OK, so they charge $40 to add a smartphone, $30 of which would be the additional line using unlimited mins. (extremely few people need or want unlimited mins. BTW) and Texting, the other 10 is for what exactly? You're NOT getting anything additional, just the "privilege " of sharing the data you already paid for? If they are gonna charge for data then You should get another 2gb per phone added.
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And here we go...Share Everything plans
- Thread starter Clementine_3
- Start date
alanakastitchy
Lurker
That being said I read the detailed PDF as saying we have 3 options:
1) Plan with only dumb phones
2) Plan with only tablets/usbs/net PCS
3) Joint Plan
Each has their own set of charges and data buckets, and options.
But if you have a dumb phone, a smart phone, and a tablet, they will all fall under one joint plan, with one data bucket shared among them.
I hope this helped
That is the way I thought the Joint Plan worked.
My issue still remains with the cost of data. It would make more sense to have talk and text tied to the line access fee rather than trying to lump it in with the data. Data should be priced the same for all plans. I think Verizon is purposely making this complicated for the average consumer to gouge more profit. The way in which VZW has chosen to structure their pricing makes it seem that smartphone data is some how more expensive than data coming from another device which is complete BS.
1stAndroid
Well-Known Member
AntimonyER,
Yes I agree the price was definitely reduced for current unlimited minute subscribers. Reduced SIGNIFICANTLY.
Are you saying we can still buy 1200,1400,1600 minute plans like we used to? In that "Share Everything" PDF the only options (that include smart phones) also included unlimited minutes.
Is there an additional source of plan options out there that we can still enroll in after June 28th, or are those tiered minutes plans something we need to also keep "grand-fathered"?
thanks
Looks like this would be $40 more a month for me.
I have 5 lines, 3 with data and 2 dumbphones on 1400 minutes with no text plan. I pay $80 for the minutes, $90 for the 3 data plans and $40 ($10 each) for the added lines...total is $210 (before taxes and discounts).
The new plan would be $120 for the 3 Androids, $60 for the 2 dumbphones and $70 for 4GB data (hopefully that will be enough, it is cutting it close)...total is $250.
I was actually thinking about adding a text package (unlimited family) for $30 but really couldn't justify it. Google Voice is free. BUT, not everyone remembers to use it so I get dinged around $5 a month for texts. AND GV does not do MMS so I have to use email or WhatsApp (not a lot of contacts use that) for pics etc. And GV sometimes does screw up and texts just hang or don't ever go anywhere (not that a "real" text would always work). Besides, the dumbphones can't use GV anyway.
So, backwards math now has me with texting for $35 ($40 difference - the $5 I usually pay). Or I could still just add it for $5 less.
BUT there is the unlimited minutes being added too. I know that is not a selling point for most but it factors in to my thinking. Right now I have to keep a close eye on minutes used and it does work using F&F, GV and Google Voice Callback (great app!). There is something to be said for not caring who is calling whom and which way. 2 of the lines are being used as sole phones (no landlines) so the minutes do add up. I hate getting towards the end of the billing cycle wondering if I'm going to eek it out and not go over.
So...would the extra cost be worth not caring and trying to get everyone on my plan to follow all the texting and calling rules each month? Maybe. I will have to think long and hard about this.
Oh and...the people who are on my plan (except my son) may not be so happy if I tell them they can't use their upgrade but have to pay full price for a phone if I don't change plans. They also won't be happy to pay the extra dumbphone charge (from $10 to $30) if I do change. Haha, I may just kick them all off...let them complain about that!!
I have 5 lines, 3 with data and 2 dumbphones on 1400 minutes with no text plan. I pay $80 for the minutes, $90 for the 3 data plans and $40 ($10 each) for the added lines...total is $210 (before taxes and discounts).
The new plan would be $120 for the 3 Androids, $60 for the 2 dumbphones and $70 for 4GB data (hopefully that will be enough, it is cutting it close)...total is $250.
I was actually thinking about adding a text package (unlimited family) for $30 but really couldn't justify it. Google Voice is free. BUT, not everyone remembers to use it so I get dinged around $5 a month for texts. AND GV does not do MMS so I have to use email or WhatsApp (not a lot of contacts use that) for pics etc. And GV sometimes does screw up and texts just hang or don't ever go anywhere (not that a "real" text would always work). Besides, the dumbphones can't use GV anyway.
So, backwards math now has me with texting for $35 ($40 difference - the $5 I usually pay). Or I could still just add it for $5 less.
BUT there is the unlimited minutes being added too. I know that is not a selling point for most but it factors in to my thinking. Right now I have to keep a close eye on minutes used and it does work using F&F, GV and Google Voice Callback (great app!). There is something to be said for not caring who is calling whom and which way. 2 of the lines are being used as sole phones (no landlines) so the minutes do add up. I hate getting towards the end of the billing cycle wondering if I'm going to eek it out and not go over.
So...would the extra cost be worth not caring and trying to get everyone on my plan to follow all the texting and calling rules each month? Maybe. I will have to think long and hard about this.
Oh and...the people who are on my plan (except my son) may not be so happy if I tell them they can't use their upgrade but have to pay full price for a phone if I don't change plans. They also won't be happy to pay the extra dumbphone charge (from $10 to $30) if I do change. Haha, I may just kick them all off...let them complain about that!!
alanakastitchy
Lurker
Actually want to amend this.. Why not charge the same $10 acess for a device then add a minutes shared plan and a data share plan? All VZW had to do was drop the data plans from each individual phone and add the a shared data bucket.
1stAndroid
Well-Known Member
Please take a look at my previous post on the exact pricing under each plan.
When you compare the smart phone plans to the data only plans (taking into account the price of Unlimited text and talk) the data is actually CHEAPER on the joint plans than it is on the tablet only plans.
I will re-assert that I think the new pricing by Verizon is
1) Over priced
2) Unfair
3) Deceptive
4) Unfair
I'm NOT trying to defend Verizon just accurately describe how the costs relate between plans
AntimonyER
CHANGED FROM AF ADDICT MIKESTONY
Those are ACCESS fees. You are paying $30 to access the voice service per device, and $10 to access the data service per device. Smartphone access both, so you must pay both. Then consider that the plan cost includes unlimited voice and messaging, and the bucket of data you specify.
Because verizon is planning to go VoLTE in a year or two, this pricing makes sense, the voice and messaging will be over their data network, and take up far less data space than actual pulled data, so their costs from voice service, even unlimited minutes, is drastically reduced.
The tiered minute plans are still available, but you will still pay separate data charges per line as you do now. The pricing is set up such that if you are paying for unlimited minutes, this new plan is a no-brainer, otherwise, it's going to cost a little more.
They charge you $10 for the access to the data you already paid for, but it costs them next to nothing. At least with the mins, and text, you are getting something for the "access fee".
At any rate, this new plan will cost me an additional 60 a month, and I lose two unlimited data lines.
At any rate, this new plan will cost me an additional 60 a month, and I lose two unlimited data lines.
Under the new plan, my 2 smart phones and one feature phone plan total would go from $170 to $200 / month before taxes. My wife uses slightly more than 1 GB(she's a light user) and I use slightly more than 4 GB. So we'd need a 6 GB plan.
$80 for 6 GB.
2 smartphone $40x2 = $80
1 basic phone $30
$10 for my basic phone family locator feature.
= $200
Unless I'm calculating something incorrectly. I'm going by the press release.
$80 for 6 GB.
2 smartphone $40x2 = $80
1 basic phone $30
$10 for my basic phone family locator feature.
= $200
Unless I'm calculating something incorrectly. I'm going by the press release.
1stAndroid
Well-Known Member
Thanks,
I think I get it. If I upgrade my phone next year and they force me off of unlimited data. I can still choose to have an identical family plan to what I have now just with my $29.99 data line add-ons only buying my 2GB instead of unlimited?
That is good to know. I corrected your statement for you, you had a typo in there
If what you say is true, I don't think "Sharing" data is in my family plan's future lol. It would be nice if they could implement a "share everything" plan that was also attractive no low minute users.
alanakastitchy
Lurker
How is it justified if they are reducing their costs but increasing ours? How much data does a voice call actually use? 2GB of data is roughly equivalent to 2200 mins of mp3s @ 128kbps. I admit that I do not know what bitrate verizon is using or their compression format. But would you have me believe that the cost of voice and text over LTE is worth $30 (for an individual user)? There is absolutely no way the average user will approach even close to what amounts to 2200 mins of mp3s in voice calls and the small amount of data text message actually uses over their LTE network.
Edit: Sorry.. hate when I get picked on by big corporations.. lol
AntimonyER
CHANGED FROM AF ADDICT MIKESTONY
For 6GB, you are correct, your data charge will be $80. For the devices, your charge will be 40+40+10 = $90. The family locator is $10 more, so your new bill would be $180.
alanakastitchy
Lurker
Do you know if the data will still cost the same (2GB for $29.99)?
CharlieD
Well-Known Member
I still have an landline (yeah, i'm an old f@rt) and had been considering replacing it with the Verizon Home Phone Connect. Under the current plan, that would just be another $10/month on my family plan. How would that fit in under the new plans?
I've had the same landline for 35 years and lots of people know that number. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and just dump the landline and force everyone to use our cell numbers.
Luckily, my wife and I renewed just a couple of months ago so we won't have to do anything for a little less than 2 years. I calculate the new plan will cost me $20/month more not including discounts, taxes and fees.
I've had the same landline for 35 years and lots of people know that number. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and just dump the landline and force everyone to use our cell numbers.
Luckily, my wife and I renewed just a couple of months ago so we won't have to do anything for a little less than 2 years. I calculate the new plan will cost me $20/month more not including discounts, taxes and fees.
AntimonyER
CHANGED FROM AF ADDICT MIKESTONY
Thanks,
I think I get it. If I upgrade my phone next year and they force me off of unlimited data. I can still choose to have an identical family plan to what I have now just with my $29.99 data line add-ons only buying my 2GB instead of unlimited?
That is good to know. I corrected your statement for you, you had a typo in there
If what you say is true, I don't think "Sharing" data is in my family plan's future lol. It would be nice if they could implement a "share everything" plan that was also attractive no low minute users.
I don't know that it will cost a LOT more. If you wanted to buy a 700 minute plan, with unlimited messaging, with two smartphones, it would cost you $99.99, + $30 + $30 = $159.99. Under the new plan, 2 smartphones = $80 in access fees, + $70 for 4GB of data = $150. Plus the nice thing about sharing minutes, is you have the opportunity to avoid overages, since you are combining two phone's usages. Under the old way, if one of you used 1GB, and one used 2.5GB, you would have a $10 overage. under the new plan, you would have no overage. Plus with the new plan you get unlimited minutes. Its actually not an awful deal...
For 6GB, you are correct, your data charge will be $80. For the devices, your charge will be 40+40+10 = $90. The family locator is $10 more, so your new bill would be $180.
I think you meant to say 40+40+30 = $110
Add $10 for FL and $80 for $6 GB and it's $200.
My daughter has been begging me for a smart phone but I've resisted because it would cost an extra $30.
Under the old plan it would have cost me $170 + (+$30 for unlimited data - $10 for family locator since I'd use mylookout for that which is free) = $190.
Under the new plan, assuming I give her only 2 GB, it would be $40x3(phones) + $90(data) = $210, so it would still cost more under the new plan but only $10 more than having just a feature phone. Of course, the data is limited and we have no use for unlimited talk. We have the 1400 plan and because of the 10 frequent number list, we actually only use about 500 / month even though we talk about 2000 minutes but most of the calls are to numbers on the list.
The pricing schema is only cheaper for those already paying for unlimited voice/text.
xmr405o
Android Expert
This is not how I thought these plans were gonna be structured. It's a good option for individuals with multiple devices such as a smartphone and a tablet but other than that...thumbs down!
Anyways, IMO, VZW should offer peak and off-peak times for data. Or offer free data when using an app that they preload on their devices. Then maybe, I would give these new tiered data plans a thumbs up.
Anyways, IMO, VZW should offer peak and off-peak times for data. Or offer free data when using an app that they preload on their devices. Then maybe, I would give these new tiered data plans a thumbs up.
AntimonyER
CHANGED FROM AF ADDICT MIKESTONY
One thing I have suggested in other threads, if you have a family plan already, and use a massive amount of data, check out adding a line, and using that as an upgrade line. Put a dumbphone on it, and move the new phone to your main line that has unlimited. With taxes, it will come to an extra 14-15 bucks a month, however thats cheaper than bumping up to the 5GB for $50 on your main line. And every 20 months, use the upgrade line to get an upgrade, move the new phone to your main line, and keep the dumbphone on the upgrade line...
The problem is that the next time you upgrade, you won't be able to purchase at a subsidized price using that upgrade line without putting yourself into an individual plan or the entire account into a shared plan.
AntimonyER
CHANGED FROM AF ADDICT MIKESTONY
How so? Verizon is not eliminating their existing plans, (YET). You still have the option to choose an existing family plan, with limited minutes, where messaging, and data is a la carte. As long as that is true, you can use the upgrade from the upgrade line to get a new phone for your main line. Since you aren't renewing the contract on the main line to do that, you get to keep unlimited.
Reminder: You Do NOT Have to Switch to Verizon’s New Share Everything Data Plans – Unlimited Data Can Be Kept – Droid Life
Great article by Droid Life explains everything for those who still have questions or are confused.
Great article by Droid Life explains everything for those who still have questions or are confused.
Hmmm, yes as long as they don't force everyone into a new shared plan when any one contract gets renewed..
And this is EXACTLY what I was muttering about yesterday here
They WILL try to change the plan even if it is a share line and not the primary line. I think if you challenged them and got a manager involved it may not be forced on you but, for most people doing innocent upgrades, they are going to get screwed.
I have 2 dumbphone lines eligible for upgrades right now, 1 of them wants to wait 'til September (not sure why, but whatever) and I am sure that when he goes to upgrade his line my primary account is going to get messed up.
This whole thing has clusterfu** written all over it.