US telecom titan Verizon drops unlimited data plans

The leading provider of service for smartphones in the United States on Thursday stopped offering new customers "all-you-can-eat" data plans.

Verizon Wireless joined AT&T and T-Mobile USA in a shift away from plans that allow smartphone or tablet computer users to stream unlimited amounts of digital data for fixed prices.

As modern lifestyles increasing involved using wireless gadgets to access videos, pictures, maps, and other data on the internet, companies handling that traffic are asking people to pay monthly based on quantity.

Verizon customers who already have unlimited wireless data plans were able to keep them, but no new accounts are available.

The move by Verizon came as mobile industry tracker Localytics released a study indicating that the telecom service is used by nearly a third of all iPhone 4 smartphones in the United States.

The trend toward metering wireless data use also comes as US carriers invest in new-generation networks that promise huge advances in data speeds.

In February, Verizon gave itself the option to slow wireless data feeds to customers gorging on rich digital content streamed to smartphones or tablet computers.

Implementation of the new "network management" tactic came a week before the eagerly anticipated addition of the iPhone 4 to the cornucopia of devices serviced by Verizon.

Apple's exclusive alliance with AT&T in the United States ended in February when iPhones synched to Verizon's network hit the market.