DROID BIONIC Jelly Bean Update

[SmilinBob]

So no more flip phones on Verizon? What about my kid and his non-smartphone? I was thinking of going to Sprint since they still advertise "true unlimited data" but no idea how long that will last. We rarely travel outside of the Metropolitan area of Houston so coverage is not the issue. I had Sprint on a 3G aircard back in the day and, while it sucked tremendously, I'm hoping they've improved since then.

On another subject, is there a carrier who will eventually allow a smartphone without a data plan? I would love to use my Bionic (flashed ofcourse to use GSM) on a carrier that would let me have a talk/text plan with no data. I don't see an end to the data caps anytime soon since it is such a cash cow and I'm seriously thinking of taking my ball and going home.

 

[SamuriHL]

No idea. And yea, they're going to aggressively work to shut off the 3g network and force everyone to VoLTE phones in the next couple years. It'll be cheaper for them to operate and there are other reasons for the push. They pushed hard to get LTE built out. That'll be done by the end of this year and they'll start the rollout of VoLTE. That will take less than a year and then in the next couple years you'll see 3G wind down.

 

[cindylike24]

I should have clarified that. Just me on my plan. I can't speak for the family plans just the solo one.

Fortunately I was able to interpret these feelings correctly: loss of essence.

I'm on a single phone plan myself and I did the math of going on the tiered data plan rather than staying on the unlimited data plan. It will cost me more to go onto one of Verizon's tiered data plans than it would be for me to stay on the unlimited data plan. I looked at the data usage on my plan and the only time that I go over 2GB is during the months of December and January. When I first went to a smart phone, I didn't sign up immediately for a data plan and boy did I get a big surprise on my first cell phone bill. I then went ahead and got the unlimited data, e-mail and text plan to avoid any further billing "surprises". The only time that I use the data is when I'm somewhere that I don't have a Wi-Fi connection (work or when I'm out and about) but I love having the unlimited data plan. Ok. I think I'm done ranting now. I feel better now.

 

[SamuriHL]

I'm not sure what people aren't getting about the new plans. When VZW announced them last year, they LITERALLY said "this is a money grab. We are going to make customers pay more for less data. And they will love us for it." That's almost word for word what they said. And you know what? They weren't wrong. Rated number 1 carrier. So clearly, they can be as greedy as they want, and we morons will still pay them for it. Why? Cause I hear every single person who complains about it say "But they have the best network. I CAN'T switch." And there you have it. That, in a nutshell, is why you're going to continue to pay more and get less for it.

 

[HowardL168]

I'm with ya, the new Verizon plans are terrible and there doesn't seem much recourse. My wife and I are grandfathered on unlimited until early 2014, when the party all ends. We use our phones almost exclusively for streaming music at work 6-8 hours per day (airwave radio doesn't penetrate the walls). She streams Pandora, I listen to Soma.fm using the lower bandwidth ACC stream. She regularly racks up 30-35GB, I hit around 25GB. We don't stream Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, or use the connection at home (we have 35Mb Cable).

I don't understand how people can have smartphones and not use the connection for more than 2GB/mo. I guess some folks just like having the convenience of the phone but use it very seldom. And the carriers are so full of **** - they advertise all the neat high bandwidth uses you can enjoy but either all have data caps or begin throttling you at a certain point. Stream Netflix in HD! for a single 2 hour movie, that is - for your month of allotted bandwidth.

And shout out to Sami - been following this thread for a long time but generally just a lurker. Thanks for all the info and time and effort into keeping us all updated. The discussion changing to Unlimited Data always gets my dander up though. At this point I can seriously see myself going back to a flip phone when all the carriers go to a Data Prevention Policy with capped data all around. No thanks.

Actually, I use the phone "a lot", not just for convenience, and never reach 2gb. The reason many of us can have smartphones and not use the connection for more than 2GB/mo. is, particularly at home, we're using our wifi connection. So, only when "out and about" do I use 4g...and even then I will use wifi when available (at malls or restaurants). I don't understand why, when you've mentioned you have a 35mb cable connection, why you're not using home wifi...does your cable not provide your Internet connection as well?

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[drstrangelove5]

Let's be honest. There is plenty of case study data on this topic. If it was financially intrusive the cable companies would have switched to this model years ago for landlines.

There's people who download terabytes of music, movies, and games monthly and they are paying the same as a grandmother who just emails her family.

Fortunately I was able to interpret these feelings correctly: loss of essence.

 

[zachthebomb13]

I'm not sure what people aren't getting about the new plans. When VZW announced them last year, they LITERALLY said "this is a money grab. We are going to make customers pay more for less data. And they will love us for it." That's almost word for word what they said. And you know what? They weren't wrong. Rated number 1 carrier. So clearly, they can be as greedy as they want, and we morons will still pay them for it. Why? Cause I hear every single person who complains about it say "But they have the best network. I CAN'T switch." And there you have it. That, in a nutshell, is why you're going to continue to pay more and get less for it.

IF the other carriers would get their act together and have better cell service, THEN I'd be willing to switch. It's up to them to attract the customers. It is not up to me to switch and then tell them to give me better service.

 

[804hokie]

In my experience Verizon really is the best network, and FiOS is far better than when we had Comtrash. Both networks have proven to be extremely robust (I don't think I've had any loss of service with either in the last 6-months). I get the 15%-discount through the DoD, but having gone to one of the corporate stores to look into share plans, I'm (officially) getting the best deal I can right now with 10GB (1/2-price data plan incentive from late 2011). I really haven't had to use tethering, but it's nice to be able to use FoxFi when necessary.

However, they'll probably try to force me into a new billing setup when I get my next phone.

 

[zachthebomb13]

You know, there is also verizon prepaid. You're looking at $70 a month for 2 gigs of data, with an extra $20 if you need another gig. That's cheaper than the $100 for 2 gigs if you aren't prepaid. I don't know what all the differences are, but it might work. The way I see it, Verizon knows people are getting more and more devices, so their plans are geared toward that end. And, their customers are happy. I don't see any of you jumping ship, probably because for the most part you are happy. (or your locked into a contract...)

 

[Tom in Bristol]

No idea. And yea, they're going to aggressively work to shut off the 3g network and force everyone to VoLTE phones in the next couple years. It'll be cheaper for them to operate and there are other reasons for the push. They pushed hard to get LTE built out. That'll be done by the end of this year and they'll start the rollout of VoLTE. That will take less than a year and then in the next couple years you'll see 3G wind down.

Did a little digging and the most recent info found on VZW / VoLTE I found came out of MWC and not headlined much in anything I had read. See this from Nicola Palmer, CTO of Verizon Wireless: Verizon's Palmer details the company's AWS deployment strategy, VoLTE launch plans and more - FierceWireless

If I understand, VZW will keep CDMA alive till VoLTE has rolled out and folks have had a chance to get devices that won't require CDMA and that's probably beyond 2014.

Would appreciate any/all corrections.

 

[SmilinBob]

I don't understand why, when you've mentioned you have a 35mb cable connection, why you're not using home wifi...does your cable not provide your Internet connection as well?

We use our WIFI on our fast cable when we are at home, but we don't need to use the phones then. I have everything setup to update only on WIFI. Like I mentioned in my post, we stream low kbps music streams (on both phones) while at work for 6-8 hours / day and use the phone for very little other than this. We never download torrents or movies or anything else on our phones - they are pretty much just jukeboxes for our work since we can't get radio any other way.

If I have to give up my smartphone I am fine with that. Verizon can go pound sand along with the rest of them - they can go "money grab" somewhere else since I lived just fine without a smartphone for a long time. And this begs the question - why hasn't any provider offered plans for smartphones that do not include data plans? After all, a smart phone is just a really small tablet with a CDMA/GSM/LTE radio. Greed is what I am guessing, since like Howard stated, WIFI is virtually everywhere.

 

[drstrangelove5]

BTW any update in regards to the soak?

Fortunately I was able to interpret these feelings correctly: loss of essence.

 

[zachthebomb13]

BTW any update in regards to the soak?

Fortunately I was able to interpret these feelings correctly: loss of essence.

No emails, and no OTA.

 

[HowardL168]

We use our WIFI on our fast cable when we are at home, but we don't need to use the phones then. I have everything setup to update only on WIFI. Like I mentioned in my post, we stream low kbps music streams (on both phones) while at work for 6-8 hours / day and use the phone for very little other than this. .

Ahh, sorry, I missed the "while at work". Understand now...I too don't use wifi at work, although it's "available"...if I use it, the company security sensor looks at all usage so I prefer not having "Big Brother" watching my every surf!


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[roadpizza73]

"since like Howard stated, WIFI is virtually everywhere."

Sez u city folk :what:

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[moonlightinwhite]

We use our phones almost exclusively for streaming music at work 6-8 hours per day (airwave radio doesn't penetrate the walls). She streams Pandora, I listen to Soma.fm using the lower bandwidth ACC stream. She regularly racks up 30-35GB, I hit around 25GB. We don't stream Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, or use the connection at home (we have 35Mb Cable).

Pandora only pulls between 30-40MB per hour using the mobile app. Heck, even at 1MB/minute, that's:

1MB/minute * 60 minutes in an hour * 8 hours per day * 5 work days per week * 4 weeks in a month = 9600MB or 9.6GB

Even if you stream 8 hours per day for 31 days, that's still less than 15GB. And that's really just using unrealistic numbers. In reality, at 8 hours of play every day of the workweek, you're likely using much closer to 6.4GB. In short, you're doing a lot more than streaming Pandora.

 

[HowardL168]

Yea. And if it requires a bounty I'll also let you all know. Meaning, we may have to put up some cash to get a working exploit if we want one. Or, we may get lucky, and one of the other Moto JB exploits might work. Until we get our build, we have no idea.

Sam...do I need to be rooted on ICS first in order to take advantage of whatever exploit may be available, if the JB OTA isn't good? Sorry, even though I'm an IT person, my knowledge is more limited with the new phone technology. Anyway, my Bionic is currently stock ICS...never rooted. If JB busts, it would be great to have a "rollback" plan to (what I'm quite satisfied with) a working ICS.

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[SamuriHL]

IF the other carriers would get their act together and have better cell service, THEN I'd be willing to switch. It's up to them to attract the customers. It is not up to me to switch and then tell them to give me better service.

THEN, as I said, you will continue to get fleeced by VZW which they know most customers will put up with. It's as simple as that. If you're not willing to switch, you can't really get mad about losing unlimited and having to pay more for less data.

 

[SamuriHL]

Did a little digging and the most recent info found on VZW / VoLTE I found came out of MWC and not headlined much in anything I had read. See this from Nicola Palmer, CTO of Verizon Wireless: Verizon's Palmer details the company's AWS deployment strategy, VoLTE launch plans and more - FierceWireless

If I understand, VZW will keep CDMA alive till VoLTE has rolled out and folks have had a chance to get devices that won't require CDMA and that's probably beyond 2014.

Would appreciate any/all corrections.

There is more to it than that as you probably know.

 

[SamuriHL]

BTW any update in regards to the soak?

Fortunately I was able to interpret these feelings correctly: loss of essence.

You mean other than what I've said about it not happening before next weekend at the earliest? No.