Verizon “Enhanced Multimedia Phones” to require data plans, death of the Vpak, and more
In this day and age, carriers are all about data and rightfully so. Subscribers are becoming more reliant on data-dependent mobile apps and services each day, and carriers are hardly about to miss out on the potential revenue — just look at how many people gobbled up AT&T’s $30 iPhone data plan without batting an eye. Verizon is pushing data just as hard as any other carrier (BlackBerry BOGO, anyone?) and come September, Big Red is turning up the heat even more. One of our ninjas hit us with a brief internal VZW slide deck and it details several new policies about to go into place — the most notable change being the introduction of a new device class: the “Enhanced Multimedia Phone”. To fall into this new category, a handset must have an HTML Web browser, EV-DO Rev. A, a QWERTY keypad and it must launch on or after September 8th; making the Samsung Rogue VZW’s first handset to meet the criteria.
Enhanced Multimedia Phones might not be smartphones but they will require a data plan just like their big brothers and sisters. Customers who snatch up an Enhanced Multimedia Phone will be required to chose a data plan of $9.99 for 25MB or $19.99 for 75MB. Other changes currently brewing at Verizon include the death of the $15 VCAST Vpak (current subscribers grandfathered) and introduction of a $10 “VCAST Video On Demand” plan. For those unfamiliar with the option, the Vpak provided unlimited data for feature phones whereas the new $10 VCAST plan will only provide unlimited videos, thus requiring either the $9.99 or $19.99 data option for users wanting Web, email, etc (or pay $1.99/MB without a data plan). Hit the jump for a larger version of the slide above along with the rest of this short but informative deck.
I agree with Jebediah Springfield: It is product tying. VZW may just as well require all customers to purchase a text message package because the phones are capable of it and, according to the VZW apologist Tim, VZW would be justified because it can run its business however it pleases.
Hey Tim, next time you buy a sandwich at a fast food joint I propose that you be required to purchase a $1 soda beverage. Why? Because sandwich purchases require it of course. And logically, you’d be thirsty anyway. What’s that? You brought a water bottle? I don’t think so! Drink your pop and like it. By the way, there is only one other fast food joint in town and they have roaches. But you have a choice.
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I am a teenager, and QWERTY keyboards make everything easier- texting my mom when she needs a quick response, fast responses, and easier to navigate. Sliding phones can easily be busted [even if I am careful]
I want the enV-3, but $10 extra a month for data I won’t need to use? If I’m locked in for a year, that’s $120, and my mom pays for 5 phones on the plan, one being a BlackBerry for $30 a month, it adds up. This is ridiculous.
We would switch to AT&T, but cancellation fees are insane. Plus, the other phones are either flimsy or overpriced.
Verizon needs to lower their prices. Obviously, during a recession, people want long lasting phones for a low price.
I wanted to upgrade my sons phone and found out that to get a phone comparable to what we/he are used to using for the last 2 years that I would have to add a data plan! Well I don’t want one, I pay for voice and unlimited texting for 5 lines all we want is a decent quality phone with a qwerty keypad. I refuse to pay $10 more per phone for data usage. Sorry Verizon not falling for this one!
It is a matter of principal that I will not upgrade to a LG Envy 3. When I was deciding between the Envy touch and the 3, I was told the touch requires I spend $10 per month extra (but not with the Envy3) When I went to the store, (after the 17th of Jan., 2010) I was told that the Envy 3, as well as MOST all other Verizon phones, mandate I pay an additional $10/mo., even if I only use the phone to talk!!! In protest, I will buy a “new every 2″ verizon phone, sell it, and buy a LG Envy 2 new (again, simply on principal!) Forcing us to TAKE a product we don’t use??? Maybe Verizon is the best, but please call it what it is: a price hike!!! The idiot salesman back peddled like a used car salesman caught in a lie!
This is trully the case of vote with your dollars! I have the opportunity to switch now that my contract is over, but I’m not going to. I will not be forced to buy something I don’t want/need. Hopefully there are enough people out there that will not buy into this crap.
I find Verizon’s new policy of a REQUIRED data plan on 60% of their phone’s absolutely rediculous!
It’s not hard to see that the U.S. is becoming a Communist driven country with the talk of a required health care plan, and now VERIZON is following that same path…give us a break! I want a Qwerty keyboard for fast and easy texting, not to use the Internet. That is why I have a computer at home and pay $40 a month to access the web.
Lucky for my husband, he got and enV Touch before this all went down. He called customer service the same day and had them put a block on accessing the Web. I find there excuses STUPID. The plan is to protect us from any unwanted charges…unwanted charges are avoided by blocking access. They lowered there unlimited talk plan by $30, but made up for that loss with this new REDICULOUS charge!
Get over yourself Verizon! Try a little bit of customer service over the all might buck.
I too am eligible for a phone upgrade, and found out that any phone I was interested in that had a qwerty keyboard required this new data package. I don’t use my phone for internet access only for texting and making and receiving calls. So, now we’re being penalized because we don’t need all this technology but would like the new phone “bells and whistles!” This seems unfair to me, and I am going to shop around at the competition to see if they offer a better deal.