How fricken lame is Verizon's Droid - not the phone, the data plans?

[alchemize]

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/181590/verizon_droid_tethering_will_cost_you.html

That $30 a month buys you an 'unlimited' data plan that has a monthly cap of 5Gb. Clearly, we are using different dictionaries to define 'unlimited'. Something got lost in translation somewhere.
...

Verizon has confirmed that tethering will cost you though--an additional $30 per month for an additional unlimited data plan that is also limited to 5Gb. So, if you want tethering you will pay $60 above and beyond the monthly contract for service for an 'unlimited' 10Gb of data per month.

...

But wait, there's more! That $30 a month data plan grants you the ability to use an 'unlimited' 5Gb of data...as long as that data doesn't come from a Microsoft Exchange email server. If you want the privilege of connecting with an Exchange email account you have to pay $45 a month for the 5Gb of unlimited data.

 

[alm99]

That is their standard pricing for all smart phones. $30 for data, $45 for exchange and $60 to tether ($30 data + $30 tether access.) It used to be $45 for data for anyone, they dropped it to $30 about 1.5 years ago.

 

[BigSmooth]

The extra $15 for Exchange support only applies to business plans, not consumer. http://www.gearlog.com/2009/11/personal_droid_data_will_cost.php Same deal with the iPhone.

The rest of the pricing scheme is no more ridiculous than the iPhone's, and I'm pretty sure that's intentional.

 

[destrekor]

all look at all this hate on Verizon because they're doing the exact same pricing structures as every other carrier. BOOO! You suck Verizon, how dare you infer you even the same as the other carriers, because charging the same means your WORSE than the other carriers and I don't even need to explain myself! HA, suck it Verizon.

/anti-Verizon schmuck

Idiots, the lot of 'em.
I picked up a Droid this morning, and Google's Cloud capabilities absolutely destroys my Omnia with Windows Mobile. This phone rocks so far, I'll add a hands on report of my own to one of the other threads after class and after I get some more done on the phone.

 

[erwos]

all look at all this hate on Verizon because they're doing the exact same pricing structures as every other carrier.

This. I'll never cease to be amazed at how people play into the hands of the technology blogs these days. Invest some controversy, rake in page views.

 

[Cuda1447]

This. I'll never cease to be amazed at how people play into the hands of the technology blogs these days. Invest some controversy, rake in page views.

Not every carrier has the exact same pricing structure. Just as a for instance... T-Mobile worst case scenario is $35 per month for UNLIMITED Data along with UNLIMITED Tethering and Unlimited text messaging, for a single line. $25 if you don't want to pay for texting.

How is that the same as Verizon again?

 

[randomlinh]

Not every carrier has the exact same pricing structure. Just as a for instance... T-Mobile worst case scenario is $35 per month for UNLIMITED Data along with UNLIMITED Tethering and Unlimited text messaging, for a single line. $25 if you don't want to pay for texting.

How is that the same as Verizon again?

is there a "5GB" cap somewhere in the fine print for t-mobile? I was under the impression everyone's "unlimited" was purely based on "reasonable use."

regardless, verizon is the worst at explaining their plans online.

also, what is "exchange" support exactly? I thought the iPhone/android could connect to your company's exchange server w/o a problem? Or is this something else?

 

[thepd7]

Not every carrier has the exact same pricing structure. Just as a for instance... T-Mobile worst case scenario is $35 per month for UNLIMITED Data along with UNLIMITED Tethering and Unlimited text messaging, for a single line. $25 if you don't want to pay for texting.

How is that the same as Verizon again?

Do they actually exist still? Is the coverage good anywhere? I honestly don't know a single person using tmobile.

 

[SandEagle]

Not every carrier has the exact same pricing structure. Just as a for instance... T-Mobile worst case scenario is $35 per month for UNLIMITED Data along with UNLIMITED Tethering and Unlimited text messaging, for a single line. $25 if you don't want to pay for texting.

How is that the same as Verizon again?

depends on the phone. on the MyTouch 3G and Google G1 phones you can get unlimited data for $19.99.

 

[PlatinumGold]

depends on the phone. on the MyTouch 3G and Google G1 phones you can get unlimited data for $19.99.

yes, clearly, tmobile is cheaper than verizon. and it's also clear that verizon has a much better network than verizon. hence you get what you pay for.

what doesn't make sense is, att charging the same rates as verizon even tho, verizon clearly has the better network and yet people say verizon is expensive. how does that make sense.

 

[TemjinGold]

and it's also clear that verizon has a much better network than verizon.

I don't know... I might have to disagree with you there...

 

[Bateluer]

I don't know... I might have to disagree with you there...

I understood what he meant.

In my case, I get a % off the price of the plan with Verizon, but only the main plan, not the data plan. After looking at a few plans, I eventually got a 99.99 plan that included the data package, plus voice, and unlimited texts. My employer discount applied to the entire plan so its not a bad deal. Much cheaper than what the Iphone would cost me and I wouldn't be able to use the iPhone in areas that don't have WiFi access.

 

[lupi]

and I hate paying my $20/month BB data/email plan.