[Breaking]Verizon Plans to Slow Downloads of High Data Users Because of iPhone Launch

[kodiak799]

i hadn't even thought of it that way... what, are they going to program their entire network to recognize a specific phone number/esn, and then when that device starts pulling off a tower, the tower is going to throttle only that device out of the hundreds of other devices pulling off that tower at the same time???

I'm sure root users could simply download an app that fools the tower into thinking it's an IPhone.:icon_ banana:

 

[czerdrill]

Even though I lean towards android. And i think the bionic or thunder bolt may be better phones then iphone 4 or they might even use more data. I believe this change in vzw network policy is about the iphone being he single biggest jump in data hungry users for vzw since the d1.

Even though android sells just as much as iphone there is just one iphone( I count 3gs and 4 and whatever as one). There maybe a huge number of people coming over just because of iphone. Even though something like bionic might be better doesn't mean the same number of new customers is going to line up. And that maybe what vzw is preparing for even if it ends up not being as bad as they think.

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that's exactly what it is. one phone is going to sell as many units as all the other android phones combined for VZW. and they are prepping for that. it's not a conspiracy, it's just network preparedness and planning.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Some need to take off the tinfoil hats. The data will be throttled across the board. IT WON'T MATTER WHAT DEVICE YOU ARE ON IF YOU ARE IN THE HEAVY USAGE GROUP.

And I would be willing to bet Android users suck down much more data than iPhone users on the whole. In fact, I would almost guarantee it.

Certainly raises a good question, how could they single out the 5% anyway? It would have to be done locally on devices based on data usage but they know that would be hacked in no time and removed by most rooters, their systems don't identify devices I don't think so my guess is that they would HAVE to go across the board.

i hadn't even thought of it that way... what, are they going to program their entire network to recognize a specific phone number/esn, and then when that device starts pulling off a tower, the tower is going to throttle only that device out of the hundreds of other devices pulling off that tower at the same time???

My point precisely. The method to do such a thing would have to be local coding, and if so, we can all get around it anyway eventually. That or jkhonea is right and we all take the hit. But then here goes the new question, if everyone is throttled then how can they market their superior faster network without dipping their toes into false advertising? Something is wrong here.

 

[kodiak799]

please don't suggest that verizon is doing apple a favor by allowing them to sell on their network...

I've never suggested such a thing. I've said repeatedly VZW isn't go to show any special favoritism - and their commercials aren't and there release dates aren't. It is about sales, but Apple DOES need VZW more. The IPhone is struggling to maintain share, that's just a simple reality.

And you need to move past your nostalgia for the IPhone. It's not a Corolla vs. a universe of Pintos. The IPhone is no longer the only premier device on the market no matter what reason you have for continuing to pretend otherwise.

 

[jkhonea]

People keep ignoring one simple fact, this would have happened without the iPhone. Period.

Well, for some here, the IPhone is simultaneously Satan and God, the alpha and omega.

:rofl2:

Everyone can blame me. I should be considered the worst of the worst. Keeping my Incredible and ordering the iPhone for my wife this morning.

 

[Josefius]

it's not so much catering to iphones as protecting the integrity of their network really...like i said, only those who use ridiculous amounts of data are going to be affected. yes, it's verizon who determines what the definition of "extraordinary" is, but do people really believe that it's 250MB? I mean...really?

I can understand your frustration if you're legitimately using a crapload of data and you're going to be throttled. the truth of the matter is, you are a minority in the sense that the people who legitimately use 20+GB a month can probably be counted on your fingers.

That's not to say that vzw doesn't favor apple over google. of course they do. it's apple, and it's the best selling and most desired smartphone on the planet. obviously apple will get to call a few shots, and that's because their phone is going to bring vzw a lot of money. but in this case, very few people who legitimately use the service are going to be affected.

you're not going to suddenly experience a throttle while you check your facebook on your phone...everyone just relax

Some more VZW PR Spin Doctors , trying to calm a riot , a riot justly deserved .
We will do a tax for the War and once it is over we will drop it (1932) and today we still have that tax it is 2011 and the War spoke of is long over , the point , give them a little they will take miles and miles .
Throttling in any form on a unlimited data plan is wrong , and especially for the iPhone , isn't it just as bad as a person tethering and using loads of data ?
VZW where "unlimited" means for "iPhone users only" .
Protecting a network is one thing , but giving consumers what they pay for is another .
Treating everyone that does not have a iPhone as a stepchild when those people made VZW what it is today is WRONG , any way you slice it or spin it .
The iPhone did not make VZW the iPhone needs VZW . Jobs knew that Android was about to runaway with the market .
Sad when a brand of phone can change a network and the network did not need the phone to make it better .
My $.02

Well said homie, don't see why he/she made it seem like iwas frustrated, look at my location: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. No vzw here I'm on gci, but I have sympathy for those being screwed by the man so I wanted to leave my two bits as well. And how does one illegitimately use a "crapload" of data on an unlimited plan?
As I said previously, declare Feb-March as "operation vzw download overlord" time and take the two months throttling on the chin. Send all those iphone users crying back to ATT and watch vzw pound their heads against the wall for not supporting their customers. That's as much as I am going to post on the subject cause it doesn't concern me.

"Damn the man, save the empire!"

I'm in, I should have stayed with t-mobile. **** this noise, I'm joining operation overlord.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[jkhonea]

Even though I lean towards android. And i think the bionic or thunder bolt may be better phones then iphone 4 or they might even use more data. I believe this change in vzw network policy is about the iphone being he single biggest jump in data hungry users for vzw since the d1.

Even though android sells just as much as iphone there is just one iphone( I count 3gs and 4 and whatever as one). There maybe a huge number of people coming over just because of iphone. Even though something like bionic might be better doesn't mean the same number of new customers is going to line up. And that maybe what vzw is preparing for even if it ends up not being as bad as they think.

Sent from my DROIDX using DroidForums App

This isn't completely a fair comparison. The Thunderbolt and Bionic are on the LTE network. The iPhone is on the 3G.

 

[kodiak799]

Keeping my Incredible and ordering the iPhone for my wife this morning.

Makes perfect sense....Android is for porn!

 

[jkhonea]

Keeping my Incredible and ordering the iPhone for my wife this morning.

Makes perfect sense....Android is for porn!

I ain't saying nothin'. :rofl2:

 

[Hugh Jass]

Keeping my Incredible and ordering the iPhone for my wife this morning.

Makes perfect sense....Android is for porn!

ROFL, yea that's why.

 

[wingdo]

[They are not doing away with unlimited data. No where does it say that. NO WHERE. Yes they are going to throttle some users, but over on endgadget people are complaining about this and also stating that they use 20GB, 30GB, 50GB a month. They also freely admit to using illegal tethering applications. Would it be spiffy to have true unlimited data no matter how many GB I sue? You bet. Would it be better if it was free too? You betcha. Would it be super spiffy if I could get unthrottled, unlimited data for $0 and get unlimited calling and text for free too?

There are a few users taking advantage of the network. VZW (all carriers) have one of two options. Raise costs to allow enough money to keep putting up more towers and install ever faster backhaul, or start throttling at some point.

???? nowhere in that discussion did i mention anything about: doing away with unlimited data altogether, being able to use limitless data, have free limitless data, or have free data, text, and calling. you may have a point to make, but misstating my argument is not the avenue for it.

They what was the point of:
"Did you pay $200/$300/more to VZW for a phone? Yes. Did you sign a contract with VZW? Yes. Did that contract provide for unlimited data? Yes. Have you paid $200 a month for the past X years (like i have)? Yes. but now, VZW can choose to unilaterally alter the terms of the agreement, solely to accomodate potential VZW customers who are not under contract"
if NOT to imply doing away with unlimited data. That is all you talked about there. If your intent was not to imply the doing away with unlimited data, you sorely missed your mark.

I'm just getting tired of this board of late. It's turning into a site like BGR where people go off half cocked not even knowing details of anything but then getting all worked up over things. If VZW plans to throttle data for people using over 200MB of data, yes I will get all bent out of shape. If they plan to throttle data for those using over 25GB, I say go for it if it will ensure the network doesn't degrade like AT&T's did when they took on the iPhone.

Maybe VZW is trying to be proactive her as opposed to AT&T who were woefully prepared for the influx of data caused by the iPhone and ended up being reactive for ages to get their network up to speed.

 

[czerdrill]

please don't suggest that verizon is doing apple a favor by allowing them to sell on their network...

I've never suggested such a thing. I've said repeatedly VZW isn't go to show any special favoritism - and their commercials aren't and there release dates aren't. It is about sales, but Apple DOES need VZW more. The IPhone is struggling to maintain share, that's just a simple reality.

And you need to move past your nostalgia for the IPhone. It's not a Corolla vs. a universe of Pintos. The IPhone is no longer the only premier device on the market no matter what reason you have for continuing to pretend otherwise.

i'm pretty certain it's a mutual need. i highly doubt apple was clawing at verizon's door and verizon was like "ok steve, you big galoot, come on in"...clearly both sides needed each other, and of course verizon is showing favoritism. the fact that the iphone is being released without bloatware is one prime example of that. do you think a motorola or htc phone is going to be released without bloatware? or that apple was not the one that brokered that agreement that the iphone would have none?

of course the iphone is a premier device. your denial of that is odd. it takes 70+ android devices across 4 networks to barely beat the sales of one device on one network in the US. every phone that is released is compared to the iphone, or dubbed an iphone killer...sounds kinda premier to me...

 

[sharkboy007]

i'm sure this is not going to affect 99% of vzw customers. the ones it will effect are the ones that use like 30-50GB/month...

clearly 99% of those people are tethering nonstop so this is a good thing, not a reason to hate verizon or apple

On the surface, it looks like a bad idea. However, it doesn't say for how long this will be in effect, and it could simply be long enough for things to settle in with iphone users who will either be moving to Verizon from existing AT&T contracts, new customers whose first Verizon phone will be the iphone, and for those people who were holding off getting a smart phone in the hopes that Apple put the iphone out on Verizon networks.

In the end, though, I agree with this poster. I don't really see it affecting anyone using 5 GB and below, if not slightly a bit more. Of course, if they are throttling it indefinitely because of the iphone, then that would be pure BS, because at that point, it would reek of Verizon trying to limit access while trying not to appear like they're doing so, so they can still claim it's "unlimited".

 

[wingdo]

that's exactly what it is. one phone is going to sell as many units as all the other android phones combined for VZW. and they are prepping for that. it's not a conspiracy, it's just network preparedness and planning.

Someone who gets it!!!!!

 

[kodiak799]

Yes, it MUST be because of the IPhone. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with LTE because VZW couldn't possibly offer unlimited LTE.

Just saying, we did know LTE would bring policy changes and the explosive growth in smartphone presents challenges. Not everything VZW does has to be attributed to the IPhone.

All I'm really seeing is VZW sticking it to customers that they "lose" money on. Not particularly surprising or unexpected. Yeah, the IPhone is a big driver, one of several.