It looks like the industry’s prepaid players are getting some more competition from Verizon Wireless. The nation’s largest carrier today announced new prepaid calling plans, including one with unlimited talk.
The Prepaid Unlimited Talk plan includes no long-term contract and gives customers unlimited calling to anyone on any network for $3.99 daily access charged on the day calls are made and received. The new Prepaid Basic plan is designed for more infrequent wireless users, and with that plan, customers pay 25 cents per minute of talk and 20 cents per text message sent and received.
The prepaid sector has become more competitive as consumers analyze their budgets in a down economy. So far, Verizon Wireless has not been seen as particularly aggressive in the sector, while AT&T promotes its GoPhone and Sprint targets the prepaid sector through its Boost Mobile division. In the last quarter, most of T-Mobile USA’s net additions were prepaid.
Now Verizon Wireless says it will automatically update customers currently on its Prepaid Plus plan with Unlimited Weekend Minutes.
Text, picture and video messaging bundles are available to all prepaid customers with unlimited messaging for $20 per month. For customers who text message to mostly other Verizon Wireless customers, a $10 unlimited in-network option is available that also includes an additional 250 messages to anyone on any network, the carrier says.
New customers can buy the new prepaid plans today at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and authorized agents; the new plans will be at select major retailers on March 15.
Yesterday, no-contract provider Leap Wireless International/Cricket announced its Mobile Music service.
Filed Under: Infrastructure
