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Rumor Mill: Verizon to require data plans for select feature phones
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Beginning Sept. 8, Verizon Wireless will require certain feature phone users to sign up for data plans, according to leaked slides posted on the Boy Genius Report blog. The move may be an attempt to boost data revenues from customers inclined to use such services.
According to the blog, Verizon will create a new class of devices, called "Enhanced Multimedia" phones, which have a full HTML browser, run on EV-DO Rev. A, have a full Qwerty keyboard and launch on or after Sept. 8. Verizon will require subscribers who purchase these phones to sign up for a minimum monthly data plan of $9.99. The $9.99 plan gets customers 25 MB per month, and a $19.99 plan gives subscribers 75 MB per month (with 50-cent and 30-cent-per-MB overage charges, respectively).
Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney declined to comment, saying the carrier does not respond to leaks or rumors.
That Verizon may be attempting an increased focus on mobile data doesn't come as a surprise. In the second quarter, the carrier's mobile data revenue grew to $3.9 billion, up 52.6 percent from the year-ago quarter. Further, last month rival AT&T Mobility announced a new requirement that any customer purchasing a smartphone or upgrading to one will be required to subscribe to a monthly data plan for $30 in addition to a voice plan beginning Sept. 6.
For more:
- see this Boy Genius Report post
Related Articles:
Verizon Wireless data revenues double in Q2
AT&T requires smartphone customers to subscribe to data plans
AT&T may introduce lower priced data plans
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | September 1, 2009 - 12:48pm
They already require this for the Tour model, as well as a mandatory "international" plan.
Check it out.
Posted by Caprica | September 1, 2009 - 3:56pm
Unbelievable. Their wireless profits double last quarter, and they gouge their customers with unasked for services. Just as with smart phones, "enhanced" phones don't have to have data plans to be functional--some people just want games, or the enhanced keyboard. If bought elsewhere, for non-subsidized prices, Verizon has no right to "tie" data services to phone services--that kind of bundling is not looked kindly upon by the FTC, and the FCC should take a look at how this limits the "openness" of their voice network if some phones are forced to pay what amounts to a surcharge for their use on their network. They can require what they want from the phones they sell at their stores, but those bought elsewhere should not be forced into data plans.
Posted by Anonymous | September 3, 2009 - 11:29am
If they told you the international plan was required, then they lied to you. The data plan is required, but you are NOT required to put the SIM card on the line, therefore not required to add internation capability.
Posted by Anonymous | September 5, 2009 - 8:33am
Monkey see - Monkey do
seeing as AT&T has made a decision to tee-off their subs, why shouldn't Verizon. Good news for AT&T, the people they alienate with their data junk fee have one less choice.
Maybe this will backfire where neither carrier sells high end (high margin) phones.
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