Last week, Verizon Wireless announced new unlimited plans in an effort to attract additional subscribers to its network in the new year. The plans, which begin this week, include unlimited voice and voice/text plans for single and family accounts. The carrier also announced a data plan requirement for new activations of 3G multimedia phones.

The new Nationwide Unlimited Talk plan will allow subscribers to call anyone in the United States for only $69.99 a month while a Talk & Text plan is also available which adds unlimited text, picture and video messages for $89.99 a month. The new Nationwide Family Shareplans work much the same way and cost $119.99 for unlimited voice and $149.99 for unlimited messaging. The family plans include the first two lines of service.

Probably the most controversial step Verizon Wireless took last week was putting in place a requirement that all new activations of 3G multimedia phones must included a $9.99 per month data package which includes 25 megabytes. The carrier states this requirement was first introduced with the LG enV TOUCH and Samsung Rogue, but will now encompass the LG Chocolate Touch, LG enV3, LG VX8360, Motorola Entice W766, Nokia 7705 Twist and Samsung Alias 2.

Read more from the Verizon Wireless press release.

Brian’s Opinion

I don’t know if it was good timing for Verizon Wireless to expand its data plan requirement to additional 3G multimedia phones considering the spotlight the carrier is under after bumping up its early termination fee (ETF) in conjunction with the launch of the Motorola Droid. It was just before Christmas that we reported that the FCC found Verizon’s response to the inquiry regarding the increased ETF fee alarming. The biggest concern expressed was that the logic behind ETF’s was expanding from simply covering the cost of subsidizing phones to including advertising, commissions and store costs.

It is almost like Verizon Wireless wants to give the FCC yet one more thing to bang them over the head with. There is little doubt in my mind that the FCC will find this new move troubling. I can almost hear the printers now over at the FCC printing out yet another inquiry to Verizon Wireless .

I’m sure the carrier will attempt to make the argument that the lines between 3G multimedia phones and smartphones are blurring which justifies the data plan requirement. Personally, I don’t disagree with this logical argument. Unfortunately for Verizon Wireless, they are dealing with the government. Perception trumps logic in Washington. Currently, the perception is that wireless carriers are milking subscribers for monthly fees and that the FCC or Congress will need to step in and do something about it to protect consumers.