Verizon Upgrades & Unlimited Data

[Mom2JPL]

Just an FYI for those planning up upgrading to the unlimited data plan before tomorrow, it only will work if you currently have a smartphone...won't grandfather you in if you're on a regular phone...drove all over the place yesterday going to 3 different verizon stores and on the phone with verizon and that's the answer I got. My upgrade day is July 30th and I've been waiting for the iphone forever! So, I borrowed my sisters old droid and put that on as my phone and got rid of my env and now I'm officially grandfathered in...hopefully, lol!

 

[Irin997]

Just as an FYI I have an iPhone 4 and unlimited data and spent 10 days in Hawaii last month where I was on the 3G network only, no Wi-Fi and I still only used 0.3GB. My DH isn't too worried about not having unlimited data on his iPhone when he gets one in a few months. Until then, he's waiting for his phone to crap out on him completely.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

They added it to my daughter's line no problem. She has an Alias 2 at the moment. Not sure if that's a smart phone or not, as it didn't require a data plan before. However, she is grandfathered in, even if I don't get her iPhone today, according to Verizon via phone.

Just an FYI for those planning up upgrading to the unlimited data plan before tomorrow, it only will work if you currently have a smartphone...won't grandfather you in if you're on a regular phone...drove all over the place yesterday going to 3 different verizon stores and on the phone with verizon and that's the answer I got. My upgrade day is July 30th and I've been waiting for the iphone forever! So, I borrowed my sisters old droid and put that on as my phone and got rid of my env and now I'm officially grandfathered in...hopefully, lol!

 

[Mom2JPL]

They added it to my daughter's line no problem. She has an Alias 2 at the moment. Not sure if that's a smart phone or not, as it didn't require a data plan before. However, she is grandfathered in, even if I don't get her iPhone today, according to Verizon via phone.

Oh, I was able to add it to my Env...in fact did it last week online..but after doing more research and reading some more I thought I'd go to the store and check it out. Three different places told me three different things...the last one told me they just saw a webinar a few hours before I came in and verified that it would not transfer over the unlimited data from regular phone to smartphone...I hope they're wrong but I wasn't taking any chances! The woman I talked to on the phone from verizon directly didn't really have an answer for me, she was hoping they would transfer but didn't say a definite yes or no. I'm just going with "better safe than sorry" and switched to an older smartphone for the time being to make sure I'm grandfathered in.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It's frustrating when you get differing answers. The two phone reps I spoke with both gave me the same answer. Plans survive even as handsets change. Perhaps I'll call again today to verify... lol

Oh, I was able to add it to my Env...in fact did it last week online..but after doing more research and reading some more I thought I'd go to the store and check it out. Three different places told me three different things...the last one told me they just saw a webinar a few hours before I came in and verified that it would not transfer over the unlimited data from regular phone to smartphone...I hope they're wrong but I wasn't taking any chances! The woman I talked to on the phone from verizon directly didn't really have an answer for me, she was hoping they would transfer but didn't say a definite yes or no. I'm just going with "better safe than sorry" and switched to an older smartphone for the time being to make sure I'm grandfathered in.

 

[jcvalenti]

For those freaking out about the unlimited data plan, Verizon has a very nice "usage calculator" on their page that lets you estimate what your data usage would be, based on the number of emails and the amount of browsing you typically use your phone for.

I think most people think they use far more bandwith than they actually do. Where it really kills you is if you plan to hotspot your phone and use it as an access point for other devices, like iPods, iPads and laptops.

 

[shirleyb]

For those freaking out about the unlimited data plan, Verizon has a very nice "usage calculator" on their page that lets you estimate what your data usage would be, based on the number of emails and the amount of browsing you typically use your phone for.

I think most people think they use far more bandwith than they actually do. Where it really kills you is if you plan to hotspot your phone and use it as an access point for other devices, like iPods, iPads and laptops.

This is what I've found, and why I didn't bother to worry about getting any of our phones grandfathered in.

DH and I currently have Samsung Rivals, and we typically use just a few megs of data every month.

I still really can't see paying $150 a month (I have 5 phones on my plan) for internet access on our phones when we don't pay nearly that for our house wireless which we use WAY more than we do on the phone.

 

[sam_gordon]

For those freaking out about the unlimited data plan, Verizon has a very nice "usage calculator" on their page that lets you estimate what your data usage would be, based on the number of emails and the amount of browsing you typically use your phone for.

I think most people think they use far more bandwith than they actually do. Where it really kills you is if you plan to hotspot your phone and use it as an access point for other devices, like iPods, iPads and laptops.

The problem with using the calculator as someone with a current "feature" phone is you're guessing at what your usage will be. It's easy to underestimate emails, picture uploads, ap downloads, etc when your phone, while it may have those features, is too "clunky" to really use on a regular basis. With a smart phone, those things are easier, therefore, you might use it more than you think.

 

[angierae]

For those freaking out about the unlimited data plan, Verizon has a very nice "usage calculator" on their page that lets you estimate what your data usage would be, based on the number of emails and the amount of browsing you typically use your phone for.

I think most people think they use far more bandwith than they actually do. Where it really kills you is if you plan to hotspot your phone and use it as an access point for other devices, like iPods, iPads and laptops.

I have a smartphone. Our "month" starts on the 23rd. On 7/1 I called #data, and they texted me back that I'd already used 1.2G of data. In like, a week. I stream music and movies to my phone at work for background noise. This is why my daughter got a iPhone later that day. If *I* can use that kind of data, I know my teenager can!

 

[NYEmomma]

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 !

Regarding doing everything online: were you at the end of your contract and eligible for the upgrade (at the cheaper new contract prices) or were you one of the early birds that were able to upgrade their non-smart phone to a smart phone early w/o any fees like discussed earlier in the thread??

 

[Kitty-chan]

For those freaking out about the unlimited data plan, Verizon has a very nice "usage calculator" on their page that lets you estimate what your data usage would be, based on the number of emails and the amount of browsing you typically use your phone for.

I think most people think they use far more bandwith than they actually do. Where it really kills you is if you plan to hotspot your phone and use it as an access point for other devices, like iPods, iPads and laptops.

Ditto to this.

I haven't used the bandwidth calculator, myself. This morning I checked My Verizon to see what the data usage is for myself and my spouse, both on smartphones. Halfway through the billing cycle, he's used 0.1GB, and I've used 0.3GB. So, chances are real good that neither of us is in danger of needing more than 2GB/month on a regular basis.

Now, if they put bandwidth limits on our home network that would be a different story!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

My dd and I are on the same plan. I have the original Droid and she had an envy touch. My upgrade was available this week, her's in October. I went to our verizon dealer today and used my upgrade to get her a blackberry (her choice) and I will use her upgrade due in October for the new iphone for myself. Now we both are grandfathered in.