UPDATE: In November, 2012, I was able to make it through a loophole with Verizon and upgrade to iPhone 5 without losing my unlimited data. The loophole was to upgrade a dumbphone on my family share plan and then transfer that phone to me. They were more helpful at the Apple store.
Unlimited mobile data is coming to an end. In an attempt to satisfy a lot of customers, Verizon Wireless has managed to upset many others.
The big news from “big red” is the introduction of “Share Everything” plans, which includes shared slivers of mobile data.
I was among the first in line at my local Verizon Wireless store when they launched their first 4G/LTE phone: the HTC ThunderBolt. I still use that phone and love it. But I also love my unlimited mobile data (3G and 4G).
Now that Verizon has launched the new “Share Everything” plans, they want me to exchange my “everything” for to share almost nothing.
According to Verizon Wireless marketing and employee instructions, anyone choosing to upgrade their phone at a subsidized rate will be forced into a new contract with Verizon that will do away with unlimited data.
I checked my monthly data usage (including my recent trip to BlogWorld and New Media Expo in New York City), and I'm over 5 GB. This isn't normal, but I'm not willing to lose my unlimited mobile data on my smartphone.
So whether my next smartphone is another Android or an iPhone, I will never again renew my contract with Verizon Wireless. I won't let them take away my service and charge me to get a portion back.
Do you still have unlimited data? Will you upgrade at a subsidized rate or pay full retail for a new phone?
I got my smartphone to late to get unlimited with AT&T. But my usage has never been enough to need it. I try to stay connected to a wireless connection when ever I can. There have been times when I would like to have a little more usage but never enough to warrant buying unlimited or more data. I am about to switch to Verizon though just because I like to be able to make phone calls from my living room which I can’t do sometimes wtih AT&T.
I was surprised at the 5 GB of data I used, but then it makes sense when I think about everything I downloaded while I was in New York. Besides that, I’m probably closer to 2 GB.
I’m going to upgrade with the subsidized rate by 6/28 and keep my unlimited plan. That way I have 18 months before I need to decide (procrastination). My data has never gone over 2 GB, so if i decide to get a tablet, or bring my wife over to vzw, I *may* switch then.
I thought about the same thing, but there’s a good chance my next phone would be an iPhone 5 or 6. But I’m not eligible for upgrade pricing until November, according to #UPG.
I’m not interested in a new phone yet. The SIII looks cool, but I would want to wait until I knew it had an unlocked bootloader.
The new wave is to get a GSM iPhone (ATT etc…) and buy a $10 sim card from T-Mobile. A $30 plan gets you 100 minutes of talk and unlimited data/txt. Then link a $5/month skype number to Google Voice App for your phone service if you need more than 100 minutes of talk. For less than $40/month (including tax) you get everything you need at your fingertips. I for one will buy a used iPhone 4S from craigslist at about $400. The break even period for this plan versus a subsidized Verizon plan is about 6 months. Oh, and T-Mobile has NO CONTRACT!!! This is true freedom for the masses and it is interchangeable on an international scale!
Interesting thought. But there are three problems:
1. I’m sticking with Verizon because every family member I would call uses Verizon.
2. I’m not changing phone numbers.
3. I want to keep 4G and Verizon has the best coverage by far.
Wow this is awful news. I got my iPhone 4, my first smartphone, when it became available on Verizon. That locked me into the unlimited data plan. Checking my usage now I see that I have received 8GB of data over the cell network and sent 773MB.
Normally I don’t check that because I am on the unlimited plan but I think I’ll have to keep an eye.
I should say that I primarily go between home and work. At home my phone auto joins my wireless network. At work I don’t bother because we have to sign in and it is a pain.
When the iPhone 5 comes out it was my intention to upgrade. My wife uses a Droid HTC Incredible and wants to upgrade to a Droid Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Guess we may be not be purchasing new phones.
An interesting aside is that Apple, on the iPhone page, says the unlocked contract-free iPhone only works with AT&T/Spring. It doesn’t work with Verizon or Sprint. Maybe I’m reading it wrong but if not then that means iPhone users cannot buy a new contract free iPhone and stay with Verizon.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone/iphone4s (click on an iPhone 4 black or white, and then click on the unlocked iPhone link to see the details).
I’ve seen new reports of an alternative through various Android blogs. If you have a family plan, sometimes you can sneak around the new rule by upgrading your phone using your wife’s upgrade eligibility, and vice versa.
I am grandfather’s in to unlimited data even when I upgrade I don’t understand why u can’t
If you buy a subsidized smartphone, Verizon will force you onto their Share Everything plan and you’ll lose your unlimited data.
However, there is a workaround to this and I recently took advantage of it. I upgraded a dumbphone on my family share plan and then transferred that phone to my line. So my contract was never changed and I got a new iPhone 5 while still keeping unlimited data.
Nobody is grandfathered in anymore! That’s the point! And no I will never resign with them. I live in a rural area and that my only internet. Why have a smartphone or siphoned if you can’t use it much! Hate cell phone companies!
I was grandfathered in by using a dumbphone’s upgrade to get the iPhone 5 and then I put it on my line.
o
from where did you purchase the IPHONE5? May I ask what the cost of the phone was? Full retail price or discounted?
I purchased from an Apple Store at the standard contract renewal price. Faithfully,
Daniel J. Lewis
Nobody is grandfathered in anymore! That’s the point!
They tell me the average person only use 2gb or less a month. I beg to differ. The world is becoming more internet connected and now they want us to pay big bucks when we go over. That’s what really is going on here. Thanks verizon..I already pay you a ton [profanity removed]. But apparently its not enough!
Have you looked at http://ting.com yet? At least for this first-time smartphone newb, it’s the only thing that ever looked appealing for that leap in service from my basic text/talk plan that I’ve had for nine years. I even got a credit from Ting that helped me make the decision to depart the grasp of the T-Mobster. If you’re okay with Android, and if you like to tinker with options, it appears to be something worth looking at, charting a course different than the big boys. Doesn’t hurt to have a look if you want to color outside the usual lines.
I made it through a Verizon loophole and got an iPhone 5 without losing my unlimited data.
Verizon is the worst wireless service I have ever delt with. I will not renew my services.
I lost my phone I did not have a up grade. So I called verizon and asked if I could purchase a repaid and use that instead of purchasing a new phone. Sure Mr.Davis associate said I will call you to activate the phone when ypu get it.I missed her call so I called611o.k they tell me I got to have the prepay for six mnths before they could put it on my plan. Worst wireless service ever. Every associate tells you something different. I have three lines will not renew service.
always look at your bill as verizon changes it as they please every other month.they like adding charges and fees to each line and then adding them again at the end of your bill.your better off with no contract and purchase your phone else where and go month to month with verizon,just watch what you do on your phone.
I am so so discouraged!! I have to buy 8gigs!! To be able to not go over my data plan each month! And still I get a warning today that I am at 75%! How is this possible!! I used to have 2 gigs last year and never went over! I am a a member of a singing app that I pay monthly for but that is about it as far as mostly what I use! I do all the data saving tricks that I know! Yet Iv used up 6 gigs in 19 days!! I am a single mom of five and really trying to make ends meet! I so enjoy my phone
I am no longer with verizon because i was sold a piece of equipment that was only susppose to just wifi i was never told it would rack up data now my bill is over $1000.00nd i cant begin to even try to make payments i was looing for something affordable. And i have there home phone but now it has been shut off and i have a disabled husbnd at home with no phone serviceand the bills were combined im hoping someone in this comany can help me get y home phone back i will be willing to pay my past due on my account just for the home phone service also that store in owensboro on fredicia is the worst store for not nowing anything about selling equipment to customers i feel like i was lied to never again will i go back to that store im about ready to report verizon to the better business beaurea and im not the only person with this problem who has accounts with verizon
cant add minutes to this damn phone,i put $50 now this stupid phone says I have $5.06 this has happened 2 times this is bullshit im takin the damn phone back, & they can SHOVEIT……….