This Sunday, February 15th, Verizon will launch a new feature on select rate plans called “Friends & Family”. Similar to programs at T-Mobile (MyFaves) and Alltel (My Circle) — now owned by Verizon — customers will be allowed to select a group of numbers to whom they can make and receive calls, without the airtime counting against their monthly allowance. It will be available to both new and existing Verizon customers. Eligible single line plans will be able to choose 5 numbers, while eligible family plans can select 10 numbers.
MyRatePlan Analysis: As is usually the case with new wireless plan benefits, this one is more marketing smoke than actual fire. Few people will actually see their bills reduced. In fact, because the feature is not available on single lines under $59.99 or family plans under $89.99, the real winner will be Verizon — they will see a modest bump in their average customer revenue, an important financial metric in the wireless industry.
The new program should also yield higher profit per customer for Verizon, as the benefit for most customers will be minimal. For example, let’s take a look at a Verizon $59.99 plan. Today, this plan offers 900 anytime minutes, free unlimited nights and weekends and free unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to the more than 80 million Verizon and Alltel wireless customers. This means there is no benefit whatsoever until a customer on that plan reaches their 900 minute allowance and makes a subsequent call that isn’t already free. Put another way, if you already have a plan with 900 minutes and you aren’t paying overage charges — move along, there’s nothing to see here.
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By the way, some may find the term “Friends & Family” familiar — it was a discount long distance program offered by MCI beginning in the early 90’s. Verizon acquired MCI, and the “Friends & Family” brand name in early 2005.
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Well I see your point but what about the people who have 1350 minute plan that are only using say 1100. They will probably be able to bump down from 79 to 59 so actually saving 240 a year. I myself am on the unlimited plan and use about 1600 mins a month due to my job and conference calls. I will be able to add my Conference call number (that eats about 300 mins a month) my office number that eats about 200, and my parents home phone, and my personal home phone. Probably going to save me $40…..taking me from $99 to $59…..I am very happy.
That is excellent news for you, especially in these economic times. There will clearly be some who can benefit from the new program; those who can trade down plans fall into that group. However, since Verizon excluded the $39.99 plan from this program, this will eliminate the trade-down option for the majority of Verizon subscribers….. as I suspect that (at most) 20% of Verizon customers are on the two higher end plans (1350 and unlimited).
This may not be relevant for your specific situation, but for others in a situation like this: As you calculate the minutes you’ll save by adding a number to your Friends & Family list, remember to only include those minutes for which you are currently being charged (i.e., weekdays, not Verizon mobile-to-mobile) in your plan.
is anyone aware if there pda or smart phone plans might be eligable for this same service?
It does not appear that those plans currently offer the Friends & Family feature.
How do I put in the names for my family and friends program (It was “my circle” when it was Alltel?
You can manage Friends and Family by signing in to your Verizon account.