Verizon to offer flat-fee unlimited wireless plans
NEW YORK — Verizon Wireless (VZ) Tuesday will unveil a plan that offers unlimited domestic calling for a flat fee of $99.99 to $139.99 a month. — Unlimited plans for BlackBerry devices and other smartphones will start at $129.99 a month.
Context & Ripple Effects
A February 18 report had outlined Verizon's expected unlimited voice, data and messaging packages; the announcement makes that previously reported plan structure concrete, including a higher entry price for BlackBerry and other smartphone users. The offer immediately became a competitive pricing signal: AT&T's $99 unlimited offer was framed as a response to Verizon's move.
First-order effects
- Verizon Wireless customers can choose a fixed monthly charge for unlimited domestic calling, while BlackBerry and other smartphone users face plans starting at $129.99.
- AT&T is compelled to match the core $99 unlimited-price point, turning unlimited calling into a direct comparison between the two carriers.
Second-order effects
- The $99 entry tier establishes a visible benchmark for unlimited voice, putting pressure on rivals' pricing rather than just their coverage claims.
- Verizon's separate smartphone starting price preserves a premium segment even as basic calling becomes flat-rate, giving customers a clearer reason to compare device-specific plan costs.
Third-order effects
- If major carriers keep matching flat-rate offers, wireless competition shifts toward plan bundles and smartphone access terms rather than per-minute pricing.
- The split between standard-phone and smartphone unlimited plans points to a market in which data-capable devices are priced as a distinct service tier, even under an “unlimited” label.
The trend: U.S. wireless carriers are moving toward flat-rate unlimited plans, with smartphone service emerging as the higher-priced tier within those bundles.