Verizon today announced that their current unlimited data plan is being divided into three new plans: Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, and Business Unlimited. Verizon introduced its currently unlimited data plan back in February, but they are now changing things up. What’s more interesting is that the new broken down data plans have all kinds of fine print and caveats.
In Verizon’s press release, the company wrote that “These plans give you the best unlimited choices, but you also get what only Verizon can give you: the best network, the best rewards program, the best way to manage your plan with the My Verizon app and the best selection of phones and devices.” What’s interesting is that the company claims “the best network,” but there are many strict network limitations set in place with these new plans.
For consumers, the introductory “Go Unlimited” data plan starts at $75 for a single line, and “Beyond Unlimited” starts at $85 for the first line. The “Business Unlimited” data plan also has similar features to what the regular consumer packages have, but more limitations. We’ll touch up on details more now.
New Verizon Plans
Go Unlimited
1 line: $75/mo.
2 lines: $65 per line/mo.
3 lines: $50 per line/mo.
4 lines+: $40 per line/mo.
If you choose to enable paper-free billing and Autopay, the $5 discount is include. If these are not enable, expect to pay an additional $5 more per month.
- Unlimited talk/text.
- Unlimited mobile hotspot, but your hotspot speeds are capped out at 600kbps.
- DVD-quality video streaming (480p) on smartphones and HD (720p) video streaming on tablets. No possible way to get higher resolution on either.
- Unlimited 4G LTE data, but you will experience reduced speeds during network congestion at all times. This can happen at any time, even at the beginning of the billing cycle.
Beyond Unlimited
1 line: $85/mo.
2 lines: $80 per line/mo.
3 lines: $60 per line/mo.
4 lines+: $50 per line/mo.
If you choose to enable paper-free billing and Autopay, the $5 discount is include. If these are not enable, expect to pay an additional $5 more per month.
- Unlimited talk/text.
- Unlimited mobile hotspot, up to 15GB of LTE speeds. Video quality will be limited to 1080p on laptops.
- 720p HD video streaming on smartphones and 1080p Full HD video streaming on tablets. No possible way to get higher resolution on either, at all.
- Unlimited 4G LTE data, but you will experience reduced speeds during network congestion once you exceed 22GB in a billing cycle. If you sign a two-year contract, that limit is raised to 25GB.
- Free calling, texting, and data in Canada and Mexico.
Business Unlimited
Same features as the two above, but your streaming is limited to DVD-quality video. You also have mobile hotspot usage capped at 10GB. If you’re on a two-year contract, that’s increased to 15GB.
A Verizon spokesperson said that the unlimited data plan that was introduced in February was introductory and would inevitably change. If you’re on a plan prior to this change, you will be able to keep your current plan, but there are still limitations being put in place. As an added bonus for everyone on the previous plan, Verizon is increasing the full-speed LTE hotspot usage from 10GB to 15GB at no extra charge.
There’s one thing you need to take into account. All customers, whether you’re on the godfathered, previous, or newly introduced data plans, your video streaming is being limited. Verizon says that “Moving forward, HD video on all legacy plans will also match Beyond Unlimited’s HD quality.” You will be limited to 720p streaming on phones and 1080p on your tablets.
To be fair, Verizon isn’t the only one implementing these changes. AT&T and Sprint have also implemented similar changes in their wireless plans. Even T-Mobile, the “uncarrier,” is implementing certain changes to limit consumers in their usage.
