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 who are saying whats the point of having Smartphone without data plan. You guys forgetting there are huge number of people who dont need there data service. I my self spend 90 percent of my day around wireless network, i can access at will. So why should i have to pay for verizon’s data service?. I was with verizon for 8 years. But no more. To me Verizon forceful way to push data plan on good phones is nothing short of extortion. I have alot of friend who are system admins, and dont need verizon’s data services.
Phones have wi-fi so we can use that at any time no problem. And for people who live in very popular states usually have alot of hot spots. Collage/universities student can use open wifi in there campuses. Collage/universities life already expensive; paying extra for service not being used is pointless. Thats why we buy wi-fi based phones.
Some people argue with me about having map on go. Well i have software that have up to date map, stored on my micro sd. So for people like us Why in hell will we pay for there data service when we will never use it??
Verizon NEED give there customer the OPTION to lock there data service or not. I switch to ATT and they lock the system on my HTC. I use wi-fi easily no problems. No extra charge. Not to mention i get Rollover.
I will like to see Verizon hit ground so they realize, that treating there customer with forceful behavior will not be tolerated by the customers.
The bottom line is this: The Federal Govt. took away television frequencies and made some TV sets obsolete so that they could sell those frequencies to the cell phone companies. The cell phone companies need to raise their revenue to offset the expenses of purchasing the frequencies, so they are raising the rates they charge you. Analyze that and you’ll see that in a round about way, the Federal govt took frequencies away from the TV broadcasters and are allowing the cell phone companies to tax you to recover the expense of receiving those frequencies from the Federal Govt.
If you don’t want to be force fed the new data plan but would still like to use a SmartPhone ie. Windows Office Suite (which doesn’t access the web). Or if you would like a phone with WiFi access but don’t want to be robbed of $30 per month for something you don’t want…then
SEND A COMPLAINT TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.
Do you see black helicopters overhead James?
And Scotty, what federal trade regulation is violated by requiring a wireless data device bought from a wireless service provider to have a wireless data subscription? Honestly? Vote with your dollars folks, take your non-wireless revenue generating use to some other wireless carrier (who likely already has similar policies, or soon will, or has some other policy or service you don’t like).
Well said DavidB.
saying a WM6.1 device is worthless without a data plan is like saying a laptop is worthless without a wifi, I use programs to keep track employees’ time, manage my expenses, check mileage and maintanence schedules on compamy cars, and a few other things that do not require data at all… I do email at the office, and have no desire to get it on the job… there a multitude of programs that don’t need data, I for don’t want data, and don’t want to have to shell out close to $300 a month extra for employees’ phones…
All of this complaining about Verizon wireless is ineffectual and absurd. The way to show that you are discontent with Verizon is to not have there service PERIOD. They boast about the network (That’s Nice), but there network is only as good as the people that are willing to support it. The less customers Verizon wireless has the more they will have to rethink there way of doing business. Remember we have the control. We are the consumer. We a have choice. Verizon is not the only Cell phone provider
honestly i do think this is crap but it says government employees dont have to pay so im going to see if this is true cuz if it is ill be happy but this is still dumb
DavidB, you are an idiot and just need to stop making posts. I too have had a 6800 and everything I need it to do works just fine over WiFi. Data Service is not required to make these phones function as intended. I as many other people here DO NOT want to carry a phone to make phone calls plus a PDA. A device that does both is available. I will switch carriers for this reason, I do not need nor want data service to use my PDA Phone, period.
The WORST part of this whole thing is Im paying Verizon for FIOS!! If I use my Omnia to connect to MY WI-FI, Verizon gets to charge me an additional 30 bucks on top of what they charge me for the internet connection in the first place!! Its such crap! How can they get away with this??
I should be able to use my smartphone the same way I would use an iPaq… Connect to a wi-fi hotspot, sync my email, surf the web. I dont need data access when im not in a hotspot.
No matter how VZW tries to justify it, thres no reason for me to have a dataplan, Im in a hotspot most of my day, I dont need broadband access!!
Assholes!
To who said, “What is the point of a smartphone if it doesn’t have a dataplan to make it, you know, smart?” Remember it is a smartphone/PDA. Some people want the phone for the PDA – Windows Mobile 6 (Word, Excel, etc…). I now carry a basic phone and a iPAQ PDA. I use Excel to enter data from various locations for my buisness. I would like to combine the phone & PDA into one device. I hardwire sync with my computer later. I don’t need the data plan for anything I do! I’ll be made to pay $30 a month for something I don’t have a use for. Whereas others don’t need the PDA part, I don’t need the smartphone (& data) part.
If you want to see a change in this policy you need to let them know how you feel.
Contacting customer service (Dial *611 from your cell phone (800) 922-0204) will at least alert them of the number of people dissatisfied with this new policy, but even the supervisor’s don’t have any power. It is probably best to send an email to their complaint department. The link is under Contact Us -> Send an email
Whether you agree or disagree with the need for a data plan with a pda phone, the removal of choices by any company should always be viewed with concern.
I can see them requiring a data plan when they give a discount on a smartphone. I can even see them requiring a data plan when they -don’t- give a discount on a smartphone. That’s Verizon’s right as a vendor of phones.
What they should NOT be allowed to do is force a data plan when someone purchases a phone, smart or otherwise, from another venue (such as Ebay). If the phone is voice compatible with their network, and all that’s requested is a voice plan, what is Verizon’s rationale for charging a significant monthly fee based strictly on the type of phone–not the services requested?
This seems to violate government mandated rules on open access to cellular networks–ie, Verizon is restricting compliant devices by charging extra fees without justification.
And for that, a class action suit may well be in the offing.
Anyone plan on taking action on this or heard of someone going after VW in civil court? If so count me in. If not, let’s get started now. I went to these retards today (I was told I can finally upgrade). The toolbag at the counter could not understand that I did not need the data service. No shit, He said, “you have to have this to make phone calls”. I need the storm for a phone and PDA for medical ref. vs the old phone/pda I have. I don’t need or have the time to deal with some HS dropout f–knut who is only following orders.
Cheers,
Nolan
I don’t know if there’s anything court-wise to be done upon further reflection, unless a significant amount of people have been burned (ie, they have bought a smart phone somewhere other than Verizon, didn’t want to add data, and were financially hurt by Verizon forcing the $30.00 per month data plan down their throat). I suspect most people just go to another vendor, though, and can’t therefore show financial harm.
However, this does sound like a potential FCC issue, as it is responsible for enforcing open access rules. Since Verizon recently agreed to Open Access for it’s newly won 700 mhz spectrum, I would be hard pressed to see how the FCC would allow Verizon to charge an additional fee just for the type of phone being used if data functions are not being requested, just voice. It would be like them telling me I have to pay more because my phone is red. It has no bearing to the service being requested and amounts to a surcharge. I urge anyone who feels this way to put in a complaint at the FCC web site: (http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm)
Takes about 5 minutes, and if they get numerous complaints they may well respond.
Thanks Daniel, that is a great idea.
I’ve started a “Stop Verizon Wireless’ Mandatory Data Plan” petition at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopverizon, but really considered that to be a futile gesture.
I’m glad there are people out there with a better idea on how to handle these types of situations then just ranting online, creating online petitions and threatening lawsuits.
lol @feitz
Dude get over it already. You aren’t gonna change them. They haven’t broken any laws they have the right to require anything they want for their phones just as you have the right to get a different phone or go to another carrier.
>> Dude get over it already. You aren’t gonna change them.
Nice attitude. Tell it to all the people getting their refunds from the “early termination” class action Verizon just lost.
>>They haven’t broken any laws they have the right to require anything they want for their phones
For “their” phones, sure…but this isn’t about them selling phones—it’s about people buying compatible phones elsewhere and having unjustifiable surcharges imposed.
Remember, cellular companies have been granted the use of limited public airwaves, and are therefore obligated by the FCC to follow certain “public interest” rules to prevent monopolistic practices. So…it’s not clear that they aren’t breaking laws when they impose fees other than those required for the reasonable compensation for their services. They’re our airwaves after all.
Do you think, as an independent multi-carrier dealer of wireless service (read: churn), that I would benefit from this policy? hmmm. Well, I would get the extra cheese from porking someones plan with extraneous features, true. But what about the HTC Touch Pros that I have in stock? The wi-fi radio WAS a great selling point, along with all the other great features, but it will never be an i-Touch at twice the price. My clients trust me to help them navigate the ridiculously resticted and confusing world of cell phone service contracts, and Verizon doesn’t pay me a fraction of what they have made that worth>.< Now, I will probably resort to dumping them at cost so I don’t bounce any checks… or I suppose I could slam some poor shmuck into a contract that winds up costing as much as an i-Touch (or equivalent?), a laptop (or netbook?) and a messaging service (g-voice?), with plenty left over for a less expensive voice service (like anything else?)!
Wow, Verizon is really beginning to PISS ME OFF!!! I just bought a smart phone, and was thinking of getting it switched to prepaid. I think we should all contact the ceo of Verizon and tell him that if they don’t release all restrictions on Windows Mobile Smart Phones then we are going to switch to AT&T. (secretly I hate AT&T, but now I hate Verizon as well!)
So if I buy a smart phone from ebey can I activate this phone without paying the $30 a month?
Not on VZW you can’t. No matter where you got the phone whenther IMEI is entered into the system the it detects that it is a smartphone and makes you add the data plan.
So I have a nice Voyager with the Nationwide Premium plan including unlimited data,text….Vcast/Vnav. Right! So my brother gives me his old XV6700 Apache with WM6.1 on it. I called today and asked could I just activate and use with no problems. Their answer was “It is not Compatible with your plan”. WTF. I PAY for unlimited data through my phone (Not Tethering) and this PPC has the verizon logo on it, Same towers are used. Same technology. They said I would have to drop to a “Nationwide Select Plan” then add the data plan on top of that. IT’S THE SAME FRIGGIN FEATURES IDIOTS. I’m sick of BREW and $1.99 for this and that. My PDA is totally customizable and for that verizon wants to hit you hard below the belt. So bend over PPC users. It’s a MONEY MAKING GAME. By the by WHO reads 20 pages of terms and conditions which are ALWAYS presented in legal speak just to see how screwed over you will get if Verizon “Feels” like it. Remember, Terms and conditions may change anytime and you signed it!
@pji – You’ve clearly never compared your touch pro to others. Just take a look at the keyboard and tell me you’d rather have an arrow key in between n and m, lose a row, lose a front camera, etc. It’s a world of wifi, verizon deserves to go bankrupt for this unreasonable plan. and pji, you should learn what your talking about before showing your face in comments again.
Well, I just received a phone call from Polly at Verizon and a letter from the FCC stating they are looking into how Verizon’s new policy fits with the Fed’s “Fair Use” clause for the new bandwidth they purchased. I’m hoping that, because of the FCC’s early demand that people be allowed data only plans with their PDA/Smart phones, that the reverse is true and that we will be allowed to have voice only plans as well.
Since Verizon does offer data only plans for PDA’s, I’m not sure why people are suprised that you might want a voice only plan as well.