Verizon price change question

[JFDroid]

I think thats a little short sighted. Many phones that arent smart phones are now requiring a $10/mo data plan on top of the $10 add a line.

I can think of many phones that won't require data. Read my comment to Backnblack.

It has nothing to do with wanting a data plan on a phone and/or making the kid pay for it. I have a 10yr old that has no desire for a data plan. On the pre-paid phone he has now he has access to data but does not use it. We were considering getting him a phone through VZW so its all free txt + mobile to mobile but now many phones that he would like also will require a $10/mo data plan EVEN IF HE DOESNT USE IT.

There are PLENTY of phones that will get you free text via mobile to mobile and will share your family's minutes that won't run you any monthly cost in data. They're called dumbphones, and VZW has plenty of them. Do you want me to link you all of them from VZW's website? There's a lot of them.

The problem here isn't that there aren't phones for your desired purpose, but that your kid thinks the phone is ugly or is trying to talk you into getting him/her a phone that does more than talk & text. Well, be a parent and grow up and learn to tell your kid no, this is all you get, so learn to deal with it.

When I was a kid, and it wasn't all that long ago, I had a cell phone at 16 that my parents paid for. I didn't like it, it was a brick and it was ugly and it had T9 texting, but I used it to text & call and that was it. It never did anything else, but I learned to live with it because it was all my parents would pay for. Life went on, certainly.

If your kid doesn't want one of those phones because they are ugly or something, tell him/her to get over it. If they want to pay the bill, fine, they can get whatever they want. Be a parent and stand up for yourself and make the rules. Tell your kid it doesn't matter if a phone is ugly or not, that isn't the point; the point is that they have a mobile phone that can place calls and compose text messages for necessary things like texting "hey dad, done in 5 min, come get me from bball practice".

Cell phones aren't toys. Err, the iPhone is, but it isn't a very good phone so think whatever you want. Regardless, if your kid wants a phone that plays games and browses the web, they probably don't need to browse the web, and you can buy them a Nintendo DS or PSP that will play games on the go, and paying for AA batteries is a lot cheaper than paying $10-$30 per month for a data plan.

 

[Mongoose]

With my 4 kids, They all have cells.....They get what I give them, it makes calls and does text. If they want a smart phone, they can get their own contract and pay for it themselves...Comes down to who's the parent IMO....

Yep..and when they leave, they give up the phone...unless they accept the $9.99 plan. I dont mind that so much for the simple reason that I like them to be able to call or text me or my wife...but I'm sure not ready to turn a smartphone over to them...oooohhhh scary concept....:icon_ devil:

 

[Backnblack]

With my 4 kids, They all have cells.....They get what I give them, it makes calls and does text. If they want a smart phone, they can get their own contract and pay for it themselves...Comes down to who's the parent IMO....

Yep..and when they leave, they give up the phone...unless they accept the $9.99 plan. I dont mind that so much for the simple reason that I like them to be able to call or text me or my wife...but I'm sure not ready to turn a smartphone over to them...oooohhhh scary concept....:icon_ devil:

When they turn 18 and graduate HS, they can do as they please....

I've always had "My House, My rules" line of thinking....and have done very well with it..

 

[eversonsc]

Are they just changing the price of the individual lines? or are they lowering the cost of the family plans too?

 

[Mojo]

Hopefully this will answer some of peoples questions.

Will you have to change your plan?
No. You can remain on the same plan even if you renew your contract.

If I have a current connect or premium plan, can I add lines at the connect or premium rates?
Yes you can. If your a current subscriber on a family connect or premium plan you can continue to add lines in at the connect or premium rates. No price plan change is required.

Why must I add a mandatory data plan to 3G multimedia phones?
3G multimedia phones are truly robust phones, and, in reality are just a step below a smartphone. They are designed to be used for media and web. They are not made for the person that just talks and texts. That is what simple feature phones are for. You will also see a more robust line up in these "simple feature phones" in the near future.

Can I change my plan to take advantage of the new unlimited rates? And will doing so renew my contract?
Yes, Verizon will allow you to change your plan and features at any time without the fear of having to sign a new contract.

Why did Verizon change its price plan structure?
To make Verizon more competitive with our competition. Verizon really wants to push the "value" of the unlimited plans. You will soon see a huge push in advertisement supporting this as well as a continuation of the value of VZW coverage. Ie... their "Map" ads.

Will this price change let me get out of my contract?
NO

All in all this will have the most effect on "New" subscribers. Current customers will not be subject to any rate changes unless you see the added benefit in changing and request that change. Hope this helps.

 

[Backnblack]

Will this price change let me get out of my contract?
NO

Can't see leaving VZW anyway....lol

 

[Mojo]

Will this price change let me get out of my contract?
NO

Can't see leaving VZW anyway....lol

Me either, but there are always the "schemers" that are looking for ways to get out of there contract. So I thought I would throw that in there. :icon_ banana:

 

[texasPI]

With my 4 kids, They all have cells.....They get what I give them, it makes calls and does text. If they want a smart phone, they can get their own contract and pay for it themselves...Comes down to who's the parent IMO....

Yep..and when they leave, they give up the phone...unless they accept the $9.99 plan. I dont mind that so much for the simple reason that I like them to be able to call or text me or my wife...but I'm sure not ready to turn a smartphone over to them...oooohhhh scary concept....:icon_ devil:

When they turn 18 and graduate HS, they can do as they please....

I've always had "My House, My rules" line of thinking....and have done very well with it..

lol...have you ever had that realization..."OMG, I've turned into my dad!" I've had that a feeling a few time with my kids.

 

[frankieg22x]

I wonder if this is actually going to happen.

My GF broke the hinge on her voyager so i was going to activate my old env touch for her to use. I called verizon and they said that LG forces verizon to charge an additional $10 data plan that includes email and 25mb of data. I asked if they still charge for that even if it is not used and they said yes. Seems like plans might be going up.

 

[voodoodaddy]

I can think of many phones that won't require data. Read my comment to Backnblack.

It has nothing to do with wanting a data plan on a phone and/or making the kid pay for it. I have a 10yr old that has no desire for a data plan. On the pre-paid phone he has now he has access to data but does not use it. We were considering getting him a phone through VZW so its all free txt + mobile to mobile but now many phones that he would like also will require a $10/mo data plan EVEN IF HE DOESNT USE IT.

There are PLENTY of phones that will get you free text via mobile to mobile and will share your family's minutes that won't run you any monthly cost in data. They're called dumbphones, and VZW has plenty of them. Do you want me to link you all of them from VZW's website? There's a lot of them.

The problem here isn't that there aren't phones for your desired purpose, but that your kid thinks the phone is ugly or is trying to talk you into getting him/her a phone that does more than talk & text. Well, be a parent and grow up and learn to tell your kid no, this is all you get, so learn to deal with it.

When I was a kid, and it wasn't all that long ago, I had a cell phone at 16 that my parents paid for. I didn't like it, it was a brick and it was ugly and it had T9 texting, but I used it to text & call and that was it. It never did anything else, but I learned to live with it because it was all my parents would pay for. Life went on, certainly.

If your kid doesn't want one of those phones because they are ugly or something, tell him/her to get over it. If they want to pay the bill, fine, they can get whatever they want. Be a parent and stand up for yourself and make the rules. Tell your kid it doesn't matter if a phone is ugly or not, that isn't the point; the point is that they have a mobile phone that can place calls and compose text messages for necessary things like texting "hey dad, done in 5 min, come get me from bball practice".

Cell phones aren't toys. Err, the iPhone is, but it isn't a very good phone so think whatever you want. Regardless, if your kid wants a phone that plays games and browses the web, they probably don't need to browse the web, and you can buy them a Nintendo DS or PSP that will play games on the go, and paying for AA batteries is a lot cheaper than paying $10-$30 per month for a data plan.

I dont need a parenting lesson ok bud? And I dont need you telling me what I should or shouldnt spend my money on for me or my kid. Your diatribe has nothing at all to do with my original point. The point is VZW is saying "you cant carry XYZ phone without paying for data even if you dont plan on using it" and thats bull****.

 

[Backnblack]

The point is VZW is saying "you cant carry XYZ phone without paying for data even if you dont plan on using it" and thats bull****.

Does any of the other carriers do this?

 

[Tillers_Rule]

The point is VZW is saying "you cant carry XYZ phone without paying for data even if you dont plan on using it" and thats bull****.

They do that with the Moto Droid:mellow:

 

[Backnblack]

The point is VZW is saying "you cant carry XYZ phone without paying for data even if you dont plan on using it" and thats bull****.

They do that with the Moto Droid:mellow:

This is not about smartphones, it's about dumb phones that can surf the web....

 

[voodoodaddy]

I dont have any problem with a Blackberry, Droid, iPhone or whatever requiring a data plan. There is a reason we get these phones and know we have to pay for data plan. But a phone with very limited web ability requiring a data plan is pathetic.

 

[pinesal]

I'm a bit confused here. So Verizon lowered the price on some of their plans? But only for unlimited voice plans? So if I have a family plan with two phones and 700 shared minutes, this does me no good? Or can this help me somehow?