Tiered data plans for Verizon smartphones

If you're a Verizon customer using a smartphone, get ready for tiered data plans. Fortunately, it appears like Verizon will still provide an "unlimited" data plan for smartphone users on the 3G network. We don't know what they will do to their data plans once they roll out with 4G. With the unlimited plan, you should not have any problems tethering and getting online with your laptop.

On a budget? Medical students and residents may find it difficult to spend $30/month for a data plan. Well, you'll have the option to spend $15/month if you use your data plan sparingly. You're probably living in the hospital, so you really don't need a data plan if you're connected via Wi-Fi and if you're surrounded by computers.

I'm planning on sticking with the unlimited data plan so that I can listen to music on Pandora while I'm in the car and so that I can tether when I'm traveling.