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Verizon Introduces New Unlimited Data Plans, Limits Video to 720p For All Smartphone Customers
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Turn off wi-fi assist.
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Obama's FCC on the other hand promoted competition, right? Wrong.
I can't believe that a Verizon plan is now legacy within a year of its introduction but I suppose this is the new world without contracts. I have the *new* grandfathered unlimited Verizon plan with video now capped at 720p. I suppose that probably be a huge difference on my current iPhone 6s Plus but it may be on a higher resolution iPhone in the future. Very annoying.
Yeah, 20-30ms, VPN if I'm bothered, but tbh I'd rather 12mths than the lifetime history I'm sure they store in the U.S.
Haha no doubt. 12 months publicly, lifetime secretly. Also thanks to your country's Tempora!
(Hi NSA!)
No impact to me and others who can afford the best cellular service in the US. Sure, TMobile has the best price but there are issues tailing with the low price: the coverage area is narrower than Verizon especially non urban or metropolitan areas, signal issues in buildings due to weak signal penetration and other uncovered network issues. Like any other low price products, there are always hidden issues or costs customers must pay outside the low price. The more customers leave Verizon, the less congestion will be
Verizon today split its unlimited talk, text, and data plan into three tiers: Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, and Business Unlimited. The plans go into effect for new customers starting Wednesday, August 23.
Go Unlimited starts at $75 per month, which is $5 cheaper than the original Verizon Unlimited plan introduced in February. However, while Verizon Unlimited allowed for full HD video streaming, video quality on Go Unlimited is forcibly throttled to 480p, which Verizon and many other carriers refer to as DVD quality.
Go Unlimited customers can also experience reduced speeds if the network is congested at any time, rather than only after exceeding 22GB of data usage in a billing cycle. And while Mobile Hotspot is unlimited, tethering speeds are capped at a maximum of 600kbps from the very first kilobyte of usage.
The original Verizon Unlimited plan allows tethering at 4G LTE speeds for the first 10GB of data, with speeds reduced to 3G afterwards.
Beyond Unlimited starts at $85 per month, which is $5 more expensive than Verizon Unlimited. The plan includes unlimited tethering with the first 15GB of data at 4G LTE speeds, up from 10GB, but video quality is forcibly throttled to 720p quality on smartphones and 1080p quality on tablets.
Beyond Unlimited customers could experience reduced speeds at times of network congestion once they exceed 22GB in a billing cycle, in line with the original unlimited plan. Verizon increases that limit to 25GB for customers who sign a two-year contract when purchasing a new device.
Business Unlimited is designed for four or more lines and starts at $45/month/line. Each line could experience reduced speeds at times of network congestion after exceeding 22GB in a billing cycle, and video quality is throttled to 480p. Unlimited tethering is included with 4G LTE speeds for the first 10GB of data.
AutoPay and paperless billing must be enabled for all of the prices listed above, or else each plan costs $5 extra per month.
Verizon told The Verge that existing customers will be able to keep their current plan -- including legacy ones. As a bonus, for existing customers on the original Verizon Unlimited plan introduced in February, Verizon is increasing the allowance for 4G LTE speeds while tethering from 10GB to 15GB at no charge.
However, the biggest kicker is that Verizon says, moving forward, HD video on all legacy plans will match Beyond Unlimited's HD quality. In other words, even grandfathered customers will soon be limited to video quality of 720p on smartphones and 1080p on tablets, which is sure to elicit some frustration.
"We're doing this to ensure all customers have a great experience on our network since there is no visible difference in quality on a smartphone or tablet when video is shown at higher resolutions," a Verizon spokesperson said.
As for the increased prices, Verizon says its unlimited data plan from February was an "introductory" price that was bound to increase eventually.
Article Link: Verizon Introduces New Unlimited Data Plans, Limits Video to 720p For All Smartphone Customers
the more TMobile get customers, congestion would increase and before anyone knows it, TMobile will do the same as Verizon. Just watch it ;-)At this point the only people I can see still using Verizon would be those who live far out in the country and don't have any other provider available with coverage.
This is a move that should surprise absolutely no one after they got caught throttling video traffic in a "test".
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There are some areas where there is better LTE coverage than Verizon, but T-Mobile is catching up fast. And in the areas where coverage is even the same as Verizon, the speeds are faster on T-Mobile.
The difference between T-Mobile and Verizon is T-Mobile is aggressively investing in their network, even in areas where they already have coverage so they can continue to handle more subscribers, Verizon is not following suit and is relying on the fact that they already have "the best network", but the problem is if you rest on simply being the best, eventually the competition not only catches up, but passes you, just ask any former Blockbuster executive about Netflix.
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Actually, check out their comparison maps: https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/lte-comparison-mapNo impact to me and others who can afford the best cellular service in the US. Sure, TMobile has the best price but there are issues tailing with the low price: the coverage area is narrower than Verizon especially non urban or metropolitan areas, signal issues in buildings due to weak signal penetration and other uncovered network issues. Like any other low price products, there are always hidden issues or costs customers must pay outside the low price. The more customers leave Verizon, the less congestion will be
There are some areas where there is better LTE coverage than Verizon, but T-Mobile is catching up fast. And in the areas where coverage is even the same as Verizon, the speeds are faster on T-Mobile.
The difference between T-Mobile and Verizon is T-Mobile is aggressively investing in their network, even in areas where they already have coverage so they can continue to handle more subscribers, Verizon is not following suit and is relying on the fact that they already have "the best network", but the problem is if you rest on simply being the best, eventually the competition not only catches up, but passes you, just ask any former Blockbuster executive about Netflix.
Well, I wouldn't agree. Here in a fairly rural town we have supposedly VZW,ATT,TMO and Sprint, but it is a bit of a stretch for TMO and Sprint since their data coverage is pee-poor to unbelievable away from the main street of town. ATT is a bit better with more coverage, but hardly covers the whole town.
And on my few scenic tour drivings to Kansas City, only VZW and ATT have any real coverage at all. So I'd say outside of larger metro areas, the jury is still well out for TMO and Sprint.
But I was looking at my VZW account today and thought since the new 'plans' are listed as plans and not as 'plan' and 'access fees' that the military discount should be applied to every line fully. Not so unfortunately.
Has this been posted before?
https://www.wired.com/2017/08/verizons-unlimited-data-plan-back-heres-compares-carriers/
lots of plans like 480p, and throttle like hell.
https://www.wired.com/2017/08/verizons-unlimited-data-plan-back-heres-compares-carriers/
lots of plans like 480p, and throttle like hell.
I just got an email from Verizon saying they automatically switched me to “Beyond Unlimited”, which I did not ask them to do. I am supposed to be on the Unlimited plan that they started in February. Anyone else get the email?
From what I read, the Beyond Unlimited plan is basically the same as the one introduced back in February with a few expanded features. Also HD video is limited on all plans now. I would definitely call, but they probably did that for simplification.
Trying to figure out all of the costs involved in switching to T-Mobile due to this. I'd likely take advantage of their "Get Out of the Red" deal, but what I can't find is if there are any upfront costs. Do I need to buy a SIM starter pack or an activation fee per line?
Edit: Confirmed with T-Mobile that you would need SIM Starter Packs for each line, which comes to $25 per line upfront.
Edit: Confirmed with T-Mobile that you would need SIM Starter Packs for each line, which comes to $25 per line upfront.
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T-Mobile coverage will get better over the next two years as they deploy equipment on their new 600MHz spectrum. It will require new phones and other devices for current users, though.
It's very sneaky advertising with them saying $40/line ($160) and $50 a line ($200)
Cause if they offered it $50/line. I would get it for 2 lines for $100!
But I don't think that's the case. Cause there math makes no sense when it's a $75 access fee for go unlimited and $85 for beyond unlimited.
So $75 plus $40 plus $40 plus $40 plus $40 doesn't equals $160?
Cause if they offered it $50/line. I would get it for 2 lines for $100!
But I don't think that's the case. Cause there math makes no sense when it's a $75 access fee for go unlimited and $85 for beyond unlimited.
So $75 plus $40 plus $40 plus $40 plus $40 doesn't equals $160?
I guess don't tether than u should be fine..
Seems what Verizon are saying they can throttle their network *anytime* regardless now of weather congestion occurs, or not... Which i would say, that's a good reason to look elsewhere.
Any limitation put on is just not enough bandwidth. throttling does work, but its like saying 'I'll patch this up, as i won't get a pro out.'
Seems what Verizon are saying they can throttle their network *anytime* regardless now of weather congestion occurs, or not... Which i would say, that's a good reason to look elsewhere.
Any limitation put on is just not enough bandwidth. throttling does work, but its like saying 'I'll patch this up, as i won't get a pro out.'
Here's how my email reads:
"Dear customer,
Thanks for being an Unlimited customer. To show our appreciation, we’d like to tell you about two ways we’re making your plan even better.
First, we are introducing a different kind of rewards program called Verizon Up. How is it different? It’s super simple and gives you rewards you’ll actually want. The way it should be.
Verizon Up offers rewards that range from everyday treats like music subscriptions to
once-in-a-lifetime experiences like VIP passes to exclusive concerts and sporting events. To enroll, just download the My Verizon app.
Second, as part of our new Unlimited plan choices, we are introducing Beyond Unlimited. This plan has all the benefits of your current plan, plus an increase to 15GB of Hotspot usage at 4G LTE speeds. So you can do even more with your unlimited data across all your devices.
And because you’ve been with us from the beginning, we’re upgrading your plan to include the additional Beyond Unlimited plan benefits at no additional cost. We’ve already updated your plan; there’s nothing you need to do!
So, enjoy your new upgraded unlimited plan and Verizon Up rewards on the network that just keeps getting better. RootMetrics, the largest independent study, just ranked Verizon the nation’s #1 network. Now 8 times in a row. Because there’s no such thing as “good enough” in our vocabulary.
Thanks again for the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Ronan Dunne
President, Verizon Wireless"
It sounds as if they're upgrading the current plans with the so called "additional benefits", not switching it.
I've been contemplating switching to Tmobile for weeks. It works great it my city. The reservations I have is that TM won't work great in all cities I travel to for biz. Though TM coverage is increasing each month. By 2018 it should be right on par with VZ.
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Do you have any proof of this?
Verizon's CAPEX is significantly higher than T-Mobile's and their small cell program is, at least, two years ahead of any other major carrier.
To say that Verizon isn't investing into their network shows me that you are clueless.
Startin to look a AT&T again myself.I like T-Mo and all, but their coverage doesn't cut it for me. I've switched back to AT&T and happy I did.
