For Those Buying the iPhone 5 and Grandfathered Unlimited Data

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

Who here is going to bypass upgrading on Verizon to keep their unlimited? With the FCC telling Verizon they can't block tethering apps and 4G LTE on the iPhone 5, I am highly considering buying my phone out-right. I will tether my iPhone 5 to my iPad 2, rMBP, etc. when on the road. With apps like Netflix, Google Music, Pandora, HBO GO, etc. I don't see myself upgrading. I fear that Verizon one day will just take unlimited data away from everybody regardless if they upgrade or not, but that won't happen for at LEAST another year IMO.

For those questioning the FCC ruling/want a source:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/verizon-to-stop-blocking-tethering-apps-settles-with-fcc-for-1/

Added opinion: I am glad FCC ruled that Verizon can't block tethering apps. Seriously the USA is so far behind cell phone technology compared to Europe. They get phones for free, hotspot capability for free, tethering no extra charge, etc. USA carriers really **** us in the ass without asking and skip the lube.

I can't wait for Google or Apple or somebody to open their own network. I don't see that happening anytime soon but I am more excited for the future. When my generation (I am 22 almost 23 years old/"generation TECH") runs congress and the government, all these big cell phone and internet providers will get cracked down on with legislation and we will finally catch up to the rest of the high-tech world.

/soapbox :apple:

Indy21 · Aug 15, 2012

I don't think I fully understand what your asking.

I have unlimited data with AT&T.

When I buy the new iPhone my plan should stay the same. Right?

irDigital0l · Aug 15, 2012

Still gonna stay with my iphone 4

pipa · Aug 15, 2012

Indy21 said:
I don't think I fully understand what your asking.

I have unlimited data with AT&T.

When I buy the new iPhone my plan should stay the same. Right?

I hope so. I've been grandfathered the entire way sp far so if they stop now I'll leave AT&T for sure. Even though there service in NYC is kick ass

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

Indy21 said:
I don't think I fully understand what your asking.

I have unlimited data with AT&T.

When I buy the new iPhone my plan should stay the same. Right?

Hmm, I guess you are right. I guess AT&T hasn't gone the same path Verizon has. I'm sure they will go the same route in due time. I will edit original post to reflect this. Thanks.

irDigital0l · Aug 15, 2012

xFiGGiE said:
Hmm, I guess you are right. I guess AT&T hasn't gone the same path Verizon has. I'm sure they will go the same route in due time. I will edit original post to reflect this. Thanks.

Its the same thing for verizon...

If you buy your iphone without the 2 year contract discount you get to keep unlimited.

If you buy the iphone with the 2 year contract discount you cant keep your unlimited.

Spectrum Abuser · Aug 15, 2012

You don't want Government intervention in the private sector. The FCC is telling Verizon how they can operate their own network. They shouldn't have that authority. It should be up to the board of directors to decide what happens with the company.

Should carriers have the right to block tethering applications? Absolutely. If you don't like how a specific company does business then switch to a competitor that has a similar mindset as you. Competition should move the industry, not the FCC.

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

irDigital0l said:
Its the same thing for verizon...

If you buy your iphone without the 2 year contract discount you get to keep unlimited.

If you buy the iphone with the 2 year contract discount you cant keep your unlimited.

I am a Verizon customer so I haven't looked into the AT&T side of things as much. Quick Google searches and skimming an article suggested you get to keep unlimited even if you upgrade at subsidized. If not, then let it be known to all AT&T users that will read this thread. If you can provide a link with proof that AT&T will take away your grandfathered unlimited data plan if you upgrade at subsidized then please post it and I will re-edit my first post. This is important to make sure all our fellow forum members know their options and rights as customers.

----------

Spectrum Abuser said:
You don't want Government intervention in the private sector. The FCC is telling Verizon how they can operate their network. Unless they own a significant share of Verizon they shouldn't have that authority. That's up the board of directors.

Do I think carriers should have the right to block tethering applications? If they believe it's in their best interest to then more power to them. If you don't like it then switch to a competitor that has a similar mindset as you. Competition should move the industry, not the FCC.

I am not talking about current people running the government, I am talking about future politicians that grew up with this stuff. People such as myself, know that the prices and contracts Verizon and AT&T setup is all smoke and mirrors for a duopoly. Sprint has gained momentum but T-Mobile is a joke and the rest of the small players all pay the big guys to run off their towers.

A lot of countries in the EU make the cell phone company CEO's look like Demigods compared to the USA price structure. We need to catch up. Verizon Wireless turns a $2billion net income. Stop milking us as customers, re-invest in network infrastructure to handle the bandwidth. Data rules the land today, nobody uses voice. Having the internet at our fingertips is here to stay, and when generation tech grows up, they aren't going to bend over freely any longer to pay absurd prices for CAPPED DATA. Spend the money Big Red/Ma-Bell.

Also a point to mention, the FCC is not telling Verizon what they can and can't do. Verizon was in violation of their original C-Block purchasing terms.

See, Verizon's 4G LTE network is built on top of wireless bandwidth that Verizon bought from the government (specifically, the C Block of 700 MHz spectrum) a long time ago. That purchase came with a restriction called the Open Access Rule, which says anyone using it to provide service "shall not deny, limit, or restrict the ability of their customers to use the devices and applications of their choice on the licensee's C Block network." That means as long as you're a paying customer and using their equipment, Verizon can't keep you from spreading the wireless love to your iPad, your laptop, or any other device you own.

bradmullins007 · Aug 15, 2012

xFiGGiE said:
Who here is going to bypass upgrading on Verizon to keep their unlimited? With the FCC telling Verizon they can't block tethering apps and 4G LTE on the iPhone 5, I am highly considering buying my phone out-right. I will tether my iPhone 5 to my iPad 2, rMBP, etc. when on the road. With apps like Netflix, Google Music, Pandora, HBO GO, etc. I don't see myself upgrading. I fear that Verizon one day will just take unlimited data away from everybody regardless if they upgrade or not, but that won't happen for at LEAST another year IMO.

For those questioning the FCC ruling/want a source:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/verizon-to-stop-blocking-tethering-apps-settles-with-fcc-for-1/

Added opinion: I am glad FCC ruled that Verizon can't block tethering apps. Seriously the USA is so far behind cell phone technology compared to Europe. They get phones for free, hotspot capability for free, tethering no extra charge, etc. USA carriers really **** us in the ass without asking and skip the lube.

I can't wait for Google or Apple or somebody to open their own network. I don't see that happening anytime soon but I am more excited for the future. When my generation (I am 22 almost 23 years old/"generation TECH") runs congress and the government, all these big cell phone and internet providers will get cracked down on with legislation and we will finally catch up to the rest of the high-tech world.

/soapbox

The reason Europe is so far ahead of us in relationship to your post is because we don't want progress in America apparently. Everyone is blindly lead around like sheep and they vote for conservative politicians that vote against and oppose any type of regulation. Generally the conservative politicians call it socialism. Europe is
Progressive and proud of it and we're falling behind more and more because we love being part of the stone age here in America.

Spectrum Abuser · Aug 15, 2012

xFiGGiE said:
A lot of countries in the EU make the cell phone company CEO's look like Demigods compared to the USA price structure. We need to catch up. Verizon Wireless turns a $2billion net income. Stop milking us as customers, re-invest in network infrastructure to handle the bandwidth. Data rules the land today, nobody uses voice. Having the internet at our fingertips is here to stay, and when generation tech grows up, they aren't going to bend over freely any longer to pay absurd prices for CAPPED DATA. Spend the money Big Red/Ma-Bell.

See, Verizon's 4G LTE network is built on top of wireless bandwidth that Verizon bought from the government (specifically, the C Block of 700 MHz spectrum) a long time ago. That purchase came with a restriction called the Open Access Rule, which says anyone using it to provide service "shall not deny, limit, or restrict the ability of their customers to use the devices and applications of their choice on the licensee's C Block network."

I'll gladly inform you that AT&T has spent somewhere in the ball park of nearly 100 billion dollars in the past seven years expanding their network to meet the demands of the new era of phone use. No other privately owned company in the United States had spent more money than AT&T in such a short amount of time. It takes a lot of financial resource, man power and above all time to build out these networks. What people do with their phones today was unheard of before the iPhone came to be.

As to the purchase agreement. Fair enough. So long as each party agreed on the terms at the point of purchase that was business as usual.

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

Seriously, socialism? What is Social Security..medicare..medicaid...hell POLICE, FIREMEN, POSTOFFICE...the list goes on. All politicians are crooks that's for sure, but I agree in that Right-Winged politicians are the biggest crooks. It still goes on because the Big Companies lobby the hell out of FCC, CTIA, etc. Lobby or not, the future won't be as easy to line the pockets of generation tech, mark my words.

master-ceo · Aug 15, 2012

I don't like contracts and locked phones. Gimme mine raw. 64GB

bmwtech113 · Aug 15, 2012

Wirelessly posted

I am looking for some clarification, if I have unlimited data with Verizon and I buy the new iPhone outright, will I get tethering for free? From what I have read Verizon can still charge the grandfathered unlimited users for tethering. Or will it be like the new iPad is now?

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

bmwtech113 said:
Wirelessly posted

I am looking for some clarification, if I have unlimited data with Verizon and I buy the new iPhone outright, will I get tethering for free? From what I have read Verizon can still charge the grandfathered unlimited users for tethering. Or will it be like the new iPad is now?

Current customers with grandfathered unlimited data plans still have to pay. Unfortunately, if you want to tether with your unlimited plan, you have to either upgrade your plan to one of the new, Share Everything plans (which include tethering), or pony up $20/mo for Verizon's "Mobile Broadband Connect" service. You can still tether off the books and hope you don't get caught, but if they catch you, Verizon will either sign you up for Mobile Broadband Connect, put you on a Share Everything plan, or terminate your contract. Sorry.

I for one, won't/don't tether enough to get caught. I only tether when traveling (which isn't often). I will take my chances!

leoneedees · Aug 15, 2012

I'll be purchasing mine with a new 2 year plan and losing my unlimited data as I am on wi-fi 95% of the time and barely use over 1gb of cellular data a month (probably use a good 10+ gb of data over wi-fi). So the cap at 2gb doesn't affect me at all.

Thedeathbear · Aug 15, 2012

xFiGGiE said:
Hmm, I guess you are right. I guess AT&T hasn't gone the same path Verizon has. I'm sure they will go the same route in due time. I will edit original post to reflect this. Thanks.

They will wait for after the launch of the next iPhone. They want to keep as many people as they can. since they capped it at 3GB, they have less network problems.

bmwtech113 · Aug 15, 2012

Wirelessly posted

xFiGGiE said:
bmwtech113 said:

Wirelessly posted

I am looking for some clarification, if I have unlimited data with Verizon and I buy the new iPhone outright, will I get tethering for free? From what I have read Verizon can still charge the grandfathered unlimited users for tethering. Or will it be like the new iPad is now?

Click to expand...

Current customers with grandfathered unlimited data plans still have to pay. Unfortunately, if you want to tether with your unlimited plan, you have to either upgrade your plan to one of the new, Share Everything plans (which include tethering), or pony up $20/mo for Verizon's "Mobile Broadband Connect" service. You can still tether off the books and hope you don't get caught, but if they catch you, Verizon will either sign you up for Mobile Broadband Connect, put you on a Share Everything plan, or terminate your contract. Sorry.

I for one, won't/don't tether enough to get caught. I only tether when traveling (which isn't often). I will take my chances!

So the official hotspot button will not be an option for me like the new iPad is? I currently have an unlimited plan in my iPad and get the hotspot free with the unlimited data.

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

bmwtech113 said:
Wirelessly posted

So the official hotspot button will not be an option for me like the new iPad is? I currently have an unlimited plan in my iPad and get the hotspot free with the unlimited data.

I don't know, nobody does. When you have the iPhone 5 in your hands look for it. Until then your guess is as good as mine.

Want300 · Aug 15, 2012

An extra $450 (plus tax) too keep unlimited data is incredibly expensive if you ask me. I don't have Verizon, but there is no way I would pay that to keep unlimited Data.

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

Want300 said:
An extra $450 (plus tax) too keep unlimited data is incredibly expensive if you ask me. I don't have Verizon, but there is no way I would pay that to keep unlimited Data.

Over two years, I think it will be worth it for me. I hate going on long road trips with no Netflix or having to gauge how much HBO GO I watch. Google Music is a great iPod when you haven't synced recently or battery is dead. A few extra hundred dollars is a luxury tax I'm willing to pay for convenience.

Want300 · Aug 15, 2012

xFiGGiE said:
Over two years, I think it will be worth it for me. I hate going on long road trips with no Netflix or have to watch how much HBO GO I watch. Google Music is a great iPod when you haven't synced recently or battery is dead. A few extra hundred dollars is a luxury tax I'm willing to pay for convenience.

I guess that makes sense... but I am not away from WiFi enough for me to justify it if I was in your situation.

justinmancini · Aug 15, 2012

Apple doesn't allow tethering apps into the app store, so just because Verizon's ruling says they can't block their use, doesn't mean Apple can't block their distribution. Of course, this only applies to iPhones, and a jailbreak can get around this.. But then you need to jailbreak your phone, and none of this matters anyway.

xFiGGiE · Aug 15, 2012

justinmancini said:
Apple doesn't allow tethering apps into the app store, so just because Verizon's ruling says they can't block their use, doesn't mean Apple can't block their distribution. Of course, this only applies to iPhones, and a jailbreak can get around this.. But then you need to jailbreak your phone, and none of this matters anyway.

Yep, jailbreak.

tdar · Aug 15, 2012

Spectrum Abuser said:
You don't want Government intervention in the private sector. The FCC is telling Verizon how they can operate their own network. They shouldn't have that authority. It should be up to the board of directors to decide what happens with the company.

Should carriers have the right to block tethering applications? Absolutely. If you don't like how a specific company does business then switch to a competitor that has a similar mindset as you. Competition should move the industry, not the FCC.

What if we have a duopoly and there is no competition?

dontwalkhand · Aug 15, 2012

Spectrum Abuser said:
You don't want Government intervention in the private sector. The FCC is telling Verizon how they can operate their own network. They shouldn't have that authority. It should be up to the board of directors to decide what happens with the company.

Should carriers have the right to block tethering applications? Absolutely. If you don't like how a specific company does business then switch to a competitor that has a similar mindset as you. Competition should move the industry, not the FCC.

This idea would be fine, had we had some real competition around here. Instead we have the Big 4, all with the same agenda, and probably are guilty of price fixing with each other.

If we had an interoperable GSM network like Europe, then your idea is perfect, and I should be able to use ANY phone on ANY network I choose, that includes an iPhone on Metro PCS if I really wanted to.

Soon, T-Mobile & AT&T will get interoperability, with Verizon not too far behind, as they all use SIM cards (Verizon only for 4G phones, 700mhz bands however)....This is going to help out the situation, as all someone would have to do is build a "quad-band" equivilent LTE phone, that you can use on any service.

Sprint however seals in their SIM cards on LTE phones, and even embedding it on "GSM world-phones"...way to totally destroy a GSM (LTE) standard Sprint!

What some people say is, "oh well the market will work itself out".....yeah it will in 20 years or so....tell me, do you want to wait 20 years for the iPhone 5 while every other country is enjoying the freedom of taking their phone to any carrier? When companies have too much control, you have anything but freedom. America is about freedom for the PEOPLE, not for the corporations.

Back on topic, I will be buying my 16GB iPhone (or whatever the lowest capacity iPhone 5 is) outright, as I plan to stream my music with the new iPhone.

For Those Buying the iPhone 5 and Grandfathered Unlimited Data

Will You Skip Subsidized Price to Keep Unlimited Data?

Yes

No

I Have Sprint/Someone else w/ Pseudo-LTE (U.S Standards)

I'm not getting iPhone 5/Results?

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