Some questions and answers about Verizon Wireless’ new Share Everything plans, which go into effect June 28.
Will Verizon convert me to a new plan, or can I keep my old plan?
Verizon won’t switch you over to the new plan unless you ask. You can keep your old plan, even if you trade up to a new phone after that date and extend your contract. But for new customers, Share Everything will be the only alternative, with a few exceptions, starting June 28.
What type of customer should move to the new plan?
If you already have unlimited calling and texting plans, the new plans are likely to save you money, especially if you have a family plan. If you have a tablet, the new pricing scheme could be a good idea, too. Even if your tablet doesn’t have a cellular modem you can take advantage of the plan, because it lets you create a “mobile hotspot” with your smartphone, so you can go online with your Wi-Fi-only tablet.
What if I have an “unlimited data” plan? Can I keep it?
Yes. But Verizon will no longer let you move the plan to a new phone after June 28, unless you pay the unsubsidized price for it. For most smartphones that will add hundreds of dollars to the price. A subsidized Verizon iPhone 4S costs $200. The price you’ll pay if you keep your unlimited plan: $650.
I’m a current Verizon customer with a 3G phone, but I need faster data downloads. Do I have to go to a new plan if I upgrade to a 4G phone?
No, you can keep your old plan. However, if you have an unlimited data plan, you’ll be paying full price for that spiffy new 4G phone, as mentioned above.
I have a phone and tablet, but they’re on different carriers. Can this plan work for me?
Probably not. The plan encourages you to use only Verizon-compatible devices. But if you have a Verizon smartphone and an AT&T iPad, you could cancel the AT&T service and use the hotspot mode mentioned above. It’s just not as convenient as having direct cellular access on the iPad.
I don’t need a fancy data plan. I just want a regular phone, with no frills. Are the calling-only plans going away?
There will be only one plan for basic phones. It costs $40 per month and gives you 700 minutes of calling. Texting and data will cost extra. For this type of phone, there are cheaper, no-contract alternatives from many companies.
I just want a smartphone, that’s it. The cheapest Shared Everything plan looks pretty expensive at $90 per month, and that’s with just 1 gigabyte of data. Is there no alternative?
There’s one cheaper plan, intended for first-time smartphone buyers. It gives you unlimited calling and texting, and just 300 megabytes of data per month. If you’re frugal with data usage, that will get you by. It costs $80 per month.
Does this mean I can drop my home DSL service or cable modem?
Maybe, if you’re a light Internet user. Adding a data stick or Verizon-connected “hotspot” device to your plan will cost just $20 per month. But home PCs often use a lot of data, especially if you like to watch Internet video. Many households use more than 10 gigabytes per month, the maximum allotment under Verizon’s plan. That much data costs $100 per month.
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