Report: Verizon Killing Unlimited Data Next Week

AT&T ticked off a lot of people when it announced that it was ditching the unlimited plan so many customers had subscribed to. Sadly, the nation's biggest wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless, hinted that it might follow suit in the not too distant future. The most recent reports suggest that Verizon could move ahead with these plans this month.

Last month, John Killian, Chief Financial Officer at Verizon, told Bloomberg that his company would 'probably need to change the design of their pricing' and get rid of unlimited data.

"We will probably need to change the design of our pricing where it will not be totally unlimited, flat rate," he said.

These remarks followed comments made by CTO Anthony Melone, who said the company would be dropping the all-you-can-eat data option once Verizon launched its 4G LTE network.

"As much data as you can consume is the big issue that has to change," the CTO told the Wall Street Journal in March.

However, Melone also implied that Verizon doesn't want customers to worry about how much data they're using. Melone said the company needed to offer a transparent way for customers to track how much data they're using.

"It's one thing to say all you can eat is gone," he told the Journal. "It's another to have consumers worrying, 'Can I stream this radio?' That's what we don't want."

Engadget this week carries an exclusive report in which it claims to have heard Verizon will announce tiered data plans on July 29.

Ask a Category Expert

Create a new thread in the Streaming Video & TVs forum about this subject

Title
Subject
Title

This thread is closed for comments

64 comments

Your comment

Top Comments

randomroger Jul 22, 2010, 3:20 AM

Way to take a step backwards. "Welcome to 4G. You'll get your data faster, but not nearly as much of it." There's no point in upgrading to 4G when people can't even use it like they want to/should be able to.
27
screechy Jul 22, 2010, 3:17 AM

If we shouldn't worry about how much we use why should verizon?
26
tokenz Jul 22, 2010, 3:16 AM

Thats fine Sprint is cheaper anyway.
24

Other Comments

tokenz Jul 22, 2010, 3:16 AM

Thats fine Sprint is cheaper anyway.
24
mp562 Jul 22, 2010, 3:17 AM

A-holes !!! They just want more money, simple as that.
21
screechy Jul 22, 2010, 3:17 AM

If we shouldn't worry about how much we use why should verizon?
26
randomroger Jul 22, 2010, 3:20 AM

Way to take a step backwards. "Welcome to 4G. You'll get your data faster, but not nearly as much of it." There's no point in upgrading to 4G when people can't even use it like they want to/should be able to.
27
Darkerson Jul 22, 2010, 3:24 AM

Way to keep it classy, Verizon!
7
Darkk Jul 22, 2010, 3:29 AM

I have unlimited everything plan except voice with Sprint and loving it.

However, it's typical for competitors to follow suit to keep up with the market trends. Hopefully Sprint won't drop unlimited data plans but if they do it's because that is what other carriers are doing.
5
tipmen Jul 22, 2010, 3:30 AM

Whats the point of 4g then? It is supposed to faster thus allowing more data transfer such as streaming or even downloads. Now depending on the packages we may not be able to do that or be very limited. I mean its not like we aren't pay enough already for our phones. I pay more for my cellphone contract then I for my internet.
5
chickenhoagie Jul 22, 2010, 3:32 AM

why would they want to follow in at&t's footsteps like this? them keeping unlimited data is just one more thing that makes them better than them. ridiculously evil cellular companies I tell ya..
2
rumblepuff Jul 22, 2010, 3:32 AM

Its interesting that all the companies say that this won't affect their customers. They say only 1-2 % of the people will pay more and they rest will pay less. How is that possible? If that's the case, these companies would be losing lots of revenue. Then again, I don't have data or text message on my phone, what's that... I can send email for 10 dollars per phone? No thanks, I will call.
3
godwhomismike Jul 22, 2010, 3:36 AM

Goodbye to AT&T and Verizon, hello Sprint.
15
Blessedman Jul 22, 2010, 3:41 AM

ok my big issue here is this... If from what I have seen from other users and poster on other sites, it's near impossible to hit 5GB's in a month on your phone (unless you are plugged in all day and doing nothing but streaming video and then you can come closer to 10GB's). So I must assume with these numbers that what is over clogging the system isn't the amount a data users uses but the amount of users using data(ok a little confusing). So then taking away unlimited data plan isn't really hurting 99% of the users, which begs the bigger question of why then do they want to take away that plan and introduce a tiered plan? If what I am seeing in the numbers, nothing is going to help unclog the network except for them to stop over selling the bandwidth!!!!! With over $10B in profits per year you would think this wouldn't be a problem for them to keep pace with.
-5
Anonymous Jul 22, 2010, 3:42 AM

All the prepaid companies need is an Android phone, and they will rule the unlimited market.
3
Trueno07 Jul 22, 2010, 3:42 AM

I like T-Mobile. Sure they don't have the best phones, or the best coverage... But T-Mobile's an alright guy.
4
scook9 Jul 22, 2010, 3:52 AM

But are they going to force the top plan on smartphone buyers like they currently are? Even if those users do not need that much data?

All of the 3G smartphones contracted with Verizon HAVE to get the Unlimited plan at the momemt....and I don't see them letting us pay less for virtually the same service (as even 5GB is more than enough)
0
johnnylawman01 Jul 22, 2010, 3:55 AM

Don't like .... don't get it.

People, resources are ALWAYS limited. You want unlimited....you pay for it. Stop expecting others to subsidize your behavior.
-4
damiano13mg Jul 22, 2010, 3:56 AM

Poor consumers. It seems there will be no relief this time, especially since now they want to carry iPhones, they need to stoop down to AT&T's level and deliver a crappy deal for the rest of "the network" Thanks Verizon. But since the iPhone4 cant make calls, you wont use your minutes up, so charging for data ala carte would be the best way to make $.
1
bourgeoisdude Jul 22, 2010, 4:17 AM

Those threatening to leave Verizon: Sprint and T-Mobile will have no choice but to do the same. When AT&T announced the plans it was only a matter of time before the competition followed suit.
3
onekill Jul 22, 2010, 4:28 AM

You kids are funny. First you guys go ripping on AT&T and how bad they are and say "Oh, Verizon is SO much better then AT&T" Now you guys are saying "Oh, Verizon is so bad, Sprint is SO much better then Verizon OR AT&T" Whats next? "Having NO phone is better then Verizon, AT&T and the failure of a network Sprint."
3
Immoral Medic Jul 22, 2010, 4:52 AM

Sprint will most likely follow suit. Part of it is because they can get way more money for less data traffic, another part is because the networks are too full of traffic so they must limit the amount. I just don't care about smart phones so, ima stay with my "phone".
1
JOSHSKORN Jul 22, 2010, 4:55 AM

I love it when big companies step up and do the parenting for the parents that aren't cutting the mustard. Mostly the kids are the ones utilizing things such as texting and internet searching on their phones. They probably should be studying or at least finding other activities that are better for their health.

See, there's more than one way to look at this issue.
-4

Display All 64 comments

Display more comments