Verizon will raise grandfathered unlimited data plans by $20

Be advised: Verizon Wireless customers who have the unlimited data plan will soon have to pay $49.99 instead of $29.99 for the service.

A few years ago, the company stopped selling unlimited data to new customers, but longtime subscribers were grandfathered in and continued to pay $29.99 for the data. Until now, loyal customers could keep the old pricing as long as they didn’t sign any new contracts or bought new phones outright instead of with subsidies.

While Verizon isn’t completely eliminating its unlimited data plan, it will force customers to pay $49.99 on monthly bills beginning November 15, 2015 moving forward. With talking and texting, customers should expect their bills to cost approximately $100, but now, those who chose to retain their grandfathered plan will reportedly be able to purchase new phones on Verizon's monthly installment plans, which spreads the cost of the device over 24 months instead of forcing the customer to pay the entire cost up front.

Over time, the company successfully moved almost all of its customers to limited plans, with only one percent still retaining the original unlimited data plan, according to The Washington Post .

With the goal to move away from device subsidies and contracts, Verizon unveiled new shared data plans: 1GB of data costs $30 a month; 3GB costs $45; 6GB costs $60; and 12GB costs $80. These plans require additional payments of $20 per month for each smartphone line and $10 per month for each tablet or hotspot.

T-Mobile and Sprint are the only major carriers in the U.S. still offering unlimited data to new subscribers. T-Mobile charges $80 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data. Sprint is raising the price of its unlimited data, calling, and texting plan from $60 to $70 beginning October 16, 2015.

So, Verizon customers: maybe it’s time to make the switch.

Via Ars Technica