How will Verizon make us part with our unlimited data plans?

[nerdydesi]

Its obvious that none of the carriers want us to have our coveted, grandfathered unlimited plans. For instance, we are hearing of ATT and Verizon to throttle heavy data users. I haven't noticed any throttling myself on my LTE phone and I use a lot. If I tell you how much, you'll pounce all over me, lol.

They want us all to move to tiered data so they can gouge and bleed us dry. I'm curious how will they do this? I'm sure if they launch a very nice phone and we try to upgrade, they'll say our plan is "not compatible" with the device.

I don't want to upgrade with Verizon, I only have a one-year contract (due to having been an employee) and don't want to be in contract with them. I'd rather buy my phones off-contract. I'm still afraid if I buy a Bionic for example to replace my Charge, by replacing the sim card, my unlimited data plan will be magically taken away and the reps will tell me I'm stuck with their "better" tiered data plans.

I've heard news that us grandfathered customers could keep our plans even if we upgrade but I don't buy it. I wish I still had access to VZW's intranet so I could find out the truth.

 

[FrankXS]

For now, I take 'em at their word. As long as you maintain an unlimited plan on the line, you should be able to keep unlimited on that line. Adding a line would be the new tiered plan. New accounts would be a new plan. Probably changing from a Family plan to a single plan would be a new plan, and vice versa. But... for whatever line you currently have the unlimited plan, I believe they'll let you keep it until you cancel, leave, or switch to a non-unlimited plan (like revert to a feature phone).

Just my thoughts.

-Frank

 

[Linkchomp]

they technically can change your plan but they have to by law warn you in advance and allow you out of your contract.

 

[AZDROIDX]

I doubt they will take your Unlimited away, I currently have 2 upgrades on my plan available. One being my last annual upgrade for my primary line. I've been eyeing the BOGO for the D3. I have multiple times gone online and done the 2 upgrades and when It's time to add features, the $29.99 Unlimited is on there. Yes there is an option to get the new data packages, so you would make a big mistake by changing it. So if the online system is setup to keep you grandfathered in to Unlimited Data using an upgrade, I'm sure a rep should know better than to change it?! 2 D3 phones for $149.99 is tempting.

 

[bplewis24]

My guess is that eventually, there will be a "5G" technology (probably LTE-Advanced) that Verizon will upgrade to 3-5 years from now. They will release new 5G phones and claim they are only compatible with new, 5G plans...which conveniently all have tiered-data caps.

My other guess is that unlimited 4G will be "good enough'" for me for at least 1-2 more contract cycles after that.

Brandon

 

[Linkchomp]

No, they can if they wanted to AZDROID, but I am not talking about reps. I mean Verizon can change that once you upgrade your contracts or enter into a new one, they can take away unlimited data.

If they did so now, they would have to give you notice and let you out your contract.

 

[.MgB.]

It will be the same way they have made people get rid of their "Connect" plans. Those plans used to have unlimited data included in them for a reduced price. Now, if someone goes in to upgrade with a Connect plan and try to get a smartphone the system will not allow them to do so until they change to a Nationwide plan, which is a "new" plan and gets rid of their unlimited data.

Verizon is moving away from having one line be the "main" line and as of the end of the month every line on the account will be $10 and then you pay for the minutes separately. My guess is that when this happens, or some future form of it, they will take away your unlimited plan. Though, few people really need unlimited, very few people I ever helped used more than 1gb a month.

 

[nerdydesi]

.MgB, how would that work since I have an individual, single-line plan? I'm sure when some really nice phone comes out in the future, my unlimited data will somehow be "incompatible" with it and I'll have to get their superior, tiered data plan.

I do remember when the iPhone came out back in February, we had to inform customers that old plans would not work and only the current "NationWide" plans would. Pretty silly since I believe that restriction was only for the iPhone, not other 3G smartphones that should be the same in VZW's system. Oh well, the iPhone is "special", for instance using its proprietary visual voice mail and all that and also super popular with the masses.

I'm glad I only have a one-year contract with them since I was an employee anyways. I'm glad that stuck, losing my 50% plan discount sucks. I hope that Sprint can step up their 4G game, I'd really like to go to them. I don't feel comfortable supporting Verizon, much less being in-contract with them. I have no problem not upgrading through them. They are getting way too greedy these days.

 

[.MgB.]

.MgB, how would that work since I have an individual, single-line plan? I'm sure when some really nice phone comes out in the future, my unlimited data will somehow be "incompatible" with it and I'll have to get their superior, tiered data plan.

I do remember when the iPhone came out back in February, we had to inform customers that old plans would not work and only the current "NationWide" plans would. Pretty silly since I believe that restriction was only for the iPhone, not other 3G smartphones that should be the same in VZW's system. Oh well, the iPhone is "special", for instance using its proprietary visual voice mail and all that and also super popular with the masses.

I'm glad I only have a one-year contract with them since I was an employee anyways. I'm glad that stuck, losing my 50% plan discount sucks. I hope that Sprint can step up their 4G game, I'd really like to go to them. I don't feel comfortable supporting Verizon, much less being in-contract with them. I have no problem not upgrading through them. They are getting way too greedy these days.

Just be happy you kept your unlimited plan, I lost mine because of a "complication" when I returned a phone and got a new one. You should be fine until they decide to change the name of a plan.

I switched to Sprint, I have the Nexus S 4G and honestly... the phone is great... but the service compared to Verizon is horrible. At best, my WiMax coverage has been as quick at Verizon 3G and since I had a Thunderbolt and a Charge it feels sluggish. I am actually probably going to switch back to Verizon before my 30 days are up. Thankfully, Sprint has an awesome return policy compared to VZW lol.

 

[Gorilla]

Just be happy you kept your unlimited plan, I lost mine because of a "complication" when I returned a phone and got a new one. You should be fine until they decide to change the name of a plan.

I switched to Sprint, I have the Nexus S 4G and honestly... the phone is great... but the service compared to Verizon is horrible. At best, my WiMax coverage has been as quick at Verizon 3G and since I had a Thunderbolt and a Charge it feels sluggish. I am actually probably going to switch back to Verizon before my 30 days are up. Thankfully, Sprint has an awesome return policy compared to VZW lol.

MgB give it a full 30 days before you make up your mind..

I find that I make hasty decisions without letting a month run out..

I find Sprint is more than adequete in most markets.

 

[.MgB.]

MgB give it a full 30 days before you make up your mind..

I find that I make hasty decisions without letting a month run out..

I find Sprint is more than adequete in most markets.

Well... I would, except I have a former co-worker still with Verizon who has a line I can take over on their employee account, I can have a smart phone for $5 a month for the line and $25 for the 5gb data plan, $30 a month can't be beat by anyone and in my part of the country Verizon does dominate. It is just a fact that they have spent the most money in the tri-state on the network. I just wish the Nexus S was on it...

 

[MentorPitbulls]

Yeah I had unlimited date but it wasnt on a "smart phone" so i also lost my "unlimited data" and the keep telling me "90% of Americans use way less than 2G"
Yeah sure