Tiered Data and MHS/MBBC

[rcpa]

I regularly use over 3gigs a month. I don't tether, but I have a one hour commute to and from work. That usage is mostly Pandora and some Podcasts.

I listen to podcasts 10 hours a day (mostly talk radio), but my data usage is typically under 1 gig a month. I have BeyondPod download all my podcasts at 2:00 AM on my WiFi. I once tried streaming the podcasts using Stitcher on my Droid, but rejected that after a couple of days because it really burned through my battery. If I downloaded all my podcasts on 3G, I would easily be using 3-5 gigabytes a month, but with doing it at night on WiFi, my 3G usage is low.

Instead of Pandora, you could try Slacker. I've read that their premium service allows station caching, which you could do on your WiFi for playback when you are on the road.

 

[FrankXS]

I could be wrong, but I think you might be in the minority on this one.

I absolutely agree.

I must say however, that my view is one of a person who has been using the VZW purchased Tethering plan for years. This new plan is fine, from that perspective. From the perspective of circumventing the VZW TOS by obtaining it for free, I admit, free is better than pay. But ignoring the TOS may have consequences. We all operate knowing that every day of our lives - and we make decisions according to our own values, regardless of what is legally or deemed morally "right" by our society.

-Frank

 

[malderi]

So, I've currently got a Droid 1, eligible for upgrade. Will I be able to sign a new two year contract on a 4G phone and keep unlimited data? Or does the "grandfathering" only work without signing a new contact?

 

[dpham00]

So, grandfather is for the life of the device or would grandfather include future devices purchased at subsidized pricing? If it is only for the life of the device, would buying a phone at full retail allow you to retain unlimited data?

 

[WhoMe]

I listen to podcasts 10 hours a day (mostly talk radio), but my data usage is typically under 1 gig a month. I have BeyondPod download all my podcasts at 2:00 AM on my WiFi. I once tried streaming the podcasts using Stitcher on my Droid, but rejected that after a couple of days because it really burned through my battery. If I downloaded all my podcasts on 3G, I would easily be using 3-5 gigabytes a month, but with doing it at night on WiFi, my 3G usage is low.

Instead of Pandora, you could try Slacker. I've read that their premium service allows station caching, which you could do on your WiFi for playback when you are on the road.

I stream everything, on the commute and throughout the day. So Id wager while my wireless consumption is much greater than yours, my usage is about the same.

I had never even thought of downloading them at home over night. Thats a great idea, thank you for the suggestion, when the time comes these are definitely strategies that will get me through and may save me from having to ditch my Smartphone.

 

[FrankXS]

So, I've currently got a Droid 1, eligible for upgrade. Will I be able to sign a new two year contract on a 4G phone and keep unlimited data? Or does the "grandfathering" only work without signing a new contact?

Yes. Before July 7th, 2011.

-Frank

 

[FrankXS]

So, grandfather is for the life of the device or would grandfather include future devices purchased at subsidized pricing? If it is only for the life of the device, would buying a phone at full retail allow you to retain unlimited data?

Life of Device. Future device at subsidized pricing would require signing up for the new data plans. Full retail will allow you keep any previous unlimited data plan that you had.

-Frank

 

[Ricky Babalu]

So, grandfather is for the life of the device or would grandfather include future devices purchased at subsidized pricing? NO If it is only for the life of the device, would buying a phone at full retail allow you to retain unlimited data?Yes

...

 

[nj1266]

1) Nothing
2) Yes
3) Nothing

-Frank

Why do you say nothing will happen when the contract ends? My understanding is that when the contract ends, you sign a new one. Since the new one does not have unlimited data in it, then you move to the tiered plan. I just signed a new contract and since VZW did not sell my previous plan, I had to move to a new plan.

You can also find it in VZW statement here:

Verizon to end unlimited data option - Jun. 21, 2011

Customers currently under contract won't be affected by the changes, but new and renewing customers will likely have to accept the new, tiered plans.

 

[acmorris]

We can all argue the rates until we die of old age, but I have to say that I do like the method.

Basically there is a plan for different amounts of data to fit virtually everyone's needs, and there is no data rate increase for tethering other than an overall $20/mo for the capability. I personally, at the expense of being thought of as a VZW fanboy, think the methodology is ingenious. Something for everybody with no "gouging" overage charges. My kind of plans.

If you didn't notice, the overage charges are very tolerable. If you go over a month it only costs you maybe an extra $10 over the price of the "next-up" plan to "learn your lesson" and to make adjustments in your plan if you see fit. This will totally prevent all those "Billion Dollar Bills" due to ignorance - or mistakes. Good move VZW!

It also strikes me that these new data plans are very much like the basic Nationwide Talk and Nationwide Talk/Text plans in methodology. They almost equate the DataPlan/TetheringPlan compared to Talk/TalkText Plan. Interesting. Similar concept on both voice plans and data plans. Much easier to understand, buy and monitor.

-Frank

Here is my problem with this solution other their overrated pricing scale. So a person buys the 4G Mobile Hotspot device and uses the same pricing scale as Verizon is trying to push off on smartphones now. Guess what, they are not trying to tack on a additional $20.00 to use the mobile hotspot device to tether to other devices.

So where I smell bull and call it greed along the way. Especially trying to charge an $5.00 upcharge higher than At&t for the same 2 Gig plan.

Yes Frank I will agree with you on thing that the extra $10 a Gig may be the only positive thing Verizon has done right with the new pricing scale.

 

[FrankXS]

Why do you say nothing will happen when the contract ends? My understanding is that when the contract ends, you sign a new one

That is not true.

-Frank

 

[Ricky Babalu]

Why do you say nothing will happen when the contract ends? My understanding is that when the contract ends, you sign a new one. Since the new one does not have unlimited data in it, then you move to the tiered plan. I just signed a new contract and since VZW did not sell my previous plan, I had to move to a new plan.

You can also find it in VZW statement here:

Verizon to end unlimited data option - Jun. 21, 2011

Customers currently under contract won't be affected by the changes, but new and renewing customers will likely have to accept the new, tiered plans.

You can stay on unlimited plan as long as you purchase the phone at full retail. If you take advantage of the subsidized phone offers then you have to sign a new 2 yr. contract which then would put you on the new pricing structure.

 

[FrankXS]

:-*
Here is my problem with this solution other their overrated pricing scale. So a person buys the 4G Mobile Hotspot device and uses the same pricing scale as Verizon is trying to push off on smartphones now. Guess what, they are not trying to tack on a additional $20.00 to use the mobile hotspot device to tether to other devices.

So where I smell bull and call it greed along the way. Especially trying to charge an $5.00 upcharge higher than At&t for the same 2 Gig plan.

Yes Frank I will agree with you on thing that the extra $10 a Gig may be the only positive thing Verizon has done right with the new pricing scale.

They may not be tacking on $20, but they are requiring a completely separate additional 2yr contract for the physical Mobile Hotspot.

-Frank

 

[PJnc284]

looks like new customers and add a lines will be the only ones affected assuming you're already on a smartphone. Wonder if they'll do like AT&T and force customers to convert if they want to use tethering or the hotspot.

Current Verizon Customers Won’t Ever Be Affected by Tiered Data, Only New Customers and Lines? - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

 

[FrankXS]

Wonder if they'll do like AT&T and force customers to convert if they want to use tethering or the hotspot.

That what it says here in this thread. I will do it on the first day 'cuz I need Tethering. Period.

Ironically, even with all the discontent in this thread, my total data cost will still be $10/mo less than I had for so many years using DUN (Dial Up Networking - VZWAccess Manager).

-Frank

 

[DroidXNJ]

So we'll be grandfathered in to the unlimited data plan if you currently have it. My question is, since MHS is not considered a "add-on" feature anymore. Does that mean that if I want to have it I have to switch to a new tiered data plan?

 

[nj1266]

You can stay on unlimited plan as long as you purchase the phone at full retail. If you take advantage of the subsidized phone offers then you have to sign a new 2 yr. contract which then would put you on the new pricing structure.

And how many of us phone geeks are going to do that? How many of us are going to pay full retail for a phone? How many of us are going to keep the same phone longer than the 2-year contract?

The VERY few are going to do that. To all intents and purposes, if you are going to re-up on your contract, you are going to get a new phone. Do you really see yourself keeping the T-Bolt for more than two years, especially with some of the problems that we read about in this forum?

My last phone was a multi-media phone. It was a Samsung Rogue. I had it for two years, the length of the contract. VZW did not have smartphones when I got it. Now it is all about the smarphone. Would you have kept the Samsung Rogue and re-signed a two year contract? Same thing applies to your T-bolt. In two years' time the T-bolt will be a relic, Would you keep it and sign a two year contract? Would you go and buy a new phone at full retail simply to keep your old plan?

 

[nj1266]

That is not true.

-Frank

Ok, based on what sources? If you are going to sign a new contract and with it you usually get a new subsidized phone, then you are going to the tiered plan. But we will see when the plan is unvieled on 7/7.

 

[roxy surf]

Well I'm relieved, go figure my 2nd lines early upgrade was july 8th, but I just called and they let me upgrade today, so from here on out I guess I'm paying full price for phones, well worth it if I can keep unlimited data

 

[nj1266]

Well I'm relieved, go figure my 2nd lines early upgrade was july 8th, but I just called and they let me upgrade today, so from here on out I guess I'm paying full price for phones, well worth it if I can keep unlimited data

It depends on your data consumption. If you consume less than 2gigs per month, then it is NOT worth it. I am going to monitor my data consumption for the lenght on my current unlimited data contract and see if I average more than 2 gigs per month. If I do not, (so far I am well below that) then I am going to get a new contract and a subsidized phone in two years time.