Verizon is no longer the supervillain of the US wireless industry. | Image by Verizon
Have you noticed that T-Mobile has started to resemble the "conventional" carriers it used to mock so viciously not that long ago with more and more fees, frequent price hikes, and increasingly convoluted plans? At the same time, Verizon seems closer than ever to pulling off the impossible, slowly but steadily transitioning from the most universally hated wireless service provider in the US to a new "Un-carrier"... of sorts with such ambitious moves as last year's (limited) price lock guarantee and today's Simplicity plan.
Just how convenient and affordable is this new plan?
In short, very and extremely. Kind of how T-Mobile's One plan was originally envisioned years ago... before getting all sorts of confusing and unnecessary changes and ultimately being discontinued... in favor of even more confusing plans.
At first glance, everything about Verizon's new Simplicity plan seems crystal clear and super-convenient, as you can get unlimited data, talk, and text, as well as international roaming and satellite texting and even 10GB mobile hotspot data, for as little as $30 a month.
Perhaps the greatest thing here is that the ultra-affordable monthly rate covers Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network, guaranteeing the best possible speeds across the nation with no surcharges and no limits (!!!). But in order to pay just $30 a month, you will need to port in an existing number from a different operator.
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Otherwise, the Simplicity plan will set you back $45 a month (plus taxes and fees), which is still less than what T-Mobile charges for an Essentials plan that only includes 50GB of "premium" data a month. If this isn't an "Un-carrier" move from Big Red, I don't know what is.
Say goodbye to activation and upgrade fees, hello to Verizon Dollars!
Here's something even more surprising than the introduction of a super-simple and incredibly cheap plan with (almost) everything you need included in it. Verizon is voluntarily killing two fees that likely generated billions of dollars in easy revenue over the years.
Is Verizon the new "Un-carrier"?
And although this change does come with one condition, meeting it shouldn't be a problem, cause much hassle, or cost you anything. All you have to do to ditch those pesky activation and upgrade fees on your account is join Verizon's Loyalty program, which is apparently a one-step process that you can complete in mere seconds through the My Verizon app.
Once that's done, your carrier will even reward you with aptly named Verizon Dollars every month without you having to lift a finger. Obviously, you won't be able to redeem those benefits as actual cash money, but you'll be allowed to use them for discounts on mobile devices, accessories, and even products and services from brands like Sephora, Hilton, Marriott, Starbucks, and "more."
T-Mobile Tuesdays is also getting direct competition
If those Verizon Dollars sound kind of similar to some of Magenta's weekly loyalty-rewarding perks and deals, Verizon Shine is basically a direct (and long overdue) answer to the T-Mobile Tuesdays program.
This could be better than T-Mobile Tuesdays. | Image by Verizon
The only difference is Verizon Shine sweepstakes and deals will drop on Mondays, offering you the chance to win a trip to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on June 22, for instance, then a VIP experience at the Outside Lands festival on June 29, an exclusive NYC food tour with celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern the next week, and many other such prizes after that.
Intriguingly, the Verizon Shine program will apparently include freebies and promotions available on other days of the week as well, so at least on paper, this could quickly eclipse T-Mobile Tuesdays... as long as the advertised Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Arby's, and Amazon treats are actually valuable and easy to claim.
And there's even a Verizon One plan to consider now
Just in case the inspiration for all these exciting announcements wasn't already abundantly clear, the Verizon One plan is also here, and it's pretty similar to T-Mobile's now-defunct One plan, at least in spirit.
For only $70 a month (taxes and fees included), Big Red will give new customers unlimited access to "One" mobile and home network to rule them all. The key requirement is that you need to bring your own phone to Verizon, with everything else being taken care of by your new wireless and fiber service provider.
This is definitely one of the most affordable "converged" plans around, and it guarantees the fastest speeds available both in your home and on the move.
So can Verizon be considered the wireless industry's number one disruptor and innovator now?
I don't think we're quite there... yet, but the battle for industry supremacy in terms of affordability and perks is clearly a lot tighter all of a sudden. Instead of declaring a new champion, I'm far more excited to see T-Mobile's answer (and perhaps even AT&T's answer) to these "Un-carrier"-style announcements, as the only way the market can truly move forward for all users across the nation is better competition on all major fronts. Who's with me?
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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