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United States24745 Posts
About 2.5 years ago I was hunting for a cell phone (I think I even made a blog about it). I ended up getting a Motorola Droid, which I have been happy with for the most part. It's starting to crap out.
The obvious thing to do is to use my Verizon upgrade. For $150 down and a 2 year contract I can get a Droid 4. The reason why I've been going with Droids is because I like having a physical qwerty keyboard on the phone (I hate typing long things on a touch screen). I also must have android/google sync.
The problem is, Verizon changed their policy two weeks ago. They no longer grandfather you into unlimited data. For the same $30/month you get a 2gig plan..... and it's $10 dollars for each gig after that. I don't use a lot of data but I hate the fact that
A) They are making everything pay per gig (thankfully my FIOS internet at home doesn't do that)
B) They are not grandfathering me in if I upgrade (I keep the unlimited data if I buy the phone outright without a new contract, but it's a lot of money to do that)
Even though I get 19% off the voice plan (old employee discount), I seriously am unhappy with this. I spoke to some Verizon support people and they basically said there isn't anything they can do to help me. Ironic, considering they are withholding from me something that doesn't cost them anything (as I said I'm not a heavy data user). I'm seriously considering switching to a new provider.
For anyone who cares enough about cell phones in the USA to hear my particulars:
* I get 450 minutes per month (no rollover) which is enough for me [$32.39/month with discount]
* I don't have a text plan, and I pay $0.20 sent or received, with no ability to decline receiving texts. If my drunk friend sent me infinity texts while I was asleep, I would owe verizon infinity dollars. Anyone on TL who has my #, if you do that I will literally kill you.
* Unlimited data plan [$29.99/month]
* Monthly bill works out to about $71/month after taxes/fees
If I switch providers:
* I will have to pay ~$35 dollars for an activation fee
* I don't get an employee discount
* I get to stick it to Verizon Wireless which I want to do right now
If I do switch, I need to decide which provider/phone/plan to go with. After doing some research it seems like T-Mobile would be the cheapest, although the best android phone they have with a keyboard is the myTouch Q, which I don' think is the greatest. Anyone familiar with this phone? T-mobile basically offers unlimited data (although speeds will be slower <4g to 3g> after going over 2 gigs, but I'm ok with that)
Sprint offers unlimited data, but they bundle in texting (which I barely ever use) but costs more than I'm paying right now for Verizon
AT&T offers 3 gigs instead of 2 for the same price, and also offers rollover minutes, but again costs more.
Gotta make a decision before my phone craps out (otherwise I will need to make the decision pretty immediately!)
  
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Depends. How much data do you use on average per month? How important is the speed of the internet? How about coverage? From what you said up to now, it is very hard to determine where to go to, especially since you said a physical keyboard is important. Not many new phones have a physical keyboard nowadays.
My contract with verizon is up very soon, and since my whole family wants smartphones now, we cannot be grandfathered into an unlimited data plan like you. Since unlimited data is very important to us, we are going to Sprint for their 1500 minutes family data plan with unlimited data and texts.
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United States24745 Posts
On July 13 2012 07:26 jpak wrote:
Depends. How much data do you use on average per month? How important is the speed of the internet? How about coverage? From what you said up to now, it is very hard to determine where to go to, especially since you said a physical keyboard is important. Not many new phones have a physical keyboard nowadays.
My contract with verizon is up very soon, and since my whole family wants smartphones now, we cannot be grandfathered into an unlimited data plan like you. Since unlimited data is very important to us, we are going to Sprint for their 1500 minutes family data plan with unlimited data and texts.
Currently I don't use up 2gig/month. If I get a 4g device, combined with my changing schedule next school year, I probably will use more. Speed is not that important to me (3g at least would be nice though lol)
What do you mean by coverage? I generally am in areas that are highly populated and thus have decent cell service across providers, but I'm not 100% sure.
I could probably get away with 2gigs/month but I really would like to boycott what Verizon Wireless is doing by changing their mind on grandfathering us in.
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You have to pay to receive texts? What sort of a fucked up system is that.
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United States24745 Posts
On July 13 2012 07:38 deconduo wrote:
You have to pay to receive texts? What sort of a fucked up system is that.
Yes. T-Mobile lets you decline them at least! I really like that.
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How to make money - have garbage phone numbers that spam texts looking like adverts, and spam them at not too high a rate to your customers who have this type of plan for some extra money that hopefully doesn't piss them off too much.
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On July 13 2012 07:40 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2012 07:38 deconduo wrote:
You have to pay to receive texts? What sort of a fucked up system is that. Yes. T-Mobile lets you decline them at least! I really like that.
Any mobile company that tried that over would be out of business so fast. I pay €10 a month for basically unlimited free calls and texts. I don't have a smartphone so that doesn't cover internet. I think the average here would be €30-40 for a smartphone bill.
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On July 13 2012 07:40 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2012 07:38 deconduo wrote:
You have to pay to receive texts? What sort of a fucked up system is that. Yes. T-Mobile lets you decline them at least! I really like that.
You mean disabling any type of text messaging, or actually decline them based on who is sending them, or something else?
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United States24745 Posts
On July 13 2012 08:09 ggofthejungle wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2012 07:40 micronesia wrote:On July 13 2012 07:38 deconduo wrote:
You have to pay to receive texts? What sort of a fucked up system is that. Yes. T-Mobile lets you decline them at least! I really like that. You mean disabling any type of text messaging, or actually decline them based on who is sending them, or something else?
I mean you have the option to delete the text message instead of read it (after seeing who it was from) and not paying. If you read it you have to pay for it.
BTW according to a verizon guy I spoke to the FCC is limiting unlimited data for cell phones in the USA which is why carriers are moving away from it... if so I should cut Verizon some slack. Can I get any confirmation of this? I'm having trouble finding evidence...
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How much is it for a new Droid without the contract? It may be cheaper in the long run to just fork over the money and buy it, after all.
You're understandably irate at Verizon right now, but it sounds like you've got a pretty good thing going at the moment.
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T.O.P.
Hong Kong4685 Posts
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T.O.P.
Hong Kong4685 Posts
On July 13 2012 08:18 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2012 08:09 ggofthejungle wrote:On July 13 2012 07:40 micronesia wrote:On July 13 2012 07:38 deconduo wrote:
You have to pay to receive texts? What sort of a fucked up system is that. Yes. T-Mobile lets you decline them at least! I really like that. You mean disabling any type of text messaging, or actually decline them based on who is sending them, or something else? BTW according to a verizon guy I spoke to the FCC is limiting unlimited data for cell phones in the USA which is why carriers are moving away from it... if so I should cut Verizon some slack. Can I get any confirmation of this? I'm having trouble finding evidence...
Because it was never really unlimited. If you used too much, verizon will kick you out even if you're on a unlimited plan. But people complained to FCC and now all the carriers say how much the limit is.
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United States24745 Posts
On July 13 2012 08:39 PH wrote:
How much is it for a new Droid without the contract? It may be cheaper in the long run to just fork over the money and buy it, after all.
I might be able to get a new Motorola Droid for like $120-140? A Droid 4 would be like $550.
Does that have a sliding qwerty keyboard, or just an on-screen qwerty keyboard?
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T.O.P.
Hong Kong4685 Posts
On July 13 2012 08:47 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2012 08:39 PH wrote:
How much is it for a new Droid without the contract? It may be cheaper in the long run to just fork over the money and buy it, after all. I might be able to get a new Motorola Droid for like $120-140? A Droid 4 would be like $550. Does that have a sliding qwerty keyboard, or just an on-screen qwerty keyboard?
Supposed to look like this.
![[image loading]](http://www.tmonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screen-Shot-2012-06-14-at-7.35.42-PM-660x528.jpg)
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If I were you I would suggest calling Verizon and telling them you're planning to switch providers after your contract expires due to how awful their new plan/policies are. I have 2 friends (in Canada so they can't help you personally) that work at cell phone companies in the customer retention department, and it's basically their job to give you deals to keep you as their customer. My suggestion would be to find the best deals at all the other companies, then call Verizon and tell them why you're going to abandon them and see what they can do for you to keep you on as a customer.
You'd be surprised at how much they can do for you because they milk you for so much money as it is over the course of your contract that its really in their best interest to cut you a deal to stay with them. Tell them that as a student the $ you pay for even receiving texts is really fucking you over and see if they can't throw in a text package on the house for you or something similar that works out for you.
I know that's how it works here in Canada, so I would look into it and see if you can't get a deal out of them. How long have you been with your provider (Verizon)? Multiple contracts? If you have been loyal to them, paid bills on time, etc. it can go a long way for them to want your continued business. Just my 2cents
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For what it's worth, my Samsung Sidekick 4G from tmobile has by far the most comfortable keyboard I've ever used. it is a little old and does not run perfectly though... shit tends to crash randomly. Tmobile's service coverage is also not that great.
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To be honest you aren't going to do anything by leaving verizon, they won't notice it at all, if that is your main point here. I understand where you are coming from, but if you are going to lose any money by leaving verizon but just want to 'stick it to them' I wouldn't really consider it.
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United States24745 Posts
On July 13 2012 11:57 9-BiT wrote:
To be honest you aren't going to do anything by leaving verizon, they won't notice it at all, if that is your main point here. I understand where you are coming from, but if you are going to lose any money by leaving verizon but just want to 'stick it to them' I wouldn't really consider it.
As I said in an earlier post, I've heard that Verizon is responding to movement by the FCC and that other companies are being compelled by similar forces, so I may as well cut them some slack.
On the other hand, I'm sure big companies love it when their customers who are mistreated or unhappy feel like there is no point in leaving. Sorta like the belief in not voting because your vote won't make a difference, I guess.
When the local cable company pissed off my parents a few years ago, my parents basically said "make it right by doing X or we are leaving." The cable company said they couldn't do it. My parents switched to Verizon the next day for cable/phone. A few hours later they get a call from the cable company offering X. My parents said "sorry you are too late" and hung up.
If companies really don't care about you leaving then good riddance.
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![[image loading]](http://the-gadgeteer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/droid-r2d2.jpg)
Support verizon because they support the right of droids to go anywhere without being harassed by stormtroopers!
:D
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Verizon and att are terrible. Crazy prices. I've been with t-mobile for many years and been very happy. Great prices great service.
P.S. also you can try calling Verizon many times to complain. Ask to speak to a supervisor. Don't give up. This works for almost anything in life and will get you some kind of additional discount. I called T-mobile and complained about something (poor service in a certain area). After about 5 calls over a several month period I got several 1 time $10 discounts as well as having an automatic dscount for $10 per month over the next 2 years. By simply calling I got well over $250 back in my pocket.
For $30 per month (with $10 discount) I get 500 anytime minutes and unlimited texts. I could remove the texts and save an addional $10 per month, but I text more than I talk.
P.P.S for example I went to Quiznos on the 4th of July. They closed early withought posting so or notifying anybody. I called corporate. Got a free large combo on my next visit.
I love calling to complain.
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VZ and ATT don't even pretend to care about their customers most of the time. Sprint sort of does but its network is supposed to be significantly worse than Verizon's. I managed to grandfather my (Verizon) plan before they shut it down so I was pretty lucky. Unfortunately it will only last until I get my next phone and/or the contract expires, so 2 years I suppose. :/
It sounds like you're going to be stuck with Verizon then since you get that discount, and it has the best combo of price and phone selection. It really boils down to how much data you think you'll be using. If you're going to be consuming quite a bit of data, then I personally think you should go ahead and purchase the phone at off-contract price in order to continue your unlimited data plan. This way, you get the best network, a passable price, and likely a pretty good phone. The price of the phone is practically a drop in the bucket compared to the price of the data plan on-contract, though off-contract, it definitely $#@!ing expensive.
Verizon has actually publicly said that this "tiered plan" (i.e. paying more for each GB, ridiculous because overall costs don't scale that way at all for them) is the way they want to go in the future, saying that as people discover the power of 4G, they'll become sort of hooked on the network; they're suggesting that people will have to keep jumping up the tiers and paying more. This is why a grandfathered plan can be REALLY valuable. Verizon made record profits last year, yet they want to go this way in order to rake in more cash...just unabashed, shameless greed. Their CEO or CFO also said that they wouldn't be averse to the idea of only one or two networks in the US...terrible really ;_;
In terms of a physical qwerty keyboard, consider trying out apps such like swype (swipe finger around to form words instead of typing, after having used it, I personally no longer use physical keyboards at all  ). Most phones with physical keyboards these days are significantly crappier than the flagship/big-name devices.
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EPT
