FierceWireless: Verizon will kill 'grandfathered' unlimited data

**trekmario** · 05-20-2012, 06:18 PM

No because they lost a sale.these phones are not really subsidies. Think about it they are so quick to bring a phone out then. After couple of months it goes down in price . Then a few months latter its bogo. So i think if it costs as much as they say then the price would go down so fast.

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**trucksmoveamerica#AC** · 05-20-2012, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by androidatic

You're saving them money but refusing their phone subsidy.

Where are the customers going to go? The options aren't good if you're leaving Verizon.

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I live in Iowa and I have options. I bet most people have some kind of choice. I can go to uscc,a good choice for the Midwest area.

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**Droid800** · 05-20-2012, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by maildroid

All this is going to do is loose moneyand customers .Because i told them that i will buy phones off a ebay or a site like lejuneyardsales.com where you can buy other peoples phones.

You not buying a phone actually SAVES Verizon money, because you're still paying your bill and they aren't out a subsidy.

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**eshropshire** · 05-20-2012, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by trucksmoveamerica

No, but they can deny any more buy outs or spectrum buying. This is the reason they blocked at&t, t mobile deal and Verizon is giving more reasons not to allow then to get bigger. Time for the 2 big carriers to be slowed down

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FCC is more concerned about the available spectrum being accessible to the most people possible. They could care less about Johnny or Sally streaming Netflix or Pandora 24 hours a day on and LTE network for $30 a month.

**CBMC** · 05-22-2012, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by 3rdpig

If buying a phone retail, or used, is how I keep my unlimited data, 4G speeds and excellent VZ coverage, that's how I'll do it. It's pretty much how I do it now in odd numbered years anyway. I haven't stayed with one device more than a year since the Treo 700

That being said, how they handle multiple line accounts will be the deciding factor for me. My SO rarely hits 1GB of data and always waits for her upgrade date. If her using a subsidized upgrade is going to knock me off unlimited that's going to be a problem unless the data amount is at least 6GB for the same price I'm paying now.

Still, I need that coverage and VZ is the only carrier who's got it.

I am also curious how they will handle multiple accounts. I have 4 smartphones on my account. I use 95% of my families data, so even if I was forced to share I am still under 10 gb combined. I just worry that if other users on my plan increase their usage I will be in trouble.

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**HawaiiD** · 05-22-2012, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by Jude526

I just called customer service. Said I will not lose my unlimited data plan when I upgrade. Had her note this conversation cause if I do...am gone

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Jude,
Most of articles now state you can keep your unlimited plan if you pay full price for your next phone,

**smccloud** · 05-22-2012, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by HawaiiD

Jude,
Most of articles now state you can keep your unlimited plan if you pay full price for your next phone,

Unfortunately the full price of a Verizon phone sucks ***.

**paul-c** · 05-22-2012, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by smccloud

Unfortunately the full price of a Verizon phone sucks ***.

Yeah, it does. Taxes included, they wanted $725 for the RAZR when it launched back in November.

**smccloud** · 05-22-2012, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by paul-c

Yeah, it does. Taxes included, they wanted $725 for the RAZR when it launched back in November.

I had a nice talk with someone at the Presidents office about that today and was basically told that they are charged a lot by the mfg.....

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**Johnly** · 05-22-2012, 07:59 PM

But if you pick wisely, you can resell it and coup the majority of your purchase by your next upgrade. And you can do that at anytime! I feel sorry for people that think they will skate unlimited data forever, Verizon has plans to throttle those stragglers that use a ton of data. Unlimited data on a cell network is ending, be it tiered, or throttled.

**paul-c** · 05-22-2012, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Johnly

But if you pick wisely, you can resell it and coup the majority of your purchase by your next upgrade. And you can do that at anytime! I feel sorry for people that think they will skate unlimited data forever, Verizon has plans to throttle those stragglers that use a ton of data. Unlimited data on a cell network is ending, be it tiered, or throttled.

I think Verizon specifically mentioned buying phones off contract to retain unlimited data because they don't plan to touch that. They know that not that many people are going to pony up the full retail price, and those that do, good for them.

**Johnly** · 05-22-2012, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by paul-c

I think Verizon specifically mentioned buying phones off contract to retain unlimited data because they don't plan to touch that. They know that not that many people are going to pony up the full retail price. Those that do, good for them.

Exactly....but if they use a ton of data, they will get throttled at some point, even 4G. because contracts are the meat and potatoes of their money. Nothing a good HACK can't solve : )

**trucksmoveamerica#AC** · 05-24-2012, 01:00 AM

I would be happy if they offered the people with unlimited data a chance to switch to 5 GB plan, no throttling and maybe $5/GB after that. Five gigs on a phone is plenty, the phone was never intended to be a modem for home internet.

People that switch would be left alone and able to upgrade phone at discount, people that stay on unlimited can ride the roller coaster and take their chances.

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**Eclipse2K** · 05-24-2012, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by paul-c

I think Verizon specifically mentioned buying phones off contract to retain unlimited data because they don't plan to touch that. They know that not that many people are going to pony up the full retail price, and those that do, good for them.

I'm one of those who will pay full retail if it means keeping unlimited data. I've done it before because I always want new technology so no big deal.

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**andrewshah** · 05-24-2012, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by Eclipse2K

I'm one of those who will pay full retail if it means keeping unlimited data. I've done it before because I always want new technology so no big deal.

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Same here!

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**Vikman** · 05-26-2012, 05:16 PM

Unlimited plans not dead?

Shammo also addressed his comments from last week about the carrier's forthcoming family data plans, or data share plans, which Verizon will launch this summer. Shammo said he misspoke slightly, noting that customers will have the choice to upgrade to such plans. However, he reiterated his point from last week that if customers on unlimited data plans move to data share plans, they will lose their unlimited pricing.

**grumpyjoe** · 05-27-2012, 03:14 AM

I don't think it's all about the money. If I have to switch to shared data plan, I would be saving $70 a month. I have 5 unlimited plans and it's costing me $150 a month just for data. I would go with the 20Gb a month for $80. Between 5 of us we avg about 11 to 13 Gbs a month. I think it's more about the knuckle heads that use the unlimited data on their phones as a modem for their home PC. Downloading 80+ Gb monthly. I think it's bogging down the system. When I first got my ThunderBolt I had a download speed of 25Mbps +-5. Now I avg around 15 Mbps. Still fast but... Like someone else here said. This phone was not designed to be a modem for your home PC. Some people are taking advantage of Verizons high speed data at the expense of others. You give some an inch and they will always take a mile. It's a shame.

**kulkaholic** · 05-27-2012, 11:21 AM

Referencing the subsidising of phones. I think it is crap. Most phones when they come out brand new (higher end) and we upgrade via contrat we have to pony up around 250-300. That comes out to around $12.5 a month that Verizon says is subsidized into the contract. If you keep the phone over two years the price of your service does not drop. So Verizon must be eating this cost or giving us a load of crud.

RE: Plans, I think a tiered data plan for family usage is overall a good thing for most people that have multiple smart phone users. It will probably save most people money. However their plans affects individual users differently. I have all 5 lines used on my plan and I am the only smart phone user. I use between 5-7GB of data a month. probably only about half a gig is used at home if that (only because I am lazy and dont connect to my home network). Most all of it is used when I am on the road. I work two jobs so I stream music and internet surf. If they force me into a data plan for the family that is useless. If they force me into a $30 4GB data plan that is useless.

I do not want a blazing fast phone that I have to "watch my usage". That is like buying a Corvette to drive the speed limit.

If they punish me because they are trying to stop the users that use their phone to tether their home network, I will walk away from Smart phone technology period. I wont switch carriers because they will all do this.

Again I am not mad at the tier plan, for some people they are a great advantage. PUnishing those of use that it will hurt is where I have the issue.

**kulkaholic** · 05-27-2012, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by GrumpyJoe

I don't think it's all about the money. If I have to switch to shared data plan, I would be saving $70 a month. I have 5 unlimited plans and it's costing me $150 a month just for data. I would go with the 20Gb a month for $80. Between 5 of us we avg about 11 to 13 Gbs a month. I think it's more about the knuckle heads that use the unlimited data on their phones as a modem for their home PC. Downloading 80+ Gb monthly. I think it's bogging down the system. When I first got my ThunderBolt I had a download speed of 25Mbps +-5. Now I avg around 15 Mbps. Still fast but... Like someone else here said. This phone was not designed to be a modem for your home PC. Some people are taking advantage of Verizons high speed data at the expense of others. You give some an inch and they will always take a mile. It's a shame.

That may also be because there are a lot more 4G users out there period. I ahve an hour drive to and from work. I work in a city and live ina rural country area. The further I get away from the city my speeds shoot up to 25Mbps +-5. It may not be that people are heavy users but that there are just more of them.

**trailblazen** · 05-27-2012, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by kulk35

That may also be because there are a lot more 4G users out there period. I ahve an hour drive to and from work. I work in a city and live ina rural country area. The further I get away from the city my speeds shoot up to 25Mbps +-5. It may not be that people are heavy users but that there are just more of them.

This right here. You have to think that 4G is the new thing and everyone is jumping on the bandwidth bandwagon so in turn creating more strain on the network. I am by no means happy with the way they are going about this but making sense as to why they are taking any form of action at this point. Yes money does play the bigger role in this though for the other part of this equation which doesn't make me happy when I already pay $200/month for 2 smartphones.

**andrewshah** · 05-27-2012, 03:46 PM

Now I do understand that there needs to be a data cap/shared plan to curb those abusing the network. However, 2gb a month for $30 is just plain robbery.
I sure hope the new plans add a little more value.

I mean, anyone can blast through 2gb watching a single HD movie and a few YouTube videos.

@kulk35 Its more like buying a Ferrari and being told you can only drive it 20 miles a month, or being told you can only use 20 gallons of gas a month!

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**metz65** · 05-27-2012, 03:59 PM

I only use about 3 gig a month and always use wifi when at home.
As far as blaming this on people abusing the network I don't buy into that one bit. I don't care how much people use and what they use it for. Verizon set up an unlimited plan and that's what it should be ,unlimited.
It wasn't advertised as unlimited up to a certain amount, or unlimited with restrictions on how you use it. That's kind of like advertising an all you can eat buffet then getting mad at people who eat more than 1 plate of food.

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**andrewshah** · 05-27-2012, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by metz65

I only use about 3 gig a month and always use wifi when at home.
As far as blaming this on people abusing the network I don't buy into that one bit. I don't care how much people use and what they use it for. Verizon set up an unlimited plan and that's what it should be ,unlimited.
It wasn't advertised as unlimited up to a certain amount, or unlimited with restrictions on how you use it. That's kind of like advertising an all you can eat buffet then getting mad at people who eat more than 1 plate of food.

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I mostly agree with you. But there are some cases where people really do abuse the network. I read on one forum, someone was using over 350gb a month on their unlimited plan, tethering to their laptop. Now someone using that much data is seriously going to degrade performance for everyone else in the area.

But even then, only people seriously abusing the network should be dealt with. I don't agree with the paltry limits on the new plans.

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**kulkaholic** · 05-27-2012, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by andrewshah

@kulk35 Its more like buying a Ferrari and being told you can only drive it 20 miles a month, or being told you can only use 20 gallons of gas a month!

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Touche

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**Eclipse2K** · 05-28-2012, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by andrewshah

I mostly agree with you. But there are some cases where people really do abuse the network. I read on one forum, someone was using over 350gb a month on their unlimited plan, tethering to their laptop. Now someone using that much data is seriously going to degrade performance for everyone else in the area.

But even then, only people seriously abusing the network should be dealt with. I don't agree with the paltry limits on the new plans.

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Verizon says you're allowed to use the network on your cell phone. I'm sure these people using it for a home internet are not all paying the hotspot fee thus not obeying the terms of service.

Btw, your post is right on. Just adding to it.

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