We might soon get some sense of how much "unlimited data" plans affect consumer usage, and mobile network infrastructures, as all four leading U.S. mobile firms now offer unlimited-usage plans.
Verizon Wireless has introduced an unlimited data plan. The Verizon Unlimited plan costs $80 a month, for unlimited data, talk and text, using paper-free billing and AutoPay features.
Both T-Mobile US and Sprint gained market share in the second half of 2016, presumably on the strength of aggressive “unlimited usage” promotions. Verizon previously had stopped selling unlimited plans in 2011.
At the moment, all four leading U.S. carriers offer unlimited usage plans of one sort or another.
Just prior to the Verizon announcement, Sprint introduced a new family promotion, offering five lines of unlimited data for $90 per month excluding taxes and fees. Sprint's promotion lasts through March 31, 2017.
A current T-Mobile US unlimited plan costs $180 plan for five lines and $160 plan for four lines, including taxes and fees.
Multi-user plans cost $45 per line for four lines. Some nevertheless are going to complain. After 22 GB of data usage on a line during any billing cycle, Verizon says it “may prioritize usage” in the event of network congestion. That “throttling” feature always is criticized in some quarters as a violation of the “unlimited” feature, but others simply see that as “fair use” policies.
Also included are up to 500 MB per day of 4G LTE roaming in Mexico and Canada.
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