Verizon Wireless recently unveiled a new practice that appears to be similar to data throttling, but is officially dubbed "network optimization" by the company.

Essentially, Verizon announced that the download speeds for the top tier of data users will be scaled back while they are connected to "congested cell sites." The company asserted that it's not the exact same as data throttling, as users will be returned to normal speeds once they connect to a different site, but, nevertheless, it may give mobility managers pause.

"Our network optimization practices ensure that you can count on the reliable network you expect," the company's website states. "To optimize our network, we manage data connection speeds for a small subset of customers - the top 5 percent of data users with 3G devices on unlimited data plans - and only in places and at times of 3G network congestion."

While network optimization won't affect all Verizon customers, it does seem that enterprise users could fall directly in its cross hairs. Chances are that many companies were on unlimited plans before Verizon implemented a tiered billing model this summer, and it's likely that mobile professionals could fall in that top 5 percent of data users.

To determine if their organization will be affected by network optimization, IT administrators and mobility managers should conduct a wireless bill audit. That will allow them to see if in fact any of their users fall into that top tier of data hogs. According to Verizon, that segment of mobile users consumes 2 gigabytes or more of data during a single billing period.

If the audit turns up information that shows the company may be affected by Verizon's network optimization, then changes to wireless services could be in order. Or the company could use the information during its next contract negotiation with the carrier.

The company may also find their professionals will be unaffected, since optimization won't occur at all times.

"Once you are no longer connected to a congested site, your speed will return to normal. This could mean a matter of seconds or hours, depending on your location and time of day," Verizon said.

Verizon has made several changes to its network and offerings this year. First it deployed 4G LTE, which will not be affected by network optimization, to start the year and followed that by doing away with unlimited data plans this summer.