DSLReports: Verizon purges most unlimited plans, begins throttling remaining

[Bateluer]

https://secure.dslreports.com/shown...essful-At-Purging-Unlimited-Data-Users-129802

According to the CIRP report, just 22% of Verizon users remain on grandfathered unlimited plans, compared to 44% for AT&T and 78% for both Sprint and T-Mobile (who both advertise unlimited as a differentiator). Verizon also leads at getting users to pay more: 51% of Verizon Wireless customers paying the company at least $100 per month, compared to 47% at Sprint, 46% at AT&T, and 33% at T-Mobile.

Edit

Some bad news, but it pertains to this thread as well so I'm not creating a new thread.

http://www.droid-life.com/2014/07/24/verizon-network-optimization-throttling-unlimited-lte/

On October 1, Verizon will expand its existing Network Optimization policy to include unlimited data customers who use 4G LTE devices and “have fulfilled their minimum contract term.” That “optimization” occurs when an unlimited data customer meets specific criteria and hops onto a cell site that is experiencing high demand. This is only a temporary reduction, not a billing cycle throttle. Once that customer leaves the cell site under stress, their connection should return to normal.

In order to see reduced speeds, you have to be a customer that meets all of the criteria below (again, ALL of the criteria):

- Top 5% of data users (you use 4.7GB of data per month or more)
- Enrolled on an unlimited data plan or feature
- Have fulfilled their minimum contract term
- Are attempting to use data on a cell site that is experiencing high demand

According to Verizon’s Network Optimization page, as of March 2014, you qualify as being in the top 5% if you use 4.7GB of data or more per month. That could fluctuate over time, though we aren’t sure how often Verizon updates this number.

If you are worried that you may be impacted by Network Optimization, Verizon has options for you, though you you may not love them:

- Migrate to a MORE Everything plan or usage based data feature
- Use your device’s Wi-Fi options
- Use VZW tools to track and manage data usage:
- View real-time data use information on My Verizon and My Verizon Mobile
- Predict data needs by using Verizon’s Data Calculator
- Install the Data Usage Widget (available on most smartphones)
- Dial #DATA from the device to receive a text with data use information

 

[bearxor]

Well considering that Verizon made the catch that if you wanted to upgrade your phone you had to switch plans to take a subsidy or pay full price for your phone, this isn't terribly surprising.

 

[Insomniator]

Even 22% seems high, I would have thought they tricked more people than that to go onj a new plan.

 

[RockinZ28]

Yea 22% is more than I expected. Glad it's still that high, that's too many users to give the finger to and force off unlimited. Most would probably leave Verizon altogether, myself included.

Hopefully at this point, most of that 22% are on it because they use it, and won't give it up to get a discount on a new phone.

 

[chin311]

I'm one of the 22%, I've upgraded outside of subsidies 2x already. They'll have to force me off!

 

[Red Storm]

I had Verizon Unlimited. Yes it was great, but ultimately still expensive and I didn't need that much data. I sure hope those 22% actually need and use that unlimited data, otherwise they're wasting their money and Verizon is more than happy to keep sending them bills (rather than people like me who left them for greener pastures).

 

[openwheel]

Still on unlimited data paid by employer. That's the way to go.

 

[shortylickens]

I switched to Tmobile after a year of Verizons nonsense.
They may not be the biggest or the fastest, but they treat me decent.

 

[Anubis]

still on unlimited

if i swapped out to a 5GB plan it would cost me more money

 

[Dulanic]

I switched to Tmobile after a year of Verizons nonsense.
They may not be the biggest or the fastest, but they treat me decent.

Actually they are the fastest, as long as you have coverage. I love tmobile except when traveling.

 

[s44]

Cold, dead hands.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Congratulations Verizon.

 

[shortylickens]

Actually they are the fastest, as long as you have coverage. I love tmobile except when traveling.

Yeah I went up to Niagara Falls this summer and had horrible service. Next time I'll be sure to get another SIM.

 

[bearxor]

Still on unlimited data paid by employer. That's the way to go.

Yeah, most of our lines are unlimited. But Ive been slowly shifting them to a 2GB share plan. Mainly because it comes with hotspot.

I've had some people bitch and moan about coming off unlimited, but most of our users don't use but just a couple GB. I have 1.3TB in the shared data pool now. The most we've used in a single month is about 350GB.

 

[Lyfer]

Switched from Unlimited to 10gb family plan. Saving about $30~ now since all lines are out of contract. I averaged about 400mb in the last 6 months. Should have done it sooner. Live in boonies of NC so my options are Verizon or Verizon.

 

[Red Storm]

I recently went to Verizon to price out a family plan for 5 people. I wanted to get a comparison to T-Mobile. It was over $100 more expensive per month and that was assuming that every line on T-Mobile was paying $25/month for a new phone. So glad we switched.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

You can have my unlimited when you pry it out of my cold dead hands.

I average about 50 gigs a month. Streaming music/podcasts/youtube/netflix.

 

[openwheel]

Yeah, most of our lines are unlimited. But Ive been slowly shifting them to a 2GB share plan. Mainly because it comes with hotspot.

I've had some people bitch and moan about coming off unlimited, but most of our users don't use but just a couple GB. I have 1.3TB in the shared data pool now. The most we've used in a single month is about 350GB.

You can still tether on unlimited, you just have to root the phone.
My 4G LTE is faster than cable internet, so I canceled cable. I am a walking wifi hot spot these days.

 

[Red Storm]

You can still tether on unlimited, you just have to root the phone.
My 4G LTE is faster than cable internet, so I canceled cable. I am a walking wifi hot spot these days.

Rooting doesn't go well with corporate policies though.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Rooting doesn't go well with corporate policies though.

I seem to remember some non-root tethering solutions. But they may be defuct by now.

 

[jdoggg12]

Until I installed Shiny ROM I used FoxFi to tether on my unlimited plan. After, the built-in android tethering has been working perfectly. I typically use 20-30GB/month. If they force me off it, then I leave. I'm paying top of the market prices ($100/mo for 450min, unlimited txt/data) for good service and unlimited data... w/o unlimited data, I'd rather pay $50 at one of the other carriers.

 

[Anubis]

I seem to remember some non-root tethering solutions. But they may be defuct by now.

non root wired (USB) or BT tether works fine, its the wireless hotspot that does not work without root

 

[openwheel]

Rooting doesn't go well with corporate policies though.

Not when I own the phone.

 

[bearxor]

We don't allow root on our devices. And we've started shifting everything to iPhone. So we only have about 100 android devices left.

Not when I own the phone.

And you'd be blocked from mailbox access on our MDM automatically. The only way I could imagine getting around that at this point would be to have complete control of the MDM with no outside audit of the MDM server.

 

[vi edit]

My data plans have been interesting. Got an unlimited plan with my iPhone4 purchase on release in February of 2011. Since 99% of my life is covered under wifi I used very little data. Monthly average was like 500 meg.

Used my subsidy to upgrade to a Note 2 in December of 2012 and moved over to a shared plan with my wife's number. Between the two of us we barely used 2 gig. That plan was around $140 a month.

Just this weekend I moved us over to the "Loyalty" plans which are unlimited talk/text and 1 gig data a month for $50 a line + you can still upgrade your phone every two years.

Since so much of my coverage is typically under the umbrella of wifi that data is plenty for wasting time in shopping lines or occasional pandora streaming on drives.

I don't have any need for netflix or youtube over celluar connection. I'm just glad that there are cheaper options available now for lower data users.