Additional details about Verizon’s Mandatory Data Plans emerge
Remember that rumor floating around about Verizon requiring a $29.99 data plan for all new smartphones? It was based upon a leaked screenshot of a small section of a two-page slide deck that detailed the new smartphone data requirement. Well, we got our hands on the original two-page document and now have all the nitty gritty details for you. First the bad news, all new smartphones launched on or after November 14th will require a minimum $29.99 data plan for everyone except Government customers. In 2009, select Mobile Web 2.0 devices that have a full HTML browser will also require a data plan, either $15/month VCast or the Connect or Premium Plan which includes data. Verizon’s own system will be edited to prevent new smartphones from having PAYG, 1X Data Block or 10 MB data plan so trying to sweet talk the customer service representative into activating these plans on your line wont work. Now onto the semi-good news, the changes apparently only apply to new phones launched on or after November 14th and does not apply to existing plans and existing phones. According to the slide, the exceptions to the mandatory data requirement are as follows:
- Existing PDAs/Smartphones customers with Data Block will not be impacted
- Existing PDAs/Smartphones customers with Pay As You Go will not be impacted
- Existing PDAs/Smartphones customers with 10 MB / $24.99 Feature will not be impacted
- Existing Gov’t customers may continue to add new PDAs/Smartphones or upgrade to new PDAs/Smartphones without a data plan/ feature of $29.99 or higher
- Devices already in store will not be impacted (As older models are sold through they will still follow the old policy)
If you are current customer on one of these now defunct Data Block, PAYG or 10MB plans, then you can keep your data plan until the point in time that you purchase and try to activate any new phone that was launched on or after November 14th. As long as you keep using your old phone, you’re golden. Hit the jump for the second slide which has selling points to try to get you rebel holdouts to purchase a data plan.
For those that say it makes sense to require data plans on smartphones. There are plenty of people that have FREE Wi-Fi connections available to them at home, work, or schools. Why should they have to pay. Also, there are multiple uses for PPC/PDA’s that do not require a live data-connection. (Epocrates, GPS Navigation). Remember people used to carry around PDA and cell phones in each pocket. That’s because PDA’s are used for other stuff (productive things), rather then surfing the web or watching your myspace.
And VZW DOES cripple GPS on there smartphones. Because they want you use there VZapp navigation. In order to use FREE GPS, you have to use an external GPS via Bluetooth. The built-in AGPS/GPS is locked out, unless you use a hack or VZ Navigation.
I have been with VZW for over 7yrs. I know what they do with PDA/PPC phones. I’m sure ATT does similar things, BUT currently, ATT is not requiring data plans on there PPC’s (only the Iphone).
People! Please! If you don’t want a smartPHONE, why are you buying a device from a wireless company and then complaining they make you buy plans?
Don’t want the plans? Buy the device for the ridiculously high unsubsidized price and quit your bitching.
why would you owe a blackberry and not want a blackberry plan? thats like buying a car and never putting gas in it not using it for what it is supposed to be used for.
Okay, I was wrong about the Verizon Touch Pro. The gps is locked, not just turned off like the 6800. One of the major reasons I have a WinMo phone is for TomTom gps. I’m just glad I still have a bluetooth gps unit.
The Verizon xv6700 (Apache), xv6800 (Titan), and the xv6850 (Touch Pro) all have active WiFi with no hacks or cooked roms necessary. I know, I’ve had/have them all.
@ DavidB:
i would be willing to pay the unsubsidized price but you’ve missed something. the data plan requirement isn’t just mandatory for getting the phone at a cheaper price, it’s mandatory for any activation on verizon period. that means even if i bought it at the unsubsidized price, id still be forced to pay for the data plan and thats where it’s wrong, esp bc a data plan is not needed to fully utilize a smartphone. its obviously bc verizon knows they cant keep cutting out the wi-fis out of these new smartphones and the greedy company doesnt want to lose out on their data plans. i hope it backfires. ne ways u needa get your facts straight b4 u tell ppl to stop bitching.
@ v
You can NOT take full advantage of a BB smart phone without the data plan. Without the data plan you loose the main point in having a BB: push email.
To others:
VZW does not cripple it’s BB’s. CDMA BB’s don’t have WiFi on ANY CARRIER: Sprint, MTS, Bell, Telus. etc. THIS IS NOT A VERIZON THING. STOP PERPETUATING THAT MYTH!
If Sprint is so wonderful they why have they lost 1.8 million customers this year while VZW has remained steady and actually grown?
This mandatory data plan is ridiculous, please if you disagree with it then send an email to Verizon. here is mine.
This is fucking outrageous please email and complain to Verizon. heres mine.
After spending 40 minutes on the phone with your customer support, I am still absolutely astounded that your company has decided to force everyone who decides on purchasing a smartphone to also purchase a data plan. In the case of the WiFi enabled Samsung Omnia, you would be charging me 720$ over 2 years simply to receive updates. Everything the data package allows except updates can be accomplished over WiFi and through basic functionalities. Moreover it is completely plausible to receive updates over WiFi if Verizon were to create a very simple manual update program. Basically Verizon has decided to charge all of its WiFi smartphone customers $720 for updating a phone. The price however is not the issue here, the issue is the fact that we have no options. I have no use for 3g as I am surrounded by WiFi. All I want is WiFi and the capabilities a basic phone can handle (the ability to send pictures, texts and calls). This is not asking much. This policy will not be tolerated for very long as not many people cant afford to triple their phone spending for an unnecessary browsing and update option. I can only hope that Verizon is the first to realize that this is blatant robbery. After being a Verizon costumer for 7 years and to now be slapped in the face with this ridiculous policy I will likely never return to Verizon as a provider purely on principle.
Response Verizon should send (but won’t):
Dear customer,
You purchase a mobile data device from a mobile data service provider, yet you do not feel a need to pay for the mobile data service that we offer? May we suggest you purchase a less capable device from a retailer that isn’t in the business of selling mobile data services. Thank You.
Becuase, its for most consumers its 30 a month for two years. Its going to change the way existing customers buy phones. Im fed up with Verizon
Here’s a “What If” question.
Let’s say that I needed the ability to utilize Windows Mobile 6.1 for MS Word, Excel, and other strictly PDA-type functions but DID NOT require the data plan for my particular profession. Is it right that I be charged to utilize only a portion of the capabilities of a Smartphone simply because I ONLY NEED that portion? After all, I paid for the phone with my own money. Verizon OFFERED the discounted price to me. I DIDN’T ask for it, I merely took advantage of their offer.
@larryc:
In that “what if” situation, do you read the terms and conditions of the sale, or ignore them as apparently everyone bitching about this has done?
Listen, I don’t particularly like people getting forced into things they don’t particularly want to pay for as terms of a sale. But when you buy a PHONE from a PHONE company, expecting to get away without PHONE service is ridiculous. Same for data devices and data plans.
I’m very disappointed with Verizon at this point. I’m a loyal customer who probably won’t change service only because they’re the only carrier that gets reception at my home. Sigh…
I want a smartphone so I don’t have to carry two devices with me all of the time. I’m a very busy mom, plus I work full time and have enough stuff to keep track of. I need my life to be streamlined, yet I don’t think I should have to pay for services I’m not going to use. We already shell out $175/month to Verizon for our plans as we don’t have a home phone and have the texting packages, plus the $15 data plan that was put on my husband’s phone when he bought his Voyager.
I’d pretty much just use a smartphone just for the calendar/organization tool. The basic Verizon phones don’t have the type of calendar that I need. Even the Dare has the regular calendar. I could care less if I could check my email from the phone since I can do so at work and really don’t need the data plan for that reason. The wifi on the Ommia is a nice bonus as I can’t access certain websites on my work computer (including eBay) and sometimes there’s something I’d like to check on the web while out and about. However, as the Verizon rep told me, there’s no reason for the wifi since you’re already paying for the data plan.
I wish there was phone (that was similar to the Dare) that you could load apps on to make it more personalized, yet pay for each app instead of a monthly fee. The new Omnia sounds like a perfect phone and has everything that I am looking for in a phone, but paying $720+ over the course of 2 years isn’t going to win me over.
What is Verizon’s definition as governement customers? Is it only the federal goverment? I work for my state government and when I went on the Verizon site that is for goverment employees to see if I could order an Omnia without the data plan, I still had to select a required data plan of either $29.99 or $44.99. It said it was required. After reading the comments, I was hoping to get around the data plan, but it was not the case with me.
Sharri,
I was told that the phone had to be on a plan that was under the name of a gov’t agency….not an individual.
DavidB,
Excuse me….I was under the mistaken impression that we were talking about the unfairness of the “Terms and Conditions”!!!
@sharri:
Gov’t liable accounts only. If it is billed to an individual, not eligible. There are also no Early Termination Fees on gov’t liable accounts.
What is the point of WiFi if you have to pay for a data plan anyway? I’m not complaining, I just want to know why you would want a phone with both.
The point DMann is they want wifi for free, and not have to pay the mobile service provider from whom they purchased a mobile wireless device for a wireless data plan.
I understand that, but why does Verizon offer Wifi if you have to have the data plan? What is the advantage of having both? Is Wifi faster or something?
If you are using Wifi, then Verizon IS NOT incurring ANY cost. So, if I don’t use their network and don’t try to “pretend” that I made a mistake after noticing data useage charges on my bill, then WHY IN HELL shouldn’t I be allowed to use the FREE Wifi that is designed into the Samsung Omnia. And don’t give me that crap about Verizon “subsidizing” the cost of the phone because you can’t even provide a phone purchased somewhere else & get it activated on the Verizon network without being saddled with their data package.
samsung Omnia has wifi
I can’t believe the stupidity… I have over 500.00 in PocketPC software. I rely on my Pocket PC for calender reminders and synch with my Outlook for my business travels. I have my own external Blue tooth GPS system and software… now my 4 year old Audiovox smart phone is on last legs and these ass’s want another 360.00 per year for a service I do not want or will never use…I dont need a data plan…or want one…. This is robbery… I will probably terminate my contract with them.
@Netsurfer:
Dude, chill, get a PHONE, and keep using your PDA.
For those saying you should have a data plan for a data device, wouldn’t this arguement also apply to texting? I absolutely never text yet Verizon (nor any cell company I know of) doesn’t force you to get a texting package.
I have the XV 6700 right now and I’m completely happy with its functionality without a data package. The times I would use data, 99% of the time I’m in a wifi hotspot (at home or another location where I could tap one). If I got a $30 data package I would almost never use it. I’d tap the local wifi’s because they’re usually faster than Verizon’s network(I’m looking at the Omnia BTW). I’d pay $30 for something I might use for 5 minutes a month. And then how does it make sense that I can continue to use my XV6700 without a data plan, but if I want a new plan, they force me into something?
And Verizon does currently offer a number of PDA phones with wifi: Omnia, Touch Pro, and Saga all have wifi.
SMS text messages are NOT “data”, they are a phone call in the carrier’s eyes as far as how they are processed. They charge you $.20 per 160 character message of you don’t have a SMS “plan”, so if you’d like to go that way and pay that sort of cost per byte of “data” on a smartphone data plan, go right ahead and offer to pay Verizon the thousands of $$$ per month that would result. Me, I’ll stick with the $30/month plan thank you.
As for changing terms, well, your current terms are valid until you sign a new contract. Don’t like the terms of the new contract, by all means don’t feel obligated to sign it and feel free to run off to TMO or Virgin Mobile or some some other wonderful carrier with oh so wonderful nationwide high speed wireless data coverage (NOT!).