Verizon Changes their Mind about Unlimited Data

[einmusiker]

I think this has been obvious from the very beginning. Verizon is trying to get an initial rush of customers on their old technology, once they move to LTE they will all be limiting data usage. I'm going to keep my att unlimited and get in on verizon unlimited. I like that verzon allows you to suspend service without billing so when I feel like using the verizon iphone I'll just resume service

 

[Jack105]

I have unlimited data with my blackberry through Verizon. I'm wondering if this will get grandfathered in when I upgrade to the iphone the 12th of Feb? The article is very vague about the window Verizon will have open.

 

[mpossoff]

I think this has been obvious from the very beginning. Verizon is trying to get an initial rush of customers on their old technology, once they move to LTE they will all be limiting data usage. I'm going to keep my att unlimited and get in on verizon unlimited. I like that verzon allows you to suspend service without billing so when I feel like using the verizon iphone I'll just resume service

So one can get a verizon account and suspend it? Can you elaborate?

 

[aneftp]

You guys need to look at the bigger picture.

"limited time" to sign up for unlimited 3G.

You can read in between the line.

The next iPhone (5) will have the combo LTE/CDMA chip. That's almost a given. The reason is simple. Apple is switching chip providers and Qualcomm will make those chips for apple.

So you will be "grandfathered" with unlimited "3G" data until Apple releases their combo CDMA/LTE (4g) chip. You won't have a choice at that point with tiered data pricing.

 

[hcho3]

You guys need to look at the bigger picture.

"limited time" to sign up for unlimited 3G.

You can read in between the line.

The next iPhone (5) will have the combo LTE/CDMA chip. That's almost a given. The reason is simple. Apple is switching chip providers and Qualcomm will make those chips for apple.

So you will be "grandfathered" with unlimited "3G" data until Apple releases their combo CDMA/LTE (4g) chip. You won't have a choice at that point with tiered data pricing.

No it is not given. LTE is still new and AT&T won't launch LTE until Q2 2011. iPhone comes around that time and LTE will be still new. Apple doesn't jump onto new technology so fast due to the costs, battery life, and performance.

LTE iPhone ain't coming this year. It will be HSPA+ and CDMA.

 

[aneftp]

No it is not given. LTE is still new and AT&T won't launch LTE until Q2 2011. iPhone comes around that time and LTE will be still new. Apple doesn't jump onto new technology so fast due to the costs, battery life, and performance.

LTE iPhone ain't coming this year. It will be HSPA+ and CDMA.

LTE is backwards compatible with HSPA. That's why apple will release the combo CDMA/LTE chip. We all know Qualcomm is making those chip right now.

 

[aneftp]

Just did some research and Qualcomm currently is able to make a combo CDMA/HSPA(GSM) chip. So Att technically can advertised HSPA + as "4G" and charge tiered data pricing. And since LTE is backwards compatible with HSPA, Verizon will change to tiered data since they will use the same reasoning that HSPA + gets 4G speeds.

 

[barkingDog]

So we are still left with unanswered questions for those debating between an AT&T or Verizon iPhone. So it appears you'll be able to get a Verizon iPhone and have Unlimited data. But what does "for a limited time" mean exactly? Should we assume that you'll be able to stay grandfathered after they switch to tiered? Should we assume you can stay grandfathered even when you upgrade to a new phone (iPhone 5, for example)?

And the Hotspot question still remains. If Verizon were to offer the Hotspot feature for free, then I would almost certainly get the Verizon iPhone. However, if I'm eventually going to end up with tiered data on either carrier, then it really comes down to who will offer up the best LTE package! Because really, if I get an iPhone this year, it will only be a stop-gap until next year when the LTE iPhone comes out.

So if I'm thinking long-term, I should be considering who will have LTE in my area first, and who will likely have the best coverage and packages available. And that, unfortunately, is still the big unanswered question.

Well thought out post, and summarizes my concerns -- too. The unfortunate hitch word here (as astutely pointed out above) is "assume" -- and we won't know nuthin' until it's announced (not just the imminent VZW data plans, but the future AT&T/VZ LTE plans and their effect on current AT&T -- or to be VZW -- UL data plan holders.)

Point being, uh, well, I guess it's moot at the moment.

 

[steven10093]

Well thought out post, and summarizes my concerns -- too. The unfortunate hitch word here (as astutely pointed out above) is "assume" -- and we won't know nuthin' until it's announced (not just the imminent VZW data plans, but the future AT&T/VZ LTE plans and their effect on current AT&T -- or to be VZW -- UL data plan holders.)

Point being, uh, well, I guess it's moot at the moment.

The price has been set for the mobile hotspot at 20$/2GB

 

[barkingDog]

the price has been set for the mobile hotspot at 20$/2gb

t.y.

 

[wowamac]

man that sucks

http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/25/technology/verizon_iphone_plan/index.htm

Go figure Verizon is going the same direction as AT&T, I guess all the Data Hogs will start paying for their usage in the future.

i got the last att unlim. data plan but i wuz thinking about switching to verizon once the iphone came out geuss i wontt anymore

 

[blackberrypilot]

Once the new 4G LTE capable iPhone is released next year you'll be forced to drop the unlimited if you upgrade.... likely.

 

[choice]

The price has been set for the mobile hotspot at 20$/2GB

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=13626

 

[einmusiker]

So one can get a verizon account and suspend it? Can you elaborate?

on my verizon you can choose to suspend/reconnect servicewith or without billing. then shut your service off or turn it on for you. very simple

 

[Olivia23]

i got the last att unlim. data plan but i wuz thinking about switching to verizon once the iphone came out geuss i wontt anymore

So pretty much your saying when At&t comes out with the iPhone 5 that has 4g speeds, you are not going to upgrade? Because if you do, I'm sure that grandfathered data plan you have will be gone. Verizon is doing the same thing. Right now you CAN get unlimited data, but when their LTE network rolls out and the new phones that are LTE capable, you will be forced to take a tiered data plan then, just like At&t.

 

[iMrNiceGuy0023]

good way to get people from ATT to Verizon.....

offer unlimited data for a limited time

 

[Bonds79]

yes i did read the article, you probably should reread though

currently verizon is tiered
they are moving to unlimited
and then at some point down the road back to tiered

so saying they are following att's lead and going the same direction is inaccurate,

i don't have verizon so i can't say for certain but i think they actually had tiered plans before att and att followed them to that pricing scheme. now verizon is going back to unlmited to grabbed customers, and probably depending on how quicly they reach the subscription numbers they'll go back to tiered again

I guess you have a problem understanding plain english.............
Dude Pay attention! VZW has always offered unlimited uncapped 3G data on smart phones for 30 bucks this has been the case on every vzw smart phone including all DROIDS! THE iPHONE WILL GET UNLIMITED DATA initially, then Very so they will stop offering unlimited data and move to att style data package.

 

[seamus26]

Well said seamus

I feel the exact same way about my current $10 web2go unlimited data on T-mobile Nexus One ($40/mo total w/ $30 500 minutes) and you cant get that anymore so its REALLY hard to give it up and pay full price when you know you have a great deal currently and you know if you give it up you can never get it back!

It'd be like if Amazon didn't exist tomorrow and I had to pay sales tax on all of my purchases. I'd hate it since I've been spoiled by such good prices and "cheating" the system with a good deal

It's the same reason I keep my eMate around. I am the result of one of Apple's biggest flaws; in general they make a product that functions so well there is no "need" to upgrade very often. Unless they do something to totally cripple my iPhone 3G, I don't see the need to upgrade. Yeah, I wouldn't mind a new phone, but to give up on this one and the unlimited data plan before I am forced at gunpoint to do so ... not likely.

 

[kdarling]

LTE is backwards compatible with HSPA. That's why apple will release the combo CDMA/LTE chip. We all know Qualcomm is making those chip right now.

LTE radios are not natively backwards compatible with anything.

So an LTE device has to also have any other radios that you want to use.

If you want to be able to fall back on EVDO (e.g. Verizon), you need a CDMA radio.

If you want to be able to fall back on UMTS-3G (e.g. AT&T), you need a WCDMA radio.

 

[goosnarrggh]

I guess you have a problem understanding plain english.............
Dude Pay attention! VZW has always offered unlimited uncapped 3G data on smart phones for 30 bucks this has been the case on every vzw smart phone including all DROIDS! THE iPHONE WILL GET UNLIMITED DATA initially, then Very so they will stop offering unlimited data and move to att style data package.

Let me see if I get this straight:

1) Currently (pre-iPhone), Verizon offers two "tiers" of data service on smartphones:
Tier A) $15 for 150 MB
Tier B) $30 for unlimited.

2) For a limited time surrounding the release of the iPhone, Verizon will only offer the unlimited data option.

3) After the limited time, Verizon will go back to their existing tiered data plans. Apparently their existing data plans are listed in (1) above, so they will go back to the following tiers:
Tier A) $15 for 150 MB
Tier B) $30 for unlimited.

Sounds to me like the "limited time" unlimited data offer is just plain pointless.

 

[maflynn]

Verizon has made it no secret that they're moving to a tiered pricing structure. Why are so many people are suddenly so surprised by this move.

I think the idea that you pay as consume a resource is not an outrageous idea.

 

[JRoDDz]

Let me see if I get this straight:

1) Currently (pre-iPhone), Verizon offers two "tiers" of data service on smartphones:
Tier A) $15 for 150 MB
Tier B) $30 for unlimited.

2) For a limited time surrounding the release of the iPhone, Verizon will only offer the unlimited data option.

3) After the limited time, Verizon will go back to their existing tiered data plans. Apparently their existing data plans are listed in (1) above, so they will go back to the following tiers:
Tier A) $15 for 150 MB
Tier B) $30 for unlimited.

Sounds to me like the "limited time" unlimited data offer is just plain pointless.

How about this scenario:

1) correct
2) correct
3) Verizon is dropping the $15 plan and only offering a limited $30 plan, most likely 2GB.

 

[Geckotek]

LTE is backwards compatible with HSPA. That's why apple will release the combo CDMA/LTE chip. We all know Qualcomm is making those chip right now.

Please define "backwards compatible" in this instance. Do you even know what you are saying?

Just did some research and Qualcomm currently is able to make a combo CDMA/HSPA(GSM) chip. So Att technically can advertised HSPA + as "4G" and charge tiered data pricing. And since LTE is backwards compatible with HSPA, Verizon will change to tiered data since they will use the same reasoning that HSPA + gets 4G speeds.

HUH??? This makes no sense.

I guess you have a problem understanding plain english.............
Dude Pay attention! VZW has always offered unlimited uncapped 3G data on smart phones for 30 bucks this has been the case on every vzw smart phone including all DROIDS! THE iPHONE WILL GET UNLIMITED DATA initially, then Very so they will stop offering unlimited data and move to att style data package.

You are ignoring recent history where Verizon announced they were moving to a tiered structure. A few months after that announcement they announced new data plans. Everyone was expecting them to kill off the unlimited plan, but surprisingly (or not depending on your viewpoint) they kept it. So this appears to be backpeddaling on Verizon's part in order to steal some AT&T customers.

I've always said this would be for a limited time. The only thing that surprised me is that they announced it to be limited before the launch. I figured we'd find out a few months from now.

 

[tigress666]

I've always said this would be for a limited time. The only thing that surprised me is that they announced it to be limited before the launch. I figured we'd find out a few months from now.

It makes sense they tell people now. It's the same marketing technique as, "Hurry, offer only available for a limited time." Get that sense of urgency in people, let them freak out they don't have much time to make the choice and they need to jump *now* if they want to get this deal. Don't give them time to think about it or have time to change their mind or decide they don't really need it. Always good for a few more people converting over at least for getting numbers *now*.

But maybe Verizon has decided over the long term they'd lose money on allowing unlimited (or make more money by having limited) so this way they get a few extra sales they wouldn't get, and then can go on the more profitable model.

 

[Geckotek]

It makes sense they tell people now. It's the same marketing technique as, "Hurry, offer only available for a limited time." Get that sense of urgency in people, let them freak out they don't have much time to make the choice and they need to jump *now* if they want to get this deal. Don't give them time to think about it or have time to change their mind or decide they don't really need it. Always good for a few more people converting over at least for getting numbers *now*.

But maybe Verizon has decided over the long term they'd lose money on allowing unlimited (or make more money by having limited) so this way they get a few extra sales they wouldn't get, and then can go on the more profitable model.

Trust me, I get it. But there is a flip side to that, for some users it will bring up the possibility that they will one day be forced off the unlimited plan. More so than with AT&T. At least that was the first thought through my mind.

But I'm guessing the rush to grab it before it's gone attitude will prevail.