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Verizon killing off unlimited data plans for smartphones
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 19 May, 2011
It appears that Verizon will finally go through with killing off their smartphone unlimited data plans, moving to a tiered structure like rival AT&T's.
Additionally, the carrier will start "Family Data Plans," which will let families on the same plan share data for a cheaper price just like they do with voice minutes and texts.
Adds a spokesperson:
I think it's safe to assume that ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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moondad
Newbie
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19. May 2011 @ 23:12 |
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I signed up for a two year contract, if they break that contract I should be able to break mine and get out and go to AT&T or Sprint.....
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moondad
Newbie
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19. May 2011 @ 23:15 |
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I signed up for a two year contract, if they break that contract I should be break mine and go to AT&T or Sprint, right?
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AfterDawn Addict
1 product review
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19. May 2011 @ 23:16 |
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I totally agree...if I am not grandfathered in, I am leaving.
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Senior Member
13 product reviews
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20. May 2011 @ 04:02 |
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Dammit, I knew it was too good to be true!
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Member
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20. May 2011 @ 07:00 |
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Originally posted by moondad:
I signed up for a two year contract, if they break that contract I should be able to break mine and get out and go to AT&T or Sprint.....
AT&T did it first, so if you want unlimited data go with Sprint. That is the only reason I am with Sprint. Unlimited Data.
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snardos
Junior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 08:59 |
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Quote:
I think it's safe to assume that at some point you are going to have mega-priced-plans (for data) and people are going to share that mega-priced-plan based on the number of devices within their family. That's just an illogical progression.
fixed
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PIERCED69
Account closed as per user's own request
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20. May 2011 @ 09:05 |
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I don't know how you yanks put up with the overpriced phone contracts you have to deal with.
Most contracts in Europe have unlimited data plans now or are heading that way.
Seems in your country phone companies are going backwards not forwards with the new needs on bandwidth.
Sounds like they would rather cap users than invest in upgrading their networks.
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hearme0
Senior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 09:15 |
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You all need not worry. That's the way it goes with "grandfathering". If you're on an unlimited plan now then you get to keep it UNTIL you re-sign an agreement so if you want to keep that plan, then everyone will have to buy phones outright for the FULL PURCHASE PRICE in order to stay where you're at.
Otherwise, if you get a new phone for $1, $99, or $199 and resign a 2 year agreement, you can kiss that unlimited plan goodbye.
This is precisely why I buy phones outright. Ebay, MyTouch 4G, brand new, $337.00 after PayPal 10% "Technology discount", and since I snuck in on a 4 hour offering from T-Mobile (apparently offered by mistake) for UNLIMITED EVERYTHING for $59.99, I'm planning on sticking with this until it gets even cheaper.
The way I see it, I'm paying 20 bucks a month LESS than EVERYONE, including Sprint users (4G users) and saving $440 over the course of 2 years. That's enough to buy a phone at full price.
People just need to wisen up and do the math. Too many just wanna ghetto-grab the next phone because it's cheaper but in the long run......Most pay 199.00 for new phone and sign 2 year contract for 20 bucks more a month and pay $640.00 or more (especially users that re-up every year) over the course of a contract.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20. May 2011 @ 09:35
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hearme0
Senior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 09:18 |
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Originally posted by PIERCED69:
I don't know how you yanks put up with the overpriced phone contracts you have to deal with.
Most contracts in Europe have unlimited data plans now or are heading that way.
Seems in your country phone companies are going backwards not forwards with the new needs on bandwidth.
Sounds like they would rather cap users than invest in upgrading their networks.
Hey, I'm an American from Chicago and sadly must admit, our asses are behind the times and American business inherently screws people out of what "should be done"............so yeah..........American phone companies are either technologically regressing or at the very least........stagnant.
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snardos
Junior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 09:29 |
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It's even worse in Canada. Most people I know only get 100-500MB per month and they are paying anywhere from $15 to $30 for that. Plans with more data are available but then you are paying a lot more. At the moment the best way I have seen to get data is to go pre-paid but that is starting to go downhill as well.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20. May 2011 @ 09:30
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Member
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20. May 2011 @ 09:48 |
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I'm with T-Mobiles' unlimited plan. Of course when AT&T devours them I guess that party will be over. And how long do you think it will be before Sprint follows suit. It's evident the big 3 are in bed together anyway despite this being illegal.
Fortunately there's still smaller companies like Virgin and others that offer unlimited plans. I'll just go with one of those if and when the time comes.
Europe is indeed far ahead of the US in phone service but Europe gets it in the arse far more than Americans. Can you say VAT, much higher costs for food, fuel and housing. 40% income tax etc. In the long run, Americans save tons more money than Europeans in overall lifestyle when looking at the big picture.
"Is that 3 thousand dollar bounty on the shark in cash or check?"
"We can do it the easy way...Or we can do it the REAL easy way."
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SHOU5
Account closed as per user's own request
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20. May 2011 @ 09:51 |
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Originally posted by moondad:
I signed up for a two year contract, if they break that contract I should be able to break mine and get out and go to AT&T or Sprint.....
That's what I did. Switch to Sprint on my personal phone with unlimited data and thethering. Glad I did it with my awesome EVO phone. On my work phone I still have my new iPhone on Verizon though. I like still enjoy my EVO better than my iPhone 4. The plan makes a difference.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20. May 2011 @ 09:55
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editmon
Junior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 10:23 |
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Originally posted by PIERCED69:
I don't know how you yanks put up with the overpriced phone contracts you have to deal with.
Most contracts in Europe have unlimited data plans now or are heading that way.
Seems in your country phone companies are going backwards not forwards with the new needs on bandwidth.
Sounds like they would rather cap users than invest in upgrading their networks.
It's called pay the investor. All corporate business models here in the U.S. work that way. Hell with customer satisfaction, customers are here to pick up the tab. Course, I don't own a "smart phone", if I did I would be an investor. ;)
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hearme0
Senior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 10:34 |
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Originally posted by ChiefBrdy:
I'm with T-Mobiles' unlimited plan. Of course when AT&T devours them I guess that party will be over. And how long do you think it will be before Sprint follows suit. It's evident the big 3 are in bed together anyway despite this being illegal.
Fortunately there's still smaller companies like Virgin and others that offer unlimited plans. I'll just go with one of those if and when the time comes.
Europe is indeed far ahead of the US in phone service but Europe gets it in the arse far more than Americans. Can you say VAT, much higher costs for food, fuel and housing. 40% income tax etc. In the long run, Americans save tons more money than Europeans in overall lifestyle when looking at the big picture.
I'm betting my bottom dollar the AT&T/T-Mobile merger DOESN'T go through. I just don't see the DOJ allowing the elimination of 20% of the "post pay" cellular providers in the U.S. Mark my words and we'll revisit this coversation in a year. NOT HAPPENIN'
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davidb
Junior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 11:32 |
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Originally posted by hearme0:
You all need not worry. That's the way it goes with "grandfathering". If you're on an unlimited plan now then you get to keep it UNTIL you re-sign an agreement so if you want to keep that plan, then everyone will have to buy phones outright for the FULL PURCHASE PRICE in order to stay where you're at.
I agree. We pay higher rates to offset the "discount" that they sell phones for. I might be wrong, but it seems that many other countries charge cheaper rates but one pays full price for the phone.
If you don't change your "setup" (i.e. switch from a non smart pho to a smart pho), you should be able to keep your existing plan. My experience with Verizon is that even after your contract is up, you will stay on your current plan until you make a change that necessitates changing your plan. Hint: For some changes, one can call Vzw customer service and sometimes make a change without having to change plans. We are on a family share plan with no smartphones. Other than 1400 minutes, plan includes unlimited everything (data/text) Online, to change a line to a smartphone would require changing plans. But a call to CS revealed that I could change one line to a smartphone for $5 extra a month without having to change plans. I suspect that if I purchased my new smartphone from Vzw (at a discount), however,I would have to sign a new contract (versus going month to month grandfathered), CSR was vague on that point.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20. May 2011 @ 11:37
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Lan21
Newbie
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20. May 2011 @ 12:09 |
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So do you know when this will happen. IS it soon or later.
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Lan21
Newbie
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20. May 2011 @ 12:10 |
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So do you know when this will happen. IS it soon or later.
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Member
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20. May 2011 @ 12:12 |
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I'm with AT&T. Been with them forever. I originally had their unlimited data plan on a 2-line family plan. I still have both lines (I don't use the 2nd line anymore, so I pay only $10/month to disable that line) and am allowed to keep my existing plan and upgrade without changing said plan. I'm actually due for an upgrade now, trying to decide between the Atrix, Infuse, or wait for the Galaxy S2.....either way my 3GS is on it's last leg. But as long as I don't change my plan, I'm allowed to upgrade, at the discounted price and keep my existing unlimited plan. The only way that changes is if I actually change my plan, which I tried to do by changing to a single line, but then I would've lost my unlimited data.
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hearme0
Senior Member
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20. May 2011 @ 14:51 |
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Originally posted by ebega:
I'm with AT&T. Been with them forever. I originally had their unlimited data plan on a 2-line family plan. I still have both lines (I don't use the 2nd line anymore, so I pay only $10/month to disable that line) and am allowed to keep my existing plan and upgrade without changing said plan. I'm actually due for an upgrade now, trying to decide between the Atrix, Infuse, or wait for the Galaxy S2.....either way my 3GS is on it's last leg. But as long as I don't change my plan, I'm allowed to upgrade, at the discounted price and keep my existing unlimited plan. The only way that changes is if I actually change my plan, which I tried to do by changing to a single line, but then I would've lost my unlimited data.
Umm.....you're gonna be disappointed because resigning a new contract means you HAVE TO go with a current plan. Can't "re-up" on an expired plan so keep your hopes up but you're dead wrong on this one. AT&T rep is misleading you badly.
You will absolutely not be able to keep the plan you're on now if you buy a new (discounted) phone. Sorry but it is what it is and you're up for a serious letdown.
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xnmalletx
Member
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20. May 2011 @ 15:31 |
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Originally posted by hearme0:
Originally posted by ebega:
I'm with AT&T. Been with them forever. I originally had their unlimited data plan on a 2-line family plan. I still have both lines (I don't use the 2nd line anymore, so I pay only $10/month to disable that line) and am allowed to keep my existing plan and upgrade without changing said plan. I'm actually due for an upgrade now, trying to decide between the Atrix, Infuse, or wait for the Galaxy S2.....either way my 3GS is on it's last leg. But as long as I don't change my plan, I'm allowed to upgrade, at the discounted price and keep my existing unlimited plan. The only way that changes is if I actually change my plan, which I tried to do by changing to a single line, but then I would've lost my unlimited data.
Umm.....you're gonna be disappointed because resigning a new contract means you HAVE TO go with a current plan. Can't "re-up" on an expired plan so keep your hopes up but you're dead wrong on this one. AT&T rep is misleading you badly.
You will absolutely not be able to keep the plan you're on now if you buy a new (discounted) phone. Sorry but it is what it is and you're up for a serious letdown.
Ummm...I re-signed a new 2 year contract for an Iphone 4 back in November with at&t and stayed grandfathered unlimited data. Just saying, it IS possible.
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Member
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20. May 2011 @ 15:56 |
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Originally posted by hearme0:
Originally posted by ebega:
I'm with AT&T. Been with them forever. I originally had their unlimited data plan on a 2-line family plan. I still have both lines (I don't use the 2nd line anymore, so I pay only $10/month to disable that line) and am allowed to keep my existing plan and upgrade without changing said plan. I'm actually due for an upgrade now, trying to decide between the Atrix, Infuse, or wait for the Galaxy S2.....either way my 3GS is on it's last leg. But as long as I don't change my plan, I'm allowed to upgrade, at the discounted price and keep my existing unlimited plan. The only way that changes is if I actually change my plan, which I tried to do by changing to a single line, but then I would've lost my unlimited data.
Umm.....you're gonna be disappointed because resigning a new contract means you HAVE TO go with a current plan. Can't "re-up" on an expired plan so keep your hopes up but you're dead wrong on this one. AT&T rep is misleading you badly.
You will absolutely not be able to keep the plan you're on now if you buy a new (discounted) phone. Sorry but it is what it is and you're up for a serious letdown.
Umm......I can even keep my current plan by upgrading online....it even says in the disclosure that the only reason I'm offered an unlimited plan is because I currently have one. Please check all facts before you mislead someone. I've have checked with several AT&T reps (from different stores) and like I said, was about to online last month and was given the option of keeping my unlimited package.
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Moderator
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20. May 2011 @ 23:02 |
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As aforementioned, in most cases if you stay with your current deal, they won't meddle.
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Senior Member
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21. May 2011 @ 02:27 |
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Anyone else find it incredibly cliché when people start their rebuttal with "ummm...".
Umm... you guys sound like middle school girls.
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Member
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21. May 2011 @ 09:59 |
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Originally posted by Joshewah:
Anyone else find it incredibly cliché when people start their rebuttal with "ummm...".
Umm... you guys sound like middle school girls.
Umm.....you really don't think the "umm"s in the rebuttals were serious do you?
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 21. May 2011 @ 13:09
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six60six
Junior Member
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21. May 2011 @ 11:22 |
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these companies are retarded. hey, let's sell phones/tablets/computers that can watch streamed videos all day long, advertise that feature (the bait), then change all the rules when everyone wants to do it (the switch). there is no reason why this should be legal.
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