Verizon Wireless confirmed to Fierce Wireless it will introduce tiered data plans for smartphone customers starting July 7. The nation's largest carrier has previously indicated it would follow AT&T
in adopting tiered pricing, but hadn't specified a date. The plans will cost as follows: $10 for 75 MB of data per month, $30 for 2 GB, $50 for 5 GB or $80 for 10 GB. There will be an overage charge
of $10 per GB of data. Verizon said existing customers who upgrade to a new device on or after July 7 will be able to keep their unlimited plan.
Mobile hotspot users will also have to
starting paying a monthly fee. Current 4G hotspot owners will be charged $30 for unlimited use New customers will have to pay $20 for an extra 2 GB of data to be used for the mobile hotspot service or
any other data service. Sprint remains the only remaining U.S. major carrier that hasn't adopted tiered data pricing, though CEO Dan Hesse hasn't ruled out the possibility.--Mark Walsh
