Data Plan Pricing

[admin_mvu]

Verizon Wireless
Unlimited (w/additional voice plan) $60
Unlimited (w/out voice plan) $80

T-Mobile USA
Unlimited data transfer $50
Unlimited, plus corprotate e-mail $60

Sprint Nextel Corp.
40MB $40
Unlimited (w/voice plan) $60
Unlimited (w/out voice plan) $80

Cingular Wireless
5MB $20
10MB $30
20MB $40
50MB $50
Unlimited (w/ additional voice plan) $60
Unlimited (w/out voice plan) $80

[ClwTL]

there is a huge difference between vzw and the other providers. where as the other providers have one network that carries data and voice, vzw has two different networks for voice and data. This sounds like it would be about the same but if there are alot of people on the voice network it wont slow the data transfer speeds like the other providers. also when these other providers make enhancements to their network they have to take all calls off the network for 20 minutes to 2 hours. when this happens, both data and voice are down but when vzw does data upgrades you can still use voice or vice versa.

[ClwTL]

also forgot to mention, when hurricanes or bad weather comes and knocks out voice you can still send text messages with data. when that happens on the other carriers both are down. thats why vzw donated several thousand phones to the katrina relief situation because we were the only provider that still worked in the city... or what was left of it

[admin_mvu]

Interesting tidbit.

I remember talking to Verizon planning people back in 2002 before they rolled out 1xEV-DO service. They mentioned they wanted to have their data network on the separate network from voice, so they can somewhat guarantee high data rate for the data service subscribers and sell it as premium service.