There's a storm brewing...

[canesfan44]

Long time lurker, first time poster... Can they make you change your plan if you pay full(non-subsidized) price for the phone? Here's my current choices:

1- Use early upgrade to get phone now renewing 2 year contract

2- Wait and use full (2 year) upgrade in May (my contract ends 9/14/11)

3- Pay full price now, and save my upgrade for when potential future phones come out later this year.

I have set aside tax return money for the phone and am leaning towards paying full price...any thoughts? Or possibly choices I haven't thought of yet?

Thanks.

You'll have to change your plan, because your plan now doesn't include 4g.

 

[eloverton2]

12 days into my cycle I've used 1.6gig last month was 6.2. 7.1gig month before. I think I average around 6.5gig a month and I don't think I'm on the web that much.

i think i could get by with 5gb/month as long as i try to use wifi as much as possible. ideal scenario, "verizon 'apologizes' to everyone who has waited for this phone by leaving plans the same til the summer"

this is not only what was originally announced (a la "tiered pricing coming in june -Verizon CFO) but it would get more customers to jump on the LTE bandwagon) also, this awards loyal customers who have eligible upgrades to get a foot in the door early. in this scenario, they maximize potential gained customers. i would be willing to deal with a few 4g issues until they worked all the kinks out as long as i had a solid contract.

 

[Fhiz]

I don't want to say it, but... am I actually starting to feel good about the 17th?! I think I am

of course, if it goes past that, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to hear me screaming at the top of my lungs within all of new england.

 

[itsdollar]

Long time lurker, first time poster... Can they make you change your plan if you pay full(non-subsidized) price for the phone? Here's my current choices:

1- Use early upgrade to get phone now renewing 2 year contract

2- Wait and use full (2 year) upgrade in May (my contract ends 9/14/11)

3- Pay full price now, and save my upgrade for when potential future phones come out later this year.

I have set aside tax return money for the phone and am leaning towards paying full price...any thoughts? Or possibly choices I haven't thought of yet?

Thanks.

Yes because they are still the provider of services and the data plans/contracts is where the money is made.

 

[azdmelani]

Thanks Bennnn. I've been a Bennnnliever since day 1, and I think we are definitely on track for a Thursday release.

Im curious to see the tiered pricing, that would be the only thing holding me back from getting the phone.

 

[Flip_5]

You'll have to change your plan, because your plan now doesn't include 4g.

True, I suppose that's right, but since I'm not in a 4G area, can't I just continue to use 3G? I realize this is all speculation anyway, but it would be nice. I still may pay full price anyway just to save my upgrade and NE2 for later this year when hopefully a dual-core HTC comes out.

 

[canesfan44]

True, I suppose that's right, but since I'm not in a 4G area, can't I just continue to use 3G? I realize this is all speculation anyway, but it would be nice. I still may pay full price anyway just to save my upgrade and NE2 for later this year when hopefully a dual-core HTC comes out.

Yes, but unfortunately it uses a 4g sim, so you'll have to pay 4g prices.

 

[corn4ahead]

It would be a VERY poor move for VZW to come out with tiered data for the TB. They have pissed a lot of people off with the "delays" already. This would only be even more fuel to the fire.

 

[FrankXS]

Yes, but unfortunately it uses a 4g sim, so you'll have to pay 4g prices.

Actually, you will have to agree to "4g service" but there is no indication that the prices will be any different than 3g prices, yet.

-Frank

 

[htowngator]

I always thought unlimited 4G at no extra cost was a pipe dream especially from a company like VZW who would charge you a fee each time your touched the phone if they could do it.

 

[htowngator]

It would be a VERY poor move for VZW to come out with tiered data for the TB. They have pissed a lot of people off with the "delays" already. This would only be even more fuel to the fire.

I said weeks ago that I felt their delay was partly due to the fact that they hadn't set up their tiered pricing scheme yet. I know they said they were having issues with LTE, but IMO that has always been half of the entire story.

 

[VideoEngineerAJS]

You'd want to go to an AT&T/Best Buy/CostCo/etc and compare to an Inspire. The Droid X will feel noticeably different from the Inspire.

Just catching up from being out most of the day. I went to Best Buy and they had an Inspire dummy and it does look a lot like the Thunderbolt. If the Thunderbolt will be anything like the Inspire, I think I'll like it. It felt really solid.

 

[jahe]

Speculating about plan pricing is turning out to be the most interesting part of this wait. Personally, I think it's unlikely that they'd undercut (or maybe even match?) AT&T's rates of 200MB/$15 2GB/425 4GB/$45 -- especially not for LTE. But I think a lot of us who don't live in LTE areas are going to balk at paying a premium for speeds we can't get. But then again, offering the same phone with two different tiers of pricing for 3G and LTE seems messy, and might tarnish their LTE launch a little... does anyone else have a not-so-good feeling about how this will play out?

 

[psycho_maniac]

i played with an inspire today. it was pretty sweet. cant wait to get the thunderbolt. its same screen size.

 

[biff6789]

It would be a VERY poor move for VZW to come out with tiered data for the TB. They have pissed a lot of people off with the "delays" already. This would only be even more fuel to the fire.

All due respect, if they decide to roll out with tiered data, where else might I ask are you gonna go?

T-Mo data:
$30 for 200 MB
$50 for unlimited w/ 5GB throttle

Sprint:
$30 + $10 "premium data fee" for unlimited w/ unconfirmed throttle @ 5GB

AT&T:
$15 for 200 MB
$25 for 2GB

With T-Mo unveiling their "4G" (yea, I know...) data pricing structure this past week, Verizon now knows exactly what all their competitors will be charging for data... Which is why I assume that Ben and his colleagues in the finance dept went back to the drawing board to calculate new pricing models this past week. It's also the reason I assume we have yet to hear anything about their 4G pricing; they are still determining it

Verizon is not interested in making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, nor do they feel they "owe you" anything for making you wait for this device - it's purely a business decision. As long as they come in slightly lower than their competitors with a tiered pricing model, they win.

Now that may upset you, but that's the wonderful part about capitalism: You as the consumer have the right NOT to buy their products and services. If it pisses you off that much, just don't buy

 

[jp86]

I really don't know what to do about the tiered pricing. I do live where there is LTE coverage widely available (Cincinnati, OH). I have never had a smart phone, so I have no means to compare how much data I would use even if this were just 3G. I have friends who have Sprint 4G that use around 2gb/month and some friends with iPhones on AT&T 3G who use around 1.6gb/month. There is just no way for me to judge how much data I'd use on the new 4G LTE network when we don't know how much faster we'd burn through data. I really hope they opt to give us a little trial period at least with unlimited for a month or two just so we can see our usage trends. I don't see how they could offer these plans unless they've tracked how much their testers are using. Very frustrating.

 

[hitman92499]

I think we'll just have to wait and see what happens. If we continue to speculate pricing we could possibly just end up screwing ourselves. Also, I believe the more we mention prices, the more ammo it gives VZW to jack the rates. I would probably be safe to say everyone here with VZW already pays the $30/month for the unlimited data. Hell, I myself used 7.3 GB of data last month using a BLACKBERRY! I'm sure VZW is analyzing the data used and figuring out the best way to get and keep the almighty dollar flowing into their pocket. If no one jumps on the phone, they'll have a review, and lower prices as needed. That sound about right, Ben5?

 

[VideoEngineerAJS]

All due respect, if they decide to roll out with tiered data, where else might I ask are you gonna go?

T-Mo data:
$30 for 200 MB
$50 for unlimited w/ 5GB throttle

Sprint:
$30 + $10 "premium data fee" for unlimited w/ unconfirmed throttle @ 5GB

AT&T:
$15 for 200 MB
$25 for 2GB

With T-Mo unveiling their "4G" (yea, I know...) data pricing structure this past week, Verizon now knows exactly what all their competitors will be charging for data... Which is why I assume that Ben and his colleagues in the finance dept went back to the drawing board to calculate new pricing models.

Oh man, if Verizon were to do something like this:

$15 for 1G
$20 for 2G
$25 for 3G
$30 for 5G
$50 for Unlimited (w/ 7GB soft cap)

They would make an absolute killing in my opinion. I could see a lot of people switching to Verizon.

 

[deltwalrus]

that's the wonderful part about capitalism: You as the consumer have the right NOT to buy their products and services. If it pisses you off that much, just don't buy

Couldn't have said it better myself. It's just too bad the rent is too damn high everywhere, ya know?

 

[jahe]

T-Mo data:
$30 for 200 MB
$50 for unlimited w/ 5GB throttle

Maybe I'm nitpicking, but doesn't T-Mobile still offer unlimited "4G" for $40. And if I'm not mistaken, the new rates leaked this week were for mobile broadband, not smartphone data.

Edit: oops, it's cheaper -- $30 for unlimited "4G"