Are minutes on your cell plan still a top priority?

[captainm27]

Remember when choosing your minutes was the single most important thing on your cell plan? Then slowly, texting options became more important? Now, with smartphones everywhere, I see the Data Plan as the most important option.

As for me, when I see the incredible, I see so much more than just a phone. For me, the phone part seems more like a tacked on feature in that the device is so much more capable than a mere phone. With its constant connection to the internet and its ability to run apps ranging from anything to everything you can imagine, the Incredible seems to fully capture the term 'Personal Computer'.

Of course, having minutes to talk on your phone is important.....but is that slowly becoming less and less a priority? With the availability of Skype and other VoIP services, could cell phone plan minutes be a thing of the past in the not to distant future?

 

[woop]

Data plans are still not a priority to me because there is no option when it comes to VZW (for normal users). Its unlimited or nothing, whereas things like minutes and texts are tiered (although VZW will soon have tiered data plans). So for me, picking out the right option for the minutes I want to use and the texts I plan on sending is more important since those have limitations on quantity.

 

[coolbone]

No. Since the advent of the internet, they are a non-issue.

From my Incredible Drooooiiiiiid.

 

[GrandMasterB]

We have slowly gone from 2100 monthly minutes to the lowest you can get , 700, and we probably use half of that per month between our 3 lines and dont have a land line anymore.

I text and email for everything. I hate talking on the phone.

 

[woop]

We have slowly gone from 2100 monthly minutes to the lowest you can get , 700, and we probably use half of that per month between our 3 lines and dont have a land line anymore.

I text and email for everything. I hate talking on the phone.

Exactly the same! If VZW had a lower minute option for family plans, we'd be on that in a heartbeat. I think combined (4 of us), we managed to get about 500 minutes, barely. And that doesn't even happen often.. I'd say we average around 300 minutes (any-time minutes). Texts per month just for me was 2400.

 

[necosino]

And most people I talk to are on verizon anyway these days

 

[DenverRalphy]

It's been my observation over the last few years that since most people are on cellphones these days, almost everyone is conditioned to keep they're phone conversations to a minimum. I rarely encounter anyone anymore who calls just to shoot the breeze anymore. Casual chatting seems to be in the realm of messaging or email these days.

The only time people seem to actually call via voice anymore is when they have a tad bit more to say than they feel like typing. I almost always find myself surprised at how few minutes I rack up on my bill each month. The only time I ever have a voice conversation longer than five minutes these days are work related.

 

[Wordslinger]

We have slowly gone from 2100 monthly minutes to the lowest you can get , 700, and we probably use half of that per month between our 3 lines and dont have a land line anymore.

I text and email for everything. I hate talking on the phone.

Same here. I average 2-3 phone calls a week, but can go over 50 texts a day.

 

[dguy]

Yeah minutes are still important for me. My cell is simultaneously my home phone(don't use a land line), my mobile phone, and my work phone. I can't be bothered worrying about if I'm going to run out of minutes or not.

 

[CaseyKees]

We have 3 lines, only use 2 of them, and if we use 75 minutes a month out of the 700 we get, that is alot. Soon, I will cancel my third line. The EFT is low enough to where paying it is a better option than keeping the line. I wish I could get lower minutes...but I was told no just a couple of days ago by CSR. We don't have a land line, and my only work use is to call our guys once in awhile to give them needed info, and most have verizon anyway. I absolutely hate talking on the phone. Texting and Data are my concern. I have google voice...just don't quite understand how to make it work.

We just got my bf the LG Ally, and I have another google voice invite that I'm saving for him. Someday hopefully I'll understand it enough that we can get rid of texting on our phones!

Luv, luv, LUV my Incredible!!

Though I have to say too that this month I will probably be glad we have the minutes. My bf had a run-in with a Walk behind mower and is in the hospital for at least 3 days. Between calls to his parents and daughter, the minutes may be need.

 

[Tasmin]

I have google voice...just don't quite understand how to make it work. ... Someday hopefully I'll understand it enough that we can get rid of texting on our phones!

To get rid of texting on your cell plan, you first have to give out your GV number to people to use instead of your old cell number. Through the GV website, set it up so that your SMS messages are either NOT forwarded to your cell (so they sit on the GV website waiting for you to check them) or set it up so they are forwarded to your email. I'm still on a dumb phone so I'm not sure how the GV app can be set up to notify you of texts or other, but there's probably some great tutorials online. If you really want to get into using it, spend some time on the GV help page and forums - they're pretty good.

Back to the thread topic: I use a fair number of minutes each month talking to family and close friends that are out of state, but the number is still negligible enough that my parents don't mind letting me piggy back on their family plan for the add-a-line cost alone. I've managed to keep my texting (via cell) minimal enough that it's not cost effective for me to even add a 200 SMS / month package. I sit in front of a computer nearly every waking minute that I'm willing to be bothered by my phone anyway, so free SMS online takes care of most of my needs. When I do finally get a smartphone (maybe a Captivate?) I plan to get the lowest tiered AT&T dataplan, use wifi at home and deal with any texts or other at work using the PC.

 

[kibble]

My current billing cycle resets tomorrow and I've only used 62 minutes out of 700 Anytime available on my plan, but I've used 1891 TXT's, not counting IM's also done on the phone.

 

[malice]

I hardly use more than 500 mins a month so minutes arent a big deal. Texts are huge though. Ive sent 3000 in the last couple of weeks thanks to some girls. I have the 2000 text plans. Does the friends and family things still cover text messaging like it was when it was alltels my circle?

 

[Echo17121]

I very very rarely talk on the phone and never even come close to reaching my 450 minutes. If there was a 100 minute option I would probably jump on it right away. There have been bills where I have used about 15 minutes of my minutes. I'm like whoever said it above, I hate talking on the phone!

 

[GrandMasterB]

And most people I talk to are on verizon anyway these days

In the year 2032 all Restaurants will be Taco Bell and all Cell Phones will be Verizon.

 

[ckochinsky125]

We have slowly gone from 2100 monthly minutes to the lowest you can get , 700, and we probably use half of that per month between our 3 lines and don't have a land line anymore.

I text and email for everything. I hate talking on the phone.

I am the same way I rarely call anyone use texts for just about everything so im glad i have unlimited texts that's all I worry about since between the 4 people on our family plan rarely come close to using the minutes.

 

[Reddman6988]

I literally use like 10-15 anytime minutes a month but aprox 700-1500 text's a month.

I am just not a big talker

 

[longdaddy]

This is for the people who is wanting less minutes on the 700 min family share plan there is a way just call up vzw tell them you want the 550 family share plan its a loyality plan but most reps will put you right on it and the best thing its $10 less a month! Hope this helps

 

[Fantasma]

Text. Email, internet.

 

[iowabowtech]

In the year 2032 all Restaurants will be Taco Bell and all Cell Phones will be Verizon.

Lol. And murder death kills will be unheard of.

 

[waynester]

non-issue, 90% or more are other vzw customers

 

[CaseyKees]

This is for the people who is wanting less minutes on the 700 min family share plan there is a way just call up vzw tell them you want the 550 family share plan its a loyality plan but most reps will put you right on it and the best thing its $10 less a month! Hope this helps

I called earlier this week...and was told a firm NO other plan...700 was the lowest. Perhaps it's like everything else you call Big Red for...you have to keep calling...till you get the person who says YES!

 

[woop]

This is for the people who is wanting less minutes on the 700 min family share plan there is a way just call up vzw tell them you want the 550 family share plan its a loyality plan but most reps will put you right on it and the best thing its $10 less a month! Hope this helps

Thanks I'll give this a try. I've been with VZW for over 8 years so I think thats loyal enough haha

 

[Garrett67]

I dont' care about cell minutes. I never talk on the phone.

I have used 11 minutes so far this month (3 weeks)

 

[Outatime]

I text and email for everything. I hate talking on the phone.

Yep, I'm exactly the same way. Truthfully, it's rare that I use 20 minutes a month, out of network.