Verizon To Hike Prices On Plans But Offer More Data (cnet.com)

Roger Cheng, reporting for CNET: Big changes are afoot at Verizon. The nation's largest wireless carrier is set to unveil changes to its plans that will make them more expensive, but will also include more data, according to someone familiar with the changes. The low-end "S" plan will go up by $5 to $35 a month, but will include 2 gigabytes of data, twice as much as before. The "M" plan will go up by $5 to $50 a month, while its data will rise from 3GB to 4GB. The "L" plan will go up by $10 to $70 a month, while data increases from 6GB to 8GB. The "XL" plan will go up by $10 to $90 a month, but you'll get 16GB, up from 12GB before. Lastly, the "XXL" plan will cost $10 more at $110 a month, but you will get 24GB instead of 18GB. The changes are part of a broader overhaul of its plans, which will also include a rollover data program called "Carryover Data," a new way to avoid overage fees, and better access to Canada and Mexico. The move reflects a heightened competitive environment, one in which smaller rivals T-Mobile and Sprint have begun winning away customers through aggressive offers. Many of these changes mimic offers already available at the other carriers.

Comments

"Heightened competitive environment"

[Anonymous Coward]

We're in an extremely competitive environment these days. What should we do? Hike rates! yeah, that's the ticket!

Re: "Heightened competitive environment"

[Opportunist]

And it is pure coincidence that this all happens the same time we do it.

Fireworks have damaged Verizon's hearing

[JoeyRox]

And made them tone deaf, because the idea of raising prices even with a new program to allow rollover data is a non-starter in the U.S. market, which already has some of the highest cellular fees in the world.

Data is free to Verizon....

[iCEBaLM]

Verizon is an ISP... Data is free to them. This is simply a way to extract more money out of customers...

You pay WHAT for mobile data???

[DeathToBill]

Bloody hell. Here in the newly-independent UK[1], £11 per month gets me 1GB of data, among other things. Another £3 per month turns that into unlimited data. ANOTHER £2 per month turns that into unlimited data with 4GB of data usable by a device tethered to the phone. That's right, £16 per month for unlimited data on the phone and 4GB for tethered devices. "Heightened competitive environment"? Could still use some work, I think. [1] Yes, yes, I know.