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.
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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
These companies post record profits every single year. Why not lower the data rates???? :rolleyes:
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.
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.
Because the goal of the company is to get as much profit as possible.
-$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
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.