Yesterday the Verizon customers world was shattered when their CFO mentioned that all grandfathered unlimited data plans would be losing their precious data in favor of tiered shared data plans. With a huge outcry from the public today Verizon has released an official statement on the matter. While this doesn’t fully clear things up, it shows they’ve noticed the outburst and are looking into how they’ll handle the situation.
Basically they’ve assured us that users won’t be seeing their precious unlimited data plans ripped away from their death grip hands, instead Verizon will be waiting for contracts to end, upgrades to come and users will be required to switch. So yes, you’ll still lose that unlimited grandfathered plan, but not any time soon. If you’re using an unlimited plan now nothing will change, but when your contract ends and you re-sign or upgrade to a new 4G LTE device you’ll be switched to the tiered shared plans, you won’t be able to carry the grandfathered plan over.
“As we have stated publicly, Verizon Wireless has been evaluating its data pricing structure for some time. Customers have told us that they want to share data, similar to how they share minutes today. We are working on plans to provide customers with that option later this year.
We will share specific details of the plans and any related policy changes well in advance of their introduction, so customers will have time to evaluate their choices and make the best decisions for their wireless service. It is our goal and commitment to continue to provide customers with the same high value service they have come to expect from Verizon Wireless.” – Brenda Raney for Verizon
From our understanding if users stay on their older 3G plans and 3G phones and don’t upgrade, or sign a new contract they’ll be fine. Once you are ready to move on to a new device you’ll be required to switch to the new plans. For now this won’t be effecting anyone, and Verizon will give users plenty of time when they start switching to shared data late this summer. If you’ve recently bought a 4G LTE phone and still have that grandfathered plan you might be safe for a few years til you need an upgrade.
This doesn’t answer all of our questions, but might help a few of you calm down and not be so upset. I personally am a fan of shared data, so long as Verizon goes about it the correct way. Thoughts?
[via SlashGear]
Unlimited data should be an entitlement! I propose a constitutional amendment saying it is.
I’m not a fan of this (I’m grandfathered) but don’t normally use more than 5GB per month. That said, This is just another ploy to milk customer and that part is lame. They are already charging us twice for using the same resources (voice/texts and data all use the same pipe.) But until this country mandates that phones be unlocked by default or until they take a serious look at pricing nothing will change.
Well hopefully Sprint has their LTE fully deployed in the next 18months because when I am due for another upgrade I’ll be heading to them….
Figured this was coming….. I got the thunderbolt on release day, they’ve already offered me an upgrade for this November, 4 months early. I assumed the early upgrade was an incentive to get me out of my grandfathered plan, even though VZW hadn’t announced it yet.
I am in the same boat as you, but hey Virgin Mobile prepaid is looking real nice
Shared data isn’t important at all when you have one device and aren’t on a family plan. Verizon’s just making a cash grab, and when they tell me this fall that I have to give up my unlimited data to go to the 4G LTE they’ve been so aggressively touting, we’ll be parting ways.
If I upgrade to a 4G device this Monday (my current contract isn’t over yet but I’m eligible for the upgrade), will it be in time to still be grandfathered in or am I already too late?
I’m still not sold.. I’ve been with Verizon for 11 years.. I was with Alltel before that for 5, who they bought.. and at this point, I have a single line with unlimited everything on a smart phone.. my bill is 150.. I have friends who have multiple phones that don’t pay that much.. I’m going to be switching over in the next week or so. 150 and I can’t tether to my macbook.. that’s a damn shame. I went to the store and the best the guy could do was give me 900 minutes and save me $20. cause that’s a significant amount of savings, with the likelihood of me going over.. hmmphh.. the playing field has been leveled, and at least I’m in a good are for other plans.. even if the service isn’t “so great” it’ll be worth saving 60 or 70 a month!
We have 4 Tmo Lines, keep in mind we’ve been w/ them 10yrs & get 15% off already grandfathered prices, but we pay $229 a month. 2 of those lines unlimited text/talk/and 4g, 2 of those lines unlimited text/talk/and 5gb data. Thats in contract, and always eligable for renewal at those prices, so long as we dont change our plans, which wouldnt make much sense anyhow.
So they are going to punish the customers that renew their service… what a joke.
absolutely disgusting!!! 4G is only in major markets! So mosto f us will still have to run 3G!! I’ll be leaving Verizon when my contract is up. Possibly sooner…Bastards
There is a way around not losing unlimited data… instead of signing a new contract, simply buy the phone at full retail. You’ll be spending $300 – $400 extra on the phone, however to those of us who use a lot of data (and like tethering w/o paying), that seems like a much more sensible alternative.
If you consider the differences over 24 months, depending how much data you need, you’ll be in a range of $200 to breaking even. It will suck paying $750 or so for a top tier phone (roughly $350 more than the contract price), but to retain my 4G unlimited data, its worth it.
See you later Verizon…you can suck my….and take your shared data plan and shove up your greedy fat …
I recant my earlier statement at least for me. My wife and I can share data but the prices better be UBER competitive as in way lower than the competition. She doesn’t use a ton of data and I use a fair amount.
F Verizon! I has a line w/ them for two yrs, as well as my 4 Tmo lines. I didnt want to give up my grandfathered Tmo plans, but I was giving Verizon a shot. Yes, I enjoyed Verizons large spectrum, but what a rip off! Over priced, out dated technology(CDMA), I cant imagine why most of these customers wont leave for At&t or Tmo. Verizon is TWICE the price, & far from worth it! I live in NE Ohio, wher my Tmo phones CONSISTENTLY stream 15-18mbps down, and my buddys droid razr maxx gets about 6mbps! Wahat a joke!