Verizon just stole an old idea, and it might be the one thing your family needs right now

Verizon has been making headlines a lot lately, and not always in a good way. First, it cut long-time customer loyalty discounts, sparking major backlash and even pushing some users to leave. Then, it bumped up some plan prices. Now, the carrier is trying to smooth things over with new perks – and the latest one is all about families.

If you are old enough, you probably remember when the whole family had just one phone number. It was convenient in some ways and super annoying in others. Well, Verizon is bringing that idea back in a modern twist.

The company just introduced a new perk called Verizon Family Plus, which comes bundled with something brand new called Family Line. The goal? To help parents manage tech use, give kids a safer way to stay connected, and keep households in sync – all in one affordable monthly add-on.

Technology is a powerful force for connection, but we know families are seeking a better balance. The Verizon Family Plus Perk and the Family Line feature are a direct answer to that need. We’re empowering parents with an intuitive new tool to set boundaries and give their families a secure, dedicated number for communication, fostering a healthier digital relationship from the start.

– Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO, Verizon Consumer, August 21, 2025

Verizon Family Plus is now live. | Image credit – Verizon

So, what exactly is Family Line? Think of it as a modern-day home phone, but mobile. For one number, up to five smartphones can call, answer, or join the same conversation. It’s perfect for emergencies too – schools, babysitters, or caregivers only need one number to reach the whole family at once. And for everyday life, it makes coordinating pickups, check-ins, or just staying in touch a lot simpler. Basically, you get the comfort of a shared home line with all the flexibility of mobile.

Family Plus itself costs $10 a month (a 30% discount from its standalone price) and comes packed with a bunch of digital wellness and safety tools. Parents get unlimited location check-ins, content filters, and screen time controls to encourage healthier online habits for kids.

There are driving insights for teens to promote safer habits behind the wheel, tools for caregivers to monitor seniors more securely, and even roadside assistance that beats out competitors with twice the coverage.

On top of that, there’s 24/7 Assist, giving families instant alerts and access to professional help anytime. And of course, there’s the Family Line feature tying it all together.

With the school year kicking off, this perk could be especially useful for families juggling schedules, kids’ activities and daily check-ins.

Both T-Mobile and AT&T have their own versions of shared-number tools, but Verizon‘s spin is different. T-Mobile‘s DIGITS, for example, lets you use one number across multiple devices or have several numbers on a single device (including tablets and smartwatches). AT&T‘s system works similarly.

But Verizon‘s Family Line is more about recreating the idea of a home phone – a single, central number that keeps the whole family connected.

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