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Verizon to differentiate its iPhone with unlimited data

There are two ways that the Tuesday's Verizon iPhone will be different than AT&Ts: a) it will run on CDMA networks, and b) it will come with unlimited data.
Written by Jason D. O'Grady, Contributor

There are two ways that the Tuesday's Verizon iPhone will be different than AT&Ts: a) it will run on CDMA networks, and b) it will come with unlimited data.

iPhone owners that signed up with AT&T before June 2010 are grandfathered into AT&T's $30/month unlimited data plan. But in June 2010 AT&T dropped unlimited data and switched to 200MB and 2GB plans with steep charges for exceeding data caps.

AppleInsider reports that Verizon will offer unlimited data plans with its new, CDMA-based iPhone. The oft-rumored device is reportedly being announced at a Verizon media event in New York on Tuesday, January 11 and due to ship around the end of the month.

"It wasn't clear how long Verizon would offer unlimited plans," the report said. "Its executives have said repeatedly that the industry needs to move to some form of tiered pricing as data use rises, but for the moment the carrier is sticking with its current data plans."

Now that would be a good differentiator and a quick way for Verizon to grab a few million extra subscribers: "we have unlimited data, AT&T doesn't."

If this turns out to be true, will unlimited data only be offered for a "limited time?" Will VZW grandfather unlimited data if it changes its mind in the future (like AT&T did)?

How important is unlimited data to you? Would you jump to VZW for it?

Photo: Redmond PIe

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