As news spreads about Verizon’s unlimited data plan being available for the iPhone, AT&T could fight back by rewarding previous customers (who had an unlimited data plan before AT&T’s new policies took effect) with the option to subscribe to an unlimited plan. For AT&T customers who switched off the unlimited data plan, they’ll have the option to attain it once again.

From the Associated Press,

Verizon Wireless will start offering the iPhone on Feb. 10 with a draw that AT&T no longer offers to new subscribers: a plan with unlimited data usage. But The Associated Press has learned that some AT&T iPhone users on limited plans won’t need to move to Verizon for unlimited data.

In an unadvertised loophole, AT&T Inc. has allowed subscribers who have had an unlimited data plan in the past to switch back. That includes anyone who had an iPhone before June, when the limited plans took effect.

You’d never see this kind of fighting over an Android phone - I don’t see AT&T extending their policies for the upcoming Motorola Atrix, which has a laptop dock available for greater productivity. Clearly the iPhone is more important to these carriers than its competitors. Between AT&T changing eligibility dates, and their previous mudslinging before the iPhone 4 launch, AT&T is vying to keep customers on their network.

But why is AT&T worried? While it isn’t clear to the public yet on how Apple will update the iPhone 4 on Verizon, customers can expect that the next generation iPhone will appear on AT&T’s network this summer. Does AT&T know something we don’t? Customers may stick around on AT&T just to have the latest hardware: I don’t expect many to pay a large termination fee on AT&T when Verizon launches their iPhone 4 - that switch would more likely happen when those contracts finally run out. I’m not in the camp that exclaims AT&T would suddenly lose a massive base of their customers…unless Verizon would get the next generation iPhone at the same time as well. I doubt it: I’d like to think Apple purposely misaligned their launch dates between carriers so Apple could maintain (and protect) their relationship with AT&T, while carefully extending their phone to a base of new customers. It’s not AT&T that should be worried about mass defection, it’s Android manufacturers selling phones on Verizon that should be worried.

[Associated Press via MacRumors]

Having been a Verizon customer for roughly a year now, I can say that a benefit of being on the Big Red would have to be their $30 unlimited plan. I’m not certain why a special case would be made for the iPhone where people couldn’t get an unlimited plan, but if those worries were keeping you up at night, the Wall Street Journal reports that the Verizon iPhone will have an unlimited plan available.

The carrier’s heir apparent and chief operating officer, Lowell McAdam, told us the news ahead of the company’s meeting with investors.

“I’m not going to shoot myself in the foot,” he said. Not offering an unlimited plan would put up a barrier for customers who might otherwise switch from AT&T, he said.

I don’t find it interesting that the iPhone will have an unlimited data plan (though skeptical wannabe-AT&T converts can now jump for joy): it’s more interesting that the $30 plan may be the only option available. Verizon does have a $15 plan at 150 MB a month for smartphones, but that will be axed in favor of upcharging customers with to the lure of LTE (the irony in our case being the iPhone 4 is CDMA only). Engadget reports that only feature phones would have the option of a 75 MB data plan for $10.

Update: As Verizon giveth… Verizon taketh away. An update via WSJ admits:

But you’d better act fast. Speaking later Tuesday morning, Mr. McAdam said the iPhone unlimited plan will be a temporary offer and that the carrier will follow AT&T’s move to tiered pricing in the not too distant future.

The axing of the unlimited plan shouldn’t exclusive to the iPhone: all phones available on Verizon’s network would move to tiered pricing.

[via WSJ, Engadget]