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

[djsiva]

This plan might actually save me some money, even on the 10GB plan with 2 phones and my corporate discount. However, out of principle, I still won't change because I don't like that fact that VZW is constantly trying to ass pound their customers. They know most of us won't go anywhere because we'd rather have the good service/speeds, so they do whatever they want. It's BS for sure.

 

[syndicate0017]

So if I upgraded to the new Samsung galaxy 3 now I still get to keep my unlimited?

You made sure you kept your plan when you pre-ordered, right? If so, yes. You re-newed your contract starting whatever date you pre-ordered. That's before the data share plans go into effect.

 

[Garemlin]

Before it gets lost in my rambling post, this needs emphasis:

For any family plans with more than 2 phones, the new "per phone" cost completely negates the point of being able to drop the additional data packages. An additional smartphone alone now costs the same amount as an additional smartphone on an existing family plan WITH data package. Standard phones, forget about it. The cost tripled for them.

Additional line smartphone BEFORE:
9.99+29.99 = 39.98

Additional line smartphone NOW:
40.00 BEFORE shared data package

Additional regular phone BEFORE:
9.99

Additional regular phone NOW:
30.00

Ok, now for a detailed breakdown of my particular plan. I thought surely, with my family plan, I could MAYBE save some money, even with a capped data plan. Currently, I pay for a family play with 5 phones. Myself, my girlfriend, my mom, my dad, and my grandma. This is only 2 smartphones and 3 basic phones. Right now, The primary line pays 65.00 for 1400 shared minutes, and the additional lines are only 9.99 per month. I have two unlimited data plans at 29.99 each, two 5000 sms plans at 20.00 a piece. We never go over our minutes, never over our sms/mms limits, so "Unlimited call/txt" isn't a huge issue. Surely with 3 standard phones, I'm in the clear, right? Wrong...

CURRENT PLAN:

65.00 (Primary line)
39.96 (9.99x4 Secondary lines)
59.98 (29.99x2 Data plans)
40.00 (20.00x2 sms/mms packages)
_____________
204.94

NEW PLAN

80.00 (40.00x2 Smartphones)
90.00 (30.00x3 Standard phones)
100.00 (10GB data package)
____________
270.00

The closest way I could come close to "breaking even" on this great new deal, is if I only got the 1GB data package, which would drop me to 220.00, which is still more than I currently pay (and 1GB? We're not HEAVY data users, but no way, no thanks). We would need at least the 4GB plan, more likely the 6GB plan, which would now be at least 250.00.

Can someone explain to me why they aren't charging 10.00 a month for standard phones? Or why it isn't more of a linear $10/GB?

You are pretty much in the same boat as I am.

Current Plan:
NWT&T 700 - $90 - 20% off = $72
Three additional lines $29.97 each
Two unlimited data plans $29.99 each - 20% off main - $53.98
Insurance on three lines $20.35
Taxes and surcharges $13.82

Total - $191.12

Taking into consideration average past data use of 6GB total this would be the new plan. I don't know exactly how our 20% will play into the new plan structure so I will deduct it from one line and the who shared data plan price. But that could be way off.

Line access for 2 smart and two feature - 20% off one line $132
6GB data plan - 20% off - $64
Insurance on three lines $20.35
Taxes and surcharges $13.82

Total - $230.17

Now wanting to add a third smartphone line and adding 2GB of data for padding would raise that to $260.17

If we were to add an additional smartphone line now with the 2GB plan it would only raise our bill to $220.

VZW needs to really get their heads together and move the whole shared everything away from shared data. They need to realize quite a large chunk of their customer base does not care about unlimited minutes.

 

[cybertec69]

Stay on their family plans and each of you pay for your line to each of your parents. Problem solved. When you have kids weeelll...

Same as above, you need to save as much as you can " starting a family is very costly", and I am sure you have a few college loans to pay off, so I say stay on your current plan as long as you can and each of you just pay for your own line, I am sure your and her folks will not mind. Plus it will keep everyone closer together, hehe.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Droid Forums

 

[Trusstopher]

This will definitely save my family some money. I just won't add my line to the plan.

$50 for 1gb seems like a lot though. I'll have 3 lines on that plan but $60 for 2gb and one unlimited plan seems like a better bargain though, even though none of them break the 300mb mark

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Droid Forums

Don't think that's how it works, Dezy. All or nothing.

What if everyone but Dezy leaves his account and they open a whole new account under his significant other's name? Is there a rule against more than one account per household?

 

[zacedward]

You made sure you kept your plan when you pre-ordered, right? If so, yes. You re-newed your contract starting whatever date you pre-ordered. That's before the data share plans go into effect.

Yah I did thanks so much

 

[cybertec69]

So if I upgraded to the new Samsung galaxy 3 now I still get to keep my unlimited?

Yes, do it NOW.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Droid Forums

 

[kodiak799]

This plan might actually save me some money, even on the 10GB plan with 2 phones and my corporate discount. However, out of principle, I still won't change because I don't like that fact that VZW is constantly trying to ass pound their customers. They know most of us won't go anywhere because we'd rather have the good service/speeds, so they do whatever they want. It's BS for sure.

It's not a huge deal to me, currently. I think my Rezound will take care of me for a good long time. If and when I decide I want to upgrade, I'll just grab a used phone off EBAY or buy a 6-month old phone discounted somewhere. I'll end-up paying around the same price as I would for a subsidize phone. I just won't have the latest and greatest but for me I'm not sacrificing much in the way of functionality, which is what matters.

This just seems like a big price hike, more on minutes, actually, which is surprising and rather counter-intuitive to the direction that has been going. $50 for 2 gigs of shared data - seriously VZW?!?

 

[ScarletBuckeye]

Really sucks I'm not due for an upgrade for another 8 months..wish I could change phones once more before these stupid plans go into affect

 

[syndicate0017]

What if everyone but Dezy leaves his account and they open a whole new account under his significant other's name? Is there a rule against more than one account per household?

Interesting thought. I'm not sure how all that works. Even so, I wouldn't save any money if that were even allowed.

 

[Trash Can]

VZW needs to really get their heads together and move the whole shared everything away from shared data. They need to realize quite a large chunk of their customer base does not care about unlimited minutes.

Agree. I use text messaging more than anything else. Unlimited minutes means very little to your average customer these days.

I can't envision any scenario where this new plan will save me money (2 smart phones, one basic).

 

[cybertec69]

This is surely not the way to go if you want to attract new customers, or for that matter keep existing customers.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Droid Forums

 

[silverfang77]

I've heard there are individuals available. If you have more than one line, you'll be forced into this though.

I've only one phone.

Thank you.

 

[syndicate0017]

Agree. I use text messaging more than anything else. Unlimited minutes means very little to your average customer these days.

I can't envision any scenario where this new plan will save me money (2 smart phones, one basic).

Yep. I use about 22 minutes a month (outside of VZ m2m) and right around 130 total. I'll just switch to T-Mobiles 100 minute plan with unlimited data for $30/month and use WI-FI calling whenever possible. I'll never go over my minute allowance that way.

 

[6bolt2g]

Time to switch to boost mobile. I know the network sucks at the moment, but dang, who can afford all these price hikes and no benefit for the price? I don't live in a 4g area and the 3g sucks terribly.I might as well use the old iden network.