If you are a Verizon subscriber thinking about upgrading to an iPhone 5  and would like to keep your unlimited data plan it’s going to cost you. Cheers everywhere were heard when Verizon confirmed that if you were grandfathered into an unlimited data plan that FaceTime  would be free over cellular connections without having to upgrade to a new shared data plan. That also applies to the new iPhone 5 that is if you are willing to pay full price or $649 or more for Apple’s  next smartphone.

No explanation has been offered on this madness but here’s Verizon’s official statement:

If you are an existing customer and want to keep your Nationwide Usage Based plan, you can keep your plan, purchase the iPhone at the discounted price with a 2 yr customer agreement. If you have a Verizon Wireless unlimited data plan, you can pay full price for your iPhone 5 and keep your unlimited data plan.

Only customers who are new to Verizon Wireless will select from Share Everything Plans.

AT&T  on the other hand is allowing their customers who are grandfathered in to an unlimited data plan to not only keep their current plan but also buy the iPhone 5 at discounted prices with a 2 year contract extension.

This is music to my ears as I am an AT&T customer with an unlimited data plan and all intentions of buying the iPhone 5.

Related articles

• Want to keep your unlimited data plan? Verizon will require you to pay $649 or more for the iPhone 5
• iPhone 5 on Verizon Wireless won’t support simultaneous voice and data