After a bit of hemming and hawing on the topic, Verizon Wireless has finally released some concrete info on its plan to kill off grandfathered unlimited data plans as it moves customers from 3G to 4G LTE service.

In a statement to the NY Times, Verizon explains that starts out promisingly enough: “Customers will not be automatically moved to new shared data plans. If a 3G or 4G smartphone customer is on an unlimited plan now and they do not want to change their plan, they will not have to do so.”

Well that’s awesome. Thanks VZW!

Wait — they weren’t finished with the statement? Oh, please continue:

– When we introduce our new shared data plans, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to customers when purchasing handsets at discounted pricing.
– Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan.
– The same pricing and policies will be applied to all 3G and 4GLTE smartphones.

So as long as you continue using your 3G phone or are willing to pay up to hundreds of dollars more for your next phone — and subsequent devices — your grandfathered plan is just fine.

Verizon Clarifies: Unlimited Data Plans to Die Slow Death [NY Times]

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