Verizon Wireless to Throttle Data of Heavy Users Starting Today

[phandroid]

Uh-oh. Just because you folks get unlimited data doesn’t mean Verizon’s going to let you consume it as fast as you want. With the release of the iPhone 4, we’ve seen a lot of changes made to Verizon’s policies, and today’s revelation that they’ll be throttling speeds for heavy users is perhaps one of the [...]

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[PSkeptic]

Well, if you want out of your VZW contract, this month is the one to do it

 

[npro1464]

This is basically to discourage people who use rooted phones to tether for their main source of home internet. It looks like an attempt to allow unlimited data with trying to regulate it.

Does anyone know what that threshold is? 5 GB perhaps? 2 GB?

 

[hahaha what]

hope its not more than 2gb, i used my phone a lot this month and it says 1.418gb usage

 

[jroc]

It looks like its aimed at new customers and maybe for ppl switching to 4G.

Will find the info and post it soon...

Never mind, its in the posts in the link.

 

[xmr405o]

It looks like its aimed at new customers and maybe for ppl switching to 4G.

Will find the info and post it soon...

Never mind, its in the posts in the link.

I probably don't fall under that 5% but I'm for sure going to keep an eye on it just in case they get all sheisty and throttle me anyways.

 

[OstrichSaK]

Well, if you want out of your VZW contract, this month is the one to do it

Does it notify of the change of service in the new bill?

 

[jroc]

IF I can use this to early terminate with no fee, I might take it. I need to check out some other phone companies that get better service where I just moved to.

 

[OstrichSaK]

Still waiting to hear where this 'notification' is so we can get out of our contracts. I've been waiting for something like this because I've been a VZW customer only a little over a year and they've already pissed me off more than T-Mobile did in 8yrs.

 

[jroc]

Its kinda strange.....I dont remember getting a notification, but it should be in your account.

When you log in your online account, look in Account Profile. Look in Account Documents. Its the one called 'Verizon Wireless Service Information'

I dont think I got a notification about this. Gotta check my emails...

If it wasnt for a post about this on another site, I would have never known I had something called Account Documents in my profile...Its time for me to grab some coffee and do some major reading of my account, profile, etc. See what else I missed.

 

[OstrichSaK]

Its kinda strange.....I dont remember getting a notification, but it should be in your account.

When you log in your online account, look in Account Profile. Look in Account Documents. Its the one called 'Verizon Wireless Service Information'

I dont think I got a notification about this. Gotta check my emails...

If it wasnt for a post about this on another site, I would have never known I had something called Account Documents in my profile...Its time for me to grab some coffee and do some major reading of my account, profile, etc. See what else I missed.

I see that now (you need to sign in as the primary line/user to see it) but to me it says that if you sign up for data on or after Feb 3rd.... I don't think it applies to existing users but why would they put this notification in existing users accounts unless it's to warn them if they add another line or make another change?? I do know I want out so I wish I could find conclusive proof one way or the other but to me it reads that existing data users will not be affected.

 

[kb58]

The flaw in their wording is that there'll always be an "upper 5%" of users. Let's say you have 1000 users. By definition, there will be 50 users (5%) that use the most data, so you throttle them. Okay, but that leaves 950 users, and since this rule says the upper 5% will get throttled, you must immediately throttle them, and then the next 5%, and then..... It's a recursive rule that would end up throttling everyone.

I hope for their sake they missworded the statement, as there has to be a hard data threshold, or this is plain nuts.

 

[shadowdude777]

The flaw in their wording is that there'll always be an "upper 5%" of users. Let's say you have 1000 users. By definition, there will be 50 users (5%) that use the most data, so you throttle them. Okay, but that leaves 950 users, and since this rule says the upper 5% will get throttled, you must immediately throttle them, and then the next 5%, and then..... It's a recursive rule that would end up throttling everyone.

I hope for their sake they missworded the statement, as there has to be a hard data threshold, or this is plain nuts.

No it doesn't. You don't eliminate the top 5% from the pool of users just because they got throttled. The lower 95% get to continue with their full speed data while those of us who actually use data get screwed. That's it.

 

[xmr405o]

No it doesn't. You don't eliminate the top 5% from the pool of users just because they got throttled. The lower 95% get to continue with their full speed data while those of us who actually use data get screwed. That's it.

I wonder how they would throttle their bandwidth. Do you think they will throttle their speeds to equivalent to 1xRTT? That would suck. Technically if they did that, the liklihood that they are back in the top 5% for consecutive months even after they have been throttled is pretty minimal. This would make a new set of subscribers qualify as the new top 5%, right?

 

[Jayziac]

Time to ditch the contract carriers. Virgin Mobile (prepaid, using Sprint's network) has $25 unlimited data/text + 300 minutes & a nice LG Optimus V android phone for $150, all without contract. It may be throttled too, but at this price, it's a much better deal.

 

[SyTech]

Time to ditch the contract carriers. Virgin Mobile (prepaid, using Sprint's network) has $25 unlimited data/text + 300 minutes & a nice LG Optimus V android phone for $150, all without contract. It may be throttled too, but at this price, it's a much better deal.

Not sure how Virgin Mobile is nationwide, but the deal is pretty good. Too bad I'm in a family plan for the next 2yrs (Dec2010). May revisit them then.

 

[PSkeptic]

Time to ditch the contract carriers. Virgin Mobile (prepaid, using Sprint's network) has $25 unlimited data/text + 300 minutes & a nice LG Optimus V android phone for $150, all without contract. It may be throttled too, but at this price, it's a much better deal.

When my contract comes due, these are the very arguments I'll be using with VZW.

While I do appreciate the reliability of VZW's network; I also pay top-tier pricing for a solid 3G connection. Not a "throttled based on their whim" 3G connection.

 

[medwa]

How can I tell if my data is being throttled? Will it just switch permanently from 3g to 1X?

 

[Cunfushun]

i KNOW im not in this cause i just got my first android phone.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

When my contract comes due, these are the very arguments I'll be using with VZW.

While I do appreciate the reliability of VZW's network; I also pay top-tier pricing for a solid 3G connection. Not a "throttled based on their whim" 3G connection.

x2 couldn't have said it better myself.