Verizon Brings Back Unlimited* Data Under mounting competitive pressure from T-Mobile, Verizon has brought unlimited data back from the dead. According to a company announcement, starting today Verizon's now offering customers unlimited US data, calls and texting for $80 per month ($45 per line for a family of four). AutoPay and paper-free billing to sign up for the new plans, Verizon's first true foray into unlimited since the company shifted to metered plans back in 2011.

Unlike T-Mobile and Sprint, Verizon says there's no throttling of video, games or music by default on these unlimited lines. There is, however, a 22 GB cap after which your connection may still be throttled. Verizon notes that to "ensure a quality experience for all customers, after 22 GB of data usage on a line during any billing cycle we may prioritize usage behind other customers in the event of network congestion." The company adds that it doesn't "expect to do that very often," and that "network management is a crucial tool that benefits all Verizon customers." We had just gotten done noting that the move was a necessary one for Verizon, which now faces a T-Mobile network that is gaining ground in both speed and coverage. That's eroding Verizon's long-standing claim that it didn't need to compete more seriously on price -- or offer unlimited data -- because it had the far-superior network. But it's also a sharp about face for a company that for the last several years has breathlessly insisted that consumers neither need nor want unlimited data, and has cracked down fiercely on its grandfathered unlimited data users for years. "We’ve built our network so we can manage all the activity customers undertake. Everything we’ve done is to provide the best experience on the best network -- and we’ve built it for the future, not just for today," said Ronan Dunne, president of Verizon’s wireless division. “We also fundamentally want you to have more choice. We’re not limiting you to a single plan. If you don’t need unlimited data, we still have 5 GB, S, M, and L Verizon plans that are perfect for you." The move now puts some interesting pressure on AT&T, who currently only sells unlimited data if consumers bundle their cellular connections with AT&T's DirecTV television service. You can find additional detail in Verizon's You can find additional detail in Verizon's full announcement







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Most recommended from 204 comments



simlesa

Premium Member

join:2006-04-14

Astoria, NY 34 recommendations simlesa Premium Member Good for T-Mobile customers? I hope this move will get T-Mobile to again compete on price. They have been increasing the price of packages slowly over the last couple of years. CyberGuy

join:2006-08-21

Colbert, WA 16 recommendations CyberGuy Member That word, they keep using it I do not think it means what they think it means.



200GB+ a month still get your service terminated?

atuarre

Here come the drums

Premium Member

join:2004-02-14

EC/SETX SWLA 15 recommendations atuarre Premium Member RE For a limited time only, until their financials improve and they lure those pesky T-Mobile customers back (see Verizon sub-reddit about people talking about they are going back to Verizon). Be sure to lock them in with one of those device agreements also. Some people never learn

Anon58659

@digitalocean.com 14 recommendations Anon58659 Anon AT&T I applaude verizon for providing unlimited data with hotspot options. I live in a rural area no other options but satellite and cellular. I am a AT&T customer.



I am hoping they do the same with cricket unlimited plan(offer a hotspot option). raffy616

join:2001-01-02

Jersey City, NJ 11 recommendations raffy616 Member Shared Unlimited Looks like it's...



80 - 1 line

110 + 20 + 20 = 150 - 2 lines

110 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 170 - 3 lines

45 + 45 + 45 + 45 + = 180 - 4 lines



Plus taxes, fees and device payments cahiatt

Premium Member

join:2001-03-21

Smyrna, GA 11 recommendations cahiatt Premium Member Verizon spokesperson..... "Our customers have no need or interest in unlimited data. Our network is just that good...." fenix_jn

join:2006-12-28

Miami, FL 9 recommendations fenix_jn Member Remember... *Unlimited 22 GB/month is known as unlimited now... Os

join:2011-01-26

US 8 recommendations Os Member What will AT&T do? They're the only ones not providing "unlimited" without a catch. Considering they've had the largest subscriber losses, I suspect we'll see a "me too" offering soon enough without DirecTV.



It will be interesting to see what, if anything, T-Mobile and Sprint do to respond considering their competitive advantages have been compromised, and whether it is true today or not, Verizon is still perceived to have a superior network. QLR

join:2009-06-23

Tallahassee, FL ·Comcast XFINITY

8 recommendations QLR Member Meh... I have no desire to switch from my old unllimited data plan.



I refuse to do auto pay and without it, I will only save about $4. I don't tether nor do I call outside the USA. Sad that most discounts won't apply to the plan.



Not horrible, but that "deprioritization" angle is fishy. rradina

join:2000-08-08

Chesterfield, MO ·Charter

3 recommendations rradina Member Competition While some speculate that this may be temporary, the 800lb question in the room is are there still those that think this would have happened if ATT bought T-Mobile? Is this proof that competition, not regulation, is the foundation of consumer protection? Where is the political party that believes both in smaller government and bigger is not better with respect to M&A activity?



I'm certainly not suggesting that competition solves everything. For instance, we still need a good set of privacy and each-packet-is-sacred* rules but thanks to competition consumers have more choices like:



1) Unlocked phones

2) Contract free service

3) Unlimited data, voice and text

4) Prices that are inclusive of taxes/fees/etc.



* - I've stopped calling it net neutrality because that term has been conflated with Title II and a government takeover of the Internet.