Need a New Prepaid Phone? Verizon Launches 3G smartphones for $60 - Olmec Skip to main content

Need a New Prepaid Phone? Verizon Launches 3G smartphones for $60

By February 4, 2013March 6th, 2023Technology News

Verizon is back in the prepaid game with their two new prepaid plans. The lower $60 tier offers unlimited talk and text, but limits data to 500 MB a month. The $70 tier ups the data limit to 2 gigs instead.

Verizon’s prepaid prices have been historically high, so this is a big leap for the largest network in the US. The only catch is that only 3G phones – not 4G – are covered, and the phone has to run on Android, BlackBerry, or iOS. Of course, this includes the popular Samsung Illusion and almost every BlackBerry model available.

Verizon Wireless hasn’t focused much on their prepaid plans, especially since companies like T-mobile and Sprint are continuously losing customers to Virgin Mobile and Metro PCS because of their competitive pricing and cheap phones. However, this is only the first step towards Verizon’s bigger plan.

Prepaid smartphone profit for just the small carriers rose almost 25% last quarter, and over the same quarter, cell phone plans took a 12% hit. Smaller players can afford to offer their customers cheaper plans, and many consumers are only just beginning to notice.

Some experts believe that this move from Verizon may be a little too late, and that the price cuts aren’t quite enough to compete with Boost and Virgin Mobile.

Verizon does, however, allow for any smartphone that’s “sitting in a drawer unused” to be activated on their new plans with no contract.

Chris Forte

Chris Forte, President and CEO of Olmec Systems, has been in the MSP workspace for the past 25 years. Chris earned his Master’s Degree from West Virginia University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He was a past member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a current member of the New Jersey Power Partners and Executive Association of New Jersey, where he has previously served on its board of directors. In his spare time, Chris enjoys traveling with his family. He also admits to being a struggling golfer and avid watcher of college football and basketball. He currently lives in Boonton Township, NJ with his wife, two daughters, son, and black lab Luna.