Verizon Wireless: Unlimited Data vs. Upgrade

[rcpratt]

LTE is overrated IMO. Yes, it's fast and has great ping times and building penetration, but it sucks my battery down like crazy. My phone gets super hot when I use it for more than a minute as well, so I usually just leave it off and let my phone connect via 3G instead, or I just use wifi.

Are you using an HTC Thunderbolt or something? Most of the more modern LTE phones hardly draw more on LTE than on WiFi.

 

[TwiceOver]

Sums up my point to a degree: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/why-cant-americans-stomach-unsubsidized-phones/

I think it's because we're more of an instant gratification society - can't save money & pay for a phone outright. According to his calculation, you're paying even more money for the phone by paying for it over 2 years. And, if you don't get the "free" upgrade, the companies are now making even more money from you.

I hear ya. I paid $350 for my phone up front and pay NET10 $40 on average per month (depending on discounts and where I get a refill). That's $1310 over 2 years. Compared to a subsidized iPhone5 on Verizon's cheapest smartphone plan of $2260 and that is limited talk/text and 2gb of data I believe and doesn't include taxes and fees.

It's so messed up that we just go ahead and accept this because poor people want to continue to be poor. It's not my problem you have champagne tastes on a PBR budget. Why do I have to pay for it?

 

[AstroManLuca]

Are you using an HTC Thunderbolt or something? Most of the more modern LTE phones hardly draw more on LTE than on WiFi.

True, it's a Galaxy Nexus. I thought I had mentioned that but maybe I forgot to point it out. Yes, it gets incredibly hot when actually using LTE and the battery drops by more than 1% per minute. A newer phone with a more modern LTE radio would probably do better.

I'm just tired of having to look forward to a new Android phone all the time. As it stands, every one I've owned (I've had 3) has been crap within less than a year of getting it, with broken features and overall slowness.

 

[sze5003]

True, it's a Galaxy Nexus. I thought I had mentioned that but maybe I forgot to point it out. Yes, it gets incredibly hot when actually using LTE and the battery drops by more than 1% per minute. A newer phone with a more modern LTE radio would probably do better.

I'm just tired of having to look forward to a new Android phone all the time. As it stands, every one I've owned (I've had 3) has been crap within less than a year of getting it, with broken features and overall slowness.

I've never had the slowness issue with any of my android phones but I've rooted and had custom Roma and kernels from the get go. Only did it once since I knew which Rom I was going to run and been good ever since. I have a few devs that make the same Rom for multiple devices with different features every now and then so this hasn't been such an issue.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I've never had the slowness issue with any of my android phones but I've rooted and had custom Roma and kernels from the get go. Only did it once since I knew which Rom I was going to run and been good ever since. I have a few devs that make the same Rom for multiple devices with different features every now and then so this hasn't been such an issue.

Yeah I've been running custom ROMs as well. They usually make things a little better, but rarely do they make a large difference.

 

[AkumaX]

HTC One is finally supposed to be out by the end of the month.

but that'll be a high price (probably $650 out-of-contract?)

it'll probably drop to ~$500 after a couple months, get it then?

More info for the group:

I live in a rural bumble fuck part of West Virginia. It is Verizon or shitty AT&T service.

I am getting a little strong-armed into an iPhone. I started with Droid. I respect the Android Op system. And I have never bought an Apple product. My co-workers all have iPhone's and it is getting to the point that I am missing out on messages by not being one of the iPhone denizens.

I don't have a problem using an older iPhone (if it is cheap) I wanted the 5 solely because I am worried that their fake 4g will eventually be off the table to unlimited data people.

i've played with the Verizon iPhone 5's LTE, and it's pretty decent (but then again, i'm not in "that part" of WV )

my brother with his S3 sent me a screenshot of his max: 64mbit down and 30mbit up! but typically he sees around 15-25mb down.

 

[sze5003]

Yeah I've been running custom ROMs as well. They usually make things a little better, but rarely do they make a large difference.

It really depends on who develops your Rom. I've had the same dev for over a year. Him and I set up a website too dedicated to this and nothing I've ran ever caused problems except making things better. I used to flash a ton of Roms and experienced what you described but after you find a good developer who is very picky it's no longer an issue.

My contract with Verizon is over so I'm month by month. I could easily switch to another carrier but I like the phones they have. Finally they are getting the HTC one but I like the screen size of my DNA now since I got so used to it.

 

[SirStev0]

but that'll be a high price (probably $650 out-of-contract?)

it'll probably drop to ~$500 after a couple months, get it then?



i've played with the Verizon iPhone 5's LTE, and it's pretty decent (but then again, i'm not in "that part" of WV )

my brother with his S3 sent me a screenshot of his max: 64mbit down and 30mbit up! but typically he sees around 15-25mb down.

Verizon down here is actually pretty tasty. Just no other choice.

 

[notposting]

As someone in here mentioned, it is possible to add another line for $10/mo and then after activating that phone, transfer it your line, and put no phone/dumbphone on the second line. $240 + subsidized price for phone of choice.

I did the "upgrade on wife's line, activate, then throw her dumbphone back on and put the Lumia on my line" trick less than two weeks ago. Though the first store I was at refused to put the Lumia on my line. The second store had no problem with it, plus the girl helping me was cute. Bought some screen protectors basically for that reason.

The nice thing is that once you are on a 4G SIM, you can swap it between 4G phones without having to call in or swap numbers online or do the OTA programming.

Pay around $95/mo for our family plan including unlimited data and 250 texts on my line.

Also, FWIW, getting great battery life out of the Lumia. Averaging over 25 hours per charge. Pulled it off the charger last night at 10 pm and still at 35%, phone calls, texting, emailing, navigation, map lookup, browsing/searching, couple games.

 

[rockyct]

As someone in here mentioned, it is possible to add another line for $10/mo and then after activating that phone, transfer it your line, and put no phone/dumbphone on the second line. $240 + subsidized price for phone of choice.

I did the "upgrade on wife's line, activate, then throw her dumbphone back on and put the Lumia on my line" trick less than two weeks ago. Though the first store I was at refused to put the Lumia on my line. The second store had no problem with it, plus the girl helping me was cute. Bought some screen protectors basically for that reason.

The nice thing is that once you are on a 4G SIM, you can swap it between 4G phones without having to call in or swap numbers online or do the OTA programming.

Pay around $95/mo for our family plan including unlimited data and 250 texts on my line.

Also, FWIW, getting great battery life out of the Lumia. Averaging over 25 hours per charge. Pulled it off the charger last night at 10 pm and still at 35%, phone calls, texting, emailing, navigation, map lookup, browsing/searching, couple games.

Which Lumia did you get? I got the 928 on Verizon when it came out and I'm loving it. I also got one of those Nokia Qi chargers for $25. I didn't think it would be that nice, but it really is handy just to set your phone down on it.

 

[Fritzo]

As someone in here mentioned, it is possible to add another line for $10/mo and then after activating that phone, transfer it your line, and put no phone/dumbphone on the second line. $240 + subsidized price for phone of choice.

I did the "upgrade on wife's line, activate, then throw her dumbphone back on and put the Lumia on my line" trick less than two weeks ago. Though the first store I was at refused to put the Lumia on my line. The second store had no problem with it, plus the girl helping me was cute. Bought some screen protectors basically for that reason.

The nice thing is that once you are on a 4G SIM, you can swap it between 4G phones without having to call in or swap numbers online or do the OTA programming.

Pay around $95/mo for our family plan including unlimited data and 250 texts on my line.

Also, FWIW, getting great battery life out of the Lumia. Averaging over 25 hours per charge. Pulled it off the charger last night at 10 pm and still at 35%, phone calls, texting, emailing, navigation, map lookup, browsing/searching, couple games.

You don't have to go to a store to do this---you can log into verizonwireless.com and do it all on their website. They have easy tools to do it for you.

 

[notposting]

You don't have to go to a store to do this---you can log into verizonwireless.com and do it all on their website. They have easy tools to do it for you.

I'm nervous about tinkering with the account -- the grandfathered data and texting especially. Last year I used my last NE2 and upgraded on my line before the $30 upgrade fee went into effect (I bought and then sold an iPhone 4S). It offered no way to keep the texting plan, HAD to have customer service handle it. And I prefer customer service to see the guy who will be waiting in the parking lot if they screw it up (so no calling it in ).

At least now I can just swap the SIM around (heaven help me if I try to go back to a 3G phone though -- I had my Trophy giving me free tethering ).

Which Lumia did you get? I got the 928 on Verizon when it came out and I'm loving it. I also got one of those Nokia Qi chargers for $25. I didn't think it would be that nice, but it really is handy just to set your phone down on it.

Yep, 928 here as well. Holy smokes is it awesome. I think the wireless chargers are going to be on the birthday/anniversary/Christmas list I give to the wife. ESPECIALLY if Nokia can get a version of the car dock designed for the 928 released. Apparently the "standard" version will work with it, but a few issues (like the camera button gets pushed every time).

edit: I don't mind not having the wireless charging yet, still running the battery on single charges down to (nearly) empty and then giving it a good charge. Battery life is averaging 26 hours now.

 

[brianmanahan]

so in order to keep my unlimited plan, would i need to buy the phone off ebay and transfer it over? or could i buy a new phone off verizon and use that?

 

[Fritzo]

so in order to keep my unlimited plan, would i need to buy the phone off ebay and transfer it over? or could i buy a new phone off verizon and use that?

You would have to buy your own phone outright, or upgrade another non-unlimited account on a family plan, then transfer the phone to your number.

 

[brianmanahan]

You would have to buy your own phone outright, or upgrade another non-unlimited account on a family plan, then transfer the phone to your number.

so i could buy one of these?

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/HTC_One?id=htc_one&hl=en

if so im getting one! :awe: