I have already gotten everything on my account where I need it for my pre-order later this evening (3am for me). Let me fill you in on what I did. This won't work for everyone, so please don't hold me to this:
Current plan:
2 iPhone 4 devices
Verizon Nationwide Family Share Talk & Text (Account Level Pricing) - $80
Unlimited 3G Data on both - 2 x $29.99
Line access fees: 2 x $9.99
Total: $159.96 pre-tax, pre-discount
My biggest issue with upgrading on my line is that I wanted to keep my unlimited data. Here's my solution:
1. Add extra line using an old flip-phone I had laying around (Samsung Convoy) - $9.99 extra per month on family plan (bringing your own equipment means NO contract!)
2. Preorder iPhone 5 on new line, add 2GB/$30 data plan
3. Activate iPhone 5 on line, then re-activate Convoy
4. Drop data plan from line Convoy is on now
5. Activate iPhone 5 on my personal line.
We were looking to get a home phone anyways, but our cable company was trying to charge us more money than we were looking to spend. Using these steps, I'll have a brand-spankin' new iPhone 5 with unlimited data and an extra line to use as our home phone.
If the line already has the 2GB data plan you won't be forced to upgrade to family shared.I have multiple lines on a family account, nation wide talk and text, not the new shared. One of my phones has an upgrade, it is already on the 2GB data plan, can I upgrade that phone to the iPhone 5 without changing to family share, then switch it to my line with unlimited data? Or can I just choose the "transfer upgrade" option on the verizon website when I order it?
If the line already has the 2GB data plan you won't be forced to upgrade to family shared.
I'm not even sure you need a dumbphone, or need to actually activate the iphone on the dumbphone line and then switch.
To my understanding, and from my past experience, you can use any upgrade available to get the new phone at a subsidized price. Once you actually receive the phone, you can activate it on any line.
I've done this before without any problems with regard to my unlimited data plan, but that was before the new policy regarding unlimited data and the tiered family share plans. However, I don't see how the changes would affect their activation/upgrade policy.
I'll update again once I do it this time around.
So I'm going to be getting two iPhone 5's tonight, one for my wife, one for myself.
She uses nowhere near 2GB of data a month, so for her I'll just do a standard upgrade from VZW (and save $50 using some promotion on our account). My dad has a dumb phone on the account, and no intention to upgrade anytime soon, so I'll order my upgrade on his line. When I get the iPhone 5, just call VZW to activate it on my line.
Now if he does want to upgrade at some point, he'll have to use my upgrade, will I lose my unlimited data at that point?
I would assume as long as you just get another dumb phone, there will be no need to add/modify a data plan.
I'm not even sure you need a dumbphone, or need to actually activate the iphone on the dumbphone line and then switch.
To my understanding, and from my past experience, you can use any upgrade available to get the new phone at a subsidized price. Once you actually receive the phone, you can activate it on any line.
I've done this before without any problems with regard to my unlimited data plan, but that was before the new policy regarding unlimited data and the tiered family share plans. However, I don't see how the changes would affect their activation/upgrade policy.
I'll update again once I do it this time around.
Requirements
-Grandfathered family plan
-Upgrade Available (Transfer and use on dumb phone)
-At least 1 dumb phone line
Basically you use the dummy line to get the subsidized pricing and add on the basic 2GB data plan. Then once you get the iPhone you switch it to your unlimited data line and put the dumb phone back to its line and cancel the data plan since it's no longer needed.
No fee to cancel data plan, old phone won't deactivate until you receive the new iPhone. However when you receive the iPhone you'll just activate it on the unlimited line. Their phones won't stop working.So is there a fee for canceling the data plan? And I assume the dummy phone line won't be deactivated as soon as you place the order? I only ask because I plan on doing this with my parent's phone, and it would suck if their phone stopped working for a week.
* And I'm assuming we're talking about ordering through Apple here.
So is there a fee for canceling the data plan? And I assume the dummy phone line won't be deactivated as soon as you place the order? I only ask because I plan on doing this with my parent's phone, and it would suck if their phone stopped working for a week.
* And I'm assuming we're talking about ordering through Apple here.
Nope. Unfortunately since they're all unlimited already you're out of luck. The lines will all be forced into the $30 2GB.I currently have a family plan with 5 unlimited data smartphones. Two are due for an upgrade. Anyway I can keep my unlimited data without having to pay full retail?
Thank you!
Question for those who know what they are talking about and not just assuming like aohus.
If I swapped a smartphone for a dumbphone on a new line and remove data plan, would the ETF be the smartphone price ($350), or the regular price ($175) ....since I would be on a basic line. I'm assuming it would be smartphone ETF but it doesn't hurt to ask, and maybe save more money than letting the contract ride out.
No fee to cancel data plan, old phone won't deactivate until you receive the new iPhone. However when you receive the iPhone you'll just activate it on the unlimited line. Their phones won't stop working.
No, you'd be ordering through Verizon because you have to move the upgrade to a dumb phone line.
my friend just asked me the same exact question. dont be offended by the way i answer, cause i said the same exact thing to him. how would they just turn off your phone for a week like that? that doesnt even make sense. of course the phone will stay on. nothing happens until you activate the phone on what ever line you want