Some cellular customers on Verizon’s network still enjoy unlimited data on their smartphones like the Apple iPhone, but they won’t be for long.
According to a story from Ars Technica, Verizon is looking to move away from unlimited data plansand intends to force customers to make the transition away from the plans as those customers move to Verizon’s 4G LTE network. As they do that, they’ll have to adopt what’s called a “shared” data plan, in which multiple devices on the same plan draw from the same pooled data allowance. The plus side is that users with multiple devices, like an iPhone and an iPad, can pay once for all the data they use on all their devices; the same goes for families with multiple devices.
Of course, though, that’s not the same as unlimited data. Verizon, like AT&T, has been working to move away from unlimited data plans for quite a while now. AT&T cancelled its plans back in 2010 and only allowed customers who had held unlimited plans at the point when they were ended to keep them. If those users change their plans for any reason, they’ll lose unlimited forever. Verizon went through a similar process in May 2011. Sprint still offers unlimited data plans.