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Is Total by Verizon Good? 11 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

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Mint Mobile 15GB
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T-Mobile
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20
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high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
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Deprioritized
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Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
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4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Infinite Unlimited
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Verizon
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25
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high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
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Included Hotspot
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5Mbps hotspot
480p SD Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Mint Mobile Unlimited
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1 Line
T-Mobile
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Included Hotspot
10GB Hotspot
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Unlimited Minutes
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Verizon
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50GB priority
50GB priority
Included Hotspot
10Mbps Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
10Mbps hotspot
480p SD Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts

1. What is Total by Verizon, and is it any good?

Total by Verizon is a prepaid cell phone carrier known as an MVNO.

MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators, piggyback on existing cellular networks to provide coverage.

In Total by Verizon's case, it uses Verizon for coverage.

You can get prepaid plans from Total by Verizon starting at $30 per month.

But are Total by Verizon's plans any good?

Total by Verizon is a postpaid cell phone carrier known as an MVNO.

MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators, piggyback on existing cellular networks to provide coverage.

In Total by Verizon's case, it uses Verizon for coverage.

You can get prepaid plans from Total by Verizon starting at $30 per month.

But are Total by Verizon's plans any good?

In my opinion, no, I don't think Total by Verizon's plans are good.

I think Total by Verizon's plans are too expensive for the features and the data allotments you get.

You may want to consider other options. Chech out the compare plans page to see recommended cell phone plans, as well as to compare Total by Verizon directly to the competition.

Yes, I think Total by Verizon's plans are good.

I think the plans are a great value in terms of price, features, and how much high-speed data you get.

If you're interested, you can also compare Total by Verizon's plans to the competition using the compare plans page.

Total by Verizon is a prepaid cell phone service offered by Verizon.

It was originally a Tracfone brand called Total Wireless.

When Verizon acquired Tracfone, and they rebranded Total Wireless to Total by Verizon. They also updated the plans. The service now offers plans from $30 to $60 per month for single lines that include between 5GB and unlimited data. 

Total by Verizon is designed to be an in-store brand.

It’s available at over 50,000 retail locations, including Walmarts, Targets, and Dollar General stores.

Customers can bring their own unlocked devices to Total by Verizon, or they can purchase a phone directly from Total by Verizon. It’s important to know that Total by Verizon currently does not support eSIM, so it won’t work with the iPhone 14 series of devices.

In-store representatives at Walmart and Target locations will be able to help customers pick a plan, activate their service, and get set up.

Being an in-store brand also means that Total by Verizon’s service plans are more expensive than what you can find from online-only brands, like US Mobile and Visible.

But is Total by Verizon any good?

As it turns out, Total by Verizon’s plans are not worth it.

The plans offerd by Total by Verizon are too expensive for the data they include.

For example, 5GB on Total by Verizon costs you $30 per month.

You can get the same 5GB for just $15 from US Mobile.

US Mobile 5GB
AT&T
Dish
T-Mobile
Verizon
$
15
/mo
+ tax
tax included
5GB
Unlimited
Minutes
Unlimited
Texts
Included Hotspot
Add-on
Hotspot
No
Hotspot
No Hotspot
5GB premium
5GB premium
Unlimited slow data (
None
)
Unlimited
slow data
720p HD
video streaming
International calling
International calling add-on
International calling
International data
International data add-on
International data
Domestic roaming
Domestic roaming
Visual VM
Visual VM
VoLTE
VoLTE
Wi-Fi calling
Wi-Fi calling
MMS
MMS
5G
5G add-on
5G
eSIM
eSIM
$
15
/mo
+ tax
tax included

Another example is the 15GB plan from Total by Verizon for $40 per month. That is not worth it because you can get unlimited data for just $30 per month from Visible, another Verizon-owned brand.

Visible Base
AT&T
Dish
T-Mobile
Verizon
$
30
/mo
+ tax
tax included
Unlimited
Unlimited
Minutes
Unlimited
Texts
Included Hotspot
Add-on
Hotspot
5Mbps
Hotspot
No Hotspot
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Unlimited slow data (
None
)
Unlimited
slow data
480p SD
video streaming
International calling
International calling add-on
International calling
International data
International data add-on
International data
Domestic roaming
Domestic roaming
Visual VM
Visual VM
VoLTE
VoLTE
Wi-Fi calling
Wi-Fi calling
MMS
MMS
5G
5G add-on
5G
eSIM
eSIM
$
30
/mo
+ tax
tax included

It’s clear Verizon is up-charging Total by Verizon service.

Why?

Primarily because Total by Verizon an in-store brand. It is available at Walmart, Target, Dollar General, and more at over 50,000 other retail locations. Having dedicated representatives in-store to help customers choose plans, set up devices, and activate service costs Verizon additional money, so the plans are naturally more expensive. 

Yes, Total by Verizon can save you some money over Verizon postpaid.

But savvy consumers will be able to enjoy additional savings with affordable plans from US Mobile and Visible that also use the Verizon network for coverage.

Pros

  • Cheaper than Verizon postpaid
  • Option to go in-store for help & support
  • Occasional deals on smartphones
  • Verizon coverage
  • Disney+ included for free in top-tier unlimited plan
  • Multi-line discount allows you to mix-&-match plans and enjoy group savings
  • Free data roaming in Canada and Mexico with 2+ lines on the $40, $50, and $60 plans
  • Free unlimited talk and text to 5 countries of choice included with $50 plan, up to 69 countries included with $60 plan
  • Hotspot included on all plans

Cons

  • Expensive single and multi-line prices when compared to Visible and US Mobile
  • $30, $40, and $50 plans limited to 5G Nationwide coverage, no access to 5G Ultrawideband
  • No support for eSIM

2. What are Total by Verizon's cell phone plans?

Total by Verizon offers four plans to choose from.

They are all pre-paid.

The top-tier plan is the $60 unlimited plan. It includes unlimited data with access to 5G Ultra Wideband. It includes 20GB of high-speed hotspot data. It includes unlimited talk and text to 69 countries.

And it includes a free Disney+ subscription.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Total by Verizon offers the following cell phone plans to choose from:

Total by Verizon 5GB: $30 for 5GB of data
Total by Verizon 15GB: $40 for 15GB of data
Total by Verizon Unlimited: $50 for 300GB of data
Total by Verizon Unlimited+: $60 for 300GB of data

You can see more details and features of Total by Verizon's plans below:

Total by Verizon 5GB
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
30
/mo.
+tax
tax included
5GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then 128Kbps
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon 15GB
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
40
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then 128Kbps
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
50
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited+
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
60
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon 5GB
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
30
/mo.
+tax
tax included
5GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then 128Kbps
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon 15GB
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
40
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then 128Kbps
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
50
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited+
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
60
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.

3. What deals, discounts, or referral programs does Total by Verizon have?

You can save 5% off the cost of every Total by Verizon plan with auto-refill.

That will save you approximately $1.50 to $3 per month depending on the plan you get. 

There are currently no referral programs or other discounts available.

No discounts or referral programs are available at this time.

4. What are Total by Verizon's family plans?

Total by Verizon offers the following family plans to choose from:

Total by Verizon does not offer family plans at this time. Each line you have will need its own separate account.

Total by Verizon allows families to mix-and-match plans on the same account and still take advantage of the family discount.

  • The $30 plan stays at $30.
  • The $40 plan drops to as low as $36 with 5 lines.
  • The $50 plan drops to as low s $37 with 5 lines.
  • And the $60 plan drops to as low as $40 with 5 lines.

Families can still save more money with plans from US Mobile and Visible though. US Mobile’s Unlimited Basic plan is $20 per line with four or more lines. And Visible’s unlimited plan is $30 per line regardless of how many lines you have. 

Here’s the full breakdown of the family plans from Total by Verizon:

Total by Verizon Unlimited
2 Lines
2 Lines
Verizon
$
80
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited+
2 Lines
2 Lines
Verizon
$
90
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited
3 Lines
3 Lines
Verizon
$
105
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited+
3 Lines
3 Lines
Verizon
$
115
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited
4 Lines
4 Lines
Verizon
$
120
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited+
4 Lines
4 Lines
Verizon
$
130
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited
5 Lines
5 Lines
Verizon
$
135
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM
Total by Verizon Unlimited+
5 Lines
5 Lines
Verizon
$
145
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300GB
high-speed, then data stops
high-speed
high-speed, then None
Deprioritized
Deprioritized
Included Hotspot
No Hotspot
Add-on Hotspot
No hotspot
4K Streaming
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
Visual VM
Visual VM
MMS
MMS
WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling
VoLTE
VoLTE
5G
Access
5G Access
Roaming
Roaming
Int'l Calling
Int'l Calling
Intl' Calling
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Int'l Roaming
Group Savings
Group Savings
eSIM
eSIM

5. Does Total by Verizon have plans for tablets, smartwatches, or hotspot devices?

Total by Verizon currently does not support smartwatch, tablet, or hotspot plans.

No. Total by Verizon does not offer any plans for tablets, smartwatches, or hotspot devices at this time.

6. How good is Total by Verizon's coverage?

Total by Verizon rides on the Verizon network for coverage, so reception in most places is pretty good.

See the full coverage details below:

How good is Total by Verizon coverage?

Total by Verizon coverage is about the same as Verizon Postpaid coverage.

Both give Total by Verizon and Verizon Postpaid give you coverage on Verizon’s LTE and 5G Nationwide networks. Some plans will also include access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, too. The 5G Ultra Wideband network delivers substantially faster speeds, lower pings, and overall better performance. Verizon aims to cover 200 million people with its 5G Ultra Wideband network by the end of the year.

There may be a minor difference between prepaid and postpaid coverage, though.

And that difference may be in the availability of domestic roaming

Domestic roaming is where your phone will switch to a partner network for coverage in an area where the native network does not have service. For example, Verizon has roaming agreements with other network operators in small parts of:

  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • North Carolina
  • Utah
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

In regards to domestic roaming, Verizon Prepaid includes:

  • Unlimited data, VoLTE, and texting on 21 LTEiRA partners
  • Unlimited text, $0.20 per minute of voice, and no data on Extended Network partners

I would expect Total by Verizon to include similar roaming options.

That said, the official terms and conditions say:

Although there are no additional charges for using the Service while roaming domestically, Total by Verizon does not guarantee your ability to roam nor the availability and/or the quality of Service. Domestic roaming may be discontinued or changed at any time without notice. Due to Carrier restrictions, Total by Verizon reserves the right to terminate the Service of any customer whose roaming usage exceeds 50% of their total usage in any three (3) Plan cycles within a twelve (12) month period. International roaming is available on select plans.

Here’s a coverage map and more information:

Verizon coverage information

  • Total area covered: 55%
  • Total square miles covered: 2,095,163
  • 5G area covered: 12%
  • 5G square miles covered: 459,756

The above data points come from the FCC.

Check Verizon coverage in your area by using Verizon's official coverage map.

You can also check coverage using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.

Verizon coverage map
Crowd-sourced Verizon coverage map from CoverageMap.com

You can test cellular performance in your area by using the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test.

AT&T coverage information

  • Network: AT&T
  • Total area covered: 55%
  • Total square miles covered: 2,097,446
  • 5G area covered: 31%
  • 5G square miles covered: 1,198,486

The above information comes from the FCC.

You can check AT&T coverage in your area by using AT&T's official coverage map.

You can also check coverage by using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.

AT&T coverage map
Crowd-sourced AT&T coverage map from CoverageMap.com

You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.

T-Mobile coverage information

  • Network: T-Mobile
  • Total area covered: 35%
  • Total square miles covered: 1,279,933
  • 5G area covered: 26%
  • 5G square miles covered: 910,378

The above information comes from the FCC.

Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using T-Mobile's official coverage map.

You can also check T-Mobile coverage by using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.

T-Mobile coverage map
Crowd-sourced T-Mobile coverage map from CoverageMap.com

You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.

7. What features does Total by Verizon support?

8. What phones work on Total by Verizon?

Most phones that are unlocked will work on
Total by Verizon
.
An unlocked phone means it isn't tied to any carrier, contract, or financing agreement.
Consider contacting your current carrier to see if your phone is unlocked, or what the steps are to request to have it unlocked.
You can also consider purchasing an unlocked phone below that is compatible with
Total by Verizon
:

9. Does Total by Verizon support international calling or data roaming?

10. What plan add-ons does Total by Verizon offer?

No plan add-ons have been entered into our database for Total by Verizon at this time.

11. How do you contact Total by Verizon customer service?

Total by Verizon

News

The latest news, deals, and updates about
Total by Verizon
.
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