Verizon smartphone customers selecting at least an XL data bucket receive bonus data, carrier refrains from unlimited offer
Verizon Wireless has yet to jump back into the “unlimited” data game, but it does continue to parse out extra gigabytes of data to consumers for selecting some of its services.
The latest move sees Verizon Wireless offering new and existing customers 2 GB of “bonus data” per month for each phone line of service accessing a data bucket of at least 12 GB, also known as “XL” in the carrier’s sizing parlance. Verizon Wireless said up to 10 lines can be used to provide extra data, resulting in up to 20 GB of extra data per month. While eligible for current customers, they will need to pick up a new device using Verizon Wireless’ payment plan for existing lines, or add a new line of service to receive the extra data.
The extra data is available to all lines of service on the account, even tablets and connected devices, which are not eligible to bring extra data to the bucket. The XL data bucket runs $80 per month and includes unlimited domestic voice calling and text messaging, with customers also charged a per-line access fee.
Verizon Wireless earlier this year rolled out a similar 2 GB bonus promotion tied to its Go90 video service, providing an incentive for its customers to download the application. However, the carrier currently does not deduct data usage from its own customers for accessing Go90 video streaming services.
Verizon Wireless in 2011 stopped offering unlimited data plans to new customers, and last year increased pricing on grandfathered unlimited data plans by $20 per month. Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo earlier this year said the carrier was not looking to reinstate an unlimited data option, though some analysts have wondered how much longer the carrier can hold out in light of recent moves by competitors.
Verizon Wireless rival AT&T Mobility recently relaunched an unlimited data offer for smartphone customers, though the promotion is tied to customers also signing up for the AT&T’s DirecTV service.
Sprint last week slashed pricing on its unlimited data plans for smartphones, now offering up to four lines of unlimited services for $150 per month. The Sprint promotion lined up with one launched earlier this month by T-Mobile US offering similar unlimited services at the same $150 per month price point. Both carriers reserve the right to limit data speeds for unlimited data customers once they reach 23 GB of data usage per month.
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