I think it's safe to say that Verizon's INTENT was to force a line off of unlimited data every time a subsidy was given and a contract extended.
I don't think anyone will dispute the INTENT. However, intent and real life experience can sometimes be different. I've also been told repeatedly by VZW customer service that using any upgrade directly or indirectly, as in an alternate upgrade will remove unlimited data. However, I've also seen enough instances where people have used the VZW website to transfer an upgrade to another line and keep unlimited data on the original line.
It still doesn't seem logical from Verizon's perspective that if I use my upgrade directly, I lose Unlimited data, but if I transfer my upgrade to another line, perhaps even one that never had unlimited data, that not only can I get the device at a subsidy but also extend the contract, and by default, the Unlimited data, on the line that, had i used the upgrade directly, would be forced to choose a new data plan.
So basically, you could have a Nationwide family share plan with 5 lines, since that is the maximum, with 4 that have unlimited data and 1 that is either a basic phone or a smartphone with tiered data. If each line that has unlimited data transfers their upgrade to the 5th line first, they can get the subsidized device, extend their contract and keep unlimited data....and of course, when the 5th line is eligible for it's own upgrade, they won't need to transfer it, but can use it directly, activate it temporarily on Line 5, and then transfer the device to any of the 4 remaining unlimited data lines.
Verizon probably never intended such a scenario, but it's still happening and will probably continue until they alter the website and close the loophole.
Regardless, I don't really have a stake in this either way, since I only have 2 lines on my account and need to keep unlimited data on both of them.
I don't even have the option of adding a 3rd line, since my 2 existing lines are on single plans. However, I am saving more money with my current account configuration than I ever wood if I had a family share plan anyway....that may also be counter intuitive but it's my real life situation.
However, it may be in my interest too that the loophole stay open, simply because if there are still people under contract that have unlimited data, there may be less reason for VZW to screw with someone who is out of contract.. If people are still doing this "loophole" in the next 5-10 years, go for it. My hope is that the pool of unlimited data users will eventually be small enough that Verizon will simply let it be. As of now, they seem to have the network capacity and bandwith to support their current user base.
Their argument for doing away with unlimited data plans was to better maintain the integrity of their data network as more and more users migrate to smartphones....Of course, it probably doesn't hurt that tiered plans also generate more potential revenue. If the pool of unlimited data users is 50% of what it is now in 3-5 years....and I would tend to believe it will be lower, they may just let it be.
I don't think anyone will dispute the INTENT. However, intent and real life experience can sometimes be different. I've also been told repeatedly by VZW customer service that using any upgrade directly or indirectly, as in an alternate upgrade will remove unlimited data. However, I've also seen enough instances where people have used the VZW website to transfer an upgrade to another line and keep unlimited data on the original line.
It still doesn't seem logical from Verizon's perspective that if I use my upgrade directly, I lose Unlimited data, but if I transfer my upgrade to another line, perhaps even one that never had unlimited data, that not only can I get the device at a subsidy but also extend the contract, and by default, the Unlimited data, on the line that, had i used the upgrade directly, would be forced to choose a new data plan.
So basically, you could have a Nationwide family share plan with 5 lines, since that is the maximum, with 4 that have unlimited data and 1 that is either a basic phone or a smartphone with tiered data. If each line that has unlimited data transfers their upgrade to the 5th line first, they can get the subsidized device, extend their contract and keep unlimited data....and of course, when the 5th line is eligible for it's own upgrade, they won't need to transfer it, but can use it directly, activate it temporarily on Line 5, and then transfer the device to any of the 4 remaining unlimited data lines.
Verizon probably never intended such a scenario, but it's still happening and will probably continue until they alter the website and close the loophole.
Regardless, I don't really have a stake in this either way, since I only have 2 lines on my account and need to keep unlimited data on both of them.
I don't even have the option of adding a 3rd line, since my 2 existing lines are on single plans. However, I am saving more money with my current account configuration than I ever wood if I had a family share plan anyway....that may also be counter intuitive but it's my real life situation.
However, it may be in my interest too that the loophole stay open, simply because if there are still people under contract that have unlimited data, there may be less reason for VZW to screw with someone who is out of contract.. If people are still doing this "loophole" in the next 5-10 years, go for it. My hope is that the pool of unlimited data users will eventually be small enough that Verizon will simply let it be. As of now, they seem to have the network capacity and bandwith to support their current user base.
Their argument for doing away with unlimited data plans was to better maintain the integrity of their data network as more and more users migrate to smartphones....Of course, it probably doesn't hurt that tiered plans also generate more potential revenue. If the pool of unlimited data users is 50% of what it is now in 3-5 years....and I would tend to believe it will be lower, they may just let it be.
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