Report: Verizon To Require Data Plan For 'Multimedia' Devices

  • September 1, 2009
Verizon Wireless will require data plans for what it terms "enhanced multimedia phones," or devices which have launched on or after Sept. 8, have an HTML browser, upgraded EV-DO wireless broadband, and a Qwerty keyboard, according to the Boy Genius Report.

Citing an internal Verizon slide deck, the mobile-focused blog reported that customers who buy an enhanced multimedia phones will have to pay choose a monthly data plan of $9.99 for 25MB or $19.99 for 75MB. It expects the forthcoming Samsung Rogue from Verizon will be the first handset to fall into this new category.

The move would follow AT&T's recent step to start requiring all smartphone customers to subscribe to one of the carrier's data plans. Mobile operators have become increasingly focused on accelerating data revenue to drive overall wireless growth.

Other changes in the works at Verizon would call for replacing the $15 V Cast Vpak for new subscribers with a $10 "V cast Video On Demand" plan. While the Vpak provided unlimited data for feature phones, the new $10 VCAST plan would offer only unlimited videos, requiring either the $9.99 or $19.99 data option to also get Web access, email and other data services (or pay $1.99/MB without a data plan), according to Boy Genius. Got all that? --Mark Walsh

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2 comments about "Report: Verizon To Require Data Plan For 'Multimedia' Devices".
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  1. Elise Richardson, September 1, 2009 at 3:22 p.m.

    Requiring us to purchase a data plan simply because we have smartphones is ridiculous. Did these companies not see the research noting that downgrading mobile plans was the first thing to go when people are trying to save money?

    Charging more and delivering less for the vcast service will not go unnoticed by consumers. I sincerely hope that these companies see a drop in the number of devices sold.

  2. Matt Ellsworth from FLMSC Inc., September 1, 2009 at 9:06 p.m.

    oh goodie -- find more ways to make not having a blackberry seem like a waste of time... if a $10/data plan is required for you to get a whopping 25 MB... you might as well spend $30 for the blackberry data addon -- or just find a new carrier.

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