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Verizon Wireless Introducing Prepaid Wireless Broadband, But Get Your Wallet: $15 A Day For 75 Megabytes

Phillip Dampier November 5, 2009 Data Caps, Verizon, Wireless Broadband 5 Comments
The Novatel USB760, branded for Verizon Wireless

The Novatel USB760, branded for Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless today announced the introduction of a prepaid wireless broadband option for customers who don’t want to pay $60 for 5 gigabytes of usage, with a two year contract.  Prepaid Mobile Broadband will be available starting November 15th in Verizon Wireless stores, sold as a “starter pack,” for $129.99, which includes a Novatel USB760 modem and a brochure showing different pricing options for the service.

Both Verizon and Virgin Mobile’s prepaid broadband services use the same USB760 modem, but that’s where the comparison ends.

Verizon Wireless expects prepaid customers to pay premium pricing for the convenience of having wireless broadband access without a contract on Verizon’s expansive 3G network.  Customers have three options:

  • Daily Access: $15/day for 75MB
  • Weekly Access: $30/week for 250MB
  • Monthly Access: $50/month for 500MB

Unused allowances expire at the end of each term.  Verizon includes a “usage chart” with low ball estimates of what customers can do on each respective prepaid plan:

Data Type             Daily         Weekly       Monthly

E-mail (1 text page)  25,600        85,300       170,000
Typical Web page         500         1,700         3,400
Low-resolution photos    150           500         1,000

Don’t even think about streaming video at these prices. Virgin Mobile’s prepaid wireless broadband service was expensive until Verizon Wireless came around. Virgin Mobile charges $10 for 100 MB for 10 days, $20 for 250 MB per month, $40 for 600 MB and $60 for 1 GB.  Cricket also sells a prepaid wireless broadband plan for $40 a month for up to 5GB of usage, but has dramatically less coverage.

These plans are typically designed for occasional use only.  Those with regular on-the-go wireless broadband needs will do better under a contract plan.

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Ian L
14 years ago

Most people don’t know about this, but Verizon and AT&T both allow you to buy their regular MBB plans month-to-month, as long as you buy (or already have) a modem. I’m doing this right now with AT&T with a modem I bought awhile back. Works just as well as any other AT&T service. Or you can get Millenicom. 5GB Verizon for $60 per month non-contract, “unlimited” (maybe 50GB or so, who knows) Sprint for $70 per month non-contract or “unlimited” T-Mobile for $70 per month non-contract. It appears as though MCom is buying accounts rather than GBs so what “unlimited”… Read more »

jr
jr
14 years ago

“most people only use their phone once a year”-Verizon

Tim
Tim
14 years ago

“Unused allowances expire at the end of each term. ”

??? What??? You already payed for it. It shouldn’t expire if I never used that much. Can you say dumb?

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

Verizon has had a $15/day unlimited daypass option for quite a while (still says unlimited last time I checked NOT 5GB!). My Lenovo x60 has an EVDO modem built in. When I connect through VZ-Navigator, it prompts me to sign up for a regular 2-year contract, or pick the $15/day no contract op%0on.

Christina
Christina
14 years ago

Verizon need to start a program to help there poor prepaid customer so verizon prepaid services need to step there game up and start a program that help there customers

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