Verizon-No more unlimited subsidized phones (T-Mobile, AT&T, opera, laptop)

[Peregrine]

But to never have to worry about going over your cap? With Unlimited Data there is no way I'd shop around. Now? Every two years. AND my company has already reached out to ATT to see if they can save us some money since we are all going to lose Unlimited Data. Meeting next week, and ATT is very excited to talk to me.
That's 30 lines right there VZW MAY lose. 30 lines they would never have lost with Unlimited Data.

People using too much data, VZW? Upgrade your network.

[Singlelady10]

Originally Posted by tofurkey

Take a look at other provider plans. Some resell Verizon, some Sprint, etc. You can use your home WiFi rather than Network for data. Or as a frequent poster has pointed out, with a little effort you can refuse a data plan.

So, let your current plan expire and move to another service. Some will port your current CDMA device.

How is it possible to get a smartphone without a data plan? I didn't know you could do that. I have Verizon.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by Singlelady10

How is it possible to get a smartphone without a data plan? I didn't know you could do that. I have Verizon.

Yes you can do this. I have mentioned it another post.

Legally, here is the trick. If and only if, you choose to buy a smart device (data centric) with them via a subsidized price, you are agreeing that you will take 1 of a few data plans that are tied to that tier of device.

Here is the trick: If you are seasoned into your contract which did not require you to have a data plan via phone subsidy, then its as simple as going to ebay, Craigslist or buying unsubsidized, calling up the carrier and registering your new smart device. By law, they absolutely and unequivocally cannot ENFORCE a data plan if choose this route.

However, if you do decide that you want to add data to your 'service' then you will have to choose a data plan based on the device type...BUT you can drop that feature whenever you want because was NEVER part of your contract.

In a nutshell, voice plans since the beginning were designed as the only legally binding entity of a service 'contract'. Anything else is a 'feature'. This includes data.
This is precisely why when you try to get a phone plan, they always tie a phone to it. The agreement of purchasing a certain tiered phone helps dictate the conditions of the contract thereafter, because now you are agreeing to the subsidized price of that device WITH a plan. But the plans alone ONLY require the customer buy voice plans.

There is a lot of smoke and mirrors in regards cellular contracts and how they work. But I can tell you for a fact, and money aside, that it is generally unwise to buy a subsidized phone because that in of itself creates contractual stipulations which force you to get certain 'features' in that contract based on subsidized prices.

This is also a reason why you are seeing the carriers change the rules in regards to 'unlimited' data etc.

So your only options, if you never had data to begin with, is to get a 'voice only' plan wiht a cheap o feature phone and then buy a smart device from a 3rd party to take its place. You are then circumnavigating the dangling carrot of subsidzied smart devices and feature requirements added to a voice contract.

[Peregrine]

Yea, but that "feature phone" from a 3rd carrier is still really expensive. And it's used. and why would you even WANT a smartphone without data?

That's like buying a car that can only drives15 miles at a time. It's crippled.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Yea, but that "feature phone" from a 3rd carrier is still really expensive. And it's used. and why would you even WANT a smartphone without data?

That's like buying a car that can only drives15 miles at a time. It's crippled.

The feature phone is relatively inexpensive at the cheapest and its not a '3rd carrier. Just go to Letstalk or Amazon and get the cheapest phone there with a decent voice plan and no features. Add the features later. At the very least you can use that cheap o phone in the glovebox for emergencies while being free to buy whatever smart device you want without being contractually obligated to data features.

I totally agree about the smart phone and NOT having data, but to each their own. I was just providing a solution. However, If you live in a metro city where WiFi is readily available just about anywhere, there is almost no need for the 'average' user. Unless you consider the average user obsessed with getting personal email pushed to the device and on demand access to network demanding apps.

This has been practice in Euro cities for years now as well as NYC, but gradually shifting.

I definitely dont see this applying to business users naturally.

Personally, I have tablets and phones at home that are in airplane mode with WiFi on. Dont need the cellular radio on at all, but this is not a normal practice. Just an occupational hazard.

[DowntownHarrisburg]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Dumb move.
When they grandfathered people into unlimited data last year I thought that was brilliant marketing. Way to lock in customers FOR LIFE. I have unlimited and resigned myself to the fact that I would have VZW forever.

Now? I will shop around every time my contract is up.

Ditto. I love my obscenely fast 4G speeds on LTE, and I pay $22 / month for unlimited hotspot. I run a web hosting company, and having that reliable, stupid-fast connection is essential to managing everything. Since turning on the hotspot, my usage has gone up to around 15 GB / month. But if I stand to lose that, then it's time to look around. Sprint is a close second with coverage around here, and while their 4G isn't great, it's better than 3G.

I see Virgin Mobile is now playing the "UNLIMITED ... but we'll throttle you to 256k after 2.5 GB" game. Scratch them off the list.

The interesting footnote to all of this is that Verizon said you'll get to keep unlimited data if you buy a smartphone without a subsidy discount. Maybe Google saw this coming, and that's why they've announced they're going to re-enter the direct-to-consumer model for smartphone distribution. I think the next Nexus will be $399 straight from them. No bloatware, no branding, no contract renewal.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by DowntownHarrisburg

Ditto. I love my obscenely fast 4G speeds on LTE, and I pay $22 / month for unlimited hotspot. I run a web hosting company, and having that reliable, stupid-fast connection is essential to managing everything. Since turning on the hotspot, my usage has gone up to around 15 GB / month. But if I stand to lose that, then it's time to look around. Sprint is a close second with coverage around here, and while their 4G isn't great, it's better than 3G.

I see Virgin Mobile is now playing the "UNLIMITED ... but we'll throttle you to 256k after 2.5 GB" game. Scratch them off the list.

The interesting footnote to all of this is that Verizon said you'll get to keep unlimited data if you buy a smartphone without a subsidy discount. Maybe Google saw this coming, and that's why they've announced they're going to re-enter the direct-to-consumer model for smartphone distribution. I think the next Nexus will be $399 straight from them. No bloatware, no branding, no contract renewal.

Yes you are spot on.
Not only are they going to re-enter the market, but their future strategy will be similar to Microsoft and Apple in regards to centralized updates and control.
This is was one of the HUGE problems they needed to address moving forward. Just too many manufacturers were left with 'updating' the OS's which ticked off a lot of consumers that never got that support or were left in the clouds as to whether or not they were getting it.

[jdm2008]

Originally Posted by DowntownHarrisburg

Ditto. I love my obscenely fast 4G speeds on LTE, and I pay $22 / month for unlimited hotspot. I run a web hosting company, and having that reliable, stupid-fast connection is essential to managing everything. Since turning on the hotspot, my usage has gone up to around 15 GB / month. But if I stand to lose that, then it's time to look around. Sprint is a close second with coverage around here, and while their 4G isn't great, it's better than 3G.

I see Virgin Mobile is now playing the "UNLIMITED ... but we'll throttle you to 256k after 2.5 GB" game. Scratch them off the list.

The interesting footnote to all of this is that Verizon said you'll get to keep unlimited data if you buy a smartphone without a subsidy discount. Maybe Google saw this coming, and that's why they've announced they're going to re-enter the direct-to-consumer model for smartphone distribution. I think the next Nexus will be $399 straight from them. No bloatware, no branding, no contract renewal.

Will this be able to be used on Verizon?

[atlantagreg30127]

Updated info:

Per Yahoo: Verizon to ditch phone plans, go with shared plans - Yahoo! Finance

Per Verizon (PDF - takes a minute to load or flip to page 2 then back to 1 as it's glitchy at the time of posting): http://solutions.vzwshop.com/shareev...an_details.pdf

[Lije Baley]

What programs do smartphones use that requires so much data? Youtube videos? Movies? Games?