Shared Data Plans Likely Coming to Verizon in 2012

Wednesday December 7, 2011 11:59 am PST by Eric Slivka

Fierce Wireless reports on comments from Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam in which he acknowledges that the carrier is planning on rolling out shared data plans in 2012.

Depending on how the sharing is implemented, the carrier could allow a single customer with multiple devices such as iPhone and a 3G iPad to draw from a single data monthly allotment rather than requiring separate data plans for each device. Shared data could also show up in family plans, where multiple family members could pull data from a single allotment much as they can today with voice minutes.

McAdam said that customers who are dealing with four or five screens--smartphones, tablets and USB modems for laptops and the like--do not want to pay for all of those devices on separate bills, and neither does Verizon. "I think in 2012 we will see it," McAdam said at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. "We have been working on this for a couple of years. Getting to one bill and getting to account-level pricing is our goal."

European carriers have led the way in data allotment sharing with iPhone and iPad plans, and Verizon and AT&T had previously disclosed that they too are working on such offerings but had not offered any timeline for introducing such plans.

Top Rated Comments

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MacAddict1978

113 months ago

"We have been working on this for a couple of years. Getting to one bill and getting to account-level pricing is our goal."

I don't see how this takes years of planning to figure out. I think more to the point, he means, "We've ignored the ideas for years to lock as many people into contracts as possible before the pressure from foreign companies made us look bad for not offering it. Now that they are making us look like evil money grubbers, we feel it's time to offer this option as soon as we can figure out how to squeeze you as much as we can on a shared plan."

It's a great idea, and I hope everyone follows suit. My sarcasm aside, why can't I just share my data from my iPhone with my iPad period? Same price, same plan... and ding me if I go over.

Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)

levitynyc

Why do i get the feeling that this won't help consumers and end up being more expensive in the long run?

Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

theheadguy

With all of our advances and infrastructure improvements, there really is no excuse not to have unlimited data on these Apple devices. Things like shared data are just ploys to keep the sheep moving.

The excuses of how data-intensive our iPhones and the alike have become is hogwash. They act as if they have not been upgrading towers, installing fiber optics around the world, and raising prices.

What a joke.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

dacapo

Good idea. I'd seriously consider switching to Verizon if this became reality.

EDIT: But then, they'll probably charge more right? Will have to crunch some numbers at that time I guess.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)