As part of a promotion, Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) will double the data plan allowances for LTE smartphone customers for free. The promotion, which begins Nov. 8, is tied to Verizon's launch of the LTE-capable Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) Droid Razr, which goes on sale Nov. 11.
According to a CNET article, the promotion will run for a limited time, but the article did not specify how long the offer will last. Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney told FierceWireless the promotion will last "through the holidays" but was not more specific on timing than that.
Under the promotion, which applies only to LTE smartphones, customers who sign up for a 2 GB plan for $30 will get 4 GB per month, those who sign up for a 5 GB plan for $50 will get 10 GB and those who sign up for a 10 GB for $80 will get 20 GB. Verizon will also offer a 300 MB plan for $20 for basic phones as well as 3G and LTE smartphones. Current customers who want the new promotional offerings will have to request the change via customer service or through their My Verizon accounts, and new customers can request the new offerings when they sign up for service, according to the report.
Verizon's motivation for the promotion appears to be two-fold: to promote its own LTE phones, including the Droid Razr, HTC Rezound and Samsung Galaxy Nexus; and also to counter rival AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T), which just launched its first two LTE smartphones, the HTC Vivid and Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket.
AT&T has said its LTE smartphone data plans will be the same as those for its HSPA-enabled smartphones: $15 for 200 MB, with a charge of $15 for an extra 200 MB, and $25 for 2 GB, with a charge of $10 for an extra 1 GB of data. Customers who want to use their device as a mobile hotspot can sign up for the DataPro 4 GB plan for $45 a month, which lets users tether or share the data connection across multiple devices.
For more:
- see this CNET article
Related Articles:
Verizon to launch LTE-capable HTC Rezound with Beats Audio
Verizon to launch Samsung Galaxy Nexus with LTE
Verizon, Motorola remake the Razr as an LTE-based Droid smartphone
Study: LTE handset shipments to reach 154M in 2015
Article updated Nov. 7 to clarify that Verizon's promotional 300 MB/$20 plan is for basic phones as well as 3G and LTE smartphones.