Verizon adds Simplicity plan with $30 new-customer promotion
Verizon’s new wireless plan waives some device fees for loyalty members and offers a lower promotional price to switchers who use autopay.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
Verizon is rolling out a Simplicity wireless plan with a promotional price of $30 a month for new customers, the company said. The offer matters for shoppers comparing carrier costs because Verizon says the plan uses one price per line and can remove its $40 activation and upgrade charges.
Verizon said existing customers can get the Simplicity plan for $45 a month. The lower $30 price for new customers is an initial promotion, according to Verizon, and requires autopay plus a discount tied to switching carriers.
The fee waiver comes with a condition. Verizon said customers must join its new loyalty program through the My Verizon app before they can avoid the $40 charge to activate a device or upgrade one.
What the plan includes
Verizon said Simplicity includes unlimited access to its 5G ultrawideband network. The plan also comes with 10GB of mobile hotspot data, roaming in Canada and Mexico, and satellite texting on devices that support the feature.
Customers can add home internet for $35 a month, Verizon said. The company also said customers can add paid streaming bundles that include services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and HBO Max.
Verizon said customers may keep using perks available through its myPlan program. The company did not describe those add-ons as included in the base Simplicity price.
Loyalty program tied to fee waiver
The new loyalty program includes a benefit called Verizon Dollars, which Verizon said gives customers 3 percent cash back on their bill each month. Another benefit, Verizon Shine, offers access to ticket sales, sweepstakes and giveaways, according to the company.
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman framed the plan as an answer to complicated wireless pricing and unwanted upgrades in the company’s announcement. Schulman said the industry had made plans too complex and had attached too many conditions to rewards.
The Verge reported that Schulman became Verizon’s chief executive last year. At the time, Verizon board chair Mark Bertolini described the leadership change as part of a new phase focused more on customers, according to The Verge.
Verizon One bundle
Verizon also announced Verizon One, a subscription that combines unlimited 5G service with home internet. Verizon said that bundle costs $70 a month.
The Verizon One plan is limited to new Verizon customers, according to the company. Existing customers can still use Verizon’s Mobile + Home discount, Verizon said.
The company’s announcements put more of Verizon’s wireless pricing behind bundles, loyalty enrollment and autopay. For customers comparing the offer, the advertised $30 Simplicity price depends on meeting those terms.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.