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Verizon’s throwing in a little promotion to their mix of plans this holiday season for the families who want their kids connected on the go. If you’re on Verizon’s $69.99 or higher family plan and you add a smartphone line, they’ll credit you $10 for each month for each line you add, saving you $240 per phone over the two years you’re married to them. Awesome! Right…? Of course there’s a catch! Those phones must be smartphones and they must be tied to Verizon’s $29.99 unlimited data package. Essentially, you’re getting a $10 discount on unlimited data without the option to use the more affordable $15, 150MB/month package. It starts tomorrow, November 19th, and you’ll have until January 7th 2011 to take advantage of it. Read on for the full press details.
Add a Smartphone ON the NATION’s
LARGEST And MOST RELIABLE 3G Network And Save Big
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Black Friday and the holiday shopping rush are right around the corner, and Verizon Wireless is giving customers an early incentive to share the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless voice and 3G data network. Beginning Nov. 19, customers can add a new 3G Smartphone on a secondary line and receive a credit equal to the cost of adding a line to a Nationwide Family SharePlan. The $9.99 monthly credit for the new line can save customers nearly $240 per line over the life of the two-year contract.
“This is an ideal option for customers with a spouse or child wanting to move to a smartphone,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “The Verizon Wireless portfolio has a host of options from which to choose, including the recently announced Samsung Continuum™, the DROID PRO by Motorola or the BlackBerry Bold – all perfectly suited for work or play.”
To take advantage of the Smartphones Talk Free promotion, customers will need a Nationwide Family SharePlan starting at $69.99 monthly access for 700 Anytime Minutes and add a $29.99 data plan for each additional smartphone. Customers currently on a Nationwide Family SharePlan may have a total of up to five lines, and receive the promotional credit on each new line that uses a new smartphone. The $9.99 credit expires after 24 months. The offer ends Jan. 7, 2011.
For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
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About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
I have emailed VZW about this, but perhaps someone could help me out here. I have a current secondary line on a Family Share plan without a data plan. If I upgrade that secondary line to a smartphone + $30 data plan would this qualify or does it need to be a brand new line?
WOW, that sounds like an amazing deal.
@icu the way it reads to me is new line only.
So $10 new line for a child
+ $30 data plan
– $10 discount
= $30 for kids phone with no text mes. included with that.
Bottom line, sounds like its still cheaper to get 3 smart phones from Sprint then 3 smart phones or even just 2 smart and 1 dumb phone from Verizon. My Verizon days are numbered.
Would I be able to move my current line with a smartphone to a line without a smartphone then move it back to get the $10 discount?
Verizon plans include text messaging. This is a great deal to add a child to your plan. Unfortunately Sprints coverage is very limited and they do charge roaming fees when you travel outside their footprint. Ouch! Too bad Sprint doesn’t invest back into their network every year like Verizon does.
@su2lly, just because something is cheaper doesn’t make it “better”. Sprint’s coverage sucks ass.
-Brad
@HairyDawg, What are you talking about? Verizon does not include text messaging unless you pay extra for it.
@su2lly: just get them a Google Voice #. Unlimited texting @ no cost
@indolent
The plans include texting remember the new 69.99 a month unlimited everything? also if you get the 99.99 a month family plan you get unlimited texting including!
It is for adding brand new lines or for an existing line using a feature phone, now switching to a smartphone.
Is this for new customers only?
@Brad 2 – Its the exact same coverage as Verizon, numbnutts…Sprint roams for Free on Verizon and vice versa….
Happy getting Wallet Raped….While I enjoy the saving while still being able to use my phone everywhere Verizon user can use theirs.
@Chris
The article and PR statement says it is the Family Share Plan. The $69.99 Family Share Plan includes two lines, 700 minutes, and no messaging. If you want the unlimited messaging on the Family Share Plan it is $99.99. The unlimited plan for $69.99 is for an individual.
@Blackbeauty212
Sprint may roam on Verizon for calls but not for data. Sprints coverage is pretty lame, at least in NY. I know first hand. I have an Incredible and my girlfriend has the Evo. She often has to use my phone instead of hers when she needs to get online when we’re out n about.
No discount today that I can see when adding two phones and data plans with one 1400 min voice plan to the cart on Verizon’s site…. – Justin
Apparently I am not eligible, because I already have the FamilyShare plan with two lines, each already with $29.99 data plan. I think they should credit me the $10 a month for my second line.
I did an live chat with Verzion about this, they said the discount does not show up on their site, but will show up as a credit on your bill. She said in a few days their site may be updated to show the credit on check out but that either way you will get a credit on your bill. I did not ask about existing plans.
– Justin
I am taking my husbands upgrade and giving him my Ally. He has an env2 so I called to ask if I would receive the discount. The woman I spoke with said as long as I upgrade to a smartphone with the $29.99 package, they could give me the credit. Pretty awesome.
Anyone notice how the Ally and Fathom, which had been free until today, increased to $50 and $100? So you have to pay for a new phone to add a line, also include the data plan, and likely go over on shared minutes (.45/min). But you get a $10/mo credit. Hmm. Net win for Verizon.