I have an unlimited 3g data plan with a Mifi2200. I have read a lot of posts today regarding how to change a grandfathered unlimited 3g data to 4g unlimited on a smartphone. So why is it not possible to do the same with a Mifi data plan? I have repeatedly been told that if I buy a 4g device, it would not work on my unlimited data plan. Why would it on a smartphone data plan?
Hello lalaelha! I can address your concerns about your plan options when you upgrade! You have the option to keep unlimted data on that line, if you purchase your next phone for the full retail price. Accepting a discounted phone, will mean that you must choose a tiered data plan. We offer a 2GB, 5GB or 10GB plan options. Please let me know if you need additional assistance.
ChaunceyM_VZW
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To answer the OP's question:
Via the FCC, Verizon cannot tell you which device you put that SIM card in. You must first change the plan from 3G to 4G by borrowing a friend's 4G phone and activating it on your line. If you don't already have a SIM card, bringing the phone into a Verizon store and asking to activate it should get you a free SIM card. Once 4G LTE is associated with your SIM card, you can move that SIM from device to device and retain unlimited data (and your friend can have their phone back).
Wrong. The broadband data plans on Verizon Wireless are quite different from the smartphone data plans. A 4G LTE USB modem, MiFi devices were NEVER allowed on an unlimited broadband data plan. For the OP to keep their unlimited broadband data plan, they need to keep purchasing 3G only broadband devices.
I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.
This doesn't mean you can't do it. Sad that the government had to step in and regulate instead of consumer demand doing the job. I recently upgraded my unlimited data plan from a 3G iPhone 4 to a 4G iPhone 5 and retained unlimited data. I also have my MiFi 4510L on an unlimited 4G LTE SIM attained by the method described. Would I lie about this? I've done it myself. The photos don't lie:
Expect Verizon to end that practice sooner than later so enjoy while you can. 87 GB huh? It's people like you why unlimited is going away.
You're the complacent consumer that allows VZW to get away with it. The airwaves are free and the FCC is the only thing keeping consumers from getting the shakedown by carriers. Here's where Google stepped in and saved our butts during the spectrum auction:
"Prior to the bidding process, Google asked that the spectrum be free to lease wholesale and the devices operating under the spectrum be open. Currently many providers such as Verizon and AT&T use technological measures to block external applications. In return Google guaranteed a minimum bid of $4.6 billion. Google's specific requests were the adoption of certain policies
Only the first 2 were adopted. Google was outbid, but the stipulations stayed. Verizon sued, and then dropped the suit.
Enjoy this more recent FCC enforced regulation, spawned by the terms of the spectrum auction:
Just think, all of that 87GB I used last month took place over the frequencies that used to be UHF channels 52-69 on your TV.
Enjoy your Family Share Plan. I'll keep my freedoms.
You realize that if everyone use 87 GB on 4G the network would slow to a crawl if not shut down outright. Which color crayon shall I use to color that point so you understand that? What the frequencies USED to be for doesn't matter.
freedoms? yes unlimited data is in the US Constitution. Anyway enjoy your "freedoms" until July 2014. Perhaps sooner.
>Name calling, attacking post deleted. Refrain from posting your personal perceptions of other users<
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator
oh i just called custoemr service and found out about your "unlimited data" photo there see you only got that from being in alltel
note:
In 2013, Verizon Wireless will be retiring the portion of the former Alltel Data Network (referred to as Alltel DNR) it now owns and operates. This will impact customers who use Alltel-branded Mobile Broadband (MBB) devices.
Offers will be available 10/1/12 through 3/31/13.
Customers with Alltel-branded MBB devices are invited to upgrade to a free Verizon Wireless 4G USB Modem or Jetpack.
MBB customers who are In-Contract and would like to keep their unlimited data plan, must be changed to the following VZW 4G Unlimited Plan:
so its nothing that you did or pulled over there heads its somehting THERE OFFERING due to getting rid of alltel and by the status of your upgrade date you got the mifi in july became upset because you cant control how much your on the internet calling in and but october they just put you on the promotion but as soon as you use that upgrade again BYE_BYE unlimited unless your buying at full retail
Have you ever gotten slowed for this, or had repercussions from Verizon?
If you don't like verizon is offering, no one is making you stay. You have the freedom to choose any carrier you want
no go away, god bless 'merika
is that a prepaid mobile broadband?
OK, I think I have some input to help clarify many of the confusions set in this thread. Firstly, the OP has a 3G grandfathered DATA plan. Likely this is the old prepaid one where you get unlimited 3G for like $10-$15 bucks a month, $30 for 3 months, etc. This plan was designed originally for 3G MiFi's such as the Novatel MiFi2200 and similar devices.
The reason why you can't put this plan on a 4G device is (even grandfathered) is because when the customer service rep or any other Verizon agent goes to swap out that device, when a 4G device is placed, the system will automatically say that this is not a compatible device for this plan. Each and every single device, whether it's data hotspot, modem, or phone (or otherwise), is assigned a device type code in it's database that when added to an account / plan the system uses to determine how it's being charged and/or if it's for that kind of device. This is done automatically so that you can't (for example) assign a smartphone to a plan for mobile broadband or home phone connect, etc. It also determines qualification for a certain price plans or features. A good example of this is: when 4G smartphones were first emerging on the scene early last year (2012) Verizon offered that 4 for 2 promotional data package (feature); where you paid the same $30 for 4GB of data instead of 2GB. Of course, as this was a promo, you could not keep it if you changed back to a 3G or basic phone. When you attempt to swap out that 4G smartphone for something other than another 4G smartphone you would instantly lose that promo because the system will see that the device you are trying to use is/was not designed for this device type. This is the very same reason why you cannot use a 4G MiFi hotspot or "Jetpack" on this plan. Simply put, the system will just reject the plan / device to be compatible.
The other confusion is now about smartphones... The unlimited data feature/package was not specific to 3G or 4G phones; just to smartphones in general (not basic phones). For this reason, people are able to swap out their 3G smartphones that have the unlimited data package to a 4G smartphone (which uses a SIM card) and therefore resulting in unlimited 4G data. Because some 4G phones uses the same SIM card (size and type) as 4G jetpacks, once a SIM card has been activated on a smartphone with unlimited data it can then be pulled out of that phone and stuck into a 4G MBB modem or 'Jetpack'...
Now keep in mind, this SIM is still gonna be on a phone plan that supports unlimited data (like the old Nationwide series of plans) so you're gonna be paying for that plan plus the $29.99/month for the unlimited data... which results in no less than about $60 a month... And of course, this is so long as Verizon is still allowing that grandfathered data package to exist...
'Bottom line is -- this is a smartphone data thing you would have had grandfathered into... NOT a broadband plan... so essentially, we are talking about apples vs oranges... That is why you can't use the grandfathered mobile 3G data plan on a 4G data device; it (the plan) is simply not designed for 4G and specifically for 3G... The billing system will treat this swap the same way as putting phone onto a data only plan; rejected.
I hope this clears up some of that confusion I am reading on this thread.
Some people may not necessarily like this answer, but I promise you that this is the correct answer.
I hope you also realized that you were responding to a discussion started in October 2012 and hadn't been touched since January 2013. Isn't this a kind of old topic to be bringing up to the foreground again?
I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.
Yeah, I realize that... But I suppose that it's better than having the question left unanswered.
i think it was more of a policy question and not a technical limitation question, you still didnt answer the question
I have a grandfathered 3G mobile broadband unlimited plan (through Alltel). After contacting 2 sales reps on Verizon's website and visiting a brick and mortar Verizon store, I was assured that if I purchased a 4G MiFi device without using a discount, I could keep my unlimited data plan. I asked for clarification from multiple Verizon employees and received the same answer: if I purchase the 4G MiFi device at full price, I get to keep my unlimited data plan.
So I purchased a 4G LTE MiFi 4510L and attempted to activate in online. Everything went smoothly until I needed to activate the 4G SIM card. When I attempted to do that, a message came up requesting that I choose a Share Everything plan (which would mean paying more per month for capped data than I have been paying for unlimited). I contacted a rep online, who told me that I couldn't activate it online and keep my unlimited plan, but if I called in, I could.
I called in, and after an hour of attempted work-arounds, I was told that the other three employees were mistaken, and that there is no way to permit a 4G MiFi device to have unlimited data.
So, until I find the right person at Verizon, I will be using my low speed 3G MiFi. Aside from Satellite, Wireless Broadband is my only option for internet.
(The poster that ripped the user for exceeding 80 Gigs of data probably doesn't realize that for some of us, we have no other options for internet. If I want to cut the cord on TV and use services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant, I know we will use over 10GB a month. We'd probably use over 10GB a week.)
But despite Verizon employees putting into writing that I could keep my unlimited plan, they will not activate.my device unless I agree to a much more expensive capped plan. And I am out the cost of the 4G LTE MiFi 4510L.
There are no unlimited data plans for mifi devices, only grandfathered unlimited data for phones.
Start a new topic or ask questions in the open forum.
