With more and more people buying smart phones like the iPhone and Droid ? data plan packages are a must. It used to be that you had a choice of a limited (usually a small amount) of data or an unlimited package per month on your account, but those unlimited packages may be a thing of the past.

Starting last July, wireless retailer Verizon announced that existing customers could keep their unlimited data plans if they upgraded to new smart phones or renewed their contract, but new customers would have two package options ? neither of which was unlimited use.

However, recently they have released a statement saying that existing customers who were ?grandfathered? in, being allowed to keep their unlimited data can do so ? unless they purchase new phones and renew their contracts. If they do both, they are losing the ability to keep the unlimited package. They would then have to choose a data amount to use, and would be charged per megabyte that eclipses the limit.

This may drive some customers to go with prepaid cell services like Net10 or Straight Talk ? both of which offer unlimited talk, text, and data for around $50 per month ? this would allow them to save nearly half what they would pay for the same service with a contract carrier.

If this is something that concerns you about your current wireless plan, whether you use Verizon or another carrier, call and see what your plan’s limits and restrictions are, and see what you would have to do to keep your unlimited data. If it isn’t something you’ll be able to keep, but definitely want to ? you may want to consider switching over to a no-contract, prepaid provider.