The data plan for the iPhone on Verizon Wireless' network will cost $30 a month, and the carrier is doing away with its tiered data plans for other smart phones.
The good news: The $30-a-month plan will be for unlimited data. The bad news: New customers who might have opted for Verizon's existing $15-a-month option, limiting them to 150 megabytes of data, are out of luck.
The pricing plan was leaked to Engadget, which shared a photo of the new pricing information. Verizon Wireless spokesman Jeffrey T. Nelson confirmed the information to msnbc.com.
He described the $15-a-month plan as a "promotion" that is being "discontinued at the end of January (for all phones). We do offer new promotions from time to time, of course."
AT&T, until now the only carrier in the United States with the iPhone, does offer two pricing plans for data, one at $15 a month (200 MB data limit) and $25 a month (2 gigabyte limit). Some previous AT&T customers are still paying $30 a month for unlimited data use.
The iPhone will be available on Verizon's network Feb. 10. This isn't the only change the carrier has made in anticipation of selling Apple's hugely popular device. Verizon recently ended its "New every two" phone upgrade for customers who re-upped with the carrier for two years.
The leaked info also shows that Verizon will offer a $10-a-month-data plan (limit:75 MB), but only to those with feature phones, which are not as data-capable as devices like the iPhone, Android phones and BlackBerrys. Verizon has not yet commented on that.
Update: 3:30 p.m. PT: Some reports say that the $30-a-month plan is a limited-time offer, based on comments made by Verizon Chief Operating Officer Lowell McAdam in a question-and-answer session after Verizon’s earnings report Tuesday. Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney said McAdam said in the q-and-a session the pricing would be available at least temporarily at launch. That does leave the door open to further changes.
Also, customers who want to use their iPhone as a hotspot will pay $20 additional each month, the same as AT&T charges, and the same price Verizon charges its other smart phone users who do the same thing.
