Verizon data plan

[dnlwthrn]

I've also been told that SMS (picture messages) are being sent via internet and not similar to regular MMS (text), which is another reason why they want you to get the data plan.

All I can say is that i love verizon coverage but they are getting greedy by making some more $$ by forcibly selling us data plans.

Yes, but you've got it backwards. SMS is text only, MMS is picture/video message...

My current phone (Samsung i760 running WinMo 6.1) was the last phone you could get from VZW without the mandatory data plan. Up until recently I had the "pay per Kb" plan and had them put a data block on the line. This prevented me from using the 3G connection and getting charged for data. However, when I ordered my Incredible, apparently the data block was removed... Since I was upgrading and had to get the data plan anyways, I went ahead and changed it to prevent getting charged (I found out the hard way that I had already used some data due to my phone not connecting to my WiFi when I thought it had).

Long story short, if you buy ANY smartphone and want to activate it on VZW, you are required to add the $29.99/mo data plan.

 

[bezerk19]

Yes, but you've got it backwards. SMS is text only, MMS is picture/video message...

My current phone (Samsung i760 running WinMo 6.1) was the last phone you could get from VZW without the mandatory data plan. Up until recently I had the "pay per Kb" plan and had them put a data block on the line. This prevented me from using the 3G connection and getting charged for data. However, when I ordered my Incredible, apparently the data block was removed... Since I was upgrading and had to get the data plan anyways, I went ahead and changed it to prevent getting charged (I found out the hard way that I had already used some data due to my phone not connecting to my WiFi when I thought it had).

Long story short, if you buy ANY smartphone and want to activate it on VZW, you are required to add the $29.99/mo data plan.

ah right my bad, yes MMS (picture) SMS (text). Thanks

i remember the i760, my "pre Android" days ;-)

 

[TXSooner]

I hope that existing customers are going to be able to go to the tiered data plan and not have to stick with the unlimited. I dont use THAT much data and would appreciate less $$ going out every month.

 

[knebel22]

I was in the Verizon store yesterday asking the same question. My son is giving his Eris to his father and getting the incredible. He can't stand Mom having a better phone.

Since I know my husband won't use the data plan I asked if we could just get the phone plan. No was the answer.
I don't see the rationale.
Yes it would be a waste of a smart phone but we have it already so why not use it.

I too feel that Verizon is getting greedy. Just because they have the best coverage doesn't mean they have to nickel and dime us to death.

 

[Oddity]

I was in the Verizon store yesterday asking the same question. My son is giving his Eris to his father and getting the incredible. He can't stand Mom having a better phone.

Since I know my husband won't use the data plan I asked if we could just get the phone plan. No was the answer.
I don't see the rationale.
Yes it would be a waste of a smart phone but we have it already so why not use it.

I too feel that Verizon is getting greedy. Just because they have the best coverage doesn't mean they have to nickel and dime us to death.

Easy solution: Sell the Eris and pick up a dumb phone. You'll come out a couple bucks richer and not have to pay for a data plan.

 

[Contempt]

Taking advantage of your data plan, using friends and family wisely, and apps like google voice may allow you to lower your plan's minutes, thus negating some of the cost of the data packages.

Just a thought.

 

[viperman2008]

About the tiered pricing that may be in the future: Basically companies have to continue offering the plans that you signed a contract with (a la unlimited data) or fear class action lawsuits. once you choose to change to their new plans (ie getting a new 4g phone) you will be required to pay their pricing option at the time of you accepting the changes.

My 2 cents about smartphones and required data plans: this is America where we are supposed to be able to choose things so why can't people choose to use good quality phones without paying data?
There is no rational reason that any company should force you to use a data plan. maybe recommended and have it be the default option but you should be able to choose and block data if you really want it.

 

[jikhead]

My brother works for Verizon, and he has stated that all newer smart phones (such as the DI), require the $30 data plan and that the billing system requires the feature. He said if your phone model is of a certain type classified as a smart phone, then even if the rep removes the data plan from your account, the billing system will automatically force the data plan back onto your account.

 

[sontaikle]

I would love to be able to have the option to switch off the data plan on my Incredible. Not because I want to, but because should I run into any budgetary issues it would be nice to know that I could shut off data for a while until I have the money again.

But I suppose that's what my dumbphone is still sitting around for. Just in case.

I'm being paranoid though, I should be able to afford this phone just fine, especially since I planned around having a smartphone for months before I actually got it.

 

[CM67]

GPS on the Incredible is different than on a navigation only type of device.

Stand alone Navigation device has all mapping saved in its memory, Incredible downloads this same information when its demanded from Google maps.

A far as I have seen downloading all the maps and using GPS only to get direction cannot be done without being connected to a data source.

 

[CM67]

I was in the Verizon store yesterday asking the same question. My son is giving his Eris to his father and getting the incredible. He can't stand Mom having a better phone.

Since I know my husband won't use the data plan I asked if we could just get the phone plan. No was the answer.
I don't see the rationale.
Yes it would be a waste of a smart phone but we have it already so why not use it.

I too feel that Verizon is getting greedy. Just because they have the best coverage doesn't mean they have to nickel and dime us to death.

Well a required data plan helps pay for your $600 phone, that most pay $199 or less for, thats why they force data.

Even the Eris has to paid for in this way, the Eris had a much higher price point than was paid for in the beginning, I think by them closing this forced Data Plan would cause all kinds of people trying to get around this, this is why they wont allow any smart phones without data ... since you have to pay for this anyway and Data Plan costs does go toward the subsidation of their phones, so its wise to upgrade to a New phone whenever possible, because you are getting charged for it through the forced Data plan anyway, if you don't need this I would choose a dumbphone from Verizon (they prolly would give you a free one) and sell the Eris

I understand what you mean here, why not charge a lesser rate on and Older Smart Phone (Eris) instead of giving you a new phone and costing them more money by subsidation of the New Phone, I just think they have to do it this way because once they say ok some people can get a smart phone without a Data Plan on our network would cause all sorts of people trying to get it for free somehow by messing with the internals of their phones.

 

[gmaellex01]

Tmobile and AT&T use GSM for voice. This means their phones work on one another for voice plans. But they use different frequencies for 3g service, so you could theoretically buy an att phone (or an htc desire, or a made-for-att nexus one) and put it on tmobile and use it for voice-only. They wouldn't be able to charge you for 3g because your phone wouldn't work with 3g. Check this out more before trying it, but it might suit your needs.

Personally, I would like to be able to have a regular voice plan with an inc. I really am around wifi 95% of the time so a $30/mo 3g charge is hard to justify over other, more useful, expenses. It does come in handy though.

 

[natty]

GPS on the Incredible is different than on a navigation only type of device.

Stand alone Navigation device has all mapping saved in its memory, Incredible downloads this same information when its demanded from Google maps.

A far as I have seen downloading all the maps and using GPS only to get direction cannot be done without being connected to a data source.

If I can plug a GPS antenna into my laptop and install mapping software, with ALL map data saved on the hard drive, why can't I do the same with my Inc (given that an app exists and I have enough memory for all the map data)?

My laptop becomes a standalone GPS, including maps and nav, without having a data connection and after all, the Inc is just a small computer with limited power and storage.

 

[callmeox]

If I can plug a GPS antenna into my laptop and install mapping software, with ALL map data saved on the hard drive, why can't I do the same with my Inc (given that an app exists and I have enough memory for all the map data)?

My laptop becomes a standalone GPS, including maps and nav, without having a data connection and after all, the Inc is just a small computer with limited power and storage.

The Garmin City Navigator install on my laptop consumes more than 1.7GB of disk space and it covers all of North America. Until recently, smartphones didn't have sufficient storage to make developing such an app worth the effort. You may see it in the future, but for now we get the freebie nav that needs data.

Also, I don't see Garmin jumping in to develop software that obsoletes their standalone units but if they do, it's not going to be a $3.99 Market app.

 

[euph_22]

The Garmin City Navigator install on my laptop consumes more than 1.7GB of disk space and it covers all of North America. Until recently, smartphones didn't have sufficient storage to make developing such an app worth the effort. You may see it in the future, but for now we get the freebie nav that needs data.

Also, I don't see Garmin jumping in to develop software that obsoletes their standalone units but if they do, it's not going to be a $3.99 Market app.

Garmin has an Android phone (the Garminfone on Tmobile, made by Asus), so the HAVE the software. However, I'd doubt they'd undercut that by releasing their product for other hardware.

 

[contagous]

If I can plug a GPS antenna into my laptop and install mapping software, with ALL map data saved on the hard drive, why can't I do the same with my Inc (given that an app exists and I have enough memory for all the map data)?

My laptop becomes a standalone GPS, including maps and nav, without having a data connection and after all, the Inc is just a small computer with limited power and storage.

Co Pilot does this why not use that? its just as good as the Garmin app was on my old Omnia