Verizon has grandfathered an unlimited data plan for more than five years now, but despite price increases some heavy data users have held heroically on to the plan. However, this week the company looked like it finally had enough.
In a recent statement it threatened to cut off users that exceed 100 GB per month unless they opt for a limited data plan like the rest of us mortals did. Unlimited users now have time to think their options over until August 31.
Amazon discontinued its $29.99 unlimited data plan for mobile users on July 7, 2011
- but some users were allowed to keep their current plans even if they switched to a new phone or added a new line after that date.
- Users who opted for the plan before July 7, 2011, were also allowed to hold on to it.
In the meantime, the price of the plan has slowly climbed but heavy data users were not easily discouraged. They resisted Verizon’s every attempt to lure them to limited data plans including data throttling which became illegal under the net neutrality rules. Still, some carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile USA currently throttle their heavy users when networks are congested.
So, this may be the carrier’s last move to dishearten excessive users: switch to limited data plan or face disconnection.
The company explained that its current network cannot support data gobblers, and since the network is a “shared resource” everyone should have a “great mobile experience.” Verizon added that unlimited data users are a “very small group” which consumes “extraordinary amount of data.”
The carrier also said that unlimited users now exceed the 100 GB limit, which is its most generous data plan on offer to date. Furthermore, the 100 GB data plan, which costs $450 per month, is designed for more users or devices, but unlimited users consume the data all by themselves.
If unlimited users fail to switch to a limited plan by the end of next month, their lines will be shut down. Still, they’ll have 50 more days at their disposal to make the switch afterwards.
Currently, 99 percent of users are on plans that impose monthly limits. But unlimited users probably pay for their grandfathered plan on a monthly basis as their agreement has long expired.
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