Verizon Clarifies Discontinuation of Grandfathered Unlimited Data: Applies to New Subsidized Devices

KylePowers · May 17, 2012

This sucks.

But, then again, unlimited data is a rarity. Even ISPs don't really provide unlimited data, they just cap at ~250GB.

Now if Verizon/AT&T capped at 250GB, I'd be fine with that

I'm still holding onto my unlimited data plan through AT&T with my dear life. Been through the 3GS, 4, and 4s... hoping to make it 3 more generations! haha

Macist · May 17, 2012

These articles seem strange from a European perspective. Here, there are many options for unlimited data.

mac.cali · May 17, 2012

Fainer said:
So all of this makes me really want to consider Sprint. Do they suck as bad as so many people seem to say they do?

It's all based upon your location. In fact sprint and AT&T are better at my house. Verizon I need a network extender just to get some kind of steady signal.

peapody · May 17, 2012

Man..

I knew i was going to have to move to a tiered 4g plan...I guess this is more reason to hold on to my iphone 4s for as long as I can.

That sucks for future iphone 5/6/7 users who will have to pay full price for a 4g grandfathered plan to continue.

doctorossi · May 17, 2012

I don't understand the contention that buying at the unsubsidized rate is a workable solution here. If you buy the phone unsubsidized, you still have to pay the same plan rates that pay the carrier back (and then some) for the subsidy, so... a ~$500 premium just to keep your unlimited plan? How does that constitute the best deal for even the top data users?

Is there something wrong with my math?

mac.cali · May 17, 2012

peapody said:
Man..

I knew i was going to have to move to a tiered 4g plan...I guess this is more reason to hold on to my iphone 4s for as long as I can.

That sucks for future iphone 5/6/7 users who will have to pay full price for a 4g grandfathered plan to continue.

Depends on what resale value would be on iPhones. I sold a black 64gb AT&T 4S for $750. Remember buying full retail lets you unlock them. Havin unlocked is a great sellin point. I haven't sold an unlocked Verizon so I don't know if they value will be that high or not.

LSUtigers03 · May 17, 2012

reden said:
Nice clarification. "Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan." Making it sound like it's a gift from them to you.

This is the first thing I thought when I read it.

unlimitedx · May 17, 2012

doctorossi said:
I don't understand the contention that buying at the unsubsidized rate is a workable solution here. If you buy the phone unsubsidized, you still have to pay the same plan rates that pay the carrier back (and then some) for the subsidy, so... a ~$500 premium just to keep your unlimited plan? How does that constitute the best deal for even the top data users?

Is there something wrong with my math?

nothing wrong with your math at all. the carriers would be MORE than happy to have everyone bring their own phone (paying full price).

Tortri · May 17, 2012

This sucks for a lot of customers but honestly i have no problem buying a phone out right, call verizon and switching phones and judging by what they said I can do this when the new iphone 4g(presumably) comes out and keep my unlimited plan when i switch to 4g.

So basically your a sucker if you go for their subsidized phones and signing up for a 2 year contract.

start saving your pennies..

barkomatic · May 17, 2012

KylePowers said:
This sucks.

But, then again, unlimited data is a rarity. Even ISPs don't really provide unlimited data, they just cap at ~250GB.

Now if Verizon/AT&T capped at 250GB, I'd be fine with that

I'm still holding onto my unlimited data plan through AT&T with my dear life. Been through the 3GS, 4, and 4s... hoping to make it 3 more generations! haha

My ISP doesn't cap data -- Verizon FIOS, nor does Time Warner I believe. I know that Comcast does, but I thought that trend was dead. Ugh, there is no end to the gouging.

I feel like between my ISP, cell phone data charges, subscription to services like Netflix and the New York Times online, that I'm double and triple charged for things that used to be cheap or free. Time for me to go back to reading books and watching over the air broadcasts.

DJsteveSD · May 17, 2012

Macist said:
These articles seem strange from a European perspective. Here, there are many options for unlimited data.

just like the gas prices in California, they like to stick it to the consumer anyway they can!

Konrad9 · May 17, 2012

reden said:
Nice clarification. "Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan." Making it sound like it's a gift from them to you.

In some ways, it is. And I wish they would do this particular thing across the board.

Subsidized phones should have higher monthly bills, un-sub'ed phones should have lower monthly bills.

NOTE THAT I DO NOT APPROVE OF REMOVING THE UNLIMITED DATA PLANS.

doctorossi · May 17, 2012

Tortri said:
So basically your a sucker if you go for their subsidized phones and signing up for a 2 year contract.

You're a sucker if you pay for an unsubsidized phone- you pay the same rate for your plan whether your phone was subsidized or not.

iJon · May 17, 2012

doctorossi said:
I don't understand the contention that buying at the unsubsidized rate is a workable solution here. If you buy the phone unsubsidized, you still have to pay the same plan rates that pay the carrier back (and then some) for the subsidy, so... a ~$500 premium just to keep your unlimited plan? How does that constitute the best deal for even the top data users?

Is there something wrong with my math?

I'm with ya on that one. I have an grandfathered plan with ATT and barely put a dent in it each month, usually less than 1GB. I simply have WiFi for 90% of the day.

I have no interest in paying full retail for a phone when I plan on staying with that cell provider for the next two years, so I will abide by their rules to save a few bucks.

frunkis54 · May 17, 2012

so when the new iphone comes we have 2 choices

1. pay $200 and lose our unlimited data
2. pay $700 keep unlimited data

this sucks....good thing im on wifi 80% of the time.

tigres · May 17, 2012

Seriously thinking this...

My sis is in London now. So how can I sign up for a 3 plan or Vodaphone plan, and use it in the US. Is this doable? She can foot the bill at her addy, and I can be rid of AT&T (as they will undeniably be following suit here).

ugahairydawgs · May 17, 2012

mac.cali said:
I guess I'm on the full retail price plan. I won't be locked into a contract and you better not throttle me either!

Good luck with that.

mac.cali · May 17, 2012

Tortri said:
This sucks for a lot of customers but honestly i have no problem buying a phone out right, call verizon and switching phones and judging by what they said I can do this when the new iphone 4g(presumably) comes out and keep my unlimited plan when i switch to 4g.

So basically your a sucker if you go for their subsidized phones and signing up for a 2 year contract.

start saving your pennies..

Me either. It's my experience that being not on a contract they tend to give you more discounts to remain with them. I remember I used to get free text messaging for a year just I stick around. No contract need to sign. However if your in a contract they know your not going anywhere. If you do move, they can expect your eft. I prefer no contract method and pay higher for the phone.

unlimitedx · May 17, 2012

Tortri said:
This sucks for a lot of customers but honestly i have no problem buying a phone out right, call verizon and switching phones and judging by what they said I can do this when the new iphone 4g(presumably) comes out and keep my unlimited plan when i switch to 4g.

So basically your a sucker if you go for their subsidized phones and signing up for a 2 year contract.

start saving your pennies..

but why would you go buy a phone yourself when verizon will charge you the same price regardless of whether you sign a 2 year contract or not? they won't lower the rate if you bring your own phone.

mac.cali · May 17, 2012

ugahairydawgs said:
Good luck with that.

I know huh. But I know part of the 700mhz sale they can't throttle the users. That's why Verizon wants people on tiered billing. To make more off of them.

zyr123 · May 17, 2012

die verizon

unlimitedx · May 17, 2012

frunkis54 said:
so when the new iphone comes we have 2 choices

1. pay $200 and lose our unlimited data
2. pay $700 keep unlimited data

this sucks....good thing im on wifi 80% of the time.

staying on wifi also benefits the carriers.. you will still continue to pay $30/month for data regardless of whether you use it or not. verizon still earns $30 from you

Vizin · May 17, 2012

unlimitedx · May 17, 2012

Vizin said:
A full retail iPhone is $450 more than a subsidized one. Verizon now charges a $30 "upgrade fee" for subsidized phones, so let's call the difference $420. (ignoring taxes since they vary)

420/24=17.5, so keeping your unlimited data plan will cost you an extra $17.50 a month over 24 months, assuming you choose buy a subsidized phone as soon as you're eligible. Effectively you'd be paying $47.50 a month for data. For $50 a month, you could get 10 gigs of data. Unless you use an enormous amount of data, there's no way that's worth it.

I signed up for Verizon shortly after they announced they'd be getting rid of unlimited data, so I asked if I'd be able to keep it when I bought a new phone. They told me I'd be grandfathered in as long as my Verizon account was active. They either lied to my face or decided to break their word. Corporations can't be trusted at all.

You should also subtract out the value of the iPhone ($300-$500) when you resale it X months later to get the true cost out of pocket for unlimited data per month.

chris2k5 · May 17, 2012

So what happens to those who get the unlimited data discounts? I signed up for a plan where all 5 lines would get unlimited data for $10 a month.

Will I lose this plan?!!?

Verizon Clarifies Discontinuation of Grandfathered Unlimited Data: Applies to New Subsidized Devices

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