So at first it will be great, unlimited data, cloud apps(we think at least) like google music, onlive ect... But what happens when they go to tiered data all those apps , specially the music and video ones like google music and netflix, eat up all your data in a week? Of course we wont know how big of data hogs they will be but if google music is like buying music thats kept on a cloud then accessing it will cost data $$. Kind of a double whammy. I am still stoked about the TB but really not happy with what sounds like no unlimited data after a few months.
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Cloud apps with no unlimited data doesn't sound so hot...
- Thread starter mike07
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willdogs
Android Enthusiast
Welcome to Corporate Greed.
It will be something like this
- VZ Announces Cheaper Tier rates along with more expensive ones.
For Example: $15/mo for 1GB/mo - $20/mo for 2/GB mo
Then they will offer more expensive ones... lets say something like
$35 - 5GB/mo and $50 10GB/Mo and $10 per 1GB over.
Then they offer all these cool new techinologies that need connectivity.
A user will first try to take advantage of the cheaper $15/mo not knowing he/she will go over. BANG overage charges.
Now this user ends up getting either the $35/mo or $50/mo because now they are scared of overages again....
Corporate wins again. They are now sucking more money out of you.
Welcome to America.
It will be something like this
- VZ Announces Cheaper Tier rates along with more expensive ones.
For Example: $15/mo for 1GB/mo - $20/mo for 2/GB mo
Then they will offer more expensive ones... lets say something like
$35 - 5GB/mo and $50 10GB/Mo and $10 per 1GB over.
Then they offer all these cool new techinologies that need connectivity.
A user will first try to take advantage of the cheaper $15/mo not knowing he/she will go over. BANG overage charges.
Now this user ends up getting either the $35/mo or $50/mo because now they are scared of overages again....
Corporate wins again. They are now sucking more money out of you.
Welcome to America.
willdogs
Android Enthusiast
Not necessarily.
They can change our existing plan/rate, but then we can cancel our service due to change of contract terms.
Sometimes companies will take the chance and are willing to lose a few customers but know most will not go anywhere.
Or, they will just wait until our contract is up and not allow (grandfather) us to re-up under the old plan. At that point we are already out of contract so it doesn't matter.
StillgotanEris
Member
If that would indeed be the fee structure, I wouldn't have any issue with that. I would doubt that 95% of people use more than 5GB. So for minor data users, they would actually be benefited by this move.
The only people that are going to hurt are the users that tether for their primary internet source. It is possible if this sort of plan were to go into place that Verizon would drop the additional tethering price and just go off of data usage rather than gouging the additional $20/month.
T
TxGoat
Guest
As I stated earlier, my father has a 3G USB aircard that still has unlimited data. They haven't told him that he has to go to another plan, but interestingly enough the aircard has been acting kind of weird lately. Over-the-air disabling perhaps?!?! hmmm.... /tinfoilhat
StillgotanEris
Member
This is what I think will happen. Currently, if you order online I don't know if you can even be grandfathered in to a data plan. When you order a phone, on the features page it will make you select a data plan. I don't think that you can just select to keep your current plan.
willdogs
Android Enthusiast
Right, i'm with you.
But then Verizon would get $5/mo more a month from the majority of it's smart phone customers. They would be that the majority would go with the $35/5GB plan.
Corporate Wins and most customers feel like they are getting a deal while actually incurring a higher monthly charge.
digdug1
Android Expert
while this is true i think they will follow att's lead. when they did away with unlimited they allowed current customers to keep their unlimited plan and rate.
T
TxGoat
Guest
It's also possible that Verizon will give everyone free phones without making em sign long term contracts and include a free unicorn with ever phone, but I don't see that happening....
digdug1
Android Expert
i am on the "email" plan. you know the one where you get $20 discounts per line of data effectively costing me only $9.99 a month. when i got my wife her new phone i had to select the same option. it did not change my price even though the data plan showed 29.99. i kept my current rate of $9.99.
so it is possible.
T
TxGoat
Guest
If Verizon doesn't do unlimited talk, text, and data then I'm definitely going to shop the competition. It's bad enough that they aren't communicating anything about the TB or pricing for 4G. I figure Sprint GIVING me $125 to sign up with them will be something to look into even if their 4G isn't as stellar
SundayMoney
Lurker
Might be a stupid question because I have had unlimited data for years with my Black Berry but doesn't your data usage only count if you are not on a wi-fi?
Sorry if it is a stupid question I have never had to worry about how much data usage I use but from what I understand with the tier plans is if you are on a wi-fi (Like I use my Companies WI-FI all day and when I am home I have my own personal wi-fi) then your useage doesn't "count". So while I am at work all day I never have to worry about going over as long as I use their wi-fi.
Is this correct?
Sorry if it is a stupid question I have never had to worry about how much data usage I use but from what I understand with the tier plans is if you are on a wi-fi (Like I use my Companies WI-FI all day and when I am home I have my own personal wi-fi) then your useage doesn't "count". So while I am at work all day I never have to worry about going over as long as I use their wi-fi.
Is this correct?
Wolfedude88
Android Expert
Well they can technically change your contract, but at that point you are free to cancel if you want.
T
TxGoat
Guest
Wifi = not their network so it doesn't count against you, now if the specific app you're using uses specifically 3G or 4G, then you are using their network. Oh and that is if you're using your Wifi at home or at Starbucks, if you're using your phone as a Wifi hotspot, then that's data usage.
I may have to write into my contract that if Verizon terminates my contract that I'm going to charge them an early termination fee.
Eudaemonic
Newbie
winning!:d
oldskoolstyle
Member
That's always been vzw M.O. they will let you keep what you have until you make any change to the account. My father in law had the same phone plan from them after it was discontinued for another 6 years. They made him change it when he upgraded his phone to a feature phone.
wouldn't be all bad. just means we'd get discounted phone alot sooner than we sign on for
obviously getting grandfathered in would save more in the long term, but changing to tiered is not to terrible
Well, to be fair to the networks, there has been a massive upsurge in the number of people jumping over to smartphones recently. Last checked, the smartphone penetration in the US was less than 30% which means that there are millions of people out there who will be making the jump to smartphones soon. Networks have limited spectrum at their disposal and they need to find ways to 'fit in' everyone while trying to ensure that the user experience is not compromised.
The only way to regulate this is by having a tiered structure to ensure that people do not go crazy with unlimited data plans. It was inconceivable that they would continue this for long. My only hope is that Verizon introduces a competitive structure that does not have skewed rates like $15 for 150 MB and $25 for 2 GB or something to that effect
The only way to regulate this is by having a tiered structure to ensure that people do not go crazy with unlimited data plans. It was inconceivable that they would continue this for long. My only hope is that Verizon introduces a competitive structure that does not have skewed rates like $15 for 150 MB and $25 for 2 GB or something to that effect
T
TxGoat
Guest
The sad part is when you realize exactly how much money on the dollar Verizon Wireless makes per month to give you service. When I was a contractor for AT&T's Uverse, it was rumored that the total cost to deliver ALL premium services to your house (TV all premium channels, VoIP, & Internet at fastest speeds available) cost them about $25.00 per household, which includes having the techs go out and install the service. It's not as if Verizon is just breaking even, it's all driven by how much they feel they can bleed us. I intend to comparison shop Verizon's service to the other carriers regardless of how much more advanced they claim their 4G network to be.
Depth Afield
Well-Known Member
That would be well and good if they continue to put 3G phones on the market that are not garbage.
It was not all that long ago, that VZW stopped carrying decent phones that would not incur a data plan. I think they got enough of a lashing from folks not wanting to be railroaded into data. I can easily see them attempting to pull a similar thing by letting 3G phones die off, and only carrying 4G phones that would force a data plan change.