dslreports logo
 story category
Verizon The Most Successful At Purging Unlimited Data Users

It's no mystery that wireless carriers have pushed hard to get users on metered data plans, hoping to raise data revenues as the SMS and voice minute cash cows head out to pasture. After introducing shared data plans carriers grandfathered unlimited usage users, but have used every trick in the book to get those users to switch to metered options.

Click for full size
Want a subsidized handset? You're no longer grandfathered. Want Internet video apps to actually work? You're off unlimited. Interested in moving? Want to use AT&T's insurance plans? You're off unlimited.

Carriers have had varying luck in getting users to migrate to shared data, but according to a new study by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, despite AT&T's specifically aggressive war on unlimited data, it's Verizon that has been the most successful at both getting customers to sign up for shared data plans -- and getting them to pay more money on general.

According to the CIRP report, just 22% of Verizon users remain on grandfathered unlimited plans, compared to 44% for AT&T and 78% for both Sprint and T-Mobile (who both advertise unlimited as a differentiator). Verizon also leads at getting users to pay more: 51% of Verizon Wireless customers paying the company at least $100 per month, compared to 47% at Sprint, 46% at AT&T, and 33% at T-Mobile.

Most recommended from 77 comments



Caladus
join:2009-07-01
Beaverton, OR

3 recommendations

Caladus

Member

I win?

Still on unlimited. 4G Unlimited even. There are simply too many options for buying phones outside of the usual channels. Not that I'd mind paying full retail but there are also tricks that consumers can use to keep unlimited and still have a subsidized phone too.

Most people, however, don't have the will or the patience to actually fight for their unlimited data.

If Verizon eventually just gets rid of my unlimited I'm going to another carrier that still has unlimited. And I'll never look back.