Verizon's Shared Data Plans Could Be Drawing Close

According to information leaking out of Verizon, this carrier has started training its employees on how to handle shared data plans. This is a much-requested option that would allow subscribers with two devices - like a smartphone and tablet - to use a single data plan.

Verizon Wireless' CEO Lowell McAdam said last month that his company is working on such a plan, and that he hopes it will be available in 2012. It seems his hope is close to becoming a reality.

An image has leaked out showing a mockup of a system being used to train Verizon employees on how to sign customers up for an "account level data plan". This is apparently the carrier's descrition for a shared data plan.

This leaked image seems to answer an important question: how much is this feature going to cost? Verizon is supposedly going to charge $10 a month for each additional device added to a data plan.

Why Customers Want Shared Data Plans
As it stands now, if a Verizon subscriber has a smartphone and wants to add a tablet, they have to get a second data plan, at double the cost. The only work-around is getting a data plan with tethering for the phone and connecting to two together over Wi-Fi.

If this carrier offered a shared data plan, subscribers will be able to choose a single plan that will allow two (or more) devices to draw from the same monthly allowance of Wireless Data transfers, whether it's 2GB, 4GB, or more.

Verizon's chif rival, AT&T, is also considering offering such a plan, and so is Sprint.

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