Verizon reportedly set to offer expensive prepaid broadband

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. Verizon’s new plan reportedly provides 5GB of data per month, which is right in line with its postpaid offering. But the price, $80, is double that of Virgin. Add to that Virgin’s claim of unlimited and it seems like Verizon’s product will fall by the wayside before it even gets out of the gate. Verizon’s other plans aren’t that attractive either. They currently offer 75MB per day for $15, 250MB per week for $30, and 500MB per month for $50. While Virgin’s plan won’t be perfect — after all, we have seen companies advertise unlimited and not deliver on that promise — it stands to be far superior to Verizon’s. It’s not the cap. Plenty of people can get by with 5GB per month. It’s the $80 price. I can’t see anyone paying that. ]]>

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2 Comments

  1. mike freeman on August 25, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    This has been out since August 17 on their website. It was a good deal till VM upped the ante. Plus Fry’s offers a five gig Verizon deal for $50. Millenicom offers I believe a ten gig Verizon deal for around the Verizon price.
    Verizon is offering prices that are good for them but not really competitive with their rivals. There is a reason why their own mvnos are eating into their prepaid wireless business.
    They are doing a Fifty dollar unlimited talk/text but it is only a test for select customers. Their Blackberry plan has been delayed and there are no real details on it. And their usb broadband plan has had its thunder stolen by Virgin.
    Verizon needs to be more aggressive. Bring out the unlimited plan nationwide. Roll out the Blackberry prepaid /smartphone plan. And maybe introduce a special promo price for the usb broadband to get people in the door.
    The economy’s bad. Verizon can’t sit up it its ivory tower ignoring the reality of how big a deal prepaid’s become.



  2. Smith80 on August 31, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    I use Tracfone which I’m pretty sure runs on the Verizon network. Correct me if i’m wrong but i am pretty sure tracfone’s rates are better. I will say that i do love the Verizon coverage that i get with tracfone.