Are people really paying $85/month+ for an iPhone?

[jpeyton]

Thanks for that analysis, looks like I should have done my homework. Can you just walk into a Verizon store and ask for your plan to be changed? I was under the impression that you get locked in whenever you get a new phone.

They'll make the change, but probably ask for a new 2-year extension to do it.

 

[shortylickens]

Did anybody keep their unlimited data from two years ago?

 

[Jovec]

Did anybody keep their unlimited data from two years ago?

Verizon told me I could if I bought the phones straight up, although I am not sure I believe the CS reps. I would have considered it but they do not lower your monthly if you pay full price for you devices, so I would not have made up the difference over two years between my old plan and the new.

I paid about $520 for two new GS3s: 1@$150, 1@$200, 2x$30 upgrade fee, plus tax on the full retail price ($1200) of the phones.

Buying them straight up, I don't know if I would still get the extra $50 discount or be charged the upgrade fees. Figure about an extra $850 to buy the phones outright, divided over 24 months for about $35. My new (forced) plan with 4GB is about $15/mo higher than the old, so I'm still down $20/mo over 2 years paying full price (although I would have had unlimited data). Paying an extra $20/mo to go from 4GB to unlimited data is very tempting, but if you can't keep your unlimited data then I doubt Verizon is going to refund my $850.

Regarding plan changes mid-contract - I know you can make adjustments to a given plan (for example, I can change my data options). If worth a call anyway...

 

[chewietobbacca]

Make the change to T-Mobile..

I'm paying $74.99/mo for unlimited talk, text, 5GB of data at 4G speeds with Wi-Fi Hot Spot on their value plan. For $70/mo you can get the same plan with unlimited data, no wi-fi hot spot.

Also, reception issues are overblown. With Wi-Fi calling via hardware on T-Mobile phones, I can just use Wi-Fi for my calls - it helps in extremely bad coverage areas where other phones can't.

 

[ControlD]

Make the change to T-Mobile..

I'm paying $74.99/mo for unlimited talk, text, 5GB of data at 4G speeds with Wi-Fi Hot Spot on their value plan. For $70/mo you can get the same plan with unlimited data, no wi-fi hot spot.

Also, reception issues are overblown. With Wi-Fi calling via hardware on T-Mobile phones, I can just use Wi-Fi for my calls - it helps in extremely bad coverage areas where other phones can't.

I have Wi-Fi calling for Verizon and it is awesome because I live in a really crappy coverage area. I have to use a device that connects to my Wi-Fi network though. Is it the same with T-Mobile?

 

[Jovec]

with Wi-Fi Hot Spot on their value plan. For $70/mo you can get the same plan with unlimited data, no wi-fi hot spot.

Not shilling for Verizon here, but the Share Anything plans have no surcharge for tethering or a wi-fi hotspot. It's just data that counts towards your cap.

 

[Ns1]

Did anybody keep their unlimited data from two years ago?

yep

att grandfathered fo lyfe

 

[s44]

Did anybody keep their unlimited data from two years ago?

Sticking with it until the end of my contract (Christmas 2013). May switch to Sprint or T-mo then, if their coverage/frequencies improve. On Android, so no texting on the plan.

 

[antef]

Not shilling for Verizon here, but the Share Anything plans have no surcharge for tethering or a wi-fi hotspot. It's just data that counts towards your cap.

That doesn't really matter when they've priced it so ridiculously high. The guy said he gets 5 GB for 75 bucks. That would cost $110/month on Verizon (for only 4 gigs) PLUS fees. There really isn't anything that Verizon can do that I can consider gracious at this point after they forced everyone to pay for unlimited calls, texting, etc. Great way to prevent declining revenues from new and alternative data-centered communication models - just force everyone to pay for the old way.

 

[Red Storm]

Did anybody keep their unlimited data from two years ago?

Yep. Loving my truly unlimited 4G from Verizon (unlike AT&T's "unlimited" till 5GB). I'm going to hold onto it for as long as possible.

 

[shortylickens]

I have Wi-Fi calling for Verizon and it is awesome because I live in a really crappy coverage area. I have to use a device that connects to my Wi-Fi network though. Is it the same with T-Mobile?

Tmobile has UMA which is like VOIP but only on their network with some of their phones. If you have Wifi it just makes normal phone calls through that, send and receive. Superior voice quality too. I had it on an old Nokia and since I couldnt disable cellular it killed my battery quickly, but on a smart phone its really damn nice. My moms law firm uses Tmobile and they dont give the paralegals voice service, just data. She uses Wifi (UMA) calling all the time. Works great.