Verizon CEO says they "probably need" to end unlimited data

[TheWart]

"We will probably need to change the design of our pricing where it will not be totally unlimited, flat rate."

Sigh, AT&T was ahead of the curve on this lame-but probably inevitable-development. Guess Verizon intends to follow.

http://gizmodo.com/5567119/verizon-...feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+gizmodo/full+(Gizmodo)

 

[Phobic9]

Who didn't see this one coming? I expect T-Mobile and Sprint to join the bandwagon, though it'll take them a bit longer.

Hopefully VZW won't be as lame as AT&T but I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[SunnyD]

We will "probably need" to end any service with VZW in that case.

 

[TheWart]

Who didn't see this one coming? I expect T-Mobile and Sprint to join the bandwagon, though it'll take them a bit longer.

Hopefully VZW won't be as lame as AT&T but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Yea, the writing has been on the wall for a while. It will be interesting to see if VZW tries to make its plans more generous than AT&T or if it is just going to more or less copy them.

 

[boomhower]

I imagine Sprint and T-Mobile will hold out for a long time in an effort to gain customers from the other two, plus with their lower subscriber count they have plenty of bandwidth to go around.

 

[AstroManLuca]

They were never unlimited anyway. All "unlimited" plans have a 5 GB cap.

What they're really saying is that $30/5 GB is too good a deal.

 

[thescreensavers]

^ This. I dont get it faster internet comes to phones and they implement caps that are smaller then they were with slower internet.

VZW's network has no problems like ATT's I dont get why they need to change. They are fine how they are now.

 

[vshah]

^ This. I dont get it faster internet comes to phones and they implement caps that are smaller then they were with slower internet.

VZW's network has no problems like ATT's I dont get why they need to change. They are fine how they are now.

they can make more money if they change.

 

[corkyg]

They were never unlimited anyway. All "unlimited" plans have a 5 GB cap.

What they're really saying is that $30/5 GB is too good a deal.

That was my impression. I deal with connection cards - not phones, and that limit was imposed over a year ago by all carriers. Broadband aircards have typically charged $60/mo for "unlimited" or 5 GB

Could it be that phone phans have been abusing the system?

 

[zerocool84]

All this stupid crap is why we are so far behind in broadband/cellphone compared to practically every other modern country.

 

[Zebo]

That was my impression. I deal with connection cards - not phones, and that limit was imposed over a year ago by all carriers. Broadband aircards have typically charged $60/mo for "unlimited" or 5 GB

Could it be that phone phans have been abusing the system?

Nah I love your sig.

 

[Cuda1447]

That was my impression. I deal with connection cards - not phones, and that limit was imposed over a year ago by all carriers. Broadband aircards have typically charged $60/mo for "unlimited" or 5 GB

Could it be that phone phans have been abusing the system?

Eh, T-Mobile is an unlimited aircard plan. Granted, you get throttled after 5GB, but its still unlimited and its $20 less per month.

 

[Sean Patrick]

5gb cap?

what about with tmobile?

also, if i streamed 5 movies on megavideo, does that mean i'll reach my cap in 2 days?

 

[shortylickens]

Once again, wifi for the mother fucking win.

 

[jlee]

Once again, wifi for the mother fucking win.

As long as you don't need more than 250Gb and have Comcast. :hmm:

 

[Bateluer]

Once again, wifi for the mother fucking win.

Agreed, make a note of where all the free wifi hot spots.

Still, irritating to have the prospect of having to micromanage monthly data usage.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Agreed, make a note of where all the free wifi hot spots.

Still, irritating to have the prospect of having to micromanage monthly data usage.

Yeah, I'm not sure what I'll do if VZW does that.

 

[shortylickens]

Agreed, make a note of where all the free wifi hot spots.

Still, irritating to have the prospect of having to micromanage monthly data usage.

In my town thats pretty much everywhere. School. Many restaurants, most coffee joints, many fast food places, and often the mall and other shops. Its kinda ridiculous. Just in the past year and a half it seems to have increased 10 fold.

 

[randomlinh]

As long as you don't need more than 250Gb and have Comcast. :hmm:

i'm fine... streaming netflix and hulu haven't really hit that cap, or even come close really.

also, I still only hit 1.5gbs if I really try on 3G. I just don't particularly stream all that much. Wifi is usually faster when I want to.

However... the whole "unlimited is really 5GB" is crap, they should have just said that from the start, no fine print BS. I would be fine with even say, $10/GB for the first 3GB, then discounted after that. saves me money, and allows them to be better plan for data usage.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

w00t...time to get out of my contract. srsly tho, i'll drop my 3g phone and go back to dumb phones or just maybe just stick to wifi.

 

[Anubis]

In my town thats pretty much everywhere. School. Many restaurants, most coffee joints, many fast food places, and often the mall and other shops. Its kinda ridiculous. Just in the past year and a half it seems to have increased 10 fold.

lots of wifi in hell

out here on the moon the only place with free wifi is Dunkin Donuts

i cant even access wifi at work cause its reserved for guests and limited to a few conference rooms that im very far away from

 

[JD50]

This is such bullshit. Isn't the opposite supposed to happen? We're supposed to get faster speeds and more data for a cheaper price as technology gets better, we're going the wrong way. Thanks AT&T for getting the ball rolling, assholes.

 

[hanoverphist]

This is such bullshit. Isn't the opposite supposed to happen? We're supposed to get faster speeds and more data for a cheaper price as technology gets better, we're going the wrong way. Thanks AT&T for getting the ball rolling, assholes.

i keep hoping it will happen, but realistically if people dont revolt on this shit, it will be the wave of the future. profits are their only concern.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I guess I'm just too old school, I use a computer at home for the internet and gaming, a phone is used to make calls with to other live humans. I don't ever want to watch a movie on a 4" screen or even You Tube vids and update Facebook crap on those tiny ass screens. That's why I have 30" inch monitor and a 60" TV. The phone companies can stick all the 5 gb caps and overpriced rate plans up their collective asses. Iphone? EVO? Who gives a crap....man I got other things to worry about, like how to pay for the TV and computer, food on the table, etc.

 

[shortylickens]

This is such bullshit. Isn't the opposite supposed to happen? We're supposed to get faster speeds and more data for a cheaper price as technology gets better, we're going the wrong way. Thanks AT&T for getting the ball rolling, assholes.

In 1992 when I got a 386-40 it only had a 200 meg hard drive. And I could not fill it.
Now I've got two 1 terrabyte drives, and I am still hurting.

If people hadnt increased their data usage exponentially the telecom companies wouldnt be in trouble. They have to put on data caps just to keep from getting raped. Asshole tweens feel the need to download 100 movies and 20 games every month, that messes up things like you would believe. And there are literally millions of them file-sharing 24/7. Phones used to just make calls. Now people are constantly streaming videos and music.
The new iPhone with all its fancy capabilities is a prime example of people wanting much more than they actually need and are willing to pay for. They want unlimited data for free and current technology just doesnt work that well.