US number one operator Verizon Wireless has announced a new range of data plans that allow customers to share their data allowance across a number of different devices. The Share Everything Plans allow users to share data across up to 10 devices, including feature phones, smartphones and tablets. Customers will choose from a range of data plans which start at US$50 per month for 1GB of data, going up to US$100 for 10GB.

Line access for smartphones cost an additional US$40 per month while feature phones are US$30 per month, USBs, netbooks, notebooks and Jetpack Mobile Hotspots are US$20 and tablets are US$10. This means a customer with a smartphone and tablet and 1GB of data will pay US$100 per month.

When putting the plans together, Verizon Wireless VP and chief marketing officer Tami Erwin said the operator looked at what customers want on their wireless service plan, how they use technology to manage their lives and how technology is evolving to change the way people use wireless services in the future.

“Share Everything Plans represent a tremendous shift in how customers think about wireless service. They are simple; customers no longer have to think about their voice and message plans, because both are unlimited,” Erwin said.

All the plans will be available to new and existing customers from 28 June and include unlimited voice minutes and text and picture messages, as well as free access to Verizon’s Mobile Hotspot service.

Bloomberg quotes Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst Craig Moffett as saying that Verizon’s move, “while well telegraphed, is the most profound change to pricing the telecom industry has seen in 20 years”. The Wall Street Journal reports that AT&T is likely to ollow suit. "Verizon's pricing that they announced this morning is exactly what we have been kind of signalling in the marketplace for the last couple of weeks," AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson is reported to have said.