Verizon brings back double-data promo for 4G phones

By Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Feb. 7, 2012 12 AM PT

You could call it the ghost of Christmas sales past. Verizon’s double-data promotion for 4G smartphones will return on Friday.

First introducted in November and running just past the new year, the double-data offer raises the caps on Verizon 4G customers’ data plans at no additional cost.

The promotion is only available on Verizon’s 4G smartphones and only to customers who are either new to Verizon or are upgrading from a non-4G handset to a 4G phone, said Ken Muche, a Verizon spokesman.

Other 4G products such as tablets, USB air cards and mobile hot spots aren’t eligible for the deal, Muche said.

Verizon’s current 4G phone plans are offered in three monthly tiers -- 2 gigabytes for $30, 5 gigabytes for $50 and 10 gigabytes for $80.

Under the promotion, a new Verizon 4G subscriber would get 4 gigabytes for $30, 10 gigabytes for $50 and 20 gigabytes for $80. The plans are offered in the form of two-year contracts.

For those who sign-up for 4G service under the promotion, the doubled data allotment will remain with them as long as they have a 4G smartphone through Verizon, even when it comes time to upgrade to a new 4G phone or after the two-year contract has expired, Muche said.

Just as it was in November, the double-data promotion is a limited-time offer, though Verizon hasn’t decided on an expiration date yet, he said.

[Updated Feb. 7, 10:10 a.m.: This article has been updated to specify that Verizon’s double data promotion begins Friday, Feb. 10.]