[Update] Verizon's New Family Data Plans Begin: It's Called the Share Everything Plan

[BLeClair12]

Just for the heck of it, I went through each carrier I have available to me (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular) and calculated my cost with comparable plans, as of today.

Current Plan:
Verizon Family Plan - 1 Smartphone, 1 Feature Phone
700 Minutes, 5000 Text Messages (1 line only)
Unlimited Data (1 line only)
Total monthly (before service fees): $119.97

AT&T:
AT&T Family Talk - 1 Smartphone, 1 Feature Phone
550 Anytime Minutes (with rollover - that allows me to knock my minutes down), Unlimited Text Messages (1 line only)
3GB Data (1 line only)
Total monthly (before service fees): $109.99

T-Mobile:
Classic 1000 Minute Talk + Text - 1 Smartphone, 1 Feature Phone
1000 Minutes, Unlimited Text Messaging (both lines)
Promo: Free Wi-Fi Tethering
Unlimited Data (1 line only)
Total monthly (before service fees): $114.98

U.S. Cellular:
U.S. Cellular Family - 1 Smartphone, 1 Feature Phone
1000 Minutes, Unlimited Text Messaging (1 line only)
Actual 4G coverage/support (no one else in my area has it yet)
2GB Data (1 line only)
Total monthly (before service fees): $111.49 (or $136.49 with the more realistic 5GB of data)
*U.S. Cellular also includes Reward Points on each statement, which can be used for early upgrades, discounts, etc.

Verizon (New):
Share Everything Plan - 1 Smartphone, 1 Feature Phone
Unlimited Minutes, Unlimited Messaging (both lines)
4GB Data (shared, unnecessary)
Total monthly (before service fees): $140

Granted, each of these plans are slightly different, but all of them work to the closest plan available in accordance with what I need. Verizon's new plan, undoubtedly, works out to be the worst, by far, with T-Mobile looking like the best value for the money.

 

[TatDroid]

Verizon isn't offering 4G with throttling. They are offering 4G and then charge out the @#$ for anything past your limit.

Exactly. But T-Mobile DOES throttle their "unlimited" data. Pick your poison.

 

[androidlearner]

Exactly. But T-Mobile DOES throttle their "unlimited" data. Pick your poison.

I'd rather be throttled with options then be forced to bend over (no option other then not using data)

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[Beka27]

They absolutely do realize that the vast majority of users don't all the minutes they have. That's why they can go ahead and say, "Oh, we'll give you unlimited voice minutes and unlimited text" and have it sound like it's a good thing and that they are being generous, when in fact it will cost them nothing.

Well, we all made a stink about wanting UNLIMITED! Verizon just "misunderstood" unlimited WHAT! :icon_evil:

 

[Beka27]

OK...I think the deal isn't too bad for the RIGHT people/plan combinations. Take for instance a couple of the following scenarios:

First of all...yes, plans SUCK big time for people that want lowest minute plans, use tons of data, already have unlimited plans no longer offered, etc.

But looking from a NEW customer's perspective...assuming the following:
1. New customer uses smartphones on all lines (becoming quite standard these days)
2. New customer uses a moderate amount of minutes. So would be looking existing 1400 minute family plan (need this anyways to get 10 family and friends numbers)
3. New customer uses a moderate amount of data.
4. New customer needs texting

<snip>

Am I missing something? Seems the new shared plans aren't so bad...at least for new customers with the assumptions outlined above?? The new shared plan is cheaper, includes unlimited minutes and also free hotspot (tethering).
<snip>

What am I missing here?

You're not missing anything. You are correct that if a new customer really, really wants Verizon service, it's better than some of the more recent options... but the frustrating thing is that (once again) long-term, loyal customers are getting the shaft. Verizon is only concerned about NEW sign-ups. The old customers don't mean a thing to them apparently. I haven't had Verizon as long as some people (only about 5 years), but I've had Verizon long enough to be ticked...

 

[jseah]

Jseah:
All of the folks that got that pricing should keep in touch via this forum to compare notes as we transition to this new plan. If you've got 5 or more unlimited lines and VZW agreed to a deal with you, there's a fair chance that they will keep the price-point of that deal going forward. That's what I'd like to see.

Billyk, got some bad news for you. Someone from HoFo called into the Verizon retentions department (same department that originally offered the promo) and asked them what will happen to their Talk, Text & Data discount after June 28th. According to him, he was told that the promotion is only good for two years and will expire November of this year and drop off. This is even though the discount supposedly has an expiration date of November 2038.

 

[Trusstopher]

If I leave VZW when my contract is up or sooner if they try to axe unlimited and wave ETF, I think I would go with the $30/month prepaid T-Mo plan: Monthly 4G Prepaid Plans | Compare Prepaid Data Plans | T-Mobile

Unlimited 4G data (up to 5GB, then throttled, but still plenty for my needs), 100 minutes of talk, and unlimited Texting.... pretty sweet deal for $30...

 

[kodiak799]

I GV for texting quite a bit but unfortunately it does not support mms or short codes. Once those are supported its over for phone texting.

I don't use either. An advantage, IMO, is that if your battery goes dead or your phone is powered off or not finding a signal (or in airplane mode), I've lost VZW texts before.

 

[jseah]

Billyk, got some bad news for you. Someone from HoFo called into the Verizon retentions department (same department that originally offered the promo) and asked them what will happen to their Talk, Text & Data discount after June 28th. According to him, he was told that the promotion is only good for two years and will expire November of this year and drop off. This is even though the discount supposedly has an expiration date of November 2038.

So I just called the retention department myself to confirm or contradict what I had heard and was told the following:


1. If I go onto the Share Everything plan, I will lose the $20 per line discount. (this I pretty much knew)


2. If I stay on the plan I have now, I will continue to get the $20 per line discount. The rep confirmed that the promotion shows in my account as expiring November 2038. She said that as long as I continue to qualify for the discount, and they continue to offer it, I will still get it. She didn't say it was a 24 month discount and that it would drop off this November. She also did say that they have not had their training yet as to the new plan and so she doesn't know what will happen once June 28 arrives.


I mentioned that this discount is the deal breaker for me ever switching since it would mean my monthly bill would go up $100 a month and she agreed that I should stay where I am and she would do the same in the same situation. I threw out the carrot that if they were able to offer a similar discount, I would be inclined to switch.

So at this point I guess we will just need to wait and see what happens in a few weeks.

 

[npro1464]

If I leave VZW when my contract is up or sooner if they try to axe unlimited and wave ETF, I think I would go with the $30/month prepaid T-Mo plan: Monthly 4G Prepaid Plans | Compare Prepaid Data Plans | T-Mobile

Unlimited 4G data (up to 5GB, then throttled, but still plenty for my needs), 100 minutes of talk, and unlimited Texting.... pretty sweet deal for $30...

Yeah, this seems to be the way to go. You really have control over where your cell service is. And with the Google selling the Nexus at only $400, it's a no-brainer. Personally, I'd probably settle for the $70 plan with unlimitied voice/text and 5GBs of unthrottled data, but that's just because I don't want to have to worry about calling from a wireless spot.

Unless you want to go to Sprint, but I think it will only be a matter of time before they start either throttling, cap, or change their plan somehow. If they will honor grandfathered data plans when they do is anyone's guess. I'm willing to bet they'll always be cheaper than Verizon and AT&T, which is why I'm considering them.

 

[androidlearner]

Someone said that these plans only affect individual plans not BUSINESS PLANS is this correct? Can anyone verify this?

Our business pan is unaffected. I can confirm that.


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[IN AWE]

So I just called the retention department myself to confirm or contradict what I had heard and was told the following:


1. If I go onto the Share Everything plan, I will lose the $20 per line discount. (this I pretty much knew)


2. If I stay on the plan I have now, I will continue to get the $20 per line discount. The rep confirmed that the promotion shows in my account as expiring November 2038. She said that as long as I continue to qualify for the discount, and they continue to offer it, I will still get it. She didn't say it was a 24 month discount and that it would drop off this November. She also did say that they have not had their training yet as to the new plan and so she doesn't know what will happen once June 28 arrives.


I mentioned that this discount is the deal breaker for me ever switching since it would mean my monthly bill would go up $100 a month and she agreed that I should stay where I am and she would do the same in the same situation. I threw out the carrot that if they were able to offer a similar discount, I would be inclined to switch.

So at this point I guess we will just need to wait and see what happens in a few weeks.

Good to know, Thanks.

 

[billyk]

I started a new thread for members of the Promo/Loyalty/Talk, Text and Data plan...

http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-forums-member-news-depot/211870-vzw-promo-plan-members-transition-share-everything-plan.html#post2140638

Going forward, post your experiences there, so we don't continue to hijack this thread - plus it'll be easier (much shorter!) to read through.

Regarding the latest developments on this front, I think I'll sit tight and wait for some of the dust to settle. Just about every aspect of my account, like what I've paid for phones, what I pay for service, is all a product of negotiating with the right people at VZW. So, I don't give up hope this easily!

 

[Lukeb5301]

They could at least put 4G service in my area if they want to charge me $50 for 1GB....

 

[srvctec]

It sounds like Verizon is trying to get rid of customers like me. I have one smartphone on my plan with $10/month for 500 messages, 500 anytime minutes and grandfathered in on the unlimited data. My bill is $90 total a month with corporate discount. I don't need any more talk time OR messages. With this price structuring, I'll most likely be paying around $115 per month after taxes and fees AND only have a gig of data. Sounds like a GREAT deal! :banghead:

If I buy a phone outright, I won't gain anything except for keeping unlimited data. I wish they'd cut the plan prices in half if a phone is not going on contract- that would entice me to stay. Guess I'll be keeping my DX2 until it dies and then see what my options are at that point.

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