I'm just looking forward to the day that we all look back and laugh at the fact that a such thing as "limited data" ever existed. Remember when texting was first becoming popular and there were plans like "500 messages/month, +10¢ overages per message?" Now, I think most or all carriers don't even offer a plan without unlimited texting. Obviously, internet data is much different and much more functional than text messaging, but it's still amusing to look back now and laugh and those annoying texting plans.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
FCC Questions Verizon Plan to Throttle Some Unlimited Data Customers
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Amen to this. I've been rooting for T-Mobile for the past few years but they still aren't ready for prime time and it blows my mind. Anybody that's driven from Los Angeles to the Bay Area will see that you will go from either edge to no service at all so if you get a flat tire or in trouble and you need to make a phone call while you're out on that long stretch, you may not have that choice. Scary in 2014. I haven't seen edge since 2007 iphone 1. On the other hand their offers are amazing. Unlimited data and text in most of Europe roaming, music apps don't count towards data, no contracts, wifi call on iphone coming on ios8, $15 to add international calling, the list goes on BUT Their network just isn't there yet. I fear once their network is there they'll go ahead and start acting like the big boys. Bait and switch. Cause they'll be too big to care, just like AT&T and Verizon. Verizon has the largest customers and they're about to mess with 20% of them and can't even just honestly call it throttling, they use cryptic descriptions to avoid saying exactly what they plan to do, throttle you. Surprised? Absolutely not. Too big to give a crap. BTW verizon customers on an iphone are stil working with less than someone on AT&T or tmo. No surf and talk. Call waiting/conf calling is a nightmare. So perhaps many of those unlimited who are about to get throttled will roll
Last edited:
Supply and demand and what that incentivizes. Fairly basic economics principles that apply to many things in life.
----------
Its not total data its bandwidth available at any given time and what happens when a cell is loaded and its bandwidth is being used at capacity. Fairly different things and even concepts.
----------
Certainly quite a bit for those with iPhones and iPads on Verizon.
----------
Vast majority will not go over to use anywhere that much data die to prohibitive charges for it.
As for contracts and whatnot, the people affected aren't under contracts so there's really nothing to hold up.
I will agree with this. They shouldn't be throttling anyone on unlimited until they reach the highest amount someone can buy. ATT tried that by throttling unlimited users at like 2GB when the same fee was getting a standard plan 3GB that was never throttled. ATT got in trouble for it.
Or if Verizon insists on throttling someone for going over X amount (reset at the beginning of the month), it should be everyone regardless of plan type.
"However, what we announced last week was a highly targeted and very limited network optimization effort, only targeting cell cites experiencing high demand. The purpose is to ensure there is capacity for everyone in those limited circumstances, and that high users don't limit capacity for others."
BS! Verizon and other companies sold you the contract promising high speeds at all times for everyone.
So basically they have an infrastructure for 100 people and sold it to a million people and now they are caught red handed?
BS! Verizon and other companies sold you the contract promising high speeds at all times for everyone.
So basically they have an infrastructure for 100 people and sold it to a million people and now they are caught red handed?
What people with unlimited still have contracts? Does this apply to people under contract (it seems like that's not the case)? Most importantly, where in the contracts were any speeds promised or especially the highest possible speeds and at all times and for everyone?
----------
What Verizon is talking about isn't anywhere close to what AT&T has been doing or what throttling has been seen as so far in the wireless industry. There are some large differences making Verizon's approach much less intrusive or impactful really.
Why isn't Verizon allowed to cancel "grandfathered" plans and make them all re-signup with a currently offered plan? Is it a law or regulation that wireless carriers must honor "grandfathered" plans?
Nope. They can do it. They are being somewhat fair in letting people keep those plans even though they don't have to.
I don't understand why the FCC is concerned now that Verizon is trying to throttle, yet didn't when the other carriers started doing it?!?
I'm frustrated myself. I sold my att unlimited due to being throttled (we are actually saving money on our new plan but it's the principle of the matter).
If I had to guess iwhy it's vzw and nobody else itnwouldnbe because ofnthe spectrum they were sold and the conditions it was sold under. It's one of the reasons all of their LTE phones must sell unlocked out of the box. Just a guess as to why the FCC is involved regarding the throttling.
I still have my UNLIMITED data on verizon.
I was month to month.
I upgraded AND kept my unlimited data until 10-2015.
I use it for spotify, iTunes match, FB, IG,EVERYTHING requires data.
Most wifi hot spots slow to a crawl because EVERYONE is on wi-fi.
Verizon LTE is faster.
They're telling me they won't throttle me in 9-2015 even if i reach 100GB
because I'm in contract but will on 10-2015 out of contract? makes no sense.
Until then, i will use as much as I can. I paid for UNLIMITED, period.
Makes me an a---hole? so be it. You guys were so quick to drop unlimited to get a phone at $200 never imagining paying MORE for data instead of the phone.
I was month to month.
I upgraded AND kept my unlimited data until 10-2015.
I use it for spotify, iTunes match, FB, IG,EVERYTHING requires data.
Most wifi hot spots slow to a crawl because EVERYONE is on wi-fi.
Verizon LTE is faster.
They're telling me they won't throttle me in 9-2015 even if i reach 100GB
because I'm in contract but will on 10-2015 out of contract? makes no sense.
Until then, i will use as much as I can. I paid for UNLIMITED, period.
Makes me an a---hole? so be it. You guys were so quick to drop unlimited to get a phone at $200 never imagining paying MORE for data instead of the phone.
I'm notnsurenif you're aware, but they could terminate your line (not saying they will) at any time. Nothing requires them to keep you as a customer. They just can't require you to pay your etf.
I don't disagree with your sentiment but "I will use all I can while I can because I can" isn't really doing anything to anyway (well I guess it sounds like it makes you feel better). You aren't really "sticking it to the man" here. You're just using a lot of data. It takes more than a single person streaming YouTube 24/7 to contest a tower.
But anyway, sucks that unlimited is coming to an end. I think that if the FCC "wins" this will simply be a matter of "we are dropping unlimited permanently, all existing customers on unlimited can either select a current data plan or terminate service without any fees incurred by termination".
Last edited by a moderator:
No, I'm pretty much sticking it to them. Im using as much as i can and apparently putting a strain on the network being the top 5%. They're saying it, not me.
Last edited by a moderator:
Verizon Wireless:
We have the nation's largest 4G LTE Network, we just don't want you to use it.
We have the nation's largest 4G LTE Network, we just don't want you to use it.
Apple axtually dealt a huge blow to texting plans with iMessage. As soon as that launched war started seeing all packages be all or nothing (you either had unlimited texting or paid per text). Quickly after that they rolled minutes and texts all into on (unlimited plan). You basically just pay for data now and it comes with unlimited texts and voice.
Voice used to be the big expenditure for company's. This is gotten cheaper for many reasons, not the least of which is people don't talk on the phone as much anymore. So in comes texting (which actually was free before it cost anything and then went "free" again). Company's saw texts as a way to make up revenue where it wasn't coming in on minutes (since people weren't using them). Along comes iMessage (and other such messenger apps) and now we have companies looking for yet another way to make that buck back. By and large data is the biggest strain in current networks and I see that being the case for a long time to come.
----------
No lol. You're really not. What they say and what is actually happening is two different situations. Like I said if they wanted to they could can your ass if they really feel you are damaging the network. You simply aren't doing that.
Just curious, what type of business needs employer provided data lines? And you are paying $75 per line? Unless you need Verizon coverage for all 53 of those lines, you can get T mobile for about half that.
Also, cancelling Verizon service because they throttle will just put you in the hands of another carrier that also throttles. I don't think there is a US carrier that does not throttle data.
As you say. But i have NEVER heard or read of anyone just 'getting cancelled'. Not paying your bill yes, not this. I may sound childish, but in my eyes I win for another year. Full LTE, Full unlimited.
This. There is no reason carriers must offer unlimited data to anyone. And there is no reason they couldn't charge a premium for unlimited data, to make it worth their while.
Although it's really odd to me that carriers ever offered unlimited data in the past, and honestly as data becomes cheaper and more prevalent, it should be *easier* for the carriers to provide unlimited data than it was, say, 5 years ago, when several of them actually offered unthrottled unlimited data but arguably no one needed it due to lack of apps / widespread usage of mobile devices.
As a small business owner who seems to have done the numbers, surely you are not under the dillusion that cutting the unlimited data lines would be a huge blow to the company?
Your situation is relatively unique. I'm willing to bet a very small fraction of the unlimited lines that still exist are owned by a person like you.
I'm sure they would lose customers, but they are also gaining them every day. Really they just need to decide if unlimited data is enough of a problem for them to go this route. They are making changes, so it seems that it has been deemed enough of a problem to at least do that.
----------
I mentioned multiple times that they weren't necessarily doing it. The fact that they are NOT doing it is proof positive that you aren't sticking it to anyone (because you aren't effecting anyone enough for them to terminate your line). That is the entire point I'm trying to get across.
I'm happy you feel you have won. As a personal victory, I absolutely agree. You have all the data you can possibly stand to use. As a victory against Verizon (more than what's in your head), there's nothing here.