This Week In Cell Phones: Google, AT&T And Verizon Slash Prices

This week we've seen three great money savings announcements, two companies cutting plan costs and a $100 price drop for a popular new phone.

AT&T and Verizon Slash Plan Rates

Verizon Wireless and AT&T both have announced plans to cut the price of their unlimited calling plans. Beginning Jan. 18, both companies will drop the fees for their  unlimited talk plans to $69.99 a month or for just $89.99 you can upgrade to unlimited calls and texts.

Verizon’s unlimited voice plan for individuals was $99.99, with unlimited text and video messages costing $119.99, according to the carrier’s Web site. AT&T is cutting the price of its unlimited voice plans from $99.99 a month, according to the Dallas-based company’s Web site.

The new AT&T plans include:

• Feature Phone customers now have the option of unlimited talk plans for $69.99 a month per person or $119.99 a month for a family plan with two lines included. The unlimited texting plans remain $20 a month for individuals or $30 a month for the Family Talk plan.
• Quick Messaging Device customers may now choose unlimited talk for $69.99, and Family Talk customers may choose unlimited talk for $119.99 per month (two lines included). These plans require a minimum of $20 per month for individual plans and $30 per month for Family Talk plans in texting and/or Web browsing packages for new and upgrading customers.
• All AT&T smartphone customers, including iPhone owners, can now buy unlimited voice and data for $99.99. For smartphone customers with Family Talk plans, unlimited voice and data is now available for $179.99 (two lines included). Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals, $30 for Family Talk Plans.

The new Verizon plans include:

• Verizon Nationwide Unlimited Talk plan that allows customers to call anyone in the United States for $69.99 monthly access or a Nationwide Unlimited Talk & Text plan to call and send text, picture and video messages to anyone in the country for $89.99 monthly access.
• Nationwide Family SharePlans will also have new unlimited options. Nationwide Unlimited Talk Family SharePlans will be $119.99 monthly access while the Nationwide Unlimited Talk & Text Family SharePlans will be $149.99 monthly access. All Family SharePlan pricing includes the first two lines of service. Standard text message rates will apply for customers on the Nationwide Unlimited Talk plans who do not sign up for a text messaging bundle.

Google Drops Nexus One Price By $100 For Existing T-Mobile Customers

When Google originally announced the the Nexus One it was released with a $379 price tag for existing T-Mobile customers with data plans wishing to re-up their contract to a new two year agreement with the company. At that time users without data plans or new customers were paying $279. Earlier this week Google announced they'd slash a $100 off the phone price meaning the Nexus One will cost all existing T-Mobile subscribers the same price of $279.

T-Mobile customers with data plans that originally paid the $379 fee for their Nexus One are being refunded the $100 difference.