Comments on: Verizon to Force Data Plans on New Smart Device Activations Beginning November 14th

By: smokiibear

smokiibear — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:08:49 +0000

Jebediah? Where did you take your business. I’ve been waiting for the touch pro 2, but still cannot stomach the 360/year. I would prefer a life insurance policy for 1.6 million over a data plan Any other companies. Can we buy this unit and activate without being force to the data plan?

By: Jebediah Springfield

Jebediah Springfield — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:56:56 +0000

Verizon’s decision is still a thorn for tech users, even almost a full year later. My 2 year contract with Verizon ended and I was thinking I could upgrade to their new HTC Touch Pro 2 phone in an attempt to combine my PDA and phone devices. Surprise, have to pay $30 more a month (that’s $720 over 2 years for the math wizards out there). I kept asking and asking the Verizon reps why make a WiFi enabled device at all if the data network is supposed to provide all that is needed? Reason – it doesn’t. We only need to look as far as AT&T to see what happens when data plans get forced on all smartphone purchases, their data usage got so high it overtaxed their network and caused degradation in phone call quality and coverage in some areas.

Those of you trying to argue we should all pay up because that’s what the phone was made for, there are demographics out there, particularly those in college/university settings, where WiFi is available in almost every area. Several workplaces and office environments likewise have WiFi. So what it amounts to for people in these settings is $30 a month for a service that will get used in the rare occasions when you’re out and about away from home or work, ie not that often. And perhaps some would think this is worthwhile and pay for it, but for those who do not (and I suspect this demographic is growing) the option to just use WiFi should be there.

One more point to address the line of BS that all the Verizon reps kept feeding me “but we subsidize phone costs and we have to make that back on data plans”. I call BS. Even the newest phones they have on offer, unlocked and bought off eBay or other more shady sources do not cost the $720 they’re raking in on a forced data plan. For most of these phones they’re likely making $400-500 excess. And if this argument held water, where’s the unsubsidized phone price with no forced data plan? It’s not there because it would either be so obscene their scam would become obvious, or it would lose them money.

Bottom line, offer less choice, force more defaults, and make more money! A fabulous business model unless you happen to be a customer. I took my business elsewhere.

By: Xen

Xen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:32:02 +0000

BAAAHAHAHA!!! That deeskillz2000 guy is AMAZING!!! He sure has it all figured out…

Oh except for the monopolistic bundling of hardware and dataplans. Stupid logic is stupid.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:25 +0000

For those of you who might have missed it, Daniel B has posted a link to FCC’s complaint page over on Boygeniusrepot. He feels that Verizon’s policy might violate the Open Access Rule they had to sign to use part of the public spectrum. It only takes about 5 minutes to do and will hopefully have some impact.

I’ve also started a “Stop Verizon Wireless’ Mandatory Data Plan” petition at PetitionSpot, but really consider that to be a futile gesture.

By: SadCustomer

SadCustomer — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:37:44 +0000

deeskillz2000 is probably a verizon employee or part of the R & D at VZW. I was finally set on a phone and now this just killed it for me.

By: Linh

Linh — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:47:43 +0000

deeskillz2000, do you really think the dumbphones that have calendars will hold up? you cannot sync them with ANYTHING easily. bitpim doesn’t count for obvious reasons.

The whole point of a smart phone was so I could sync my calendar and contacts easily, and modify them as needed quickly on my computer. throw in a media player and we’re golden for me.

I live and work around wifi, so why the hell would I need a data plan? even if I didn’t, I’m not that pressed to have my info sync right away OTA.

I would be fine with this practice if they did one thing, make a sync conduit for our computers with their software. that’s it. make it sync with outlook and i’d be fine. i can even do w/o a music player.. i jsut want something I can sync w/o jumping through hoops.

By: Zeb

Zeb — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:20:44 +0000

For all you who are defending Verizon on this, saying “Oh, why spend hundreds of dollars on a smart phone and not use it to it’s full potential,” think about this dumbasses.

1. Currently, the Omnia is FREE for me with my upgrade. The “dumbphone” DARE is $30.
2. The Omnia has a radio tuner, so I can listen to the TVs at the gym that broadcast on FM transmitters.
3. The Omnia has WIFI, so if I really need the internet, I can go find a hot spot to use it for that. I already pay $50/month for Comcast to bend me over and take my money. I just don’t want to carry a laptop for VERY occasional internet use, but it is nice to have the ability.
4. The Omnia is Windows Mobile, so there are lots of programs you can install, as well as games. You have MUCH more choices than on a standard Verizon Strippo dumbphone.
5. The Verizon internet is SLOOOOOOOOOW! I loaded my VERY SIMPLE website and it took FOREVER to load it at the VZW Store.
6. I would like to sync it with outlook, or Google Calendar every day when I am home ON MY WIFI.
7. It has a LARGE video screen to watch my downloaded TV and Movies, plus 8GB internal storage.
8. It has an MP3 player so I don’t have to lug a phone AND an IPOD around with me. The ipod can stay in my car and I can just carry this one device.
9. It has a freakin 5MP camera that takes pretty dang good pics if you forgot your digital camera at home, or don’t carry it with you every day.

So you see you morons, there are TONS of reasons why I would want one of these phones without needed the DATA plan. I want to incorporate all of my devices into one, so I don’t have to carry a bunch of stuff. I always have my phone though.

By: fritz

fritz — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:19:04 +0000

Mike is right, 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.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:52:28 +0000

By the way smartphonefan thank you for posting that url I did file a complaint and I have also been speaking to verizon employees letting them know of my decision to change carriers so far only 1 employee actually cared but she tried to match my personality with a phone that does not require a data plan lol. I explained to her please leave the psychoanalysis to the professionals after all I maybe scarred for life after you are done with me. But anyway I encourage all of you to go to the url that is posted and let your voices be heard also if you are switching please make sure to let verizon know of your reasons to do so. Except for DEES everyone in this forum seems pissed, and I have a feeling DEES is one of those representatives at verizon who was trying to match my personality to a phone lol.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:39:37 +0000

I have been a verizon customer for 10 years. I have 4 lines altogether with a monthly bill of approx $150 X 12 months X 10 years work out to about $18,000.00 in total. I have been a good customer pay my bills on time and rarely complain( I have been happy with their service so far). Last christmas I went to the verizon store with my son who is 13 and he saw omnia phone which he decided would be his christmas present. When I went to get it of course they informed me that I need a data plan. Now I was willing to spend $200 for the phone but I am not willing to spend $920.00 (200 for the phone and $30 a month for 24 months). I also realized since my wife and myself have a xv6800 pda (which we are both very happy with) if we ever decide to upgrade for a better device either because xv6800 is broken or because we like the new look of another pda device we would not be able to since we would have to get a data plan. Now I have been using a pda device for about 4 years I cant even begin to tell you with all the software downloads from handango how much easier it has made my life without the data plan. As far as data plans go I have wifi in my house and wifi at my work and the 40 minutes or so it takes me to get to work its not worth $30 a month to get data plan which I would not really be using in the car anyway. So DEES open you eyes just because you dont see any advantages to a pda without data plan does not mean that pda’s are not worth it without data plans. Pda’s are an intricate part of a lot of people’s lives who choose not to have the data plan. I have downloaded software for calendar appointments I actually read books on my pda sometimes and sometimes to check on a couple of things I use the internet via wifi for major browsing I go on my laptop for which I have a data plan from verizon for another $50 bucks. This company in plain english is just being silly even if you look at dollars and sense I gurantee you they will lose customers to att just like when they refused to play ball with apple the I phone went to att and verizon lost 2-3 million subscribers. They were just getting over the image of having the most boring phones and now this. I know they will lose me as a customer and I hope they lose a lot more because if they are successful at this you bet other companies will follow suit. I am very dissapointed in verizon but I am sorry to leave them. Honestly other than this I really never had an issue with them before.