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Verizon Introduces New Unlimited Data Plans, Limits Video to 720p For All Smartphone Customers
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I think Verizon's move is slimy but whenever someone brings up net neutrality with uncapped video on a wireless service, I have to disagree.
The reality is that video uses a lot more bandwidth, representing the largest percentage of Internet traffic. Wireless has much more limited total bandwidth than broadband, so something's gotta give.
Ideally, carrier should throttle video traffic as towers get congested. But until we get 5G with much larger total bandwidth, this is a compromise I can accept.
This is why I've been arguing for monthly data limit plans!! Unlimited is always a lie. - Care to share how unlimited is a lie? Are they saying you have unlimited data and then shutting you completely off at 22GB? Are you able to use 50GB? 100GB? 250GB? Yep. You are, therefore it is unlimited.
No throttling of the monthly allotment. - Last time I checked there is no throttling on the monthly allotment. Its called deprioritization, which is MUCH different than throttle.
Thanks for playing!
I don't care what you call it or how they do it. I care about how it affects me. If it makes things load slower for me, or makes my video play at a lower quality, it's bad. Deprioritization vs throttling is irrelevant. The point is it's being limited artificially, to make it possible to charge more for a higher tier plan.
Unlimited means no limits. If there are limits, it's not unlimited. Calling something unlimited when it has many limits is intellectually dishonest and indeed lying. There are artificial limits to the speed. There are artificial limits to the streaming resolution or audio bitrate. I care about data. If I need to download 100mb, then it should happen as fast as practically possible on the network. Artificial limits are only about making room for a higher tier plan.
What's the point of ever-faster connections if the mobile ISPs are just going to put in artificial speed limiters and restrictions? Why should we care about 5G if they won't even allow using 4G/LTE at it's fullest.
Something tells me that T-Mobile is about to add a LOT more subscribers over the next week or two...
They used to have data plans before they switched to this "unlimited" nonsense. Remember?
There's only two ways to do it these days:
1. Have a set amount of data you're allowed to use per month
2. Offer "unlimited" but cripple it with all sorts of restrictions
They've tried both.
We're never gonna go back to the days of truly unlimited data from 10+ years ago. That was a time where it was basically an "always on" data connection for getting email on Blackberries. It was never meant for streaming video or for providing internet for your home.
Let's be honest here. They say there can be bandwidth limitation, but it's not actually the reason for this. They had no problem letting everyone have the fullest possible speed and stream at full resolution when everyone was on capped data plans and they could charge for overages.
They're creating an artificial limit, in order to sell higher tier plans for more money. The only thing mobile carriers care about is raising the average monthly account revenue. Nearly everyone who can afford a data plan already has a smartphone, cellular tablets didn't really catch on, and cellular watches aren't really here yet. They can't grow their revenue in any other way except to get people to pay more. So the only thing they can do is to take the plan you have, make it worse, and charge more to unlock what was previously included. That is the whole point of these "unlimited" plans. There aren't data limits, but there are limits on everything else and it costs more to remove those limits.
Something tells me that you refer to the middle of the country as "flyover country." T-Mobile does too which is why their network is complete garbage outside of big cities. Verizon on the other hand has invested billions in LTE infrastructure in "flyover country" and they are by far the best option for me.
Only a fool would leave their preferred network over 720p video(which is fine) and I don't have to pay the extra $5/month anyway. Other than a few internet blowhards, this change will have minimal impact on subscriber numbers.
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They used to have data plans before they switched to this "unlimited" nonsense. Remember?
There's only two ways to do it these days:
1. Have a set amount of data you're allowed to use per month
2. Offer "unlimited" but cripple it with all sorts of restrictions
They've tried both.
We're never gonna go back to the days of truly unlimited data from 10+ years ago. That was a time where it was basically an "always on" data connection for getting email on Blackberries. It was never meant for streaming video or for providing internet for your home.
Yes. I believe option 1 is the best. You pay for a set amount of data, and you are entitled to that data you paid for no matter what. The incentives are all perfect: the carrier is incentivized to deliver that data to you as fast as practically possible to free up the bandwidth for other tasks and in hopes of you going over the limit; the apps and services are incentivized to be as data efficient as possible or else they risk users not using the app or service if it's a data hog; and users are incentivized to find a plan that provides them with what they need and no more no less.
Option 2 is awful because the incentives are terrible: the carrier imposes all gimmicky network limits to try to get users to use less data or pay more to remove the limits; the apps and services don't care about being data efficient because it's "unlimited" as to data used and any slowdowns can be blamed on the carriers; and users end up overpaying and getting a much higher tier plan than they actually need in order to get around the gimmicky network limits.
Well, you can still use 200+GB so yes it is unlimited DATA. Not unlimited speeds...
This announcement from Verizon reminds me of a Phil Hendrie (talk radio comedian & master impressionist) comedy routine. On his radio show, Phil once "interviewed" a guy who claimed he was kicked out of an all-you-can-eat restaurant for eating too much. Phil (who did all the voices in the bit) pretended to call the restaurant and yell at the owner. The "owner" kept saying that his restaurant is "all you can eat... up to a point", then he will stop you when he decides you have had enough.
I've been wth Verizon for about the past 10 years but 3 of the 4 phones on my plan are paid for and eligible for upgrades. I am going to have to do some comparison shopping before I buy new phones next month. I've stuck with Verizon for all this time because I felt they were the "least bad" option for cellular service (I had bad experiences with Cingular & AT&T before going to Verizon) but I'm paying nearly $286 per month for 1 phone and 5 lines (4 iPhones plus an LTE iPad) and I am sure I can find a better deal elsewhere.
I've been wth Verizon for about the past 10 years but 3 of the 4 phones on my plan are paid for and eligible for upgrades. I am going to have to do some comparison shopping before I buy new phones next month. I've stuck with Verizon for all this time because I felt they were the "least bad" option for cellular service (I had bad experiences with Cingular & AT&T before going to Verizon) but I'm paying nearly $286 per month for 1 phone and 5 lines (4 iPhones plus an LTE iPad) and I am sure I can find a better deal elsewhere.
I do. My work WiFi doesn't access the internet, and the 'guest' WiFi that does has some pretty severe restrictions and logging. So it's cellular data all day for me.
WHAT? I had to check twice to make sure that I read it correctly. Is that really what kind of mobile network speeds you get in Finland?
"ensure all customers have a great experience"
Um, when you add new customers, you use that money to increase hardware capacity, not throttle existing customers.
Um, when you add new customers, you use that money to increase hardware capacity, not throttle existing customers.
Anyone know what the employee discount applies to? I have a 20% discount bc my wife works for an affiliated bank. Would that be 20% off of the entire $75 (or $150 for 2 lines) for Go Unlimited? If so makes sense to switch as it's only $10 or so more than my current 18gb shared plan.
Yeah, it doesn't matter what I call it or how they do it. At the end of the day, it is still unlimited. Period. They are not restricting you from the amount of data you use.
And yes, option 2 is absolutely awful. I won't deny that at all.
I think only military discounts apply to the unlimited plans..
I am almost embarrassed to be defending Verizon, but many customers have reported decreased data speed and many 3rd party metrics show dramatic decline in data speed for Verizon.
While unlimited plan may not be the reason for the decline, it demonstrates the risk of offering un-throttled data on LTE network.
True, Verizon is offering +$10 plan for those who want "less throttled" video (720p for phone, 1080p for tablet). But having two tiers is better than one crappy tier.
This is absolutely hysterical! I've never heard so many limitations around the word "unlimited". Someone at Verizon needs to go look the word up because "unlimited until" means it's no longer unlimited. Come on Verizon… We are not that stupid.
Except the first one can be throttled anytime for any data use if the network is deemed congested. The "beyond" one supposedly starts after 22gb. Forget the video streaming caps, that's the deal breaker for me not getting the first tier and basically is just a price increase for the second one.
Hmm, so are they phasing out employee discounts completely? Other than grandfathered plans I'm assuming they will only offer the 3 unlimited tiers moving forward?
Hmm... I have been debating the unlimited plan for months. It would make my 6 lines go up $30 with the price still available today. I have 28GB now after bonus data and have to yell at my kids every month not to go over. So tomorrow if I want to switch it goes up $60 instead of $30.
Verizon has also tied unlimited with current promotions. So next month if there are deals like last year on Iphone launch day... the deals will only apply to unlimited users or switchers....
hmm...
Verizon has also tied unlimited with current promotions. So next month if there are deals like last year on Iphone launch day... the deals will only apply to unlimited users or switchers....
hmm...