Verizon to drop Unlimited Data on 7/29, tiered pricing to follow?

[Mew2]

I just got a Dx for my girlfriend, I had a family plan set up and now I added in this new line (with the 30 dollar unlimited data)

even if it ships the 3rd of August will I get my unlimited data on both phones assuming they dont touch existing contracts?

 

[Tino]

I used 1.5 GB last month and I use mine a lot. Doesn't AT&T say that 80% of their bandwidth is used by 5% of their customers. I think that's pretty ridiculous. If 95% of users get by with less than 2 GB of data and they can charge those users less and charge more to the 5% that use a ton it sounds ok to me.

That's like saying "Oh, as long as I am fed they can do whatever they want to that small village of Ethiopians. Like I care!".

No. What is being said is 5gb of data is a good amount. To run over that you would have to be doing some heavy downloading. Downloading that could probably be done on a wi-fi network if you scheduled better. I consider myself a heavy user and I rarely hit that 5gb mark. If it was tiered, I am sure I would find ways to conserve, but to compare it to a small ethiopian village is stupid. Its like saying there is a big dinner party and everybody has their fill, but there is this horribly obese neighbor who gourges and finds that their appetite is insatiable. If I was the host of that party, Id probably tell fatty to go or bring something to snack on next time...

 

[demon69120]

I use A LOT of data on my Droid. Looks like instead of upgrading to the new 2 GHz Motorola Phone rumored to be coming out in a while I'll be upgrading to the something else. I would say the iPhone 4, after it's jailbroken, because the screen is fantastic and they're a lot of fun using after jailbroken, but it looks like AT&T also charges like $25 for only 2gb of data on a smartphone! With Pandora and youtube etc. I use that in a day!
Are Sprint and T-Mobile getting on the same boat?

 

[jsh1120]

It depends I think on this, I have been a VZW "Unlimited BroadBand Access" Customer for many years now. My account is Grandfathered as True Unlimited Access, as that was the plan I signed my contract on. I have upgraded my device a few times over the years and have not lost that status on my BroadBand Account. My Bill even States, "Unlimited Access". Most of the new plans are listed as 5gig Max accounts. I have even heard of the Unlimited account being transferable too. But once deactivated, The Grandfather status disappears.

We can only hope that since they sold us all "Unlimited Access" on our smartphones, that these also get GrandFather Status too. Only time will tell.

I can tell you this, that VZW can throttle back your connection anytime they want to. They are suppose to have this option in their system. So you only access their network at slower speeds / less data use. I have not had this happen to me yet, but have heard it happening to others. I very seldom cross the 5 gig line though. I come close often. I only use this CDPD Modem (3G, REV-A) while on the road for work. Very seldom at home.

All true, Jim. I'm in a similar position with a "broadband access" plan tied to a netbook I use on the road and I've been able to change devices while retaining my original data plan for that (new) netbook when I bought it.

But I did notice when I got my Droid that it was specifically characterized as "compatible with my current plan." (This was my phone plan, not my broadband access plan.) That allowed me to retain the features of my family phone plan for the droid. (I already had "unlimited data" on my WinMo phone.)

At that time I noticed that some other smartphones were not "compatible with my current plan." Had I chosen one of those phones, I would have had to change plans. I suspect that may be the means by which VZW will force users to shift to a tiered data plan. New phones won't be "compatible" with current unlimited data plans.

As another poster noted, VZW may find it worthwhile (from a competitive standpoint) to enable multiple users on the same plan to "share" data plans, just as they now "share" cell phone minutes. Time will tell. If Sprint sticks with "unlimited data" to gain customers, VZW may find such a sharing arrangement could prevent defections.

Finally, I suspect that this whole issue is in flux, both from competitive pressures and technological changes. For example, I don't come close to using 5 gigs a month on my Droid, primarily because about 90% of the time its data use is through my home wifi network which doesn't count, at all.

As more wide-area high speed networks are installed, I would not be surprised to see differential pricing for 4G and 3G use, just as there is currently a difference between using the VZW 3G network versus wifi.

 

[sos567656765]

It depends I think on this, I have been a VZW "Unlimited BroadBand Access" Customer for many years now. My account is Grandfathered as True Unlimited Access, as that was the plan I signed my contract on. I have upgraded my device a few times over the years and have not lost that status on my BroadBand Account. My Bill even States, "Unlimited Access". Most of the new plans are listed as 5gig Max accounts. I have even heard of the Unlimited account being transferable too. But once deactivated, The Grandfather status disappears.

We can only hope that since they sold us all "Unlimited Access" on our smartphones, that these also get GrandFather Status too. Only time will tell.

I can tell you this, that VZW can throttle back your connection anytime they want to. They are suppose to have this option in their system. So you only access their network at slower speeds / less data use. I have not had this happen to me yet, but have heard it happening to others. I very seldom cross the 5 gig line though. I come close often. I only use this CDPD Modem (3G, REV-A) while on the road for work. Very seldom at home.

this is exactly what they are doing to me right now. Sometimes data is just off no 3g or 1x icon, even where I know I should have data. If they keep it up or start tiered data I wiljump ship to sprint when my contract is up(maybe sooner). But that raises the question of how long until sprint followes att and vzw's steps?

 

[virtaclesmile]

I used 1.5 GB last month and I use mine a lot. Doesn't AT&T say that 80% of their bandwidth is used by 5% of their customers. I think that's pretty ridiculous. If 95% of users get by with less than 2 GB of data and they can charge those users less and charge more to the 5% that use a ton it sounds ok to me.

That's like saying "Oh, as long as I am fed they can do whatever they want to that small village of Ethiopians. Like I care!".

No. What is being said is 5gb of data is a good amount. To run over that you would have to be doing some heavy downloading. Downloading that could probably be done on a wi-fi network if you scheduled better. I consider myself a heavy user and I rarely hit that 5gb mark. If it was tiered, I am sure I would find ways to conserve, but to compare it to a small ethiopian village is stupid. Its like saying there is a big dinner party and everybody has their fill, but there is this horribly obese neighbor who gourges and finds that their appetite is insatiable. If I was the host of that party, Id probably tell fatty to go or bring something to snack on next time...

All right now....let's not throw stones! I was hungry....

 

[GohanBurner]

So when they throttle your connection is that what happens when out of nowhere your connection goes from 3G with 4 bars to to 1X with 1 bar?

 

[NeoandGeo]

So when they throttle your connection is that what happens when out of nowhere your connection goes from 3G with 4 bars to to 1X with 1 bar?

It seems like that is an inherent problem with Android, happens on Nexus One also.

 

[GohanBurner]

So when they throttle your connection is that what happens when out of nowhere your connection goes from 3G with 4 bars to to 1X with 1 bar?

It seems like that is an inherent problem with Android, happens on Nexus One also.

I guess...when that happens I just restart my phone and its back to 3G.

 

[NeoandGeo]

When it happens to me, I just cycle airplane mode on and off. This almost always sends it back to 3G.

 

[hemorrdroid]

You never know, they may push it to current contracts. I was with Sprint before coming to Verizon. This January, they made a change to my contract saying if i didnt have my bill set to auto-pay i would be charged $5.00 a month. I thanked them for my get out of jail free card and left, without any charges. The terminology in the contract made that a "materially adverse" change in my contract. Had to make sure i used those words and i was free. So Sprint was hungry enough for $5 a month to risk my contract.

 

[hemorrdroid]

So when they throttle your connection is that what happens when out of nowhere your connection goes from 3G with 4 bars to to 1X with 1 bar?

It seems like that is an inherent problem with Android, happens on Nexus One also.

I guess...when that happens I just restart my phone and its back to 3G.

I find it easier to turn plane mode on and then off. Much quicker, and with Beautiful Widgets i have a widget on my home screen to do it on the fly.

 

[GohanBurner]

I will have to try that next time it happens, its quite annoying...but oh well.

 

[JCo352]

I have a question. I am currently in a contract with my Moto Droid, if I was to use an upgrade from another line to get the Droid X to replace my Droid, would I still be able to keep my unlimited data? Also, I use barely any data, but this still not cool, I don't like to have to worry. Even if I on average use 1-2gb a month, I like knowing it's unlimited. I don't mind paying for data hogs as long as I know I have unlimited data for when I might need it. I think if they do put this into effect, it should be $30 for 5 gb, $20 for 2gb, and 10 for 500mb.

 

[GohanBurner]

I have a question. I am currently in a contract with my Moto Droid, if I was to use an upgrade from another line to get the Droid X to replace my Droid, would I still be able to keep my unlimited data? Also, I use barely any data, but this still not cool, I don't like to have to worry. Even if I on average use 1-2gb a month, I like knowing it's unlimited. I don't mind paying for data hogs as long as I know I have unlimited data for when I might need it. I think if they do put this into effect, it should be $30 for 5 gb, $20 for 2gb, and 10 for 500mb.

All in all, a HUGE waste of money for us. We are the buyers, subscribers, and enthusiasts who chose Verizon as our carrier. We should NOT have to foot the bill for something they provided us with. They gave us the Unlimited option, and they gave us the phones that would make good use of that plan. Why should we be the ones who have to "change" just because Verizon wants to free bandwidth? There is another way to free bandwidth, but of course, Verizon is too much of a money-hog to do anything about it but charge US more.