[Update] Verizon's New Family Data Plans Begin: It's Called the Share Everything Plan

[dgstorm]

The day has finally arrived folks. The "family data plans" that Verizon has teased for over a year are now in effect and will be available June 28th. Verizon just announced their "Share Everything" data plans. The basic summary of the plans is that users get Unlimited Minutes and Unlimited Texting, shared amongst multiple phones. Each tier of shared data is also shared with every phone. First, they charge $40 dollars per month for each smartphone that you add to the plan, or $30 dollars a month for each basic feature phone. Then you tack on the data plan. The beginning tier is 1GB for $50 dollars. The data allowance doubles for each tier and tacks on an additional $10 bucks, as you can see in the pic above, thus, 10GB of data shared with your whole family will run you $100 bucks a month plus however many phones you have.

A good example is a family of three with three smart phones will cost $120 per month for the phones. Then if they pick the 6GB plan it will cost an extra $80 dollars per month, for a total of $200 for the family.

Additionally, you can add up to 10 devices to this Share Everything plan. Also, mobile hotspots, tablets and other miscellaneous stuff will cost extra. For a complete breakdown, click the source link below.

So, take a few minutes to do the math, and then sound off in the forums if these plans will tempt you away from your current plans...

Thanks to all of our tipsters!

Update: Just as an aside, and to add more clarity... from what I can tell data overages are still $15 per 300 MB over the limit. If you find info to the contrary please share in this thread while we investigate further. Also, these plans are not available until June 28th.

Update 2: We have some additional information to add to this article, and it isn't pretty. First, we will preface this by saying that we received this information directly from a Verizon rep, but he could have explained it wrong or been improperly trained. However, if his information was accurate, then these new plans are what Verizon is migrating everyone too. The next time your contract is up and you try to sign up for a new one to get a subsidized phone, then your only option is to lose whatever plan you currently have and switch to one of these new ones. The only way to keep your current plan is to purchase an unsubsidized phone at full retail, and never sign up for a new contract.

Interestingly, the Verizon rep we spoke to had only been handed these new plans this morning, so it is possible that he was not fully trained to explain things properly. If anyone in the forums can add more information to this, please do so in the thread.

Source: Verizon Share Everything Data Plans Site and Verizon Plan Description

 

[syndicate0017]

This will absolutley tempt me away from my current plan....and my service provider. Adios, Verizon. The 4G speeds are nice, but I'm not just going to grab my ankles for you.

 

[nikecar]

ain't tempting to me, due to that phone charge. If it was like $10 each phone, sure. but $40????? WTH?

That's crazy talk. I swear if ATT offers a lower phone charge, in 2 yrs, i will consider leaving VZW for them as long as the rest is ok. ugh.

 

[kkeys147]

For the same price as three lines with unlimited data, I can have three lines sharing 1GB.
Not very tempting.

 

[syndicate0017]

For the same price as three lines with unlimited data, I can have three lines sharing 1GB.
Not very tempting.

Which is simply moronic pricing structure. Whoever came up with this pricing needs to be taken out back and shot.

 

[77Pat]

As long as I can actually keep unlimited outside of contract, I will consider buying a phone at full price.

Otherwise I will be tempted to look at prepaid t-mobile or straight talk and use a phone from Google Play (especially if they release 5 nexus devices).

I do not use a lot of minutes, but I did use a lot of data between Pandora/Google Cloud and GPS. I have bought a 64gb microsd card, will consider buying a $100 gps, and maybe use my triple play landline more. This might be good for large families, but it seems like a step back in terms of consumption/convenience (at least you are going to have to pay an arm and a leg for it).

I know every company is out to make money and they set a price which they believe is reasonable, but with every content provider pushing cloud storage, this seems a bit much. At least we as consumers have choices and can speak with our wallets.

 

[Insidious]

Well this just sucks... I hate data caps with a passion.

 

[nikecar]

This will absolutley tempt me away from my current plan....and my service provider. Adios, Verizon. The 4G speeds are nice, but I'm not just going to grab my ankles for you.

This reminds me so much of Disney. We have/had annual passes, but they just jacked up their annual rates by as much as $100 on some levels. Sorry, I cannot justify $320 or $500 per person to go to your park, so Busch Gardens gets my business.

same with VZW. that $80 just for the priviledge of having 2 phones on your service is just too much. I understand you want to recoup money, but don't recoup it via a forced enema to us.

 

[nikecar]

For the same price as three lines with unlimited data, I can have three lines sharing 1GB.
Not very tempting.

you get unlmited txts and calls though!!!!

long live WIFI!!!!

 

[npro1464]

This pricing structure actually might make me reconsider my pre-order of the GS3. Even though I'd be "locked-in," I would be screwing over my family by locking us into 2 more years from whenever I receive the phone. I'd have to hope they wouldn't need new phones.

I was hoping the new pricing structure would benefit my family, since my parents only use about 1 GB each. This is absolutely ludicrous. I'm going to check out Sprint.

 

[syndicate0017]

DG, to answer the bold in your OP, I've read that it's $10 for 2GB more if you order more data before you go over. If you just happen to go over, it's $15 for each GB over.

 

[94lt1]

I just called *611 to ask about if you add a line after the 28th... they haven't been trained on this yet.???? Really??? :banghead:

DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!

 

[TheMadTopher]

This is terrible.

I have my family on the unlimited data plan. If I want to change phones at some point, are they going to make me go to this terrible plan? I thought people get grandfathered in, but someone said they are converting people over if they make any change to their account. If so, I'll be going to another provider.

Whichever corporate exec thought up and approved this plan should be fired.

 

[Trusstopher]

One thing that I haven't seen any mention of is what will happen to people with just a single phone? Are they forcing EVERYONE over to Share Everything (even if we don't have anyone to share with on our account), or just mutli-line accounts? If such is the case, will the old pricing structure stick for a single line account?

 

[Trusstopher]

DG, to answer the bold in your OP, I've read that it's $10 for 2GB more if you order more data before you go over. If you just happen to go over, it's $15 for each GB over.

If that is correct then it make sense to pay for 1GB then bump to 3GB (assuming 3 is enough for you) for an extra $10 each month rather than pay $60 up front and only get 2GB.... but after that level it is no longer advantageous.