Free 4G til May 15th scares me....

Okay I get my new upgrade on April 19th (wanting to get the Tbolt). However, I know we get free 4G til May 15th, however, the price for the 4G hotspot after 5/15 makes me reconsider the Tbolt. I've done some research on this phone and knowing that it has some complaints (which honestly all phones do), but not knowing how much the 4G hotspot will cost (monthly) is nerve racking!! And the website says that the Tbolt has to have the 4G package.

What if I get the Tbolt and the hotspot costs $50/mo. for 2GB or whatever (which I cannot necessarily afford)? I know I can afford the $29.99 unlimited data and $20 (for 2GB) for the hotspot (like the standard plan for 3G) but if VZW makes 4G $50 for the hotspot I'm screwed! That would be $80.00 just to have some fast internet (and other features) on my phone. Now I know that VZW isn't forcing me to buy this phone but I'd like to know the price for the 4G before buying it so that I'm not trapped into a 2 year contract paying $80/month.

So I guess the question I'm getting at is if anyone has asked this question to any VZW employees? Do they have any knowledge or predictions on the price of the mobile 4G hotspot? I don't see why they'd make it higher than $20/$30 for 4G if the 4G coverage is SO limited. All I read on these forums and such is how 4G constantly will switch to 3G. I could understand raising the price once the 4G coverage is more established (which their prediction is 2013 for full nationwide coverage), but now I'm not sure it's worth an increase from the 3G ($20/mo. for 2GB).

I really REALLY want this phone so please help if possible. Thanks!

Accepted answers

21stNow

jdudley1019 wrote:
Okay. I'm new to smartphones completely so they don't make much since to me. My life isn't that special where I'd need to connect to my computer or any other devices for that matter. I just want to surf the web, update social status, be able to look up anything I want. So from what I'm understanding, y'all are saying that 4G LTE mobile hotspot is just being able to access my laptop from my phone? Well I wouldn't want that so if I have the option of not opting in...will I still have the 4G LTE speed? Or will it be just another phone?

Your 4G data plan for your line of service is only for data usage on your phone. If you are in a 4G area, you will receive 4G data speeds. You will have to maintain the data plan on your phone for the life of the contract. Tethering is a separate option that is an add-on feature. VZW is allowing you to try that add-on feature for free until May 15th. It sounds like you don't want it, so you just wouldn't use the feature. I'm unsure if it's opt-out or opt-in. Everyone here is saying that the tethering feature is opt-in after the 15th of May, so you should be fine. The tethering plan is not required to use the Thunderbolt. HTH

All comments

Tidbits

jdudley1019 wrote:
Okay I get my new upgrade on April 19th (wanting to get the Tbolt). However, I know we get free 4G til May 15th, however, the price for the 4G hotspot after 5/15 makes me reconsider the Tbolt. I've done some research on this phone and knowing that it has some complaints (which honestly all phones do), but not knowing how much the 4G hotspot will cost (monthly) is nerve racking!! And the website says that the Tbolt has to have the 4G package.

What if I get the Tbolt and the hotspot costs $50/mo. for 2GB or whatever (which I cannot necessarily afford)? I know I can afford the $29.99 unlimited data and $20 (for 2GB) for the hotspot (like the standard plan for 3G) but if VZW makes 4G $50 for the hotspot I'm screwed! That would be $80.00 just to have some fast internet (and other features) on my phone. Now I know that VZW isn't forcing me to buy this phone but I'd like to know the price for the 4G before buying it so that I'm not trapped into a 2 year contract paying $80/month.

So I guess the question I'm getting at is if anyone has asked this question to any VZW employees? Do they have any knowledge or predictions on the price of the mobile 4G hotspot? I don't see why they'd make it higher than $20/$30 for 4G if the 4G coverage is SO limited. All I read on these forums and such is how 4G constantly will switch to 3G. I could understand raising the price once the 4G coverage is more established (which their prediction is 2013 for full nationwide coverage), but now I'm not sure it's worth an increase from the 3G ($20/mo. for 2GB).

I really REALLY want this phone so please help if possible. Thanks!

Uhm... The price doesn't change... The promotion is unlimited 4G mobile hotspot until 5/15... You still pay the $29.99 for the unlimited data. After 5/15 we won't have the free hotspot, and it's unknown how much they'll charge for it. After that date you are NOT tied into a "tethering package."

my3chis

The Mobile Hotspot and your Unlimited data are 2 different things. The Unlimited Data for $29.95 is when you surf the web on your phone. The Free Mobile Hotspot until 5/15 is when you use your phone as an internet connection for your laptop/ipod/ipad web surfing.

stearic

Tidbits wrote:

Uhm... The price doesn't change... The promotion is unlimited 4G mobile hotspot until 5/15... You still pay the $29.99 for the unlimited data. After 5/15 we won't have the free hotspot, and it's unknown how much they'll charge for it. After that date you are NOT tied into a "tethering package."

So when 5/15 rolls around and the mobile hotspot promo ends, they wont' just auto add it to our accounts w/out our concent?

budone

My understanding is you will be required to Opt-In

dimap

I''ve heard it will remain $20 for 2 Gig, $20 per 2 add'l gig, rediculous) and i've also heard the 4G version will be $30 for unlimited Hotspot, but these are all unconfirmed so who knows.

Personally as I have felt for years, tethering/hotspot FEATURES should be FREE (as in included with data plan), as they are on just about every other carrier in every country in the world except US. So I'm HOPING that Verizon sees fit to keep it that way after 5/15. I'd gladly take a capped data plan in exchange for included tethering over unlimited data which is in fact what the foreign carriers do (usually included tethering with data plans of either 500 Meg or 1 Gig or more).

ibanez737

You aren't tied into the Hotspot plan at all. That's just to broadcast a wifi signal from your Tbolt to connect other devices to the internet. When it's done, it just drops off and you have to either opt in from the phone, the website or with an employee. The price hasn't been disclosed yet, but I can tell you it won't be $50

sandyinmiami

I got my TB about 10th days ago & tried the hotspot this weekend, thinking I could give up my home internet...no such luck. My laptop connected to it was slower than dial up from 15 years ago. I don't know how useful that could be. Might as well just use the phone for internet & Bluetooth it to a printer.

TBhouston

sandyinmiami wrote:
I got my TB about 10th days ago & tried the hotspot this weekend, thinking I could give up my home internet...no such luck. My laptop connected to it was slower than dial up from 15 years ago. I don't know how useful that could be. Might as well just use the phone for internet & Bluetooth it to a printer.

My results are no where near this.. Maybe it was a bad weekend for the network have you tried again?

sandyinmiami

No, I haven't tried again. I'll try again tonight and report back. I was hopeful that for somewhere between $20 to $40/mo, based on usage, I could rid myself of the despised AT&T that costs me $70.

I'm like you jdudley - new to smartphones. And I seriously balked at the $30/mo data plan. But I'm enjoying the heck out of learning all the new technology. It's like having the whole world in your pocket. And while 4G is awesome - 3G is faster than my computers at home or work. For me it's a win win deal. I think you'll love your new TB.

ps: sorry for the threadjack :smileyhappy:

unknown

No way are you going to be able to replace your home internet with tethering your phone. Right now, 3G tethering is $20 for 2GB. I would think the 4G will be the same or maybe more expensive. Whatever it is, it's not intended to replace your home internet service and won't be enough capacity.

sandyinmiami

Well, that's good to know. I thought maybe it was just my house. What is the purpose of tethering then? Emergency laptop usage?

Tidbits

sandyinmiami wrote:
Well, that's good to know. I thought maybe it was just my house. What is the purpose of tethering then? Emergency laptop usage?

Most business use it for on the go quick data transfers. To quickly send documents and such without having to go home or a place of your business. Normal consumers tend to use it to replace their internet and don't like the pricing. It wasn't intended to be a replacement of landline internet.

21stNow

sandyinmiami wrote:
Well, that's good to know. I thought maybe it was just my house. What is the purpose of tethering then? Emergency laptop usage?

Yes, and non-emergency laptop usage, as well.

With the emergence of tablets on the market, and Wi-fi only versions of the tablets being cheaper, many people want to use the phone's mobile hotspot feature with their tablets. This is often done when people are out and about, and don't want to read websites extensively on a small phone screen.

sandyinmiami

Thank you both so much for the information.

ibanez737

Probably going to be replacing my home internet (or not setting it up when I move that is). It seems like the 4G Hotspot speeds are capped, but still getting on average about 6-10 Mbps, which is more than enough for what I usually use it for. Word on the street is the hotspot package will still be unlimited, but will cost an extra $30 on top of the data plan. However, I do think the app has a built in throttle that doesn't allow the full use of the network. I get at least 20+ Mbps from the phone but have never gone above 10 on my ipad linked to the phone.

Ann154

VZW may have extended the free hotspot until June 15th.

http://www.androidcentral.com/thunderbolts-free-mobile-hotspot-extended-through-june-15-post-promo-pricing-revealed

budone

Ann154 wrote:
VZW may have extended the free hotspot until June 15th.

http://www.androidcentral.com/thunderbolts-free-mobile-hotspot-extended-through-june-15-post-promo-pricing-revealed

Yep a VZW rep on here verified it.

gina7289

BTW. It's free until June now.

gina7289

Sorry I missed this page.