[moosc]

I need a minimum 25 gb plan to make all my devices happy. I all ready pay $400 a month this not good. Oh look here $100 for 10gb I pay $80 for 10gb why does it cost more?

[twolastnames]

I've used 30GB so far... I think mine comes from playing Pandora all day everyday..uploading pics, all social networks running in the background.lol

HTC Rezound

Verizon wants you to pay for home internet. I'm also a bit unsure how some of you guys get your data usage so high. Last month, I used 4GB from verizon, 7 for my home internet (cox) and my wife used 50MB on her phone. So 11GB total, for all sources. Probably the only thing that sent me way over that was the month I uploaded all my music to google music. That was 60GB I think.

Now I don't care how much anybody uses, but I'm pretty sure Verizon does not want anybody using more than 10GB a month. Netflix alone has caused my company (cox) to have to quadruple our bandwidth dedicated to internet in the last 2 years, and we have plans to quadruple what we have now. With a wired connection the upgrades to bandwidth (not speed) is pretty easy, but I'm not sure how easy that is for a wireless company.

So my question really is this, is Verizon and all wireless providers actual bandwith available per tower pretty small? I know LTE is and can be extremely fast, but for how many phones at the same time? I look at Sprint and wonder this all the time. I'm sure there are infrastructure changes that could help, but do they also have to force customers to use less?

I don't believe the corporate greed line. There is always a reason companies raise prices, and usually the public never knows why.

[rootbrain]

My main concern is the shared data. I use my phone and the data plan for work mostly, and it's over 10GB per month. I have 5 lines, my wife uses her phone for work also, but my kids all in college will be using theirs for pandora, netflix and anything to keep them from being bored when they don't have $$ to go out. And Papa bear will be footing the bill.

Wouldn't mind if it was for their school work but, no matter how hard I put my foot down you know what's going to happen. And these are good kids, mostly responsible but they have a tendency to just not be concerned about things like this.

My only option is to drop them if (when) this occurs and the charges get out of line. They are all scholarship or working to put themselves through college, thankfully. This is one thing I thought would help them out a little. But if it becomes unaffordable for me, then they certainly won't be able to afford it, although if they pay for it themselves it would maybe put a halt to the mega-data use.

I think I will be switching over to Sprint. Network is not as good, but better than we all go to Cricket.

[twolastnames]

Well, I guarantee you'll get them to stop streaming netflix if you switch to sprint. I could barely get Pandora to stream without buffering all the time when I was on sprint.

[leroybrute]

Well, I guarantee you'll get them to stop streaming netflix if you switch to sprint. I could barely get Pandora to stream without buffering all the time when I was on sprint.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't!

Its like becoming a billionaire, then someone takes it all away and have no way to get it back. Its amazing how our lives have been taken over by these luxuries and conveniences that we have embedded into our lives, work, and business and now have to take it back a notch or 2 or 3. It all seems backwards to me.

Someone needs to start a poll on how many this will affect and how much it will effect.

[skatergirl]

Damned if you do and damned if you don't!

Its like becoming a billionaire, then someone takes it all away and have no way to get it back. Its amazing how our lives have been taken over by these luxuries and conveniences that we have embedded into our lives, work, and business and now have to take it back a notch or 2 or 3. It all seems backwards to me.

Someone needs to start a poll on how many this will affect and how much it will effect.

I think if you took a poll, you would (sadly for some) see that a lot of people are going to benefit from this. As long as a home and or work/school has wifi, the savings each month can be very worthwhile. My brother has already looked at his plan and will save between $40-$50 a month and he's on an individual plan. A friend at work with three phones is going to save between $50-$60 each month. I am dumping my dumb line (that is never used) and I will be saving $30 a month with three phones on my plan and receiving the benefit of hotspot when and if I ever need it. Before tax and insurance, it will cost me about $67 a month for each phone.

Everything rests on the data and where you get it. If you are fully reliant on Verizon for your data, you are screwed. If not, you can get some money back. Or, if you use that much data, you can still keep the unlimited data by purchasing the phone outright, pay an extra $300 for it, which amounts to $12.50 a month over the course of your 24 month contract.

[leroybrute]

I think if you took a poll, you would (sadly for some) see that a lot of people are going to benefit from this. As long as a home and or work/school has wifi, the savings each month can be very worthwhile. My brother has already looked at his plan and will save between $40-$50 a month and he's on an individual plan. A friend at work with three phones is going to save between $50-$60 each month. I am dumping my dumb line (that is never used) and I will be saving $30 a month with three phones on my plan and receiving the benefit of hotspot when and if I ever need it. Before tax and insurance, it will cost me about $67 a month for each phone.

Everything rests on the data and where you get it. If you are fully reliant on Verizon for your data, you are screwed. If not, you can get some money back. Or, if you use that much data, you can still keep the unlimited data by purchasing the phone outright, pay an extra $300 for it, which amounts to $12.50 a month over the course of your 24 month contract.

Yea I am for sure screwed. For the 500.00 it costs us now i figured it would cost us roughly 1200 a month. We will have to tighten our data belts! Lol. I live in rural area with an antenna that gets data speeds of 3 MB down and 1 MB up if lucky. It is also capped at 24 gb. However I have great 4g coverage and get 40 MB down and 17 MB up at home. Then I am traveling alot with work and need a connection alot where I can't pickup wifi. Plus I have 2 college kids. Don't need to explain there.
Once your contract is up even if you buy a phone at full price, with vzw's policy changes its not a guarantee that we keep unlimited then.
I was also told the free hotspot addition would only be usable with Verizon phone and tablets. So I would have to buy an additional hotspot package to connect to my Asus tablets and laptops.
What I'm trying to say is everyone that has become reliant on the data for whatever reasons, personal, work, or business it will be a shock.
If I could stay unlimited by buying the phones at retail while off contract I wouldn't have an issue. If you are off contract they are not obligated to let you keep the unlimited and I can't picture that they would.
This unlimited addiction will be hard to break! . Some of us will need some extensive counseling. lol

[skatergirl]

Yea I am for sure screwed. For the 500.00 it costs us now i figured it would cost us roughly 1200 a month. We will have to tighten our data belts! Lol. I live in rural area with an antenna that gets data speeds of 3 MB down and 1 MB up if lucky. It is also capped at 24 gb. However I have great 4g coverage and get 40 MB down and 17 MB up at home. Then I am traveling alot with work and need a connection alot where I can't pickup wifi. Plus I have 2 college kids. Don't need to explain there.
Once your contract is up even if you buy a phone at full price, with vzw's policy changes its not a guarantee that we keep unlimited then.
I was also told the free hotspot addition would only be usable with Verizon phone and tablets. So I would have to buy an additional hotspot package to connect to my Asus tablets and laptops.
What I'm trying to say is everyone that has become reliant on the data for whatever reasons, personal, work, or business it will be a shock.
If I could stay unlimited by buying the phones at retail while off contract I wouldn't have an issue. If you are off contract they are not obligated to let you keep the unlimited and I can't picture that they would.
This unlimited addiction will be hard to break! . Some of us will need some extensive counseling. lol

Very cute on the extensive counseling.

As for the hotspot, my brother has it and everything can connect to it. So you would be able to connect your tablet.

[leroybrute]

Very cute on the extensive counseling.

As for the hotspot, my brother has it and everything can connect to it. So you would be able to connect your tablet.

I have hotspot also and I connect to everything also. Most important feature i have! But you will notice with the free hotspot you pay 10.00 for connecting to a tablet. No telling if this is right but Vzw support told me that is reason for it to be a Verizon tablet. I may have taken it wrong but I was under the assumption that its a limited hotspot feature. And any outside tablet or laptop you have to pay for the traditional (or normal) hotspot.
Let me know if you know different. I figured either way with all my lines and data usage the hotspot feature wouldn't work or be usable anyways.

[ShadowCatcher]

I don't believe the corporate greed line. There is always a reason companies raise prices, and usually the public never knows why.

First, let me say, I'm not defending Verizon here [puts on two pairs of Nomex underwear]. It isn't so much that the "public never knows why", it's more a matter of not knowing all the underlying costs.

Verizon is updating all of their equipment from 3G to 4G at very rapid pace. Supposedly, they plan to have everybody on 4G by the end of 2013. All that infrastructure cost money, and the only way Verizon can get it, is to charge the customers. They are not just charging for the actually cost of supplying X number of GBs of data or whatever. That cost also includes repair and replacement of equipment, R&D of technology, and all the other thousands of things that go into company overhead, as well as, a return on investment (ROI). Usually, you get what you pay for. Yes Verizon Wireless has a pretty good earnings rate, but much of their money is going back into the network and support services (gotta pay for all those reps and techs’ training… LOL).

Many people like the idea of paying less money to one of the other carriers – problem is that, for a lot of us, the service doesn’t fit our needs – and some of those same people complain about the other network's capacity. Most of the other carriers don’t have the network capability of Verizon (or AT&T), so unless they offer something that makes sense for you, Verizon may be the only way we can get the services we want (need?).

With the new pricing plan, there are going to be winners and losers. Certain users will love it and others will hate it. Verizon doesn’t care as long as the cash flows remain steady and allows them to increase capacity and sales, plus make a buck or two. As Michael Corleone told Sonny: "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business."

Such is life.

[twolastnames]

The $10 charge for tablets with a cellular antennae in it. A normal WiFi only anything can connect to your phone with a hotspot.

[skatergirl]

I have hotspot also and I connect to everything also. Most important feature i have! But you will notice with the free hotspot you pay 10.00 for connecting to a tablet. No telling if this is right but Vzw support told me that is reason for it to be a Verizon tablet. I may have taken it wrong but I was under the assumption that its a limited hotspot feature. And any outside tablet or laptop you have to pay for the traditional (or normal) hotspot.
Let me know if you know different. I figured either way with all my lines and data usage the hotspot feature wouldn't work or be usable anyways.

I just called Verizon to be sure. She told me that if your smartphone is capable of hotspotting, you can connect up to 10 devices no matter the device.

[leroybrute]

The $10 charge for tablets with a cellular antennae in it. A normal WiFi only anything can connect to your phone with a hotspot.

I see. Thanks for the info.

[mstraw9379]

I have been reading posts on this in several places.
Here are the issues I have.

First, the math doesn't add up.
-For instance, if I have the 2GB for $30 on two lines, that would be a total of 4GB possible between the two phones for $60.
-So following that line of thinking $60 should get you 4GB to share. NOPE that gets you 2GB. How do you pay the same for less?
Second, I don't have the example above.
-I have two phones with unlimited plans. You cannot measurably compare limited and unlimited with a dollar value. It doesn't add up. I can use whatever the maximum amount of data would be at the best signal strength streaming HD movies 24-7 for the entire month. I cannot compare cost to any of the offered amounts because they limit the data. Can't compare apples to oranges.
-If I did attempt to do a comparison, it would cost me $20 more a month to get the 10GB (I use 7-9GB).
Third, If I have to pay you to provide me the service of data, don't force me to use another source. If you want to force me to use another source then don't require me to purchase a data plan from you. I would be perfectly happy using my phone as a phone and using WiFi at home or wherever else it is available.

My thoughts. This doesn't really affect me right now. I will upgrade my wife's phone before the deadline and continue on for the next 2 years with my grandfathered unlimited data. Then at the end of that time, look at the way things are in the cell phone industry and become an isolated hermit somewhere in the rocky mountains, or maybe I'll go live with the apes. They don't sell cell phones to apes yet, do they?

[zrxoa1]

Just give me the New plan and allow WiFi only, no data plans needed... I can live with that.

--------------------------------------------------
There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. --Ash

[humpagardengnome]

First, let me say, I'm not defending Verizon here [puts on two pairs of Nomex underwear]. It isn't so much that the "public never knows why", it's more a matter of not knowing all the underlying costs.

Verizon is updating all of their equipment from 3G to 4G at very rapid pace. Supposedly, they plan to have everybody on 4G by the end of 2013. All that infrastructure cost money, and the only way Verizon can get it, is to charge the customers. They are not just charging for the actually cost of supplying X number of GBs of data or whatever. That cost also includes repair and replacement of equipment, R&D of technology, and all the other thousands of things that go into company overhead, as well as, a return on investment (ROI). Usually, you get what you pay for. Yes Verizon Wireless has a pretty good earnings rate, but much of their money is going back into the network and support services (gotta pay for all those reps and techs’ training… LOL).

Many people like the idea of paying less money to one of the other carriers – problem is that, for a lot of us, the service doesn’t fit our needs – and some of those same people complain about the other network's capacity. Most of the other carriers don’t have the network capability of Verizon (or AT&T), so unless they offer something that makes sense for you, Verizon may be the only way we can get the services we want (need?).

With the new pricing plan, there are going to be winners and losers. Certain users will love it and others will hate it. Verizon doesn’t care as long as the cash flows remain steady and allows them to increase capacity and sales, plus make a buck or two. As Michael Corleone told Sonny: "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business."

Such is life.

I'd buy it hook, line & sinker if earnings reports matched up but all I see are earnings up every quarter for the last couple of years. They are covering all their expenses and making cash. Good for them, but they don't need to sugarcoat stuff or lie about stupid things like adding additional costs to fund further enployee training.

[ShadowCatcher]

I'd buy it hook, line & sinker if earnings reports matched up but all I see are earnings up every quarter for the last couple of years. They are covering all their expenses and making cash. Good for them, but they don't need to sugarcoat stuff or lie about stupid things like adding additional costs to fund further enployee training.

Right now, most companies are cash heavy due to uncertainties in our, and world, markets. However, I agree - don't lie to us (on the other hand, it does take big bucks for all that training Big Red gives to their sales reps and phone service techs... [cue eye roll]

[lou61166]

No one should be surprised, it's Verizon!

The data plans shouldn't be more than $10 per GB.

Right now VZW is over charging us with the current $30 for 2GB.


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

I get 4 GB for 30

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

[rbess1965]

The only "benefit" I could see would be the mobile hotspot. But if you're gonna pay the same price, why not just keep unlimited? Make those phones really last. If you really get a strong impulse to upgrade your phones, well, you have the option to switch plans later on.
I rarely go over 5GB, but I like having unlimited for the same reasons I like eating at buffets. Obviously I won't be eating everything available, but I have a sense of comfort knowing there's more where that came from if I ever need it.

What good is included mobile hot spot if by having it you will be using more data anyway. You'll end up paying for the highest data plan by using hot spot.

Sent using Droid Razr Maxx

[skatergirl]

I rarely go over 5GB, but I like having unlimited for the same reasons I like eating at buffets. Obviously I won't be eating everything available, but I have a sense of comfort knowing there's more where that came from if I ever need it.

I don't like buffets because I am forever counting calories ... LOL! So, I will handle limited data better than others because I am used to the torture that comes with discipline!

[Dovahkiin]

I don't like buffets because I am forever counting calories ... LOL! So, I will handle limited data better than others because I am used to the torture that comes with discipline!

Yeah but in this case, you won't be gaining any weight. So dig in!

[kgirl808]

I'm contemplating the plan also. I have 4 phones on my account and 1 is not on the family plan. Thinking it might be a good thing because it would save us about $20-30. My current family plan is a special regional plan that Verizon was doing a while back. The catch w/ that is that everyone on that plan had to be on a certain area code and my boyfriend who's phone isn't on the family plan didn't want to change his number so we had to keep him on a separate plan. He makes tons of calls so every month we have to monitor it just to make sure he never goes over. The plan would work to where he can be back on the family plan and we don't have to worry again about him going over his minutes. The only downside w/ the shared data is losing the unlimited grandfathered plan and my son uses 2-4gb every month so I would have to worry if anyone goes over their portion.

[major payne]

I think if you took a poll, you would (sadly for some) see that a lot of people are going to benefit from this.

See I disagree on this part as I only have 2 Smartphones out of the 5 on my account. ok thats 60 bucks for 2 phone unlimited and I use about 3 gigs a month.. So if i go to the shared data I have to choose the 4gb(according to verizon's site) which charges an extra 10 bucks over thier 1 gb plan... so now i'm paying 60 bucks for 4 gig limit. now add 3 non smart phones at 30 each (normally 10) and my bill goes up 60 bucks. Now before some comes by and say but that for unlimited talk and text.

i already get unlimited text and 1400 mins which between 5 phones we used 490 mins last month and on ave we hit that mark almost every month as 90% of our friends and family's are on verizon or i hae added them to my 10 friends and family...

so who wants to really pay 60 more a month for less data (major concern) but unlimited voice( minor concern as we use next to nothing) I have been with verizon for over 10 years and If this doesn't change i will be leaving them sadly if i can

[zrxoa1]

I am in exact same boat....five phones, only two are smartphones and those two are unlimited data. 1400 minute plan with unlimited text. My bill, taxes and all, is $201/month. The New plans would not save me a single cent. Would actually cost me more and give me less.

--------------------------------------------------
There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. --Ash

[skatergirl]

See I disagree on this part as I only have 2 Smartphones out of the 5 on my account. ok thats 60 bucks for 2 phone unlimited and I use about 3 gigs a month.. So if i go to the shared data I have to choose the 4gb(according to verizon's site) which charges an extra 10 bucks over thier 1 gb plan... so now i'm paying 60 bucks for 4 gig limit. now add 3 non smart phones at 30 each (normally 10) and my bill goes up 60 bucks. Now before some comes by and say but that for unlimited talk and text.

i already get unlimited text and 1400 mins which between 5 phones we used 490 mins last month and on ave we hit that mark almost every month as 90% of our friends and family's are on verizon or i hae added them to my 10 friends and family...

so who wants to really pay 60 more a month for less data (major concern) but unlimited voice( minor concern as we use next to nothing) I have been with verizon for over 10 years and If this doesn't change i will be leaving them sadly if i can

You are correct that a lot of people will not benefit from this but I am also correct that a lot of people will benefit from this. We all lose in the end because something is being taken away from us and we all have to adapt, but there are a lot of people on family plans who have smartphones and are currently throwing away $30 a month per person for data that is never, ever used.

Those with a number of dumbphones on their account, or those who use a ton of data will feel the pinch. Those with a number of smartphones who use wifi and who can easily share the data will feel a reprieve in the wallet.