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AT&T and Verizon in US mobile price war
18 January 2010
The two biggest US mobile operators have started a price war, reducing rates for standard services but adding fees for data usage on smartphones
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AT&T
Verizon
Verizon Wireless
Vodafone
Comment: Competition is warming up in the US. Penetration in the US mobile market is still way below that in other developed economies and AT&T and Verizon Wireless’s moves might push the level towards the 100% that we have come to expect elsewhere.
Verizon Wireless and AT&T have slashed rates on their calling plans by about 30%. The move is in response to rising competition among US mobile operators.
The two companies are replacing monthly unlimited voice plans costing $100 with $70 plans and launching two-line unlimited voice family plans for $120 a month. Text messaging and mobile internet access cost extra.
Verizon Wireless, jointly owned by Verizon and Vodafone, has also changed its mobile phone data plans. The changes will hike up costs for heavy data users and require all 3G multimedia phone users to sign up for a $10 per month data plan.
Owners of smartphones including iPhone, BlackBerry and Android models will continue to pay $100 a month for voice, messaging and mobile internet service.
AT&T will start requiring all customers buying mid-tier to high-tier phones to pay at least an additional $20 per month for texting or data services. GTB
More from GTB:
Interview with Dick Lynch, CTO of Verizon Wireless http://www.globaltelecomsbusiness.com/Article/2199389/Verizon-and-Vodafone-evolve-together-towards-the-fourth-generation.html