The article quoted Verizon's Executive Director of Corporate Communications, Brenda Raney as the source where the twitter account is, I'm assuming, just a few sales reps. So I don't think it's the same source...there is another article I saw earlier that quoted a different person that there wasn't going to be activation fees but I forget where that was.
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Verizon iPad 2 may require activation fee
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The article quoted Verizon's Executive Director of Corporate Communications, Brenda Raney as the source where the twitter account is, I'm assuming, just a few sales reps. So I don't think it's the same source...there is another article I saw earlier that quoted a different person that there wasn't going to be activation fees but I forget where that was.
My bad, I only read the bottom of the article where it states the time/ reason of the article update.
I see the reference to Brenda in the article, I emailed her after the reply from VZW support. Going to bed, East coast time. Here is what I sent to Brenda earlier... No reply yet:
Brenda.Raney@VerizonWireless.com<Brenda.Raney@VerizonWireless.com>;
3/10/2011 9:27 PM
Brenda,
I keep getting the run around about activation/reactivation fees for Ipad 2 on Verizon. Do you know the real story? Here is the email sting from your support organization:
________________________________________________________
Good Afternoon Mr (remove by me)
Thank you for choosing to contact Verizon Wireless. My name is Lauren and I received your e-mail regarding your inquiry as to what would happen if you suspended or cancel service with the iPad 2 and if you would be billed another $35.00.
I understand your concerns related to the iPad 2 and you just want to know up front what you are dealing with.
I have to correct the information that the prior coordinator had given you. Our database information has been updated and I do not believe what was given is accurate. For the iPad 2, when activating service, if you are going with the pre-paid service using a debit or credit card, there is no $35.00 activation fee and you will be billed month-to-month. If you stop using the service with pre-paid, say after the first month, you will pay the activation fee ($35.00) whenever you use the pre-paid service again outside of the monthly pre-paid options.
You can still replenish your pre-paid plan with the different data options. Keep in mind, that if you suspend your line on the pre-paid option, you will lose out on the remainder of your monthly pre-paid plan. If you have suspended service with the pre-paid option, you can still replenish your amount, before the monthly access is up, to avoid paying the $35.00 activation fee. Remember, you have 14 days to return or cancel the service and there is a $70.00 restocking fee, that will be billed to your account.
If you outright cancel service, there is no penalty since you would be purchasing the iPad 2 at full retail price. If you were to re-initiate service on month to month after canceling, you would pay the $35.00 activation fee. The special promotion for customers getting the pay-as-you-go, month to month service from the iPad 2 launch, is that with a debit or credit card, there is no activation fee. Not the same if service is cancelled or activated later after having the month-to-month pay-as-you-go plan.
In the event you need to contact me on my phone, you can call me directly at 240-568-2199 extension 7745.
I am here Monday through Friday and my hours are from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
I hope that the information I have provided has been helpful.
We appreciate your business and thank you for using Verizon Wireless products and services. Should you have additional questions or concerns, please reply to this e-mail or contact Customer Service via their toll free number at 1-800-922-0204. You can also dial 611 send, from your cell phone to reach them at no additional charge. Hours are from 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Sunday - Saturday.
Sincerely,
Lauren
Verizon Wireless
Customer Service
If you have received this e-mail in error or are not the intended recipient, please notify us immediately by replying to this e-mail and deleting it and all copies and backups thereof. If you are the intended recipient and are a Verizon Wireless customer, this response is subject to the terms of your Customer Agreement.
She is probably sleeping. Her 64GB Verizon iPad with no activation fees or data charges will be on her desk when she comes in to work tomorrow morning.
Just and FYI guys on those documents I posted on page 4 they are the internal training documents for direct and indirect Verizon retailers so every representative so far should have hopefully seen that and been brought up to speed.
Since the iPad will be working off of our pre-paid network, there is no activation fee generally. The exception is for a month to month pre-paid plan which does not have a $35 activation fee. The pay-as you go does not have any kind of activation fee, which is what these iPad data plans are classified under.
Tomorrow on launch will be the true test to see if there will be any kind of fee which will be stated in the terms and conditions presented to you when you sign up for service on the iPad. But for information so far provided to us and in the info docs. there shouldn't be a fee.
Since the iPad will be working off of our pre-paid network, there is no activation fee generally. The exception is for a month to month pre-paid plan which does not have a $35 activation fee. The pay-as you go does not have any kind of activation fee, which is what these iPad data plans are classified under.
Tomorrow on launch will be the true test to see if there will be any kind of fee which will be stated in the terms and conditions presented to you when you sign up for service on the iPad. But for information so far provided to us and in the info docs. there shouldn't be a fee.
Wow I feel like an idiot. I am not understanding whether there is an activation fee or not after reading the email from Verizon's CSR, Lauren. 
pre-pay is just as it sounds. No google? You pre-pay for your data up front in allotments they've already established (ie $20 - 1gb, and so forth).
Wow I feel like an idiot. I am not understanding whether there is an activation fee or not after reading the email from Verizon's CSR, Lauren.
no activation fee if you do the month-to-month pre-paid plan using a credit card/debit card. Activation fees are when you sign up for a normal plan where you get billed on a cycle. It's a cover for "service fees" to set up a line and to have the billing department get paid.
Verizon posted on twitter within the hour that there is no activation fees...
http://twitter.com/#!/VerizonWireless
http://twitter.com/#!/VerizonWireless
I understand "pre paid". I don't understand "pre paid network". The phrase implies Verizon has a separate cell network for pre-paid use, and that might also imply that pre-paid service is given lower priority, worse performance, worse service than their conventional 'contract network' (inferring there is such a thing).
So I'm asking what is a "pre paid network"? Is it a real network, separate from the Verizon's normal network? Does 3G service for an iPad on that network behave differently than 3G for an iPhone 4 on the normal network?
It's already been clarified multiple times there won't be activation/reactivation fees.
since they'll block calls/sms either way, i'm getting a verizon ipad. may not be quite as fast but I don't think it'll be hugely noticeable in real world conditions and large downloads should be left to wifi. I do know that around me (western MA) verizon has much better coverage. There's lots of buildings where only verizon users get coverage and I know when I go for walks in the woods or hikes on mountains in southern vermont and such, verizon gets service the whole way.
makes me a little nervous to not have a sim that I can just throw in another device for temporary data but I don't think it'll be THAT big of a deal. Plus there's a spot on the commute into work that at&t drops out and I want to be able to listen to pandora on the way in.
since they'll block calls/sms either way, i'm getting a verizon ipad. may not be quite as fast but I don't think it'll be hugely noticeable in real world conditions and large downloads should be left to wifi. I do know that around me (western MA) verizon has much better coverage. There's lots of buildings where only verizon users get coverage and I know when I go for walks in the woods or hikes on mountains in southern vermont and such, verizon gets service the whole way.
makes me a little nervous to not have a sim that I can just throw in another device for temporary data but I don't think it'll be THAT big of a deal. Plus there's a spot on the commute into work that at&t drops out and I want to be able to listen to pandora on the way in.
Where has it been clarified that there are no re-activation fees? A link to that information would be great. (Everything in here is either no comment or says there are re-act fees.)
Do they still want you to activate them in store if you're not buying it through verizon/att? I hate doing that, there's no room and I don't want to risk one of those idiots dropping or scratching my $850 ipad
actually it's stated and linked multiple times on page 5
http://www.macworld.com/article/158361/2011/03/compare_ipad_data_plans.html
Pogue says no fees, never.
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/verizon-clarifies-ipad-activation-fes/
Don't know why this stuff has to be searched on in technology columns. Why can't Verizon explain it clearly on their website?
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/verizon-clarifies-ipad-activation-fes/
Don't know why this stuff has to be searched on in technology columns. Why can't Verizon explain it clearly on their website?
Verizon Tweeted it an hour ago, no fees, never.
https://twitter.com/vzwsupport/status/46266792716419072
That MacWorld column only says there's no initial activation fee. It wasn't explicit about the re-activation fees, which has been the question the past day.
The previous page's discussion was also all about the re-activation fees, with the latest info last night that VZW would charge them if you used 3G infrequently.
So this information is finally, and only solidly, coming out today.
https://twitter.com/vzwsupport/status/46266792716419072
That MacWorld column only says there's no initial activation fee. It wasn't explicit about the re-activation fees, which has been the question the past day.
The previous page's discussion was also all about the re-activation fees, with the latest info last night that VZW would charge them if you used 3G infrequently.
So this information is finally, and only solidly, coming out today.
read dude FTA:
"Verizon's Executive Director of Corporate Communications, Brenda Raney, also confirmed to Macworld that, like AT&T, Verizon will not charge an activation fee to begin service, or even a reactivation fee if you cancel your service and start it up again a few months later."
From what I read on Motorola forums, the Xoom DOES have a $35 activation fee, and it applies each time you activate service.
And I thought the Xoom had issues before!
And I thought the Xoom had issues before!
I'm just going to get the At&t iPad 3G because I wouldn't put it past Verizon to add a activation fee at some point in the future. The fact they have not been very forthcoming about it and hadn't said much until the 11th hour leads me to believe they wanted to or were atlases considering it. I've also seen "at this time" referenced so yea, not going to chance it. IF I need 3G on the go and can't get AT&T I'll use my Verizon iPhone 4 to tether.
I just want to buy it in store at verizon to use a giftcard I have, i don't want it activated....i can do that with itunes, and i don't want to pay for any data now, maybe at some point in the future..........Will they require you activate it?