Verizon has surprised everyone by announcing a new Unlimited data plan for customers in the U.S. Verizon has spent years trying to tempt people away from their grandfathered Unlimited data plans. However, increased competition means Verizon has got to start playing nicely again...

Unlimited data plans are the holy grail for today's smartphone users. Everything is an app, and apps use data. We not only stream music and movies, we stream them in HD. People want to be able to do everything they want to do online, regardless of location.

Most mobile carriers ditched their unlimited data plans several years ago because they were losing money on them. Just last month, Verizon informed customers using grandfathered Unlimited data plans that they'd get cut off for using too much data. Which puts the "limited" in "unlimited".

However, T-Mobile and Sprint have started offering new Unlimited plans, forcing Verizon to follow suit.

The New Verizon Unlimited

The new Verizon Unlimited offers "unlimited data, talk and text on your smartphone" for $80-per-month for a single line. Two lines will cost you $70-per-line-per-month, three lines is $54-per-line-per-month, and four lines is $45-per-line-per-month. Auto Pay and paperless billing are required.

While you do get unlimited data, once you hit 22GB in a single month you may find your usage throttled so as to give priority to other users. On this specific point, Verizon states that "network management is a crucial tool that benefits all Verizon customers".

As a sweetener, you'll get full HD streaming and hotspot support at LTE speeds. You'll also be able to call and text Mexico and Canada for free, and get "up to 500 MB/day of 4G LTE roaming in Mexico and Canada" included as standard.

Increased Competition Is Good

Increased competition among mobile carriers is good, as it should force prices down. Right now, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint are all charging similar amounts for their Unlimited offerings, but once one blinks, the rest are sure to follow. And at that point we all win.

Are you currently a Verizon customer? Are you tempted by Verizon Unlimited? Do you think the new Verizon Unlimited offers value for money? Do you think "unlimited" should mean "unlimited" as defined by the dictionary? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Tony Alter via Flickr