Did I actually hit my data limit?

[Vance]

Yesterday (which was the last day of the month), I got a message in the browser saying that I had reached my data limit. It would not load anything. It would still access data over Facebook, Twidroid and Sportstrack, but not the browser. Today, all is fine.

So, was that message just in error, or does it sound as if I actually hit my limit? I heard around here that they were not really going to be monitoring the usage unless you were on the business plan. I suppose I could find out if I could see my total usage numbers, if I was around the 5 GB mark.

 

[digitized]

Are you tethering?? They don't really enforce the 5g limit unless they see data usage indicating PC downloads.

 

[DGalt]

were you trying to get to this site? Because androidforums last night seemed to exceed their bandwidth (I was getting the same error off of my computer)

 

[MisterEff]

I thought that with any smartphone on Verizon you had to purchase the unlimited Data package.

 

[Golden Falcon]

I thought that with any smartphone on Verizon you had to purchase the unlimited Data package.

There are two plans. The "Unlimited eMail and Web Surfing" plan isn't really unlimited. It limits you to 5GB a month. But as people said they don't really enforce it its just to protect themselves against tethering and overuse of their 3G network.

The higher cost $44 I think as apposed to the $30 plan is the "unlimited data" plan.

 

[hiway]

I think Verizon if pushed by any legal challenge will have a hard time defending their word choice of "unlimited" and then fine print a actual limit. I have used over 7GB so far downloading manuals to my phone using just the phone. If I get charged by Verizon it's off to small claims court. I am not abusing data and couldn't easily find the 5gb limit that you have all mentioned.

 

[rockstar323]

If you have the Email & Web for Smartphone it is unlimited. go to your bill look at your line and in the data section where it says allowance you will see unlimited. i manage my company's account with over 400 phones and i have seen Smartphones go over 5GB multiple times without charge. the only reason anyone should ever go over 5GB on a Smartphone is tethering illegally and if you get caught doing it you get charged pay as you go rates for all data at $1.99 MB.

 

[Mapex]

were you trying to get to this site? Because androidforums last night seemed to exceed their bandwidth (I was getting the same error off of my computer)

This. Phandroid hit a bandwidth limit last night.

Also, the $30/month includes unlimited email and data, assuming you aren't being dumb and torrenting two Blu-Ray DVD ISOs onto your phone every day. It may have a soft cap of 5G, mainly to ensure you aren't abusing it like others have stated above, but for "appropriate" 3G data use it is more than enough.

 

[Golden Falcon]

I think Verizon if pushed by any legal challenge will have a hard time defending their word choice of "unlimited" and then fine print a actual limit. I have used over 7GB so far downloading manuals to my phone using just the phone. If I get charged by Verizon it's off to small claims court. I am not abusing data and couldn't easily find the 5gb limit that you have all mentioned.

the 5GB limit isn't even mentioned in the description of the features when you check out, you won't have a problem.

Email and Web for Smartphone $29.99/month
Unlimited Data Usage $44.99/month

The unlimited data usage is mainly for roaming and outside the US Borders.

 

[Yugami]

the 5GB limit isn't even mentioned in the description of the features when you check out, you won't have a problem.

Email and Web for Smartphone $29.99/month
Unlimited Data Usage $44.99/month

The unlimited data usage is mainly for roaming and outside the US Borders.

Soooo....Is tethering illegal or not?

 

[Mapex]

Soooo....Is tethering illegal or not?

You have to pay extra for legal tethering. It's a total of $60/month for both data + tethering, regardless of the data plan you have, IIRC. So if you pay $30/month for Email/Web, tethering costs another $30/month. If you pay $45/month for Unlimited (aka Corporate), then tethering costs $15/month.

 

[Gunner]

I would bet you the OP was coming to this site last night, when the site had hit it's monthly bandwidth limit. Lol.

 

[Mapex]

I would bet you the OP was coming to this site last night, when the site had hit it's monthly bandwidth limit. Lol.

Yeah I don't think Phandroid anticipated the large influx of traffic from the Droid and Droid Eris.

 

[Vance]

Yes, guys, that was it. I was coming to this site! That is a big relief since I did not want to be having to keep track of my usage.

 

[Golden Falcon]

Soooo....Is tethering illegal or not?

If you own a Motorola Droid, "legally" you can NOT tether at the moment (without hacking, etc..)

Verizon has officially announced tethering options for the droid, however it doesn't come shipped with that functionality nativelly. They will add it early 2010 (probably the same time full flash supports gets updated, ETA mid-January)

Verizon confirms pricey Motorola DROID tethering service

 

[kg6epf]

I have used over 7GB so far downloading manuals to my phone using just the phone.

ummmm somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5 million pages worth of "manuals" wow.

 

[Droidood]

If you own a Motorola Droid, "legally" you can NOT tether at the moment (without hacking, etc..)

Verizon has officially announced tethering options for the droid, however it doesn't come shipped with that functionality nativelly. They will add it early 2010 (probably the same time full flash supports gets updated, ETA mid-January)

Verizon confirms pricey Motorola DROID tethering service

Ummm... no. All you need right now to tether is a single free app that's been in the market for a while now.

 

[hiway]

N

ummmm somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5 million pages worth of "manuals" wow.

Not all manuals use the most efficient way. Jeppesen charts update odd and I dont save manuals on my phone and just redownload them when I want to reference something.

 

[Silverwing]

There are two plans. The "Unlimited eMail and Web Surfing" plan isn't really unlimited. It limits you to 5GB a month. But as people said they don't really enforce it its just to protect themselves against tethering and overuse of their 3G network.

The higher cost $44 I think as apposed to the $30 plan is the "unlimited data" plan.

You are wrong. Unlimited ($30) is actually unlimited - read the contract please.

 

[Clementine_3]

Ummm... no. All you need right now to tether is a single free app that's been in the market for a while now.

Verizon still does not allow tethering. Just because there is an app doesn't make it legal...you still would be in violation of your VRZ contract.
Just sayin'.

 

[zim2704]

The 5gb limit is only used for air cards, data through your phone is unlimited...read all the fine print and it will answer any questions.

 

[Golden Falcon]

Verizon has no authority to pull an app out of the market, because it is used by all carriers. Just because there is an app doesn't mean it doesn't breach your contract with them. In the future google might filter out apps by carrier if there are problems.

Try using that app and don't be suprised if you get aletter from verizon or a nice hefty bill.

Also there is no such thing as "unlimited" data. Unlimited is not a number, there is always a cap, wether it be soft or hard and wether it be enforced or not. Bandwith is finite, the only reason companies use the term unlimited is because they can offer a lot of quantities of them. Its like those unlimited MB/bandwith web hosting companies.

In this case the term unlimited is for normal everyday consumers. Verizon doesn't care. However they will care if you use your phone to download a 700MB linux iso (which is completely legal) and you do that couple times. And that is possible on the droid since torrent clients exist.

The $30 plan is "unlimited" in the best of sense. Will anyone abuse it? Sure. Will Verizon care? Depends on the extent of the abuse.