Database Users

N1 Castrated! T-Mo throttled my data connection

Got the following text message this morning:
Free T-Mobile msg: Your usage has reached the data threshold for your rate plan this month. Your speed has been reduced for the rest of this billing cycle.
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Sure enough, i'm now getting 96 kbs down / 105 kbs up.
I wasn't aware there was such a threshold on the Android unlimited data plan. I sure don't remember seeing that in the fine print.
Rather annoying that I didn't know this was coming.

I can't say anything about the fine print although I assume there would certainly be some information about the cap but I wish state or federal government would go after telco's who keep claiming unlimited while actually have a cap set.
It's not so bad in your case where I guess it is still unlimited, just throttled, but in Canada if we go over our "unlimited" amount we actually get charged per kb.
Now perhaps if Tmo said it is unlimited 3G data it could be even more frustrating.

Well how much data have you used?

That's a normal T-Mobile thing. Any of the other 3 carriers will shut you off and/or bill per KB.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

RogerPodacter said:
Well how much data have you used?
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This ^
+10 char

T-mobile has a fair usage clause. Basically unlimited means that you get to use what the "average" data usage is from all of tmo's data users. If you go over that, you still get data free but you get throttled. It is to help keep the network from being overloaded. Also Tmo doesn't charge you for tethering like every other carrier and I would assume that by getting that message you have been tethering all month.
I have used about 3gigs of data on Tmo and never had that issue come up. You must really be sucking down some data. Be thankful you are not on one of the other carriers. They would have hit you with a huge tethering bill and the associated data charges!

As far as I know the softcap is 5GB.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

wow. I checked my account with t-mobile and I had used a whopping 10 gb this month! (I usually average about 4 gb but for the last week I let a coworker with an iPhone 4 tether off my line, and between us, we were sucking up over 1/2 a gig a day.)
No more data for you iPhone dude.
On the bright side, my billing cycle ends in a couple of days.

Wow, I'm really happy to see 5GB is the softcap! I just hit 1GB and started getting really worried. All this tethering to my PS3 for Call of Duty is adding up lol.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

I use about 1GB a month...I'll never reach 5GB, but good to know I have some room to spare Definately, Tmob is the best for data compared to the other carriers.

tanman1975 said:
Got the following text message this morning:
Sure enough, i'm now getting 96 kbs down / 105 kbs up.
I wasn't aware there was such a threshold on the Android unlimited data plan. I sure don't remember seeing that in the fine print.
Rather annoying that I didn't know this was coming.
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YESSSSSSSSSS!!!! I LOVE T-Mobile for doing this to the ones that abuse the fair usage of the network! T-mobile made me a happy man today

I thought the cap was 10gb. If the OP used 10gb like he said, then it seems 10gb is the cap.

Why did the OP have an iphone tethered to him? Makes no sense!

The Android "plan" for T-Mobile has a 10GB softcap. Not the 5GB softcap.
The throttling is to 50kbps for the rest of the billing-cycle but it looks like there's a bit of give on the throttling.
Cheers,
Kermee

worker1 said:
Why did the OP have an iphone tethered to him? Makes no sense!
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Because the iphone has less bars in more places?

I don't get it. If there's a cap then it's not unlimited. If it's not unlimited why is T-Mobile allowed to advertise it as that?

Mokurex said:
I don't get it. If there's a cap then it's not unlimited. If it's not unlimited why is T-Mobile allowed to advertise it as that?
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unlimited data, not unlimited 3g/H as it turns out
I gave iPhone guy access so he could setup his new iphone4, also demo facetime and hd youtube (which he can't do over 3g). I suspect he abused the connection since my data usage more than tripled those days...

Mokurex said:
I don't get it. If there's a cap then it's not unlimited. If it's not unlimited why is T-Mobile allowed to advertise it as that?
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It is still unlimited. Just throttled. 10 gigs is more than generous.

yeah it is unlimited but to keep network congestion down after you use a certain amount of data they slow you down. They don't charge you more though. The other carriers do a real nice tethering charge if you go over a certain amount, saying that you didn't pay to tether and you would never use that much data if you weren't. T-mo is awesome, believe it!

It could be worse. Some broadband providers are throttling users on their home accounts due to excessive bandwidth usage.

Best phone company?

Which phone company in your opinion is the best with its "unlimited" data plans? I have tmobile and it is fustrating whne they slow my phone down but I heard that verizon is worse! I know sprint is really unlimited but it goes at 3g speeds which is slow compared to the other companies. So in your opinion which is the best???
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

tears12345678909 said:
Which phone company in your opinion is the best with its "unlimited" data plans? I have tmobile and it is fustrating whne they slow my phone down but I heard that verizon is worse! I know sprint is really unlimited but it goes at 3g speeds which is slow compared to the other companies. So in your opinion which is the best???
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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May be better put in an XDA general thread rather than a specific device thread. You're going to find lots of international users and T-mobile users in here so there's going to be a lack of info or a bias towards T-mobile.
As far as the USA goes, T-mobile and Sprint are the only two with unlimited data. AT&T has been on tiered 2GB plans for a long time, and Verizon has tiered as well. So its like this:
Sprint: Unlimited, literally. Use as much 3G/4G as you want
T-mobile: Unlimited to 5GB (if you're grandfathered) or 2GB if you're a new customer. After 5GB (or 2GB, plan depending). You get throttled to EDGE for the rest of the month, but no overages.
AT&T: 2GB cap. Overages for using more for 2GB. Can add another 2GB with a tethering package.
Verizon: Tiers. 2GB, 5GB, 10GB. Overages for using more than your cap.
So unless you like the phones on sprint, T-mobile is your best situation considering you can never get charged overages, just get slowed down. And the cap before you get slowed is higher than the others. Not to mention that a non-contract T-mobile plan is $30 cheaper per month than AT&T or Verizon w/ less data. Of course where you live plays a large factor too. T-mobile is known to have a smaller coverage area, but generally fast speeds when you do have coverage because of the quick HSPA+, and much fewer users per tower.
Sucks, but its the way it is here.

Id like to add to this thread, if u have a wireless router at home turn on your wifi when u r home. I got throttled once and it sucks, ever since then I wifi when at home.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

And if only the carriers here in Canada would actually realise that they are raping customers... maybe we could get great data plans... 35$ just for 1gb and 5$ extra per mb used if I go over... Like REALLY?
It's almost worth having a number from Europe with unlimited everything for 65$....

fluxgfx said:
And if only the carriers here in Canada would actually realise that they are raping customers... maybe we could get great data plans... 35$ just for 1gb and 5$ extra per mb used if I go over... Like REALLY?
It's almost worth having a number from Europe with unlimited everything for 65$....
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Yea I've heard Canadian carriers are horrible on price and features, even worse than the USA In some ways. We're both way behind the rest of the world when it comes to cellphone carriers and competition.

fluxgfx said:
And if only the carriers here in Canada would actually realise that they are raping customers... maybe we could get great data plans... 35$ just for 1gb and 5$ extra per mb used if I go over... Like REALLY?
It's almost worth having a number from Europe with unlimited everything for 65$....
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Geez, man I feel for you bro! How awful!
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

As long a your at a place with sprint 4g your good with sprint
Plus tons of paces have wifi so its not much of a problem
Plus sprint usa kind of not as expensive as the other carriers
Sent from my super awesomely amazing
Generation
Unsubdued
Nuclear
Drive
Assault
Module

Yea to me I do like sprint and tmobile the only problem is the speed that you get from sprint is nowhere near as fast as tmobiles my gf has sprint and my phone is faster than hers even when they slow mine down! That's really slow!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

I think "true" unlimited data is going to soon be extinct. Even Sprint will eventually change their ways. The rise of data-hungry smartphones is a reality on a finite amount of spectrum. Getting throttled is always preferable to overages, and this is why AT&T sucks (among other reasons).
Oh and T-Mobile is going to start overages as well, at least on their lightest data plan. Not sure how many of us Android geeks would start up this kind of plan, but there it is. Source----> http://www.tmonews.com/2011/08/t-mobile-changing-200mb-data-plan-away-from-throttling-to-overage/

killswitch11 said:
Oh and T-Mobile is going to start overages as well, at least on their lightest data plan. Not sure how many of us Android geeks would start up this kind of plan, but there it is. Source----> http://www.tmonews.com/2011/08/t-mobile-changing-200mb-data-plan-away-from-throttling-to-overage/
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There was a thread on this the other day. This is only for the 200mb plan, which you wouldn't even want to touch on a smartphone. Its meant for featurephones and super low end android phones.

martonikaj said:
May be better put in an XDA general thread rather than a specific device thread. You're going to find lots of international users and T-mobile users in here so there's going to be a lack of info or a bias towards T-mobile.
As far as the USA goes, T-mobile and Sprint are the only two with unlimited data. AT&T has been on tiered 2GB plans for a long time, and Verizon has tiered as well. So its like this:
Sprint: Unlimited, literally. Use as much 3G/4G as you want
T-mobile: Unlimited to 5GB (if you're grandfathered) or 2GB if you're a new customer. After 5GB (or 2GB, plan depending). You get throttled to EDGE for the rest of the month, but no overages.
AT&T: 2GB cap. Overages for using more for 2GB. Can add another 2GB with a tethering package.
Verizon: Tiers. 2GB, 5GB, 10GB. Overages for using more than your cap.
Sucks, but its the way it is here.
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T-mo has a 10gb data package as well now. kind'a expensive IIRC though, I just stuck with my grandfathered 5gb plan... it's never an issue for me and I occasionally stream Netflix via PS3/Wii using wifi tether.
utilize wifi whenever possible and download files to your pc if you're at home/work then transfer them rather than using the phone directly.

I have the 200 mb plan. Rarely go over. I live in an E area. Rarely do i get to a 4G area. I was told when i went with t-mobile after centennial sold out to att that i would have 3 G . NOT. So i uses wifi whenever I can.

That's also a problem I don't have access to wifi neither do I have a home computer so I have to rely on my phones internet for mostly everything and it gets frustrating when my phone is slow
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

tears12345678909 said:
That's also a problem I don't have access to wifi neither do I have a home computer so I have to rely on my phones internet for mostly everything and it gets frustrating when my phone is slow
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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Well that's your own issue. Your phone's 3G connection isn't meant to be used as a home internet connection, and you really can't expect to use it in that way. The days of unlimited, unthrottled 3G are coming to a close, and you really need to think about that.
The prices for data are WAY higher per GB for 3G anyway, and you'd be better off buying a home cable/DSL connection even if you could use 3G unlimited.

Very bad news for AT&T users

Guys I have really bad news for anyone on ANY kind of "Unlimited" data, whether that's an old iPhone unlimited, smartphone unlimited, or aircard/laptop connect unlimited plans:
They are dead. Period.
I used my unlimited laptop connect SIM card in my Galaxy Tab for my mobile connection for, well ever since I've had the device really, and I have had the plan since ye olde Cingular days. My usage varies, but it ranges anywhere from 4-6GB on average, to occasionally as much as 20+GB in a billing cycle.
I received an automated message saying that I was nearing my "limit" for the month, and advised I curtail my usage, lest my service be suspended. Of course the first thought that went through my head was "BULL$HIT!!! I have unlimited usage you bastards!!! It even says so on my bill!!!"
So of course I call in to talk to customer service (politely of course), and immediately asked to speak with a manager. Without going into much detail, here's the skinny:
Since September of this year, if you have ANY "legacy unlimited data plan," users who exceed 5GB of usage on a regular basis: 1. on the first "offense" exceeding 5GB, will be throttled, but will not be charged any overages, and 2. upon the second offense, will receive a notice (usually via text or email) when they are nearing their 5GB threshold, and should they exceed that threshold, could have their service suspended. Should your service be suspended, "the customer has two options: Cancel their plan with a waived ETF (early termination fee) -OR- resume service on an up-to-date tiered plan which is subject to overage charges." <=== Their words.
We all knew that sooner or later, AT$T would find some way of finally killing off the last of the unlimited data users. It seems that day has come... Well, at least I can say I feel really good about using their service with the peace of mind knowing that it didn't matter how much data I used for as long as I did. I know that, for the overages that I -would- have been charged, since unlimited data was done away with, I'd have owed literally tens of millions of dollars!! Don't believe me? I'm serious. The $10/GB overage thing didn't start until about a year and a half ago. My average usage since 2005 is about 10GB a month, so that's $900 for the least 18 months (Ok, big deal...). But before then, it was $.01/KB for overages. So that means that's $10.24/MB (1024KB = 1MB) or $10,485.76/GB (1024MB = 1GB), times the ~5GB of "overages" I would have been responsible for on a monthly ~$52,428.80 basis!!! So lets see, $52,428.80 * 48 months (roughly the amount of time I had data service before the new overage plans.) and we get a grand total of ~$25,16,582.40
And before you ask, yes, I was still going through roughly 10 gigs a month, even back in 2005, even on EDGE speeds. That was my primary internet connection and I torrented EVERYTHING, and listened to internet radio a LOT!
So yeah, ~$25,16,582.40 HA!!! That's MILLIONS of MY dollars staying in MY wallet AT&T!!! You money grubbing bastards!!!
Unlimited Data, we have had good times... You will be missed...
R.I.P

Huh? I have two UK devices, a SGS2 and 3G Tab. I'm on the data for Non-Smartphones unlimited plan at $10 per device with a phone line SIM in my Tab. My average usage is between 4-6GB per device per month. I'm currently at 8GB on the Tab because I've been streaming a lot of video. I've heard nothing from AT&T. What happens data-wise on AT&T has to do with your device, the APN settings you use, and the plan you're on. If you're using a device they recognize by the IMEI than you're subject to audit, especially feature devices. If you're using an international device they have no idea what it is. The 4G APN settings also run through different servers than the Cingular settings with the 4G servers being used as part of the audit process. All their 4G devices since the Infuse have been routed though their 4G servers even though the Cingular APN delivers the same HSPA+ speeds. And since they can't do away with grandfathered plans it makes sense that they'd want to incent people to move off of them by making their lives miserable. One size doesn't fit all when using AT&T for data.

BarryH_GEG said:
Huh? I have two UK devices, a SGS2 and 3G Tab. I'm on the data for Non-Smartphones unlimited plan at $10 per device with a phone line SIM in my Tab. My average usage is between 4-6GB per device per month. I'm currently at 8GB on the Tab because I've been streaming a lot of video. I've heard nothing from AT&T. What happens data-wise on AT&T has to do with your device, the APN settings you use, and the plan you're on. If you're using a device they recognize by the IMEI than you're subject to audit, especially feature devices. If you're using an international device they have no idea what it is. The 4G APN settings also run through different servers than the Cingular settings with the 4G servers being used as part of the audit process. All their 4G devices since the Infuse have been routed though their 4G servers even though the Cingular APN delivers the same HSPA+ speeds. And since they can't do away with grandfathered plans it makes sense that they'd want to incent people to move off of them by making their lives miserable. One size doesn't fit all when using AT&T for data.
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All of my devices are unlocked an imported. I absolutely refuse to use anything that has been tainted by a carrier, so I know it's not IMEI. I have been using the isp.cingular APN for years... ;_;

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
All of my devices are unlocked an imported. I absolutely refuse to use anything that has been tainted by a carrier, so I know it's not IMEI. I have been using the isp.cingular APN for years... ;_;
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Then it's the plan. Assuming you're not bound by a contract, tell them you've changed phones and are now using a Moto Krzr and that you want to move to the data for Non-Smartphones plan. I have friends using it and (so far) no one's been flagged.
P.S. - Are you using a Nexus by chance? Google provides the carriers with a database of IMEI's so it's picked up by AT&T as a feature phone.

BarryH_GEG said:
Then it's the plan. Assuming you're not bound by a contract, tell them you've changed phones and are now using a Moto Krzr and that you want to move to the data for Non-Smartphones plan. I have friends using it and (so far) no one's been flagged.
P.S. - Are you using a Nexus by chance? Google provides the carriers with a database of IMEI's so it's picked up by AT&T as a feature phone.
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GT-i9100 and GT-P7300 here.

isp.cingular is the issue here as it is monitored.
use "wap.cingular" or "phone"

clubtech said:
isp.cingular is the issue here as it is monitored.
use "wap.cingular" or "phone"
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Can't. Tried those already. This is a laptop connect plan, so the only two APN's that work are isp.cingular and Broadband.

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
I have really bad news for anyone on ANY kind of "Unlimited" data, whether that's an old iPhone unlimited, smartphone unlimited, or aircard/laptop connect unlimited plans
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The above is a much different statement than you getting flagged on a "Laptop Connect Plan." There's been talk in the ASGS2 and Skyrocket forums about people being flagged but those flagged had previously upgraded their grand-fathered unlimited data plans to 4G and are using the 4G APNs. I thought it was strange that AT&T wasn't applying a surcharge to grand-fathered unlimited plans being used with LTE. Now I know why, they're throttling instead.

BarryH_GEG said:
The above is a much different statement than you getting flagged on a "Laptop Connect Plan." There's been talk in the ASGS2 and Skyrocket forums about people being flagged but those flagged had previously upgraded their grand-fathered unlimited data plans to 4G and are using the 4G APNs. I thought it was strange that AT&T wasn't applying a surcharge to grand-fathered unlimited plans being used with LTE. Now I know why, they're throttling instead.
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That's the thing, I haven't upgraded anything at all. Though I wonder if it's just the APN that's causing all the trouble... I've been using the Broadband APN lately (because it's faster), so i wonder if I just go back to using the isp.cingular APN instead they'll leave me alone? Who knows...

That's a lot of money, but not quite tens of millions.
$52,428.80 * 48 months = $2,516,582.40

kcaz said:
That's a lot of money, but not quite tens of millions.
$52,428.80 * 48 months = $2,516,582.40
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Oops! My bad! Lol!

The ethics of cell carrier's throttling us

This thread is to discuss the ethics of the cell carriers throttling "unlimited" plans.

I was throttled last billing cycle at 3GB on AT&T.
My download speed (as tested) was 300KB download and 1000K (unchanged) upload.
AT&T can bite my ass... I signed up for an unlimited internet contract and paid my bill every month for years. Now they F*** me by slowing me down to an unusable speed.

I was on the same boat I jumped to sprint but after a few weeks I couldn't stand the slow 3g at all it was like 300kbps almost all the time. I had a nexus 4g though but it would only connect to 4g about a quarter if the time. I was locked in to a contract by that time though and wanted out then I read that sprint was letting some people out because they changed their discount policy for family plans to only discount the fist line. That was my ticket out so I found a listing on craigslist of someone giving up their
Verizon account with two unlimited data lines and I hopped right on that. After some arguing with sprint rep they let me go etf free and I sold one iphone 4s that I bought for 200 for 475 on ebay lol. If I had known that this would happen I would have bought 2 iphones. Anyways I am much more satisfied with verizon the 3g is not as fast as att but at least they have a much better throttling policy I have yet to be throttled and my line gets an upgrade next month I know they don't throttle lte I think I'll get the sgs3 if big red gets it.
Sent from my R800x using Tapatalk

The big red does not Throttle, think again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDxJoGv3FLA&feature=channel
They keep lying to me about this and I am sick of it. They will undo this BS or a video is going up every day I see this BS.
I used 22GB last month and AT&T never did this to me. yet 12GB and bam 400-600kbs on 4G LTE. they are full of it

I read somewhere that if verizon sees that you are tethering illegally they will throttle you I'm not sure how that works or how long they will throttle you for though I know on my xperia play they redirected me to a site that tells me to buy a tethering plan until I used the correct settings for the wifi tether then I could tether but I didn't see any throttling though I didn't tether for more than a few minutes either I just wanted to test it
Sent from my R800x using Tapatalk

I never used the "wifi" tether. only usb

cell128 said:
I read somewhere that if verizon sees that you are tethering illegally they will throttle you...
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The term "tethering illegally" makes me cringe. I prefer "tethering without paying them for the privilege of using my data my way", but I realize that takes up far too much time to type.
It makes me realize how much throttling my unlimited plan after 3GB pisses me off.
Their argument for charging me extra for tethering is that "tethering consumes more data" which is clearly refuted by solid data in post #116 in this thread.
Even if I don't tether, they slam the brakes on after 3GB, for the entire rest of the billing period.

I am on AT&T too and I just used 22GB on the unlimited plan and my speeds were fine. With verizon, when they "throttle" they throttle and cut you off.

Since these companies are going after the "top 5%" it would be nice if those ppl got pissed an left them. That would put a ding in their wallet.
Sent from my R800x using Tapatalk

They throttled you at 12gigs? I ran my meter up to 15gigs without any issues and have seen posts of people downloading far more without issue as well. An annoying example was of a person who proudly proclaimed he used his LTE connection to play XBL...

[DELETED]

4ktvs said:
I am on AT&T too and I just used 22GB on the unlimited plan and my speeds were fine. With verizon, when they "throttle" they throttle and cut you off.
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Hmmm... who do you know?
Seriously, you haven't received any warnings or anything?

1) Me for I have both right now.
2) Nope ( I have used about 10GB so far and I am all good.)

Unlimited data, keep it no matter what?

The subject kinda says it all. I'm one of the lucky ones that got grandfathered in on big red's unlimited data plan.
My wife has been on at&t and she's tired of it. Her phone (Atrix 4G) is falling apart and she isn't thrilled with the phone offerings from at&t.
She loves the Razr M so I've been looking to get her added to my account. It would also save us about $30 per month for her not to be on at&t separately.
A few months ago it was still possible to add an individual line to an existing account, without affecting the primary account.
Now they force me to convert my primary line over to a share-all-your-money plan, which will mean I lose my unlimited data.
The thing is, I use, on average, about 2.5G of data. I'm not a heavy user and I know that. My wife isn't either so we could make due with 4GB.
So, I need some thoughts.
1) Keep my unlimited and sign my wife up for her own individual big red plan? (no savings per month, but happy wife)
2) Convert over to a shared data plan, and add line for wife. ($30/mo savings)
So, it comes down to this: is having unlimited data you don't really use worth the $30 in added cost?
One side of my brain says no, the other says yes.

I have been battling that same question. My answer was keep my unlimited data as long as I can. Why? With more and more things going towards the cloud my data usage is sure to go up in the future. So I'm thinking for then and not now. I don't think Verizon is doing this because the masses asked to share data as they would have us believe. Verizon seen data usage dramatically increasing in the future as well and is trying to get us to switch now when our usage is low. Now is when they can convince us we don't use much data.
Sent from my XT926

I was grand-fathered into unlimited data for a while, but then I started tracking my actual data usage and it was only about 1.5-2.0GB per month so I just switched over. The only time now where I would maybe want it back, is if I was using 4G has my home Internet connection and just using my phone as a mobile hotspot. I don't feel that would be reliable enough so I'm fine with it.
I have a feeling sooner or later Verizon will come up with some way to get those who are still on unlimited data and won't sign a new contract.

I would just get her a verizon pay as you go plan. Decent phones. Give your wife your phone and then make twelve monthly payments on yours?
I am almost certain if you keep calling back eventually you'll get someone to transfer you that can help. You can probably find a rep to finagle 29.99 4GB...
Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD

THe only reason to a share plan is to get subsidized phone.
I have resigned myself to keep unlimited until they kick me off. I'll buy my phone retail if I have to.
If they kick me off I'll switch to Sprint.
Keep unlimited at all costs.
We use a combined 11-13GB on three lines.

I kind of split the difference. I stayed on the old voice plan but was able to get a subsidized phone upgrade by losing my unlimited data. I instead got a 5GB data plan and dropped unlimited texting and switched completely over the Google Voice (which I had been meaning to do). So I pay the same as a 2GB share everything plan but with 400 minutes of voice (not a problem for me) and 5 GB of data... I only ever use up till 3 GB so I have been considering lowering to 3 or 4GB and just paying the $10/GB overage on months that I go over.

So there is some room for negotiations when you talk to the tele sales folks. That's good to know!
-- Android: It's a UNIX thing. You wouldn't understand.

Keep it no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT. Even if you don't use the unlimited, you could sell it to a friend (someone trustworthy) who has a crappy home internet connection, and turn a hefty profit. Just give them the activated SIM card and they can put it in a mobile hotspot and easily beat ADSL speeds for less money and better reliability.
Seriously, you guys are making a huge mistake by giving up one of the last reasonable cellular data plans in North America; nay, the entire world.
Don't do it. Keep your unlimited. Set up a new account for a new phone if you have to. Pay retail on new phones if you have to. Sell your activated SIM to someone you trust who'll use the data for a huge profit. Do anything EXCEPT willingly give in to The Man and the fascist data plan, oops I mean the shared data plan.
Sent from my Motorola RAZR Maxx HD with Tapatalk 4

I wish I never got rid of mine. I switched to the 2gb plan when they first offered it to save money because I used about a gig a month. Now I have the 15gb plan.. Damnit
Sent from my PACMAN MATRIX HD MAXX

Howard forums has people wanting to do assumption of liabilities. Now I've never heard of someone selling their unlimited plan but that's only because most people that go the aol route are in contract, need out, and find people that really need unlimited.
I would not be advising someone to use the sim solely for home Internet. Yes it's unlimited but some use hundreds of gigs of data. This isn't good for others. You could also get caught.
The only reason I'm keeping my unlimited plan is because we have 2 smartphones and 3 feature phones. Always transfer upgrades to the feature phones and transfer new phone back. Why waste upgrade when feature phones are super cheap retail?
Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD

jfriend33 said:
I would not be advising someone to use the sim solely for home Internet. Yes it's unlimited but some use hundreds of gigs of data. This isn't good for others. You could also get caught.
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Few things:
1. You can consistently use between 50 and 75 GB per month and not get in trouble. Believe it or not there are people who use more than that and haven't been threatened with disconnection. But yes, if you download at 100% line capacity 24/7 you will get disconnected. Even 50 GB can be downloaded in an extremely short time (about 1 to 2 days depending on your LTE signal), leaving a lot of room for other users on the network.
2. Verizon is contractually prohibited by the FCC, which allows them to operate the licensed 700 MHz spectrum, from discriminating against a user because of that user's choice of device, which means you can either tether a smartphone or use a mobile hotspot, or even a USB modem, and they can't do anything against you based solely on your choice of device or they risk losing their operating license.
3. All of Verizon's towers will throttle your LTE speed down to a lower level (faster than 3G, but way slower than your LTE is capable of) if they identify you as a heavy data user AND the tower is 100% utilized. So they minimize data hogs' impact on other users by slowing them down when the tower is busy. Light or Occasional data users will be able to use the tower at full LTE speeds. When the tower isn't busy, well, why do you care if unlimited users are just using up spare capacity? That doesn't hurt anyone at all, and doesn't cost Verizon a penny, since all their back haul and peering is unmetered, so if they aren't 100% utilizing it they are actually paying for capacity that isn't being used, which is a waste.
I'm lucky that the tower closest to me at home is ALWAYS extremely under-utilized. I get fantastic speeds and no throttling, ever, at home. In the city I have seen close to 3G speeds on the LTE network due to saturation, which I am fine with. I still benefit from LTE's improved reliability and ping compared to 3G, so even if it's not 20 Mbps, I'm happy to have what I'm allowed. Verizon keeps me on a pretty long leash.
And no, I don't make the network worse for everyone else by using 70GB on an underutilized tower. 70GB over a month is not even a drop in a bucket to Verizon's back end infrastructure. I know some FiOS users who run multiple terabytes per month.
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I love my unlimited data and I'm definitely gonna keep it. If i like a new phone that comes out, ill just pay full price for it. I canceled my internet and cable at home because I have access to both thru my phone. I average around 150gigs a month and haven't seen a decrease in speed.
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I seem to have struck a nerve with someone and that was not my intention. You are probably used to having countless people advocating for verizon and following their rules. I am not one of them.
I was not aware that such policies were in place to protect the consumers. This is good to hear. I was under the impression that 4G devices weren't throttled (for the most part), even when on 3g and that only 3g devices were being throttled after heavy use. Verizon has obviously updated their guidelines so I need to read up on it.
I could not limit my home internet consumption to only 50 gigs. What is an average use anyway? I'm generally under 200 gigs. I am in areas where 4G is new and isn't that fast (under 10mbps, 3g tops off at 0.75) or in a big city where it's over utilized. I pay $20 a month for 50 mbps cable internet and that is a luxury many do not have.
Let's face it. We are lucky to have this unlimited plan. There are no guarantees on how much longer it will last. Just keep it, please?
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I switched from Sprint Unlimited to Verizon "share-all-of-your-money" (that's about right) plan. I had a real hard time letting go, but my wife and I have been on for 2 months now and it hasn't been a problem. We went with 4GB, and I initially thought it would be a problem, but we haven't even come close to 2GB yet. I mitigate that a lot by using WiFi as much as possible. Especially when I'm home, but also at work. I've also become a lot less bashful about asking for their WiFi password. What's the worst that could happen? They just say no. Many of them don't care though and don't give it a second thought. I also make the conscious decision to wait until I'm home to watch that YouTube video or what have you everyone one is clamoring about. I also used to tether my laptop to my phone and used that as my primary internet connection. Haven't needed to do that, so data consumption has gotten a lot less.
I haven't found it that difficult to live with a 4GB cap.

tech_head said:
THe only reason to a share plan is to get subsidized phone.
I have resigned myself to keep unlimited until they kick me off. I'll buy my phone retail if I have to.
If they kick me off I'll switch to Sprint.
Keep unlimited at all costs.
We use a combined 11-13GB on three lines.
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And what happens when Sprint cuts off unlimited? I agree with the idea of voting with your wallet but in this case, I feel there needs to be an exception. Given the financial standing of Sprint atm, I can't see why any one would risk jumping to them. Plus if enough people follow suit like you, it is bound to bog down Sprint's network until they start to cap data plans to.

Xplorer4x4 said:
And what happens when Sprint cuts off unlimited? I agree with the idea of voting with your wallet but in this case, I feel there needs to be an exception. Given the financial standing of Sprint atm, I can't see why any one would risk jumping to them. Plus if enough people follow suit like you, it is bound to bog down Sprint's network until they start to cap data plans to.
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They claim "unlimited forever".
What financial standing, they just got bought by SoftBank Mobile (Japanese).
They are building out their network and adding more LTE from their old iDEN spectrum, that and they bought Clearwire.
When Verizon makes me move from unlimited, I'll be jumping to Sprint.

tech_head said:
They claim "unlimited forever".
What financial standing, they just got bought by SoftBank Mobile (Japanese).
They are building out their network and adding more LTE from their old iDEN spectrum, that and they bought Clearwire.
When Verizon makes me move from unlimited, I'll be jumping to Sprint.
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There is an old saying. Talk is cheap. I seriously doubt they will retain unlimited forever. I would ask for a contract and read that thing over and over and over again as I would not be surprised to see some sort of clause in there that they have the right to terminate the unlimited data at any time because they get greedy like ATT and VZW.
Finance wise, you're right. I forgot about the buy outs. They are in a much better position financially and network wise, but they are still in the early roll out stages making it to early to judge just how well the network upgrade will be in the end. I also haven't heard how involved SoftBank has been so far. Have they only put up the money while still letting the former Sprint execs run the company for the most part?

My wife and I both gave up our unlimited data. She gave up hers to upgrade and I just gave mine up to save money. We have 3 smart phones sharing 4GB. I was using more than 10GB every month myself on unlimited. But a little prudence and control and we have no problem. In fact our month is over next week and we haven't even used 2GB between three phones.
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I'd say to just do the math of what saves you more of the course of 2 yrs. If its cheaper in the long run by a significant amount to switch to the new plan and get a subsidized phone, and you can't foresee needing unlimited data, it just makes sense to switch. I personally am planning on keeping my unlimited plan while buying phones at full price due to highly fluctuating data usage.

Xplorer4x4 said:
There is an old saying. Talk is cheap. I seriously doubt they will retain unlimited forever. I would ask for a contract and read that thing over and over and over again as I would not be surprised to see some sort of clause in there that they have the right to terminate the unlimited data at any time because they get greedy like ATT and VZW.
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Oh, they've already added that to the contract, effective July 1st. If you no longer qualify for a plan or they no longer support a plan, they can switch you to a new one. (Paraphrased, but close to a direct quote)
So glad I jumped ship from Sprint in May.
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