Verizon Wireless is a cell phone service provider with a variety of cell phone plans on an individual or family basis. Verizon also offers data plans, messaging add-ons and broadband Internet options at an additional charge.
Individual Plans
Verizon Wireless individual plans are categorized as follows: Basic, Select, Connect and Premium. All of Verizon's individual plans start at rates below $100. Each plan includes the following: 450 monthly voice minutes for use any time, unlimited mobile to mobile (calls with other Verizon users) minutes, unlimited nights and weekends and domestic long distance.
Additional features, including more anytime minutes, text messaging, picture and video messaging, web browsing, mobile email and exclusive Verizon features such as VZ Navigator are all available on every plan. They require an additional charge on the Basic and Select plans, but are included in the Connect and Premium plans.
The Verizon Friends and Family program allows you to select five numbers from other cell providers to be included as your unlimited mobile-to-mobile. This reduces the amount of anytime minutes you use per month. This feature is included in the cost of plans with 900 or more anytime minutes and is available at an additional charge with plans below 900 minutes.
Verizon also offers the following specialized individual cell phone plans:
The messaging-only plan offers unlimited text, picture and video messaging. In addition, the plan includes unlimited web browsing and unlimited data usage all for one price.
The 65-plus plan is a low-priced plan geared toward senior citizens. This plan includes unlimited calling any time within the Verizon network, 500 night-and-weekend minutes, web browsing, no long-distance charges and 200 anytime minutes.
The nationwide push-to-talk only plan provides quick exchanges between users. The plan includes nationwide coverage and group conversations with up to 50 people at a time.
The nationwide plus Canada plan is a cost-effective solution for people who travel to Canada on a regular basis. The plan includes unlimited long distance in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, 1,000 night-and-weekend minutes, unlimited mobile-to-mobile, access to the mobile web and anytime minutes ranging from 450 to 6,000 minutes.
Family Plans
Verizon Wireless family plans are categorized the same as the individual plans: Basic, Select, Connect and Premium.
Each family plan must have at least two lines. Family plans share all of the features of a calling plan with an additional charge for each line. Verizon's family plans start with 700 anytime minutes and you can get the basic features of any family plan for under $140. All family plans include unlimited mobile-to-mobile, unlimited nights and weekends and domestic long distance.
The additional features available for family plans include more anytime minutes, text, picture and video messaging, web browsing, mobile email and exclusive Verizon features such as 10 Friends and Family numbers. These features require an additional charge on the Basic and Select plans, but are included in the Connect and Premium plans.
Business Plans
Verizon Wireless offers voice and data cell phone plans for your business. These plans are categorized as either Basic or Select and include Verizon Friends and Family for Business for up to 10 numbers so that you can reduce the cost of calls with individuals and vendors with whom you do the most business. Verizon provides you with reports to assess the numbers that you call the most.
Verizon's business plans include options for single and multiple line accounts starting at under $40 for voice. These plans include unlimited mobile to mobile, domestic long distance, unlimited nights and weekend and mobile web browsing. Select plans include unlimited text, picture and video messaging. Push-to-talk is available as an add-on feature for an additional fee.
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