Verizon’s Unlimited Plans Are Official

Verizon Wireless confirmed our sneaking suspicions of an unlimited plan today. The breakdown is as follows, but there are some hidden unlimited plans and decreases in monthly voice pricing scattered throughout the site as well. First, let’s start with a breakdown of the new prices:

The unlimited plans don’t stop there, though.

On the PDA/Smartphone and BlackBerry pages, you can grab an unlimited e-mail plan for $129.99 that includes up to 5GB of data (yep, unfortunately they kept the data glass ceiling). On yet another page, we discovered that unlimited e-mail and messaging on these devices will cost $149.99. But who’s really saving?

It’s a good deal for anyone that currently pays for over 1,350 minutes per month. Previously, someone paying for 4,000 minutes paid a minimum of $149 just for voice. Now that person can pay $99 and add on other features, like unlimited data, and still pay $10 less than they originally were for a normal voice plan. Let’s also say, hypothetically, that this heavy-talker bought an LG Voyager and the 4,000 minute plan. The Voyager also supports VZ Navigator, and the VPak and messaging. Messaging alone would have cost $15 for unlimited IN and 1,500 out messages. The VCast VPak is $15, and VZ Navigator is $10. Together, that’s $189. With the new plan, that same person can get all of these features for $139, for a total savings of $50.

So who’s benefiting most from the new Verizon Unlimited plan? It’s primarily customers that are typically spending a lot of money to use its full range of services, but this will also nab Verizon Wireless $20 extra per month from loads of families that are worried about accidentally overstepping the allotted 1,350 minutes for their current $79 plan. It’s a smart move on Verizon Wireless’ part.

In other news, Sprint’s unlimited calling plan remains the same $99 for an all you can eat voice and data buffet. Unfortunately, it’s limited to just five cities while Verizon Wireless’ deal is nationwide. Helio, a smaller company, has been offering the same $99 voice/data deal since May 2006 but doesn’t have nearly as much coverage as the big 4 carriers.