Verizon Introduces 'Share Everything' Service Plan for Up to Ten Devices

[larock]

I think the thing that stinks to me is the "line access" fee. it make little sense to me. $40 for a smart phone versus $30 for a feature phone, like I'll talk or text more on one then the other? And $20 for a netbook but $10 for a tablet, they both only use data so what's the difference if it's data I paid for?

I know looking at my account that I could "shoe-horn" my family into using less data and maybe save a little money, but why should I stress over that? I mean keeping tabs on the kids' use would be a pain and only save me $10-$20 a month. Might as well hold onto my unlimited data as long as I can.

I also know this change may help those people who talk a lot, but with five lines we talked a total of 176 minutes last month. Unlimited talk is worthless to me.

But Verizon has the best coverage out there. I've been literally in the middle of no where (Mojave Desert) and have had signal (my buddies with AT&T, T Mo, Sprint were looking for bars), which is the one reason I'll be sticking it out.

 

[diane143]

I just did an online chat with "Neshia" and she (?) said that until the plans are out on June 28, none of the pricing is set in stone.

I did their online calculator and the pricing was $100 for just the iPhone and $120 for that and the iPad, but they don't allow you to set low limits on the options. I think that was more than I came up with manually calculating it.

 

[radiogoober]

These phone companies really are *******s with their billing.

Look at the attached.

300 megs for $20.00, 3,000 megs for $30. So ten times the data is only a 50% increase in price. There's no true "price" for data, they just rip you off the entire way.

They're just *******s. Nothing but *******s.

And valuing a text as anything but data is just a ripoff. Thankfully Apple's iMessage came around, because that really sticks it to those thieving ********s. But what do they do? They just ****up the text message plans to make you still have to pay for them. Damn I hate them.

I wish Apple would create a cell phone company. Boy, AT&T, Verizon, etc, would all go bankrupt overnight!

I truly wish some "underdog" would come along and not **** all their customers in the asses like ****** AT&T and Verizon. **** them.

 

[unlimitedx]

Why does everyone assume that they will be able to keep their unlimited plans when the iPhone 5 hits? I'm betting your unlimited 3G plan will be grandfathered (although likely soft capped like AT&T does), but the LTE access brought on by the new phone will almost certainly let them force a new contract onto iPhone 5 users.

If you moved from an Android LTE device to an iPhone 5, im guessing you'll be safe.



Not really.

Currently, an unlimited talk/text plan on Verizon is $90/month for a single line. If you want a family plan with unlimited text/talk it costs a LOT more....almost $200.

So really, what they've done is given you two lines unlimited talk/text at less than the cost of a single unlimited plan today. Then they increased the current 2G data plan by $5 per line. For two Smartphone users looking for unlimited talk/text and the standard 2G plans, this new program is far cheaper.

And for all the Unlimited users expressing shock and outrage....where have you been? You've got a bounty on your head.....drop your plan or leave. They don't want your business under current contracts and this is all about getting rid of you.

You misinterpreted. The built in premium I am talking about is: text and minutes usage are going down, while data is going up. Majority of families do well enough in the current limited minutes plans.

Btw I have AT&T with fan discount, so yes. Verizon will not be getting my business.

 

[Geckotek]

I wish Apple would create a cell phone company. Boy, AT&T, Verizon, etc, would all go bankrupt overnight!

As much as I'd like to agree with you, Apple doesn't exactly have a history of being the "value" provider of anything they do.

 

[kdarling]

I think the thing that stinks to me is the "line access" fee. it make little sense to me. $40 for a smart phone versus $30 for a feature phone, like I'll talk or text more on one then the other? And $20 for a netbook but $10 for a tablet, they both only use data so what's the difference if it's data I paid for?

I think what the carriers are telling us, is that providing data is more expensive than we think. In other words, data has been subsidized by voice and texts for a long time, and still is. Cheap unlimited data was viable only when it was used by a small minority.

If you look at AT&T and Verizon's wireless data profit margins, they're each only averaging about $3.90 a week profit from data on a smartphone user. Burger King probably makes almost as much profit off each $7 double Whopper Meal.

And, unlike Apple with their higher profit margins, the carrier profits go back to the shareholders and into more coverage.

But Verizon has the best coverage out there. I've been literally in the middle of no where (Mojave Desert) and have had signal (my buddies with AT&T, T Mo, Sprint were looking for bars), which is the one reason I'll be sticking it out.

Coverage is why I stay with Verizon as well. Obviously it costs them more money to have towers everywhere, and we have to pay for that.

It's amazing how our expectations have changed in the past decade. Not long ago most people would've given their right arm for $50 unlimited voice and text, not to mention having shared and fairly cheap high speed data access. (We used to pay something like $45 a month for 19.2 Kbps wireless access around 2001.)

However, I'm spoiled now, too. I think that the lack of a $10 extra dumbphone line is going to keep me away from this particular price plan.

 

[goofy1958]

So we are cuurently on AT&T with 4 iPhones and a mobile hotspot (for my laptop). With the different data plans we are allowed up to 23GB per month, and we use 18-20 of that every month! According to Verizon, there is a $15 per GB charge for going over the 10GB limit, so we would end up spending another $150 per month! $250 per month just for data! And then add in the $160 for the iPhones and $20 for the hotspot, and we would be looking at $430 a month! Crazy! I hope that AT&T is smart and comes up with better pricing, or else we will have to wait a long time to upgrade our phones (having to pay full price for each one).

Their pdf says that on average, a Verizon customer uses about 1-2GB per month. What about us that regularly use more than twice that? We're screwed!

 

[lordofthereef]

See, I think it's more of a money-grab thing.

Well of course it's a money grab thing. But the fact of the matter still remains that if they subsidize a smartphone AND allow for a $10 data plan add-on they would barely be breaking even at the end of your contract. Not worth the risk at all.

 

[unlimitedx]

I think what the carriers are telling us, is that providing data is more expensive than we think. In other words, data has been subsidized by voice and texts for a long time, and still is. Cheap unlimited data was viable only when it was used by a small minority.

If you look at AT&T and Verizon's wireless data profit margins, they're each only averaging about $3.90 a week profit from data on a smartphone user. Burger King probably makes almost as much profit off each $7 double Whopper Meal.

And, unlike Apple with their higher profit margins, the carrier profits go back to the shareholders and into more coverage.



Coverage is why I stay with Verizon as well. Obviously it costs them more money to have towers everywhere, and we have to pay for that.

It's amazing how our expectations have changed in the past decade. Not long ago most people would've given their right arm for $50 unlimited voice and text, not to mention having shared and fairly cheap high speed data access. (We used to pay something like $45 a month for 19.2 Kbps wireless access around 2001.)

However, I'm spoiled now, too. I think that the lack of a $10 extra dumbphone line is going to keep me away from this particular price plan.

Burger king doesn't make you sign a contract to buy a burger every week. Carriers get guaranteed steady return.. In fact Burger king has been struggling.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Obviously these new plans were introduced to do one thing, increase profits by raising data prices. Voice usage is on the down swing, so why include unlimited minutes? To make you spend more per month. Verizon is no different than Apple or any other company. This should be good news for investors as revenue will increase. And now you can use your 4G LTE iPad and smarphone and blow threw 10 gigs of data a month without trying.

 

[mantan]

These phone companies really are *******s with their billing.

Look at the attached.

300 megs for $20.00, 3,000 megs for $30. So ten times the data is only a 50% increase in price. There's no true "price" for data, they just rip you off the entire way.

They're just *******s. Nothing but *******s.

And valuing a text as anything but data is just a ripoff. Thankfully Apple's iMessage came around, because that really sticks it to those thieving ********s. But what do they do? They just ****up the text message plans to make you still have to pay for them. Damn I hate them.

I wish Apple would create a cell phone company. Boy, AT&T, Verizon, etc, would all go bankrupt overnight!

I truly wish some "underdog" would come along and not **** all their customers in the asses like ****** AT&T and Verizon. **** them.

I always laugh at the silly notion that Apple would want to get into the cell phone business.

Everybody expects speeds and coverage to increase exponentially, but balk at every paying a nickel more than they paid in 2005.

The money to continually build/maintain/improve networks is high. The money to build and expand networks has to come from somewhere doesn't it? The market has shifted. Data drives demand right now, so they have to strike a balance to find a way to pay for it.

I never understood how we all are fine with Apple making obscene profits...but if the cell companies ever make a dime they are greedy ******s.

 

[Geckotek]

This should be good news for investors as revenue will increase.

Unless users like me that were about to switch from AT&T change their minds.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Unless users like me that were about to switch from AT&T change their minds.

I think you will see AT&T follow Verizon on this soon. Perhaps Sprint and T-Mobile will hold out and try to gain market share. Some will save money on these plans, but those who don't use many minutes and use more data will end up paying more. But probably many people won't even do the math and see if it makes sense or not.

 

[kvasir]

Unless users like me that were about to switch from AT&T change their minds.

I'm on the fence. Jump to Verizon now and get one of the current plans on a month to month basis OR stick with AT&T? Have a week to figure it out.

 

[techiegirl]

I'm on the fence. Jump to Verizon now and get one of the current plans on a month to month basis OR stick with AT&T? Have a week to figure it out.

I'm trying to decide if I want to stick with Verizon or switch to AT&T. The Verizon shared plan will cost our family of 4 an additional $75 a month, even if 10 gigs shared is enough for us. With AT&T, we can each get 5gb w/ hotspot for same price we are paying now (FAN discount).

 

[applefanDrew]

I was gonna switch to Verizon for the next iPhone with LTE...but these prices are ridiculously high. Still...America's largest LTE network for my shiny new LTE iPhone... Gonna be a tough decision...

 

[jacekc]

I believe the new plan structure just initiated by Verizon will be the turning point for their customer base. Many people on this and many other forums are highly angered by their new plans and thier totally arrogant take it or leave it business attitude. At least in my case, a point has been reached where I have seen enough of price increases (by large percentages), fees tacked on there and there, elimination of customer loyalty incentives, and plans just shoved down your throat with total disregard. Granted this is free enterprise, but also corporate greed at its finest. I certainly would not ever renew a contract with a company like this and their attitude and money gouging practices. For me, it means I WILL not renew a contract with Verizon under any circumstances. Heck, there was certainly nothing wrong at all with a land line. Moreover, there are certainly plenty of pre-paid cellular plans available to prevent one from getting screwed over to this magnitude. Also, there are other choices such as cheap home voip devices, skype, and much more.

 

[f4d3]

I might move to Sprint if their 4G speeds are decent. I'm so tired of verizon.

 

[aajeev]

I believe the new plan structure just initiated by Verizon will be the turning point for their customer base. Many people on this and many other forums are highly angered by their new plans and thier totally arrogant take it or leave it business attitude. At least in my case, a point has been reached where I have seen enough of price increases (by large percentages), fees tacked on there and there, elimination of customer loyalty incentives, and plans just shoved down your throat with total disregard. Granted this is free enterprise, but also corporate greed at its finest. I certainly would not ever renew a contract with a company like this and their attitude and money gouging practices. For me, it means I WILL not renew a contract with Verizon under any circumstances. Heck, there was certainly nothing wrong at all with a land line. Moreover, there are certainly plenty of pre-paid cellular plans available to prevent one from getting screwed over to this magnitude. Also, there are other choices such as cheap home voip devices, skype, and much more.

I don't disagree with you, and while I don't think the new plan is a complete rip off I also don't think Verizon is "trying to benefit our customer". Unfortunately, Verizon does have one of the best network in the country. Yes, their data network might be a bit slow compare to ATT, but I have not had any issues doing everything I want to do on it. Also, speaking from experience, I have had to spend two years with ATT who completely lost all signal the moment I walk into the building of my previous job (in a highly populated area), then switched to T-mobile and found out that when going from one city to another with 60+ miles in the back country road T-mobile has no signal at all. I'm tempted to switch to Virgin mobile, Boost etc... But the risk of spending $500 then found out their service is bad in my area or the area of my next job is just not something I want to deal with. Also, I won't count on ATT to have come up with a newer cheaper plan, if they do great, but most likely they won't.

 

[kazmac]

geez

Verizon is up to their old tricks and fees once more.

Won't be seeing my $...

The iPhone is my least used Apple product so I may just go back to a non-smart phone once my AT&T contract expires awhile from now. If I stick with it, Straight Talk and Cricket seem like the best options, but I'll watch with they do with the subsequent iPhone releases.

 

[MsRandall]

I was gun ho to leave Sprint 2 months ago (After 14 YEARS) and the thing that stopped me going to Verizon was that I needed mobile to mobile minutes to all providers. Well this plan is the answer to my dilemma 2 months ago when I opened my Verizon account.

 

[donrsd]

id rather pay a higher price up front for the phone when i buy it, than pay higher pricing on a monthly basis.

im on AT&T with a 700 minute family plan
2 iphones
1 = unlimited data
1 = 2gb data (im about to put it on unlimited data with the 2g iphone loophole)
both = unlimited messaging & m2m calling for any provider (just got $30/mo off for 6 months too)

if the price goes up, ill just buy my iphones outright and keep my unlimited data.
AT&T wont see a dime of my money, just the cellphone useage part

if you dont buy outright = youre stuck for 2 years. buy outright and youre on month to month once your contract runs out.

 

[alent1234]

I always laugh at the silly notion that Apple would want to get into the cell phone business.

Everybody expects speeds and coverage to increase exponentially, but balk at every paying a nickel more than they paid in 2005.

The money to continually build/maintain/improve networks is high. The money to build and expand networks has to come from somewhere doesn't it? The market has shifted. Data drives demand right now, so they have to strike a balance to find a way to pay for it.

I never understood how we all are fine with Apple making obscene profits...but if the cell companies ever make a dime they are greedy ******s.

its cheaper for verizon to upgrade their infrastructure to support the higher speeds

voice costs almost nothing to carry
same with SMS/MMS

upgrading your backhaul to fiber and your towers to LTE means you can serve more customers with less infrastructure. and the new gear is easier to manage like it always is

normally i wouldn't care since everyone upsells these days but VZW is giving you unlimited minutes and texts which is what people don't really want anymore. and charging a lot for the data with no choice of a data heavy and minute/sms lite plan

i already told my wife to get ready for prepaid. looking at straight talk myself. $495 for the year unlimited everything which is really 2.5GB of data. but my wife is under 500MB most months and i'm under 1GB most months

and with iOS and android maturing with minor updates i will probably just keep my phone longer than 2 years if i have to buy it outright

 

[turtlebud]

debating - maximizing value

considering paying full retail for iphone in fall to keep unlimited data. I'm currently on 4G unlimited data with an HTC Rezound, which I'm pretty satisfied with.

My NE2 $50 credit just kicked in today. I'm considering getting a galaxy 3, use the $50 credit, then sell it and go back to using my rezound until the iphone comes out. Since I'm buying the iphone at full retail price, there's no need to wait to renew my contract right?

Also, can I activate the galaxy 3, then switch back to my rezound and sell the galaxy? Is it pretty much unlocked for someone else to purchase/active at that point?

 

[MsRandall]

I was gun ho to leave Sprint 2 months ago (After 14 YEARS) and the thing that stopped me going to Verizon was that I needed mobile to mobile minutes to all providers. Well this plan is the answer to my dilemma 2 months ago when I opened my Verizon account.

I switched to Verizon yesterday when I was able to score an unlimited plan from a friend...I plan to monitor my data usage and then add my husband to my acct in October when the iPhone 5 is released...That allows me to take the iphone 5 and give him my iphone 4s.