iPhone 5 Verizon unlimited plan - keep your plan and get the new iPhone 5 for $199

[Ars0n]

Good evening fellow apple heads. I've been lurking the boards for quite some time, particularly recently since I've been researching different loopholes to somehow upgrade to the iPhone 5 at the subsidized price and still keep my unlimited plan which is grandfathered in with Verizon. Well I figured it out so I figure what better time than now to submit my first forum post. Here's my situation and what I did:

Currently have an iPhone 4S with the Verizon unlimited data nationwide talk/text and I do not have an upgrade until September 2013. I don't use an insane amount of data but I still would like to hold onto my unlimited status and not give in to this share everything plan. I seriously contemplated buying the iPhone retail and eventually going month to month w no contract but I decided that I'd rather not come out of pocket if I don't have to and I'm not interested in any other network than Verizon.

I simply added a line and ordered the iPhone 5 for 199 and when the phone comes I will swap the phone onto my current line (unlimited data) And then I will activate an old dummy flip phone for an additional 9.99 per month. Now, ill have two different upgrades coming (one every year) and - if 4G LTE is really as fast as I expect then I may end up getting a jet pack (add. 20/mo) instead of the dummy phone and essentially have the 4g service take the place of my home Internet -- which would really take advantage of the unlimited plan. I guess that would be Verizon's worst nightmare haha.

Additionally, i will sell my like-new 4S for close to 300$ and end up making $100 on this deal. Anyway, I hope this helps at least one other person.

[From A Buick 8]

There is a long thread about using that loophole.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1439872

I assume you had a family plan and that is how your were able to add a line. I had the indavivual plan so i am not able too add a line, had to pay full price.

[Ars0n]

Originally Posted by From A Buick 8

There is a long thread about using that loophole.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1439872

I assume you had a family plan and that is how your were able to add a line. I had the indavivual plan so i am not able too add a line, had to pay full price.

I noticed that long thread but the reason why I started this one is because I did not / do not have a family plan. It's an individual plan and I just added a line. I do have the corporate data plan though - maybe that was why?

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by Ars0n

I noticed that long thread but the reason why I started this one is because I did not / do not have a family plan. It's an individual plan and I just added a line. I do have the corporate data plan though - maybe that was why?

Maybe that is the difference, I was not able to add a line with just the standard individual line. It is weird my price per month changed slightly (cheaper) after I activated my new 5

[Phoneinfo]

I don't know why everyone is talking about keeping your unlimited data. You actually end up saving at least $20 a month by switching and getting 2gb. I got 4gb b/c I stream online quite a bit and I'm online all day and I've found that both my wife and I together don't add up to 1.5GB. Even if you switched and got 6GB...you still are probably saving $5 a month. People like saying they have unlimited...but look at how much you really use. You might be surprised, switch to the tiered plan and save yourself some $$.

[Ars0n]

Originally Posted by Phoneinfo

I don't know why everyone is talking about keeping your unlimited data. You actually end up saving at least $20 a month by switching and getting 2gb. I got 4gb b/c I stream online quite a bit and I'm online all day and I've found that both my wife and I together don't add up to 1.5GB. Even if you switched and got 6GB...you still are probably saving $5 a month. People like saying they have unlimited...but look at how much you really use. You might be surprised, switch to the tiered plan and save yourself some $$.

When I did the math for the tiered plan I was not saving any money-- the $40 charge for smart phone and then $50 for 1gb alone is coming within 10 bucks of my current unlimited plan.

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by Phoneinfo

I don't know why everyone is talking about keeping your unlimited data. You actually end up saving at least $20 a month by switching and getting 2gb. I got 4gb b/c I stream online quite a bit and I'm online all day and I've found that both my wife and I together don't add up to 1.5GB. Even if you switched and got 6GB...you still are probably saving $5 a month. People like saying they have unlimited...but look at how much you really use. You might be surprised, switch to the tiered plan and save yourself some $$.

So you pay less than $69 a month

[Phoneinfo]

No I don't pay less than $69 a month. I have the family plan. And I pay less now than when I had unlimited. And I have 4gb. You would rather ADD a line, pay $10 extra a month for that line to keep your unlimited? $10 is an extra 2gb of data. Unless you use 8gb a month...it's crazy to add lines and jump though all these hoops to say you have unlimited.

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by Phoneinfo

No I don't pay less than $69 a month. I have the family plan. And I pay less now than when I had unlimited. And I have 4gb. You would rather ADD a line, pay $10 extra a month for that line to keep your unlimited? $10 is an extra 2gb of data. Unless you use 8gb a month...it's crazy to add lines and jump though all these hoops to say you have unlimited.

I did not add a line, but even if I did add a line and pay $10 extra a month I would still be paying less than the new shared plan with 2gb of data.

The new shared plans are only "cheaper" if you have more then 1 line. For a single line they are in no way cheaper.

[Ars0n]

Originally Posted by Phoneinfo

No I don't pay less than $69 a month. I have the family plan. And I pay less now than when I had unlimited. And I have 4gb. You would rather ADD a line, pay $10 extra a month for that line to keep your unlimited? $10 is an extra 2gb of data. Unless you use 8gb a month...it's crazy to add lines and jump though all these hoops to say you have unlimited.

That's not what I did though. I added the line to get the iPhone for 200 instead of 650 and I kept unlimited because I can always switch to tiered share plan but never will be able to go back to unlimited ever. So now I have an upgrade coming up every year instead of 2 and if I want to switch to a jet pack I can basically cancel my home Internet and use unlimited 4G as the slave provider. On top of that I made $100 selling my 4S. All in all I think that's worth 10 bucks a month

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Originally Posted by From A Buick 8

I did not add a line, but even if I did add a line and pay $10 extra a month I would still be paying less than the new shared plan with 2gb of data.

The new shared plans are only "cheaper" if you have more then 1 line. For a single line they are in no way cheaper.

Exactly. Was $50 or so more expensive for me to go to shared data and actually even if I combined with my wife, the bill was cheaper by 20 bucks. Not worth it to me

[Phoneinfo]

Ahh I see. I get that. I always see the blog postings about how they are trying to keep their unlimited data when you end up paying more in the long run by adding lines. However, I see what you did. You wanted to get the phone early for $199.

[Ars0n]

Originally Posted by Phoneinfo

Ahh I see. I get that. I always see the blog postings about how they are trying to keep their unlimited data when you end up paying more in the long run by adding lines. However, I see what you did. You wanted to get the phone early for $199.

Exactly. Too Impatient to wait until sept of next year also I use the iphone hotspot for my wifi only iPad so I really want the 4G as the 3G is too slow

[einmusiker]

Originally Posted by Phoneinfo

I don't know why everyone is talking about keeping your unlimited data. You actually end up saving at least $20 a month by switching and getting 2gb. I got 4gb b/c I stream online quite a bit and I'm online all day and I've found that both my wife and I together don't add up to 1.5GB. Even if you switched and got 6GB...you still are probably saving $5 a month. People like saying they have unlimited...but look at how much you really use. You might be surprised, switch to the tiered plan and save yourself some $$.

well thanks verizon rep but I use WAY more than 2gb per month and anybody that actually want's to use their device the way it is meant to be used also does

[SLC Flyfishing]

Originally Posted by einmusiker

well thanks verizon rep but I use WAY more than 2gb per month and anybody that actually want's to use their device the way it is meant to be used also does

I use my 5 whenever I want, wherever I want. I am on a shared plan with 7 iPhones (including mine) and we usually only use about 2 GB of data per month between the lot of us.

How exactly is the iPhone designed to be used? What might I be doing wrong?

[macher]

Originally Posted by Ars0n

That's not what I did though. I added the line to get the iPhone for 200 instead of 650 and I kept unlimited because I can always switch to tiered share plan but never will be able to go back to unlimited ever. So now I have an upgrade coming up every year instead of 2 and if I want to switch to a jet pack I can basically cancel my home Internet and use unlimited 4G as the slave provider. On top of that I made $100 selling my 4S. All in all I think that's worth 10 bucks a month

With adding the line you also have to figure in the $9.99 for the additional line to add.

[evilrt]

Originally Posted by macher

With adding the line you also have to figure in the $9.99 for the additional line to add.

exactly. i dont understand why people are calling these switches loopholes as if verizon has no clue.

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by macher

With adding the line you also have to figure in the $9.99 for the additional line to add.

For a single person it is still cheaper then the new share everything plans.

[TheNakedMan]

I don't have a family plan....just an individual...guess there's no hope for me.

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by TheNakedMan

I don't have a family plan....just an individual...guess there's no hope for me.

I was in the same boat, I just payed full price for the phone. Just think of it as an extra $19 a month to keep the unlimited.

If you stay below 2GB a month then you might be better off going with the new shared plans, but I doubt it.

[TheNakedMan]

I roughly use 300 megs, at the highest I used 600 megs. On Wi-Fi I use 3-4 gbs...

I pay 68 dollars with my discount...so no reason to upgrade to what I've been told will be 82 a month.

I'm thinking of buying a 4S off craigslist for 200 bucks instead.

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by TheNakedMan

I roughly use 300 megs, at the highest I used 600 megs. On Wi-Fi I use 3-4 gbs...

I pay 68 dollars with my discount...so no reason to upgrade to what I've been told will be 82 a month.

I'm thinking of buying a 4S off craigslist for 200 bucks instead.

I thought you wanted the 5 (since that is what the thread is about), but if your happy with the 4s than that is a better route.

On the 5 with LTE being more than twice as fast as my home wifi and no wifi at my work, I will be pushing 3gb of data this month.

[TheNakedMan]

I currently have an iPhone 4. I want a 5...and trying to figure the best way to avoid paying 650...or at least helping the pain a little.

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by TheNakedMan

I currently have an iPhone 4. I want a 5...and trying to figure the best way to avoid paying 650...or at least helping the pain a little.

When is your contract up, with the small amount of data you use you can get a 300mb plan for $80 a month, or 1gb for $90 ( plus tax and fees).

If you have LTE in your area though I bet you use more data. Is there someone else you know that might have an upgrade you can use, it,is rare but some on her have used that route.

[TheNakedMan]

I think I'll just pay the $650. Makes the most sense, especially since I plan on doing a little travel overseas.

My contract is up March, 2013.

[From A Buick 8]

Originally Posted by TheNakedMan

I think I'll just pay the $650. Makes the most sense, especially since I plan on doing a little travel overseas.

My contract is up March, 2013.

That is what I did, I bought the 32gb model so I paid $100 more plus I bought AppleCare +.

So far it is a great phone, activated it on Christmas day love the look, feel and the LTE.

I just hope that Verizon keeps the unlimited data plans going for at least 2 more years.