Verizon begins offering prepaid smartphones and data packages

We heard rumors of Verizon's plans to offer prepaid smartphones in the past, but today the carrier went ahead and confirmed everything for us.  Verizon has announced that it will be "expanding its portfolio of prepaid offerings" to include select 3G-capable smartphones and multimedia phones.  Customers signing up for a prepaid smartphone must also agree to an unlimited data plan that will cost $30 per month, while users of Verizon's multimedia phones have access to a $10 per month, 25 MB data plan, as well.  Some smartphones that are eligible for the prepaid options include: BlackBerry Curve 8530, BlackBerry Bold 9650, Palm Pre Plus, DROID X, DROID 2, and DROID Incredible.  The new prepaid offerings will be available in Verizon stores today and online on September 28th.  Check out the press release, including the full list of eligible devices, below.

Verizon's choice to begin offering some of their hottest smartphones on a prepaid basis is a great move by the company and should help expand their customer base quite a bit.  The ability to go prepaid has always been a possibility for those of us who want a cheaper phone bill and hate contracts, but the prepaid phone selection has never been terribly amazing, especially for those of us that love state of the art devices.  Now customers can choose any number of high-end smartphones with Verizon, including the recently released DROID X and DROID 2.  Are any of you considering ditching your contract and picking up a prepaid Verizon smartphone on Verizon?

Available Today: Verizon Wireless Offers New Prepaid Data Package on 3G Smartphones and Multimedia Phones
 
Unlimited Monthly Prepaid Data Package Brings Budget-Conscious Customers the Benefits of Popular 3G Devices without a Long-term Contract

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced it will be expanding its portfolio of prepaid offerings to include a new 3G Prepaid data package that lets customers access unlimited data on select 3G Smartphones and Multimedia phones for $30 monthly access.  Multimedia phone customers also have the option of selecting a new $10 monthly data package for 25 MB per month ($.20/MB overage).  These new prepaid data packages will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Store today and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Sept. 28.

"These new data offerings will help our prepaid customers experience the full breadth of Verizon Wireless' robust device portfolio and the many engaging, informative and helpful applications that depend on a data plan," said Jim Sullivan, director of marketing for Verizon Wireless.  "Our prepaid customers will now have the freedom to enjoy all of the capabilities that these phones have to offer, while controlling costs and without being tied to a contract."

Following are the 3G Smartphones and Multimedia phones eligible for the new data packages:

3G Smartphones

• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330

• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530

• BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530

• BlackBerry® Storm2™ 9550

• BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630

• BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650

• Palm® Pre™ Plus

• Palm Pixi™ Plus

• DROID by Motorola

• Motorola DEVOUR™

• DROID X by Motorola

• DROID 2 by Motorola

• DROID Eris™ by HTC

• DROID Incredible by HTC

• LG Ally™

3G Multimedia phones

• LG enV® TOUCH

• LG enV®3

• LG Chocolate® TOUCH

• LG VX8360

• Samsung Alias™ 2

• Samsung Renown™

• Nokia Twist™

• Casio® EXILIM

For additional 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.  For additional information on Verizon Wireless prepaid plans, visit www.verizonwireless.com/prepaid.