Verizon Finally Unveils ''Share Everything'' Shared Data Plan Discussion

[Ed Hardy]

Verizon Wireless has become the first U.S. carrier to create a shared data plan, in which multiple devices can draw from a pool of data. Its Share Everything plan will offer users a range of options.

Read the full content of this Article: Verizon Finally Unveils ''Share Everything'' Shared Data Plan

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• T-Mobile Won't Be Offering a Shared Data Plan
• Verizon Bringing Worldphone Capabilities to Many Recent Models
• Verizon Completely Ending Unlimited Data Plan
• AT&T's Shared Data Plan is Coming Soon

[r0k]

So it's $40 per smartphone plus at least $50 for shared everything including 1 GB of shared data. This means my family of 4, using 4 iPhones would have to write Verizon a $210 check every month plus device insurance and any other little niggles they find a way to charge us for. That's too expensive. This price structure would make more sense if smart phones were $20, tablets $10 and feature phones $5. Geez.

[lelisa13p]

Those numbers would be too high for me, too. I hope that AT&T doesn't use those as a comparison when structuring their plan, whenever it happens. Also that it won't be a "forced upgrade".

[brickman65]

I hope it's not a forced plan either! If it is...I may be forced to move to Straight Talk or similar. Thinking about it anyway. I am more worried about the new iP5 being LTE with automatic plan upgrade with no LTE even close to me!

[Adama D. Brown]

So it's $40 per smartphone plus at least $50 for shared everything including 1 GB of shared data. This means my family of 4, using 4 iPhones would have to write Verizon a $210 check every month plus device insurance and any other little niggles they find a way to charge us for. That's too expensive. This price structure would make more sense if smart phones were $20, tablets $10 and feature phones $5. Geez.

This is actually far worse than even I was afraid of: not only is it not significantly cheaper, it's actually a price hike on data compared to what they have been doing.

Right now, each smartphone is $30 for 2 GB nominally, although you can currently get 4 GB with a 4G phone, and $30 for 3 GB on a tablet. Under the new plan, three smartphones with a total 6 GB of data would cost you $200 per month.

Contrast that to Verizon's current "Talk and text" shared plan. Three smartphones would still cost you $200, but you'd be getting a total 12 GB of data, rather than 6.

Granted the new plan includes unlimited minutes, but in an era of unlimited mobile to mobile and unlimited nights and weekends, that's hardly a big deal. So at best, the net result is exactly the same price as the previous structure, and at worst you're paying the same money for half the service.

[Varjak]

It apparently amounts to a 28 percent price increase. And there are no individual plans (I think). I think that 4GB deal is done with (as of June 5th I think).

[jigwashere]

What will this mean if Verizon is successful with this type of increase? Other carriers will be emboldened to increase their rates, too, don't you think?

[Adama D. Brown]

What will this mean if Verizon is successful with this type of increase? Other carriers will be emboldened to increase their rates, too, don't you think?

I would imagine so. I seriously doubt that AT&T is going to miss the opportunity.

[rkevwill]

I still remember when I was in a Verizon store, quite a few years ago, to get my StarTac repaired or replaced. I asked about Bluetooth for hands free calling, and the manager told me Verizon would never use bluetooth, as it wasn't a technology that they could control. I still think of them being very conservative when allowing advances, and then charging an arm and a leg. Still, they have great coverage, and I still consider and check their plans when searching for a new phone.

[questionfear]

I am very confused by this...according to the verizon estimator, we'd pay $150 for two iphones. The thing is, with taxes and including a corporate discount, we pay 160 right now for two iphones (+ 1 hotspot tethering plan). So we'd pay about the same...? I need to look more closely at my VZW bill and figure out what our baseline is before discount, since that will give me a better idea of whether there's any cost savings.

I suspect if there IS a cost savings, it has more to do with the 20% corporate discount being spread differently...if it applies to the whole plan, and not "everything except for the extra line charge/hotspot charge/other random niggles" like I think it does now. But I am in no rush to change it and find out!