Another “hidden change” by Verizon – for the worse

About two weeks ago my wife and I both got the Verizon iPhone. I was giving up my Blackberry which has worked fairly well, and been a great companion internationally. Verizon has always had some amazing deals on international roaming – including a one which had unlimited data for around $30 for a week’s worth of traveling (plus a decent rate for phone calls and text messages).

I’m headed to Canada next week, so I called them up to switch over to the international data plan. Imagine my surprise when the rep informed me that the rates had changed – instead of unlimited data, I can now have the amazing option of getting 75mb of data for $30, at around $2 a mb over that.

I get that the international plan they had before was likely the best around, but it completely blows my mind that they would make that drastic of a switch. One of the big reasons I really stuck by Verizon was because I didn’t have to worry about $1,000 bills after traveling internationally. And I don’t mind paying more for that, but several hundred dollars when I used to pay less seems like a major change.

It also makes it harder for my family traveling, because now I’ll have to carry another global phone and get a local SIM card to let them reach me. And when you are already dealing with a lot of travel, any little simple thing helps – and this certainly doesn’t.

So, boo, Verizon. Way to change things out from underneath us, especially because you rendered my iPhone completely worthless (since I can swap SIM cards out on an Android).