Verizon Waving Bye Bye to Unlimited Data Plans?

OK, now after reading that post title, try to refrain from completely freaking out for a minute.  We’re talking LTE (4G) here, not 3G.  In New York today, Verizon’s CFO hinted at some major changes coming once their 4G network and devices are ready to start consuming data…

“We will probably need to change the design of our pricing where it will not be totally unlimited, flat rate,” John Killian, chief financial officer of Verizon Communications Inc., the wireless unit’s parent, said in an interview at Bloomberg’s headquarters in New York today.

The company anticipates “explosions in data traffic” over wireless networks as new phones on 4G networks incorporate data- heavy applications, such as video downloads, he said. Verizon is working to keep its network running smoothly as more of its customers switch to smartphones that connect to the Internet.

I’ll admit initially that Big Red makes a semi-valid point here.  The main idea behind 4G is to allow customers to transfer greater amounts of data even faster than they already do, so you can see how the amount of that data being transferred could become an issue.  And now  after reading that aren’t you wondering why Verizon would build a brand new 4G network and 2 years before it goes lives, admit that it won’t be able to handle massive amounts of data usage?  Yikes.

Back on topic now…like I said in the beginning, the rumors of these tiered plans appear to be geared towards Verizon’s new LTE (4G) network.  Will we eventually see the 3G side of things follow along in those footsteps?  Probably.  Will life come to an end?  Only to those that actually use their smartphone like a smartphone.

Source: BusinessWeek

Cheers Anthony!