[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] noneone:
nothing to see here, move along :-)

1) There is NOTHING to indicate that verizon will end or take away anyone's current unlimited data plan, if you want to continue with it, even beyond when your contract expires. Keep your current phone, keep your current contract, unlimited, forever. (or until they make further changes). Same phone, some contract, no change.

2) Want to keep your unlimited plan, AND get a new phone? Go ahead, buy a new phone, keep your unlimited plan. Forever. You just have to pay full price for that new phone.

So the only REAL change coming for current, unlimited data subscribers is they won't be able to keep their current plan AND get a new subsidized phone. They are not taking away your unlimited data plans, they are taking away subsidized future phones.

REMEMBER Verizon hasn't sold new unlimited data subscriptions for a year or so now, so for most new customers unlimited data isn't an issue.

Moving forward ......

3) For NEW customers, or old customers that don't have unlimited data, the new plans look like they will save a bunch of money for (a) families and (b) users with tablets. The new plan for a smartphone + tablet will likely be cheaper than a current smartphone plan PLUS a separate tablet data plan, and, the new plans will likely be much more convenient, you won't have to worry OK, I'm at 4.7 gigs on the tablet this month, better start using the 5 gb smartphone data allowance ...

4) Verizon is expensive. Yep. We got all kinds of threads touting the unlimited Straight Talk plans, or the $30 Tmo plan. LOTS of reasons knowledgeable folks are going for the prepaid plans these days, IF you're looking to get a new, cheap plan.

5) IF you have an unlimited plan, AND you use close to or more than 5gb of data, verizon today is the best deal going, and will continue to be the best deal going. I regularly get 20 MBS 4g lte on unlimited verizon. My neighbors unlimited DSL is 6 mbs. I don't have to pay for home internet ....

I'm not seeing any reason for current unlimited users to panic, for new users the new plans are an improvement over current family and multi line plans, and there are plenty of prepaid cheaper options, have been for months now, the new verizon plans don't make the prepaid look any MORE attractive.

EXAMPLE - Galaxy Nexus + xoom lte tablet

CURRENT

Tablet 3GB plan, $35

Smartphone - unlimited talk and txt = $90

Smartphone Unlimited data = $30

Smartphone Hotspot = $30

TOTAL = $185

NEW PLAN, 10 GB

unlimited 10 GB = $100

smartphone +$40

tablet +10

TOTAL = $150

SO which plan is better? 10 GB is a lot of use a month .... and a lot more for the tablet to use if the phone hotspot isn't around.

For some folks, the unlimited IS worth the extra $35 per month, no doubt, but, for many users, looks to me like the new plan might be better ....

SO, if you have no unlimited home internet, and need to make sure you can download the 40GB MOP expansion pack for World of Warcraft when it comes out, or, have no unlimited home internet to DL HD video with every night, by all means, keep your current unlimited verizon wirless plans.

At 20 mbs dl, popping over 30 mbs in the wee hours when downloading HD video, I'll likely keep my unlimited plan for many many more months.

HAVE FUN!