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Verizon shared data

This new plan really sucks. I'm out of contract right now on Verizon and was going to hold out until the 5 got released, but now I think I'm going to buy the 4S just to renew my contract and lock in my unlimited data for another two years.

I think what I'll do is sell the new 4S on eBay... probably around $100 less than full retail, then use that money towards the 5 (at full retail) when it comes out. It's a bit of a work around, but I'll be able to get a 5 without paying a fortune and still keep my current plan.
 
Besides "shared" data.

I think people are missing the 2nd point Verizon is doing:

Back in 2006 it's estimated 35% of Verizon account were "family plans"

Now with the explosive growth of smartphone and mandatory data, many people are joining Verizon has family plans.

It's estimated Verizon's family plans constitute over 60% of their entire "subscriber base". Which means less profit.

The dirty little secret is a lot of these "family line" are really individuals who open up a second account just to get the subsidy phone and immediately switch the new line to a $10/feature phone line. It is far cheaper to do that strategy than try to pay the $350-$10/month ETF.

So Verizon was not making a lot of money when people opened up line 2 to buy subsidized iphone at $199 because that iPhone went immediately back to line 1. And new line immediately was switched off the data plan so it only cost the person $10/month extra.

Now if someone wanted to do that manuever (add a line and switch phones). They would be on the hook for at least $30/month for that feature phone add a line.
 
ReallyBigFeet said:
Uh first, no. Your unlimited plan via 3G won't apply once you upgrade to a 4G device. You'll be forced into a different plan even if you buy the handset at full price. They will force it or just not provision you for LTE.

As for your second comment.....LOL.
Click to expand...

Really? Cause I just did with my friend for his droid. Check your sources. LTE is not true 4G check the FCC. Also your sources.
 
topherg said:
If you are switching from a 3G phone with unlimited data to a 4g phone you will be pushed into either shared or tiered data plan.
Click to expand...

I was afraid of that. I was hoping unlimited is unlimited regardless of network. So sounds like i need to upgrade to LTE device now to keep unlimited LTE for the iPhone 5 when it comes out. Can anyone else confirm this as well?
 
looks like these plans will save a little money for me and the wifey when the next iPhone comes out and we make the switch to Verizon.

we're currently with AT&T and have 2 iPhones and pay around ~$165/month with FAN discount for:
- FamilyTalk Nation 700 with Rollover (currently have ~4,300 rollover because we never use the full 700 min/month)
- Unlimited Texts (badly needed because its the main form of communication...hence the not using 700 mins/month combined)
- Unlimited data for me
- 2GB data for the wifey

i looked through the past year of bills and the highest we've reached for data useage combined is 1.65GB.

using the Verizon Shared Data Plan Calculator (http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/shareEverythingCalculator.jsp) it suggests getting the 4GB Shared plan w/ unlimited talk and text for $150 w/o taxes and surcharges. I would probably go with the 4GB plan just because im anticipating the iPhone 5 (which the wifey and i will both be getting when it comes out and we make the switch to Verizon) will have LTE and i know that will eat up a little more data, plus it would leave a little wiggle room for tethering the laptop to the phone for those long car trips. Going with the 2GB/month plan is cutting it a little too close for me and i would only be saving $10 a month.
 
bina12834 said:
looks like these plans will save a little money for me and the wifey when the next iPhone comes out and we make the switch to Verizon.

we're currently with AT&T and have 2 iPhones and pay around ~$165/month with FAN discount for:
- FamilyTalk Nation 700 with Rollover (currently have ~4,300 rollover because we never use the full 700 min/month)
- Unlimited Texts (badly needed because its the main form of communication...hence the not using 700 mins/month combined)
- Unlimited data for me
- 2GB data for the wifey

i looked through the past year of bills and the highest we've reached for data useage combined is 1.65GB.

using the Verizon Shared Data Plan Calculator (http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/shareEverythingCalculator.jsp) it suggests getting the 4GB Shared plan w/ unlimited talk and text for $150 w/o taxes and surcharges. I would probably go with the 4GB plan just because im anticipating the iPhone 5 (which the wifey and i will both be getting when it comes out and we make the switch to Verizon) will have LTE and i know that will eat up a little more data, plus it would leave a little wiggle room for tethering the laptop to the phone for those long car trips. Going with the 2GB/month plan is cutting it a little too close for me and i would only be saving $10 a month.
Click to expand...

You must not have a good ATT FAN than.

I have 3 iphones with unlimited data plus 1 dumbphone with unlimited text/700 minute rollover any any mobile plus A list.

My totat bill is $175 (including taxes) with a 24% FAN. We use between about 5-6GB of data between the 3 lines.

So for us we would need 6GB/$80
3 x $40 equals $120
1 x $30 dumbphone

$80 plus $120 plus $30 equals $230 (before taxes) a month with Verizon for the same plan we pay on ATT.

That means would be paying at least $50 extra per month and probably closer to $70 extra a month since Verizon doesn't discount data the way ATT discounts data.
 
skywalkerr69 said:
Really? Cause I just did with my friend for his droid. Check your sources. LTE is not true 4G check the FCC. Also your sources.
Click to expand...

Verizon said that they'll change that after June 28th. If you are on a 3G only phone, any 4G devices activated on their network after June 28th will require the new data plans. If you are on a 4G plan before June 28th, then any new phone activation (whether you upgrade or pay full price for the phone) will NOT force you into the new plans....at least for the time being.
 
aneftp said:
You must not have a good ATT FAN than.

I have 3 iphones with unlimited data plus 1 dumbphone with unlimited text/700 minute rollover any any mobile plus A list.

My totat bill is $175 (including taxes) with a 24% FAN. We use between about 5-6GB of data between the 3 lines.

So for us we would need 6GB/$80
3 x $40 equals $120
1 x $30 dumbphone

$80 plus $120 plus $30 equals $230 (before taxes) a month with Verizon for the same plan we pay on ATT.

That means would be paying at least $50 extra per month and probably closer to $70 extra a month since Verizon doesn't discount data the way ATT discounts data.
Click to expand...

yea my FAN discount is only like 3%

Guess these new plans will work for some and not for others......
 
If your a heavy talker and light data user, new plans make sense.

If your a heavy data user, and light talker.. Verizon wins.

I think the new plans suck, I don't want to leave Verizon, but might go back to crappy Sprint.
 
StinkyTofu said:
I was afraid of that. I was hoping unlimited is unlimited regardless of network. So sounds like i need to upgrade to LTE device now to keep unlimited LTE for the iPhone 5 when it comes out. Can anyone else confirm this as well?
Click to expand...

This is what an article I read said about that:

I'm a current Verizon customer with a 3G phone, but I need faster data downloads. Do I have to go to a new plan if I upgrade to a 4G phone?

No, you can keep your old plan. However, if you have an unlimited data plan, you'll be paying full price for that spiffy new 4G phone, as mentioned above.

This was the source of the article: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/verizon-alters-wireless-data-plans/1235052
 
babbit said:
Verizon said that they'll change that after June 28th. If you are on a 3G only phone, any 4G devices activated on their network after June 28th will require the new data plans. If you are on a 4G plan before June 28th, then any new phone activation (whether you upgrade or pay full price for the phone) will NOT force you into the new plans....at least for the time being.
Click to expand...
Link? Everything I've seen indicates that subsidized devices (which come with a contract) will require moving to the new shared plans. The subsidy being the determining factor.
 
takeshi74 said:
Link? Everything I've seen indicates that subsidized devices (which come with a contract) will require moving to the new shared plans. The subsidy being the determining factor.
Click to expand...

You're correct. If you get a subsidized device with a contract you will be forced onto these new plans. The poster that you quoted was also right in saying that if you buy the phone non-subsidized you will not be forced onto a new contract and as such you will maintain your old plan if you choose so.
 
Lets see, my current plan is unlimited LTE and unlimited hotspot for $100.00 all in, I only have 200 minutes and no texts and dont use either as I use Google Voice for all calls and for all texts.

I use 18 gigs or so a month and pay $100.00

Under the new plan I would pay $180.00 for data plus $40 for the phone so thats $220. or $120. extra per month. thats $2880.00 more over two years or $5,280. total for two years not including hardware, or I could just buy my new GS3 cash for $650. and pay my $100. per month, thats 2400 over two years and 650 for the phone or 3050. So I save $2240 over two years by paying cash for my phones.... FU verizon.
 
chakraj said:
Lets see, my current plan is unlimited LTE and unlimited hotspot for $100.00 all in, I only have 200 minutes and no texts and dont use either as I use Google Voice for all calls and for all texts.

I use 18 gigs or so a month and pay $100.00

Under the new plan I would pay $180.00 for data plus $40 for the phone so thats $220. or $120. extra per month. thats $2880.00 more over two years or $5,280. total for two years not including hardware, or I could just buy my new GS3 cash for $650. and pay my $100. per month, thats 2400 over two years and 650 for the phone or 3050. So I save $2240 over two years by paying cash for my phones.... FU verizon.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Verizon wins either way.

Option 1. You pay more (a lot more)
Option 2. You pay more (a little bit more since you lose your $300-400 subisidy by going full price phone purchase).
 
skywalkerr69 said:
I will be buying my new iPhone at full retail to stay at my unlimited data plan. :D
Click to expand...

That was the plan until I seen iOS 6. No killer features, one extra row of icons and stretched out apps is not worth $650 out of pocket especially if I have to use Verizon anyway. I'm getting the S3 for $250 (32gig) and will buy used phones on craigslist. But overall Verizon is making me do a early upgrade right before they screw us on June 28th.
If Apple was serious against Samsung they would launch the iPhone 5 at the same time with the S3 before the new policy goes into effect. Samsung will make out very good because of this.
 
I asked today at a Verizon store and also at verizonwireless.com to confirm that 3G/4G doesn't matter on keeping unlimited data. If you upgrade your phone at a discounted price, you are required to switch to the new plans. If you pay full price for your phone whether its 3G to a 4G phone, you still keep the unlimited data plan.
 
I'm disappointed with the new plans also and won't be changing. We don't use that much voice call time because most of the family and work folks are verizon so we just don't use that many minutes.
 
gadgetmonster said:
I'm disappointed with the new plans also and won't be changing. We don't use that much voice call time because most of the family and work folks are verizon so we just don't use that many minutes.
Click to expand...

So you plan on paying full price for all your smartphones?

I think Verizon is forcing all subsidized contracts onto new tiered family shared data plans.
 
aneftp said:
So you plan on paying full price for all your smartphones?

I think Verizon is forcing all subsidized contracts onto new tiered family shared data plans.
Click to expand...

Yes, the only option is to buy your phones full price or buy them used in order to keep your unlimited plan (or even you're current plan) after June 28th. Even if you upgrade your grandma's dumb phone through Verizon subsidized pricing all of your phones will be forced into a family plan.
Facetime over LTE with a family member will make you think twice about ditching your unlimited. A LTE device is like having a mini cable modem in your pocket and shows no mercy if you don't use self control. Since no one cares about minutes anymore Verizon is trying to capitalize on data now. Facebook updates have taken over traditional phone calls. Out of 3 phones I have never used over 700 minutes on my family plan in the last 4 years. But with data I'm always over 4 to 10gig per month since upgrading to my Nexus last December.
 
cdmoore74 said:
A LTE device is like having a mini cable modem in your pocket and shows no mercy if you don't use self control...But with data I'm always over 4 to 10gig per month since upgrading to my Nexus last December.
Click to expand...

This was a pretty rude realization for me. I have a Verizon LTE iPad 3 and it's ridiculously easy to use 200-300MB+ a day on LTE just surfing the web and reading/responding to e-mails. That doesn't including any streaming audio, video or uploading/downloading files. 3G, in comparison, is so slow that it's sort of self-throttling and I've never gone over 1.5GB in a month on my IP4. For that reason I'm hoping Verizon continues to offer the double data promo for single smartphone lines because 2GB will not be enough on an LTE phone.
 
Last edited:
johnothy said:
I asked today at a Verizon store and also at verizonwireless.com to confirm that 3G/4G doesn't matter on keeping unlimited data. If you upgrade your phone at a discounted price, you are required to switch to the new plans. If you pay full price for your phone whether its 3G to a 4G phone, you still keep the unlimited data plan.
Click to expand...

Until 6/28
 
Dunbar said:
This was a pretty rude realization for me. I have a Verizon LTE iPad 3 and it's ridiculously easy to use 200-300MB+ a day on LTE just surfing the web and reading/responding to e-mails. That doesn't including any streaming audio, video or uploading/downloading files. 3G, in comparison, is so slow that it's sort of self-throttling and I've never gone over 1.5GB in a month on my IP4. For that reason I'm hoping Verizon continues to offer the double data promo for single smartphone lines because 2GB will not be enough on an LTE phone.
Click to expand...

So true, just wait until the data flows faster on your mobile device than your broadband at home. People have no idea how much data iu can suck down when the pipe is un-corked.

It really sucks that Sprint will be your last choice for unlimited 3G/LTE plans with a discounted iPhone. You know damn well those bastards at AT&T will copy Verizon on this.

I haven't decided if paying $800+ for a LTE iPhone is worth it yet.
 
skywalkerr69 said:
Until 6/28
Click to expand...


Wrong, I just got off the phone with a rep talked to her for about 30 minutes trying to ensure I won't lose my unlimited. She said if you upgrade after June 28th yes you will lose your unl but if you pay full price after you still will keep it, even if it is a LTE phone. I went through about several different scenarios just making sure that I don't lose it..
She also said the new plans are to get rid of the grandfathered data accounts..
 
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