Verizon Data Plans - should I get a smartphone?

[backontrack]

So, I know you guys are all penny pinchers and only have pay-as-you-go phones that are used only emergencies, right? So, you will all tell me to not only get a more expensive plan, but to get rid of my existing cell phone, right? *grin*

Last fall when I broke my old phone I went struggled with whether or not to upgrade to a smart phone, but just couldn’t stomach the idea of paying the extra $30 a month. I got a phone that allowed the $10 a month data plan. It can check email, weather, facebook, news, but really nothing beyond that. (Now with the Verizon data plan changes coming into effect I am considering moving to the smart phone. (If you don’t know, Verizon is doing away with the unlimited data plan for $30 and offering a 2GB, but if you have the unlimited plan before 7/7/11, you are grandfathered and locked into the $30/unlimited.) But if the main reason I want to make the switch is because it will be more expensive later, it seems like I am falling into some marketing ploy. I dunno, you guys can lay it out in a way that makes sense to me, right?

The extra expense won’t cause us to go into debt or stop saving for retirement or anything. I have been campaigning to get rid of the house phone and cable (switch to hulu and Netflix).

And the next part is more whining/relationship, so you can skip it if you like. Heh When I was agonizing over the decision whether to get a smart phone or not last fall (I could use the Kindle app! And have GPS! And have cool things to keep the kids distracted when needed!) DH was very anti-smart phone. In fact I think if he had not voiced an opinion I would have just gotten the smart phone. A few months after I got my not-as-smart phone, *his* phone broke. He was also eligible for the “new every two” plan at Verizon as well, but decided he would just take one of his dad’s “old” phones instead. Yeah, he’s dad’s “old” Droid!!! DH said that I can could take the Droid and he could take my phone, but we ended up activating the Droid for himself. And while I don’t think he uses it to its full capability, he really likes it and I’m sure it would be hard for him to go back to something lesser (which is what I told him when he turned it on “just until he could decide what to get.” three months ago. ) So, there’s some phone envy going on on my part!

So, set me straight... Oh wait, some rationalization on my part... Supposedly my corporate discount counts on the real data plan but not the $10 one. So, really the "$30" plan will cost be $24. So, that's $14 more a month, which is $165 a year. See, that doesn't sound like much!

Hitting Post before I keep rambling...

[swamp]

Do it if you can afford it. I'm glad I did.

[illinicheme]

To quote one of my vanpool members who upgraded to a smartphone w/ data plan a few months ago: "I was savings $30/month for way too long!!!!"

I've got a smart phone w/ unlimited data from Verizon, and I've been very happy with it. It's nice to have the internet available on the go. I use it for the data features WAY more often than I ever use it as a phone.

[midjd]

I have Verizon, and was not aware that I would be "grandfathered in" under the old unlimited data plan... if so, I guess this is good news, since our contracts aren't up until September.

With that said, when our contracts are up we are getting the hell out of Dodge and switching to Virgin Mobile.

Right now with Verizon, we're paying $60/month for DH's "dumb" phone, 450 minutes, and unlimited texts - and that's with a 15% discount for me being a state employee.

With Virgin, we would be paying $30/month for unlimited data, unlimited text, and 350 minutes. The catch is that you don't get a "free" phone - but I'd rather pay $200 for the phone and $30/month than get a "free" phone and pay $60/month for at least 2 years ($80-90/month for a smartphone)...

[backontrack]

I suppose it won't be "offical" until after 7/7, but this is what I am going off of for the grandfathered info:

www.androidcentral.com/verizons-new-data-plans-broken-down-complete-detail

[Epiphany]

We are considering this very thing. We've put off getting the smart phones because of the large and much dreaded monthly increase in the bill. I hate monthly bills. So we've been looking to get them and almost ran out this weekend to do it with the announcement so we could be grandfathered in BUT we started asking our friends how much data they use per month and most said either less than 1 GB or 1-2 GB so we think we will wait a little while longer till they have a good deal on a phone we want and do the 10 dollar option, even if we go up to 1.5GB it's still only 20 dollars each instead of 30 each for unlimited. So I'd try to asses how much data you think you'll need. If it's consistently more than 1 GB then get the unlimited while you can.

[Cookies Galore]

I was resistant to getting a smartphone for the longest time, but I got the bug for one a couple of weeks ago and ended up getting one last week (Samsung Captivate, love it!). I really should have just bit the bullet a while ago and gotten one when AT&T still offered the unlimited plans. I had a "feature" phone and paid $10/month for data. I do get a corporate discount as well, so my new data plan is only $9 more a month (2G), but it would have been sweeter to get a discount on an unlimited package. Who knows yet if I'll even go over 2G a month, but I wouldn't mind spending a couple of extra dollars for a little peace of mind.
So, if you're toying with a smartphone now, then I'd say just go for it. I really, really like my phone; it's so beautiful.

[ontrack]

I'm actually glad I don't have the unlimited plan, since I don't use more than 200MB, I save money vs. the unlimited ($15/mo vs $30/mo). This is perfectly fine as long as you're not streaming videos all day.

[Tiny]

I've got an Android? Smartphone? that's pay as you go... my PDA died and my 6 year old cellphone's battery isn't holding much of a charge these days. (I was using the pay as you go plan with the older cell phone.) I didn't bother to check the prices of a replacement battery because I quickly realized PDAs are no longer made (well, I could have used an iTouch). I figured I'd combine the two devices into one.
The plan is to convert my current plan (I have $50.00 left on my old plan) to one for the smartphone/droid/whatever the heck it is phone. Add a month of data plan (for $5.00). Get my calender stuff entered into Google calendar via my home PC (or while I'm sloughing off at work). And then once the phone and google are synced (the next time I turn on the phone) I'll set the phone to NOT auto sync. Then I'll see how much of the data plan I use... I'll upgrade it if I have to. I don't see myself reading email or facebook from my phone. Half the time I forget I have a phone...

Best estimate at a possible cost: $170 or so for a years worth of talk time (which includes $5.00 worth of dataplan each month) If I can get away with needing a monthly dataplan thingy it will cost me less.
The plan is to get my calendar set up in Google calendar.

[8 Bit WWBG]

I read the data announcement as meaning that you are safe until you go to renew. I know the industry wants to get rid of unlimited data (at least at the $30/mo price point) because as people consume more, their profits will dry up.

Its definitely something you learn to love. It can be very useful and a lot of fun.

[Deleted]

Interesting. My wife has a smartphone with the $30 unlimited. I don't yet though. I just noticed that her usage for the month so far is 64MB.

[midjd]

The person at the Verizon store told me 1mb equals about 50 webpage views. I have no idea how accurate this is or how it applies to Facebook, etc. but it's somewhere to start as far as gauging usage...

[Sum Dum Gai]

I just cancelled the unlimited data on my Verizon number because I hardly ever used it. The navigation thing is awesome, but I wasn't using it that often since you mostly go to places that you already know how to get to, and since I was using VZ Navigator it's an extra $5-10 a month on top of the data plan. Surfing the web on my phone was obnoxious since the screen is tiny, and I obviously have web access at work, and at home. The only time I ever used it on my phone is if I was sitting in a doctors office waiting room or something, which wasn't that often. Loop on the other hand, uses her smart phone all the time.

I would say get it if you'll use it, but skip it if you won't. I paid the $30 a month for unlimited data on my line for ages without ever really using it. Lamest way to waste money ever. At least when you waste money eating out, smoking, or going to Starbucks you get some enjoyment out of it. Paying for a data plan I never used was just stupid.

[wvugurl26]

Guess I am not switching to Verizon then. I am under contract with US Cellular until early August. I was debating switching to Verizon since they have unlimited and US Cellular was only offering 5 GB. US Cellular was coming up cheaper even with the Verizon discount for being a federal employee but the Verizon was unlimited. Now its an easy decision because I was on the fence about switching anyway so I'm not paying the $150 termination fee to get into Verizon now. I could have gotten a new phone with US Cellular awhile ago but I was waiting till I got my raise to jack my phone bill up

[SVT]

I'm sure I'll get one in the next 2 years or so, but it's not something I think will be useful for me. I'm always on the internet but I have access to a computer and high speed internet at home and at work. If I go out, it's to do something and not surfing the web. I consider this, to me, to very much be a luxury. An extra $35/month would be pretty much a waste. But I admit it would be a neat gagdet to have. I've looked at them and looked at friends' HTCs and iPHONES and have almost been suckered in but I just can't justify getting one at this point. And I'm sure once you get it, you will never go back and downgrade.

[taz157]

My DH surprised me with a HTC Thunderbolt a few months ago and I LOVE it. It's my 1st smartphone. He has the same phone and we both use the internet on it all the time. Also, we have Verizon and I'm happy to hear that we'll be grandfathered in with the $30 unlimited plan. I would have to look at my latest bill to see how much internet usage we've use though, but I feel better knowing that it's unlimited.

[doxieluvr]

Unlimited is the way to go i used 2 gb just in june.

[Epiphany]

Ok so I have to take back my previous answer and plead ignorance. I was thinking that 75mb was really 750mb meaning 3/4 of a gig which I thought would be plenty of my use and great for 10 dollars. 75mb....not so much. So we are going to maybe get the phones and unlimited plan this weekend. I just wish they had better sales on phones because even though we are both up for the new every two they are still very pricey.

[Deleted]

I'll get one eventually. I love my iPod Touch, which works only in Wi-Fi hot spots, and have a pile of apps loaded on it. I can see how much more useful it would be (and how many more apps I'd have!) if it tapped into the phone lines, but I LOVE not having monthly bills. My company Blackberry is primitive, blocks FaceBook and doesn't allow download of anything, but it has the major advantage of not costing me a dime.

Always good to make a conscious decision about whether to take on the monthly cost, though. I'm astounded at the numbers of people who have them.

[backontrack]

I took the plunge and ordered the Thunderbolt!

On my not-so-smart phone I haven't even used a GB a month, but I can only get to Facebook and email, so I don't have the oppurtunity to use to much data. I'm hoping to use the new phone to stream music for myself and videos for the kids when we are stuck somewhere where they need a distraction (like in the doctor's office for hours). I'm also hoping I can casually sneak in most of my surfing on the phone while the kids are playing. Checking my phone doesn't draw their attention, whereas going in the other room to get on a computer makes them swarm and they have demands on what *they* want to see on the computer.

[Gardening Grandma]

Since the OP's question has been resolved, can someone help me out here? I checked my data useage for May and June ( 149302 kb for May and 272170 kb for June), but I can't figure out how many MB that is.....

Help! Please! (I've tried the Google thing and still can't figure it out) I'm paying the $30/mo for Verizon's unlimited plan. Would I be ahead switching to a limited plan?

(DH used 39473 kb in May and 31748 kb in June) He's also on the unlimited plan.

[midjd]

1 MB is 1000 KB, so your 149,302 KB used would be about 149 MB or 0.14 G. You'd probably be better off with the regular plan if you're only using about 200 MB between the 2 of you...

[soon2bmomof3]

We're on Verizon's $15/mo for 150 MB plan. If we go a KB over 150 MB, it's an additional $15. We just switched to smartphones back in January and we've never gone over. I did come close last month when I downloaded a whole CD album at work when I should have waited until I got home for the WiFi...

[reader79]

I have an HTC Hero android phone with Sprint. I'm on the 450 minutes plan with everything included - unlimited web, texts, navigation, sprint TV, anytime calls to any cell phone on any carrier, nights at 7pm, etc. I have a corporate discount that brings the bill down to $67/month including insurance. I average a bit over 2GB of data a month, so it's worth it to me. The only issue I have had is that with constant use, the battery dies all the time. So I have to constantly have it plugged in. I have an extra charger at work, and one upstairs at my mother's. However, I also have an ipod touch with most of the same apps, so I tend to use that over wifi whenever possible.