Verizon launches its own sponsored data program

Verizon announced a new sponsored data program it is calling FreeBee, which will let brands and content makers provide video and other content to Verizon users without it counting against the users' data allowance.

There are two versions of the FreeBee program — FreeBee 360 and FreeBee Data — but the differences between them amount to how they are billed to the content providers and the net result is the same for Verizon users. It will be available in a beta form starting Jan 19, with a greater rollout later in 2016. Brands that have already signed up for it include AOL (unsurprising, given that Verizon owns AOL), Hearst Magazines, and Gameday, which will provide sponsored content to 1,000 test subscribers. For Verizon customers, content that is part of the FreeBee program will have a literal "bee" icon on it, denoting that it will not count against their monthly data allotment. Brands will be able to sponsor some or all of the data used by their apps or websites.