Verizon Planning to End Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans With LTE Switch

[MacRumors]

U.S. cellular carrier Verizon is planning to move its customers who still have unlimited data plans for their smartphones to its new family data-share plans as customers switch to LTE data plans.

The iPhone was initially offered with unlimited data plans when it launched on Verizon early last year, but the carrier soon dropped the unlimited option in favor of data plans with allocations of data.

Fierce Wireless has the details, quoting Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo at a JP Morgan conference:

As these 3G unlimited data plan customers migrate to 4G LTE, they will have to purchase the company's data-share plan (which Verizon plans to launch in mid-summer) and move off the $30 per month unlimited data plan. "Everyone will be on data share," Shammo said.

Verizon currently throttles its unlimited data users only when a particular cell tower is overloaded, whereas competitor AT&T slows its unlimited users after they use 3GB of data in a month. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson recently noted that his one regret about bringing the iPhone to AT&T was offering unlimited data.

Sprint, the number three carrier in the country -- and the only carrier to still offer unlimited data packages for the iPhone -- has said it will continue to offer unlimited data plans for the iPhone, even if the next iPhone includes LTE, as is expected.

Article Link: Verizon Planning to End Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans With LTE Switch

 

[jclardy]

Verizon has cast the first stone.

I'm awaiting AT&T's announcement next week.

 

[boshii]

As expected.

 

[aristotle]

Who did not see this coming?

 

[AppleDroid]

And if Sprint ever digs itself out of a distant 3rd place it will also dump the unlimited plan. I mean who didn't see this coming?

 

[William Gates]

The iPhone was initially offered with unlimited data plans when it launched on Verizon several years ago,

It was 15 months ago, not several years.

 

[brguitarist]

That makes my decision on whether I'll keep VZW much easier.

 

[jesusplay]

where were you when the war started?

 

[PBG4 Dude]

It was 15 months ago, not several years.

Yea, it was last February, LOL.

 

[Mr. Gates]

Verizon has cast the first stone.

I'm awaiting AT&T's announcement next week.

The world is going backwards

 

[Peace]

Does this mean a person can switch without paying a early termination fee since the contract has changed ?

 

[BigCanoe]

I have a HTC Thunderdolt 4G on Verizon, with unlimited data...How did that happen?!

 

[louis Fashion]

LTE is not for ME

So you get this LTE capability, then you are screwed when you use it?


Bring back the land line!!!

 

[Epic Xbox Revie]

How does this work with existing plans? How're they going to stop me from just activating the phone without changing my plan?

 

[jmccall]

It was 15 months ago, not several years.

I found this hilarious that they used several years in place of 15 months. As if it had been on Verizon for a decade or something.

 

[jontech]

The world is going backwards

With Verizon leading the charge

At least ATT grandfathered it in, even though it caused them sleepless nights

 

[chakraj]

I think those of us who have already migrated to LTE and have unlimited LTE, will still be OK as long as we dont sign a new contract. So buy your phones at full price from now on.

 

[darthraige]

I'm sure there will be a loop hole of some kind.

 

[Nostromo]

How to cheat on your customers:

1. Sell them unlimited data plans.

2. End unlimited data plans, but tell those who already have them, that contracts will be respected = grandfathered.

3. Fu$$ it! Who cares! End grandfathering and break contracts. All grandparents must die one day anyway.

For the record: I don't have an unlimited data plan. But it annoys me anyway to see how cell phone break their word to others. Cell phone cartel keeps prices at twice the price level anybody else in the world pays.

Where is the government investigation into price fixing at cell phone companies?

 

[siphyn87]

Verizon only throttles 3g. They don't throttle LTE. The article is wrong. Also I wouldn't be surprised if people kept their unlimited. This only applies to people with more than one line.

 

[BMNB1tch]

jeez what is the point

why dont these mobile companies spend money on expanding their networks rather than trying to out advertise the other guy

really wish Apple would start its own network ...

 

[iParis]

>.< So my cellular data will be faster but I'll have some ****** limit. >.< I'm assuming it's 2GB or whatever option I choose. I hope that family plan data share thing doesn't mean I have to share 2GB with all iPhone users on my plan, that would not go well.

 

[ECUpirate44]

I'm sure there will be a loop hole of some kind.

Like what?

 

[Darth.Titan]

It was 15 months ago, not several years.

LOL. Good catch!

 

[Diode]

If AT&T follows suite - it will just make my switch to T-Mobile a lot easier as the one thing keeping me is unlimited data.