Verizon (VZ) brings back an unlimited data plan.
Starting Monday, Verizon customers can get unlimited data, talk and text for $80.
The company says the new launch plan also includes up to 10GB of mobile hotspot usage, as well as calls and texts to Mexico and Canada. It will also allow customers to stream unlimited HD video, thumbing its nose at T-Mobile’s controversial practice of reducing video quality for some of its unlimited data customers.
Although the new Verizon plan promises “fast LTE speeds,” those who use a lot of data could suffer. The company said that after a customer uses 22GB of data on a line during a billing cycle, they “can prioritize usage over other customers in the event of network congestion.” . This has become a common practice on all networks offering unlimited data plans.
Related: T-Mobile and Sprint Offer New ‘Unlimited’ Data Plans – Sort of
Verizon first eliminated its version of the unlimited usage plan in 2011, following similar decisions by other major wireless carriers.
But companies have gradually relaunched these projects.
Verizon first overhauled its data usage plans last summer by introducing a new “Safety Mode” plan. Technically, this gave customers access to unlimited data, but they were subject to very slow speeds after going through their allocated data.
AT&T also waived overage fees for customers in September. Like Verizon, AT&T limits customers’ speeds once they reach the data limit of their plans. The company brought back unlimited plans earlier last year, but they’re only available to households with both AT&T’s wireless phone service and DirecTV or U-Verse TV.
Meanwhile, competitors T Mobile (TMUS) And Sprint (Yes) have made their own offers to attract customers looking for “unlimited data” plans.
Almost all New York City subways have cell service
Last August, Sprint began offering a plan giving customers unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data for $60 for the first line, $40 for the next, and $30 for each additional line up to 10.
T-Mobile’s plan, announced the same day as Sprint’s, charged $70 per month for the first line, the second was $50, and additional lines cost just $20, up to eight lines.
CNNMoney (New York) First published February 12, 2017: 7:03 p.m. ET
