Verizon Wireless adds month-to-month option

Verizon Wireless is offering cell phone subscribers the chance to go month-to-month with their cell phone service without signing a pesky contract.

The second largest wireless operator in the U.S. announced Monday that it will offer month-to-month service for all its current wireless plans. Monthly subscribers will pay the same rates as those with long-term contracts, but month-to-month customers won't be required to sign contracts.

This means that month-to-month customers won't have to pay an early termination fee if they decide to quit Verizon's service and go elsewhere. In exchange for not being bound to a contract, customers will have to pay full retail price for their Verizon phone. The other option is for customers to use their existing Verizon phone or buy a pre-owned Verizon phone. Existing Verizon Wireless customers can switch to monthly plans after completing their current contracts.

The move to offer month-to-month service comes as mobile operators face pressure from customers, Congress, and the Federal Communications Commission to open up their networks and loosen contract terms.

Earlier this year, Verizon Wireless settled a class action lawsuit in California over early termination fees. The FCC and federal lawmakers have also been putting pressure on wireless operators to reduce the cost or even do away with early termination fees. All four of the major wireless operators are now offering pro-rated contracts, which reduce the cost of early termination fees over time.

Wireless operators have long argued that early termination fees are necessary to help them recoup the cost of subsidizing handsets. For example, Verizon offers the new LG Chocolate for free with a two-year contract. But without that subsidy it will charge customers about $300 for the phone.

Other carriers have also started offering month-to-month service. T-Mobile offers a similar service plan called "FlexPay." Sprint Nextel's no-contract option offers customers 200 minutes of talk time, plus nights and weekends for $39.99 per month. The plan works with all phones except the Instinct and other PDAs and includes 200 minutes, unlimited night and weekend minutes starting at 9 p.m., and nationwide long distance. AT&T offers a month-to-month plan, but it isn't available for all their phones.

[Chukwudi]

When Verizon introdces roll-over minutes, and adds on minutes for customers from years past to present. Then there'll be something to celebrate.

I'm displeased with the many ways they "catchup" or "consider" serving their clients. I opted out fro ma contract because I wanted to possible switch services, and now they're trying to lure back customers of past and present on the fringe of switching with this.

[vishalranjan]

I thought Verizon always offered this option? They always showed and offered the "unsubsidized" price on phones and allowed you to buy a new phone at that price and be on a month-to-month contract. I know for sure that if you had completed your two year agreement, then you automatically went to a month-to-month deal. So what's the big deal or how is this any different?

[k2dave]

I believe you had to go through the first contract, after which you can go month to month. After your contract if you need a new phone you could either 1: re-up the contract and get a reduction in the phone price, or 2: continue month to month and buy the phone outright.

[Cr0n_J0b]

The funny thing is that the press release doesn't say anything about a "verizon pre-owned handset". It just says you can use your own CDMA phone. This is somethig that they really need to work on. I hate verizon's hardware. Their service is great for me, but the hardware is always behind the technology curve. If they opened up to ALL CDMA phones, what would be the drawback, other than their loss of the stupid Get it now service that I personally avoid like the plague.

[solvback]

Man "hardware" is the issue some of these phones are crap.
It's really a big rip off! If you want a phone on the go it's the only game in town.

[gdecon]

"Verizon t without that subsidy it will charge customers about $300 for the phone.

Verizon Won't be selling them at that price for long, or won't be selling them at all.

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