Verizon Wireless: Unlimited Data vs. Upgrade

[SirStev0]

What should I do?

I still have unlimited data because I never upgraded my phone. I am still using the same Droid X that I bought the day the phone came out July 2010.

I have to bite the bullet already and upgrade but what options do I have?

1.) A share data plan bullshit but I get a phone at a reasonable price?

Or

2.) Buy a phone (somewhere??) and change over to that, and (I hope) keep my unlimited data?

I guess I have to give in to the man and join the iPhone Steve Jobs loving majority of the country so the phone I am looking at is the iPhone.. whichever one is current.

Any fellow customers have any suggestions?
I think I am still in under the 3G unlimited data. If I get one of the pretend 4G world phones will it matter??

Any help would be appreciated. I feel like Verizon has scoured the internet of any reference to do this... Almost like they don't like the idea of people keeping the contracts they signed because (omg) they might have to spend some money on infrastructure.

 

[NutBucket]

As far as I know if you don't use and upgrade/sign a contract you will retain unlimited data. I don't believe that has changed.

 

[cronos]

#2, but why do you have to buy somewhere? just buy it from Verizon, refusing the subsidy.

oh, and wrong forum.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I'm in that boat.. we've had our phones for nearly 4 years now, been avoiding upgrading because we still have the old plans, and the new plans cost more for less. We're probably changing carriers when we eventually do.

 

[SirStev0]

My biggest issue is justifying the about 500 dollar difference..

Am I gaining anything paying $750 for an iPhone 5 just to have unlimited data and a slightly lower phone bill?

It was a slow month... but I only used 0.5 GB of data. (actually a really slow month now that I look back).

 

[kt]

Verizon is expensive, I switched over to T-mobile who still offer unlimited data for less.

 

[xanis]

Are you a heavy data user? If so, you might benefit in the long run to get grandfathered in. I'm with AT&T and I'm still on the original "unlimited" plan, which is great now that I have LTE with the iPhone 5.

Moral of the story: If you're happy with Verizon and you can get grandfathered in to the unlimited plan, is it still worth it to switch?

 

[notposting]

Pretty easy: If you upgrade, whether directly through Verizon or another retailer, and get a discounted price, you lose unlimited.

If you get switched to a new Shareplan, you do get free tethering included...of course, this goes against your cap as well. Also, most of the online retailers include a clause that kicks in a ETF of sorts if you even remove the phone from the line within 6 months (even if keeping the line active).

So either pay full retail for a new phone, look on ebay/Craigslist/FSFT etc for a used one, or lose unlimited.

I just upgraded AND kept unlimited :awe:, used an upgrade on wife's line (family plan) and then after first activating it on her line, put it on mine.

Lumia 928, pretty freaking sweet.

 

[SirStev0]

Pretty easy: If you upgrade, whether directly through Verizon or another retailer, and get a discounted price, you lose unlimited.

If you get switched to a new Shareplan, you do get free tethering included...of course, this goes against your cap as well. Also, most of the online retailers include a clause that kicks in a ETF of sorts if you even remove the phone from the line within 6 months (even if keeping the line active).

So either pay full retail for a new phone, look on ebay/Craigslist/FSFT etc for a used one, or lose unlimited.

I just upgraded AND kept unlimited :awe:, used an upgrade on wife's line (family plan) and then after first activating it on her line, put it on mine.

Lumia 928, pretty freaking sweet.

Does that still work? I always imagined verizon would have nipped that like 3 weeks into the change over..

 

[Dumac]

Verizon is expensive, I switched over to T-mobile who still offer unlimited data for less.

I believe their unlimited data is capped, unlike Verizon's grandfathered plan.

 

[Lash444]

Like you, I bought my droid x within the week of its launch, and I still use and love the phone. I also really want that 4G.

Verizon is the only one AFAIK that lets you transfer your grandfathered unlimited account to another user. You will have to do some research on it. Last I knew the unlimited plans sold for as much as $500 on ebay.

Don't just throw that away. Either get a new phone, or I would think about selling your current plan to someone else who will gladly take it off your hands.

 

[JMapleton]

My biggest issue is justifying the about 500 dollar difference..

Am I gaining anything paying $750 for an iPhone 5 just to have unlimited data and a slightly lower phone bill?

It was a slow month... but I only used 0.5 GB of data. (actually a really slow month now that I look back).

Unlimited date people with Verizon are absolutely out of their minds. Think jump through all these hoops and buy expensive phones just to keep data plans they don't utilize. If you're not using huge amounts of data, why are you paying for it?

Unlimited date is not free, you're paying for it by having to buy phones are full cost. Is it worth it?

 

[chin311]

I was in the same boat as you with my iPhone 4S and grandfathered-in data plan.

I chose to sell the 4S for about $300 and pay $550 for a barely used iPhone5 back in March. Yeah cost me a bit but I have LTE now and unlimited data, I use about 5-8gb a month so well worth it to me!

I hope I can keep buying phones off-contract and keeping the unlimited...otherwise I might abandon Verizon eventually.

 

[JMapleton]

Verizon is expensive, I switched over to T-mobile who still offer unlimited data for less.

It varies from location to location but in my city, Verizon is king. Sprint and ATT absolutely have the worst connections out there. Verizon's connections (for data/internet) are 10 times better than the competition.

 

[Lyfer]

Just slap it on a CC and call it a day.

 

[xanis]

It varies from location to location but in my city, Verizon is king. Sprint and ATT absolutely have the worst connections out there. Verizon's connections (for data/internet) are 10 times better than the competition.

My girlfriend has T-Mobile and it's awful; dropped calls and poor reception everywhere. This is North Jersey/PA by the way. I have AT&T and I get at the least *fair* reception and 3G almost everywhere I go, even in rural Vermont, where I was 2 weeks ago.

 

[Lash444]

Unlimited date people with Verizon are absolutely out of their minds. Think jump through all these hoops and buy expensive phones just to keep data plans they don't utilize. If you're not using huge amounts of data, why are you paying for it?

Unlimited date is not free, you're paying for it by having to buy phones are full cost. Is it worth it?

Question: How much is your internet bill a month?

Now do the math.

 

[boomhower]

Personally I'd keep the unlimited, it's the route I'm taking. My plan is to just stay a year behind. I've got a 5 now and will upgrade to a gently used 5S when the 6 comes out and so on. What I'd do is wait until the 5S comes out and get a used 5 for half the price of a new one now.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Definitely keep unlimited data. I wish we could get unlimited here, I'd actually bother getting data on my phone. As it stands, with the 100MB limit there's just no point in having data on it. Does your phone have a sim card in it? I wonder if you can buy a new phone and just put the sim card in it?

 

[Anubis]

Unlimited date people with Verizon are absolutely out of their minds. Think jump through all these hoops and buy expensive phones just to keep data plans they don't utilize. If you're not using huge amounts of data, why are you paying for it?

Unlimited date is not free, you're paying for it by having to buy phones are full cost. Is it worth it?

as someone who uses over 6 gigs a month ever month. no i am not out of my mind. buying outright is cheaper vs changing plans

 

[xanis]

Definitely keep unlimited data. I wish we could get unlimited here, I'd actually bother getting data on my phone. As it stands, with the 100MB limit there's just no point in having data on it. Does your phone have a sim card in it? I wonder if you can buy a new phone and just put the sim card in it?

100mb limit? Is that for real? If so, I feel sorry for you.

 

[SirStev0]

So next question. Where can I get a iPhone 5 for cheap?

My brother (on my family plan) has an upgrade in about a week. How hard will it be to upgrade him and switch phones?

And does my 3G unlimited Data automatically upgrade to 3(4)G LTE service?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Unlimited date people with Verizon are absolutely out of their minds. Think jump through all these hoops and buy expensive phones just to keep data plans they don't utilize. If you're not using huge amounts of data, why are you paying for it?

Unlimited date is not free, you're paying for it by having to buy phones are full cost. Is it worth it?

It ends up being way more expensive if you go with the plan. Instead of paying $749 for an iphone you end up paying $1,349 over 3 years. Of course that differs from ISP to ISP but I just figured it out looking my the current plans. I went with the lowest data and lowest voice to compare ($1,349 is with the voice plan cost deducted).

So yeah, better off buying a phone out right and just going with a voice plan. Of course if unlimited data is an option then go with that if you do plan to use it. Especially if LTE is available, it's faster than land line Internet.

If we had unlimited data here I'd probably use that instead of DSL.

 

[Red Squirrel]

100mb limit? Is that for real? If so, I feel sorry for you.

Actually I just checked and it's 250MB now, but yeah, no point in even having data. You CAN get a gig, but you are paying over $150/mo to get it. I suppose businesses can justify that but I sure can't.

 

[Dumac]

Unlimited date people with Verizon are absolutely out of their minds. Think jump through all these hoops and buy expensive phones just to keep data plans they don't utilize. If you're not using huge amounts of data, why are you paying for it?

Unlimited date is not free, you're paying for it by having to buy phones are full cost. Is it worth it?

LTE is faster than my phone connection. Also, my home connection has a cap I believe. So really, my Verizon unlimited is better...

I can use a lot of data. Some months I don't, but I like the options to be there.