Verizon Planning to End Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans With LTE Switch

[derickdub]

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

Have you read the contract?

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't something in there saying VZW can do this without voiding the contract.

I'm not saying there is, but they pay lawyers to cover there ass in a situation like this so it's likely it won't void it.

 

[ixodes]

Oh shut it! You either work there or are a shill! They have plenty of money to build out infrastructure. This is about their promises to their customers and contract obligations being broken.

Perhaps you've been given everything in life.

That would explain the response above.

 

[tdar]

If i am forced to use a bucket of data, why should I have to pay to add a device such as an iPad to tether off my plan? if I get 5GB of data, then I should be able to use it with any device, hundreds if I have them, without paying them to add it to my plan.

Because these plans are designed to make them more money than they make now.

----------

Have you read the contract?

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't something in there saying VZW can do this without voiding the contract.

I'm not saying there is, but they pay lawyers to cover there ass in a situation like this so it's likely it won't void it.

Your contract will end....problem solved (for them).

 

[Euroamerican]

I guess I'll have to see what they give us.

Currently, I have unlimited on my ViPhone 4 as part of my overall contract and the 30.00 per month plan on my ViPad.

I would not mind some sort of shared plan where I could share my data usage cost between the two devices. Of course, this means they would not want me to have an unlimited plan on one of the two devices.

I'd be more POed if they do something to their networks that effects the current reilability of 3G in my neck of the woods. Quite literally, I get really good signal (even at the tops of farawy mountains in our woodsy national forests) with Verizon. My friends with AT&T... Not nearly so much.

 

[herocero]

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

hahahaha! man that was a good one.

the answer to your question is they too busy having a bbq with all the bribes the telcos give them.

 

[cdmoore74]

Sorry to say but all these Verizon changes started when iPhone came to Verizon. I’ve been on Verizon for 8 years and when we only had Android devices Verizon was very nice. I’ve been waiting for a Verizon iPhone worth getting but have been disappointed in the last 2 years. And finally a large screen iPhone is about to come out we get screwed again. First they took away yearly upgrades on family plans, second was the new every two credit, third was tiered data plans and now I can kiss my unlimited LTE goodbye “if” I upgrade. My only hope is that they grandfather my Galaxy Nexus unlimited data plan.
Trust me. Once you’re on LTE speeds you will worry all the time about hitting a cap. You can chew through a gig of data in less than 10 minutes if you wanted to. Once the screen gets bigger so does the screen resolution and so do the apps and media content.

 

[DevinPitcher]

I'll just keep 3G then. I'm happily content with 3G speeds.

 

[mac.cali]

This sucks!!! I should buy a Gnex just to covert to LTE and hope they let me keep my unlimited plan. But judging by the statement Verizon made, it seems like we have to be on a shared plan. What if your on the account alone, how can you share?

 

[zed1291]

I just went to a VZW Store and the manager said (though wouldn't write it down for me) that he has not yet heard of this change and that if it does happen, they can only force you to tiered plans if I/my family switched to a shared plan, as long as we stay separate (and each pay $30 a piece for our plans), I can get a LTE phone and keep unlimited. Not saying this is true, but that's what I was told.

 

[LaazyEye]

Would the best thing to do then be to purchase a 4g mifi/hotspot and transfer the unlimited data to that and then just carry that where you know there is no wifi and you are going to use data?

 

[SteveLV702]

well as soon as I saw/read this I emailed Verizon Corporate and just got this voicemail message


http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1971965/VerizonWirelessUnlimitedPlan.m4a



***UPDATED*** I just also got this email from them...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1971965/VerizonWirelessUnlimitedData.png

 

[DakotaGuy]

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.

Yep my RAZR MAXX is going to have to last a long time, but I sure enjoy having unlimited 4G LTE.

 

[dampfnudel]

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.

Basically sums it up. In the future, if you want a better deal that doesn't bend you over you'll need to move to Europe or some other place in the world. Let's hope there's some unforeseen dynamic that changes this horrible trend. It's ok if they drop unlimited as long as we get reasonable tiered shared data plans like 1GB/500 text messages for $5, 2GB/1,000 text messages for $10, 3GB/1,500 text messages for $15, etc. (yes, text messaging should be part of the data plans).

 

[einmusiker]

NO. Currently, if you choose to get a brand new 4G LTE phone you re-new your contract and get to keep your unlimited data plan. So, you can go from 3G unlimited to 4G unlimited.

In the near future, probably around when the next iPhone comes out, you'll upgrade to the new iPhone (assuming LTE) but unlimited will no longer be an option. So you can go from 3G unlimted to 4G tiered.

There is no breach of contract because it is you signing up for a new phone/new contract. You can stick to your iPhone 4S and keep your unlimited data if you want.

So what about if you don't get the iPhone say you already have an Android with LTE and you buy another android will they drop your ublimited?

 

[BtradI1]

Verizon might be being very sneaky

Although I can't find the statement to cite it, the current rules with the FCC concerning Verizon's LTE spectrum state that no matter the device using the LTE plan, you can use the LTE Data plan in any device you choose when you switch the LTE SIM between devices. You can probably find the citation in the Verizon iPad using the unlimited data plan threads.

Right now Verizon is trying to sell their LTE Class A and B Spectrum, and buy the Class C spectrum from "cable companies". If they do that, will the new Class C spectrum that they buy have the same rules? Has the FCC stated the rules yet? And if the rules change, will people that have an LTE Android device be able to switch their LTE SIM into the new LTE iPhone? Or does that rule require changing SIM's for all LTE spectrum, no matter the class?

They might be trying to get rid of that spectrum (and selling that LTE rule to some other company) because of that rule, so that people with an Android device can't switch without changing to a new tiered/shared plan.

Just a thought.

 

[rgravell]

well as soon as I saw/read this I emailed Verizon Corporate and just got this voicemail message


http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1971965/VerizonWirelessUnlimitedPlan.m4a

i can see it now:

your honor, i submit exhibit a into evidence...

 

[SteveLV702]

i can see it now:

your honor, i submit exhibit a into evidence...

I also now submit exhibit B

 

[rgravell]

I also now submit exhibit B

Image

haha...i wasnt knocking you. i just like the voice/paper trail.

EDIT: so we can get on that to, did you just call and email? or...

 

[j1787]

Seen this coming!

In my opinion, this will be the norm for all providers within the next few years. I even believe Sprint and T-Mobile will fallow suit when they have solid LTE networks in place.

They are going to make everyone switch one way or the other, even "grandfathered" accounts will be throttled to a point where it's simply not worth keeping.

However, I believe the price of SMS and voice are going to begin dropping dramatically, they may not even be charged services in the next couple of years. With apps for google voice and many other free services, carriers are going to have change their structure at some point to compete.

Again this my opinion only! I think as these services begin dropping, customers will be okay with spending more money monthly on data services. IF I could drop my voice/SMS, I would save myself 59.99 a month. I would gladly put that money towards more data at LTE speeds. This would also allow me to use a free service for voice calls and iMessage(or free service) for messaging.

Eventually it will just be like buying home internet service but a bit more expensive due to the mobile convenience. Much like a Landline phone (free-$19.99) depending on carrier vs. Mobile cell minutes is now.

I pay 59.99 a month for Comcast - 50mbps at a 250GB cap. Eventually at LTE speeds of say 15-25mbps real life speed, I could drop that expense as well. This would also allow me to purchase more MOBILE data cap from my cell provider.

With LTE speeds being ridiculously fast, this is really just the beginning of major changes we'll be making at one point or another in the near future.

 

[SteveLV702]

haha...i wasnt knocking you. i just like the voice/paper trail.

EDIT: so we can get on that to, did you just call and email? or...

I used Contact Us form on VerizonWireless.com

 

[cmwade77]

Have you read the contract?

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't something in there saying VZW can do this without voiding the contract.

I'm not saying there is, but they pay lawyers to cover there ass in a situation like this so it's likely it won't void it.

Actually, in this case, since the contract doesn't change, unless you do something, it would not void the contract.

Now, if they said we are switching everyone over, then yes, it would.

I don't think T-Mobile will follow suit, they like to be the cheapest "regular" carrier on the block.

What I think people should start doing is migrating away from these big guys to some of the prepaid offering that offer truly unlimited everything.

 

[techwhiz]

Verizon Planning to End

Unlike GSM phones, where it's a simple matter of pulling the SIM card out of the old phone and inserting it in the new phone, with Verizon there isn't any (domestic) card you can pull out of the old Verizon phone and pop into your replacement.

Your current Verizon plan is tied to the your CDMA-based phone by its built-in electornic serial number. If you want to switch to a new phone, you must inform Verizon about the change and they must take actions on their end to approve the change and implement it inside their system.

At the point where you submit your request, they will probably just inform you that your existing contract isn't compatible with the new phone, so you'll have to change it.

Not true, if you are using LTE they use SIM and uSIM cards.
You activate by the card on LTE devices.

 

[andyx3x]

I also now submit exhibit B

Image

Do you really think that they would tell you anything different right now? There is no reason for them to. You haven't lost it yet. So technically, he's telling you the truth.

Everyone eventually is going to lose their unlimited data. The only way you won't is if you never change phones or stay on 3g phones. That's it.

 

[0000757]

This is so frustrating... My son has a feature phone and I promised him an iPhone in October. When Verizon announced the end of unlimited and reiterated the grandfathering of unlimited data, I added a data plan to his EnV3. I have been paying 30 a month so that when he got his iPhone he would have unlimited data. I knew he wasn't going to use ANY data between then and the purchase of his iPhone, but the attraction of unlimited data down the road would be worth it. Now this. I am incensed. They just stole hundreds of dollars from me. Blatantly ripped me off when they announced the end of unlimited, with the caveat that you would be grandfathered. I wonder if there is any recourse.

Angry in California

They didn't steal anything from you. You agreed to pay the 30$ and your son has decided not to use any of the data. Verizon did not force the data on you.

And I will not be paying any sort of fee for breaking a contract, as they will have already broken it.

Bring it Verizon. Seriously.

I love it when people say stuff like this.

This also goes in addition to the other person I quoted:

When you sign up for the service, you agree that Verizon has the ability to change ANYTHING about their service that they want. When you sign up you agreed to their terms. If their terms said that they had the right to your firstborn daughter for religious sacrifices, and you signed it, you just agreed to that. It's your fault for signing it.

Also, good luck trying to legally avoid paying the ETF. If you can avoid the fee legally you will win everything ever.

EDIT: This was also probably a premature announcement. All carriers have to do this sometime. Verizon just jumped the gun in saying it. I knew this was coming long before.

 

[BtradI1]

Do you really think that they would tell you anything different right now? There is no reason for them to. You haven't lost it yet. So technically, he's telling you the truth.

Everyone eventually is going to lose their unlimited data. The only way you won't is if you never change phones or stay on 3g phones. That's it.

Exactly, and he didn't cover his butt with future changes or upgrades. If we want to ask we need to ask NOW if "upgradeability" from 3G phones to LTE concerning the Unlimited data plan AND changes in phones from LTE to any other LTE device on the unlimited plan will be covered in indefinently with any upgrade in phones and change in unrelated (shared) plans. Because if what I said in my previous post is true, they will be able to change the plans of people even if they are on LTE.