when "unlimited data plans" first arrived on the scene, I bought one myself.
and I kept it for over 10 years, maybe more?
at first, it was difficult to use more than about 250 kbp/month.... then the next year, I was able to get it up to about 500 kbp/month.
yes, 0.250 gB
the system could not handle more bandwidth than that, and no one in their right mind ever thought that cellphones would ever be capable of high speed internet..... well, the world changed, and the carriers had to live up to their promises for us who had unlimited service.. then I added on 3 phones, and at the same time I retired from government service and lost my discount...
I could not afford the cost of unlimited for the one line, and have 3 more phones too.... especially when things changed and the other phones were $9.95/month anymore, they jumped to $49.95/month because they too became a Smart Phone service.....
Over the 10 years or so, VZW CS did a study and I never, ever, used more than 1 gB/month.... so crunch time came and I made that difficult decision..... I let my unlimited plan go.... sigh!
I know have a Family T-Shirt plan, small, medium, large, XL.....
My medium service was 6 gB/month and I carried that for years.... until 2 months ago when CS said, "Hey! did you know that you are wasting $10/month by holding onto that 6 gB service, when you only use it one month a year?"
yep, on when I take my summer rally tours on my motorcycle, then I hit it hard..............
well fast forward 8 weeks from the switch over to me backing off to the 2 gB plan... remember now, that is 1.75 gB more than I ever use historically, except for that one month...
2 days ago, my wife is checked into the hospital for complications relating to diabetes..... and the hospital WiFi and my laptop don't get along too well.... so, out came my trust MiFi router, and I had a lot of fun, right up until my phone beeped and I read "Warning! you only have 0.18 gB left on your plan with 5 days left before it recycles.
hmmmm? 5 days in a hospital with me burning up the light bulbs.... not going to work very well.
so, since I had been told I could switch back to 6 gB any time I want to, I opened up Verizon's phone app and Holy Crap!!!!
the 6 gB plan does NOT exist now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pissed is not even close to how I was feeling..... I called up 611 and gave them an ear full and told them to restore my 6 gB plan because they lied to me.... the result?
- No 6 gB/month... sorry charlie, lie or no lie, you can't have it
- Now have 4 gB/month for the same exact $10/month as the old 6 gB rate...
- but wait!!! if I don't use 3.98214 gB this month, it will now roll over to next month.... for one month only....
Now, that means that when I hit the road Jack, I can burn up 8 gB while on tour for that month.... and on tour, I push the 6 gB right up to the wall and have to use motel WiFi as bad as it is....... for 3 days.......
sigh, there just ain't no free lunch Tony............