“Enhanced Multimedia Phones” using an HTML Web browser, EV-DO Rev. A and a QWERTY keypad, and sold by Verizon Wireless starting in September 2009, apparently will be sold with a new data plan, according to the Boy Genius Report.
Apparently the Samsung Rogue is the first new Verizon handset to meet the criteria. The idea, clearly, is to monetize expected bandwidth use--expected to be light--by customers buying those phones.
One of the new data plans costs $9.99 for 25 MBytes while the other costs $19.99 for 75 MBytes of monthly usage.
The assumption is that users of such devices will mostly want access to email and light Web access on an occasional basis. The data caps might appear at first glance to be paltry, but Verizon Wireless undoubtedly has done enough data mining of its current customer base to set the caps in an appropriate way.
Heavier users of course have the option of buying the other standard data plans.
Not all users will be happy about the new charges, but they will be even less happy about charges for casual use, set at $2 a Mbyte.
No comments:
Post a Comment