I guess all data is NOT created equal

Tom Slick · Thread Author #1 07-14-2011, 10:47 AM

So meanwhile my wife and kids are still using "special needs" phones (aka, non-smartphones). With the new data plans offered by Verizon, I was thinking I could get them into smartphones and only have to pay $10 per month per phone extra (they're at home and/or school most of the time and should'nt really have a need for a big data plan). However, I've learned that the $10 data plan only applies to "featured" phones. Please forgive me for my ignorance, but how in the world is data used on a featured phone different that data used on a smartphone?

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papped · #2 07-14-2011, 10:50 AM

Theoretically because you will use less on a feature phone because they typically aren't as data/app featured as smartphones, so they are willing to charge less.

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howarmat · #3 07-14-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Slick

So meanwhile my wife and kids are still using "special needs" phones (aka, non-smartphones). With the new data plans offered by Verizon, I was thinking I could get them into smartphones and only have to pay $10 per month per phone extra (they're at home and/or school most of the time and should'nt really have a need for a big data plan). However, I've learned that the $10 data plan only applies to "featured" phones. Please forgive me for my ignorance, but how in the world is data used on a featured phone different that data used on a smartphone?

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technically its not "different data" but VZW has always classified feature phones different than a smart phone. Feature phones are severely limited in what they can do and use very very little data compared to what a 5 minute browsing session with a smartphone can do.

Tom Slick · Thread Author #4 07-14-2011, 10:58 AM

Ok, I get that, but if you go over, you go over; why does Verizon care what device you're using?

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howarmat · #5 07-14-2011, 11:07 AM

becuase the data use is so much different. they are saving you money by giving you a break for feature phones at $10 instead of normal data fees IMO. a smartphone (BB, android or iphone) are all treated the same. they have to potentional to rack up tons of data. Just because you wont be using it any more than a feature phone doesnt matter to them

papped · #6 07-14-2011, 11:11 AM

Same with tethering. They charge more because you will average more data use. Doesn't matter if you still stay under the cap or not

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MissJennell · #7 07-14-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Slick

Ok, I get that, but if you go over, you go over; why does Verizon care what device you're using?

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It's so you won't get a bill for $1000+ and then call and ***** about it. On a smartphone you will use more data just by having the phone sit in your pocket/purse than you would a feature phone that you are actually using.

kbz1960 · #8 07-14-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papped

Same with tethering. They charge more because you will average more data use. Doesn't matter if you still stay under the cap or not

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This is bs from all carriers and I know many do not agree. If I don't go over what I'm paying for what's the problem? If I do go over then by all means tack more onto my bill.

I guess I could just stream all kinds of crap all day long that I don't even listen to or watch just to spite them so I get my moneys worth. Will they charge me more for that?

Tom Slick · Thread Author #9 07-14-2011, 12:15 PM

Sorry, but I'm just not buying this. Data is data. Your usage can be easily monitored via your on-line accout. For the life of me, I can not understand why Verizon cares what device we're using (aside from them wanting to screw us out of - even more - money).
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howarmat · #10 07-14-2011, 12:22 PM

then you can keep not buying it but its not going to change. You are going to have to cough up $30 for 2 GB data on a smartphone plan

papped · #11 07-14-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbz1960

This is bs from all carriers and I know many do not agree. If I don't go over what I'm paying for what's the problem? If I do go over then by all means tack more onto my bill.

I guess I could just stream all kinds of crap all day long that I don't even listen to or watch just to spite them so I get my moneys worth. Will they charge me more for that?

It's like I said in another thread. They aren't actually charging everyone at the rates they give you. They are charging at what they expect you to use.

ie. if they offer a 2gb data plan, they expect the average use to actually be 800mb (just example numbers). If everyone literally starts using almost 2gb plan prices will go up.

kbz1960 · #12 07-14-2011, 01:35 PM

Well that's crap too lol. I wonder how much data people on android and iphone use on their phone only, for that matter on bb too.

I tether almost every day for hours and my highest data consumption has been 1.2gb and my average is around 900mb. I can imagine many use much more on their phone only.

It all depends on what you do.

papped · #13 07-14-2011, 01:39 PM

With decent use it's not hard to get 3-4gb on android without tethering.

Way beyond that tethering. Even with the same use you will just use a lot more. Instead of loading a 300kb mobile page you will load a full-blown 3mb+ page including flash ads, etc (for one page). Is your usage necessarily different? Possibly not (depends what you do on the site). You're loading the same page, just a different version of it at a way, way higher data usage.

kbz1960 · #14 07-14-2011, 01:40 PM

That's what I figured.

MissJennell · #15 07-14-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbz1960

Well that's crap too lol. I wonder how much data people on android and iphone use on their phone only, for that matter on bb too.

I tether almost every day for hours and my highest data consumption has been 1.2gb and my average is around 900mb. I can imagine many use much more on their phone only.

It all depends on what you do.

I have an iphone and I don't tether. I use about 4GB a month on average. Just on my phone.