Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) MVNO Page Plus Cellular this week introduced a new $69.95 prepaid plan geared toward smartphones. The action is a response to the growing popularity of smartphones among Americans and increasing competition among MVNOs looking to entice subscribers with low prices and expanded data allowances.
Page Plus Marketing Manager Denny Scher said the MVNO introduced the new plan on Wednesday. He said the prepaid plan offers unlimited talking and texting and 5 GB of data, with additional data costing 5 cents per MB. The plan is available to new and existing customers.
Page Plus sells a handful of phones ranging from feature phones like the Kyocera Torino to low-end Android smartphones like the Motorola Mobility Citrus and Kyocera Milano C5121. On its website, Page Plus notes that "while some phones not purchased directly from Page Plus or one of its dealers may work on the Page Plus network, we do not support them and their functionality may be limited."
MVNOs of other carriers offer a more flexible approach to outside devices. For example, Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) MVNO Ting recently introduced a bring-your-own-device service that will allow Ting customers to add almost any Sprint phone to Ting's platform. Others, such as T-Mobile USA MVNO Ultra Mobile, do not sell phones but support a range of unlocked devices.
Page Plus' new $69 plan appears to sit at the higher end of the MVNO scale, though direct comparisons are difficult. For example, Sprint's Virgin Mobile offers unlimited messaging, data and 1,200 minutes per month for $45. Ultra Mobile offers unlimited talking and texting, 1 GB of high-speed data and around 1,000 minutes of international calling for $49 per month. And AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) MVNO H2O Wireless offers unlimited talk and text and 2 GB of data for $60 per month.
Page Plus' new plan could reflect an increased focus on prepaid by Verizon. Indeed, Verizon recently introduced a double data promotion on its $80 per month prepaid unlimited talk and text plan, offering 2 GB of data per month instead of 1 GB.
For more:
- see the Page Plus page
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