Verizon Wireless Introduces Data-Only Plans That Don’t Include Voice
By Tricia Duryee - Mon 14 Apr 2008 03:23 PM PST
Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) said tomorrow it will start offering three new plans that are the opposite of what people are used to—they include unlimited data, but no voice. The three plans include unlimited text messages, picture and video messaging and instant messaging, and on an individual basis, provide email or Web browsing. When it comes to voice, each minute will cost the user up to 40 cents apiece.
Here’s the three plans:
-- For consumer devices: For $34.99 a month, a user gets unlimited mobile Web access for $34.99. Voice minutes are 40 cents apiece.
-- For BlackBerry devices: For $54.99 a month, a user gets gets free email and Web browsing. Voice minutes are 25 cents apiece.
-- For PDAs/Smartphones: For $54.99 a month, a user gets email and Web browsing. Voice minutes are 25 cents apiece.
If that sounds expensive to you, you are right. For instance, the plan won’t make sense if you speak more than 62 minutes a month because the monthly total would easily reach Verizon’s most basic plan includes 450 minutes and unlimited messaging for $59.99 a month. And, heaven forbid the person were to splurge and speak for 450 minutes, it will cost them a lot—about $180 in additional fees on a consumer device, and $167.49 on a Blackberry or smartphone. A spokeswoman said they weren’t sure how many people were going to be interested in the plans, but “we have definitely seen a growth in messaging and are always looking at developing plans that give our customers choices that fit the way they want to communicate.” One niche that is expected to be interested in it initially is the deaf community who uses text to communicate.
Verizon also announced today a confusing array of email offerings and price plans. For instance, the Basic Exchange Plan includes POP3 and IMAP e-mail protocols and 25 MB of storage and Outlook Web Access for $7.99 a month. The Premium Exchange Plan includes POP3 and IMAP support and 100 MB of storage for $14.99 a month.
Posted in: Companies, Operators, Verizon
