Verizon Wireless: Unlimited Data vs. Upgrade

[JMapleton]

Question: How much is your internet bill a month?

Now do the math.

What are you talking about? Are you using your phone for your primary internet connection in your home?

 

[Lash444]

What are you talking about? Are you using your phone for your primary internet connection in your home?

I am not, but I applaud you for connecting dots.

 

[Drekce]

I'm actually thinking of switching from unlimited to the family share just to get tethering for free. I only use a couple of gigs a month anyways.

I have a jail broken iPhone to do tethering now, but I'm tired of screwing with the jailbreaks and want to just do it right.

What is this about people selling their unlimited plans? I need to look into that.

 

[brianmanahan]

same problem here

and my fear is that if i buy a new 4g phone on a grandfathered line, it will not get 4g speeds

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Grandfathered Droid 1 to a Gnex. Looking at an iPhone for my next phone. Going to have to pay full price.

 

[Unheard]

I may be one of the lucky ones. I upgraded and lost unlimited on both phones (this was black friday 2012). Switched data caps twice 2gb -> 4gb -> 2gb. Called them up and whined and complained, begged for forgiveness, and after talking for a few minutes, the guy gave both my lines unlimited back.

No promises that would work for you, but I'm unlimited still.

 

[ultimatebob]

I still have unlimited data on my VZW Galaxy S3 when I upgraded from my Droid X. Why is that? Are family plans exempt or something?

 

[Anubis]

I still have unlimited data on my VZW Galaxy S3 when I upgraded from my Droid X. Why is that? Are family plans exempt or something?

you upgraded before the cutoff most likely

 

[DrPizza]

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?

You can look at it two ways - pay full price for the new phone up front, or pay full price for the phone over 2 years when you you pay a bit up front, then pay an extra $20 each month for the new plan.

 

[brianmanahan]

does anyone know if the older plans support 4g phones with 4g speeds? i had read some stuff where people said that 4g phones wouldn't work without switching to a new plan

 

[Red Squirrel]

You can look at it two ways - pay full price for the new phone up front, or pay full price for the phone over 2 years when you you pay a bit up front, then pay an extra $20 each month for the new plan.

Pretty much this. Consider the extra cost of going with a required package to get the phone "cheaper" then times this by the amount of months you need that plan for, and add the price you have to pay for the phone. That number will be much higher than if you just buy the phone outright.

 

[RedShirt]

I don't understand why people keep paying Verizon. Both Sprint and T-mobile offer unlimited data.

Verizon and AT&T are the two biggest carriers and charge a boatload for their service. People keep paying it, telling these companies that it's OK to charge what they are charging, or even charge more (see AT&T's recent "admin fee"). Vote with your wallet.

T-mobile you can get unlimited everything for $70 a month (or less per line on family plan). Heck, they even have a prepaid plan that gives 5G data, unlimited text, and 100 minutes for $30! And you can find refill cards even cheaper than that!

On Sprint, you can get unlimited data for about the same price as T-mobile. Their 3G network sucks, but if you are in a LTE area it's supposedly good.

People complain about dropped calls and worse coverage on T-mobile and Sprint. This is true, but if you live in an area with coverage, does it really matter? Heavy data users typically do not use voice all that much.

There could be a time or two where you are out and about and don't have service. If I were to walk up to you and say "If you give me $1000, I'll let you make a call from here", you'd call me nuts. Yet many people pay $1000 a year or more (if you include full price of phones) for that coverage just for the few times they want to make a call outside of their normal areas.

T-mobile also has wifi calling for free.

 

[sswingle]

does anyone know if the older plans support 4g phones with 4g speeds? i had read some stuff where people said that 4g phones wouldn't work without switching to a new plan

Yes, you get 4G speeds. I have 3 lines on unlimited all with LTE.

 

[Insomniator]

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?

Completely wrong. The shared data plans on Verizon are hilariously expensive. $60 a month for 2GB. I hit 7GB last month, would cost $90 on verizon!! Right now I have unlimited for $30 a month.

I just got a DNA off craigslist for $250. GS3's go for the same price. Stay a year behind and get the second best phone on the market for the same price as the newest (s4) device on contract. Not even a question. I'll keep unlimited for as long as I possibly can.

 

[Slew Foot]

I upgraded to 4g from an unlimited plan. I dont use much data though, Im pretty much never anywhere where there isnt a wifi.

 

[ViRGE]

You can look at it two ways - pay full price for the new phone up front, or pay full price for the phone over 2 years when you you pay a bit up front, then pay an extra $20 each month for the new plan.

I'm not a VZ customer, but are the new standard plans that much more expensive than the old standard plans? Because it's not as if VZ gives you a discount for BYOD...

 

[TheVrolok]

I upgraded to 4g from an unlimited plan. I dont use much data though, Im pretty much never anywhere where there isnt a wifi.

This. Wifi is becoming so ubiquitous that I can't think of the last time I even hit half of the 6GB cap. I was really hesitant to give up my unlimited plan at the time, but now I have no regrets. I've certainly saved more money in phone subsidies.

 

[RockinZ28]

I'm not a VZ customer, but are the new standard plans that much more expensive than the old standard plans? Because it's not as if VZ gives you a discount for BYOD...

Just depends on your use. Heavy data users it will cost a lot more, light data users with 3+ lines would probably save a bit.

Not even close for my line and my wife's. For $140 + taxes/fees we would get 2GB of total shared data, with worthless unlimited calls and texts.

For $121 including taxes/fees, I get unlimited, she gets her own 2GB, and we share 700 minutes and use google voice for free texts. And I still upgraded at the discount price with both the S3 and Note II.

My Line: Average Usage for 6 months = 7.010 GB

So not a real heavy data user, but enough to warrant retaining unlimited as long as possible. I also travel quite a bit and work out in the field most days, and I've never come across a decent wifi besides my FIOS at home. Wifi Tether for free. Well worth keeping for my use.

 

[Chocu1a]

I am on a grandfathered Verizon unlimited plan. I pay $88 per month total. I use, on average, 3.5-5 gigs per month. For me to switch to a comparable shared plan, my bill would be $120 plus taxes and fees, around $130. That is a $40 increase.
My data use is this: Stream Play music subscription on my way to & from work(7 miles each way), stream music while lifting weights at gym 3 days a week for 45 minutes, stream netflix while on elliptical at gym for 30 minutes 3 days a week. Check email several times a day & social media.
That right there uses up 3-4 gigs data every month.
My gym doesn't have wifi, & the wifi at work is horrible, plus almost every site is blocked.
I buy used phones off CL or swappa. You can get a descent GS3 for around $250-275 on craigslist.

 

[boomhower]

Your plan will go to 4G when you activate a 4G phone, no need to change plans.

I don't understand why people keep paying Verizon. Both Sprint and T-mobile offer unlimited data.

Verizon and AT&T are the two biggest carriers and charge a boatload for their service. People keep paying it, telling these companies that it's OK to charge what they are charging, or even charge more (see AT&T's recent "admin fee"). Vote with your wallet.

T-mobile you can get unlimited everything for $70 a month (or less per line on family plan). Heck, they even have a prepaid plan that gives 5G data, unlimited text, and 100 minutes for $30! And you can find refill cards even cheaper than that!

On Sprint, you can get unlimited data for about the same price as T-mobile. Their 3G network sucks, but if you are in a LTE area it's supposedly good.

People complain about dropped calls and worse coverage on T-mobile and Sprint. This is true, but if you live in an area with coverage, does it really matter? Heavy data users typically do not use voice all that much.

There could be a time or two where you are out and about and don't have service. If I were to walk up to you and say "If you give me $1000, I'll let you make a call from here", you'd call me nuts. Yet many people pay $1000 a year or more (if you include full price of phones) for that coverage just for the few times they want to make a call outside of their normal areas.

T-mobile also has wifi calling for free.

Because unlimited data isn't worth a damn if you can't use it. While both AT&T and Verizon have excellent LTE coverage here T-Mobile is still 2G and Sprint may as well be. Both companies are a severe pain to try and use any data with in my area. I'd pay Verizon's prices rather than have either of these two for free, they are that bad. Now if you are in an area where they have better service, in particular Spint's LTE, then they are a good option. But this is why people pay their prices.

 

[Anubis]

I don't understand why people keep paying Verizon. Both Sprint and T-mobile offer unlimited data.

i het ZERO coverage from TMO where i live

and i get spotty at best ATT coverage where i live

thats why

 

[Chocu1a]

I don't understand why people keep paying Verizon. Both Sprint and T-mobile offer unlimited data.

Verizon and AT&T are the two biggest carriers and charge a boatload for their service. People keep paying it, telling these companies that it's OK to charge what they are charging, or even charge more (see AT&T's recent "admin fee"). Vote with your wallet.

T-mobile you can get unlimited everything for $70 a month (or less per line on family plan). Heck, they even have a prepaid plan that gives 5G data, unlimited text, and 100 minutes for $30! And you can find refill cards even cheaper than that!

On Sprint, you can get unlimited data for about the same price as T-mobile. Their 3G network sucks, but if you are in a LTE area it's supposedly good.

People complain about dropped calls and worse coverage on T-mobile and Sprint. This is true, but if you live in an area with coverage, does it really matter? Heavy data users typically do not use voice all that much.

There could be a time or two where you are out and about and don't have service. If I were to walk up to you and say "If you give me $1000, I'll let you make a call from here", you'd call me nuts. Yet many people pay $1000 a year or more (if you include full price of phones) for that coverage just for the few times they want to make a call outside of their normal areas.

T-mobile also has wifi calling for free.

Sprint has lte in my area, but according to several people I work with, they never get a signal. They are almost always stuck on 3g(they have iphone 5)

T-mobile is a joke in my area. I bought a Nexus 4 to try out t-mobile & while I "sometimes" get their 4g, mostly it stays in 3g, & if I travel 5 miles outside my area, I have absolutely no service. None, nothing, nada. Considering I live on the edge of being in a rural area(5 miles in 3 directions is rural, 1 leads back to Memphis), that is not an option.

 

[TwiceOver]

Still think it's absolute bull shit that you don't get a cheaper monthly rate if you bring your own phone.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

its pretty elementary: if you have an unlimited data verizon account, YOU DONT GIVE IT UP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. it is easy and cheap to get a 4g phone on craigs or ebay, and well worth doing. newer phones are WAY better than droid x

 

[RedShirt]

Sprint has lte in my area, but according to several people I work with, they never get a signal. They are almost always stuck on 3g(they have iphone 5)

T-mobile is a joke in my area. I bought a Nexus 4 to try out t-mobile & while I "sometimes" get their 4g, mostly it stays in 3g, & if I travel 5 miles outside my area, I have absolutely no service. None, nothing, nada. Considering I live on the edge of being in a rural area(5 miles in 3 directions is rural, 1 leads back to Memphis), that is not an option.

Prepaid or Postpaid? Prepaid coverage is quite sparse. Postpaid is much better.