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.
Liked.
+10
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.
I was just going to upgrade my husbands phone and it is just the newer model of what he has now with a QWERTY keyboard (still – it had one before too) and they want me to pay for the phone $99, sign 2 years more onto my contract AND $9.99 data is required that he won’t use.
WTF? I feel like I am being held hostage by a phone company.
I agree that Verizon is taking advantage of its long time customers. I wanted a phone with a large display and a full keyboard so the ENV touch. I find that I am now paying the $10 more a month for something I don’t use. I was going to upgrade my wife and daughter to the ENV 3 but now they also force you into the data package. Another way for Verizon to squeeze more out of an already over price service.
I wanted to purchase the new touch screen chocolate online this morning. At the last screen of the online check out page a pop up indicated I need to purchase a data package for $10 dollars or $240 dollars over a 2year period. I said no way. I immediately then drove over to my local store to verify I had to purchase the data plan with my new phone and of coarse she said I did. Who do these people think they are? Their customers made them successful. Not the other way around. I think those executives have lined their pockets, shoes, hats, and underware with our money. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
I went to upgrade my sons phone a week ago and found out about this lame forced data plan expense. We are not buying a new phone and will wait until our contract is up and switch to AT&T. I have 5 phones on our family plan and that would cost us another $50 a month or $600 a year for crap that I do not want! I am outraged and will show my disgust by switching companies. Maybe Verizon will get a clue when their customers start leaving. It is not their job to tell me what services to buy and it is unbelievable that they think I would shell out $600 a year without comment.
Hello folks,
I am just as unhappy about the required data plans on any phone with decent features. The basic phones are horribly rated or too simplistic. 1.3 MP cameras with no video? Really? Welcome to 2004.
Seriously though, please file a complaint with the FCC and the BBB.
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/getstarted.aspx
A lot of us stick with Verizon because of the reception quality, and put up with the horrible software and limited phones, but this is going too far and we all know it.
I agree. I just filed a complaint with the FCC and I took Verizon’s little “survey” after my customer “service” fiasco and let them know just what I think of their “required data plan.” I’ll be taking my business elsewhere and that includes home phone/telephone/internet.
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WTF! I was just going to ask questions about that $9.99 data plan!!! way to go verizon!
I can understand Verizon’s thinking as far as phones like the Rogue or EnV touch go, which seem like they are designed to be able to access the internet, but to go so far as to force the data plan on more text oriented phones like the Alias II or the EnV 3 is just outrageous. I had a chance to try the data option on these phones, and it is horrible. The cursor is controlled by the up down left right pad, and is slow, clunky, and annoying. This goes into effect right as I am getting my 2 year upgrade, and now, my choices are basically: go for one of the… 3 texting phones that don’t require data (Razzle, Intensity, Rival), or go all out and at least get what I pay for with a Rogue, instead of getting a phone in the middle ground like an Alias or an EnV 3
I know right?
I understand to require datas on touch phones with QWERTY keyboard
but u kidding me? enV3 and Alias??????
even those regular phones without QWERTY keyboard requires 9.99 (check it out on vzw website)
I mean what are they thinking?
My contracts up this month
I’m going Pageplus when my contract’s up
I smell a class action suit. Anyone?
Do we have a case?
I don’t think so
It is a stupid move to change the data plan policy
but they can do whatever they want to do.
it’s just that they dont care if they loose some customers
Thanks for the fcc complaint link. It is the only way to get them to change the crazy rules is to get hammered with formal complaints.