Upgrade for dumbphones?

[brandonhutch]

My only line's phone needs an upgrade and is due but I have unlimited data and I don't want to give it up but need to switch out my current phone.

If I add another line, but a dumbphone line, will it receive a smartphone upgrade ( for contract pricing ) in the future? I'm thinking that when the upgrade on the dumbphone line arrives, I take it, activate the new phone, switch it to the old ( unlimited data ) line, then reactivate the dumbphone and therefore saving money on the data. I can keep switching out and getting new phones every 18 months by repeating the same method.

Or will a dumbphone line never get an "upgrade to smartphone for contract pricing"? I mean, common sense tells me yes but I don't know that I've read about people using this method. ( or maybe I have and just aren't realizing it )

 

[cnotes2019]

You can just add a second line (not a dumbphone) purchasing a smartphone you want then receive the phone activate it on that line then (if you have one) activate dumb phone on that line which would free up the new smartphone to be added to the unlimited line. You will be able to cancel the data plan on the second line since it doesnt require one. This way you will have your upgrade on your unlimited line still to be transferred to the second line for yet another subsidized smartphone. If you need more info on this please head over to android central forums in the verizon section.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cares]

Yes this is an option to get more frequent upgrades. You'll roughly pay $500 per phone for this method. It's a cheaper option than buying a phone unsubsidized.

 

[brandonhutch]

Hmmmm ...

Well, I don't currently own a dumbphone. What I was thinking was that I could get a new dumbphone line and thus a subsidized dumbphone ( I know, I know ... I'm cheap!!! ).

I guess my question is twofold:

1.) Will a dumbphone line get an offer for an upgrade to a smartphone? And if so, will I have to wait 18 months for it or if I activate the line, will I automatically be able to upgrade right away to a smartphone with subsidized pricing ( thus pretty much getting me a deal on the dumbphone AND eventually on the smartphone )? I hear what you're all trying to say about just adding another smartphone line and "downgrading", but just humor me on this question.

2.) Can I transfer my upgrade from my current line to my new line ( down the road in, say, 8 months ... or whenever ) and still keep my unlimited data on my current line? Or if I transfer my upgrade to another line, will it still count as an upgrade to the original line and, thus, discontinue my unlimited data?

I'm asking because I believe I read somewhere that if I transfer my upgrade from my unlimited data line to another line that it counts as an upgrade to the unlimited line and I lose my unlimited data.

What I'm trying to accomplish is being able to get a new subsidized smartphone every 12 months or so ( via 2 separate upgrades tiered at 12 months apart - 2 lines = 2 upgrades ) instead of just one upgrade every 18 months and still keep the unlimited data.

Sorry if I'm being confusing.

 

[damewolf13]

I am not sure on this, but I do not think that Verizon allows upgrades at 18 months anymore. Forgive me if I have misunderstood your meaning, but I think that the upgrades are only offered every 2 years now.

 

[brandonhutch]

I am not sure on this, but I do not think that Verizon allows upgrades at 18 months anymore. Forgive me if I have misunderstood your meaning, but I think that the upgrades are only offered every 2 years now.

Yeah, I think it's actually 20 months. But regardless of that, I'm curious as to the answers in post #4.

 

[nomarsgirl]

If you get a new dumb phone line, you won't get an upgrade on that line for 2 full years. If you ever use the upgrade on your unlimited line either directly or by transferring to another line, you will lose unlimited. If you are willing to have a second line, get one with the smart phone if your choice. After activating it, activate a dumb phone on that line and put your New smart phone on the unlimited line. That will drop the data charges in the new line. You can pick up a cheap, used dumb phone anywhere to put on the new line. You will have to keep that new line or pay an early term fee.

 

[brandonhutch]

If you get a new dumb phone line, you won't get an upgrade on that line for 2 full years. If you ever use the upgrade on your unlimited line either directly or by transferring to another line, you will lose unlimited. If you are willing to have a second line, get one with the smart phone if your choice. After activating it, activate a dumb phone on that line and put your New smart phone on the unlimited line. That will drop the data charges in the new line. You can pick up a cheap, used dumb phone anywhere to put on the new line. You will have to keep that new line or pay an early term fee.

Thanks so much! That's exactly what I wanted to know. I appreciate it.

 

[cnotes2019]

That info is incorrect. Please head over to android central forums for accurate info on upgrading and keeping your unlimited data. If you transfer your upgrade to another line you will NOT lose your unlimited data. If you buy a dumb phone and use it to add a second line you will be month to month and you will be eligible for an upgrade right then or you can just open a second line as a smartphone line and then switch it to a dumb phone line dropping the data.