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While network operator Verizon Wireless is causing a stir this week by announcing the end of unlimited data plans, to be replaced with a three-tiered pricing structure, the company also unveiled a slew of applications, tools and online tutorials aimed at educating its customers and giving them the ability to check their data consumption habits.

Verizon Wireless smartphone and tablet customers now have a variety of ways to monitor and manage their wireless data usage, including text message alerts that will be sent to smartphone customers to help them keep track of monthly domestic data usage. Starting this week, smartphone users will begin to receive free text message alerts when their data usage crosses thresholds of 50 percent, 75 percent, 90 percent, 100 percent and 110 percent of their data plans monthly allowances.

Customers who are registered with My Verizon, the online account management tool, may also request email alerts and can add up to three additional email addresses to receive the notifications. My Verizon users also have the option of suppressing the 50 percent and 75 percent alerts. Email alerts for the same threshold levels are already available to tablet, netbook, PC card and Mobile Broadband device customers on usage-based plans.

Verizon Wireless offers a variety of free tools that customers can use to monitor and manage their accounts. Customers can check data usage by dialing #DATA and pressing send from Verizon Wireless phones to receive a free text message with the information, and can monitor data usage directly from their handsets via My Verizon Mobile or online through My Verizon.

To read the original eWeek article, click here: Verizon Debuts Data Usage, Monitoring Tools