New Verizon Wireless data bucket packs 18 GB of shareable data for $100 per month
Verizon Wireless expanded the amount of data available as part of its recently launched “The Verizon Plan,” rolling out a new “extra, extra large” size bucket of 18 gigabytes of shareable data.
The new size, also referred to as XXL and available for a “limited time,” is priced at $100 per month and joins the previously launched small (1 GB for $30), medium (3 GB for $45), large (6 GB for $60) and extra large (12 GB for $80). In announcing the new bucket, Verizon Wireless is sticking with what it claims are data options that come “in sizes just like other things we buy.” (Insert fat American joke here.)
Each plan continues to come with unlimited voice calling and text messaging and support for up to 10 devices sharing the data bucket. Data overage is charged at $15 per GB. The carrier also continues to offer larger data buckets that don’t get a sizing moniker, including 20 GB for $120, 25 GB for $175 and 30 GB for $225 per month.
In rolling out the new plans last month, Verizon Wireless also adjusted its per-line access charges, with smartphones charged $20 per month; tablets and mobile hot spots priced at $10 per month; and “connected devices” like smartwatches priced at $5 per month regardless of the bucket size selected. Compared with its previous shared data plans, the new pricing is $5 more expensive per month for smartphones on data buckets of at least 6 GB, though $5 less expensive on data buckets of 4 GB or less; $10 less for mobile hot spots; and tablets and connected devices stay the same.
As part of the new plans, Verizon Wireless also requires new customers to take advantage of the carrier’s device payment option or pay the full price for their device up front. Verizon Wireless followed up that requirement with a clarification that current customers on contract plans can sign up for the new plans and with some restrictions continue to take advantage of subsidized device pricing tied to the renewal of those two-year contracts.
More specifically, Verizon Wireless said current customers can move to the new rate plans, though they will be charged $40 per month per line of service accessing a shared data bucket instead of the $20 that is charged as part of the new offering. Should the legacy customer reach their upgrade eligibility date and not acquire a new device, they will see their per-line access charge drop to the $20 mark.
Other tidbits include explanation that customers who do move to the new Verizon Plan will not be able to switch back to their legacy plan; current customers on a contract plan can still add a line to their existing plan; current contract customers can still purchase a new device on a monthly device installment plan; and current Edge device installment plan customers can switch to the new plans and continue paying for their device under terms of the original agreement.
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