Add Verizon to the list of carriers reportedly changing up their data plans.
According to CNET, the carrier will announce a broad overhaul of its data plans this week, offering more data for a slightly higher price. Keeping with its clothing-sized data plan names, the cheapest "S" plan will now offer 2GB of shared data for $35 per month, up from $30 for 1GB. The medium "M" plan will also increase in price by $5, offering 4GB of data for $50 per month (up from 3GB for $45).
The company's larger "L," "XL" and "XXL" plans will all see $10 increases but also larger jumps in data. The "L" plan will now be $70 a month for 8GB (up from 6GB), the "XL" plan will be $90 a month for 16GB of data (up from 12GB) while the "XXL" offering will jump to 24GB of shared data (up from 18GB) for $110 per month.
Similar to earlier Verizon plans, each phone you add to a plan will cost an additional $20, though it gets you unlimited talk and text. Those happy with their current, cheaper plans won't be forced to upgrade.
Return of "unlimited" data
The new plans are just one step in Verizon's data restructuring.
A new "Carryover Data" feature will let customers save unused data to be used in the next month, a move similar to what is already offered by AT&T and T-Mobile. According to The Consumerist, this feature will be available for free to users on all new plans.
The company will also be offering a "Safety Mode" that will allow users to go over their monthly data limits without being charged a hefty $15 per additional GB. Similar to options from T-Mobile and Sprint, "Safety Mode" will slow down, or throttle, data speeds once a user reaches their monthly data limit as opposed to charging them extra. The slow speeds will remain until the customer's next monthly billing cycle starts.
You can check the amount of data remaining on your plan or turn on "Safety Mode" through an updated version of the company's My Verizon app.
The feature will be included on the company's pricier XL and XXL plans for free, with those on the smaller "S," "M" and "L" plans able to add it for $5 more per month. The move is similar to "unlimited" data offerings from T-Mobile and Sprint which slows data to 2G-like speeds after users pass their high-speed 4G LTE limit. It is unknown to what extent Verizon will slow down speeds.
The company will also offer users the ability to use their calling, texting and data plans in Canada and Mexico for no additional charge, something that is increasingly becoming standard across most of the major carriers. Similar to "Safety Mode" the feature will be included for free on the pricier "XL" and "XXL" plans and can be added for a monthly fee on the smaller plans.
When reached for comment on the rumored changes last week, Verizon wouldn't confirm any updates but told USA TODAY to expect "fireworks" this week.
Follow Eli Blumenthal on Twitter @eliblumenthal.
