My guess is that it will coincidentally be when the lte iphone is released. Still nothing stopping them from forcing existing unlimited customers though.

5/17/2012 9:55:44 AM

^that's what that article says.

5/17/2012 10:14:34 AM

It's still Verizon we're talking about and he was vague in addressing the issue. What about current 4G customers on unlimited data? What about those whose contracts have expired? And the contracts still give Verizon the right to change any of the terms as they please whether your contract is up or not so what he says is pretty much a moot point at the moment.

5/17/2012 10:19:05 AM

my question is if i go soon (like today) and upgrade to a 4g phone (was planning on doing that this summer anyway) if i could keep my 4g until... when?

5/17/2012 11:15:23 AM

No one knows exactly how long. Technically if you go now, you can upgrade from 3G unlimited to 4G unlimited and "should" be good at least until you need to upgrade again. The question is whether or not the switch will only apply for those going from 3G to 4G devices, any upgrades or even esn switches for those thinking about buying from ebay or craigslist to get around it. Verizon can also force those of use currently on unlimited plans to tiered plans even if our contracts aren't up if they really feel like being asses.

5/17/2012 11:21:06 AM

in that case would we be able to opt out of their service since they changed the terms?

5/17/2012 11:22:49 AM

Only if it has a "material adverse effect" which is pretty much determined by them and not really us.

Quote :

"Can Verizon Wireless Change This Agreement or My Service? We may change prices or any other term of your Service or this agreement at any time,but we'll provide notice first, including written notice if you have Postpay Service. If you use your Service after the change takes effect, that means you're accepting the change. If you're a Postpay customer and a change to your Plan or this agreement has a material adverse effect on you, you can cancel the line of Service that has been affected within 60 days of receiving the notice with no Early Termination Fee if we fail to negate the change after you notify us of your objection to it."

5/17/2012 11:25:11 AM

Yes, you can upgrade any device and keep unlimited data, provided you have unlimited data.

Sometime this summer, according to reports, any plan changes with any device will force customers into tiered data.

What hasn't been confirmed is if VZW, sometime this summer, will force all customers onto tiered data plans, no matter if you're not making any changes (e.g. upgrading)

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 11:55 AM. Reason : .]

5/17/2012 11:55:07 AM

if one has a history of using more than 2GB/month and verizon forces you into a tiered plan where your cost is higher in order to meet your data needs, i think you could get out of a contract pretty easily, actually

also, i truly don't think they'll force anyone into a tiered plan until you upgrade...it's going to be a boatload of hassle for them, with a lot of pissed-off customers, and the truth is that the folks who use more than 2GB/month are likely the same folks who will want a new phone as soon as they're eligible...they might want to refrain on principle (especially with verizon's new "fuck you" $30 upgrade fee), but most won't

i have unlimited 4G data for $23-24 (after 20% discount), but i don't think i use more than 2GB most months (the exception being when i go to the beach or something and turn the phone into a wifi hotspot for folks to share) because i don't really stream much and most web/email is comparatively small potatoes...so if they essentially say that for the same price i will be limited to 2GB, it likely won't affect me...

...until the first time that i go over 2GB, at which point i will throw a holy fit

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:17 PM. Reason : if this runs off the heavy data users, vzw will probably just wave goodbye with a smile, anyway]

5/17/2012 12:15:18 PM

http://www.androidcentral.com/verizon-clarifies-new-data-plan-policies

Quote :

"As we have stated publicly, Verizon Wireless has been evaluating its pricing structure for some time. Customers have told us that they want to share data, similar to how they share minutes today. We are working on plans to provide customers with that option and will introduce new plans later this year. When the new options are introduced, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to our customers purchasing handsets and signing a new contract. Customers who choose to purchase phones at full retail price and are currently on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan. The same pricing and policies will apply to all 3G and 4GLTE smartphones. We will share specific details of the plans well in advance of their introduction so customers will have time to evaluate the plans and make the best decisions for their wireless service. It is our goal and commitment to continue to provide customers with the same high value service they have come to expect from Verizon Wireless."

5/17/2012 6:01:09 PM

^^pretty sure it's still $30 for 4GB/month (which is a "promotion" but has been going on for a while).

Also, if they force users to tiered plans, then tethering plans should go away and just come up with one plan for data; single use/shared/tether. it won't matter.

5/17/2012 6:05:45 PM

while i think sharing data is neat (there are probably a lot of couples who don't use 2GB between them), there's no way they're going to let folks share a $30 2GB plan...probably let you do 2GB at $30 and then add a phone to that same 2GB for $10 or something

and so from here on out, buy your phones at retail or nab one on CL...which i may end up doing in a year when my contract comes up (to avoid the $30 fuck-our-customers fee and being forced to drop from unlimited to 2GB)...i don't need the latest and greatest (though it's nice!)

EDIT: ^ i didn't realize it's still on the 4GB/$30 promotion, but i seriously doubt they're going to keep that up once they start forcing folks into tiered plans...so i would expect that to change at the same time this policy goes into effect (along with the $30 fuck-you upgrade fee)

Quote :

"Also, if they force users to tiered plans, then tethering plans should go away and just come up with one plan for data; single use/shared/tether. it won't matter."

i don't get it...as someone whose first act was to root his phone, i don't know about this whole pay-for-tethering bullshit...is that an option now? you pay them an extra $10 or something for the pleasure of using the data you've already paid for once?

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 6:09 PM. Reason : .]

5/17/2012 6:06:16 PM

^no, it's $30/2GB I believe for tethering. It's bullshit. I don't pay it; I just used wired tether with my DX since I was too lazy to root it (had to flash back to some bullshit, then install a custom rom or some shit. I didn't tether enough for it to matter).

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 6:12 PM. Reason : .]

5/17/2012 6:12:26 PM

ah, so you're saying it'll be single (just your phone gets 2GB), shared (you and another phone share the 2GB) and tether (just your phone gets access, but you can also use the official verizon tethering app)?

5/17/2012 6:14:05 PM

That's how I think it should be.

It's set up now to where your tethering plan is separate from your data plan, and I haven't heard that will change. The point of doing it this way was to limit tethering usage on unlimited data plans, since tethering normally gobbles up data. But I don't see the point if you're on a tired plan and unlimited is not longer an option. Data is data. Just let people tether on their base plan.

5/17/2012 6:35:21 PM

yeah, but if that's the argument, then all tethering should be "free"

that, of course, will never happen because they're going to want to get at least SOME money out of providing you the ability to use your already-paid-for data how you want to

5/17/2012 6:38:00 PM

this pisses me off. I want my iphone5 lte

5/17/2012 6:42:32 PM

^ no one's stopping you from getting once if it comes out

5/17/2012 6:43:42 PM

they are. Cause they know what I want to do....and they are stopping me.

5/17/2012 7:38:51 PM

5/17/2012 7:40:14 PM

BRING BACK THE LAST NON-SHITTY WIRELESS PROVIDER

5/17/2012 7:41:29 PM

If your contract is about to come up it really might be worth checking in to Sprint.

Their network upgrade is going to be totally badass. They are taking down the nextel network which operates on a lower frequency than their CDMA network, lower frequencies penetrate buildings better and travel farther, so the voice quality is going to be much improved.

They are also getting LTE soon!

http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/129198-network-vision-sprints-path-to-domination

5/17/2012 7:55:06 PM

badass and sprint? lolz

5/17/2012 8:03:25 PM

^^ interesting. Sprint is stuck with me until aug 2013, so they have some time to convince me to stick with them over VZW.

if they're phasing out wimax I'll have to get an LTE device though.. what are the odds they do some kind of credit for switching from wimax android to lte android?

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 8:17 PM. Reason : .]

5/17/2012 8:16:16 PM

attn: bmel

So, how is the unlimited data destruction supposed to work out? My mom is bugging me about it and asked me to ask my friend who works at Verizon.

[Edited on May 20, 2012 at 10:27 PM. Reason : I thought I saw a thread on this but I am too le tired to search. ]

5/20/2012 10:27:05 PM

I dunno

5/20/2012 10:38:19 PM

5/20/2012 10:50:59 PM

Basically it sounds like you're going to be screwed unless you pay full retail or buy from craigslist/ebay (i.e. bmel is going to be PISSSED )

http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/05/data-pricing.html

Quote :

"As we have stated publicly, Verizon Wireless has been evaluating its pricing structure for some time. Customers have told us that they want to share data, similar to how they share minutes today. We are working on plans to provide customers with that option and will introduce new plans later this year. When the new options are introduced, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to our customers purchasing handsets and signing a new contract. Customers who choose to purchase phones at full retail price and are currently on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan. The same pricing and policies will apply to all 3G and 4GLTE smartphones. We will share specific details of the plans well in advance of their introduction so customers will have time to evaluate the plans and make the best decisions for their wireless service. It is our goal and commitment to continue to provide customers with the same high value service they have come to expect from Verizon Wireless."

5/21/2012 9:22:46 AM

lol you posted that exact same quote 4 days ago

and it sounds like if you keep your existing phone, you can keep your unlimited plan even on renewal

5/21/2012 9:26:36 AM

lol. My bad. And yeah, not upgrading is another option (at least for the time being).

5/21/2012 9:29:32 AM

Sounds like I need to upgrade to that 4G now and keep my unlimited plan.

Yo bmel! Hook a brotha up!

5/21/2012 9:35:11 AM

Quote :

"and it sounds like if you keep your existing phone, you can keep your unlimited plan even on renewal"

they would probably love for folks to do this...but why would you? wouldn't that mean you signed another contract without the benefit of getting a newer phone at a discounted price?

5/21/2012 10:11:46 AM

yeah but if you're happy enough with your same phone for another couple years, it'd be nice to keep the unlimited data

i've had most of my phones for at least a couple years each, i don't get the people who want to upgrade to a new phone every 6 months

5/21/2012 10:14:36 AM

^ i thought that once your contract ran out, you just kept paying the same rate for the same services until you signed a new contract (and then, it's really just for the discounted phone)...so there's no reason to sign a contract unless you specifically want a new phone at the discounted price

i could be wrong...i always sign a new contract at 21 months (or whatever the earliest available upgrade date is) and sell my old phone for (roughly) the same out-of-pocket cost as the new one...so yeah, i have a new contract, but i GENERALLY get a new phone for free or very little cash monies

[Edited on May 21, 2012 at 10:20 AM. Reason : .]

5/21/2012 10:18:59 AM

some contracts auto-renew, others turn into month-to-month, not even sure how mine is setup lol

5/21/2012 10:19:55 AM

hmmm, i'll have to check that out...having never ran a contract after it's expiration, i don't know if mine goes month-to-month or not

i assume it's verizon's overall policy, so bmel could probably say

[Edited on May 21, 2012 at 10:34 AM. Reason : or pttyndal]

5/21/2012 10:21:22 AM

You go month to month once your 24 months is over assuming you keep your old phone. They could technically require a change once your contract is over but then people could just cancel with no ETF and go somewhere else since they're out of contract.

5/21/2012 10:28:51 AM

^ good to know

5/21/2012 10:35:08 AM

are there any updates? my coworker wants to go in and use her upgrade but I'm worried she'll do something stupid like force the whole company onto the tiered plans

5/25/2012 11:43:09 AM

you can upgrade your device without impacting plans.

I just did it last week.

sometime this summer that will change, so do it now.

5/25/2012 11:44:07 AM

Verizon has given me the answers to all your questions loljk

Quote :

"Q. I've heard that Fran Shammo, Verizon’s CFO, told attendees at J.P. Morgan’s Technology, Media and Telecom Conference that Verizon is getting rid of grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans. Is this true? A. We are working on plans to provide customers with that option and plan to introduce new plans later this year. Q. So if I’m on an Unlimited Data plan today, am I going to be automatically be moved onto another other plan that doesn’t include Unlimited Data? A. No one will be automatically moved to a new plan. Q. If I don’t change my handset, or I bring my own handset to Verizon for activation, can I keep my unlimited plan? A. Yes. Q. Can I keep my unlimited plan if I purchase a new handset at the full retail price? A. Yes. Q. Will Corporate Account customers be able to keep their grandfathered Unlimited Data plans? A. Changes to the Unlimited Data policy will vary based upon corporate contracted pricing. Q. When will Verizon share details on the new plans with the public? A. We are targeting later this summer – a specific date hasn’t been set. We will announce internally and then release to the general marketplace shortly thereafter. Q. How long will I be given to make a decision on moving to the new plans? A. You can decide once the plan is officially launched or when upgrading or purchasing a new device."

5/26/2012 10:01:39 AM

screw verizon.

damn tyrants I say.

5/26/2012 10:08:38 AM

yo bmel. Hook me with up with a galaxy sIII for really cheap.

6/5/2012 4:46:09 PM

get your phones before june 28th
http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/06/pr2012-06-11e.html

6/12/2012 8:36:55 AM

sucks i'll be losing my unlimited data

although i don't really use that much, so it doesn't make a huge difference, anyway.

6/12/2012 8:55:26 AM

^^interesting. I like it, except for limited data useage.

So it's an access charge + plan charge (say, $40 for a smartphone + $70 for a plan, so a bill of $110)? That's damn expensive.

Looks like they also lumped tethering into these plans, which I suspected they would. GG on that move.


[Edited on June 12, 2012 at 9:09 AM. Reason : /]

6/12/2012 9:07:42 AM

yeah but that includes unlimited minutes and unlimited texting so it'd probably be cheaper for those who already have the higher tiered minute plans. Really surprised they're including tethering but sucks that the highest tier is only 10GB

6/12/2012 9:10:24 AM

it may be cheaper for people with high minutes + high text messaging limits + data plan + tethering plans (assuming they don't have unlimited for any already).

6/12/2012 9:14:30 AM

Honestly for my purposes those plans are way cheaper than Sprint.

My wife and I both use a fuckton of minutes, both of us use our phones for business. I had to kick her off my plan because we kept getting raped by Verizon for going over.

She gets $100 a month reimbursed by her company. I need mobile hot spot for real estate and since Sprints 4g is crap I never switched. If I did the math right we could get 4gb and two smartphone lines and be WAY cheaper and not have to worry about minutes or paying extra for mobile hot spot.

If I could just get a deal on a Verizon network extender so my phone would work in the basement it would be the best setup ever. I could cut my desk phone off.

[Edited on June 12, 2012 at 11:18 AM. Reason : .]

6/12/2012 11:17:07 AM

I'm dumping verizon. going to republic wireless.

6/12/2012 11:20:31 AM