Verizon Launches Campaign around 99¢

Today, select taxis in New York City are offering rides for a mere 99 cents. In a few weeks Mr. Softee Ice Cream will be offering 99-cent treats. The company behind both promotions: Verizon Wireless, who wants to bring home the value of their 99¢-per-day prepaid wireless plan.

In trying economic times like these, everyone wants to get the most value for their money. As such, people are gravitating toward prepaid phones, since their pay-per-minute model allows users to be in control of their cell phone bills. Verizon, long a carrier focused on contract-bound buyers to the near-complete exclusion of prepaid, thus has to make an about-face in order to keep gaining customers in a country-wide recession like this one. Granted, Verizon’s network has been home to other comapnies’ prepaid subscribers, such as Page Plus, Tracfone and Straight Talk, but Verizon has downplayed the market themselves…until now.

What does 99¢ buy on Verizon’s own prepaid program? Unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling and ten-cent minutes to other providers and texts. This isn’t much compared with other providers, who require no daily fee to get even cheaper rates, however Verizon’s mobile to mobile community numbers over 85 million at this point, so chances are that if you’re a heavy talker you’ll get your 99 cents worth.

For more info on Verizon’s antics, check out BrandWatch’s article.