New voice and data plans from Verizon Wireless

The plans give customers all their calls at a flat rate of $99.99 monthly access, anytime to anyone in the US, including landline phones. Broadband Access Plans are also being enhanced so customers now have two choices for Internet browsing, e-mail access and downloading files.

Verizon Wireless chief marketing officer says: "The new flat rate voice plans truly free customers from the worry of counting minutes, while the new data plan options allow more customers to experience the freedom of mobile broadband. These enhancements are also an acknowledgement that wireless has evolved and more people than ever depend on it as a primary means of communication in every aspect of their lives."

BroadbandAccess, the company's flagship data service, allows customers to experience average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps. This means customers can download a 1 MB e-mail attachment in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds.

Verizon Wireless has invested nearly $44bn since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. The company was also the first to offer customers a guarantee that pays for equipment and service if customers are not satisfied within 30 days and want to move their service to a different carrier.

The company operates the country’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers in the US.