Existing Verizon Customers Can Keep Their Unlimited Plans

[griz]

I am coming to the conclusion that I better get my IPhone 4 now, and unlimited data, even if I will NEVER come close to using even 2G per month. I just pisses me off that they could not come up with something better, especially for folks who have family plans with multiple lines. I really hate giving them $60/mo for two line for two IPhones. But, like you said, at least when the 7 comes out I will still be unlimited. I am actually even thinking that maybe I will turn on the unlimited data, and then wait for the 5 to come out since I am past contract on the LG feature phone.

I did read one rumor that said data would be sharable in a family plan. Probably why the unlimited option was removed. Can't have more than 1 user sharing an unlimited plan for $30. They would be hurting. But if people pay $50 for 5GB, that's 2.5GB each and cheaper than paying $30 x 2phones.

In my case, my wife is not interested in a smartphone, so I'm just paying for one line of data. Also get her state employee discount of 20% so that's a great deal.

 

[bad03xtreme]

Now I really don't know what to do, I am on Verizon and my contract has been up for months. I plan on getting the new iPhone in Sept. but don't know if I will need an unlimited data plan?

 

[MacFan1701]

I have an LG Dare right now, I really want to wait till the iPhone 5 comes out to upgrade. I don't have a data plan now but I hope I can add the $30 unlimited to it so I can upgrade to the iPhone 5 with it. If not I might have to go for the iPhone 4.

I'm in the same boat and having the same thoughts. The only difference is I have a Samsung Alias 2 and not an LG Dare. Can anyone clear this up for us?

 

[Jbones4710]

Droid Eris

Just for my own clarification and peace of mind, I (unfortunately) got a droid eris a couple of Christmas' ago. Pretty bad experience with android, and ever since the iPhone came to verizon I have been itching to get one. However, I knew that the next gen was going to come out around when my 2 year contract was up, so I could get the new one. I have a unlimited data plan now, so I should be good to go when the next iPhone comes out, right? Or is my life going to be ruined by only 2GBs of data a month?

 

[chrmjenkins]

Just for my own clarification and peace of mind, I (unfortunately) got a droid eris a couple of Christmas' ago. Pretty bad experience with android, and ever since the iPhone came to verizon I have been itching to get one. However, I knew that the next gen was going to come out around when my 2 year contract was up, so I could get the new one. I have a unlimited data plan now, so I should be good to go when the next iPhone comes out, right? Or is my life going to be ruined by only 2GBs of data a month?

Existing users will be able to upgrade after the July date and still keep their unlimited plans.

 

[BigDukeSix]

I am going to cave and get signed up for the current unlimited plan, even though I won't use nearly enough data and hate to pay for what I don't use. But, they did say as long as I sign up NLT 6 July, and even if I do not purchase my new phone till after, I will at least be locked in for the foreseeable future.

 

[BigDukeSix]

I did read one rumor that said data would be sharable in a family plan. Probably why the unlimited option was removed. Can't have more than 1 user sharing an unlimited plan for $30. They would be hurting. But if people pay $50 for 5GB, that's 2.5GB each and cheaper than paying $30 x 2phones.

In my case, my wife is not interested in a smartphone, so I'm just paying for one line of data. Also get her state employee discount of 20% so that's a great deal.

If the data plan could be shared in the family plan, that would be incredible. But, I have not heard any factual information in that regard.

 

[sdmac]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8J2)

I called last night, added a new line with an old phone I have, and added unlimited data. Sales rep was unaware of any add a line unlimited data restriction. And since I am using an old phone, I am contract free and can upgrade any time.

That is good to hear. I just left a verizon store and inquired about bringing my own phones over to Verizon (I want to wait for the Iphone 5 to get the subsidized pricing) and getting the unlimited data plan. They said sure no problem. However, you will be month to month and when you upgrade to the Iphone 5 you will no longer be eligible for the unlimited data??? The grandfather clause only works for Verizon customers who are under contract (according to the rep at Verizon) I left right away and called customer service. Customer service informed me that they could no speculate on what was going to happen in the future with the data plans??

So If i go in with an old phone next week I can get unlimited data. However, they are saying it will be taken away if i enter into a contract in Sept/Oct when I purchase a new phone and I will be required to get one of the tiered pricing plans??

 

[BigDukeSix]

That is good to hear. I am currently an ATT Iphone user but want to switch to Verizon before they yank the unlimited. I just left a verizon store and inquired about bringing my own phones over to Verizon (I want to wait for the Iphone 5 to get the subsidized pricing) and getting the unlimited data plan. They said sure no problem. However, you will be month to month and when you upgrade to the Iphone 5 you will no longer be eligible for the unlimited data??? The grandfather clause only works for Verizon customers who are under contract (according to the rep at Verizon) I left right away and called customer service. Customer service informed me that they could no speculate on what was going to happen in the future with the data plans??

So If i go in with an old phone next week I can get unlimited data. However, they are saying it will be taken away if i enter into a contract in Sept/Oct when I purchase a new phone and I will be required to get one of the tiered pricing plans??

Your ATT Iphone will not work on VZ's network. GSM vs CDMA. So, if you start up with VZ by the 6th, you will be under contract and can get the unlimited data plan for the next two years at least. Although, it does seem that VZ retools their data plan charges about every 6 months, and I would think they if they come out with something better you could change if you chose.

 

[c-ker]

Nice that we VZW iPhoners get to keep the unlimited plan. When will they update the IOS to 4.3? 4.2.8 is so 1st quarter.

 

[sdmac]

Your ATT Iphone will not work on VZ's network. GSM vs CDMA. So, if you start up with VZ by the 6th, you will be under contract and can get the unlimited data plan for the next two years at least. Although, it does seem that VZ retools their data plan charges about every 6 months, and I would think they if they come out with something better you could change if you chose.

I'm not bringing my ATT iphone over (i didn't make that clear in my original post). I am bringing over two motorola droids that my buddy is letting me use so I would be month to month. I'm just gonna pull the trigger and see what happens. I'm done with AT&T service and I can curb my data use if I am forced to go to 2gb later on down the road.

 

[rock15478]

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/money/consumer/dont_waste_your_money/unlimited-data-ends-for-verizon-phones

looks like it's confirmed that as soon as you "upgrade" or use your discounted pricing, that you lose your unlimited data.

for this very reason, i specifically upgraded on the current line i have unlimited data on (making my contract go all the way to 2013)...

but am saving the discounted pricing upgrade on a current line i have with ZERO data, going to upgrade to the iphone 5 in august/september on that line, NOT activate it on that line, and activate it on my current unlimited data plan line... that will remain unlimited until at least 2013...

oh well

 

[Jfountai]

Can I get data for my dumb phone then switch

Let's say I have a dumb phone on Verizon. I get the unlimited data plan till the new iPhone comes out in sep. Now I am grandfathered in. Right? Same thing as if I had the unlimited data plan for 2 years and was out of contract for two months, got an iPhone 5 and was grandfathered in. Right? Just trying to think of a way get get the iPhone 5 with unlimited data and out smart Verizon.

 

[nateo200]

I already ranted in the other thread so Ill get to the point here. If its family sharable data thats fine...I'm thinking my family could easily live of 4 or 5GB's a month or even 2gigs since I use 1.5Gigs a month being conservative with 3G and using wifi when I can. If they don't do that then they should integrate free tethering with the 2gig $30 plan. I'm sure a few people would jump at that! It seams like a pretty fair price too.

 

[Elixer]

Let's say I have a dumb phone on Verizon. I get the unlimited data plan till the new iPhone comes out in sep. Now I am grandfathered in. Right? Same thing as if I had the unlimited data plan for 2 years and was out of contract for two months, got an iPhone 5 and was grandfathered in. Right? Just trying to think of a way get get the iPhone 5 with unlimited data and out smart Verizon.

This is what I'm wondering too. I'm month to month right now but I didn't have the unlimited previously. I'm thinking of adding one, but I don't know if it will be grandfathered in. I'm hoping it works that way.

 

[BigDukeSix]

I already ranted in the other thread so Ill get to the point here. If its family sharable data thats fine...I'm thinking my family could easily live of 4 or 5GB's a month or even 2gigs since I use 1.5Gigs a month being conservative with 3G and using wifi when I can. If they don't do that then they should integrate free tethering with the 2gig $30 plan. I'm sure a few people would jump at that! It seams like a pretty fair price too.

I have not seen anything to indicate it is family sharable. That is what I was hoping they would come out with, but it does not seem to be the case.

 

[budafied]

Let's say I have a dumb phone on Verizon. I get the unlimited data plan till the new iPhone comes out in sep. Now I am grandfathered in. Right? Same thing as if I had the unlimited data plan for 2 years and was out of contract for two months, got an iPhone 5 and was grandfathered in. Right? Just trying to think of a way get get the iPhone 5 with unlimited data and out smart Verizon.

This is what I'm wondering too. I'm month to month right now but I didn't have the unlimited previously. I'm thinking of adding one, but I don't know if it will be grandfathered in. I'm hoping it works that way.

Feature phone unlimited contract WILL NOT grandfather into a smartphone with unlimited data. Those going from unlimited data on a feature phone AFTER 7/7/11 will be forced to use tiered data...

AndroidCentral:

So all changes effective July 7th, 2011.

Existing customer KEEP their $29.99 unlimited data plan

If an existing customer upgrades from a feature phone to a smart phone after 7/7/11, they will NOT be able to add on the unlimited data package. They must choose from the new data plans.

Anyone who sets up new service with unlimited data, upgrades from a feature phone to a smart phone with unlimited data, or customer currently on the $29.99 before July, 7, 2011 will be grandfathered in.

 

[iansilv]

Sprint! Sprint! Sprint! Sprint!!

Come on Sprint- get that iPhone!

Let's see some competition!!

Or T-Mobile...

 

[unionky]

Which is better - unlimited data or wait until iPhone5

What is the consensues - is it worth sacrificing unlimited data for 2 years to get an iPhone 5? I can upgrade my feature phone to an iPhone now with Verizon and unlimited data or wait until the iPhone 5 comes out and pay for the 2GB. I can stay within the 2 GB without a problem although I would obviously be missing out on some things.

 

[Jfountai]

unlimited data

Thanks budafied. Boy this is a hard one, (thats what she said). I want unlimited data, but i want a new i phone... Any other thoughts on how to make this happen?

 

[mrjlwilliams]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_8 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8E401 Safari/6533.18.5)

I wonder if they will do like AT&T and allow early upgrades! I have the unlimited plan right now, and would not be happy with that. I stream a lot on my phone, so I need it to stay as is. I useuch more than 2GB per month.

 

[DiamondMac]

What is the consensues - is it worth sacrificing unlimited data for 2 years to get an iPhone 5? I can upgrade my feature phone to an iPhone now with Verizon and unlimited data or wait until the iPhone 5 comes out and pay for the 2GB. I can stay within the 2 GB without a problem although I would obviously be missing out on some things.

I am not sure how we could answer that without knowing what apps you use, whether you watch things online, etc....

There is no one answer. I need unlimited due to using the iPhone minutely and I like streaming shows.

Many here on this forum never use anywhere near 1gb per month so they don't need unlimited

 

[budafied]

Thanks budafied. Boy this is a hard one, (thats what she said). I want unlimited data, but i want a new i phone... Any other thoughts on how to make this happen?

I currently have a feature phone with NO data. I got it before they required data on it. I am planning on activating a Droid Eris with unlimited data BEFORE 7/7/11. I am OUT of contract and eligible for an upgraded device. So, in September, I should be able to buy the iPhone 5 and keep the unlimited data I activate on the Eris.

You can easily find an older Droid or Blackberry to activate on VZW for under $100 on craigslist. I'm using an Eris that used to be on another line on my plan.

 

[Jfountai]

I currently have a feature phone with NO data. I got it before they required data on it. I am planning on activating a Droid Eris with unlimited data BEFORE 7/7/11. I am OUT of contract and eligible for an upgraded device. So, in September, I should be able to buy the iPhone 5 and keep the unlimited data I activate on the Eris.

You can easily find an older Droid or Blackberry to activate on VZW for under $100 on craigslist. I'm using an Eris that used to be on another line on my plan.

I would do that. But many r saying that is a pay by the month plan. That does not count. Must have a two year contract.

 

[budafied]

I would do that. But many r saying that is a pay by the month plan. That does not count. Must have a two year contract.

According to the wording on the VZW email from AndroidCentral, you are grandfathered in if you are using a smartphone with unlimited data BEFORE 7/7/11. I'm gonna go to a Verizon store before activating my Eris (probably tonight) to confirm this. I'll also have them make a note of it on my account, so there are no issues when I upgrade to the iPhone in September.