verizon and att to kill unlimited plans...

[IOWA]

Melone was the statement that contracts with "as much data as you can consume is the big issue that has to change." Verizon seems resolutely set on introducing some type of tiered or metered price plans, which is unfortunately the same path AT&T is headed down. The message from the networks is therefore clear: with great (downloading) power comes great(bill-paying) responsibility.

Quoted from engadget

 

[hexon]

You have to expect this given the amount of abuse. So many people have found ways of getting around the $15 dollar tether charge. I recall one thread on the droid forums where members used over 10 gigs of data per month! Wireless networks aren't built to withstand the amount of usage that landlines normally sustain. So long as the $30 plan gets me ~5 gigs a month, I'll be just dandy.

 

[IOWA]

30 bucks for data? Your getting hosed.

 

[i VTAK]

Glad I'm on Sprint!!! Unlimited everything for $130 a month, 2 lines!!

 

[hood420]

All the 'unlimited' data plans I've seen, including mine from Sprint, only allows for 5 GB of data per month. If you go over that they charge per the MB, read the fine print.

 

[i VTAK]

All the 'unlimited' data plans I've seen, including mine from Sprint, only allows for 5 GB of data per month. If you go over that they charge per the MB, read the fine print.

How much is 5GB's exactly? I know that limit is in the fine print, but unless I'm tethering it would be hard to hit that wouldn't it?

 

[QrafTee]

Not under my contract, if they pull this I'm bailing. Maybe Google will start their own phone carrier company.

 

[keerf]

To the OP,

I believe they are going to a tiered data plan for the 4G network. Not the current 3G.

 

[mcbtrain929]

heard this isn't supposed to happen til at least mid 2011. not much of a worry right now...

 

[Caloy]

I just don't get it why carriers would say "Unlimited" if it's really limited. I think it's misleading. If there is a 5GB limit, then just advertise 5GB limit. I really hope laws can be made to make false advertising like this illegal.

 

[QrafTee]

I just don't get it why carriers would say "Unlimited" if it's really limited. I think it's misleading. If there is a 5GB limit, then just advertise 5GB limit. I really hope laws can be made to make false advertising like this illegal.

Because technically it is unlimited. If a customer goes over 5GB a month consistently, his/her carrier has the right to see whether or not the customer has been using their plan for things not covered per contract.

 

[Robfactory]

Sprint's 4G is supposed to be completely unlimited with no overage charges.

 

[i VTAK]

Sprint's 4G is supposed to be completely unlimited with no overage charges.

Sprint just plain kicks ass!

 

[Caloy]

Because technically it is unlimited. If a customer goes over 5GB a month consistently, his/her carrier has the right to see whether or not the customer has been using their plan for things not covered per contract.

Technically it still is misleading. It doesn't matter how or what you use that bandwidth for, you still have a limit, hence not 'unlimited'. Ask anyone what unlimited means and you'll get the same answer, and it's surely isn't 5GB.

 

[shawn1224]

All the 'unlimited' data plans I've seen, including mine from Sprint, only allows for 5 GB of data per month. If you go over that they charge per the MB, read the fine print.

I believe Tmo knocks you down to 2G if you go over the cap limit. No extra charges though.

 

[QrafTee]

Technically it still is misleading. It doesn't matter how or what you use that bandwidth for, you still have a limit, hence not 'unlimited'. Ask anyone what unlimited means and you'll get the same answer, and it's surely isn't 5GB.

Actually if you read the contract it DOES matter how you use your bandwidth.

Data Plans and Features: Permitted Uses
You can use our Data Plans and Features for accessing the Internet and for such uses as: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; (iii) intranet access (including accessing corporate intranets, email and individual productivity applications made available by your company); (iv) uploading, downloading and streaming of audio, video and games; and (v) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

So it is unlimited data; you can use over 5GB, so as long as it's covered in the contract.

 

[IOWA]

Sprint's 4G is supposed to be completely unlimited with no overage charges.

That is correct

 

[Sinecure Industries]

I can't understand how people use 5 or 10 gigs of data on a monthly basis... I think the entire time I've had my phone I've used maybe 2 gigs... exactly how much porn do people need?

 

[crikerat]

Sprint's 4G is supposed to be completely unlimited with no overage charges.

Sprint needs to generate new customers so unlimited 4G is a good way to attract new users, especially with few 4G handsets and 4G coverage.

Those plans will change once capacity is threatened. The best part is, you probably won't even know it because it will be changed in the fine print.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[crikerat]

I can't understand how people use 5 or 10 gigs of data on a monthly basis... I think the entire time I've had my phone I've used maybe 2 gigs... exactly how much porn do people need?

Push mail and causal browsing by themselves won't consume a lot of bandwidth. What consumes the bandwidth IMHO:

• Streaming applications like Pandora and YouTube. I've found Pandora a very good alternative to terrestrial radio, especially in teh car. I've spent 20 minutes on YouTube keeping my 2 year old occupied. Android and iPhone have driven the usage of these mobile apps. PAndora references the iPhone (and now Android) app as one of the things that helped save their company.
• Tethering - It's very easy to tether your laptop with Android and/or an unlocked iPhone. For Free. For occasional use this wouldn't be too much of a problem but for some, Tethering on a 3G/4G plan is cheaper than purchasing broadband as well. Especially if you do it without paying the tethering fee.
• MEdia Purchase - probably the SMALLEST of the three, but pulling music files over 3G from Amazon MP3 store or iTunes does consume some serious bandwidth if done consistantly over millions of smartphone users.

 

[grainysand]

I can't understand how people use 5 or 10 gigs of data on a monthly basis... I think the entire time I've had my phone I've used maybe 2 gigs... exactly how much porn do people need?

*coughs* Tether -> torrents -> oops you just downloaded about 20 GB of games.

 

[Jayziac]

It's counterintuitive to put these lower bandwidth limits on a higher capacity technology. 5 GB per month? Now you can reach that limit in less than half the time as before. I like per use fees, but it has to cheap, like $10 for 10 GB/month. That way people are aware there's a limit, but it's reasonable. Instead of all or nothing, or $30 for 5 GB, which is a ripoff.

 

[QrafTee]

*coughs* Tether -> torrents -> oops you just downloaded about 20 GB of games.

Right, and not covered in the contract--in fact Verizon lists it as one of the prohibited uses.

It's counterintuitive to put these lower bandwidth limits on a higher capacity technology. 5 GB per month? Now you can reach that limit in less than half the time as before. I like per use fees, but it has to cheap, like $10 for 10 GB/month. That way people are aware there's a limit, but it's reasonable. Instead of all or nothing, or $30 for 5 GB, which is a ripoff.

Agreed, it is a rip off. It also sucks because they say these data plans are required to "protect" us from overages when it would be easier to just remove the mandatory Verizon web access shortcuts.

 

[FireRunner]

Technically it still is misleading. It doesn't matter how or what you use that bandwidth for, you still have a limit, hence not 'unlimited'. Ask anyone what unlimited means and you'll get the same answer, and it's surely isn't 5GB.

Is it the same as an all you can eat place advertising that you can "eat all you want for $"? But, technically you can't without limitations. For instance you can't stay there six hours, or leave and come back even though you already paid.

Odd ball examples but you get the point. There is a certain degree of reason.

 

[April_Fool_79]

The Everything Data and Simply Everything plans for the phones don't have data caps on them, only the Connection Card plans do. Those are 5GB of use on the 3G network for $59.99, overage is $0.05/MB. If you have a 4G card, the 4G use is unlimited (for now, at least, we see what happened with the 3G "Unlimited" plans last year, I think). I've used 598,983KB, 476,899KB and 339,090KB each of the last 3 months, and so far this month am up to 64,651KB with the cycle ending on March 27, but then again, I don't tether my phone (yet, if I end up traveling somewhere w/o Wi-Fi, I may for a bit, but not as my main internet service).