Verizon To Offer iPhone Users Unlimited Data

Hugh Pickens writes "The WSJ reports that Verizon Wireless, the country's largest wireless carrier, is confident enough in its network that it will offer unlimited data-use plans when it starts selling the iPhone around the end of this month, a person familiar with the matter says. Such plans would provide a key means of distinguishing its service from rival AT&T Inc., which limits how much Internet data its customers may use each month. Verizon has a lot at stake as it starts to carry the iPhone, which it is expected to announce Tuesday at an event in New York City. Verizon, more than any other US carrier, has built its reputation on its network quality, and any stumble in handling iPhone traffic will call into question Verizon's major selling point. On the other hand, if it does handle the iPhone well, then AT&T will have a harder time arguing it didn't mismanage its own network. Anthony J. Melone, Verizon's chief technology officer, says the company has invested heavily in its 3G network to handle surging smartphone traffic, including nine million Android subscribers, up from none a year earlier.'"

Comments

Yeah, right.

[intellitech]

I call bullshit. We should all know the marketing definition of "unlimited" by now.

Re:Yeah, right.

[rudy_wayne]

Verizon will offer unlimited data, until they don't want to anymore.

Re:Not Sure I'm Buying It

[Amorymeltzer]

If Verizon can offer an unlimited (or, you know, unlimited until you read the fine print) data plan that's sturdy and reliable and fast, it will be an enormous windfall for them. Verizon is not only huge, but generally accepted as providing better service, especially in the northeast. Verizon wants money and to be bigger than AT&T - offering unlimited data gets more people to switch to or pick up Verizon service with an iPhone. If they aren't priced very competitive with AT&T, they'll minimize that enormous surge, which they don't want. Make less per person, get more people - totally worth it.

The true winners are, of course, Apple. Either way, millions of people will be buying iPhones for the first and probably not the last time. Toss in the iPad 2 and Lion to round out the corners and 2011 is looking up for Apple. Competition amongst telecoms is better for consumers, but it's better for producers as well.

Re:Competition again?

[srothroc]

Verizon offering unlimited data is, in fact, one of the effects of competition. In order to compete with AT&T and offer a compelling argument for going with Verizon, they have given you -- the potential customer -- unlimited data. That's a win in my book.

Really, really bad timing on your part

[SuperKendall]

Every other time it's been clear it's a rumor. This time it's obvious it's no rumor, there are leaks from techs testing and the news is all over the place. It's like saying that there's not going to be an eclipse just because there wasn't one all last year. New data is at hand...

But the really funny thing about your post is, you make it in the same year Duke Nukem Forever is actually set to release for real...

Re:In "competition", consumers always lose.

[Korin43]

The ultimate goal of "competition" is to achieve monopoly status, by eliminating competitors. That is what "competition" means.

Once you eliminate your competitors, you can do whatever you want to the market.

Why would you want consumers to suffer through competition?

Assuming we're not talking about assasination, the way to "eliminate competitors" in a free market is to have a better product. If your product is so good that no one else can compete, then who cares? If you start trying to abuse your monopoly position, new competition will come.

Of course, there's always the modern definition of "competition", which means only compete with a couple other companies, and use your influence in the government to make competition either illegal (cell phone carriers with government issued monopolies, computer hardware companies with patents) or impossible (Walmart and Conagra with subsidies). I don't see how more government control would help that.

Re:In "competition", consumers always lose.

[Helix_Sky]

Assuming we're not talking about assasination, the way to "eliminate competitors" in a free market is to have a better product.

• Or undercut your competition by temporarily subsidizing your product with money made from other sources.
• Or undercut your competition by reducing production costs by dumping your hazardous wastes, neglecting the safety of your workers, or off-shoring to countries that don't enforce standards.
• Or simply buy up your competition to eliminate competitors.

I don't see how more government control would help that.

That is what government regulation is for. It is to ensure that the best product wins under its own merits and that all costs are taken into account.

Re:Not Sure I'm Buying It

[icebike]

I'm betting they will be adding a small amount of crapware, but part of the reason they didn't get the iPhone 3 years ago was because Jobs wouldn't let them cripple it or control it.

Jobs hasn't gotten any more accommodating over the years so I'm guessing VZW is taking the phone pretty much as dictated.

That doesn't mean it will be as fast or as friendly as the GSM models, because CDMA does calls OR data, and unless you are on wifi concurrently, you will have to wait till your call is done to check your facebook status or send that email.

Nor do I expect a lot of iphone users to immediately jump ship. Oh, they talk big in their hatred of AT&T, but when it comes to paying off that existing AT&T phone while starting a contract with VZW for the new phone the economics of the situation will quell their bravado.