Why are they trying to spin this as a negative? I have the unlimited $30/mo on my iPhone 4 from ATT and wouldn't want anything different.
I can't stand having capped data that is almost the same price as unlimited.
I would agree for heavy users the unlimited plan is what you need. However aren't the majority of potential smartphone sales to the people who are NOT using smart phones now?
Those people aren't paying for any data, or at most a $15 plan. Even after they switch to a smart phone, they may not need more than 150-200MB of data.
The $30 price tag is a barrier to entry for these people.
If you want the rest of the world to get smart phones, you need to bring the price of the data plans down.
I have said from the beginning that there there are people who would only use data on Wifi and would jump at the chance to get an iPhone WITHOUT a data plan. Not in Verizon and AT&T's interest I know, but eventually these people will want data and will get it.
I consider myself a pretty fairly heavy iPhone user and very rarely go over 300MB of data, because I don't stream audio or video. My Wife uses < 100MB, and my daughter who doesn't have access to Wifi in her college dorm room is on track to use < 200MB as well.
Dropping the entry level plans is a big mistake...
It is a negative for me. In fact, this would be a deal-breaker for me. I don't want and can't justify unlimited data, because I am certain I wouldn't use it. I only need a data plan when I am away from home or office, which is not all the time. I am greatly disappointed. I will seriously think about switching to ATT, finally. After waiting 3 years for this moment....... and after 16 years in VZW.
It will be interesting to see how this effects Verizon iPhone sales. Cheaper Data plans is a real plus for AT&T now...
I am all for unlimited plans, but people should realize that US tariffs are silently increasing in this booming market, while, e.g., in Europe, they are rather declining. In Spain you can get 1-2GB for ?10/mo on a prepaid card (Yoigo), or ?15 if you also want voice.
Here in Belgium I pay ?15/500MB (one month).
?15/500MB ($20.50) is inbetween AT&T's $15 for 200mb or $25 for 2000mb. That would be a nice extra option but it is not a special bargain. ?10/mo for 2gb would be attractive.
I have said from the beginning that there there are people who would only use data on Wifi and would jump at the chance to get an iPhone WITHOUT a data plan. Not in Verizon and AT&T's interest I know, but eventually these people will want data and will get it.
Most people would be better off if they offered it WITHOUT a voice plan. Give my an iPhone with $30 unlimited data and I can use data for all my voice and texting needs. That would be full functionality for 1/3rd the price.
The problem here is that while we anticipate rate competition between ATT/VZ, that's not going to happen for a year or two at least. Those who MUST have an iPhone on VZ will be driving sales for the next year at least, if not 2, depending on contracts. Only once the populations stabilize will there be any kind of pressure between ATT/VZ. Unless ATT sees a LOT of bleeding (which may happen at first because the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side of the fence). T-Mob and Sprint have a vested interest in being flexible about their rate plans until the iPhone is ubiquitous on all carriers in the US. Once it is present as an offering on all carriers then all carriers will drive more rate competition. But keep in mind also that the carriers have been accused of colluding on rate setting in the past, so no quarantees here.
Apple as a partner drove the lower rate packages with ATT as they met with ATT to review data useage by the iPhones as a population, and asked to see what the data map looked like. Remember all those outside reports claiming that iPhone was using more data than any other smartphone? Apple asked to confirm that claim and in reviewing the actual reported useage drove the 70/20 lower rate plans for 200MB and 2GB plans. Not that many use or need the "unlimited" plan in the consumer population - mostly us technocrats and we are less than the more generous 10% claimed. The rest fall under the two lower plans 70%-200MB or 20%-2GB.
I was happy when AT&T changed... I'd rather them have kept an unlimited though, but... still
I use about 50 - 100mb a month maximum in data... knocking down my data plan has saved me money. I'd hate to have to always pay $30 a month no matter what... now if it came with hotspot usage at that price, well I'd actually use it with my computer then, but they probably want even more for that.
Most people would be better off if they offered it WITHOUT a voice plan. Give my an iPhone with $30 unlimited data and I can use data for all my voice and texting needs. That would be full functionality for 1/3rd the price.
...you are spot on for this one! I know a large number of my fellow technology workforce who would love to drop voice altogether and just run data-only. Except that the "most people" qualifier isn't really true - most technology people - absolutely. The average user still has a long ways to go to embrace data-driven communication only.
...you are spot on for this one! I know a large number of my fellow technology workforce who would love to drop voice altogether and just run data-only. Except that the "most people" qualifier isn't really true - most technology people - absolutely. The average user still has a long ways to go to embrace data-driven communication only.
That's like asking them to just fix SMS so it uses data, and you don't have to pay extra for the privilege of sending texts that are smaller than 1 kb of data. That'll never happen. Why? Cuz they said so. Pay up. Probably the same reason they only offered unlimited data. I bet this will backfire and lots of people that wanted to get iPhone with the $15/month data plan will simply go AT&T.
hoping that with two carriers, someone might be interested in competitive pricing. *sigh* I guess I'm still not worthy of an iPhone, since I can't afford their plans. I guess I"m gonna have to go with Virgin Mobile and $25 a month for unlimited data and 300 minutes of voice on a non-iPhone.
Virgin Mobile in the U.S. is $40/month with a recently introduced 5GB cap. I dumped it and went back to my Sprint $60/month unlimited plan. Besides, Virgin's USB dongle is crap, with an antenna jack that doesn't even work properly, and lame-o software. I'm not happy about buying this shit gizmo for $75 only to have Virgin change its terms after the fact.
I'll look seriously at the Verizon plans when they are announced, but there is NO WAY I'm gonna pay through the nose for a phone plan. AT&T will never again get my business for anything.
Agreed. It is a negative because one size doesn't fit all. I am on T-Mobile with my iPhone. I love it. I don't have any data plan because I use wi-fi strictly. Why would I want to pay thirty dollars a month for data when I would hardly use it. I would pay five to ten dollars a month for expanded GPS capacity. Currently, I have to download my maps in advance.
QUOTE=kexicao;1793439]Of course it's a negative thing. It took choices away from you. Especially for people like me who has wifi access both at home and at work. Only time I need the data access is on the road. The existing $15/150mb plan suits me and my other family members perfectly. Now I don't think we are going to upgrade our droid phones to iphones any more.[/QUOTE]
I expect tethering to cost another $20 to $30, not unlike the cost of a 3G wireless card.
Maybe AT&T will eventually offer unlimited with tethering as an option.
I always fit under 2GB per month, never under 200MB per month. I keep the unlimited plan just in case. It's worth $60 more a year. I have used the flashlight app occasionally.
Agreed. It is a negative because one size doesn't fit all. I am on T-Mobile with my iPhone. I love it. I don't have any data plan because I use wi-fi strictly. Why would I want to pay thirty dollars a month for data when I would hardly use it. I would pay five to ten dollars a month for expanded GPS capacity. Currently, I have to download my maps in advance.
QUOTE=kexicao;1793439]Of course it's a negative thing. It took choices away from you. Especially for people like me who has wifi access both at home and at work. Only time I need the data access is on the road. The existing $15/150mb plan suits me and my other family members perfectly. Now I don't think we are going to upgrade our droid phones to iphones any more.
[/QUOTE]
And that is really the question.....
Can verizon seriously MAKE everyone getting the iphone get an unlimited plan while allowing people who get Android or any other type of smart phone have tiered options?
That sounds totally f-cked if you ask me.
It almost doesn't even sound legal, and if I was apple and this report were true (I could be misunderstanding), I would be thoroughly pissed off.
Why would I want to cap my data on a smartphone? I like to listen to Pandora while i'm at work all day and use facebook, surf the web, send emails. I use from 6 to 9 gig a month. Last time I cap my data on my Blackberry I had a $300 phone bill. I don't have time to see how much data I'm using a month. What's the purpose of having a smartphone if you're only using 200mb a month,smartphones are like pocket computers now, you're defeating the purpose of having one really if you cap your data. I can burn that up 200mb in a couple of days.
Why would I want to cap my data on a smartphone? I like to listen to Pandora while i'm at work all day and use facebook, surf the web, send emails. I use from 6 to 9 gig a month. Last time I cap my data on my Blackberry I had a $300 phone bill. I don't have time to see how much data I'm using a month. What's the purpose of having a smartphone if you're only using 200mb a month,smartphones are like pocket computers now, you're defeating the purpose of having one really if you cap your data. I can burn that up 200mb in a couple of days.
That would be true if smartphones were not wifi capable.
But they are, and non-smart phones are not.
People who are in wifi areas for most of thier time get ripped the F off for an unlimited plan while possibly using as much DATA as you do.
Comments
i have unlimited data and for a long time now the hotspot feature. oh wait, i am using android....
oooohhhh... Well isn't that just precious.
Why are they trying to spin this as a negative? I have the unlimited $30/mo on my iPhone 4 from ATT and wouldn't want anything different.
I can't stand having capped data that is almost the same price as unlimited.
I would agree for heavy users the unlimited plan is what you need. However aren't the majority of potential smartphone sales to the people who are NOT using smart phones now?
Those people aren't paying for any data, or at most a $15 plan. Even after they switch to a smart phone, they may not need more than 150-200MB of data.
The $30 price tag is a barrier to entry for these people.
If you want the rest of the world to get smart phones, you need to bring the price of the data plans down.
I have said from the beginning that there there are people who would only use data on Wifi and would jump at the chance to get an iPhone WITHOUT a data plan. Not in Verizon and AT&T's interest I know, but eventually these people will want data and will get it.
I consider myself a pretty fairly heavy iPhone user and very rarely go over 300MB of data, because I don't stream audio or video. My Wife uses < 100MB, and my daughter who doesn't have access to Wifi in her college dorm room is on track to use < 200MB as well.
Dropping the entry level plans is a big mistake...
It is a negative for me. In fact, this would be a deal-breaker for me. I don't want and can't justify unlimited data, because I am certain I wouldn't use it. I only need a data plan when I am away from home or office, which is not all the time. I am greatly disappointed. I will seriously think about switching to ATT, finally. After waiting 3 years for this moment....... and after 16 years in VZW.
It will be interesting to see how this effects Verizon iPhone sales. Cheaper Data plans is a real plus for AT&T now...
I am all for unlimited plans, but people should realize that US tariffs are silently increasing in this booming market, while, e.g., in Europe, they are rather declining. In Spain you can get 1-2GB for ?10/mo on a prepaid card (Yoigo), or ?15 if you also want voice.
Here in Belgium I pay ?15/500MB (one month).
?15/500MB ($20.50) is inbetween AT&T's $15 for 200mb or $25 for 2000mb. That would be a nice extra option but it is not a special bargain. ?10/mo for 2gb would be attractive.
i have unlimited data and for a long time now the hotspot feature. oh wait, i am using android....
Unlimited data and MyWi (hotspot) were available on jailbroken iPhones a long time before you got your android phone.
I have said from the beginning that there there are people who would only use data on Wifi and would jump at the chance to get an iPhone WITHOUT a data plan. Not in Verizon and AT&T's interest I know, but eventually these people will want data and will get it.
Most people would be better off if they offered it WITHOUT a voice plan. Give my an iPhone with $30 unlimited data and I can use data for all my voice and texting needs. That would be full functionality for 1/3rd the price.
Apple as a partner drove the lower rate packages with ATT as they met with ATT to review data useage by the iPhones as a population, and asked to see what the data map looked like. Remember all those outside reports claiming that iPhone was using more data than any other smartphone? Apple asked to confirm that claim and in reviewing the actual reported useage drove the 70/20 lower rate plans for 200MB and 2GB plans. Not that many use or need the "unlimited" plan in the consumer population - mostly us technocrats and we are less than the more generous 10% claimed. The rest fall under the two lower plans 70%-200MB or 20%-2GB.
I use about 50 - 100mb a month maximum in data... knocking down my data plan has saved me money. I'd hate to have to always pay $30 a month no matter what... now if it came with hotspot usage at that price, well I'd actually use it with my computer then, but they probably want even more for that.
Most people would be better off if they offered it WITHOUT a voice plan. Give my an iPhone with $30 unlimited data and I can use data for all my voice and texting needs. That would be full functionality for 1/3rd the price.
...you are spot on for this one! I know a large number of my fellow technology workforce who would love to drop voice altogether and just run data-only. Except that the "most people" qualifier isn't really true - most technology people - absolutely. The average user still has a long ways to go to embrace data-driven communication only.
...you are spot on for this one! I know a large number of my fellow technology workforce who would love to drop voice altogether and just run data-only. Except that the "most people" qualifier isn't really true - most technology people - absolutely. The average user still has a long ways to go to embrace data-driven communication only.
That's like asking them to just fix SMS so it uses data, and you don't have to pay extra for the privilege of sending texts that are smaller than 1 kb of data. That'll never happen. Why? Cuz they said so. Pay up. Probably the same reason they only offered unlimited data. I bet this will backfire and lots of people that wanted to get iPhone with the $15/month data plan will simply go AT&T.
hoping that with two carriers, someone might be interested in competitive pricing. *sigh* I guess I'm still not worthy of an iPhone, since I can't afford their plans. I guess I"m gonna have to go with Virgin Mobile and $25 a month for unlimited data and 300 minutes of voice on a non-iPhone.
Virgin Mobile in the U.S. is $40/month with a recently introduced 5GB cap. I dumped it and went back to my Sprint $60/month unlimited plan. Besides, Virgin's USB dongle is crap, with an antenna jack that doesn't even work properly, and lame-o software. I'm not happy about buying this shit gizmo for $75 only to have Virgin change its terms after the fact.
I'll look seriously at the Verizon plans when they are announced, but there is NO WAY I'm gonna pay through the nose for a phone plan. AT&T will never again get my business for anything.
QUOTE=kexicao;1793439]Of course it's a negative thing. It took choices away from you. Especially for people like me who has wifi access both at home and at work. Only time I need the data access is on the road. The existing $15/150mb plan suits me and my other family members perfectly. Now I don't think we are going to upgrade our droid phones to iphones any more.[/QUOTE]
Maybe AT&T will eventually offer unlimited with tethering as an option.
I always fit under 2GB per month, never under 200MB per month. I keep the unlimited plan just in case. It's worth $60 more a year. I have used the flashlight app occasionally.
Agreed. It is a negative because one size doesn't fit all. I am on T-Mobile with my iPhone. I love it. I don't have any data plan because I use wi-fi strictly. Why would I want to pay thirty dollars a month for data when I would hardly use it. I would pay five to ten dollars a month for expanded GPS capacity. Currently, I have to download my maps in advance.
QUOTE=kexicao;1793439]Of course it's a negative thing. It took choices away from you. Especially for people like me who has wifi access both at home and at work. Only time I need the data access is on the road. The existing $15/150mb plan suits me and my other family members perfectly. Now I don't think we are going to upgrade our droid phones to iphones any more.
[/QUOTE]
And that is really the question.....
Can verizon seriously MAKE everyone getting the iphone get an unlimited plan while allowing people who get Android or any other type of smart phone have tiered options?
That sounds totally f-cked if you ask me.
It almost doesn't even sound legal, and if I was apple and this report were true (I could be misunderstanding), I would be thoroughly pissed off.
Why would I want to cap my data on a smartphone? I like to listen to Pandora while i'm at work all day and use facebook, surf the web, send emails. I use from 6 to 9 gig a month. Last time I cap my data on my Blackberry I had a $300 phone bill. I don't have time to see how much data I'm using a month. What's the purpose of having a smartphone if you're only using 200mb a month,smartphones are like pocket computers now, you're defeating the purpose of having one really if you cap your data. I can burn that up 200mb in a couple of days.
That would be true if smartphones were not wifi capable.
But they are, and non-smart phones are not.
People who are in wifi areas for most of thier time get ripped the F off for an unlimited plan while possibly using as much DATA as you do.
They just dont use CELLULAR data as much.
That would be true if smartphones were not wifi capable.
But they are, and non-smart phones are not.
People who are in wifi areas for most of thier time get ripped the F off for an unlimited plan while possibly using as much DATA as you do.
They just dont use CELLULAR data as much.
After watching the news earlier this week will make people think twice about jumping on wifi, people are stealing info by setting up dummy wifi's
i have unlimited data and for a long time now the hotspot feature. oh wait, i am using android....
Ive had the same thing for a long time...oh wait I have a jail broken iPhone like everyone else who actually needs to use it.
After watching the news earlier this week will make people think twice about jumping on wifi, people are stealing info by setting up dummy wifi's
They call it dummy wifi because that's what you'd have to be to use a random network you're not familiar with.
Who would use any wifi network besides their home, work, airport, and snack location (Starbucks, mcdonalds)?
After watching the news earlier this week will make people think twice about jumping on wifi, people are stealing info by setting up dummy wifi's
Well, yah, I guess if you are jumping on any wifi you can get, sure.
Using the work, home, those are not real concerns, and that is almost exclusively where my family uses them.