Verizon iPhone Wireless Hotspot to Cost an Additional $20/Month

[Mattsasa]

You know what your right.... I'll make it easier for everyone!

Here's why the AT&T iPhone is superior to Verizons:

1. It's actually a smart phone, you can do data & voice at the same time
2. AT&T's network dealt with the most data intensive device the worlds ever seen for 4 years now, i'm confident in there ability to continue. Verizon... Maybe?
3. You can use it in other countries than the US & China.... (and a small handfull of insignifigant ones)
4. There 3g network is way faster to the likes of twice as fast. http://www.pcworld.com/article/1895...rlds_second_3g_wireless_performance_test.html
5. It uses a sim card like the rest of the world, so you can take it out put it in your new iphone (after you lost/broke/etc), restore your backup & go.
6. Did i mention the simultaneous data/voice thing.... thats kinda important.
7. You can buy one right now!
8. ***** you can buy the 3GS for 50 bucks

GOD, I cannot believe we still get comments like this!

I think at&t fanboys are mentally retarded.
This has been said so many times: "If at&t does not have service in your area, all of the above are completely irrelevant!"

so in the past there was the ipod touch plus contract and extra fees, and the regular ipod touch, and the droids. now that there is Verizon, we have an iPHONE! and an ipod touch and a droids.

If at&t does have service in your area, good for you. and **** about why your phone is better.

side thought: simultaneously voice&data is only important if you make phone calls, where as my family and friends only text and Skype.

 

[ekauq]

This is really what gets me mad

Verizon can give people a great tethering option, but instead they want to milk it for all it's worth. This is with the Palm Pre, 5GB every month, separate from regular data (still no phone and data at the same time), and free. It used to cost $40 for that option with the Pre, now it's free.

Will that ever happen with another phone, probably. Will it be a massively popular phone, nope. I just wish that if Verizon can have that option for one phone, they should have it for all of their phones, and other carriers do the same.

 

[osx11]

If you guys want a good monthly plan for the iPhone 4 then go and leave the country. I'm willing to bet all other (modern) nations have a "cheaper" plan that gets you more for your buck.

For instance, in Austria, you get the iphone 4 for approximately $400, with monthly fees adding up to ~$30. And those 30 bucks include 1000 minutes anytime to any provider, and UNLIMITED DATA. PLUS, you get unlimited mobile TV.

The fact that an iPhone in the States will basically cost at least a $1000 a year, that's tens of thousands of dollars in your lifetime - FOR A PHONE - is simply ridiculous. And then you wonder why private debt is high................

 

[Niko03]

Stop comparing Verizon's offerings with a grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan and MyWi. That's not what's currently available. Compare it to AT&T's current plan for data and tethering. You'll pay VZW $5 more, but you'll get one hell of a lot more mileage out of Verizon's.

Yes, but...

At Verizon's slow 3G speeds,
would you actually be able to use all your data in one month?

 

[tjb1]

Reaper might as well give up...I am because these fanboys are so drunk on the AT&T kool aid theres no reasoning with them. Guess they have to bring up BS to justify paying AT&T more

 

[EssentialParado]

Data is not free. When someone uses a hotspot, their data usage is almost always going to go up. More data going over the network requires cell tower upgrades, trunk upgrades, and other costs. These things cost money, both in equipment and in people's time to plan.

All I want from the phone company is 1GB data per month. That's all, nothing extravagant. Whether I use that via my phone, my laptop, or my donkey is irrelevant because it's still the same ones and zeros flowing through the tubes and it's all the same as far as the phone company are concerned. Nowhere should they have the right to charge me extra for a feature on the phone that's nothing to do with them. It would be like them charging extra for me to use Skype, which is just as insane—so long as I stay in my allowance and do nothing illegal or cause some burden on their system, what does it have to do with them how I'm using my data?

Anyway, I'm not actually complaining here. I live in another part of the world where we consumers have rights. I just feel disgusted you guys get trodden over in America. But you really have yourselves to blame. Stop voting for republicans and maybe you guys would get some equality and some rights.

 

[Niko03]

If you guys want a good monthly plan for the iPhone 4 then go and leave the country. I'm willing to bet all other (modern) nations have a "cheaper" plan that gets you more for your buck.

For instance, in Austria, you get the iphone 4 for approximately $400, with monthly fees adding up to ~$30. And those 30 bucks include 1000 minutes anytime to any provider, and UNLIMITED DATA. PLUS, you get unlimited mobile TV.

The fact that an iPhone in the States will basically cost at least a $1000 a year, that's tens of thousands of dollars in your lifetime - FOR A PHONE - is simply ridiculous. And then you wonder why private debt is high................

Umm....in Austria it takes maybe 1 cell tower to reach the whole country. (just kidding)
The US encompasses just a little bit more area. So yeah it takes a few more towers and just a little bit more investment to offer nationwide coverage.

(but yeah it sucks and we're jealous)

 

[quetzalcoatl]

Why do you need extra bandwidth if its unlimited...

Because of the way tethering works. They can tell if you are doing it and where they give unlimited to the phone they don't for everything else.

 

[greytmom]

Wait, what?

Isn't Verizon's plan unlimited?

Unlimited plan but 2 GB cap on tethered data?

I was about to say that Verizon charging to tether made sense since they are providing unlimited data, but...if they're capping it...

Nope, they posted an update earlier that said unlimited data was a temporary offer.

 

[osx11]

Umm....in Austria it takes maybe 1 cell tower to reach the whole country. (just kidding)
The US encompasses just a little bit more area. So yeah it takes a few more towers and just a little bit more investment to offer nationwide coverage.

(but yeah it sucks and we're jealous)

Yeah man, I guess 'nationwide coverage' is expensive. For instance, Washington state is 3x the size of Austria, yet only has 70% of the population. Which means the population density is a fourth in Washington State. It's just that the average American rarely needs nationwide coverage. I would actually consider paying for a cell plan that only works in one state if that means significant savings.

 

[tgildred]

http://www.hark.com/clips/bdhxnqttjj-the-price-is-right-losing-horns

 

[jc1350]

Okay... forgive my stupidity... but what the heck is the big deal about using a hot spot on your smart phone anyway?

Even for someone who's traveled a lot. Been on the run, I can't see what being able to whip out my cell phone and let up to 5 other users link into a pathetic 3G connection anyway? And if I'm not traveling, I'm at home where I have high-speed internet all over anyway?

Other than being a novelty... is there really a practical application to this? I guess if everyone wants to wipe out their laptop around the camp fire and check email, that might be fun for about 2 seconds???

I work in IT and have to deal with24x7 on-call. My employer will not pay directly for anything like cell/Internet service; it has to be expensed and they made that process so painful, I just don't do it.

So, I'm out with the family with no wi-fi hotspot provided. I get paged and have to work on a server. With MyWi, I can fire up my laptop and fix it on the spot. Without MyWi, I get to abandon my family (most likely making them miss out on whatever it is we're doing since we'd be in the same car), and drive to the office.

 

[chavest]

I remember when people were so excited about a VZ Iphone. Most anticipated phone for the last 4 yrs.

Now that it comes out everyone is chopping it down... How odd a company wants fee for a product and service it offers. I am still trying to find the article where wireless companies said they were not for profit.

They offer a service that allow us to be mobile and function in a world not even imaginable 10 years ago.


I am sure if this was offered for free people would still complain.

 

[JoJoCal19]

So, if I am in the middle of a 250MB download (say for a game App), and a call comes in, I have to begin from scratch and use up another 250MB on my data plan? Crap.

No! It does not start over. Data resumes and picks up where it left off. I have always had texts or call come in during downloading or even web browsing and when the voice ends, the data picks up where it left off. Don't let Jav or anyone else tell you otherwise. They are wrong and probably haven't used Verizon.

 

[jonnymo5]

What a joke. Considering you can't make a phone call while you are using data why don't you include it for free?

 

[robo74]

People act like Verizon is a new start up company or something. They act like Verizon has never had a smartphone on their network. Almost like they have 5 users or something.
Fact is, Verizon has many customers, Verizon has many good phones to choose from, Verizon has money.
AT&T users always bring their best fight to the game when a Verizon topic is posted, however, they claim hatred towards the company.
I noticed a user posting something about them not believing Apple allowed Verizon to have the iPhone. You do know that Apple is laughing all the way to the bank?

I notice a couple posts of people sporting what they think are facts, then I look at their join dates. I think they joined to argue.
Really, whats the issue here? Someone is on AT&T, your happy, stay there!
Not happy, or would like to actually make a call in your area, then get the iPhone on Verizon. Its not that hard folks, really nothing to bash about.
If you want to argue, go find a windows forum and start crap.

 

[vincenz]

Why all the negative votes? People think this was going to be free?

 

[goobot]

GOD, I cannot believe we still get comments like this!

I think at&t fanboys are mentally retarded.
This has been said so many times: "If at&t does not have service in your area, all of the above are completely irrelevant!"

so in the past there was the ipod touch plus contract and extra fees, and the regular ipod touch, and the droids. now that there is Verizon, we have an iPHONE! and an ipod touch and a droids.

If at&t does have service in your area, good for you. and **** about why your phone is better.

side thought: simultaneously voice&data is only important if you make phone calls, where as my family and friends only text and Skype.

ever think that Verizon wont get any bars everywhere too hum? Verizon fanboys are just as mentally retarded, thinking that they always get 5 bars everywhere and they are gana get everything free/cheaper

 

[abideworldwide]

iPhone Premium

Anyone else other than me remember when we paid $19.95 for unlimited data with bluetooth wireless tethering to the MacBook (and PowerBook for that matter a few years earlier) and a Joku wifi hotspot through our Nokia smart phones? I'm not leaving my iPhone 4 to go back to my E75 and E71 but man AT&T and now Verizon are charging a premium for using it on their networks!

 

[jpine]

Communication costs started getting out of hand when pay phones went from $0.10 per call to $0.25 per call. Its been down hill ever since with these companies.

Pay phone? What's a pay phone?

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

this is so stupid, its the same data ...

gotta love my german plan that doesnt charge me extra for tethering either <3

Well, one could argue that "texting" is just more of the same data also and yet people are willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money (per relative text data byte) compared to "other" data. If people are willing to shell out more money, companies are going to charge it. It's that simple, really. Why does Apple keep charging $2400+ for a Mac Pro when you could build a comparable Hackintosh for half the money? Because they CAN. If NO ONE bought them, they might just lower the price. Of course, being Apple, they might just discontinue it altogether ala XServe. That's because they don't actually listen to their customers. After all, Steve Jobs thinks that if he listens to a customer, they might tell him they want a faster horse instead of a car....

 

[jav6454]

No! It does not start over. Data resumes and picks up where it left off. I have always had texts or call come in during downloading or even web browsing and when the voice ends, the data picks up where it left off. Don't let Jav or anyone else tell you otherwise. They are wrong and probably haven't used Verizon.

Sure!!! If the call is long enough (say 40 seconds) the connection is reset at the server and hence your data is lost and you will loose the download. Example, downloading bank statements and receiving a call. You will loose anything not downloaded due to harsh security on the bank.

However, forget about banks. Think about iTunes itself. If you are downloading anything from iTunes that is a .ipsw and the connection is interrupted for even a second, then the entire thing must be redownloaded.

This comes from the IP standards and also kdarling's comments. Not mine.

 

[lifeinhd]

Also, This feature is the best since like Apple's ads put it, you can do stuff like order, place a reservation, check your email for an office thing, etc etc...

Yes, I must be missing out on so much, not being able to check my email while I'm on a 3-minute call!

Now, if you're the sort of person who regularly has 45-minute conference calls and needs to open some work-related attachments while sitting in a car driving through ATT-covered regions, then I pity you, but great, use ATT.

Also, AT&T has had the iPhone for 4 years and has been gathering their experience since then and know how to deal with it.

Maybe I'm not remembering, but I don't seem to recall anyone using that argument against ATT when the iPhone first launched.

How would you know? Just because those people don't travel doesn't mean the phone won't? Ever heard of eBay or reselling an iPhone to buy the next one? A GSM model will most definitely be worth more.

I wonder how many eBay sellers are actually willing to ship their iPhones overseas?

A CDMA model, people will dismiss it and laugh at it.

...

But it does for those of us who DO HAVE IT. And that's around 92% of all Americans. Cows don't count.

I'd like to know where you got that figure from.

And who are you to tell people what they can or can't buy or when and where? If people want an iPhone now, they'll get the iPhone now and only AT&T has it. u jelly?

I didn't. Assuming you're in control though (you didn't just break/lose/whatever your phone), I find it ridiculous that people aren't able to wait two short weeks. It's rather disgusting, actually. Proud to be an American consumer, yup, that's me.

Hardly, the 3GS is almost identical in performance to the iPhone 4.

Personally, I don't care about performance on a phone. For me, the main advantage of the 4 over the 3GS is the retina display. I have it on my iPT and absolutely love it.

Also, the iPhone OS is so much mature than any Android OS thus far and not to mention the incredible fragmentation it has.

"Fragmented"... people keep throwing that word around, and I can't figure out why (no wait I know, Jobs started it). After owning an Android phone (and an underpowered one at that) for a year, I have yet to see how it's fragmented in any way. "Just plain crappy" might be a better description.

So, why are you responding to his points when his points are made out to expose his experience with AT&T and bash him for exposing what he wants in a phone?

That wasn't his goal. He said specifically he was going to tell us why the ATT iPhone is so much better than the VZW iPhone. Now, if he'd said "These are the reasons why I prefer the ATT iPhone to the VZW iPhone," then fine, that's his opinion, good for him.

In case you've missed it, I really don't care what carrier other people use, as it doesn't affect me. What bothers me is when people try to "educate" me on the "better" choice, when it's clear all they're trying to do is justify their own choice.

 

[splashnader]

I love how people are saying that you shouldn't be expecting free things. But really, consumers should be expecting these things. I live in Canada, and have a 6GB Data Plan for $30. It includes free tethering, and unofficially also includes free hotspot (On iOS 4.3 builds, it is enabled). They have offered hotspot on several Android phones already, and tethering has been included in all plans >1GB for no additional fee.

So yes, customers should be expecting free things when users around the world are getting these services included at no additional costs.

You do realize that the two countries have a slight difference in population. You realize that bandwidth is not infinite in it's availability. The reason why plans in Canada are so much more generous than they are here in the United States is because there are less people using what bandwidth is available in Canada, whereas there is way more people per bandwidth limitations in the US.

For example you could take two metropolitan areas and compare traffic. One city and metro area has a pop. around 8 million people, the other a pop. just under a million. Both cities have comparable road infrastructure, maybe more arteries and roadways in the larger city than the smaller. Anyway the person living in the city with a population of around 8 million is going to find themselves waiting in traffic jams more times than not. There are only so many roadways, and lanes available to commuters. Just like there is only so much bandwidth available to cell phone and Internet users.

The people who commute in that smaller city are most likely not going to have to pay for emission tests, toll roads and higher registration and licensing fees and taxes. While the people who live and commute in the more crowded metropolis are going to have to pay for toll roads, higher registration fees, and yearly emissions tests. It doesn't mean one city or state is being mean to their citizens, or charging more for services just to be greedy. It is simply a product of demand.

And I know that Canada also has large metropolis, like the US. But Canada has not seen the same kind of population expansion over the last 30 years like the US has. Canada has been able to keep up with the demand for data a lot better than the US has. Verizon and AT&T are national carriers. They have to find a balance between network strength and reliability and speed and redundancy. On the day of the terrorists attacks, 9/11 in NYC, it only took roughly 2/3 of New Yorkers calling on their cell phones to check on loved ones, etc, to cause the cell networks in around the tri-state area to collapse.

The fact is it has nothing to do with customers should expect more free things. The fact is that the population in the US has grown faster than the cell phone company's have been able to expand their networks. Some cell phone providers have had to limit expansion or coverage for example, to strength their current network. Obviously companies like Verizon have done a better job at keeping up with the high demand, but even Verizon has it's limitations. The extra fees for hot spots is intended to help pay for the expanded bandwidth.

 

[furi0usbee]

Don't tell me there isn't collusion going on with Verizon, AT&T the the rest of their ilk. Verizon could pull a large percentage of AT&T customers away from their plans, even paying the ETF, by offering $49.99 voice (450 min voice + data (2GB) and free tethering).

And why do we even still use minutes? It's all data! A bit is a bit, regardless if it's in voice or data. So WTF??? We should be paying for data. I'd pay $50/month for 2GB *data* which could be used for voice or data. But no way. SAme as text messages. These things come out to thousands per megabyte when you compare them to standard data pricing, which they are nothing more.

The only reason I pay these cell fees is because I don't have a landline and my iPhone is my primary phone. If AT&T offered a cheaper plan than what I have now (the cheapest), I'd be all over that. Between cable and cell phone bills, you almost need a part-time job just to cover the costs of every little thing they try to hit you for.

Anyway, these companies know not to rock the boat too much. Why bother, when you can get higher prices. There is more than enough customers to go around they must figure. There is no good reason why Verizon doesn't take a shot at the throat of AT&T by drastically undercutting them with a deal of a service plan.