Verizon's Tiered Data Plans: Expensive

[thescreensavers]

With Wifi at school, I only use ~500megs a month

 

[jaydee]

Well overnight, smartphones just became a lot less interesting, and tablets became a lot more interesting. The only reason for me to have a smartphone would be for the ultramobile broadband anywhere. If I can't get the full smartphone experience for a reasonable price, a tablet is much more compelling device.

We have a HTC Thunderbolt, once that contract is up, it will be back to a "dumb"phone, and some other gadget will take it's place (likely a tablet).

this is interesting

seems those of us who currently have a plan will keep our current price and maybe unlimited data

http://www.droid-life.com/2011/06/2...-by-tiered-data-only-new-customers-and-lines/

I can see them doing this once per customer for a limited time, but this can't be true for "forever". It amounts to a serious penalty for anyone to switch to Verizon, and that's not what any mobile carrier is in the business of doing.

 

[Bman123]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here. If they don't grandfather you for unlimited data wouldn't it be a breach of contract since you signed the line for unlimited data? Like would they let you take a free etf and cancel your service if you had unlimited then they tried to force you into the tiered plan???

 

[Bman123]

I was thinking of this also. If you have unlimited 3g what's gonna happen when you upgrade and its only 4g phones available? You'd have to get unlimited 4g or forced into the tiered plan since your original contract was unlimited data for 3g right?

I can see this happening as it would force all current 3g only customers into a tiered plan..

 

[boomhower]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here. If they don't grandfather you for unlimited data wouldn't it be a breach of contract since you signed the line for unlimited data? Like would they let you take a free etf and cancel your service if you had unlimited then they tried to force you into the tiered plan???

They aren't going to change the terms of the contract you are in so no ETF out. Grandfathering only comes into effect when you upgrade, so you are out of contract anyways.

I was thinking of this also. If you have unlimited 3g what's gonna happen when you upgrade and its only 4g phones available? You'd have to get unlimited 4g or forced into the tiered plan since your original contract was unlimited data for 3g right?

I can see this happening as it would force all current 3g only customers into a tiered plan..

That's the million dollar question. They are saying you will be grandfathered but no one really knows if it will transfer from 3G->4G.

 

[Bman123]

Only time will tell

 

[Genx87]

Seems expensive. But looking at my data useage for the past 4 months. I am sitting at about 200-250MBs\month. That is with google and my exchange account + occasional websurfing and youtubing.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

If he's anything like me it's the coverage and speed. Around me Sprint has decent coverage but Verizon is much better and data is much faster. Costs with my discounts on each carrier are a crapshoot with Sprint's new $10 fee bull shit. Problem is I don't have the cash at the moment for the ETF and two phones. My billing period ends tomorrow and I've roamed 42GB's, we'll see if Sprint gives me the boot or not.

Yea Sprint is fucking horrible and makes me want to throw my phone out of the window sometimes when I drive.

Speed test sitting here at UCLA on 3G and I get 0.08 Mbps down

 

[Anubis]

new info
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/edit-verizons-datagate-plans-leaked-in-excruciating-detail/

whast important is this

As of this morning we have been given the green light to start training on the data changes Verizon Wireless is making effective 7/7/11.
$29.99 unlimited data will be discontinued effective 7/7/11

• EXISTING CUSTOMERS- That have our $29.99 unlimited data plan WILL BE GRANDFATHERED IN, they will keep their unlimited plan after 7/7/11
• EXISTING CUSTOMERS- That current have the unlimited data WILL BE ABLE TO UPGRADE AND KEEP the unlimited data feature (No known end date on this as of this moment)

 

[boomhower]

Yea Sprint is fucking horrible and makes me want to throw my phone out of the window sometimes when I drive.

Speed test sitting here at UCLA on 3G and I get 0.08 Mbps down

It's not that bad here, Verizon is just better. I get from 200-1.5 depending on where I am. In areas that Sprint is slow Verizon is 2-4x faster, using the same phone in the exact same spot to test. Voice coverage is fine. If Sprint doesn't boot me this week I'll stick with them and pray they get the iPhone this fall.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

It's not that bad here, Verizon is just better. I get from 200-1.5 depending on where I am. In areas that Sprint is slow Verizon is 2-4x faster, using the same phone in the exact same spot to test. Voice coverage is fine. If Sprint doesn't boot me this week I'll stick with them and pray they get the iPhone this fall.

Ugh I dont know what I should do. Should I go through the hassle of ETF, selling my phone, opening a new line with a phone I dont want, and hope that I can exchange it for a SGS2 if it comes out within 3 months?

I dont normally go over 2gbs a month but there are times that I do. This month I'm sitting just above 2gbs.

I almost exclusively use data only. I have 30 minutes of talk used, 5k texts used, and just over 2gbs of data for this month and Sprint's 3G is horrible, in LA and in Orange County. 4G is ok but its worthless when driving and only good if you're sitting in one spot.

Normal pricing without discounts for sprint is $79.99 and for $89.99 for Verizon. I get a 25% discount with both..

 

[Ns1]

As of this morning we have been given the green light to start training on the data changes Verizon Wireless is making effective 7/7/11.

$29.99 unlimited data will be discontinued effective 7/7/11

EXISTING CUSTOMERS- That have our $29.99 unlimited data plan WILL BE GRANDFATHERED IN, they will keep their unlimited plan after 7/7/11

EXISTING CUSTOMERS- That current have the unlimited data WILL BE ABLE TO UPGRADE AND KEEP the unlimited data feature (No known end date on this as of this moment)

EXISTING CUSTOMERS- That add lines post 7/7/2011, will NOT be able to choose the $29.99 unlimited data feature

NEW CUSTOMERS- Any customer that sets up service from now, until 7/7/2011 WILL BE ON, AND WILL BE GRANDFATHERED into our $29.99 unlimited data package

NEW CUSTOMERS- Any new customer that set up service AFTER 7/7/2011, WILL NOT be able to choose the $29.99 unlimited plan

BUSINESS DISCOUNTS- Currently our business discounts apply to the $29.99 data plan on the primary line only. Most discounts are 20% despite whatever monthly access discount they have

BUSINESS DISCOUNTS- After 7/7/2011 data discounts will only apply to the $50 and higher data packages on the primary line.

Discount break down ex. of customers with a 20% feature discount on their primary line. ($50-20%=$40/month for 5GB and includes the business e-mail feature)

-- ($20/GB vs. $40/GB+ Business e-mail )

New data pricing for smart phones is as follows:

$30 for 2GB with $10/GB overage

$50 for 5GB (this also includes business e-mail at no additional charge) with $10/GB overage

$80 for 10GB (this also includes business e-mail at no additional charge) with $10/GB overage

So all changes effective July 7th, 2011.

Existing customer KEEP their $29.99 unlimited data plan

If an existing customer upgrades from a feature phone to a smart phone after 7/7/11, they will NOT be able to add on the unlimited data package. They must choose from the new data plans.

Anyone who sets up new service with unlimited data, upgrades from a feature phone to a smart phone with unlimited data, or customer currently on the $29.99 before July, 7, 2011 will be grandfathered in.

These changes also apply to employee plans as well (personal accounts w/work discounts applied)

SO, This is a huge time for us to set our customers up with the right package for them! We only have 14 DAYS remaining for unlimited data, and until the new data pricing takes effect. (14 days to setup new customers w/unlimited data, and customers upgrading from a feature phone to a smart phone)

PLEASE, PLEASE make sure we take advantage of this heads up and get our heavy data users set up on these unlimited plans before they change.

 

[Pliablemoose]

That's sort of cool that they want the heavy data customers to get in now...

 

[boomhower]

Well, know we know data buckets for family plans are a no go. I'm betting the "no known end date" for grandfathering will end coincidentally on the release data of the LTE iPhone.

 

[Anubis]

Well, know we know data buckets for family plans are a no go. I'm betting the "no known end date" for grandfathering will end coincidentally on the release data of the LTE iPhone.

i agree but that wont happen until summer/fall 2012 or later

the iphone 5 or 4gs whatever you want to call it thats comming out this year will not be an LTE phone. next year is doubtful as well as i doubt we see one before AT&T has a robust 4g network

 

[MH2007]

Is there any kind of cap at all on the current "unlimited" Verizon data plans? I thought I had heard 5GB but that might have been just speculation before it came online.

Also if you are on their data plan before tiers go into effect and want to tether later would you just have to pay $20 more or would you have to move to one of the new tiered plans?

EDIT:

I think the cap only applies to tethering customers. Most of what I'd seen posted at howardforums and the like is that unlimited is unlimited.

Ah okay I think a few people mentioned going well above 5GB so signing up now might be worth it ...

 

[MH2007]

BTW is anyone currently paying for tethering? Don't remember anyone but I might have missed it ...

 

[bonkers325]

those data plan prices suck, hard. $30 for 2gb? what kind of crap is that?

i won't be surprised if they somehow force people into tiered data plans when the iphone5 comes out. kind of like how you can't get certain smartphones on grandfathered Sprint SERO plans.

 

[ImDonly1]

Normal pricing without discounts for sprint is $79.99 and for $89.99 for Verizon. I get a 25% discount with both..

Sprint applies the 25% off to the $69.99 price (not the $10 fee). So they give you ~$18 off.

Verizon applies the discount to the minutes only, so the $39.99 price. So they give you like $7 off. They do not apply the discount to extras like data and texting.

The difference in price with your discount between them then becomes $20+ a month.

 

[basslover1]

Sprint applies the 25% off to the $69.99 price (not the $10 fee). So they give you ~$18 off.

Verizon applies the discount to the minutes only, so the $39.99 price. So they give you like $7 off. They do not apply the discount to extras like data and texting.

The difference in price with your discount between them then becomes $20+ a month.

Verizon currently gives me 20% off my data as well as my minute plan. Though it looks like anyone who sings up after 7/7/11 will not be eligible for this.

 

[MrX8503]

I knew tiered data was bad and would lead to this, but no one believed me.

 

[boomhower]

Sprint applies the 25% off to the $69.99 price (not the $10 fee). So they give you ~$18 off.

Verizon applies the discount to the minutes only, so the $39.99 price. So they give you like $7 off. They do not apply the discount to extras like data and texting.

The difference in price with your discount between them then becomes $20+ a month.

Depends on your companies agreement with Verizon. With mine data would be $23.99 but it;s just discounted on the main. Additional lines don't get a discount on data.

 

[njswift10141980]

new info
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/edit-verizons-datagate-plans-leaked-in-excruciating-detail/

whast important is this

As of this morning we have been given the green light to start training on the data changes Verizon Wireless is making effective 7/7/11.
$29.99 unlimited data will be discontinued effective 7/7/11

• EXISTING CUSTOMERS- That have our $29.99 unlimited data plan WILL BE GRANDFATHERED IN, they will keep their unlimited plan after 7/7/11
• EXISTING CUSTOMERS- That current have the unlimited data WILL BE ABLE TO UPGRADE AND KEEP the unlimited data feature (No known end date on this as of this moment)

If that holds true then I'll be happy since I've only had my X for a few months and the current 4g lineup stinks.