In the wake of more bad publicity, Verizon tried to clarify the statements made yesterday by CFO Fran Shammo regarding the end of unlimited data for grandfathered customers. Unfortunately their updated statement simply reiterated the fact that come mid-summer, you can kiss your unlimited data goodbye. Not that it will end in mid-summer, but the moment you decide to sign another contract or purchase a phone at a subsidized rate, you will have pulled the plug on good ol’ grandpa.

When the new options are introduced, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to our customers purchasing handsets and signing a new contract. Customers who choose to purchase phones at full retail price and are currently on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan. The same pricing and policies will apply to all 3G and 4GLTE smartphones.

I’m not going to get upset over the change, as I have been pushing for shared data for years, however, if they nickel and dime us on these new shared-data plans, then I’ll have a bone to pick.

I don’t foresee too many people purchasing a retail smartphone to use on Verizon, especially given Verizon’s excessive need for control. Plus, the majority of people purchasing smartphones at retail are usually buying GSM phones, not CDMA. So I’m expecting the majority of grandfathered Verizon customers to either switch over to the new shared data plans, or simply leave Verizon altogether.

I’ll be making my decision after I get the specifics on these new shared data plans, how about you?

• SourceVerizon Wireless