do! how generous after ripping people off for years

How did they rip people off for years?

 

[EvilEvil]

How did they rip people off for years?

Overcharging customers for mobile service including tacking on unnecessary fees and taxes.

 

[konqerror]

Overcharging people for mobile service including tacking on unnecessary fees and taxes.

It's not their choice whether to add taxes. It's the law.

 

[EvilEvil]

It's not their choice whether to add taxes. It's the law.

Yeah but what about all the other fees? I have since switched to T-mobile and haven't looked back. I pay a flat fee of $60 for unlimited data. When I was with Verizon I was paying $120 for 8gb/month before they started offering their unlimited plan again. That's not right.

 

[OriginalMacRat]

How did they rip people off for years?

The whole data cap concept is mostly unique to North American companies.

 

[I7guy]

Yeah but what about all the other fees? I have since switched to T-mobile and haven't looked back. I pay a flat fee of $60 for unlimited data. When I was with Verizon I was paying $120 for 8gb/month before they started offering their unlimited plan again. That's not right.

So you let yourself be “ripped off” is what it sounds like. Similar to buying a car and having the dealer rip you off, I guess.

 

[konqerror]

The whole data cap concept is mostly unique to North American companies.

Incorrect. Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, Asia all have regular metered plans. While some countries have unlimited plans, like the US, many do not. Those that do have limits as well.

For example, NTT docomo in Japan dropped unlimited plans in 2014, the most you can get is 30 GB. CSL in Hong Kong only has metered plans up to 20 GB. Rogers Canada has three tiers of "unlimited". For example, $75/mo for 10 GB then throttling to 512 kbps. Orange in France does not have unlimited, but packages up to 150 GB.

Wait until you see other charges. MMS isn't included in UK and other countries. In the UK you call customer service hotlines and similar (0845), you pay around 50 pence plus 7 p a minute. And if somebody calls your phone from a landline, it's 20 p a minute, a fact common in most European countres.

 

[DinkThifferent]

Yeah but what about all the other fees? I have since switched to T-mobile and haven't looked back. I pay a flat fee of $60 for unlimited data. When I was with Verizon I was paying $120 for 8gb/month before they started offering their unlimited plan again. That's not right.

What the hell America. You can have unlimited data for 25 to 35 euro max here in the Netherlands. And $120 for 8gb/month?!?! That’s criminal. You have 7gb for €10 euro here.
Unbelievable!

 

[konqerror]

What the hell America. You can have unlimited data for 25 to 35 euro max here in the Netherlands. And $120 for 8gb/month?!?! That’s criminal. You have 7gb for €10 euro here.
Unbelievable!

A: Verizon operates, at this point, a pure LTE network, even in sparsely populated places in the US. As a percent of population covered, Verizon has the same coverage as Japanese and South Korean operators, and you know that the US is far less dense than those countries.

It's a complete myth that Japan and South Korea have more advanced networks when Verizon's coverage is so strong. Expect a repeat for 5G.

4G LTE coverage: Europe catching up, led by less populated countries | Tefficient

tefficient.com

B: We can travel or move anywhere in the US and there are no changes to your plan or phone number. The EU forced free roaming but due to huge differences in cost of living in the EU, there's strict limits forcing temporary use. My phone number is from clear across the country, more than 2,000 miles away, and it makes absolutely no difference.

C: The OP's rates are obsolete. US rate plans highly incentivize groups. Today, 4 unlimited lines are $35/month each on Verizon. One unlimited line would run $70. Many people also get 10-20% off via employer, government, educator, student, union or whatever discounts.

Note too that the US does not charge extra for calling mobile phones, calling across the country (a distance which would be intentional in Europe), calling customer support lines, or with modern plans, sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages.

With many carriers, roaming to Canada and Mexico is free, international texts are free, hotspot is included, and now they're bundling streaming services like Netflix with the plans.

D: The US is richer than Europe; median household income is about 50% higher than Western Europe, so things cost more.

E: If you think the US is bad, go look at Canada.

 

[Jack Ryan]

In Spain, Movistar gave each user 60 free Gb.

 

[burgman]

What the hell America. You can have unlimited data for 25 to 35 euro max here in the Netherlands. And $120 for 8gb/month?!?! That’s criminal. You have 7gb for €10 euro here.
Unbelievable!

Nobody pays 120 for 8 GB unless there is a phone payments included in recent times. Comparing costs in a country smaller than the majority of states and population that would be number 5 in size is irrelevant.

 

[EvilEvil]

So you let yourself be “ripped off” is what it sounds like. Similar to buying a car and having the dealer rip you off, I guess.

No. I switched to T-Mobile.

 

[DinkThifferent]

Comparing costs in a country smaller than the majority of states and population that would be number 5 in size is irrelevant.

D: The US is richer than Europe; median household income is about 50% higher than Western Europe, so things cost more.

You have to see things proportional. Networks here cover 98% of the country, they didn't do that for free either.

And the US is richer than europe? The top 20% yes. but where I live you don't have to work 3 jobs to make ends meet and we don't hand out food stamps to people. We have social security and decent wages. But that's a discussion for another time, another topic and another forum

 

[cane811]

Yeah but what about all the other fees? I have since switched to T-mobile and haven't looked back. I pay a flat fee of $60 for unlimited data. When I was with Verizon I was paying $120 for 8gb/month before they started offering their unlimited plan again. That's not right.

Maybe you should reassess your plan?

You can get unlimited data with Verizon that includes an Apple Music subscription for $80 before tax.

 

[EvilEvil]

Maybe you should reassess your plan?

You can get unlimited data with Verizon that includes an Apple Music subscription for $80 before tax.

No thanks. I'll stick with my unlimited t-mobile $60 plan that already has taxes included. Plus I get free Netflix.