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: iPad, iPhone

Popular Stories

iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:12 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...

Top Rated Comments

routine_analyst Avatar
184 months ago
sigh

These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates???? :rolleyes:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
184 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)
184 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)
184 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)
184 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)
183 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)