From everywhere I've read, it sounds plain that Verizon will be switching to a (most likely more expensive) tiered data plan some time this summer. There are many sources for this, but the most obvious was the following comment made by Verizon CFO Fran Shammo earlier this month, while discussing the $30 unlimited plan for iPhones:
"Everyone knows that isn't long-term," he added. "We will move to tiered pricing in the mid-summer time frame."
Assuming this is true, it makes the current offer of $30 unlimited LTE with a new contract and Thunderbolt very very appealing. If i were to go ahead and sign up for that, which of the following situations would I be in?
1. $30 unlimited LTE until Verizon launches new tiered plans this summer, then I'll be forced to pay more or exit my contract without an ETF
2. $30 unlimited LTE for as long as I use my Thunderbolt. As soon as I want to get a new phone, on contract or off, I'll be forced to switch to a tiered plan.
3. $30 unlimited LTE until I sign a new contract. That is, I could then purchase LTE phones off-contract (full retail), and Verizon will let me activate them without switching to a tiered plan. Theoretically I could do this forever.
I know there's a lot of speculation involved here, but anyone have any idea? If (3) is the case, it makes significant financial sense to get a Thunderbolt, rather than waiting for the more capable Bionic/Revolution which won't be out until the summer.
Thoughts?
- Kilbasar
