Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts for new customers (existing customers can still get contracts)

[BlueLions81]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

Oh, I thought the 15/25 discount was new with the new device pricing (vs. contract).

He quoted me 1GB for $45/mo (unl t&t) and then I also found 2GB for $60/mo (unl t&t).

Personally, I can't justify getting a 6GB plan when I only use less than a half gig! But I did like having the 4GB as a future cushion.

So can you keep the 4G plan even after the 13th? My upgrade isn't until October. I have the same plan as you and I'm not interested in changing it.

 

[gardengal4]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

So can you keep the 4G plan even after the 13th? .

Yes, as long as I don't get a new phone (according to vzw.com) . Need to confirm with the store.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

Yes, as long as I don't get a new phone (according to vzw.com) . Need to confirm with the store.

You can get a new phone at any time at full retail.

 

[BlueLions81]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

You can get a new phone at any time at full retail.

But can we keep the same plan?

Sent from my XT1080

 

[gardengal4]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

New Hampshire. I live not too far from there and I contemplated going there to buy my phone but decided not worth $5-10 in gas to possibly save $33. I was concerned at a verizon store maybe they would still charge tax because clearly the phone would be used in the bordering state.

 

[gardengal4]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

So despite that verizonwireless.com did not allow me to buy my phone and keep my plan, I just did so at the local Verizon store. Another case of misinformed software. Humans-1 Software-0.

Theoretically, according to Eric 2 days ago, I could still do so after the 13th. I didn't want to test if he was accurate though. A lot of the info out there does say that the new pricing scheme is for new customers, so maybe there's hope.

While I was there I asked about the new pricing after the 13th. He claimed he didn't know. "They haven't told us yet". I said that was odd because everyone else knows. He said it hasn't been decided yet. I certainly doubt that. What an assinine way to do business. Too bad verizon has the best signal. I want competition!!!

 

[TechNut79]

I just spoke with a friend who works for Verizon and she told me "Line access fees are $20 for smartphones out of contract or doing device payment. If the line is currently in contract the line access for smartphones is still $40 until the contract is fulfilled." I had been previously told that you could switch to one of these new plans while still in a contract. I guess that's incorrect.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[ultravisitor]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

So other than lowering my data gigs, I now have to agree device pricing in monthly is better than contract price.

Maybe for you it is. But not for me. I'm looking to get a 128GB iPhone 6s Plus. Here's what it will look like for me:

contract pricing keeping the same plan I have now
cost up front for the phone (assuming it is priced the same as the 6 Plus): $499.00
$60 loyalty plan (2GB data, unlimited talk and text) X 24 = $1440
two year cost = $1949.99

keeping the same plan but having to pay full retail for the phone
phone: $39.58 X 24 = $949.92
loyalty plan: $60 X 24 = $1440
two year cost = $2389.92

if I were to switch to the medium size data bucket, which is what I would need, and pay full retail for the phone
phone: $39.58 X 24 = $949.92
medium data bucket plan ($45) + access fee ($20): $65 X 24 = $1560
two year cost = $2509.92

My two-year cost will go up a minimum of $439.93--and that doesn't include taxes and additional fees. I don't care if my monthly bill goes down after two years because I won't be keeping a phone for longer than two years.

 

[benjamminh]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

I agree Verizon isn't doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. I can hope this will put pressure on the inflated retail prices of these phones.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

But can we keep the same plan?

Sent from my XT1080

Based on what I read, yes, you can keep your existing plan.

 

[ShaggyKids]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

I just spoke with a friend who works for Verizon and she told me "Line access fees are $20 for smartphones out of contract or doing device payment. If the line is currently in contract the line access for smartphones is still $40 until the contract is fulfilled." I had been previously told that you could switch to one of these new plans while still in a contract. I guess that's incorrect.

Posted via the Android Central App

Bummer, I'm on contract until Feb 2016.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

only until the end of the existing 2-year contract, right?

or are they allowing everybody to keep their existing plans, even after the contracts expire?


come to thin of it, if I have UDP and the contract expires on 1/1/2016, can I buy a new
smartphone at full retail on 1/2/2016 but pay for it over 24 months?(and still keep UDP)

Thanks!

Verizon has said that people can keep their older plans. So this should apply to unlimited data plans too. Of course Verizon said there were restrictions but didn't elaborate, so no one outside of Verizon knows what those restrictions are.

With regards to using the device payment plan, again, the restrictions weren't revealed, but most likely you won't be able to use it on the unlimited data plan. Verizon will probably make you pay full retail

 

[lgossin]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

So I have read through all this and as usual the pricing will undoubtedly cost most if us more. The one point I was hoping someone would mention is now that we will pay full retail for a phone with no subsidy does this mean we can move away from carrier branded (hobbled) phones? No more Verizon bloatware, no limiting on software upgrades until the carrier decides it is okay to do so? Of course that would also probably mean that most handset related issues would go back to the manufacturer? One can only hope that the this will happen. I guess what this also means that my next phone will definitely be dual band (if possible) and then I will shop coverage and price in that order

Samsung S5 on Verizon (with a family data plan for 4 lines) (I am a really nice dad )

 

[dpham00]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

So I have read through all this and as usual the pricing will undoubtedly cost most if us more. The one point I was hoping someone would mention is now that we will pay full retail for a phone with no subsidy does this mean we can move away from carrier branded (hobbled) phones? No more Verizon bloatware, no limiting on software upgrades until the carrier decides it is okay to do so? Of course that would also probably mean that most handset related issues would go back to the manufacturer? One can only hope that the this will happen. I guess what this also means that my next phone will definitely be dual band (if possible) and then I will shop coverage and price in that order

Samsung S5 on Verizon (with a family data plan for 4 lines) (I am a really nice dad )

Verizon currently allows you to use any device capable of being on its network. Though if it isn't a Verizon certified device then you would need to have an active 4GLTE sim. It is of course up to the manufacturers to make phones capable of operating on Verizon's network.


And phones not Verizon certified must go back to the manufacturer for warranty service. In addition, Verizon will provide limited support should you have connectivity issues for non certified devices.

 

[jerrykur]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

Verizon currently allows you to use any device capable of being on its network. Though if it isn't a Verizon certified device then you would need to have an active 4GLTE sim. It is of course up to the manufacturers to make phones capable of operating on Verizon's network.

So what does this mean for ones choice of phones? Does it mean the phone must have CDMA support? If so, how limiting is that? Do phones like the one Plus two, phones from Ascend, etc have support for CDMA? If it limits the buyer to only a few phones then perhaps it is time to look at different carriers.

 

[equake]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

The official press release seems to hint that all subsidies will be eliminated and the 2 year contract is also eliminated on upgrades etc.

Technically any LTE phone/device supporting bands 2,4,5,13 can be used on the VZW network with Band 13 being their current primary and only open network only those devices that support this band are mandatory activateable. Of course, the device needs also to support VoLTE to get voice features. The Nexus 7 for instance supports Band 13 so its able to ride on the network.

Rumor has it that by 2H 2016 all new devices will be LTE only and CDMA radios are being dropped. As a matter of fact most new VZW phones cannot do voice/data simultaneously unless VoLTE is enabled.

my 2 cents

 

[equake]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

What will Verizon do if they do drop CDMA in 2016? Two of my basic lines have dumbphones that are CDMA-only. The contract on those lines end in May 2017. Does that me these two CDMA-only phones simply stop working? AFAIK, there is no such thing as a LTE-only basic dumbphone yet.

Mind you they will not turn off CDMA until 2020 so your phone will still work, New phones will no longer use CDMA.

 

[anon(818769)]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

I like how there's an entire thread for this confusion....Anyways, I have unlimited and my family has 1 or 2 GB on each of their lines. I'm fine with buying phones on Swappa or elsewhere (I've done it for a few years to keep my data), but I'm not looking forward to trying to explain this change of plans to my parents (again). They hardly understand their phones, let alone their plans when Verizon changes things every couple of years.

 

[eshropshire]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

I personally would love this change if Version was a GSM network provider. The pricing would be great if you could easily just add one of the many mid-tier phones. I have 3 kids on my plan on none of them need flagship level phones. The new Motorola X phones look great, but will be a pain on Verizon. Sure it can be done, but not sure I want to bother. I may finally just go back to AT&T. Sprint and T-Mobile are not option.

 

[oscarnyc]

Re: Verizon to revamp its data plans starting August 13, ditches phone contracts

Why do you think it will be difficult to use the Moto Style on Verizon? They've already said it will be compatible, and moto and verizon have had a strong relationship for years.

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