[Update] Verizon's New Family Data Plans Begin: It's Called the Share Everything Plan

[doomgazer]

I think NE2 is gone. It was phasing out (my last upgrade had it available), but i could get my new phone (galaxy nexus) for cheaper online anyway. (my ne2 was only $30, and vzw had an online discount of $50 that didnt stack, iirc)

Well, whatever it is called I'm just wondering if all lines on the account get promotional renewal phone pricing (ie $200/device instead of $500) or if it's just the primary.

[suzukimethod]

Personally I do not care about unlimited minutes. We have 700 minutes with four lines and barely use 200 of them.

this.

(although i know that voice and (especially) text are pennies in the bucket compared to the dollars of data (which is why they are throwing voice/text at us and charging ever more for GB)

Well, whatever it is called I'm just wondering if all lines on the account get promotional renewal phone pricing (ie $200/device instead of $500) or if it's just the primary.

Im going to assume that promo pricing is available on all lines. if not, seems like an easy way to drive people to places that still subsidize their phones.

[the3dolla]

So, I don't think these questions are answerable yet, but here's what I'm wondering. First though, this KILLS me as I have the $20 disc/line for unlimited data; so not only would I lose unlimited date, I'd lose my $100/mo discount for my 5 lines. OUCH Any way this goes over, I lose unlimited and I pay $100 more per month. My questions are these.

1. I currently get 15% off my main plan and I would get 12% off data (if I didn't already get the crazy good discount of $20/data line) How would discounts apply? Is it only for the main "data charge"? or would it be the total bill now? Or maybe NOTHING!?
2. What happens if I forgo subsidized pricing? I'm ok right? Well, they seem to say if you go from 3G to 4G someone that is a change and you'll be forced into a data share? I wonder what the final word on this will be?
3. What happens if ONE of my lines upgrades at subsidized pricing, do the rest get screwed into it? I mean, then you'd have to pay $50+$40 for that ONE line alone, so pretty much I guess it's an all or nothing for family plans. Ok, so perhaps this isn't a question any longer.

Our closest upgrade date is the end of July too, I was hoping to get ONE last upgrade for a subsidized price. :/ I asked Verizon to get it a little bit early and they said, sorry sucka, no go. I've never gotten an early upgrade too, yet I hear of people getting a 6 month early upgrade; ugh. I wonder if I can cry some and get it bumped up a month?

[Trusstopher]

That is just for data. You forgot to add in the new line access charges.

Right now my total line access charges for a 700m unlimited text plan is $120 for four lines (2 smart and two feature). On this new plan it would go up to $140. If I had four smartphones it would go up to $160. Personally I do not care about unlimited minutes. We have 700 minutes with four lines and barely use 200 of them.

You are right... I was only looking at data, and considering that we are forced into unlimited talk/text and a new pricing structure for said text/minutes, It really isn't a valid comparison any more. And I agree, I couldn't care less about the amount of minutes I have. I am at the minimum possible right now and I'd cut that in half if they had a plan that small just like I would eliminate half of the cable channels I receive if I could just not pay for the ones I don't want.

[mandragora]

You forgot your math, but going on current pricing, my GF and I on individual plans were paying $90-$100/mo ea. So say $190/mo for the two of us (that includes fees). Current family share pricing would put us at $70 for 700 minutes + $30 text + $60 for two data plans. That's $180/mo. This new pricing would put us at $80/mo for two phones with unlimited talk+text + $70/mo for 4GB data. That's $150/mo. We're not heavy data users, but at the end of the day this is still cheaper even with the more expensive data.

Went back and updated the post. Sorry. It posted without me hitting submit. LOL.

[COSam]

This may not be the right place to post this but I need some advice.

I'm getting married in August. My fiance and I are both on separate family plans and are both grandfathered into unlimited data. When we do an assumption of liability, will we be losing unlimited data? Just seeing these family shared plans makes me cringe at the idea of losing unlimited data. Should I try to move the numbers before these shared plans go in effect?

[cybertec69]

you get unlmited txts and calls though!!!!

long live WIFI!!!!

yea I started to laugh really hard on that one, unlimited texts and calls are they joking, first Texts don't cost them a thing and it finally came to the forefront with this joke of a pricing plan, and second VRZ to VRZ mobile calling was unlimited to begin with, unless they mean unlimited calling to any mobile carrier "which I doubt that is the case", no thank you VRZ, I will stick to my $72 a month 450 minute calling outside the network with unlimited calling inside the network, 500 MSG's outside the network with unlimited inside the network, and unlimited data.

[doomgazer]

Went back and updated the post. Sorry. It posted without me hitting submit. LOL.

LOL it happes to the best of us, no harm no foul!

[Trusstopher]

Our closest upgrade date is the end of July too, I was hoping to get ONE last upgrade for a subsidized price. :/ I asked Verizon to get it a little bit early and they said, sorry sucka, no go. I've never gotten an early upgrade too, yet I hear of people getting a 6 month early upgrade; ugh. I wonder if I can cry some and get it bumped up a month?

I wouldn't be surprised if the Reps were being told to withhold all early upgrades until after this kicks into effect. Maybe if you get on the line with an extra nice rep on their birthday and it also happens to be your birthday and you happened to have went to high school together and were best friends and roommates in college and they are going to be the best-man at your wedding, then MAYBE you could get an early upgrade.

[geoff5093]

At first I didn't notice the access charge, and just noticed the plan. I thought to myself, it's not that bad paying $100 month for 10GB that I can share between my phone, tablet, and laptop. But then I saw the $40 charge for smartphones, $20 for laptops, and $10 for tablets and I couldn't believe it.

It's a shame you have to pay full price to keep your unlimited data. Paying an extra $400 for a phone equals to paying $16.7 more per month for 24 months, or $20 per month for 20 months as Verizon usually lets you upgrade at 20 months. So you may keep your unlimited, but for a fair comparison you are paying $20 more per month for that privilege if you buy a $600 smartphone off contract.