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I thought the VZW tether plans was $30 for 3GB. How are you getting 10GB? I didn't know there was an unlimited tethering/hotspot option.

If you have 4G LTE, you can add unlimited. If you have 3G, you cannot. Right now I'm using a non-iPhone (Razr Maxx) which has 4G LTE until the iPhone 5 is released. Once I switched the phone, I added the tethering plan.
 
Wow this thread is getting out of control.

Again, this is what I did today:

Added a dumb phone (LG Envy or some crap) to my EXISTING, non-family plan for $9.99 a month, NO data. I have an upgrade on this line available IMMEDIATELY. The rep confirmed if I upgrade THIS line to any smartphone, I will NOT lose my unlimited data on my other line (iPhone 4S).

I also have an upgrade available on my iPhone 4S line in October which I will NOT be using, as I want to retain my unlimited data.

Once I get my iPhone 5 in my hand, I'm going to switch that onto my existing 4S line and have unlimited data.

In Verizon's eyes a smartphone is a smartphone is a smartphone. It doesn't matter if it's Android, iPhone, 4G, 3G, etc.

//END THREAD.

If it turns out, for some crazy reason, that I cannot keep my unlimited data on my existing smart phone line tonight, I'll post here.
 
Just to clarify - lots of misinformation here.

I have, on many occasions, added lines to my previous family share plan (the old one, not the share everything) to get discounted phones. Swapped those phones (AFTER activating them) to my main line, and put a dumb phone on the other line. This works. No issues.

You can also switch from 3G to 4G phones without changing your plan/contract. I brought in a Razr Maxx 2-3 weeks ago to the store, said please put this on my main line and they did. Went from the 4S to the Razr Maxx 4G, still have unlimited. Went home, added unlimited tethering for $30/mo extra.

You can also move your line from one account to another without changing your contract. I did this, personal account to a company account.

You can also move a family plan line (NOT SHARE EVERYTHING) into a standalone line and choose your minute plan for the standalone line (including unlimited) without changing your contract.

I've done each of these things within the last two months. The lines on my accounts (personal and business) which had unlimited, still have unlimited.
 
xlost6 said:
If you have an upgrade available on a different line and your line has unlimited data. Transfer the upgrade from the different line to yours and purchase the iPhone 5. Your plan will remain the same but the different line will be extended to a new 2 year agreement. That's what I'm doing.

Is this true? So I can hit the transfer upgrade button on myverizon and preorder the phone on my current phone w/unlimited and it will Only affect the contract on the phone I took the upgrade from?

Can anyone confirm this?
 
Can anyone confirm this?

Yes. If you use the upgrade off another line, the other line renews its contract while your line gets the phone. I have also done this in the last two months.

EDIT: And before anyone asks, how or why I've done so many changes in the last couple months I'll just add that I manage 170+ lines between ATT and Verizon accounts for work and a few for personal.
 
I have a 4G Android phone with unlimited data. If I buy the iPhone 5 outright, and replace my Android with it, same number, can I keep my unlimited 4G?
 
Wow this thread is getting out of control.

Again, this is what I did today:

Added a dumb phone (LG Envy or some crap) to my EXISTING, non-family plan for $9.99 a month, NO data. I have an upgrade on this line available IMMEDIATELY. The rep confirmed if I upgrade THIS line to any smartphone, I will NOT lose my unlimited data on my other line (iPhone 4S).

I also have an upgrade available on my iPhone 4S line in October which I will NOT be using, as I want to retain my unlimited data.

Once I get my iPhone 5 in my hand, I'm going to switch that onto my existing 4S line and have unlimited data.

In Verizon's eyes a smartphone is a smartphone is a smartphone. It doesn't matter if it's Android, iPhone, 4G, 3G, etc.

//END THREAD.

If it turns out, for some crazy reason, that I cannot keep my unlimited data on my existing smart phone line tonight, I'll post here.

Thanks for that, i will be watching for your post, also a thank you to HeyGreggie.

Does anyone know if an old Sprint Palm Treo (since it is CDMA) can be used on the Verizon network. That is what i would use for my added dumb phone line (assume i need a phone on that line when i ask them to add it)
 
Yes. If you use the upgrade off another line, the other line renews its contract while your line gets the phone. I have also done this in the last two months.

EDIT: And before anyone asks, how or why I've done so many changes in the last couple months I'll just add that I manage 170+ lines between ATT and Verizon accounts for work and a few for personal.

So I don't need to order the phone with the line with the available upgrade, activate it, then switch it to my line with unlimited? I can just use the transfer upgrade option on the website and keep my unlimited data without doing any swapping?
 
So I don't need to order the phone with the line with the available upgrade, activate it, then switch it to my line with unlimited? I can just use the transfer upgrade option on the website and keep my unlimited data without doing any swapping?

That is correct. Their "transfer upgrade" system does all the leg work for you, reups the contract of the line you're getting the upgrade FROM and adds the phone to the line you're moving the upgrade TO.
 
That is correct. Their "transfer upgrade" system does all the leg work for you, reups the contract of the line you're getting the upgrade FROM and adds the phone to the line you're moving the upgrade TO.

Awesome, this seems like a much easier way to keep unlimited data. Should be stickied. Should work because phone with the upgrade I'll be transferring from to the unlimited has 2GB data plan already.
 
will this work on a family plan?

scenario:

2 smartphone lines (both can be upgraded)
2 dumbphone lines (both can be upgraded)

Both dumphone lines upgrade to iP5 2GB data plan.

Once phone is received, activate on the smartphone lines. Afterward, cancel 2GB plans on the dumbphone lines.

Would this work? Wouldn't the 2 iP5's be tied to the dumbphone lines?
 
will this work on a family plan?

scenario:

2 smartphone lines (both can be upgraded)
2 dumbphone lines (both can be upgraded)

Both dumphone lines upgrade to iP5 2GB data plan.

Once phone is received, activate on the smartphone lines. Afterward, cancel 2GB plans on the dumbphone lines.

Would this work? Wouldn't the 2 iP5's be tied to the dumbphone lines?

That would work fine. Both dumbphone lines would have renewed 2 year contracts with a 350 ETF. After removing the iPhone 5 from them and canceling the data plan that was added, the lines would go back to 10/mo each.
 
That would work fine. Both dumbphone lines would have renewed 2 year contracts with a 350 ETF. After removing the iPhone 5 from them and canceling the data plan that was added, the lines would go back to 10/mo each.

What happens to the upgrades that were available on the 2 smart phones? Can you then transfer those to the dumb phones?
 
What happens to the upgrades that were available on the 2 smart phones? Can you then transfer those to the dumb phones?
I would assume if you use the smartphone upgrades on any line, the smartphones lose unlimited as to do so, renews their contract which is the stipulation for losing unlimited.
 
So if I use the upgrades on the dumb phones to keep unlimited on the smart phones, as soon as I activate the smart phones on the previous smart phone accounts I will lose my upgrade on both the dumb phones and smart phones?
 
So much information here it's getting a bit confusing.

My friend has a VZW Unlimited Data plan and currently has an older 3G phone on it. He checked his monthly Data usage and only uses about .5 GB at most.

He's trying to figure out if it's better to just switch to one of the shared plans. He currently pays about $110/month and said he can get the 4gb plan for about the same (he has a 17% discount).

Reading through these forums it seems that a way to keep Unlimited and upgrade to the IP5 is to add a second line, get the discounted phone, switch and swap with a non-smart phone, etc.

However, is everyone sure that Verizon will allow you to cancel the data plan on the second line?

And can an Individual plan do this?

As his current usage is so low he doesn't think he'd go over 4gb but everyone says once youre on LTE that's a different story.

Also, can you not tether on Unlimited? He currently does through some APP, I believe, but I don't know if this is different because he's on a 3g phone. Sorry for so many questions, but any info would help, thanks.
 
The unlimited data is tied to the phone number, not the phone.

So say you have a phone currently with unlimited data. You are on a plan with multiple phones. You can use an upgrade on another line to get the iPhone 5 at the subsidized price. Then just switch the iPhone over to your line. Simple.
 
The unlimited data is tied to the phone number, not the phone.

So say you have a phone currently with unlimited data. You are on a plan with multiple phones. You can use an upgrade on another line to get the iPhone 5 at the subsidized price. Then just switch the iPhone over to your line. Simple.

But if you upgrade at the subsidized price you will lose unlimited data, correct?
 
I talked to several Verizon reps today and this is the process they told me to use exactly:

1) Order iPhones as an upgrade to any dumb phone lines (at the subsidized price)
2) Activate the iPhones on those same dumb phone lines
3) After 5 or so minutes call Verizon and have them switch those activated phones to the unlimited data lines (lets you keep unlimited data)
4) Reactivate the dumb phones on the original dumb phone lines and drop the data plan

Results) The dumb phone lines are now locked into new 2 year agreements. You can use the upgrade available from your smart phone lines to then upgrade those phones to new dumb phones (or metered smart phones) if you wish.

This obviously requires current dumb phones on your account that have upgrades available.
 
No.

I'm on a family plan with my mom, dad, and sister.

I currently have a iPhone 4 w/ unlimited 3G. I had an upgrade available.

My mom used my upgrade about 2 weeks ago to get herself a new phone.

She never had unlimited data, but I did not lose mine just because my upgrade was used.

Simply because your upgrade is used does not mean you plan changes, it only changes if you use your line's upgrade to upgrade your line.

I.e my mom can use my upgrade to upgrade her line and my unlimited data (and therefore my plan) was unaffected.

When my mom's upgrade is available in October, I will use her upgrade to upgrade my line, and I will keep my unlimited data.

If you want to be ultra safe about it, just go to the Verizon store and have them do it for you. That's what I plan on doing; unlimited data, at least to me, and especially with 4G, is too precious to lose over a simple mix up.
 
Im currently in a family plan. Me(smartphone w/unlimited data), my dad(smartphone), and mom(dumb phone).

Me and my mom have available upgrades. If i use my moms upgrade to buy the iphone 5 and keep my unlimited data and transfer the iphone 5 to my account, will I lose my unlimited data once my mom uses my upgrade to purchase the iphone 4S?
 
I'm thinking ill just use my upgrade and get the SG III and sell it ($450-$500). Then use those funds to get the iPhone 5. Longer process but i end up paying way less than full price.

Use your upgrade, dont let it go to waste.
 
Im currently in a family plan. Me(smartphone w/unlimited data), my dad(smartphone), and mom(dumb phone).

Me and my mom have available upgrades. If i use my moms upgrade to buy the iphone 5 and keep my unlimited data and transfer the iphone 5 to my account, will I lose my unlimited data once my mom uses my upgrade to purchase the iphone 4S?

I would think she would just have to choose a metered data plan. That's what Verizon indicated to me today. It took me a while to wrap my head around the fact that upgrades are tied to a line and really have nothing to do with the device and the plan by extension. On top of that you can give other lines on your account your upgrade... so you can just about do anything you want. It's just worth noting that whatever line the upgrade is activated on, is the line that gets the 2 year agreement.
 
nope. not gonna work.

how are you guys not getting this.

THE MOMENT YOU TRY TO ACTIVATE IT ON LINE 1 THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH YOU TO SHARED PLAN.

Umm yes it will work. I've already done this exact thing except it was with the droid razr Maxx, and it worked. I still have my unlimited.
 
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