i have a client who is an upper level executive at vzw wireless. we have talked specifically about unlimited data and it is going the way of the dodo bird. no specifics, but trust me, they dont want people on unlimited data. if you are out of contract and month to month, they can change any term they want at any time. "grandfathered" was for in contract people.
Sorry for straying off topic...
E.
There is considerable debate within the Verizon upper management team about continuing unlimited data.
I have people that are very, very close to me that are VZW upper executives.
The current consensus is that it will go away but by natural attrition rather than them "pulling the plug".
The side that wants unlimited data ended list the "data hogs" as the primary reason. Those few individuals cause a disproportionate strain on the network and don't pay their fare share. If the "data hogs" were to leave it would be good riddance because the network would operate better and they only pay $30/month.
The side that wants to continue unlimited data notes the fact that most of those with unlimited are some of the best long-time customers and not "data hogs" but use less than 6gb/month. This group just likes the security and certainty of having a flat rate regardless of how much they use their device.
Many of those users would leave to other providers that provide unlimited flat price data plans. They stay because of the VZW network and the unlimited plan.
As all of the other US carriers move to LTE the significant advantage of the VZW network will begin to fade and make it much easier for those loyal subscribers to leave.
Currently, Verizon won't pull the plug on "grandfathered" unlimited data as long as many of you keep switching to "Share Everything" every day and other carriers continue to offer unlimited data as a differentiating advantage. Verizon even likes those that don't currently use a lot of data to leave the unlimited plan. It reduces their risk or exposure to potential "data hogs" even if it costs them a few dollars now. Every launch of a new phone causes thousands of subscribers to upgrade and lose their unlimited data.
Some in management want to go the other direction and open unlimited data back up once the LTE network is completely built out and CDMA is being phased out.
This would be in a couple of years before the other carriers have a complete build of their LTE networks.
This would blunt the marketing message of Sprint & T-Mobile as the BEST Network would have an unlimited data plan, albeit a higher price.
This is currently being studied to see if the network could handle the influx of "data hogs" and what price is appropriate.
You are correct that VZW can choose to "pull the plug" on unlimited data at any time.
But the current management team feels it is best to let attrition decrease the number of unlimited plans at this point.