VZW updates prepaid offering

Verizon Wireless updated its InPulse prepaid offering with two new options and the extension of free weekend minutes to existing prepaid customers enrolled in the Plus plan.
The pair of new offerings are dubbed Prepaid Unlimited Talk and Prepaid Basic. For a $4 daily access fee only on the days used, Prepaid Unlimited Talk provides users with unlimited calling and text messages run 1 cent per message sent or received. Prepaid Basic is designed for the less-frequent wireless user and comes with no daily charge, and all calls charged at 25 cents per minute and text messages at 20 cents per message sent or received.
Prepaid customers can add unlimited messaging bundles for $20 per month or an in-network unlimited messaging bundle that includes 250 out-of-network messages for $10 per month.
Brenda Raney, spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, said the carrier’s existing prepaid plans – Core, Plus and Power – will remain, though the Power option will be put on the back burner.
“Core and Plus will stay more visible,” Raney said. “Power will still be there, just not as visible. In the advertising, you’ll see it’s for basic, core, plus and unlimited.”
The Core plan costs $1 per day, only on days used, and includes unlimited in-network calling. Per minute and text message rates cost 10 cents. Plus features a $2 daily access fee for days used, unlimited in-network calling and unlimited night minutes, while weekend minutes and text messages are 5 cents per minute or message. However, Raney said Verizon Wireless will automatically update Plus customers’ plans to include unlimited weekend minutes. The Power plan, with its $3 per day access fee on days used, includes unlimited in-network calling, unlimited night minutes, unlimited weekend minutes, and a 2 cent per minute and text message rate.
It’s likely that Verizon Wireless is hoping to attract more customers with the new prepaid rates, especially after it posted flat fourth quarter results. The carrier’s 1.4 million net adds during the quarter were the fewest subscribers the No. 1 wireless provider has added since the second quarter of 2003.
The new prepaid plans are available today in Verizon Wireless stores and authorized agents and will hit major retailers on March 15.