Andre Yoskowitz
19 Oct 2010 15:45
Verizon Wireless will start their tiered data plans for smartphones next week, says the WSJ, following AT&T's decision in June to remove unlimited plans in favor of more restrictive, but cheaper subscriptions.
Subscribers will now have the chance to purchase 150MB a month for $15, or keep their unlimited plan for $30.
Both Verizon and AT&T have said in the past that 95 percent of users don't need unlimited plans as a good portion use under 100MB per monthly cycle.
Five percent of smartphone users use about 50 percent of all data bandwidth, added Verizon.
"It's designed to make data more affordable for entry-level users," added Roger Entner, an analyst for Nielsen. "There's a large number of people who simply can't afford $30 for data."
For now, the $15 plan is a "holiday promotion" but Verizon hopes to make it permanent if it's successful.