Verizon is doing away with contracts

[Happytraveler]

Verizon is doing away with contracts
The Verge

Verizon is getting rid of contract plans, switching its offerings over to month-to-month plans like AT&T and T-Mobile did before it. Verizon's new plans are all based around shared data buckets — there's no single line or family plan. Instead, subscribers pay for a specific amount of data and then pay a per device fee to hook it into the plan.

Everyone loves per-line access fees!

The options include 1GB for $30 per month, 3GB for $45 per month, 6GB for $60 per month, and 12GB for $80 per month. Adding a smartphone to the plan is $20 per month, adding a tablet or hotspot is $10 per month, and adding a smartwatch is $5 per month. Verizon says that larger plans will be available for those who want them; for those who just need a little bit of extra data one month, Recode reports that they'll be stuck paying $15 for an extra gigabyte, though they can always jump up to a new plan the next month. As usual, the pricing is not really friendly or tailored for anyone, but Verizon is under the odd impression that it's easier to understand.

The plans go live next Thursday, on August 13th. Current Verizon subscribers will be able to hang onto their existing plans or switch over to the new plans "with some restrictions."

Though doing away with contracts is a big shift, it's something we've seen coming. T-Mobile kicked off the trend about two years ago, and AT&T began following it recently by dropping contract offerings from third-party sellers. Alongside the shift away from contracts is the shift away from subsidized phones, meaning that people are going to need to start buying phones at full price or using carriers' payment plans. Verizon has been offering such a plan under the name Edge, though it's now decided to rename it "device payment option," which actually is easier to understand.

ViaCNET Recode
SourceVerizon Wireless
Related Items verizon contract two-year contract off contract no contract verizon wireless


Moderator's Note: Corrected the forum's auto filter for blocking a legit word - smartwatch.

[tragusa3]

This "new" plans are what I got into back in the spring. Not sure why it says it is "coming" Aug 17th?

Either way, I like the direction they're heading. I also like that all year I can be at a 1GB price and for the summer traveling months I can just pay the extra $15. Get it when you need it sort of a thing.

[RetiredBob]

Snowman9000 wrote:
So what I wonder is if we will be able to switch data plans up and down on a month to month basis, and if there will be any sort of change fee when a plan is switched or a device is added.

According to a rep at the Verizon store yesterday, you will be able to change data plans monthly, no mention of a charge to do this.

[bob_nestor]

Seems that what's really needed is a universal phone that supports all services, bands, frequencies, etc so one can buy a phone and shop for the best service contract that meets their needs. And if one's needs change they can switch service providers without having to buy a new phone. The rumor of Apple becoming an MVNO was very tempting as it would have gone to the next level of dynamically switching to the best provider on each call. Eventually someone will probably get there - imagine that, buy a phone and use it wherever there are towers regardless of who owns the towers.

[SCVJeff]

GordonThree wrote:
Sooner or later they'll weed out all their loyal customers who happen to be grandfathered in with unlimited data.

sssshhh.... La-la-la..... Hush.......

[1492]

Moderator's Note: Word I've received is that the issues with the forum's new auto-filtering software editing legit words is under review. As such, please refrain from discussing it on this thread as it has nothing to do with the topic. Such discussions belong in Forum Technical Support.

[TomG2]

Basically, they are offering about the same thing us prepaid users have had for years. Buy your own phone and purchase service as needed. Uncomplicated and one can move to a better deal without anyone's permission.

[1492]

96Bounder30E wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Sooner or later they'll weed out all their loyal customers who happen to be grandfathered in with unlimited data.

If my unlimited plan goes away so will my business from Verizon......20+ year customer

My unlimited mobile 4G data on Sprint is going away at the end of the year. I average about 25-30G per month - 50G tops. The funny thing is Sprint didn't offer another 4G LTE plan, not unlimited, but instead gave me links to Comcast and Verizon Fios service. :B

[1492]

I've been using an MVNO for mobile service on Verizon and Sprint, so haven't followed the contract phone arena for quite some time. But popular new phones have been highly subsidized which was factored into the contracts. With a month to month model, does that mean subscribers must now pay full price for their iPhones or Android phones, which can easily range in the $600.-$800.+?

[The_Texan]

GordonThree wrote:

96Bounder30E wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Sooner or later they'll weed out all their loyal customers who happen to be grandfathered in with unlimited data.

If my unlimited plan goes away so will my business from Verizon......20+ year customer

Yup me too... Over the life of my contract with Verzion (and the carrier before it that got swallowed up) it adds up to tens of thousands of dollars - but that doesn't matter to big red (or any big company I guess)

Yep, here too. We were with GTE since 1991 and then Verizon swallowed them up. If I loose my data plan I will also be an EX customer.

[GordonThree]

96Bounder30E wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Sooner or later they'll weed out all their loyal customers who happen to be grandfathered in with unlimited data.

If my unlimited plan goes away so will my business from Verizon......20+ year customer

Yup me too... Over the life of my contract with Verzion (and the carrier before it that got swallowed up) it adds up to tens of thousands of dollars - but that doesn't matter to big red (or any big company I guess)

[96Bounder30E]

GordonThree wrote:
Sooner or later they'll weed out all their loyal customers who happen to be grandfathered in with unlimited data.

If my unlimited plan goes away so will my business from Verizon......20+ year customer

[rexlion]

This seems like a good trend.

Still, it won't entice me away from my Consumer Cellular plan, $37/month for my phone and my wife's, together. I don't use enough data to even scrape the shiny paint off of 1 GB.

edit: Really, it won't let me say "s-c-r-a-p-e"?
Moderator's Note: replaced the word s****e back into your post.

[newman_fulltime]

I got phones off amazon went yest got them on unlimited talk text 1. gb phone and for .99 with auto pay a extra 3.5 gb that made the phone a hot spot it was a 22.00 start up fee per phone and my monthly bill is 52.00 with taxes. This is a no contract with verizon

[burlmart]

so, $50 for talk, text, and 1gig.

how much for talk only - dum flip phone?

and, how much extra in 1st case to add a dum flip phone?

[Snowman9000]

So what I wonder is if we will be able to switch data plans up and down on a month to month basis, and if there will be any sort of change fee when a plan is switched or a device is added.

I also wonder if I should rush in and get a new subsidized phone before the new plans start. I am eligible. I would guess that would be covered under the language of "with some restrictions". ie I'd have to pay back the subsidy to get out of the old plan right away if I just got a phone on it.