When the news broke several weeks ago that Verizon Wireless was looking to eliminate unlimited data plans and migrate users to tiered data plans, most Verizon Wireless customers were not amused by the news. Fast forward to today, June 12th, and Verizon Wireless has announced that starting June 28th, Share Everything Plans will replace family share plans. This news has spread quickly, with many angry Verizon customers threatening to take their business to another carrier.
But Verizon Wireless believes that this is what their customers want.
Customers asked, and today Verizon Wireless delivered an industry first. Share Everything Plans are the new standard for wireless service. They are simple; customers no longer have to think about their voice and message plans, because both are unlimited. Share Everything Plans are convenient; customers purchase one data plan and they share it with up to 10 mobile devices. And, they are worry-free; customers can connect their 3G or 4G devices wherever and whenever they want on America’s most reliable network.
- Tami Erwin, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is half right, many of their customers have multiple data connections and wanted to pay one price for those connections. But I seriously doubt those same customer wanted to give up unlimited data plans or pay the increased cost associated with Share Everything.
Verizon Wireless’s new Share Everything Plans will include unlimited voice minutes, unlimited text, video and picture messaging into an all inclusive package which will includes shared data. Verizon Wireless will be charging customers based on how much shared data they want to commit to purchasing. Where Verizon Wireless really gets tricky is with a new monthly line access charge which customers will pay per device, based upon Verizon Wireless’s cost determination on that device. At the high end, smartphone users will be required to pay $40 for line access per smartphone. At the low end of line access, the cost for tablets is only going to be $10 per month per tablet.
Here is what the Share Everything Plans will look like:
Monthly Line Access:
Smarthphone - $40
Basic Phone - $30
Jetpack, Netbooks, Notebooks and USBs - $20
Tablets - $10
Monthly Account Access (includes Unlimited Shared Minutes and Messaging):
1 GB of Shared Data - $50
2 GB of Shared Data - $60
4 GB of Shared Data - $70
6 GB of Shared Data - $80
8 GB of Shared Data - $90
10 GB of Shared Data - $100
The equation for calculating your monthly bill under Share Everything is as follows: Device(s) [Monthly Line Access] + amount of data purchased [Monthly Account Access] = cost per month.
Other than taking away unlimited data, the plans themselves aren’t that bad if you use the combination of voice/data/messaging. For me the monthly account access is cheaper than what I am paying now. I am currently paying $60 for 750 minutes + $9.99 for a family share line + $10 for 1000 messages a month + $30 for unlimited data (I use 4 GBs a month max) = $109.99. Under shared data the same usage would be 4 GB of data and unlimited shared minutes and messaging for $70. Where they get me is with the additional $70 for line access charge (1 smartphone and 1 basic phone) that will increase my total cost to $140.00 which is $30 more per month than I am paying now for a total increase of $360 per year.
Verizon Wireless has set up a basic usage calculator for users to check what their bill will be under a Share Everything Plan.
Verizon Wireless is also offering separate plans for accounts with only basic phones, or data only devices such as USB modems or Jetpack Mobile Hotspots. Users will still be able to buy a stand alone data package of 2 GBs for $30.
Verizon Wireless maintains that if a user wants to continue to have an unlimited data plan then they will have to pay full price for their next device.
There is discussion about Share Everything going on in the RootzWiki Forums.
Are you a Verizon Wireless customer? Have you calculated what Share Everything could mean for you and your family? Do you plan on leaving Verizon Wireless because of Share Everything? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
