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Verizon to end unlimited data plans for users who move to LTE phones, will push shared data plans instead

Fierce Wireless reports on comments from Verizon Wireless CFO Fran Shammo regarding the carrier’s future LTE plans. A topic most notable for users planning on moving to the much-rumored LTE iPhone this fall is that Verizon plans to drop grandfathered-in unlimited data plans for users who move to 4G LTE handsets. This will affect iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S owners on Verizon Wireless with unlimited data plans who move to the rumored LTE iPhone. Instead of unlimited data plans, CFO Shammo says that Verizon will push their upcoming shared-data plan system:

When asked how Verizon will drive customers to this new data share plan, Shammo said that LTE will be the anchor for the new plan and that as customers upgrade from 3G to LTE, they will have to be on a data share plan, allowing the company to sunset its unlimited 3G data plan. “A lot of our 3G base is on unlimited,” Shammo said. “When they migrate off 3G they will have to go to data share. That is beneficial to us.”

Verizon Wireless says that shared data plans will begin rolling in mid-summer, but the company is yet to release any details regarding pricing or shared data plan usage packages. The company says that shared data plans will not only benefit the company in the long-term, but will also benefit families with multiple devices on their account. The current Verizon unlimited data plan costs individual users $30 per month on top of their normal calling bill charges.

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