Verizon and Sprint announced unlimited data plans on Feb. 12 and Feb. 10, respectively, and hopped on to the offers bandwagon joining AT&T and T-Mobile.
Unlimited data is no more considered a luxury but a necessity as most people are glued to their phones incessantly, either streaming live videos, surfing online or hooked onto social media.
With four major U.S. network operators - AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless - introducing Unlimited Data plans, here's a look at what each offering entails.
T-Mobile One Plan
The T-Mobile One plan provides its customers with unlimited calling, texting facilities and access to 4G LTE data on its network. However, there are different pay plans for different needs.
For unlimited data and calling on one line, T-Mobile is charging $70. For providing the service to a family of four smartphones, the carrier is charging $40 per line, which comes to a total of $160. If one wishes to add tablets to the plan, then an additional charge of $20 dollars.
The plus for this plan is that all taxes and fees are included, there are no additional charges.
"Taxes and fees will be included starting with your February charges, so what you see is what you'll pay," asserts the carrier.
To make the competition tougher for its rivals, T-Mobile on Feb. 14 added HD video and Hotspot to its One Plan service offer. The carrier has decided to offer HD video and high speed mobile hotspot data of 10 GB per month to the One Plan.
Verizon Unlimited Data Plan
Better late than never, Verizon is abiding hard by this saying, as on Feb. 12 it announced its own unlimited data plan. Although late to join the unlimited data club, Verizon finally realized that retaining its subscribers hinges on smartphones and ceaseless internet connectivity rather than anything else.
The Verizon Unlimited data plan offers its existing and potential users limitless data, text and call for $80 per month.
The carrier charges $45 per line for a group of four smartphones or tablets, which works out to $180 per month. However, unlike T-Mobile, the prices stated above are excluding taxes and fees. Verizon has also stated that the pricing will increase after a year.
"With Verizon Unlimited, you also get HD video streaming, Mobile Hotspot, calling and texting to Mexico and Canada and up to 500 MB/day of 4G LTE roaming in Mexico and Canada - included," notes the carrier.
Sprint Unlimited Data, Talk And Text Plan
Right before Verizon launched its introductory unlimited data plan, on Feb. 10 Sprint announced that it would offer limitless data for five smartphones for $90 per month. Interested customers can avail the offer by signing up with the carrier via Auto Pay.
The offer will allow the user to get unlimited data, text and call for one line at $50 per month and subsequent addition of lines to the network will cost only $90 per month, which is $45 per line.
However, the Sprint offer is only for new subscribers and not existing customers. The offer does not include any surcharges or taxes.
AT&T Unlimited Data Plan
Users having AT&T wireless along with DIRECTV are entitled to access the carrier's unlimited stream plus surf with unlimited data offer. The plan costs $100 per month for the first smartphone and an additional $40 per month for each smartphone, tablet and connected car added to the plan.
If a user adds a fourth line to the plan, AT&T will give free service to the line after bill credit. To avail the offer on basic messaging phones, the user will be charged $25 per month and $10 per month for wearables.
