Verizon Upgrades & Unlimited Data

[sam_gordon]

For those of you with Verizon feature phones contemplating upgrading to the unlimited data plan before 7/7...

I had an Env Touch. My contact wasn't up until 9/23 of this year. I was planning on upgrading to a smart phone at that point. DD accidentally sprayed sunscreen on her phone. So we went into Verizon to see what our options were.

One option that I didn't know about is Verizon is allowing (at least some) feature phone owners to upgrade to smartphones BEFORE their contract has expired and pay LOWEST price for the smartphone. I had been on the website recently looking into upgrades and this is not mentioned on the website. One of the reps at the Verizon store told me about it.

That was Saturday. We went in Sunday and I got a Droid X2 and we moved DD into my EnV Touch. I had to pay for my phone and a case. No extra charges.

Thought others who are contemplating upgrades but are still under contract may want to look into this before Thursday.

I also added unlimited data on my wife's phone (also an Env touch) and the rep said they don't know if, when she upgrades to a smart phone, the unlimited data will carry over. She did not say it WOULDN'T carry over, just that it may or may not.

 

[starwood]

I don't think you can upgrade to an Iphone with this. I spoke with someone on the phone because DS has had numerous problems with his Droid. We're not due until April for new phones. She said they could upgrade him to any droid but Apple would not let them upgrade him to an Iphone.

 

[tink15823]

I don't think you can upgrade to an Iphone with this. I spoke with someone on the phone because DS has had numerous problems with his Droid. We're not due until April for new phones. She said they could upgrade him to any droid but Apple would not let them upgrade him to an Iphone.

We upgraded to a Iphone in Dec with this. My phone went nuts so as i was looking at a phone they got my Dh with this deal.So we ea got a new phone and kids got his old (3 mo) phone.

 

[NYEmomma]

For those of you with Verizon feature phones contemplating upgrading to the unlimited data plan before 7/7...

I had an Env Touch. My contact wasn't up until 9/23 of this year. I was planning on upgrading to a smart phone at that point. DD accidentally sprayed sunscreen on her phone. So we went into Verizon to see what our options were.

One option that I didn't know about is Verizon is allowing (at least some) feature phone owners to upgrade to smartphones BEFORE their contract has expired and pay LOWEST price for the smartphone. I had been on the website recently looking into upgrades and this is not mentioned on the website. One of the reps at the Verizon store told me about it.

That was Saturday. We went in Sunday and I got a Droid X2 and we moved DD into my EnV Touch. I had to pay for my phone and a case. No extra charges.

Thought others who are contemplating upgrades but are still under contract may want to look into this before Thursday.

I also added unlimited data on my wife's phone (also an Env touch) and the rep said they don't know if, when she upgrades to a smart phone, the unlimited data will carry over. She did not say it WOULDN'T carry over, just that it may or may not.

I posted over on the community board a question asking just this because I had friends who said the same thing (got to upgrade their feature phone to a smart phone early w/ no fees & contract phone price) and was looking for someone to confirm.

Guess I need to find a decent Verizon store & check it out since we usually do our cell phone business at Best Buy (our local Verizon store is AWFUL).

 

[angierae]

Friday we upgraded DD16 from her Rival to an iPhone. DH's phone is the "main" phone on our family plan, and we were able to use his upgrade early for a $20 charge for her. (She and I both have upgrades coming later this month, but not before the 7th)

She got an iPhone. $200 for the phone, $20 for the early upgrade, and then we bought her a case and screen protectors. $270.

It was worth it to get her in on the unlimited data.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't think you can upgrade to an Iphone with this. I spoke with someone on the phone because DS has had numerous problems with his Droid. We're not due until April for new phones. She said they could upgrade him to any droid but Apple would not let them upgrade him to an Iphone.

I was told ANY smart phone. That includes the iPhone. I looked at the iPhone, but the deciding factors for the Droid X2:
MUCH larger screen
Flash Capable
Able to edit Google docs

Now I'm figuring out all the fun things I can do with it.

 

[starwood]

Maybe it's because we already have smart phones that they won't allow an upgrade.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

You will not be able to do this with an iPhone. Apple is very strict about such things as early upgrades and discounting.Verizon has no choice in this if they want to sell iPhones.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe it's because we already have smart phones that they won't allow an upgrade.

You will not be able to do this with an iPhone. Apple is very strict about such things as early upgrades and discounting.Verizon has no choice in this if they want to sell iPhones.

I think this upgrade is only if you do NOT currently have a smart phone (iPhone or Droid). A number of people in other threads have mentioned they have feature phones and are thinking about getting the unlimited data before Verizon expires it. I simply thought people may want to make a trip to a Verizon store and ask. After all, if you are going to pay for the unlimited data, why not get a phone that you can REALLY use it on?

 

[angierae]

You will not be able to do this with an iPhone. Apple is very strict about such things as early upgrades and discounting.Verizon has no choice in this if they want to sell iPhones.

Just this past Friday I walked into a Verizon store, used my husband's early upgrade (he's the "main phone" on our family plan) to buy our daughter an iPhone at the $200 price by paying the $20 "early upgrade" fee. No problems, no questions, no "you can't do this with an iPhone".

 

[DisLaw]

sorry to sound so out of touch but what is this about a change in the data plan for verizon?

None of us have the data plan here, just the unlimited texting for 9.99 a month for the whole plan (5 phones).

What is changing this month? Anything to do with the texting plan or just the data plans? what is the change?

At some point we will probably be getting Iphones but for now we are good with our EnVs. Should I be upgrading now to the iphone?

Thanks!

 

[jcvalenti]

I broke down and upgraded my wife's 5 year old EnV to an iPhone 4 today ... mostly because I wanted her locked in to the unltd data plan, because when we travel I want to be able to activate her phone as a mobile hotspot for the rest of the family to use their iPads and iPods.

Also so I didn't have to listen to her complain all next week when in Disney that her phone sucks

 

[sam_gordon]

sorry to sound so out of touch but what is this about a change in the data plan for verizon?

None of us have the data plan here, just the unlimited texting for 9.99 a month for the whole plan (5 phones).

What is changing this month? Anything to do with the texting plan or just the data plans? what is the change?

At some point we will probably be getting Iphones but for now we are good with our EnVs. Should I be upgrading now to the iphone?

Thanks!

My understanding...

The data plan is different than the texting plan.
The data plan is what you use for web browsing/downloads/music streaming/etc.
The only thing changing is the data plan.
There are two levels of the data plan... a $9.99 and a $29.99.
Currently the $9.99 has a limit (10Meg? 75Meg?) and the $29.99 is unlimited.
On 7/7/11, the $29.99 plan will become "limited" to 2Gig/month. Anything over that and you'll play.
If you have the $29.99 plan (definitely on a smart phone) BEFORE the limit kicks in, you'll be "grandfathered" in. Meaning, you still pay the $29.99 but you still have the unlimited data.

Now, if you contemplating upgrading to an iPhone/Droid (smart phone) in the near future, you may want to consider moving the upgrade up to this week (before 7/7). When you get a smart phone from Verizon, you'll be required to get the $29.99 plan. If you upgrade after 7/7, that plan will be "limited".

I hope this makes sense.

 

[sherry7]

Just a FYI, to get grandfathered in on an unlimited data plan, you need to change BEFORE July 7. So, make sure you do it before Wednesday night.

 

[sissy_ib]

I just ordered my DHF and myself smart phones. I went with some cheaper options for now to get locked in on the unlimited plan. We have been talking about getting smart phones of some kind for a few weeks now so I bit the bullet. He was wanting to wait but I know he would be the one using a ton of data and kicking himself later so I know I made the right choice. Now I just have to tell him what I did
Also the phones I went with were cheaper online vs in store. One by $50 and one by $30. So I saved $80 by ordering online vs in store. I can wait 2 days and save $80!

 

[uk_wildcat]

I went in last week and upgraded to an iPhone from my Droid Incredible. I was not due to upgrade until Feb 2012, but received an email saying I could upgrade early. The phone was $199, plus a $20 early upgrade fee. I made sure to go ahead and do the upgrade since I knew the data plan charges were changing and I wanted to make sure I got it before that happens.

 

[jcvalenti]

Also the phones I went with were cheaper online vs in store. One by $50 and one by $30. So I saved $80 by ordering online vs in store. I can wait 2 days and save $80!

I've always found online to be a much better experience. Every time I go to the store, I wait around forever, get angry, and then walk out after finding out it's twice as much to buy in a brick and mortar store.

Today I did it all online, had an agent via chat answer a few questions about my plan (yes, I can sign up for mobil hotspot and then cancel next month after a trip) ... it was very pleasant. Ordered the phone at 1pm, it was on a truck heading to me by 3pm. I'll have it Thursday. Cool !

 

[PrincessShanShan]

I upgraded today. I knew I had an upgrade (and $30 credit too), but I LOVED my Blackberry Curve. I was having trouble with my ball sticking, so I figured I might as well get a new phone before Verizon changed the unlimited data plan. I got a Droid Pro. The guy at the Verizon store told me they jokingly refer to it as the DroidBerry! LOL!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My younger daughter's upgrade date is tomorrow. Unlimited data ends tomorrow night. Younger daughter is far far away at the moment and I'm on planes most of tomorrow. Today I spent the entire day getting ready to be on planes most of tomorrow. I called Verizon and added the unlimited data to her current phone this afternoon. I will go to Apple and get her an iphone when I am back in a couple of weeks. The plan/data plan survives the handset change. She will be grandfathered just like her sister and me. The call rep wanted to increase the cost of her insurance on her current handset. I told her to remove it completely because if the phone breaks she's getting a new iphone not a replacement crap phone

 

[snoodledoo]

I don't know what to do! I told DD she'd get a phone when she starts high school (next year), because she doesn't need it now, but I'm afraid to miss out on the unlimited plan. I take it we can't add a phone to our family plan next year and still be grandfathered in with our phones? What to do...what to do...?