Verizon Wireless to Launch Unlimited Calling?

Starting Tuesday February 19, Verizon Wireless will roll out new "unlimited calling" plans of the sort Sprint Nextel has been testing in several markets and which Sprint is said to have been considering for national availability. According to Engadget, the new plans include $100 national unlimited voice.

Other plans include a $120 plan with unlimited texting and voice; $140 for plans that add email and VCast content services. For $150 users can get unlimited data, voice and texting.

A $170 plan adds international data capabilities. A $200 family plan reportedly will be limited to additional two lines, priced at $100 per additional line.

It appears there will be no caps on data sent or received.

In one sense the new pricing plans represent an attempt to change the nature of mobile service pricing, making pricing a lot more like VoIP, or wired calling with unlimited, flat rate long distance within the continental United States.

And that might be the thing to watch: not so much a redefinition of mobile pricing as a new rationale for going "wireless only." Assuming a landline costs in the neighborhood of $50 a month, a user might rationally conclude that he or she is no worse off, and marginally better off, ditching a landline and using the mobile for all calling.