Verizon Wireless’ ‘enhanced multimedia phones’ to require new data plans?

If there’s one thing Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless likes more than getting “accidental” revenue from feature-phone users cluelessly firing up their web browsers, it’s getting revenue on wireless data plans. Carriers make good money on data plans, so it makes sense that they push data plans on users. The latest word on the street (unconfirmed) is that Verizon Wireless is getting ready to require specific data plans for “enhanced multimedia phones.”

According to one of PhoneArena’s tipsters, Verizon Wireless will be pushing the new data plans with the launch of the upcoming Samsung Rogue U960 and Samsung Intensity U450. These handsets will be the first in a new generation of “enhanced multimedia phones” on Verizon’s network. These aren’t smartphones, per se, but they do support data services. The Samsung Rogue will be offered with Verizon’s Nationwide Plans, but when purchased with a Nationwide Basic or Nationwide Select plan, users will be required to sign up for Verizon’s $9.99/month 25MB data plan or $19.99/month 75MB data plan.

There are also some changes rumored for Verizon’s rate plan pricing structure that would nix unlimited data from the VCast Pack.

Of course, we’re going to wait for Verizon to announce official details before putting too much faith in this latest rumor. But, with data plans offering carriers’ lucrative revenue streams, it wouldn’t surprise us to see this new data plan requirement hitting VZW.

[PhoneArena via PhoneDog]