Right now the iPhone and iPad on AT&T are capped at 2 GBs (something I’ve personally wrestled with as I hit 2 GBs in 2 weeks) per month of data usage. Verizon’s data plan offers an “unlimited” soft cap of 5GB which was the same as AT&T’s previous plan. If, and this is hopeful thinking, an LTE version of the iPhone 4 were to be announced, the data cap would big a much larger concern. Data tests done by PC Mag have shown that LTE subscribers can blaze through the 5GB cap in as little as 32 minutes. While it’s a very extreme example of non-everyday use, the test highlights that low data caps and high bandwidth connections do not mix.
Verizon is also considering moving to AT&T’s style of data caps and has hinted at doing so since last summer. While it hasn’t come to fruition, it is a measure the carrier could take to ensure the network is running optimally for all subscribers. Considering Verizon is now the largest US carrier, a data cap doesn’t seem unlikely.
AT&T has been the scorn of many iPhone users for dropped calls and spotty coverage. Many have hoped that Verizon would carry the iPhone and we’re closing in on a major announcement this Tuesday which is expected to be the iPhone coming to Verizon. However, depending on what iteration iPhone Verizon gets, it may not be as unlimited as you think.
