Verizon Wireless prepaid customers can snag 1 GB of extra data
Verizon Wireless is looking to attract prepaid customers to its automatic payment program by offering extra data access.
The carrier said that for a “limited time” prepaid customers signing up for its auto pay service will receive 1 gigabyte of extra data every month after making their first automatic payment. The bonus data pushes the carrier’s $45 per month smartphone plan up to 2 GB of total data, while the $60 per month plan is boosted to 3.5 GB of data. Those customers already enrolled in the auto pay program will automatically receive the extra data.
Verizon Wireless has struggled to maintain prepaid customers, posting 188,000 net connection losses during the first quarter of the year. Verizon Wireless’ management noted that the prepaid defections were partially due to customers seeking lower-priced postpaid options at rivals.
Verizon did not appear to be concerned with the prepaid defections, with CFO Fran Shammo telling investors during a conference call that the carrier was not interested in chasing all customers with the lowest price point. Shammo also noted that Verizon Wireless’ wholesale business had a strong quarter, in particular noting its relationship with prepaid reseller TracFone Wireless resulted in approximately 400,000 net customer additions for the quarter.
Verizon Wireless only last year began offering LTE access to its prepaid customer base, having previously reserved its newer network for more lucrative postpaid customers.
Carriers have typically offered a monthly discount on services tied to prepaid customers signing up for an auto pay program. Those programs are seen as lessening the payment risk of no-contract customers.
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