Gonna keep unlimited data on my line W/ upgrade, and here's how

[bamaredwingsfan]

wingsfan so you're going to force your wife off her iphone just to use a 4g. I wouldn't do it. I'm in the same situation as you and I'm just gonna buy an off contract phone for both lines whenever. Come to think of it, it would make no sense for even Verizon to change the terms of the primary line's contract just b/c the secondary may switch from 3g to 4g.

Me and my wife have our own separate accounts. We're just staggered about 4 months apart. Main reason I want her to get a 4G phone is to be on the safe side considering all the opportunity for a huge screw job from big red.
Reason I'm so jumpy about it is a few years back when unlimited mobile to mobile came out I got a $1600 bill over the course of 2 months. I was screwed an vz being the only game in town I had no choice but to pay it an be a curious MFer when dealing with big red.

 

[cmybliss]

There is no way they would force you onto tiers for going from a 3G to a 4G phone, you can buy a used 4G phone and activate it on your account. Not to mention if they did force you from going to 4G from 3G that would screw all iOS users and they don't want to do that since they know iOS users are a good chunk of their smartphone customers.

If you have unlimited data you can keep it until you sign a new contract which means if you pay full retail for your next phone or buy it used no matter what you have currently you can keep the unlimited data.

Exactly. I had I confirmed for the 5th time in 2 days. The csr I spoke with today was very sure of it, unlike some of the others I spoke with, so this must be a question they're getting a lot. As long as you don't get q subsidized phone on an unlimited line, you should be fine. She also confirmed that you can continue to upgrade phones on the lines w/o unlimited data and not be forced into one of the new plans.

 

[digdug1]

I spoke with 2 reps today, and they both assured me that as long as you are not buying a subsidized phone, you are free to switch from 3g to 4g and keep your unlimited. This was of utmost importance to me as I just ordered the SGIII on a new line with plans to put it on my current line.

Ughhh! I tried for two hours to do this online last night. I couldn't get it to work. It kept trying to make me choose a new shared plan or new single plan! I guess I will have to speak with a rep tonight.

 

[AntimonyER]

Ughhh! I tried for two hours to do this online last night. I couldn't get it to work. It kept trying to make me choose a new shared plan or new single plan! I guess I will have to speak with a rep tonight.

Yeah, I have had to speak with a CSR both times I did it.

 

[digdug1]

Yeah, I have had to speak with a CSR both times I did it.

Oddly enough, I almost bit the bullet and added either the maxx or nexus last night. I could have done either. But for some reason the sg3 only gave me the option of adding the new plan. You think it's because the phone is up for preorder?

 

[Cares]

I'm going to do something similar.

Open a 5th line for $9.99 per month. Use this line's upgrade every 20 months. Swap the upgraded phone with a spare feature phone.

$9.99 x 20 (cost to maintain 5th line) = $200
$250 (subsidized phone after taxes)
= $450

$450 is cheaper than $650.

 

[AntimonyER]

I'm going to do something similar.

Open a 5th line for $9.99 per month. Use this line's upgrade every 20 months. Swap the upgraded phone with a spare feature phone.

$9.99 x 20 (cost to maintain 5th line) = $200
$250 (subsidized phone after taxes)
= $450

$450 is cheaper than $650.

Well it's not quite that good, taxes and fees will add almost another 5 per month. That adds up to an extra 100 over 20 months. Actually if you do the math, over the full 24 months of the contract, the cost of the extra line is almost exactly equal to the ETF... Convenient.

 

[Shalamay]

Well it's not quite that good, taxes and fees will add almost another 5 per month. That adds up to an extra 100 over 20 months. Actually if you do the math, over the full 24 months of the contract, the cost of the extra line is almost exactly equal to the ETF... Convenient.

I agree, I don't see how adding a line is much cheaper if any as I said above. I'd rather buy the phone and be out of contract and have some leverage against Verizon or if something somewhere else comes along then I can leave. Rather than having a line under contract.

 

[AntimonyER]

I agree, I don't see how adding a line is much cheaper if any as I said above. I'd rather buy the phone and be out of contract and have some leverage against Verizon or if something somewhere else comes along then I can leave. Rather than having a line under contract.

Yeah, I wouldn't do it to try to save money, it's a wash in those regards, but this technique will allow you to maintain unlimited data, at small premium, and still get upgrades. Some people its easier to spread it out over two years rather than all up front.

 

[Moon-raker]

How would this scenario work. I have an iPhone with an unlimited data plan. I buy a Galaxy III using a friends upgrade option. Can I purchase a 4G SIM card and place it into an older Nexus phone (unsubsidized), move my iPhone phone number/plan to the Nexus, then replace the SIM card in the Galaxy III with the SIM card that was activated on the Nexus?

 

[AntimonyER]

How would this scenario work. I have an iPhone with an unlimited data plan. I buy a Galaxy III using a friends upgrade option. Can I purchase a 4G SIM card and place it into an older Nexus phone (unsubsidized), move my iPhone phone number/plan to the Nexus, then replace the SIM card in the Galaxy III with the SIM card that was activated on the Nexus?

There shouldn't be any issues with what you are describing. As long as you aren't using a subsidized upgrade, you can change phones at will and not have unlimited affected.

 

[jamor]

To be clear, if you're on a single unlimited LTE plan, whether you buy a retail Verizon phone or an ebay/amazon Verizon phone in X months, will you be keeping your old plan? (minutes and unlimited data)?

 

[AntimonyER]

To be clear, if you're on a single unlimited LTE plan, whether you buy a retail Verizon phone or an ebay/amazon Verizon phone in X months, will you be keeping your old plan? (minutes and unlimited data)?

As long as you are not renewing a contract, it doesn't matter where you got the phone, your plan will remain the same (until Verizon changes its mind again, of course).