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Keeping grandfathered unlimited plans with new 5G phones

I have the grandfathered unlimited plan on a 4G phone. If I pay the full retail price for a 5G device like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G can I stay on my current plan?

When I went for 3G to 4G I was able to pay full retail for a 4G device and keep my grandfathered plan.

Plan is Nationwide talk plus minutes package and grandfathered unlimited data.

Plan: NATIONWIDE TALK 450
Account access: $39.99
Data: $49.99
Messages: $10.00
Cost before taxes and fees $100

Comments

rcschnoor

@fredtheocelot
wrote:
I have the grandfathered unlimited plan on a 4G phone. If I pay the full retail price for a 5G device like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G can I stay on my current plan?
When I went for 3G to 4G I was able to pay full retail for a 4G device and keep my grandfathered plan.
Plan is Nationwide talk plus minutes package and grandfathered unlimited data.

Plan: NATIONWIDE TALK 450
Account access: $39.99
Data: $49.99
Messages: $10.00
Cost before taxes and fees $100

It's not likely you would be able to keep your current plan. The only Verizon plans which have 5G appear to be the new unlimited plans and if you purchase a 5G phone, it looks as if you must move to a 5G plan.

Ann154

In addition to what the other community member wrote, I suspect 5G phones and plans will be similar to the restrictions Verizon Wireless placed on the mobile broadband unlimited plans that were retired prior to the 4G LTE network. They placed a restriction on those plans to not allow any of the new 4G LTE modems like the USB modems, mifi, or Jetpack devices on the retired plan. In other words, the 5G devices are not compatible with the retired plans.

Mad101

Yes you will be able to keep it. Keep in mind you have to jump through the hoops Verizon has set for grandfathered in plan.

Ann154

@Mad101
wrote:
Yes you will be able to keep it. Keep in mind you have to jump through the hoops Verizon has set for grandfathered in plan.

Prove it.

rempson

Somebody else had posted they had the 55+ plan and wanted 5G. Verizon allowed them to keep their plan and pay an additional $10 for 5G. As they had a current plan and you have an old plan, it might not be the same. I would think you would need to inquire with Verizon to know for sure.

XxDanielParkxX

Really?! What do I need to say. I have multiple representatives saying different things.

Momma23dogs

@rempson
wrote:
Somebody else had posted they had the 55+ plan and wanted 5G. Verizon allowed them to keep their plan and pay an additional $10 for 5G. As they had a current plan and you have an old plan, it might not be the same. I would think you would need to inquire with Verizon to know for sure.

The 55+ plan is the recently retired unlimited plan, not the 10 year old legacy plan. That plan did allow 5g devices.

Momma23dogs

@XxDanielParkxX
wrote:
Really?! What do I need to say. I have multiple representatives saying different things.

You should assume that the website is correct and that the representatives don't know anymore than we do. The website says that 5G devices are allowed on the newer plans, and that if you want to use a 5G device you will be switched to a compatible plan.

firemanfritz_1882

I have a "beyond unlimited" plan which expire 1/8/2020 and I just purchased an M1000 jetpack at full price, then asked the salesman if my renewal in 79 days would still be this same plan and was told yes. It seems from these posts that I should be prepared to do some extra steps to keep my original plan in place. Is my understanding correct ?

Please help as this is very important for me to keep my mobile hot spot affordable as I travel constantly across the United States & Canada to attend Firemens events as a Color Guard and administrator of a foundation in a motorcoach. So I need this wireless service which acts very much like my cell phone.

Any help and advice will be appreciated.

Thank you !

Ann154

Your plan doesn't expire when your service contract ends.

Momma23dogs

@firemanfritz_1882
wrote:
I have a "beyond unlimited" plan which expire 1/8/2020 and I just purchased an M1000 jetpack at full price, then asked the salesman if my renewal in 79 days would still be this same plan and was told yes. It seems from these posts that I should be prepared to do some extra steps to keep my original plan in place. Is my understanding correct ?

Please help as this is very important for me to keep my mobile hot spot affordable as I travel constantly across the United States & Canada to attend Firemens events as a Color Guard and administrator of a foundation in a motorcoach. So I need this wireless service which acts very much like my cell phone.

Your plan does not expire, it continues month to month as long as you choose to continue it. Any service contracts on phones or installment purchases have no effect on plans.
You don't have to do anything, except enjoy a lower bill if your phones are paid off.

Gregg3Gs

I have the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G active on the Nationwide Talk & Text 900 plan, with legacy unlimited "email & web" data. I first signed up for this plan in 2009; Verizon stopped offering it to new subscribers in 2011.

The main benefit of the legacy plan is your data is never throttled or deprioritized, regardless of whether your are in a 3G, 4G, or 5G coverage area. This is true for both handset data and mobile hotspot data. Note that use of the mobile hotspot for the Nationwide plans is a flat monthly extra charge of $30, before any applicable discounts, but for this you get unlimited high-speed 4G LTE mobile hotspot data. I don't have wi-fi in my apartment, I just use my phone as wi-fi for my laptop and other devices.

All of Verizon's currently offered plans have caps above which handset data may be deprioritized (0 GB, 25 GB, 50 GB, or 75 GB) when the network is busy, and above which hotspot data will be throttled (15 GB or 30 GB) to dial-up speeds, regardless of whether the network is busy or tranquil.

However, with the currently offered plans, a user with a 5G capable device, who is in a geographical area covered by 5G service, and who has activated the 5G feature on the line (might be at extra charge or included as a promotion), can receive unlimited high-speed handset and hotspot data. Start Unlimited does not allow any hotspot usage, nor does it include any premium 4G LTE data.

If you switch to a current plan, you live in an area with 5G coverage, have a 5G device, and have the 5G feature active on your line, it will be quite enjoyable while you are in that area. The problem is, when you travel outside the 5G area, your data will be subject to the limitations that all the current Unlimited plans carry. With Nationwide Talk & Text, your data (handset or hotspot) is never deprioritized or throttled anywhere for any reason, regardless of where you travel.

Also, all current unlimited plans restrict video streaming to 480p DVD or 720p HD quality, whereas the legacy Nationwide plan will allow streaming at the best possible video quality, such as 1080p.

It does not appear it is possible to make use of the 5G capability when such a device is active on a legacy Nationwide line. Under "explore add-ons," there is no option to add the 5G access, neither for free nor at extra cost. However, the device can indeed at least be activated on the Nationwide plan, it will just be limited to 4G LTE, even when in a 5G area. When purchasing or activating the device, you may be unable to take advantage of certain special promotions or pricing, as these may require switching to a currently offered plan. Take special care to explicitly inform the Verizon representative that you do not, under any circumstances, wish to switch from your legacy Nationwide plan. I would try to pay for the entire device outright, and not try to do a payment plan. I would also strongly encourage you to avoid involving a third-party retailer in any way with the purchase or activation of your new device, as they are more apt to bungle it and inadvertently switch you to an unwanted plan, and your ability to get a mistake rectified is severely diminished when it was done by a third-party retailer. Only deal with Verizon corporate itself, a practice I have meticulously always adhered to for anything related to my cell service or equipment.

But yes, you can activate a 5G capable device on the legacy Nationwide plan. I have that situation right now.

MmWave

Hey Greg, are you able to take advantage of the 5g network on your old plan or is it stuck on 5g? Have you been on a 5g tower for sure?

[Deleted User]

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