Verizon Wireless has confirmed that it will end its $30 monthly unlimited wireless-data plan for new two-year contracts. Tomorrow, Verizon joins AT&T in the move to tiered data plans. (Note that current Verizon customer with an existing unlimited plan won't have to change plans.)
So if you're shopping for a new smart phone or tablet computer, what will be your choices? How much will you have to shell out for data at Verizon or any of the other major U.S. wireless service providers?
To try and get a handle on the different data options, Consumer Reports compiled the following table from information on carriers' official websites and other online sources.
In a nutshell, here are some of the service plans and options you'll have to wade through if you're shopping for service on a single mobile phone on July 7, 2011:
Monthly Wireless Data Plans (for individual cell and smart phones)$10 for 75MB(for feature phones only)$15 for unlimited
(e-mail, Web, music, and Sprint TV only)$30 for unlimited
(adds video and texting)$45 for 4GB
(allows tethering)$70 for unlimited data
(includes 450 minutes of talk)$90 for unlimited data
(900 minutes talk)$15 per MB or
$10 per GB
(depending on plan)None
(Data connection speeds will be slowed if you go over your limit)$20 for tethering and an extra 2GB$10 for "premium data" for smart phones
Confused yet? Hold on: Here are some additional notes and caveats to consider.
All the plans from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon require an individual cell phone talk plan, which start at $40. The new $10 plan from Verizon is available only for feature phones—those that can access the Web, but don't feature apps. The $15 and $30 Sprint data plans are add-ons to its talk plans, which start at $30 per month. The other Sprint plans listed include voice minutes. Shared family plans, which feature different rates and options, from all four carriers were not included in this table.
The experts at Consumer Reports are still going over the coming changes to Verizon's data plans and will have a deeper analysis soon. Update: Here's our CR analysis: Tiered data plans won't change bills for most Verizon smart-phone users.
What do you think? Has shopping for a mobile device and wireless service gotten more complicated for you? Let us know what you think below.
And if you're shopping for a new service contract, check out our recent analysis of T-Mobile and AT&T wireless plans. And our free cell phone buying guide online also contains a section on how to choose the best wireless service provider for your needs.
Verizon confirms it will ditch unlimited smartphone data plans starting July 7 [Fierce Wireless]
T-Mobile unveils new tiered data plans for smartphones, details throttling speeds [Fierce Wireless]
Verizon Wireless Individual Plans [Verizon]
AT&T's Data Plans [AT&T]
T-Mobile Even More Individual Plans with Data [T-Mobile]
Sprint service plans for individuals [Sprint]
—Paul Eng
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