Verizon Wireless

Verizon again increases data allotment for prepaid plans

May 17th, 2013   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

It appears that the nation’s largest carrier understands the opportunities in prepaid. For the past year or so Verizon prepaid has made many moves that cater to a prepaid crowd. While their efforts started off as typically overpriced big carrier offerings, they’ve wizened up and started offering more data and more plans. Their latest move adds even more data to their prepaid smartphone plans. The $60 smartphone plan now gets 2GB of data monthly, up from 500GB. The $70 plan now gets 4GB, up form 2GB. Remember, these smartphone plans work only on 3G EVDO and not Verizon’s 4G LTE network. These plans will be available to consumers on June 6th.

Via FierceWireless.

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Verizon intensifies prepaid competition with $35 plan

April 11th, 2013   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

It appears Verizon prepaid wants to compete on a higher level. In the past they have offered plans that haven’t quite matched those of other prepaid carriers, including those carriers that rent space on Verizon’s network. Tomorrow that will change when Big Red unveils a $35 prepaid plan. It includes unlimited web and texting, plus 500 minutes. Like the $50 unlimited prepaid plan, this new one will only work with certain feature phones: LG Cosmos 2, Samsung Gusto 2, Samsung Intensity III, and the LG Extravert. With name value behind the plan, Verizon could pick up some customers who have been averse to offerings from lesser known carriers such as Straight Talk. THe plan will be available tomorrow at Verizon’s website.

Via FierceWireless.

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New prepaid plans from Verizon on February 1

January 25th, 2013   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

Verizon prepaid got with the times — somewhat — early last year when they announced a prepaid smartphone plan. Like most others it provided unlimited talk and text, but afforded users just 1GB of data for $80 per month, well above the market rate. They later doubled the data in a promotion that ends January 31. But the day after that they’ll introduce two new plans that will put them more in line with the competition. They’re still a bit more expensive, but these plans are much more palatable than the previous $80 plan.

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Verizon doubles prepaid data with limited time promotion

November 21st, 2012   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

When Verizon announced its prepaid smartphone plan back in May, we were underwhelmed. The $80 monthly fee for unlimited talk and text plus 1GB of data is only $10 cheaper than their postpaid version. Since prepaid users are not repaying a subsidy, that seemed like a pretty poor excuse for a viable plan. In an attempt to lure customers who are more drawn to smaller prepaid carriers, Verizon has started a promotion that doubles its data allotment to 2GB. The promotion lasts through January 31, 2013, and will remain effective for customers who continue paying their bills on time thereafter. Interested customers can sign up at Verizon’s website.

Via FierceWireless.

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Verizon now allowing iPhone 4 and 4S on prepaid smartphone plan

October 17th, 2012   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

When Verizon announced its $80 prepaid smartphone plan earlier this year, it felt underwhelming. They already offered unlimited talk and text with mobile web for $50 per month. The new plan amounts to $30 per month for 1GB of data. Plus, they only offered it with a single handset. They later quietly added more handsets, and a few of them were enticing. But few were as enticing than the latest handsets: the iPhone 4 and 4S. The plan works best if you already have one of these handsets; to buy one outright is still expensive (the 4 is $450 and the 4S is $550).

Via Howard Forums.

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Verizon adds more eligible phones to prepaid smartphone plan

August 7th, 2012   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

When Verizion prepaid announced its $80 smartphone plan, most of us came away unimpressed. The plan added $30 to the already existing $50 unlimited talk and text plan, and provided just 1GB of data. Furthermore, it offered just one phone at first, the Samsung Illusion, which cost $170. The Motorola Citrus was also added, but that’s pretty much a non-factor in the Android realm. Thankfully, it appears that Verizon has made a number of handsets available on the prepaid smartphone plan. After the jump, a list of what’s eligible.

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Verizon announces $80 smartphone — plan, with full-priced phone

May 1st, 2012   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

When Verizon announced that it would release an $80 smartphone I thought it was $80 for the phone itself. As it turns out, Verizon meant that it was launching an $80 smartphone plan, to go along with a more expensive Android handset. Yesterday we got the full details on that. The $80 plan includes unlimited talk and text plus 1GB of data — meaning the 1GB of data is essentially a $30 upgrade to the $50 unlimited talk, text, and mobile web plan. Verizon also announced the availability of the Samsung Illusion with the plan. The 1GHz phone is a mid-range Android handset. It will cost $169.99. Both the Illusion and the new plan are available now. You can find them on Verizon’s website.

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Get ready for an $80 prepaid smartphone — from Verizon

April 20th, 2012   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

I have to say, when I saw $80 prepaid smartphone in a headline, I did not think that Verizon prepaid would be the one to carry it. They were once a force in prepaid with their EasyPay plans, but they eventually junked them in favor of consumer-unfriendly pay-per-day plans that cost up to $3 per day. Now they have a $50 unlimited service that mimics the plans of many top vendors in prepaid. Now they’re apparently taking the next step by offering an ultra-affordable prepaid smartphone.

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Verizon adds LG Extravert prepaid phone

November 21st, 2011   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

 
Verizon prepaid has a new handset that users can combine with the $50 unlimited plan. It’s the LG Extravert, and it’s a small touchscreen device that has a full-QWERTY sliding keyboard. It’s really nothing special — it doesn’t even run on Verizon’s 3G network. But it is a touchscreen device that is a small step above the other phones available for Verizon’s Unleashed $50 unlimited plan. It’ll cost $109.99, and it’s available on Verizon’s website.
 
Via IntoMobile.

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Verizon gets official with $50 Unleashed unlimited plan

September 14th, 2011   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

For a while now Verizon prepaid has been testing a $50 unlimited plan in select markets. Last month we heard that Verizon might expand the unlimited plan, and just last week we learned that indeed they would. But we never had word from Big Red themselves. But yesterday spokeswoman Brenda Raney let us know the score. On Thursday Verizon will release Unleashed on a nationwide basis. As we know, the plan costs $50 per month and covers unlimited talk, text, and web — which is right in line with AT&T GoPhone’s $50 plan. Unleashed will be available at Verizon stores, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target. You can check Verizon’s website for more details.
 
Via MarketWatch.

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Verizon’s Unleashed $50 prepaid option coming soon

September 6th, 2011   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

Fans of flat-rate, unlimited plans got some good news a month ago when we heard that Verizon prepaid would expand its $50 unlimited plan from select markets to nationwide. It appears those plans will come to fruition next week. Mike Dano of FierceWireless reports that Verizon will make Unleashed a nationwide offering on September 12. There is no official comment from Verizon, though that’s pretty obvious; they’re not going to comment on something they haven’t yet announced. In any case, look for the announcement next Monday. Verizon figures to get a lot of play around this. $50 is pretty cheap for a big-brand national carrier.

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Could Verizon expand unlimited prepaid plan?

August 11th, 2011   |    Verizon Wireless   |    4 Comments

It looks like big things could be afoot for Verizon prepaid. A few months ago they introduced a $50 unlimited talk, text and web plan in limited markets. While only Florida and California customers can currently take advantage of the deal, that might expand nationwide soon enough. According to a MarketWatch report, Verizon COO Fran Shammo said, “The Trial has gone very, very well for us.” He further noted that it didn’t eat into the postpaid sales, as they had feared. If Verizon does expand the plan, titled Unleashed, they’d bring some more competition to an unlimited field that already boasts players such as Boost Mobile, Cricket, and MetroPCS.

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Verizon launches landing page for Unleashed

April 27th, 2011   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

Earlier this week we learned that Verizon prepaid would release a $50 unlimited plan, mimicking many of its competitors. Verizon now has a landing page on its website for the service, dubbed Unleashed. It is available only in select locations right now, but expect an official announcement soon. As expected, the service features the LG Accolade ($39.99), the LG Cosmos ($99.99), and the Pantech Caper ($79.99). Those in Verizon’s Florida and Southern California markets can give it a try now, while the rest of us will have to wait.

Via Phone Scoop.

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Verizon’s $50 unlimited plan right around the corner

April 25th, 2011   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

Click for larger

For a while we had heard rumors of Verizon trying a $50 unlimited plan. In fact, they had tested one last year, but after pulling it we hadn’t heard much about its expansion. Those rumors came back to the surface in early April, and now, via Engadget, we’re seeing the starter packs pop up at Best Buy. Above is the pricing structure — though it’s important to note that unlimited mobile web does not equal unlimited data. We also got word on a few handsets. The LG Accolade and the Pantech Caper will both come in at $79.99, while the LG Cosmos will be $39.99. This is odd, because the Accolade is a regular flip phone, while the Cosmos has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that works well with mobile web. In any case, there’s not any immediate word on when this will launch, but since it’s already at Best Buy it shouldn’t be long.

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Verizon offers the Palm Pixi cheap on prepaid

December 27th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    3 Comments

For a few months Verizon prepaid has offered a good portion of its smartphone lineup on prepaid. The plans cost $5 more per month, but the biggest cost comes with the handset itself. The Droid Incredible, for example, costs $344.99, while the Samsung Fascinate costs $50 more than that. There appears to be one exception, though. The Palm Pixi Plus is actually reasonably priced at $79.99. You’ll need the prepaid monthly plan plus the $30 data plan. It also includes a $35 activation fee. Still, in terms of prepaid, especially at Verizon, this is one of the better deals you’ll find. I’ve heard many people rave about Palm’s webOS. You can get this deal exclusively at Verizon’s website.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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Verizon changes prepaid rate plans

December 9th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

I’d been looking for this change in the past few days, because I saw that someone on Howard Forums had mentioned it. Verizon prepaid has changed its daily plan rates. They’ve cut out the top-end options, and now the daily fee tops out at $1.99 per day. That provides unlimited calling, with text messages costing 2 cents each. The 99 cents per day plan still provides minutes and texts at 10 cents each. Users also have the option of paying 25 cents per minutes and 20 cents per text with no daily fee. As always, these fees are charged only on days that you use phone — this means an incoming or outgoing call, or an outgoing text message. You can sign up for the plans on Verizon’s website.

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Will Verizon’s prepaid plans have a big impact?

September 13th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

Verizon Wireless‘s announcement of prepaid plans with data options seemed to be a big deal. The carrier is offering up most of its handset lineup for purchase and use on prepaid, for $5 more than its postpaid options. That means a customer willing to pay full price for a handset and a small premium for service can enjoy Verizon’s prepaid coverage. Just how many people will this attract? According to Forbes, not too many. They have an interesting article, complete with manipulatable forecast charts, that explain why this won’t be a big win for Verizon in prepaid.

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Verizon to offer big lineup on prepaid

September 1st, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

We know that Verizon Wireless is going to offer a prepaid BlackBerry plan. We heard murmurs earlier in the year, and the signal seems to be getting stronger. Yesterday those rumors got a bit more concrete. The blog Android Does got their hands on some Verizon marketing material that reveals not only a prepaid BlackBerry, but a prepaid lineup that contains many of Verizon’s most popular smartphones and multimedia handsets. It does look like Big Red is getting serious about prepaid.

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Verizon reportedly set to offer expensive prepaid broadband

August 25th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

When we learned this week that Virgin Mobile would introduce a staggeringly cheap prepaid unlimited broadband plan, we thought it might change things a bit. AT&T, after all, had just gotten through telling anyone who would listen that consumers don’t want unlimited, so Virgin coming through not only with an unlimited broadband plan, but with one for $40 per month with no contract, seemed like a game-changer. Verizon, too, wants to get into the prepaid broadband game. But according to a recent Wall Street Journal report, via FierceWireless, they’re going in quite a different direction.

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Verizon reading prepaid BlackBerry plans?

August 23rd, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    4 Comments

Earlier this year, when Verizon Wireless announced new monthly prepaid plans, we heard rumors that they’d soon be adding BlackBerry service to the offering. Over the weekend, Boy Genius Report received information that Verizon was finally ready to do just that. For an additional data fee on top of your current monthly plan, you should soon be able to add BlackBerry service to your Verizon prepaid account. While this might sound like a plus straight away, there’s a wrinkle that makes it even more interesting.

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Verizon testing a $50 unlimited talk and text plan?

July 21st, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    7 Comments

In the second quarter, Verizon Wireless reported subscriber gains, but those numbers didn’t tell the whole story. A number of their additions came from MVNOs that rent space on their network. These include, most prominently, carriers like Straight Talk and Page Plus. It now looks like Verizon wants to add its own prepaid subscribers. According to many users, they’re now testing an $49.99 unlimited plan in 11 markets. This is something similar to what Boost Mobile did a couple of years ago with UNLT’D. If rolled out nationwide, it could further change the prepaid wireless landscape.

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Could the Pantech Jest be coming to Verizon prepaid?

June 28th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    5 Comments

Every time I see a low-end handset ticketed for a major carrier, I always wonder if it will end up with their prepaid arm. More and more we’re seeing a separation of interests. The big carriers continue to focus on smartphones and other advanced devices, which leaves your more basic models for prepaid. It’s not always that way, but it happens often enough. Via Boy Genius Report we learn of the Pantech Jest, a slider device that acts as the successor to the Razzle. It’s a pretty basic portrait slider, featuring a 2 megapixel camera, GPS, and microSD expandability. My tip-off for the prepaid possibility was the device’s use of 1xRTT data, but I suppose the Razzle has that as well. It could be an interesting option for Verizon prepaid users.

There is no pricing or release date yet. Just a teaser.

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Verizon CFO not worried about prepaid

May 19th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

As we’ve learned in 2010, prepaid is taking over the cellular market. It has fueled industry growth for two quarters, and that doesn’t figure to cease any time soon. Sprint, the nation’s third largest wireless carrier, has put plenty of effort towards prepaid services, even though postpaid generates more revenue. It realizes that competing with telecom giants Verizon and AT&T could be a losing battle, so it’s using its industry advantage in a growing sector. Verizon, however, can continue its focus on postpaid, even if it means neglecting primary prepaid services. At least that’s the impression that CFO John Killian left when he spoke to Down Jones Newswires.

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Verizon gains mostly through resellers

April 23rd, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

Verizon Wireless announced its quarterly results yesterday, and much like AT&T they added more prepaid customers than postpaid. Their overall net adds totaled 1.5 million, about 400,000 fewer than AT&T, but only 423,000 of them were postpaid users. Verizon had another quirk in their results: only 288,000 subscribers came directly through the carrier. The rest of the 1.5 million came from resellers like Page Plus and Straight Talk. This brings Verizon’s indirect connections total to 5 million.

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LG VX5600 could be headed to Verizon prepay

February 19th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new prepaid phone, so I got kind of excited when HoFo user The Sweeper noticed a ditty on Phone Scoop that might be headed Verizon prepay soon. It’s the LV Accolade, a/k/a the VX 5600, which could be an upgrade to the 5500. It features a 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth, and really not much more. It fits perfectly with the new trend of releasing featureless but affordable prepaid phones. No mention of release date or price, but I assume soon and cheap.

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Verizon rumored to launch prepaid BlackBerry

January 27th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

When Verizon Wireless announced monthly prepaid plans that mirrored their postpaid offerings, I wondered if they’d start to allow data services. Previously, this was not an option. Verizon prepaid ran voice and text, and that was it. But with the new plans looking so much like postpaid, it seemed like they had opened up an opportunity. As we learned yesterday, Verizon indeed plans to offer a prepaid BlackBerry. The service should launch within the next three months.

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Verizon adds monthly plans to prepaid lineup

January 15th, 2010   |    Verizon Wireless   |    6 Comments

In November 2007, Verizon did away with their popular EasyPay prepaid monthly plans. The reason, as they told it, was so they could focus more on their pay-as-you-go plans. They introduced new rate plans earlier that month, and with fees from 99 cents to $2.99 per day, it made sense that they wanted customers on those plans. But with other prepaid services changing to a rate plan system, Verizon has adapted. They’ve introduced new monthly plans that mimic their contract counterparts.

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The difference between Verizon postpaid and prepaid coverage

December 29th, 2009   |    Verizon Wireless   |    7 Comments

Verizon Wireless has done a good job of marketing its services. It claims to be “America’s Most Reliable Wireless Network,” and openly displays its coverage map on TV commercials. While Verizon’s coverage claims are true for its postpaid network, it does not extend to prepaid coverage. Verizon’s network does not actually span the entire country. Instead, it covers a good portion, with gaps filled in by roaming agreements with other carriers. Verizon allows contract customers to roam in these areas free of charge, but in most cases prepaid users have to pay roaming fees. Since Verizon has its own prepaid service and a number of MVNOs, it is important to note the differences between prepaid and postpaid coverage.

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Verizon releases its own low-end prepaid phone

November 30th, 2009   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

We often see small, regional prepaid carriers introduce low-end phones. That’s because they don’t subsidize them. Lower end phones are a necessity for a market like that, because unsubsidized phones are so expensive. This time, though, it’s not a regional carrier. It’s Verizon Wireless. According to Howard Forum user The_Sweeper, the are now selling the CDM7076 on prepaid. It’s as basic as it gets, with no mid-range features except a VGA camera. It can browse the mobile Web, though, which is a plus. You can get the CDM7076 on the Verizon website for $39.99. That comes with $10 of airtime, though.

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Verizon introduces prepaid wireless broadband

November 9th, 2009   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

Prepaid wireless broadband plans can benefit consumers. Instead of committing to around $60 per month for 5GB of data on a two-year contract, customers can use service when they need it, paying only for smaller intervals rather than the month as a whole. The problem, of course, is that absent a contract many carriers aren’t as willing to provide ample amounts of data (and some would say that even the 5GB on contract isn’t ample). Late last week Verizon announced prepaid wireless broadband plans. They come in daily, weekly, and monthly intervals, though the price, and most notably price per usage, is far more than their postpaid mobile broadband plan.

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Verizon promoting prepaid service in NYC

June 11th, 2009   |    Verizon Wireless   |    3 Comments

I missed it! Apparently Verizon Wireless wants to make a splash with its prepaid service, at least in New York City. So on June 10, yesterday, when I roamed around the city all morning, they were offering 99 cent cab rides. True, there were only 40 cabs in the select fleet, but they were running to and from major destinations, but I just so happen to be walking up Fifth Avenue. You know, with the emblematic Apple Store. Anyway, I missed out, but it was still a quality promotion to bring awareness to Verizon’s 99 cent daily access charge. However, there will be another promotion later this month.

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Verizon has no plans to offer unlimited plan it already offers

May 20th, 2009   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

Did you know that prepaid subscribers accounted for 80 percent of the adds in the U.S. wireless industry? It sounds like a lot, but when you look back on the earnings reports it makes sense. With Boost Mobile, MetroPCS, and Cricket wireless all turning in stellar quarters, with T-Mobile continually adding more prepaid subscribers than postpaid, and with Sprint continuing their subscriber hemorrhage, it starts to make sense. This has caused an industry-wide focus on prepaid. Well, except for Verizon. Their CFO, John Killian, spoke about the company’s postpaid strategy and why they won’t be expanding their prepaid offer. It’s quite funny, actually.

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Verizon overhauls prepaid plans

February 11th, 2009   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

It’s been 15 months since we saw Verizon eliminate their Easy pay plans in favor of tiered pay-as-you-go service, all with daily access fees. We’ve since seen them offer an unlimited messaging bundle, but other than that things haven’t changed much. They ran a pre-holiday press blitz in which they fooled many sites into thinking they had released new prepaid plans, but really were just pimping their old ones. Starting today, they really will get new prepaid plans. Much has stayed the same, but as always, the story is with what has changed.

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Verizon Alltel merger to close today

January 9th, 2009   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

We’ve known about it since the transaction in June, but today marks the closing of the Verizon Alltel merger. We know of a number of maneuvers Verizon had to make to get the deal done, including a number of divestitures in areas where Alltel and Verizon overlapped. It also included some asset swaps in areas where Verizon and Alltel were the primary services. So yes, as of today Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in America with 78 million subscribers. Our question: what does this mean for prepaid?

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Quick note on Verizon INpulse

December 23rd, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

Why are so many blogs writing that Verizon has rolled out new prepaid offers? I know they issued a press release last week — I even wrote about it. However, that doesn’t mean that there are any new plans. Nothing has changed at Verizon. They’re merely trying to get people talking about their prepaid service — which apparently is working.

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Verizon putting focus on prepaid

December 19th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

A few weeks ago, I saw what I thought was a run of the mill Verizon commercial. You know, the ones where they show the Can You Hear Me Now guy with his massive posse. What I found strange, though, was that the commercial was specifically geared to prepaid. This I thought was strange coming from a major carrier. Then again, we saw that T-Mobile added more prepaid than postpaid customers in the third quarter. So maybe the bigger companies are taking notice.

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Motorola w755 to replace RAZR on INpulse lineup?

October 22nd, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    2 Comments

The Motorola RAZR V3m has been a mainstay of the CDMA cell industry since its inception. There was a time, not too long ago, where it seemed everyone had a RAZR. While those days are seemingly coming to an end, the RAZR is still the top-selling phone in America. Over at Verizon, they only have the RAZR left on their INpulse prepaid service. Could it be exiting even there, though?

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Could the Verizon-Alltel merger fail?

October 13th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    5 Comments

Verizon spent some time last week assuring us that the Alltel acquisition was still happening. This despite the economic turmoil which has affected the nation and the world. Jim Barthold of FierceWireless wonders, though, if Alltel’s debt really will play a part in the proceedings. Apparently, they use $7.7 billion this year, and it’s not the easiest time to refinance. Says Barthold:

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Verizon INpulse gets unlimited texting to any network

October 8th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    42 Comments

Back in July, Verizon introduced unlimited messaging to other Verizon subscribers for their INpulse prepaid service. This cost $10 per month, and provided a number of free messages to other networks. Now we hear, via a kind poster at Howard Forum that they’re now offering an option for unlimited messaging plan to anyone in the U.S. Details after the jump.

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Verizon debuts no-contract plans

September 23rd, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

We heard the rumor last week that Verizon would offer service without a contract starting this week. Yesterday, the news became official. While it’s no INpulse, there are a number of advantages to Verizon’s new plans. Of course, since they’re not really prepaid, there are also a number of disadvantages which might turn off a typical prepaid user.

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Verizon to offer service without a contract?

September 17th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

When it comes to BlackBerry news, I often turn to Boy Genius Report for scoops. They’ve got inside sources with not only service providers, but with Research In Motion, so they always have exclusive content. Today, though, we get a little news on the prepaid end. According to their sources, Verizon will soon offer contract-free plans, much like T-Mobile FlexPay. The rumor has these plans dropping on September 21, which is this Sunday. We’ll be awaiting an announcement. For now, here are the supposed details.

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Verizon INpulse customers get unlimited messaging

July 10th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    3 Comments

One of the biggest customer complaints about Verizon INpulse is the lack of text messaging bundles. Well, your complaints have been heard, and now they have been answered. Verizon has announced an unlimited messaging plan for INpulse subscribers. Well, unlimited to other Verizon subscribers. The plan will also provide 250 text, video, and picture messages to subscribers of other carriers, so you can get your fill all month long. The price: $10 per month.

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Verizon purchases Alltel for $28 billion

June 5th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    5 Comments

The rumors started making their rounds yesterday, and this morning it was announced. Verizon Wireless has agreed to purchase Alltel for roughly $28 billion. This comes less than a year after two venture capital groups finalized their purchase of Alltel. Once this deal passes through the FCC, and likely the Department of Justice, the new company will become the No. 1 cellular carrier in the United States, with over 80 million subscribers total. AT&T, the current leader, has over 70 million customers. Of course, this has looming implications for the companies’ respective prepaid services.

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Verizon open handsets clear new avenue for developers

March 20th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

When Verizon first announced their open initiative, I was a bit skeptical. It wasn’t truly open, after all, so to me, the skeptic, it seemed like a publicity ploy. But as we’ve moved along the timeline, it has seemed like a better and better idea. Verizon laid down the guidelines for its new handset developers recently, so the process should get underway shortly. The best part, though, isn’t in the handset development itself. It’s in the small business potential therein.

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Verizon impermeable to economic conditions

January 11th, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

Okay, so maybe the headline is a bit over the top. Still, Verizon is saying that the recent economic slowdown “has not affected its frontline business units.” This comes a few days after AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said that he’s seeing some “softness” in the consumer market, which could lead to it following a similar path to the economy in general. Many investors believed that telecommunications, now an essential industry in America, would move ahead unabated by economic conditions. Verizon, though, is saying that they’ve seen “no impact on its sales to small businesses, enterprise businesses, or on total control access lines.” Verizon says these industries are “in good shape.”

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Verizon hits Alltel with false advertising suit

January 3rd, 2008   |    Alltel, Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

My first instinct was to place this at our postpaid sister site, but since I already covered a false-advertising-related issue earlier today, I figured why not talk about it here. You know those Alltel “MyCircle” commercials? The ones where the Alltel rep is a blonde playboy, and his competitors — the Big Four — are nerdy underlings. Apparently, there’s a commercial where the Verizon nerd says something about having to extend your contract when changing calling plans. As we learned earlier this year, that is no longer the case.

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Verizon faced New Year volume problems

January 2nd, 2008   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

Verizon was expecting a spike in text message volume from midnight through about 4 a.m. on New Year’s eve/day. Since they had seen 284 million messages exchanged at that time last year, the projection for this year was 300 million. We haven’t seen word of whether texters did in fact send that many, but we were forwarded a radio report that claims that Verizon experienced some issues with its voice network during the first hours of the new year. We found confirmation in the Washington Post.

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Verizon revamps help site

December 13th, 2007   |    Verizon Wireless   |    No Comments

One thing we love about the Internet is how simple it is to go anywhere and find an answer to just about anything. However, some sites make it harder than others. Not that Verizon’s help site was poor before, but yesterday they announced that they’ve overhauled it to make it more user friendly. Specifically, it’s starting to integrate information, so that wireless help can be found from the same search as FiOS help. It makes sense, considering the multitude of telecommunications services Verizon offers.

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Verizon announces move to LTE technology

November 30th, 2007   |    Verizon Wireless   |    1 Comment

We originally heard about this story in September, but Verizon made the announcement yesterday. They have chosen Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for their 4G network. This isn’t something to worry about immediately, but Jupiter Research estimates that 24 million people will be using that technology by 2012. Testing, though, will begin next year.

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Holy crap! Verizon offering third party apps, phones

November 27th, 2007   |    Verizon Wireless   |    4 Comments

At around 7:30 this morning, we were e-mailed a press release regarding Verizon Wireless. We see these all the time. Sometimes they’re newsworthy, sometimes they’re fluff pieces. We assure you this is not fluff. Verizon has announced that “it will provide customers the option to use, on its nationwide wireless network, wireless devices, software, and applications not offered by the company.” You mean…third party apps? We’re not sure what kind of fever the execs at Verizon have come down with, but we’re willing, for the moment, to forgive them for past sins.

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