Verizon nixes phone subsidies and simplifies its data plans

Following the lead of alternative carriers like T-Mobile and Google Fi, Verizon announced today that it will be doing away with phone subsidies (the precise opposite of what it saidlast October) and rejiggering its data plans beginning August 13th. Don't get excited just yet, there's no guarantee that your revamped service charges will be any less than what they are now.

Basically, every month you're going to pay $20 for each phone, $10 for each tablet and jetpack, and $5 for every smartwatch on your plan as well as one of Verizon's four data buckets -- 1GB for $30, 3GB for $45, 6GB for $60 and 12GB for $80. Any data usage over your bucket limit will cost $15 per gigabyte, though you will be able to share the contents of your data bucket amongst 10 devices. The company is also doing away with offering discounted phones with a two-year service agreement, a la T-Mobile. Instead, customers will be expected to either pay for the new device up front or have that cost amortized over a set period and be tacked onto the monthly bill, which was formerly known as Verizon Edge.

Engadget