Verizon Ending Unlimited Data for Grandfathered Users

What's interesting and I didn't see mentioned here (but may have been in the other thread) is that, @ $40 a pop for smartphones (no decrease for additional lines) that for large families who use a lot of data - this offers no real advantage (other than corporate discounts) over smaller shared (or individual) plans.

Chat conversation below w/Verizon Wireless rep just a minute ago...wanted to hear it directly from VZW to clear up my angst. Upgrading other lines after the 28th does not affect existing unlimited lines. <phew> Wanted to be sure. I checked today (I never really monitor it at all) and found that I somehow use quite a bit of data, averaging between 4 and 5 GB, and up to 10 one month (not sure how that happened) over the past several months.

Chat w/VZW:

VZW:*So let's say that you do have 4 lines on your account and the first two have the unlimited data. You can upgrade the 3rd and 4th lines and it will not do anything to the other lines. If you upgrade line 1 [which has unlimited data], then you need to change the plan. If you upgrade line 2 [which has unlimited data], you will need to change the plan for that line.

You:*OK...phew...that is what I expected. The only way I lose unlimited data on my two existing unlimited data lines is if I upgrade to a new subsidized smartphone on one of those lines. If I upgrade any other line on my account, I keep unlimited data on the two existing unlimited lines, but the other phone has to go w/the new plans.

VZW:*Kind of. You can still keep your regular Family Share Plan that you currently have but if you want to, you can change your plan.

VZW:*So even if you upgrade your 3rd or 4th lines, you do not have to go to the Share Everything plans.

You:*So do you know how it would work...I have one line (my son's) that is 2GB/$30
per month. If I add a smartphone to my other son's line (that currently has a dumbphone) would data plans would be available for that fourth, new smartphone?

VZW:*Absolutely. You will still have the Single Line data plans that we currently offer available. There will just now be more plans available with the Share Everything Plans.

VZW:*So if it does not even interest you, you can completley ignore the Share everything Plans.

You:*So the option would be either the 2GB/$30 month for the new, fourth smartphone (same plan my other son currently has) or change everyone over to shared data.

VZW:*Our current data packages are 2GB for $30, 5GB for $50, and 10GB for $80 a month.

VZW:*There will still be available after the switch.

You:*OK, I think I'm clear now. Thanks.

VZW:*It has been my pleasure to chat with you today! Please feel free to re-open the chat session if you need further assistance . Thank you and have a great day!

What does "activating" mean? If I upgrade my mom's line(who already has an individual data plan), but when the phone comes I just stick MY sim in it without telling anyone, would it work?

jackdubl said:

What does "activating" mean? If I upgrade my mom's line(who already has an individual data plan), but when the phone comes I just stick MY sim in it without telling anyone, would it work?

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If you get a new subsidized phone on your mom's line before 6/28, that line must initially take one of the tiered data plans (2GB for $30, 5GB for $50, and 10GB for $80 a month). If this occurs after 6/28 you can also choose to change your entire account and all lines to the new shared data plan at that point. If you remove the new smartphone from her line (put her dumb phone back on it as the active phone) you no longer need a data plan on her line.

It is easy to move phones between lines...we do that all the time. We upgraded my mom's line on my account last week to a Razr Maxx and data plan, and then immediately moved the Maxx to my wife's line and removed the data plan from my mom's line. Did not affect my wife's existing unlimited data plan, but did mean that my mom's line was extended for two years at $9.99/month.

You can also move phones upgraded on a line on one account to a line on another account. Just go online and activate the phone on the line. If you already have a data plan the plan will stay the same. If you don't have a data plan on that line, then you'll have access to whatever plans are available at that time.

Does anyone know if you can move phone numbers between lines? My wife's line has unlimited data, my son has 2GB...he's going to need more, she never uses more than 1GB, generally .5 GB.

Can I move his number to her line, and her number to his line? (They have the same phone, so I wouldn't even necessarily have to swap the phones between the lines. )

I suspect this isn't done, but thought I'd ask.

What you could do is hold both phones in your hands and then swap which hand they are in then give the phones back to your son and wife. Tell them to spread the word to friends and family they have new numbers and done.

Redflea said:

Does anyone know if you can move phone numbers between lines? My wife's line has unlimited data, my son has 2GB...he's going to need more, she never uses more than 1GB, generally .5 GB.

Can I move his number to her line, and her number to his line? (They have the same phone, so I wouldn't even necessarily have to swap the phones between the lines. )

I suspect this isn't done, but thought I'd ask.

Click to expand...

I tried to do this but wasn't successful, but sometimes not all CSRs are created equally. So not willing to say it's a definite no.

Davoo said:

What you could do is hold both phones in your hands and then swap which hand they are in then give the phones back to your son and wife. Tell them to spread the word to friends and family they have new numbers and done.

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Wait...I think I recognize your screen name. Didn't you invent the "Sneaker Net" in the early 70's, where you advised customers who wanted to allow co-workers to share files, to have employees copy their files to a floppy drive, walk over to their co-worker's desk, and give them the floppy?

Brilliant.. ;-)

And if you think anyone is prying my wife's phone number from anything but her cold, dead fingers, you are sadly mistaken. Idea already broached, response just short of nuclear strike. <sigh> Have to remember, I didn't marry her for her logic...

AntimonyER said:

I tried to do this but wasn't successful, but sometimes not all CSRs are created equally. So not willing to say it's a definite no.

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Thanks, maybe I'll give it a go. Can't hurt, might help.

This is where Google Voice comes in handy. If the each had a GV number and handed it out as the 'new number' then you can forward calls to anywhere. You can change the forwarding number on GV in an instant.

Clementine_3 said:

This is where Google Voice comes in handy. If the each had a GV number and handed it out as the 'new number' then you can forward calls to anywhere. You can change the forwarding number on GV in an instant.

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Thanks, yeah, I broached that, but I am not getting any love for any idea that involves them having to change to new numbers, regardless the benefits. My son is more interested in not changing his number than he is in unlimited data! Just wild...

Redflea said:

Thanks, yeah, I broached that, but I am not getting any love for any idea that involves them having to change to new numbers, regardless the benefits. My son is more interested in not changing his number than he is in unlimited data! Just wild...

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Teenagers!

cmybliss said:

Teenagers!

Click to expand...

Precisely.

Recap: Everything You Need to Know About Verizon&#8217;s Share Everything Plans – Droid Life

Still have ?'s about yesterdays announcement? This article answers it all.

It would be interesting to see how many people will actually save money on theses plans. Since Verizon supposedly made these changes based on customer's request. Maybe someone should start a poll on this. I would but don't know how I have two smart phones and use about 7-10 gigs a month. This would raise my bill by $30 a month...not good

My bill would go up about $50, for three smartphones and two dumbphones, w/10GB data on the new shared plan (which could be tight). Not so good. So I don't see us ever going to a shared data plan.

The old "customers asked for this" is a typical marketing spin...I'm sure that some customers did ask about shared data, I doubt anyone asked "Can you please make my monthly bill more expensive? Pretty please?"

kabachy said:

It would be interesting to see how many people will actually save money on theses plans. Since Verizon supposedly made these changes based on customer's request.

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I doubt that customers requested being forced out of unlimited data.

Our bill is currently about $125/mo for three phones (one smartphone). Under the shared plan it would be at least $150.

"Share Everything: Where talk is cheap, but data isn't"

There are people who have mostly smartphones, high amount or unlimited minutes, and don't use much data that benefit from these plans.. but unless you're in that small group, you simply don't.

What happens if you upgrade your phone but continue to use the old phone and do not connect the new one?

I'm not planning on selling the phone, I just don't need to use it right now.

That Galaxy S III is looking very tempting right now...

Wizard Prang said:

What happens if you upgrade your phone but continue to use the old phone and do not connect the new one?

I'm not planning on selling the phone, I just don't need to use it right now.

That Galaxy S III is looking very tempting right now...

Click to expand...

I think you need to activate it on your line, but then you can immediately switch back to your old phone. The activation completes the new contract signing if I am remembering correctly.

Wizard Prang said:

What happens if you upgrade your phone but continue to use the old phone and do not connect the new one?

I'm not planning on selling the phone, I just don't need to use it right now.

That Galaxy S III is looking very tempting right now...

Click to expand...

AntimonyER said:

I think you need to activate it on your line, but then you can immediately switch back to your old phone. The activation completes the new contract signing if I am remembering correctly.

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^^^^
This is correct. If you don't activate it within 14 days of delivery
you will be charged an etf.

AntimonyER said:

I think you need to activate it on your line, but then you can immediately switch back to your old phone. The activation completes the new contract signing if I am remembering correctly.

Click to expand...

That approach should work for me. I'm happy with my current phone (but watch this space ) and don't need to upgrade. For me the choice is "pay $200 now or pay $600 later" if I want to to keep my unlimited plan...

AntimonyER said:

I think you need to activate it on your line, but then you can immediately switch back to your old phone. The activation completes the new contract signing if I am remembering correctly.

Click to expand...

We just did this on our account. This was at Costco.

Ordered Razr Maxx for my wife, using an upgrade on my mom's line on our account.

They did not have the phone in stock (it arrived via UPS a couple days later). They put the phone and data plan on her account briefly during the order process and then immediately removed it, and put my mom's dumbphone/$9.99 a month plan back as her current phone/plan.

When the Maxx arrived at our house, we activated it on my wife's line - (which already had unlimited data) and added it to my wife's line via ESN on Verizon's site and then turned the phone on and it went through activation and connected to her line. So the Maxx was only on my mom's line briefly during the order process.

Easy-peasy.

Wizard Prang said:

That approach should work for me. I'm happy with my current phone (but watch this space ) and don't need to upgrade. For me the choice is "pay $200 now or pay $600 later" if I want to to keep my unlimited plan...

Click to expand...

Yea but I don't think your contracted rates continue after the end date of your agreement. So you'll be like a month to month renter, so to speak, and dumped into the new data requirement. You can't just not renew and keep the old rates and features forever... The agreement prevents changes to what you pay, so no renewal means you pay what they say if they change something.

MrB206 said:

Yea but I don't think your contracted rates continue after the end date of your agreement. So you'll be like a month to month renter, so to speak, and dumped into the new data requirement. You can't just not renew and keep the old rates and features forever... The agreement prevents changes to what you pay, so no renewal means you pay what they say if they change something.

Click to expand...

How does this work if you have three phones in a family plan that are constantly being upgraded? Does that keep the agreement in force? And can they nail you when you upgrade a NON-smartphone that has no data?