Verizon cuts talk and text plan prices, AT&T follows suit

Verizon Wireless on Friday slashed its unlimited talk and text plan prices, forcing arch-rival AT&T to quickly follow suit. The move would benefit iPhone customers, who would now be able to opt for an unlimited voice and data plan costing $30 less per month.

iPhone users have been paying $100 per month for unlimited voice plans and in addition another $30 for unlimited data. From Monday, 18 January, however, AT&T would charge $100 a month for unlimited voice and data.

Family Talk plans offer unlimited voice and data for $180 (assuming two iPhones). However, texting prices remain unchanged, at $20 for unlimited plans and $30 for Family Talk Plans.

According to an AT&T spokesman the pricing changes would only affect unlimited voice and data plans.

Analysts say the latest moves come in a long-running pricing competition between the US carriers and apart from benefiting customers with lower prices, they also show that data use was becoming an increasingly important service for mobile carriers as they looked to new sources of revenue from customers depending on mobile access to e-mail and the web.

They say with the latest announcements both companies would require more customers to buy the data plans used to access the internet and check e-mail on high-end mobile devices.