Verizon Reportedly Adding Apple Music as Free Perk on Select Unlimited Data Plans [Update: Confirmed]

[MacRumors]

Verizon subscribers with an iPhone or Android smartphone and a Beyond Unlimited or Above Unlimited data plan will soon have unlimited access to Apple Music at no additional cost, according to documentation obtained by 9to5Mac.

The report claims the free Apple Music subscription is not simply a trial but rather will be offered on an ongoing basis. Verizon's lower-priced Go Unlimited plan with reduced data speeds will continue to offer a six-month Apple Music trial, as the Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited plans currently do.

The perk will be available to both new and existing subscribers starting this Thursday, January 17, the report adds. Verizon's documentation suggests there is no catch, with the monthly prices of Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited plans expected to remain unchanged, but we'll know for sure in a few days.

The perk will compete with T-Mobile's offer of free Netflix to subscribers who have two or more unlimited data lines with the carrier.

An individual Apple Music subscription typically costs $9.99 per month.

Update: Verizon has confirmed that Apple Music will be included as a perk for its Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited plans starting on January 17.

Article Link: Verizon Reportedly Adding Apple Music as Free Perk on Select Unlimited Data Plans [Update: Confirmed]

 

[Andronicus]

This is a good move. Much better than just offering 6 months free.

 

[newyorksole]

My partner and I switched to unlimited back in August and got 6 months free. It’s about to expire so it’s nice to hear that we can potentially have it free forever!

 

[mlody]

Pretty excited about this. I wonder if this will work with the February Unlimited Plans

 

[rockstarjoe]

Wonder how this works for those of us paying for an Apple Music family plan but also with a beyond unlimited family plan. Guess we will have to cancel the Apple Music family plan and sign up for free individual plans?

 

[LarryNyquil]

The quoted prices in the article are the prices if you have 4 lines. If you have one line that price isn't going to be correct.

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

Meh. Not really an incentive for me to change. I’m happy with my go unlimited option. Just to get this offer I would have to up another tier and increase my price per line $20 per line. Not really worth it. I will just stick to buying iTunes gift cards at a discount. And use that to pay Apple Music.

 

[iGeek2014]

‘Free’ as in you’re paying for the service through your monthly bill.

I wish more companies would use different words and terms such as ‘inclusive’ but maybe I’m being pedantic....

 

[12vElectronics]

How does this work for individual single lines?

 

[Mick-Mac]

I say this with 110% certainty - Verizon (of all companies) give you precisely nothing for free. I’ll take a lower monthly rate without the Apple Music thanks very much.

 

[EM2013]

With Netflix raising prices and me canceling their subscription and now free Apple Music, I’ll be saving an extra $20 a month lol

 

[kybldmstr]

Remember everyone, if you are for Net Neutrality you should be opposed to this.

 

[jfreak623]

AT&T still sitting on sidelines wondering how to make even more money off everyone.

 

[ghostface147]

Well this doesn’t apply to my old Verizon unlimited plan. The one from like five years ago. But no throttling, so I’m good.

 

[whyamihere]

Guess I'll just keep paying for my Apple Music subscription at the discount annual rate with discounted iTunes gift cards. I have the verizon unlimited plan from 2017 which is $20/mo cheaper yet gives the same specs as the newer "beyond" unlimited plan. Switching to pay more would make about as much sense as it did when these marketing departments decided to redefine the word unlimited.

 

[crisss1205]

‘Free’ as in you’re paying for the service through your monthly bill.

I wish more companies would use different words and terms such as ‘inclusive’ but maybe I’m being pedantic....

Well the plan price is not changing and now I get Apple Music without paying more. So yea it’s free.

Also, Verizon hasn’t publicly announced it yet so they never said “free”

 

[burgman]

‘Free’ as in you’re paying for the service through your monthly bill.

I wish more companies would use different words and terms such as ‘inclusive’ but maybe I’m being pedantic....

Free as in no increase in plan price for added service.
[doublepost=1547584815][/doublepost]

AT&T still sitting on sidelines wondering how to make even more money off everyone.

Be fair now they are giving free 5G banners on phones

 

[Braderunner]

It DEFINITELY won't be free. Verizon nickels and dimes. You WILL pay. One way or another.
p.s. Don't get too excited. It won't last.

 

[briko]

Remember everyone, if you are for Net Neutrality you should be opposed to this.

Actually, Net Neutrality is about whether or not providers artificially manipulate the speed/quantity of data packets that they delivered to users. It shouldn't apply to this new Verizon plan because the data used to stream Apple Music is not being treated preferentially compared to other services.

This appears to be an unlimited plan (with data throttling) which includes an Apple Music subscription. This is simply an option to purchase bundled services. If a user happens to also subscribe to Spotify, they should expect to have the same streaming experience from both music services regarding data usage.

Now, if Verizon began exempting Apple Music from data throttling, that should trigger Net Neutrality concerns because the Apple Music data would be treated preferentially. I know this is a small distinction, but it is still important. There were similar concerns in the past when T-Mobile began letting customers stream Netflix without counting toward their monthly data cap. If interested, you can read about that here.

 

[tennisproha]

Now T-Mobile.

 

[I7guy]

Let the battle of the wireless carrier giveaways begin. This freebie cost me $350 as I leave the house now to get that HomePod.

 

[rworne]

Well, it's live. Just switched over our three lines a few minutes ago.

Note this one caveat:
If you decide to switch plans to an ineligible plan, they won't unenroll you. They'll just bill you $9.99/line until you notice it and shut it off. No idea if they will warn you about it if you try to do so.

 

[techiegirl]

We currently have the family plan. When I click the link Verizon sent me, it says I already have Apple Music. How do I quit the family plan to join the free plan?

 

[rworne]

We currently have the family plan. When I click the link Verizon sent me, it says I already have Apple Music. How do I quit the family plan to join the free plan?

After signing up, Version sent me a text on my device to link my AppleID. Tapping the link in the text had my phone respond that I have an already linked account and I need to cancel one of them. Cancel the Apple account.

After that, I was informed that my current Apple Music subscription is cancelled (actually renew subscription is turned off). Whether the actual switch occurs immediately (today) or the beginning of February is still a question.

EDIT: Note that I have an individual account, not a family plan. I would hazard a guess that the owner of the family plan account needs to link then cancel the account.

 

[techiegirl]

After signing up, Version sent me a text on my device to link my AppleID. Tapping the link in the text had my phone respond that I have an already linked account and I need to cancel one of them. Cancel the Apple account.

After that, I was informed that my current Apple Music subscription is cancelled (actually renew subscription is turned off). Whether the actual switch occurs immediately (today) or the beginning of February is still a question.

EDIT: Note that I have an individual account, not a family plan. I would hazard a guess that the owner of the family plan account needs to link then cancel the account.

I received the text with the link. After I click the link, it says “You don’t have an Apple Music Service with your mobile service provider.” I did opt into Apple Music Service on my Verizon account.