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Thursday, May 17, 2012, 05:22 pm
Verizon clarifies stance on unlimited data amid misreported rumors
Verizon on Thursday issued a statement clarifying the position it will take with customers who currently have grandfathered unlimited data plans, reiterating that the all-you-can-eat option will only terminate when upgrading to a new subsidized smartphone.The statement, which was sent via email to The New York Times, quelled specious reports that claimed current unlimited data subscribers would be forcibly moved to the upcoming capped shared data plans expected to launch this summer.
Customers with unlimited plans will continue to be grandfathered in to the new pricing model that allows multiple users to share data on a single contract. Once the new plans debut, subscribers who choose to take advantage of subsidized phone pricing when upgrading will no longer have the option to continue their all-you-can-eat service.
The emailed statement:
– Customers will not be automatically moved to new shared data plans. If a 3G or 4G smartphone customer is on an unlimited plan now and they do not want to change their plan, they will not have to do so.
– When we introduce our new shared data plans, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to customers when purchasing handsets at discounted pricing.
– Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan.
– The same pricing and policies will be applied to all 3G and 4GLTE smartphones.
Contrary to erroneous reports around the web, it will likely take years to phase out unlimited data plans, though Verizon is definitely urging customers away from that model.
On Wednesday, the carrier's CFO Fran Shammo caused confusion by saying, "when [customers] "migrate off 3G they will have to go to data share." While this might be true in some cases, the company's stated policy clearly allows for the continuation of unlimited data access if customers pay full price for new handsets.
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Previous Comments View All
Interesting.. so if you bought an unsubsidized phone for, say $650 (which would be an additional $450 than a subsidized phone), over two years (24 months), you would be paying an additional $18.75 ($450 / 24 mos) on top of your regular $30 unlimited data plan. Hmm... Worth it?
Interesting.. so if you bought an unsubsidized phone for, say $650 (which would be an additional $450 than a subsidized phone), over two years (24 months), you would be paying an additional $18.75 ($450 / 24 mos) on top of your regular $30 unlimited data plan. Hmm... Worth it?
I was thinking the same thing. And seeing how it's probably going to be an addition 10 bucks for every gig you go over your limit, anyone that streams a lot of video and audio is probably going to go the unsubsidized route and keep their unlimited plan.
ATT: We will be happy to follow Verizon's outstanding lead, and provide you with the same upgraded service that you have experienced in the past, and know you will be happy to pay more. And by the way, if you had let us buy T-Mobile, this would likely have not happened, so you can blame yourself - so there.
(yeah, sure)
Interesting.. so if you bought an unsubsidized phone for, say $650 (which would be an additional $450 than a subsidized phone), over two years (24 months), you would be paying an additional $18.75 ($450 / 24 mos) on top of your regular $30 unlimited data plan. Hmm... Worth it?
That would depend on the actual usage vs the data cap. I used 6 gigs last month, on a 2 gig plan I would've paid $40 more if I'm on a 4 gig plan it would've been $20 extra, so in my case it would pay off to pay full retail.
It isn't very easy to tell how much data you use. I hope apple adds this to the status bar.
It isn't very easy to tell how much data you use. I hope apple adds this to the status bar.
How is it hard? Login to your account and look.
Essentially the same thing. "If you ever want to upgrade, we're taking away your data."
Great. I'm thankfully no Verizon customer, but AT&T will probably follow suit, as those companies have a bad habit of copying each others' policies. It's game theory at work in the oligopolistic market that is the telecom industry. "If the only real competition in town is screwing customers, then we can too!"
Now that's just as much FUD. No it's not the same thing and how can you have read the article without knowing it. You DO NOT lose your unlimited data plan. As of this info, you can keep it even on LTE. The difference is that you can no longer get a subsidized smartphone. You pay full price and you keep your unlimited data plan.
YAY Verizon!
Way to discourage sales of new phones!
Which might eventually help to discourage or at least slow development of new technology!
Maybe you can even help march us back to the Middle Ages, too, as part of your Hope for Tomorrow strategy...
I'll say again, that it was a mistake to allow public utilities to stop acting like service utilities,
and if you don't know what I mean by that, reread the first reply to this article...
Ok, so I'm a little confused. If I currently have an iPhone4s (3G) and I later buy an iPhone4G (if that's what it's called) unsubsidized, will I still be able to get unlimited 4G service? Or will I have to keep a 3G phone? Or would I have to currently have a 4G phone in order to get the unlimited 4G service I have been hoping for and looking forward to with the next iPhone? If I can upgrade from 3G to unlimited 4G outside of contract when the new iPhone comes out, I'll just get my sister (who wouldn't care) to upgrade her phone, and then trade me! :)
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Essentially the same thing. "If you ever want to upgrade, we're taking away your data."
Great. I'm thankfully no Verizon customer, but AT&T will probably follow suit, as those companies have a bad habit of copying each others' policies. It's game theory at work in the oligopolistic market that is the telecom industry. "If the only real competition in town is screwing customers, then we can too!"