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Verizon killing off “grandfathered” unlimited data plans this summer

K

Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Guess ATT will follow the leader at some point in time.

http://androidcommunity.com/verizon...ed-unlimited-data-plans-this-summer-20120516/

verizon-unlimited-data-plan.jpg
 
Their meaning of unlimited was "200MB per month". That was average usage when first generation of 3G smartphones came out. Today's is the different story. Obviously they cannot deliver what they promised. Not trying to defend them here, but it is much easier for wired internet providers to provide unlimited data. Available frequencies in cellular networks are FCC regulated and shared amongst all of us and there is limited spectrum.

It is going to get worse as average user is consuming more and more data.
 
I don't understand how those users are using so much data. One commenter said he or she used 70 GB three weeks into the billing cycle! What are these people using their phones for?

If I watch youtube using my phone, I might be able to get 1 GB a month, but I can easily watch youtube on my computer, and so I estimate my data needs to be ~300 MB a month. Furthermore, I keep my phone on wifi more often than not because the signal at home sucks and cellular internet uses much more power than wifi internet.
 
I don't use wifi at home because 4G is as fast. And my WiFi network already has too many devices using it, and 54G WiFi has limitation of 25MBs total one-way bandwidth.
how to use lots of data? easy. share photos, videos, watch netflix, use apps that synchronize hourly etc.
 
Not surprising. Even with unlimited data you're subject to throttling once you go above 2GB of data. I joined VZW after unlimited data for new customers went away, and I don't get anywhere close to my 4gb data limit. However, if I were a longtime customer who had been promised unlimited data, I'd be pretty upset on principle alone.

Hopefully as the networks continue to evolve and improve, we'll see those data limits go up accordingly.
 
cameronlane said:
Not surprising. Even with unlimited data you're subject to throttling once you go above 2GB of data. I joined VZW after unlimited data for new customers went away, and I don't get anywhere close to my 4gb data limit. However, if I were a longtime customer who had been promised unlimited data, I'd be pretty upset on principle alone.

Hopefully as the networks continue to evolve and improve, we'll see those data limits go up accordingly.
Click to expand...

I get upset on the principle of the matter, but, mainly, I like it to be there for me in the event I could really use it.
If I lose my unlimited data, I'd have to be much more conscious of the one-off days where I guzzle data off that fat pipe.
At home, I get terrible 4G signal, so I'm on wifi and don't worry about it. But when I'm out and about, and it turns out I have far too much time to waste and want to do something other than sitting there bored out of my mind for ages and ages, I can many moments of terrific 4G speeds and I like to take advantage of that. Pulling up youtube videos, netflix, music streaming, downloading latest magazines on my nook subscriptions, etc. Right now I like not having to worry or care about what I use. Most months, I rarely even approach 2GB, but I've blown past that limit on more than one occasion.

I don't want to leave Verizon: for one thing, I've got cheaper coverage thanks to a family share plan with my folks for now; a second and more important bit is the fact that their network and CS team have kept me more than happy and have served me well.
 
I hear you. I travel a lot for business, and if I used the portable hotspot or tethering features while on the road, I could see blowing past 2GB quite easily.

I left AT&T (with unlimited data) for VZW for the network coverage. Years of dropped calls and crummy reception eventually became more than I could bear. Unlimited data doesn't mean much to me when I'm at 0-1 bars most of the time.
 
IIRC, you can have unlimited 4G right now, and basically 'forever', as long as you pay full retail for any new phone in the future, correct?

ie I have unlimited 4G data, just got a Razr Maxx (went from 3G to 4G). I have unlimited as long as I don't get a new phone at the discounted rate, which in turn forces me to get a tiered plan, correct?

Edit, found it:
Update: Verizon provided some further clarification on the planned shift in policy to The New York Times. Customers that have an unlimited data plan can maintain the service by paying full retail price for future devices — essentially forfeiting the savings that usually come with an upgrade. The carrier's full statement:

– Customers will not be automatically moved to new shared data plans. If a 3G or 4G smartphone customer is on an unlimited plan now and they do not want to change their plan, they will not have to do so.
– When we introduce our new shared data plans, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to customers when purchasing handsets at discounted pricing.
– Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan.
– The same pricing and policies will be applied to all 3G and 4G LTE smartphones.
Click to expand...

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/16/3024472/verizon-kills-unlimited-data-lte-upgrades
 
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Is $500+ extra really worth it for a phone with unlimited data? Plus, at the end of the contract it'll be likely that you will have to drop to a capped plan.
 
jpiniero said:
Is $500+ extra really worth it for a phone with unlimited data? Plus, at the end of the contract it'll be likely that you will have to drop to a capped plan.
Click to expand...

I don't believe so, but right now, my 4G is my primary source of internet, so I need it to be unlimited. By the time I want to upgrade (2 years) I won't need unlimited, but it is nice for now.
 
Sooner or later they're going to take your unlimited data. I truly believe their intention is to kill unlimited data off altogether. They're just tightening the noose one yank at a time.
 
cameronlane said:
Sooner or later they're going to take your unlimited data. I truly believe their intention is to kill unlimited data off altogether. They're just tightening the noose one yank at a time.
Click to expand...

People have had 10-year old plans. Remember that sending bits through the air is actually free, maintaining the network equipment costs money (and other customers would have paid for that already).

However, subsidizing a phone to the tune of $350 cost real money since that's paid to the OEM. Data does not cost as much as what Verizon charges you.

Now, if they let everyone have unlimited 4G, that would be a different story, but they've stopped offering those plans and of those people, few have enough money in their pocket to pay full cost for high end phones ($650+).
 
dagamer34 said:
People have had 10-year old plans. Remember that sending bits through the air is actually free, maintaining the network equipment costs money (and other customers would have paid for that already).

However, subsidizing a phone to the tune of $350 cost real money since that's paid to the OEM. Data does not cost as much as what Verizon charges you.

Now, if they let everyone have unlimited 4G, that would be a different story, but they've stopped offering those plans and of those people, few have enough money in their pocket to pay full cost for high end phones ($650+).
Click to expand...

Your going to have to show me some proof of someone who has a ten year old plan with Verizon right now.


Unlimited data is going the way of the dodo. You can whine and complain until you are blue in the face but it isn't going to change anything. It's the way it's going whether we like it or not. Even Sprint will eventually go this route though I think it will be a long time after the rest.

Personally I am looking forward to data buckets. I would love to add a couple iPads to my account but not at $30 a pop. Forum browsing doesn't suck down that much data. Me and my wife could both easily get by on 5GB's combined for both our phones and tablets. Right now we'd be looking at $120 a month just in data charges. Hopefully with buckets it'll be more like $50.
 
dagamer34 said:
People have had 10-year old plans. Remember that sending bits through the air is actually free, maintaining the network equipment costs money (and other customers would have paid for that already).

However, subsidizing a phone to the tune of $350 cost real money since that's paid to the OEM. Data does not cost as much as what Verizon charges you.

Now, if they let everyone have unlimited 4G, that would be a different story, but they've stopped offering those plans and of those people, few have enough money in their pocket to pay full cost for high end phones ($650+).
Click to expand...

Sending bits is not free. You have to pay billions of $$$ for spectrum and the interest on that
 
That's a bit nuts. it seems more and more Verizon isn't keeping to their word. I had a verizon rep make up a story on increasing the power on the network extender they gave me. Turns out you cant even do that . I bet he just made that up so i would by a smart phone and not switch providers. Maybe the second guy didn't know? I don't know. Gonna follow up and someones going to get it.

how can they change your contract like that though? You guys thing they will get away with it?
 
boomhower said:
Your going to have to show me some proof of someone who has a ten year old plan with Verizon right now.


.
Click to expand...

mine is 8 years old, they call me about once every 3 months trying to get me to change it as the plan i had no longer exists but they cant just change me to a different one

im still on a 300 min a month plan or something, i think the lowest now is 450
 
SHahsmerdis said:
That's a bit nuts. it seems more and more Verizon isn't keeping to their word. I had a verizon rep make up a story on increasing the power on the network extender they gave me. Turns out you cant even do that . I bet he just made that up so i would by a smart phone and not switch providers. Maybe the second guy didn't know? I don't know. Gonna follow up and someones going to get it.

how can they change your contract like that though? You guys thing they will get away with it?
Click to expand...

Read the article. They aren't changing anyone's existing contract. There is no legal right to renew your old unlimited contract into perpetuity, it's all at the carrier's discretion.
 
Does that mean people who have a 4g phone and have unlimited data but do not upgrade there contract still lose there unlimited data?
 
the DRIZZLE said:
Read the article. They aren't changing anyone's existing contract. There is no legal right to renew your old unlimited contract into perpetuity, it's all at the carrier's discretion.
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm glad I'm locked in until 2014 😀

That being said, I know lots of people with really, really old plans. Hopefully in two years they won't kick me off unlimited (and I just won't upgrade), but we'll see.

Of course, this also depends on what the tiers look like, and whether they'll be upping them. 2gb/month is fine for most people now, but I expect that usage to go up as smartphones get more powerful, and people start taking advantage of that 4G LTE whiz-bang network they keep bragging about...
 
alent1234 said:
Sending bits is not free. You have to pay billions of $$$ for spectrum and the interest on that
Click to expand...

The actual sending of bits from the tower to your phone is free. The support structure needed for that is not. This is different from water or electricity which is consumed. To illustrate this point, Verizon would not be significantly affected if people used on average 10-15% more data each month, however water/electricity would need to increase production to meet that demand.
 
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