Verizon Moving Closer to Shared Data Plans?
Verizon and other carriers have been talking for some time about the idea of shared data plans that would allow users to draw from a single monthly allotment of cellular data for multiple mobile devices, much the same way family plans can share minutes among their phones. While European carriers have led the way in allowing users with both an iPhone and iPad to share a single bucket of data, Verizon and AT&T have indicated they are working on similar workings with Verizon indicating early last month that such plans were likely to launch in 2012.
Engadget now reports that Verizon appears to be continuing to make progress on shared data plans, with the offerings now showing up in employee training materials.
Engadget now reports that Verizon appears to be continuing to make progress on shared data plans, with the offerings now showing up in employee training materials.
We've been told that training material for an update to the outfit's internal account management application includes screenshots (one of which you can see above) that show a new section labeled "account level data plans." The new section apparently shows an account level charge for data allowance and a 9.99 charge per line.
U.S. carriers have so far opted to offer the iPhone under traditional postpaid service arrangements with multi-year contracts locking in customers and enabling the carriers to offer subsidized pricing on the hardware. Conversely, the iPad has been sold at unsubsidized prices (with 3G models carrying a $130 premium over their Wi-Fi-only counterparts) with data service offered on an as-needed basis through contract-free data plans that carry no activation fees.Top Rated Comments
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16 weeks ago
These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates???? :rolleyes:
16 weeks ago
This is pretty much why I refuse to get any smart phone...the data plans, heck even the talk plans/text plans, are absurdly over-priced.
I'll stick with a pay as you go phone and an iPad that is wi-fi/3G if needed for a trip.
Ridiculous.
Too bad Apple can't buy their own phone spectrum (well I'm sure they could with that cash).
No that is not the same thing...my lord on one of the most horrible analogies ever.
If you don't use your whole paycheck, you still have access to the rest of the cash in your bank account. You work for $X, you get $X.
The problem is if we pay for 2GB, then we should have that 2GB till we use it up, then be able to buy more. Instead...the remainder that isn't used is taken back from us and then we have to buy again.
The comparison here is that if people buy 2GB of data and don't use it, it should carry over...just like if you were to buy anything that isn't perishable, you have it till you use it up.
I'll stick with a pay as you go phone and an iPad that is wi-fi/3G if needed for a trip.
Ridiculous.
Too bad Apple can't buy their own phone spectrum (well I'm sure they could with that cash).
Like, duh! Every company is in business to make profit, just as you and I go to work every day for a paycheck. If you don't use your whole paycheck, do you expect your boss to pay you less? Same thing.
No that is not the same thing...my lord on one of the most horrible analogies ever.
If you don't use your whole paycheck, you still have access to the rest of the cash in your bank account. You work for $X, you get $X.
The problem is if we pay for 2GB, then we should have that 2GB till we use it up, then be able to buy more. Instead...the remainder that isn't used is taken back from us and then we have to buy again.
The comparison here is that if people buy 2GB of data and don't use it, it should carry over...just like if you were to buy anything that isn't perishable, you have it till you use it up.
16 weeks ago
Those who are thinking they are going to charge the extra $9.99/per line to use the shared data are completely wrong.
The $9.99 you pay is for the additional line/number that you are holding. So now that you already have the additional lines, your data is shared without fees.
It's just as if you added family texting into your plan. You are not charged additionally per line to use it since its one charge only.
So don't think you'll get charged extra for additional phones to use the data you already "paid" for.
However, don't assume that the price will be the same for a 2GB data on a single line vs a 2GB on a shared line.
The $9.99 you pay is for the additional line/number that you are holding. So now that you already have the additional lines, your data is shared without fees.
It's just as if you added family texting into your plan. You are not charged additionally per line to use it since its one charge only.
So don't think you'll get charged extra for additional phones to use the data you already "paid" for.
However, don't assume that the price will be the same for a 2GB data on a single line vs a 2GB on a shared line.
16 weeks ago
These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates???? :rolleyes:
Because the goal of the company is to get as much profit as possible.
16 weeks ago
Watching this very closely. I suspect the sister bells will rig this in such a way that your mathematic savings are a pittance, such as:
-$30 for 2gb shared data
-every line/device in addition to the main line that "shares" this data is $9.99 for no additional data
-$30 for 2gb shared data
-every line/device in addition to the main line that "shares" this data is $9.99 for no additional data
16 weeks ago
Sounds like Throttle city.
It does and doesnt.
I am on wifi most of the time, my sister uses < 500MB and my dad can fit within 500 MB as well. All three of us use probably around 1.5GB per month combined. Putting data aside, it would also be useful for my mom to get a smartphone without having to pay $15 (or $20 with the new plans) for data when in reality she will likely use less than 100MB.
16 weeks ago
just give us unlimited data for 30$ no throttling back:mad:
or i would be gladly pay 60$ a month for only data..unlimited that is..i use data for everything..msg/email/voip/facetime..ect...i dont even really use my mins anymore..its all about DATA now..its the future and its now..LTE my area is faster then my home internet:(
i tweeted AT&T about this like 2 years ago and they said they will consider my thoughts about roll over data..
face it all network carriers are using data as $$$ in there pockets.. yeah 4G is starting to be more wide places sure its fast but also eats up data fast then next thing you know you hit the cap/throttled..thats when you pay more for data..carriers need to be more flex with price and data size plans..phones are getting faster and require more data to use..
lets see what happens...my contract ends this year waiting on iphone 5/Gax S3
or i would be gladly pay 60$ a month for only data..unlimited that is..i use data for everything..msg/email/voip/facetime..ect...i dont even really use my mins anymore..its all about DATA now..its the future and its now..LTE my area is faster then my home internet:(
i tweeted AT&T about this like 2 years ago and they said they will consider my thoughts about roll over data..
face it all network carriers are using data as $$$ in there pockets.. yeah 4G is starting to be more wide places sure its fast but also eats up data fast then next thing you know you hit the cap/throttled..thats when you pay more for data..carriers need to be more flex with price and data size plans..phones are getting faster and require more data to use..
lets see what happens...my contract ends this year waiting on iphone 5/Gax S3
16 weeks ago
Because the goal of the company is to get as much profit as possible.
Ever stop to think that maybe the obsession with bigger profits every year is sucking the consumer dry of money and thats why we are in this terrible financial situation. Every company trying to get more and more adds up. Combine that with the outsourcing of jobs and the record spending levels in congress, and its not hard to see why we are in this situation. These companies will only be able to bite the hand that feeds them for so long. Short term profits do not always make long term success.
16 weeks ago
I'd pay for family data at $10 per 1 GB and $10 per subsized device which accesses that shared data, as long as the minimum was no more than 2 or 3 GB.
Unsubsidized devices, like 3G iPads, should not have to pay $10 to access that data, though. That's ridiculous. There is the cost of the data ($10 per 1 GB), and then there's the per-line fee ($10) which exists purely to offset the subsidy. That fee simply doesn't apply in any logical way to other devices.
Without "unlimited" data, tethering should be free, and tablets should access that shared data without a fee. Now, if there is a concern that Joe would then just share his data plan with 50 tablet-owning friends who almost always use wifi but might occassionally need 3G (and thus 2-3GB remains adequate), maybe charge $5 for non-subsized device access. But $10 is just too much for these. And really, that data still gets paid for, so it just shouldn't matter.
Unsubsidized devices, like 3G iPads, should not have to pay $10 to access that data, though. That's ridiculous. There is the cost of the data ($10 per 1 GB), and then there's the per-line fee ($10) which exists purely to offset the subsidy. That fee simply doesn't apply in any logical way to other devices.
Without "unlimited" data, tethering should be free, and tablets should access that shared data without a fee. Now, if there is a concern that Joe would then just share his data plan with 50 tablet-owning friends who almost always use wifi but might occassionally need 3G (and thus 2-3GB remains adequate), maybe charge $5 for non-subsized device access. But $10 is just too much for these. And really, that data still gets paid for, so it just shouldn't matter.
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