Comparison of AT&T & Verizon Business Cell Plans

By Rob Kemmett

Business plans from AT&T and Verizon Wireless allow customers to add multiple lines to the same account.
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AT&T and Verizon Wireless are two telecommunications companies that offer cell phone plans specifically designed for businesses. Each business plan is different and can be tailored to fit the customer’s needs. Features and options are similar to individual cell phone plans, but pricing is different for business plans. Although the services offered by companies are fairly similar, they are not the same.

Minutes

AT&T offers two types of business plans: individual plans, where each phone has its own allotted number of monthly minutes and business pool plans, where each phone shares the allotted number of monthly minutes. AT&T’s plans begin at 450 minutes and can go up to 6,000 minutes. A plan with unlimited minutes is available as well. Verizon Wireless also offers plans between 450 and 6,000 minutes, with an unlimited plan as well. Minutes are divided among the phones individually and not shared as a group.

Price

At the time of this article’s publication, AT&T’s business plans start at $39.99 per month and can cost up to $199.99 per month. Verizon Wireless’ plans cost between $39.99 and $219.99. Prices do not include tax, fees or data allowance.

Data

Data plans are required for customers who want to use their phones to access the Internet, check email, and send and receive data. AT&T’s data plan, which is purchased in addition to a talk plan, begins at $40 and includes 2 gigabytes of monthly usage per phone. That is enough data to transmit roughly 10,000 emails or 1,500 documents. Verizon’s data plans are known as “Email and Messaging” plans. Email and Messaging plans are purchased on their own, as they pair minutes and data usage together. Verizon’s plans, which include 4 gigabytes of monthly usage per phone, start at $79.99 and can cost up to $239.99.

Features

Both AT&T and Verizon Wireless provide business plan customers with standard features such as caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding and voice mail at no extra cost. Texting costs extra. AT&T also provides Push to Talk, a service that transforms a cell phone into a walkie-talkie, and OfficeReach, which allows employees to reach contacts at up to three different phone numbers with the push of a button.

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