Upset about the Verizon Dataplan Read this:

B

Bohica69

Gawd
Joined
Jul 12, 2005
Messages
676
As some of you saw an earlier post, I'm not happy about the stupid Required 9.99 fee for non smart phones.

Well if you want to complaign to the Head Honcho:
http://aboutus.vzw.com/leadership/executive/profiles/Lowell_McAdam.html

Keep it civil please

Found from this thread:
http://forum.verizon.com/t5/Cell-Phone-General-Devices/Verizon-Executive-Call/td-p/155638

From the last post there, sounds like they might be getting the message.... So if you want to voice your concerns to them, maybe they'll change it.
 
Sounds like it's worth a shot. I took my wife into the Verizon store the other day to upgrade her phone, but we weren't too happy to find out that anything half way decent wasn't a "simple feature" phone.

I see no need to pay $10/mo for features she'll never use - all she does it make calls. But none of the simple feature phones were appealing to her so we just left. They really need to expand their phone lineup if they want this to work out.
 
They really just need a "simple feature" phone with a qwerty keyboard so you can text. Unfortunately, if you block data with Verizon, it also blocks MMS messaging from what I understand.

If anyone else had the coverage Verizon has in my area, I'd dump Verizon in half a second.
 
kirbyrj said:
They really just need a "simple feature" phone with a qwerty keyboard so you can text. Unfortunately, if you block data with Verizon, it also blocks MMS messaging from what I understand.

If anyone else had the coverage Verizon has in my area, I'd dump Verizon in half a second.
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Sadly I think they are all requiring data plans.
 
It varies by model. I put an old XV6800 on the network and I don't need a data plan. I can use an Env1, and Env2 without issue. I've heard mixed things about the Env3. One girl I know says she doesn't have a data plan, but I've heard online you do need one. Env Touch needs one now too.

But pretty much any new phone with a qwerty keyboard needs a $10 data plan.
 
Kirby, the new rule is this: if the phone supports EVDO, it needs a data plan. Eventually, people are going to snap out of the brainwashing and realise that Verizon's network/coverage is no better than anyone else's, except for this: While every telecom is going to try bend you over at least a little, Verizon is doing it with a sandpaper condom on.
 
Must be the "new rule" if you get a new phone. Seems like you can get away with not having it if you swap phones around under your current plan. Even the Env series supports EV-DO right? I know this XV6800 I'm using does.
 
entropism said:
Kirby, the new rule is this: if the phone supports EVDO, it needs a data plan. Eventually, people are going to snap out of the brainwashing and realise that Verizon's network/coverage is no better than anyone else's, except for this: While every telecom is going to try bend you over at least a little, Verizon is doing it with a sandpaper condom on.
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Maybe in urban areas. Verizon continues to have the best coverage in my area (mid/northern Michigan). My wife had AT&T for a while and their coverage was much spottier on her weekly drive west across state to grad school.

That said I'm running an older Verizon phone on pageplus pre-paid. I go through about $5 /mo on it because I'm a cheapskate, and the wife on prepaid Alltel grandfathered in at $20/mo. Our monthly $80 Verizon bill is long gone when we started trimming bills.
 
entropism said:
Kirby, the new rule is this: if the phone supports EVDO, it needs a data plan. Eventually, people are going to snap out of the brainwashing and realise that Verizon's network/coverage is no better than anyone else's, except for this: While every telecom is going to try bend you over at least a little, Verizon is doing it with a sandpaper condom on.
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Uh, doesn't every phone they sell work on EVDO?

And their network/coverage is better.

edit - Ok I guess I'm wrong on the EVDO thing... wow some of these phones they sell are crap.
 
XMonkey, "better" is a relative term. There might be some areas it works better than others, there are some areas that Verizon is crap and other companies work very well.

Know what works VERY well for Verizon? Their marketing department. The one thing that they do VERY well is promote a mediocre or ordinary product or feature, to the point where their customers brag about it, and their potential customers drool over it. It's like Apple at times, with the fanboy-ism.
 
we need a telecom revolution.... completely change the way we pay for cell phone use.

no subsidized phones... and lower per month cost.

I hate how AT&T pushes their smartphone line up but then complains/limits their use due to over using the network. How can you market one thing and then tell you existing customers another.....


hey guys where the best bc we have the iPhone, but in the near future you are going to have to pay for how much bandwidth you use because you iPhone users are clogging up our network, making it look bad and unreliable.

we need a everything plan that is around $40 a phone.... unlimted data, voice and text.
 
entropism said:
Know what works VERY well for Verizon? Their marketing department. The one thing that they do VERY well is promote a mediocre or ordinary product or feature, to the point where their customers brag about it, and their potential customers drool over it. It's like Apple at times, with the fanboy-ism.
Click to expand...

I almost lol'd at this. I wasn't sure you were talking about Verizon for a second there because as when I was reading this, all I could think of was Luke Wilson in one of the 8 AT&T commercials where he won't STFU about "ONLY AT&T lets you use your phone and internet at the same time!", which seems to be the most useless feature they can taut, IMO. It's also negated since I've did this on my Droid (when it was unrooted too).

Not trying to defend Verizon, but you certainly can't single them out or even accuse them of being the biggest culprit of promoting a "mediocre feature". Also, thanks to AT&T, I can't look at Luke Wilson without wanting to punch in the face anymore.

I think this whole issue comes down to paying a premium for (relatively) premium service. It's a fact that Verizon has the best coverage (both phone and 3G) across the US, you can't dispute this. Verizon knows this and is going to make you pay for it accordingly. Basically, you get what you pay for, IMO.

On that note, I do agree that forcing data plans on non-smart, texting phones is retarded and is a bad business practice. Although I, myself would want the data plan anyways, I see no reason why it should be mandatory for these phones if all you want to do is SMS/MMS. If I was in that situation, I would certainly be sending some mail to the CEO there and hopefully there will be a policy change with enough peoples complaints.
 
Well I sent and email today and got a response from someone in the Executive relations department asking me for my cell number and daytime contact information.

I'll let you know how it goes.

I certainly don't want the plan on a dumb phone, however - having a cheaper plan for a smart phone? If they offered this plan on a droid, I'd be all over it. As I'm sure alot of other people would be as well.

Hell if they included TEXT in their $30 bucks a month data plan, I wouldn't mind the 30 bucks a month plan either. Currently Unlimited texting costs 20 bucks, and texting costs them next to nothing in bandwidth.
 
T4rd said:
Not trying to defend Verizon, but you certainly can't single them out or even accuse them of being the biggest culprit of promoting a "mediocre feature". Also, thanks to AT&T, I can't look at Luke Wilson without wanting to punch in the face anymore.
Click to expand...

Before AT&T jumped on the bandwagon, Verizon was horrible at this line of marketing. "Ooooo, I have the network", "I'm IN!", blah blah blah. I've seen verizon customers brag that they might not have unlimited texts for the price everyone else is paying, but they're unlimited to all VERIZON customers. I've seen Verizon customers brag about data speeds, and then my Sprint phone doubles them up. Look at FIOS being fiber, almost every major cable company out there is fiber, and was so BEFORE verizon, but with their advertising, you'd never know that.

There are other things, but Verizon really is a scumbag company, I've been dealing with them on the inside for years now, it's almost pathetic.

Edit: I've wanted to punch the Wilson brothers in the face since Meet The Parents. The only thing Luke ever did right was Idiocracy.
 
T4rd said:
I almost lol'd at this. I wasn't sure you were talking about Verizon for a second there because as when I was reading this, all I could think of was Luke Wilson in one of the 8 AT&T commercials where he won't STFU about "ONLY AT&T lets you use your phone and internet at the same time!", which seems to be the most useless feature they can taut, IMO. It's also negated since I've did this on my Droid (when it was unrooted too).
Click to expand...

Man, this is the reason I LOVE the phone forums. Unless you were using wifi this isn't possible since it's a technological limitation of CDMA. So either a lie of omission or just a straight up lie. The fanboism with cell phones and carriers has surpassed what can be seen on the console forums. It's fantastic.
 
Well, at least I did my part and sent an Email to Verizon. Was mature about it, but told them when my current cell phone gives out (6 months passed my 2 year contract now) I will go back to a land line instead
 
GhostDog said:
Man, this is the reason I LOVE the phone forums. Unless you were using wifi this isn't possible since it's a technological limitation of CDMA. So either a lie of omission or just a straight up lie. The fanboism with cell phones and carriers has surpassed what can be seen on the console forums. It's fantastic.
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Not being a fanboy at all. I was on Wi-Fi, but that doesn't change the fact that it's possible to browse the web and talk on the phone at the same time. Regardless, that wasn't my point whatsoever. It's a lame "feature" that they keep advertising every chance they get. In the last 3 years of having a smart phone, I've never had a situation where this would be useful.

/derail
 
T4rd said:
Not being a fanboy at all. I was on Wi-Fi, but that doesn't change the fact that it's possible to browse the web and talk on the phone at the same time. Regardless, that wasn't my point whatsoever. It's a lame "feature" that they keep advertising every chance they get. In the last 3 years of having a smart phone, I've never had a situation where this would be useful.

/derail
Click to expand...

You've never had a friend (or family member) without a smartphone call you asking where the nearest whatever is to whereever they're at now? Or they're headed over to visit and traffic is slowing down and they want you to check traffic conditions to see if they need to divert? Or any of a slew of other such things?

Must be nice.
 
Khanmots said:
You've never had a friend (or family member) without a smartphone call you asking where the nearest whatever is to whereever they're at now? Or they're headed over to visit and traffic is slowing down and they want you to check traffic conditions to see if they need to divert? Or any of a slew of other such things?

Must be nice.
Click to expand...

Actually, I have and I'm either at home or work where I have a PC/laptop at arms length at all times (which would be faster than using my phone in the first place). I've literally never been in a situation where someone would depend on me in the middle of a convo out in public to be their Google search.

It is nice ;).
 
Khanmots said:
You've never had a friend (or family member) without a smartphone call you asking where the nearest whatever is to whereever they're at now? Or they're headed over to visit and traffic is slowing down and they want you to check traffic conditions to see if they need to divert? Or any of a slew of other such things?

Must be nice.
Click to expand...

Uh no.. not once... ever.

"I don't know what to do, we're driving and we're lost.. I know, call Khanmots - he's got the interweb's on his phone, he'll save us!"
 
nubbin77 said:
Uh no.. not once... ever.

"I don't know what to do, we're driving and we're lost.. I know, call Khanmots - he's got the interweb's on his phone, he'll save us!"
Click to expand...

Hahaha, exactly. I was trying to be nice about it though. :D
 
I am getting to the point of just going to Walmart and picking up a SmartTalk phone with the $45 unlimitted talk/text/data plan.

I am on Alltel now, and Alltel has nothing I want in the area of phones.. I have a Touch Pro and my contract is up. Either they should lower my bill since I am not subsidizing my phone or get some new phones. I went looking at Verizon and LOL'ed at the $10 data plan on any of the "decent" phones. I am trying to get away from the whole wastefull smartphone thing.


Adidas4275 said:
we need a telecom revolution.... completely change the way we pay for cell phone use.

no subsidized phones... and lower per month cost.
Click to expand...
You hit the nail on the head.
 
Last edited:
Well, I got my call from the HQExecutive Relations group, and he said they've been getting a TON of emails about this change. From his tone, he sounded like these were the only types of emails they've been dealing with. He also said that if people take the time to email, it's taken very seriously.

Here's an analogy I gave him "You order pizza right?", "yes, lots", "Well this is like Domino's showing up at your door and saying here's your pizza, with the order of breadsticks you didn't order, that will be an additional 3.99, even though you didn't want or order breadsticks this is the new corporate policy in case you change your mind and ever want breadsticks."

So here's the message: If you don't like this bs change, pour the heat on, and maybe they'll pull their head out.
http://aboutus.vzw.com/leadership/ex...ll_McAdam.html
 
Without going over to Verizon Wireless center, can one purchase a better data phone full price without a contract and activate the phone without a data plan ? Thanks to anyone in the know.

Of course I would hate to pay full retail for some of these nice looking phones
 
SR45 said:
Without going over to Verizon Wireless center, can one purchase a better data phone full price without a contract and activate the phone without a data plan ? Thanks to anyone in the know.

Of course I would hate to pay full retail for some of these nice looking phones
Click to expand...

No...they won't let you activate certain phones (as designated by the ESN) without the required data plan.
 
kirbyrj said:
No...they won't let you activate certain phones (as designated by the ESN) without the required data plan.
Click to expand...

Darn it....

Thank you kirbyrj. Not news I wanted to hear. Guess Verizon is covering their bases to make as much money on us as possible...

:mad:
 
SR45 said:
Darn it....

Thank you kirbyrj. Not news I wanted to hear. Guess Verizon is covering their bases to make as much money on us as possible...

:mad:
Click to expand...

I actually went and got an old XV6800 windows mobile phone because it had wifi built in and was a phone that was "grandfatherered" in under the old terms (no data plan required). It's ok, but I miss my droid.

I had another thread around here asking about it and it came down to the Samsung i760 or the XV6800. XV6800 is a better phone. But Windows Mobile sucks :p.
 
I really wish we could run Android on that XV6800. It just needs more ram.
 
tayunz said:
I really wish we could run Android on that XV6800. It just needs more ram.
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Definitely...64mb just isn't enough even by WinMo standards. It's sluggish doing everything. I'm constantly running a program to clean my RAM and ending all the tasks in the task manager.
 
450 said:
I have an XV6800 too, are we stuck with WinMo6?
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I got 6.5 running on mine with a GPS enabled radio without too much effort. Actually runs better than 6.1 in some ways.
 
450 said:
So can you use it as a navigation system?
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Yeah...you have to get a 3rd party program, but the radio is there and able to be used. Google maps works, but that's not a turn by turn navigation. Most of them require the data plan to keep the map refreshed while you travel, but it does work.

Check out xda-developers and ppcgeeks. That's where I got all my info. I went from the stock 2.09 rom to a flashed bootloader, radio, and OS Rom in about 2 hours.
 
Got an e-mail from Verizon asking me why I have I not taken the offer for $100 to upgrade my Cell Phone (Over 6 months past my contract date) and emailed them back and told them, "Its the darn data plan for the better phones, that's why, and don't want to get a dumb down looking phone in place of a better looking phone that requires one".

No response to the email yet
 
I sent my email voicing my displeasure tonight. My wife got into a verbal altercation with a female employee at a Verizon Store tonight. I was getting worried I would have to carry her out. Lol.

Looks like we are going to AT&T. And yes, I know about "The Network".
 
I was in Radio Shack yesterday and I am amazed at how cheap the Sprint plans are.

69.99 gets ya a Smartphone plan with 450 minutes, unlimitted text, unlimitted 3g/4g data, sprint tv, etc.

I stared at the HTC Hero for a while and left... got to say no to smartphones. :D
 
Met-AL said:
I was in Radio Shack yesterday and I am amazed at how cheap the Sprint plans are.

69.99 gets ya a Smartphone plan with 450 minutes, unlimitted text, unlimitted 3g/4g data, sprint tv, etc.

I stared at the HTC Hero for a while and left... got to say no to smartphones. :D
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That's without a discount... You can either get a MINIMUM of 10% off that just for having a free AOL email address, or you can do $59.99 for 500 minutes (and unlimited everything else). Sprint plans are so easy to get discounted, and for pretty much the same coverage with verizon.

/shill
 
entropism said:
That's without a discount... You can either get a MINIMUM of 10% off that just for having a free AOL email address, or you can do $59.99 for 500 minutes (and unlimited everything else). Sprint plans are so easy to get discounted, and for pretty much the same coverage with verizon.

/shill
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qft, I have two lines on my contract. the 1400 everything plan, I get 18% off for being a officemax employee. Their unlimited to/from any cell phone knocked my usage down to next to nothing on my minutes. the rest my mom use calling me to talk. it is unbelievable how decently priced they have gotten over the years. Their customer service has gotten so much better and will hand over your MSL code if you ask.

if you pay your bill on time every month and have a plan over $69.99 you can do a new upgrade every year. it is freaking sweet deal
 
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