www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In order to break service contracts for smart phones, Verizon Wireless has doubled the fees on the customers. According to Verizon, the difference between what it pays manufacturers for phones and what it
charges contract customers is more than twice as large for smart phones as it is for standard cell phones.

The explanation was given after Federal Communications Commission asked the carrier to tell the reason behind doubling the maximum early termination fee for smart phones to $350 from $175. Earlier, Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said the FCC needs to increase its oversight of the wireless industry and improve its enforcement of consumer protection rules.

Smartphones takes more time for sales and customer service workers to help customers understand advanced features and functions on the handsets, thereby increasing the cost. Verizon has also been inquired by FCC about $1.99-a-megabyte data access fees that have appeared on the bills of customers who don’t have data plans but who accidentally initiate data access by pressing a button on their phones.

In reply, Verizon has said when customer starts using a data service but then quickly shuts it off, the fees is not charged.