No Data is not a feature, features you can turn off. You can not have a smartphone without a data "PLAN" so it is NOT a feature! Sorry to yell.
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Verizon Planning to End Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans With LTE Switch
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No Data is not a feature, features you can turn off. You can not have a smartphone without a data "PLAN" so it is NOT a feature! Sorry to yell.
Just curious - all you folks vowing to switch: do you really use that much data or is a matter of principle? I hate this nonsense too but don't use the full 4 GB I have (AT&T) so wouldn't switch just out of principle.
Over-charge for mediocre service and then increase your prices as it suits you.
Looks like we need more competition out there, not less. I'm sure glad that the ATT - TMobile acquisition was shot down! Come-on Apple start your own network and knock these losers into the dirt!
Only problem being Apple couldn't start a network if they wanted. There is no spectrum available to purchase. The various carriers and others are hording it.
Well a contract bounds you to the cell phone company for a length of time. If I bought a iPhone subsidized then switched to a feature phone I can drop the data feature and not be charged an ETF. Don't want the debate to get ugly but there is a reason why att is able to get away with throttling unlimited data (for the most part minus the few lawsuits that dont seem to get very far) and why Verizon announced this move and their lawyers being content with it.
Good luck. The only reason why Sprint can offer unlimited plans is because their access is really slow (see Sprint's forum website below....over 800k hits so far). Sprint has no official throttling plan yet one can say they already throttle everyone.
Sprint's LTE footprint is non existent. So, yes, you can get unlimited LTE access....as long as you can find it
http://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/78766?start=0&tstart=0
The FCC comes to the rescue
As we noted in our precursor article on the new LTE iPads capability to use Smartphone SIM cards, Verizon (and following suit, AT&T), both agreed to a term in the FCCs auctioning of new (C-Block) 700 MHz spectrum. Both carriers were interested in the spectrum, specifically for use on LTE deployments. And the FCC knew it.
Essentially, at the request of the public, and companies like Google, the FCC imposed rules that require 700 MHz license holders to not retaliate against subscriber device changes, of any kind. You get to keep the same plan, regardless of what kind of device it sits in.
http://www.phonenews.com/verizon-af...ard-usage-in-hotspots-tablets-lte-ipad-20053/
Every day wireless companies find a new way to piss me off. Prices, plans, and data limits are getting more and more outrageous in a matter of months.
I wish a solid competitor with a fair business model came through and ran these monopolies out of town.
I wish a solid competitor with a fair business model came through and ran these monopolies out of town.
Yes on a feature phone data is a feature, thus the name "feature phone" but on a smartphone data is a plan, thus the terminology "data plan" not "data feature"
What happens if you then sell your feature phone and go back to a smart phone, do they let you have voice only? or do they make you purchase a "data plan"? The question answers itself.
Now my unlimited 4g hotspot is a "feature" as it may be removed.
Bring on the Family Share Plans!
If I can get 5 GB of data for $50 and share it across two iPhones and an iPad, I'm there! I doubt they'll let the iPad share data with iPhones, but if they do, it'll be icing on the cake. My wife and I currently use between 2-3 GB of data between us per month and we're paying $60 a month for two "unlimited" data plans on Verizon now.
Just this month, I activated the cellular data plan on my Verizon LTE iPad and paid $30 for 2 GB of data. I already cancelled the auto-renew because I'll only need it occasionally; but damn, having two MacBook Pros and a couple of iPhone 4 handsets using the LTE hotspot feature on the new iPad is fantastic when no Wi-Fi is available! AT&T was incredibly foolish to not enable the Wi-Fi hotspot feature from day one. It's just another revenue stream for data-hungry consumers.
If I can get 5 GB of data for $50 and share it across two iPhones and an iPad, I'm there! I doubt they'll let the iPad share data with iPhones, but if they do, it'll be icing on the cake. My wife and I currently use between 2-3 GB of data between us per month and we're paying $60 a month for two "unlimited" data plans on Verizon now.
Just this month, I activated the cellular data plan on my Verizon LTE iPad and paid $30 for 2 GB of data. I already cancelled the auto-renew because I'll only need it occasionally; but damn, having two MacBook Pros and a couple of iPhone 4 handsets using the LTE hotspot feature on the new iPad is fantastic when no Wi-Fi is available! AT&T was incredibly foolish to not enable the Wi-Fi hotspot feature from day one. It's just another revenue stream for data-hungry consumers.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Sorry, that was funny. Mission of your post accomplished.
While this does indeed suck, it is not entirely unexpected. And, to be honest, isn't going to be an impact to me, as we are waiting for the family data plan to come out so my wife can jump on the iPhone bandwagon. I just hope that the tiers/pricing for data remain the same. I seriously hope that the 5 GB is still $50/month (which I still think is high, but it is what it is) or the 4 GB with mobile hotspot @ $50. Then I will do it for share. Then again, if I am going to be giving up my unlimited data this fall anyway...
At least we now know the REAL reason for the slow move to shared data.
But that is my point. By saying data is NOT a feature that means I have to pay that money regardless of the phone I use because it is apart of the contract. But if I switch to a feature phone (Which name has nothing to do with the discussion and just means any phone that isn't a "Smartphone") I can remove the data feature still pay for my minutes and text message and not be in a violation of contract even though I bought a smartphone subsidized and immediately switched to a feature phone.
EDIT: To answer the other part of the post, if you go back to a smartphone you are required to have a data plan because of the phone you are using, yes. But that's company policy. I'm talking strictly contract and legal wise.
for most people, probably not. for me, because of the amount of data i use a month, it may be worth it.
i just worked out the math real quick...i actually save $180 over 24 months and get to keep my unlimited data. because i use 5+gb if data a month, its worth it for me. and the simple faxt my wife wont let me get a new phone every year anymore...haha.
The wording says "Everyone will be on data share this summer" it is even quoted.
So... can they just forcefully change contracts on everyone? Sounds like they are when throwing out terms like "Everyone" Probably a clause that allows them to do this but still allows you to leave w/o getting an ETF
So... can they just forcefully change contracts on everyone? Sounds like they are when throwing out terms like "Everyone" Probably a clause that allows them to do this but still allows you to leave w/o getting an ETF
Yes, i'm sure the lawyers looked heavily into this and found a loop hole before this announcement.
However on a feature phone you are not purchasing a "data plan" you are adding a "data feature" on smart-phones you are purchasing a "data plan" thusly you are both correct and wrong at the same time. It is a feature on non smartphone as it is not required for service. Yet it is a "plan" on smart-phones as it is required for service.
A plan is required, a feature is optional. If they change the rules and let you have a voice only smartphone then you are correct, but otherwise you are mistaken.
I am also speaking about contract law and the legality of it.
I would be surprised if any of this works. I think everyone is eventually going to have to move to a tiered data plan, unless they keep the same phone forever.
Then why are people even arguing the fact that they may jump on an LTE plan now when they just may be screwed already.. lol..
Unlimited is out to pasture. It's not completely dead yet but it's on it's way. Going to Sprint, T-Mobile, etc may buy you some time but you will be metered at some point soon no matter where you go. The only thing that will stay unlimited is voice minutes, because the bean counters and algorithms are showing long term decay in those.
I know what you mean, even with just a gf, I get weird looks if I try and upgrade my gadgets too quickly.
lol, so it goes.That's good that it'll be worth it to some people though, I wasn't sure. I hope some do it just to stick it to them.
I'm not disagreeing with you, it is a confusing subject i'm just trying to argue a point. If I buy an iPhone or Galaxy Nexus I pay the subsidized price sign a two year contract and my bill is $100 with Data. Now if a month later I decide this isn't for me and I go to my Motorola OG Razr I can remove the data and pay $70 and NOT be in breach of contract or have to pay an ETF and ALSO I can sell my subsidized phone on eBay.
If AT&T tries to pull this ahead of LTE "new iPhone", I'll buy a LTE android so i can use tether.com with high speeds. AT&T has yet to throttle my speeds (or send me the dreaded text), despite using 20-50GB+ each month. I hope upgrading to a faster phone won't lead to throttling for me.
i think i would honestly pay more if they gave me a plain english contract. no bull or crap. make it simple so the terms are 100% clear to people who are not lawyers.
the FCC imposed rules that require 700 MHz license holders to not retaliate against subscriber device changes, of any kind. You get to keep the same plan, regardless of what kind of device it sits in.
Hope. I'm just as pissed as everyone else but this is what cell phone company's seem to be doing lately. We are going backwards not forwards.