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.

verizon shared data training
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.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forums: iPhone, iPad

Top Rated Comments

mcfrazieriv Avatar
158 months ago
sigh

These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates???? :rolleyes:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ryth Avatar
158 months 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).

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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
littyboy Avatar
158 months 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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
voonyx Avatar
158 months 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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tasset Avatar
158 months 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
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xgm541 Avatar
158 months 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.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ACCOUNT Feature

'Apple ID' Expected to Change to 'Apple Account' Starting With iOS 18

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:13 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to rebrand "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" across its software platforms and websites like iCloud.com as early as this year, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated this change. A mockup of the new Apple Account branding In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new "Apple Account" branding will start to be used later this...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...