Don't shoot the messenger. They said they reached out to Verizon, whether they did or not or if there are any other inaccuracies, who really ever knows?
No offense to you I do appreciate you.
My point was to the crapped journalism. Any phone ordered before the change takes place will be able to keep unlimited data.
I bought several basic phones back in early 2010 and when I bought it, it said no data plan required. I knew that those phones where going to require data plans if purchased after a certain date so I made sure to purchase before then. When I tried to activate said phones, they then said with absolute certainty that the phones must have a data plan. I took screenshots of all screens in the order process. After arguing back and forth for a while on Verizon's clear bait and switch, I asked to speak to the supervisor. A few minutes later, without talking to a supervisor, what was "impossible" was all of a sudden possible, and I got the phones with no data plan.
Then in 2011,I got a Thunderbolt on a one year contract, again purchased in mid April right before the end of the 1 year contract. Somehow,Verizon again messed up and stuck me on a 2 year contract. They basically said that it was impossible to put me on a one year contract, even though I had screen shots showing as, such. Typical verizon bait and switch, I guess. After some banter for over an hour, again, the "impossible " was now possible and I got my thunderbolt on a 1 year contract.
Oh and don't forget to ask for compensation for their screw up. Verizon gave me $25 for their message up which mostly covered the $30 additional cost of the one year over two years contract.
Bottom of the line, just do your due diligence, and so long as it doesn't require a tiered data plan at time of ordering, then you will be fine. For verizon to do otherwise would be a bait and switch, which, with enough clamoring, then verizon would back down.