Verizon Wireless introduces cheaper data plans, Pre Plus disappears from site 30
Verizon Wireless from unlimited to tiered data plans, which CEO Ivan Seidenberg said in late September would occur in "four to six months," is going to happen much sooner, on October 28th. Fortunately, we're not looking at big V cutting the unlimited plan. Instead, smartphone owners will be able to choose monthly plans ranging from 150 MB ($15; $0.10/MB overage) to $29.99 for unlimited data. There are other changes rumored for MiFi, multimedia and feature phones.
Our own sister site Android Central has some further details on the Verizon is positioning the new lower-tiered plan. Basically if you're reading this, Verizon wants you on the unlimited plan. We would like to say that the coming Pre 2 will continue the original Pre Plus free mobile hotspot plan, but we're guessing it's more likely the $20/1GB, $35/3BG, $50/5GB plans will apply.
In other news, the Palm Pre Plus has gone from "out of stock" on Verizon's website to just plain ...gone. It no longer shows up as an option to buy at all. We don't know if the Pre 2 will have the same free mobile hotspot deal that the Pre Plus enjoyed, but we're kind of doubting it. If you are bold and/or daring, you can still pick up a Pixi Plus from Verizon for free and with the unlimited data plan, mobile hotspot tethering is still free.
Sources: Engadget, Android Central
30 Comments
I may be switching carriers if I don't hear anything out of sprint REAL SOON!!!
Go for it.
Many Pre users will because Sprint will most likely only get "newly" designed webOS phones on their network. Hopefully before the 2nd half of next year.
I checked VZW online, and the Pre Plus still shows up. I check the site every day, and haven't seen the Pre Plus marked as out of stock.
Im glad to hear I will still have my unlimited data. I never use my hotspot app. Im too afraid of over using it since the guy who sold me the phone said I have like 5GB on it and would have to pay if I go over. Did he not know what he was talking about or is this the same for others?
You really have to put in an effort to go over the 5GB in a month. I had a USB modem with 5GB/month before, and I could stream multiple Netflix movies over the course of a month without going over 5GB. If you are worried, dial #DATA from your phone, and Verizon will send you text messages about your usage. You'll get two data numbers, one for the unlimited phone and one for the mobile broadband which is the one limited to 5GB. Just be aware that your phone usage counts towards the 5GB anytime mobile hotspot is active.
Thanks. Ive never been real familiar about how much data usage is. I didnt know how long it would take to use up 5GB. If you streamed movies and never went over, I guess I'd be safe. Thanks again.
I am ticked personally. I was waiting for verizon to do this thinking it would be at least 250 mb so my wife could drop to that since all she basically uses is email and some facebook. So she uses at most maybe 200. So I have to keep her on unlimited...awesome
If your wife uses less than 200mb per month you'll still save with the 150mb plan; with the overage charges 300mb is the break-even point. Plus I imagine once she's on a limited data plan she'll make more of a point to use wifi when possible.
Cheaper for who? I don't know any smartphone users who fall under 150MB.
I've not heard of the mobile hotspot service ever being "free" besides the $40/mo plan I did just order one yesterday, and might take advantage of my 30-days to swap it for a pre2 if the nov 11 date that phonearena is throwing around is accurate.
Pre Plus and Pixi still available at Verizon Wireless website when searching in New Jersey.
It's never been out of stock either when I've checked over the last several weeks.
I have the Pre+ from VZ and the hotspot is free with a 5gig data cap. The 5gigs of data should be plenty unless you stream to a laptop everyday. Had it activated when the store setup the phone. The tech at the VZ store actually asked if I wanted the hotspot service,which was nice in case I forgot to ask.
Thats what I like about Verizon. Their customer service is awesome. Every Verizon store I've been to, the people were nice and helpful. I switched from AT&T earlier this year. Their customer service always sucked.
pre plus still up on there site
come on Sprint, get in the game...
So get a free pixi+ instead of a mifi card from VZW for your laptop. Get all your mifi and occasional mail/surfing from the pixi+ when the laptop is just not around. Is that the recommendation here?
The Pixi would have to be activated on a phone plan as well as the data plan to get the mobile hotspot feature, whereas a card or mifi just needs a data plan.
Pre Plus still available online.
"you can still pick up a Pixi Plus from Verizon for free and with the unlimited data plan, mobile hotspot tethering is still free"
I was talking to a Verizon rep today about the Pre 2 and he said he wasn't sure if the mobile hotspot would be free with the new Pre but he would check for me. He also said that it was a temporary "promotional" offer with the Pre+/Pixi+ and implied that it could end in the future.
They're getting ready to roll out the Pre 2. Why have the Pre+ available when you can have the Pre++?
Also, for someone who checked the details, is the $29.99 plan really "unlimited"? I can use as much data as I want on my Sprint plan but it costs $69.99.
$29.99 is just for the unlimited data. Then you chose your text and minutes plan which adds more to that.
So if you add unlimited texting, unlimited mobile to mobile, and 450 mobile to landline minutes, is it a better deal than Sprint? If it is, and since VZW is going to get Pre 2, that's serious motivation for switching...
I think Sprint beats Verizon by like 20 bucks.
Correct. And the cheaper Sprint plan also includes "Any Mobile Anytime," which for a lot of people (i.e., those who mainly call other mobile phones) makes their talk minutes virtually unlimited, and Sprint Navigation.
On the other hand, the Sprint plan also currently comes with uncertainty over whether you'll ever be able to get an up-to-date webOS device, so that's a choice you'll have to make.
Pre + is gone from the website in North Fl. It also has been Out of Stock for the last week and a half.
The plan you're talking abot would be $89.98. 300 minutes, unl. m2m texting w/ 500 out of network texts, with unl. data would be $74.99 on VZW's network. And it is unlimited data.
Most everyone with smartphones will likely stick with the $30 unlimited plan. All this change really does is raise the rates for anyone who doesn't want unlimited data on a multimedia phone. Instead of $10/month you'll now have to pay $15 if you want a multimedia phone for its texting capabilities and/or style even if you hardly ever use web or email.
does anyone know whether you can go to the 150Mb/$15 per month data plan and still keep the free mobile hotspot? my data usage is light, never more than 100Mb as I'm almost always on wifi. I haven't used the mobile hot spot much, but it really saved me when I needed it so I don't think it would be worth giving up for the $15/month savings (I would never have paid full price for it though).
Last night I spoke with my friend who is with Verizon. He's saw a training on the Pre 2 and, unfortunately, it is true we are losing Mobile Hotspot for free... $20 seems to be the number.
Darn...