why isnt there an unlimited plan?

[masonjames87]

so i have a black berry storm. with an unlimited plan. its like 40 a month for that. but then i have a netbook and for only 5gb its 60 a month. i first started with a 250 mb plan which pretty much lasted the first day. and its 40 bucks. so how can you jump from 250 mb to 5gb thats a big mb diff. the 250 plan should be 20 the 5gb plan should be 40 and you should put in an unlimited plan for 60. maybe more ppl would wanna get it seeing that anyother way to get internet there isnt really a limit on it. why put limits its **bleep**. i download lots of music and watch movies from net flix i need more gbs. help me out here verizon. ive been withyou for years and have all my family on my plan

[larrytheG]

funny!  hey what part of "for profit" do you not understand guy? Verizon is not selling GB to make customers happy near as much as they are to make their shareholder happy , eh?

I just got notice from Comcast in a clever way. They notified me of the availability of a "new" usage meter.. right?  So I decide to read through the notice. Well, it turns out they are establishing usage limits - the same approach used by Verizon and many other providers of data services.  Now.. it's not near so onerous as the Verizon limits - it's 250 GB - but still - the concept is the same. 

but all of these services - if they did not put limits on them - the usage would more than likely overwhelm their available infrastructure resources - and that would result in the service becoming not reliable.. more dropped connections, slower speeds, etc.

so limits are not only for profit but also to provide a reliable service that keeps customers happy and staying customers.

[ChampaignTel]

PROFIT??? Are you serious? Have you not heard of the problems that AT&T is having with all of their iPhone users? The data network isn't made for you to be watching TV across it.... yet. By having tons of users streaming large amounts of data to these aircards it is only slowing down the network for their other users. All companies are going to have to go to this type of setup sooner or later. It was only a few years ago they had it in there that you couldn't use it for server purposes. Now people are using just as much data as servers just to fulfill their addiction to the internet. AT&T is having people use over 15 GB on their iPhone. Why should my email get slowed down or my light internet searching be slowed because you want to watch TV on your phone? Your phone is unlimited because 85% of people use their PDA for what it was meant for... email and web surfing. When you do watch video it has a much lower resolution and smaller display size so the stream is less. On a computer you can watch videos in all it's HD glory.. streaming tons of data. As a user I completely agree with companies going to this type of a method. I'm a huge gamer. I pay extra to Comcast to have an uninterrupted game play.  I don't demand them to give me more for paying less. If I wanted to be a light internet surfer I would want to pay less and get good speed for what I do. It is what it is.

[Deamorei]

@ ChampaignTel- Verizons supply of bandwidth isn't my problem its there own. This is just another company that is dragging us behind countries like South Korea, Japan etc, etc who actually invested in there network to the point that supply is greater then demand. I dont' know why people keep lying to themselves about wireless communication here in the US. Wireless broadband is the future, it has been for quite some time.

My friend has a droid through Verizon who gets unlimited data so its out there but they descriminate against certain access points like us with WIFI Hotspots. The issue with bandwidth hogs is in the over populated cities with underpowered networks.. IE iphone issues.  I mean who really needs a data plan on a phone used for talking and texting? Verizon would lose a good chunk of money if us rural users had access to wired but we don't so we get raked with measley 5GB per month caps. Why does Verizon do it.? Because they can.

All in all most reports show that 1gb of data costs around 1 buck if not less, not 11 bucks like I'm charged for use. Buyer beware they are pushing to soak us with metered billing. I"m fine with that as long as they charge a fair price you know 1-2 bucks a GB not 10+ like they do now..

[mrarmy]

I had a unlimited verizon wireless broadband internet access contract.  It was great for several years until the point when verizon purchased alltell.  After that I was restricted down and slowed down so much I couldn't even use my laptop to open a simple email.  I was told that everything from I was informed that I would no longer have a unlimited account to being told I never had a unlimited account.  I supported verizon as a fine business and encouraged people and even large businesses to convert to verizon from who they were currently using, my reward, a big fat breach of contract by verizon.  I have had the worst experiance with customer service, trying to fix a problem that was done to me by verizon and have been told so many conflicting stories by customer service, call center supervisors, and other representatives claiming to work for verizon.  If this monster sized corporation, that uses unethical business practices on customers, was to be shut down by the federal government for what they have lied about, I would not shed a tear.

[#6]

There is no more unlimited internet access except for phones.  Computers are limited to 5 GB.

[reallyniceguy]

What are your guy's thoughts on 4g? You think Verizon will offer unlimited? maybe 3g unlimited? Im not a fan of metered service either and I understand they are in it for the profit.. I guess thats why verizon has been profitable and sprint has not. The droid can not tether legally in verizon's eyes.

[G-Man]

I'd be happy ifthey would roll-over the MB for a few months.  I only use my MiFi when I travel.  I might not use if for months sometimes.

[Hemingray]

I'm a pretty heavy surfer/user myself, yet I never seem to exceed 500MB a month. (Although I don't do alot of downloading like many do, and I myself have the 5GB limit)

[#10]

Say what you will, but Verizon has a finite amount of broadband capacity available.  They have to decide how to sell it to maximize their profits.  Afterall, profits is why they exist.  Phones have an unlimited plan because, evidently, Verizon has decided most phone users only consume a "reasonable" amount of data.  Computers are limited to 5 GB of usage because, if they allowed unlimited usage, broadband hogs would use up all the capacity downloading movies and music, etc.  I have a Motorola Droid with unlimited data for $29.99 and a USB760 with 5 GB of data for $59.99.  I only use the USB760 every few months when I travel, but I am willing to pay for it to have internet access on my laptop where and when I want it.  I have unlimited internet at home with Charter cable.  I pay a lot for internet access and don't **bleep** about it because I understand that these businesses exist to make a profit.  By the way, how a company prices their products has NOTHING to do with their costs.  It's based on supply and demand, competition, and "what the market will bear."

[reallyniceguy]

I really wish there was unlimited data just like with alltel but its just a dream that will never come true. Maybe with 4g they will have unlimited 3g plans? I didnt really use over 5 gigs with alltel but still, you never know.. that freedom i guess?

[Deamorei]

For $60.00 a month they wouldn't be losing any money if they capped the user limit to 50GB a month. They would still profit but not as much as they are right now. If you offer unlimted data to smart phone users and not us MIFI home users, you could probably file a descrimination law suit for that reason alone. Data usage is data usage regardless of device. If you want to penalize a bandwidth hog or abuser then by all means do. I have 1 year left on my Verizon contract. I love the service and have not once went over. I'm not allowed to use the web like i used to be on slower speed connections. Centennial had unlimited wireless which was low end DSL speeds. I get 2mbps on my MIFI.

Every month we are near the cap. We don't download much. We play a few facebook games and surf, check email and occasional fairly small downloads. This has been our standard net habits for the past many years. In determining fair price you must also determing competitive price. There is no competition as all the big names have locked it at 5GB because its simply a CASH cow. Are we getting a value for our money. Not really because in all actuality we are being price gouged do to lack of competition.

Droid users tether for unlimited data use and well a MIFI-2200 is in essence a tether device. So the argument that phone users wont be bandwidth hogs doesn't stand up. They get the same speeds as i do. Again most of the problem is an overtasked network. Verizon or pretty much any American internet service is miles behind the rest of the world because they invested in their nations infrastructure while our companies invest in their own selfish greed. I look forward to the day when Verizon/AT&T gets broken up just like Microsoft did.  AT&T learned somethings from their breakup but they too have a short memory.

I get free TV via DTV and it works perfectly. One day national broadband service will probably be pretty much the same low cost and very fast without a company label..We can hope.

[bobfireman]

Well, there WAS an unlimited plan some years ago.  I got my first broadband card 5 or 6 years ago, and at that time the $60/month plan was indeed unlimited (just like on a smartphone).  Since I have constantly renewed my contract, I have been "grandfathered" in, and still get unlimited broadband on my device (as verified by my billing statement and Verizon customer service).

Having said that, I use my broadband only at work (the IT guys have our system so locked down, we can hardly look at anything, so it' gets heavy usage, including downloading of several 45 minute long podcasts etc, and I have never gone over 5gb in a month

[Deamorei]

Surfing costs about 500k a click so 1MB for two web pages. 2000 web page loads which really isn't alot of surfing is 1GB. Thats conservative since most websites are loaded with alot of auto feed flash movies or audio which yes you can block. If you look at an image or images you can rack up data use fast. Streaming music uses about 25MB and hour if not more depending on quality.

They are pushing the DO MORE with your phone sales pitch. Get this app or that app on droid. My co-worker streams on his DROID all day long at work.so if he was hitting 30mb and hour on a 10 hour shift thats 300mb. That doesnt include his web use, data use etc, etc. What did they say that smart phone users wouldn't use much bandwidth. cough , cough, tethered.

Mobile broadband reaches millions of rural broadband users whose only choice for high speed is wireless. We are YES marketed groups. They know our useage demands but want to keep that limited to 5GB for the time being. Honestly speaking these forums are a waste of time. I've yet to see one Verizon postion of power step in and try to justify we are getting a fair price for our service lol.

[#15]

Verizon doesn't support tethering with a Droid.  For the phones that do support tethering, the plan is $59.99 for 5 GB.  This site is a customer peer to peer forum.  Verizon executives aren't going to post here and don't need to justify their plans to anyone.

[#16]

Tethering a phone from a laptop is $59.99 and limited to 5 GB.  Verizon does not yet provide tethering with a Droid, but when they do, it will be $59.99 for 5 GB.  You can do it now with a "work around," but it's like stealing cable from your neighbor.

[bobfireman]

I don't know about the "stealing cable" analogy.  I found out about that "work around" from the Verizon sales rep when I bought my Droid.

[tinstaafl]

I agree with G-man.  I have never gone over my 5GB, but that is partly because on the few occassions when I was about to I just (almost) stopped using the service until the next billing cycle. On average I use 3.5 to 4.5 GB so Rollover, as with AT&T cell phone service, would be more than adequate for me.  It would also protect other users who, like me, might ocassionally hit the limit, but on average don't come close. Seems that would be fair to everybody — Verizon and their customers!

[LisaA02]

I too have this same concern. I'm a user who lives in a rural location and can only get high speed internet access through mobile broadband.  This is truly my only means of  getting service other than slow dial-up.  I would love to join the rest of the 21st century and watch netflix from my computer and do online gaming, but with only 5G of usage available I can't!  I can do the basic surfing and not exceed 5G, but when this is my home internet I really wish the limit was at least 10G.  That would at least give me some ability for downloading music and video.  It still wouldn't be perfect, but it would be better.  I understand that there is some limit to the mobile broadband infrastructure and that lots of high G usage may slow things down, but I can't believe that using more than 5G a month would really cause that many problems.  I really just wish there was some other option for me, but I guess 5G is better than the nothing I had 6 months ago. 

[Vegas1976]

There is no such thing as an unlimited plan.  Verizon will do all that is in its power to limit you to less than 5Gig.  

That being said, there are unlimited usage cards that have been grandfathered.  You still need to try and use less than 5 Gig.  After repeated (That means Twice in Verizon Speak) overages, they will throttle your usage to less than dial up speeds for 28 days.  When you call tech support about your slower speeds, they will connect you to some investigation department.  BEWARE: THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF CUSTOMER RETENTION.  THEY ARE IN FACT THE RUDEST PEOPLE YOU WILL EVER ENCOUNTER WITH VERIZON.  My suggestion... Ditch VERIZON for a company who lives up to their contracts and has salespeople who fully explain the contract.  

For those of you waiting for the Verizon IPhone, let go of the pipe dream.  Their system can barely handle PDAs and Wireless cards let alone a bunch of rabid Verizon fans who have forgone their upgrades in hopes that Verizon will be releasing their IPhone the day after ATT's exclusivity expires.

That being said... I don't think I will still be IN after I fulfill my end of the contract.

[jupiter837]

Broad Sky offers a unlimited fixed wireless 3g service for about $165 a month. How bad you want it?