New Share Everything Plans offer data sharing for up to 10 devices with unlimited talk, text, and tethering included
Verizon Wireless just announced Share Everything Plans offering unlimited voice minutes, unlimited text, video and picture messaging and a single data allowance for up to 10 Verizon Wireless devices. In addition, the Mobile Hotspot service on all the devices are included in the Share Everything Plans at no additional charge.
Verizon new pricing strategy bundles all of your data usage under one account, whereas before they offered separate data add-on plans for tablet usage, wi-fi tethering, or USB modems for laptops. Verizon hopes to attract new customers with these plans, but their existing customers, some of which already have unlimited data plans, may be better off keeping their current service plans.
Remember all usage is unlimited, except for data. That's where they get you. Use more data (knowingly or unknowingly) and Verizon will charge you for it. Verizon's cheapest plans at 1 or 2 GB offer enough capacity for casual web surfing and e-mail, but downloading one or two movies to your smartphone/tablet can quickly put you over the monthly allowance. Surcharges for extra data range from $10 or $15 per GB depending on the plan.
How Share Everything Plans Work
To get started on a Share Everything Plan, customers first select the devices they want on their accounts. The next step is to choose a plan that includes unlimited minutes, unlimited messages and a shared data allowance that begins at 1 GB for $50. Customers adding a tablet on their Share Everything Plans can do so for an additional $10, with no long-term contract requirement. Here's how the billing works:
Step 1: Select Up to 10 Devices
- Smartphones: $40 each
- Basic Phones: $30 each
- Jetpacks/USBs/ Notebooks/Netbooks: $20 each
- Tablets: $10 each
Step 2: Select Shared Data Plans with Unlimited Minutes/Messages
- 1 GB: $50
- 2 GB: $60
- 4 GB: $70
- 6 GB: $80
- 8 GB: $90
- 10 GB: $100
So are these plans a game changer. Not really, unless you have multiple devices and truly understand your data usage. Sprint has been offering unlimited everything plans (including data) for some time, which start at $110/month for one smartphone or $210 for two smartphones. Contrast that with Verizon's new pricing which would be $140/month for one smartphone, $180/month for two smartphones with the 10GB plan.
Availability
Verizon's Share Everything Plans debut on June 28, 2012 and will be available to new, as well as existing, customers who may wish to move to the new plans. To help customers determine the best Share Everything Plan option, Verizon Wireless has created an easy to use online tool at www.verizonwireless.com/ShareEverything. Separate plans for accounts with only basic phones, or data only devices such as USB modems or Jetpack Mobile Hotspots will still be offered. See PDF for additional details.
