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Verizon Removes 10 Phones from $350 ETF List

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FCC don't forget verizon and their FORCED $10 data requirements!!!

Cellenator

Jan 19, 2010, 5:06 PM
Want the basic LG 8360 grandma but don't need data, we don't give a **** that's 10 bucks granny! Pay up or GTFO!
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Aethix

Jan 19, 2010, 5:47 PM
It's not forced, just like the $350.00 ETF wasn't forced. If you don't want the data don't purchase that model phone. It's really not that complicated.
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Cellenator

Jan 19, 2010, 6:25 PM
๐Ÿ˜ณ
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dave73

Jan 19, 2010, 7:00 PM
Aethix said:
It's not forced, just like the $350.00 ETF wasn't forced. If you don't want the data don't purchase that model phone. It's really not that complicated.


The problem is there are many more 3G phones than there are 1X only phones. There aren't many basic phones anymore. So the only way to avoid the forced data plan on a phone is to either get the new basic phones, or go to another carrier. I have little use for data as I don't use Vcast. I only use Vcast phones to load my own music on. I don't know what I'll do, but for now, I won't upgrade, though I'm due for one at the end of the month.
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Aethix

Jan 19, 2010, 7:11 PM
Verizon, and now AT&T, don't see the problem of lack of non 3G phones as a problem though. You have the option to either purchase a "dumb phone" and only pay for the ability to talk if you so choose too.

With out going into a long debate on what's wrong with the states today I just find it silly that people claim they have no decision on what they have to pay. The fact is that Verizon and AT&T feel it is necessary to mandate an additional fee in order to use certain devices on their network.

I know it sucks, but our best option is to go to another carrier that does not require such a service fee. T Mobile and Sprint are both huge carriers in the states that do not currently charge these fees for the simple texting phones with bot...
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Desolationblade

Jan 19, 2010, 7:15 PM
I hate to say this but u r wrong about 1 thing. Sprint right now has the fastest data network of all the carriers. A test was done about 6 months ago all over the nation. If u go to a spot that all 4 services have 5 bars sprint will come out on top.
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Aethix

Jan 19, 2010, 7:23 PM
Can you please link references to these reports? I was under the impression that T-Mobiles 7.2 Mbps HSPA is currently the fastest.

Either way though, my point is that the big 2 carriers are not necessarily the best in any aspect of service.
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Desolationblade

Jan 19, 2010, 7:46 PM
right now sprint is just over 1/3 4g. 4g runs at about 10.2Mbps, HSPA is 7.2 correct but tmo not at@t are full HSPA as well, and HSPA only cover's in 3g area which tmo lacks heavily on the north east.

However u are right tho, with the exception of the north east I would say tmo+sprint are underlooked as a major carrier when both provide great prices, excellent customer service and fast internet(growing coverage+roaming FTW)?
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Desolationblade

Jan 19, 2010, 7:55 PM
right now sprint is just over 1/3 4g. 4g runs at about 10.2Mbps, HSPA is 7.2 correct but tmo and at@t are full HSPA as well, and HSPA only cover's in 3g area which tmo lacks heavily on the north east.

However u are right tho, with the exception of the north east I would say tmo+sprint are underlooked as a major carrier when both provide great prices, excellent customer service and fast internet(growing coverage+roaming FTW)?
Sorry didn't spell check
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Cellenator

Jan 19, 2010, 8:25 PM
AT&T hasnรƒยขรขโ€šยฌโ„ขt screwed with their data packages for regular phones like Verizon did, so lets the facts straight!
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Aethix

Jan 19, 2010, 8:33 PM
Yes they have. Effective as of yesterday, the 18th, all "Quick Messaging" devices are required to have either a minimum of 20 dollars data per line or the 30 dollar unlimited family texting package.
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Cellenator

Jan 19, 2010, 9:00 PM
Which is a choice! Choose one or the other is better than what verizon is doing! Plus their Data is UNLIMITED! not 25MB ๐Ÿ™„ I guess you've not seen the brake down charts of the actual cost of these so called better plans ๐Ÿ™„
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attsomm

Jan 19, 2010, 10:09 PM
look at the facts. this requirement is only when you chose the unlimited calling plan. it is there to actually keep pricing down. Att cut their pricing for the rate plan pretty close to half the original pricing. In order to keep the costs of the phone and the rate plans down, they require only the unlimited plans to have this feature. But on a family plan, unlimited text for the entire family is 30 per month, and really i have never actually sold a family plan without this feature. It is pointless not to get it because at least one person on the plan is going to text, and 30 per month is extremely cheap compared to pay per use. Get a teenager who likes to text, and try paying 20 cents per message when they use over 10,000 messages a month! ...
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nikkifm

Jan 20, 2010, 12:32 PM
Let's see when they get the bill. Same with data.....looking at the phones that the extra is on alot of them have multi media keyboards for texting. When you use that....chances are you will be using the internet (picture messaging, weather, emails, or rhapsody) Even just picture messaging you can see an overage of $20 on average....you just killed ten bucks. Not saying I agree....just with all the picture messaging and data overage I've seen with those phones....it works.
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Pro_12

Jan 19, 2010, 8:36 PM
Haha... Cellenator said "GTFO" ๐Ÿ˜ ๐Ÿ˜ ๐Ÿ˜
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Menno

Jan 20, 2010, 1:43 AM
it DOES look like they are requiring unlimited messaging packedges on their qwerty phones though. Granted, this makes more sense, but a required 20 package is still "forcing" something on a customer
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nikkifm

Jan 20, 2010, 7:09 PM
But they aren't requiring that you get the unlim texting plan. and not necessarily there are a couple texting phone s that don't require it adn what not
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Kilya

Jan 20, 2010, 8:02 PM
Your wrong about one other thing too Aethix. AT&T only requires Data on Blackberry's/Smartphones. The only other time they require a feature is if you have a QWERTY keyboard phone and want their new unlimited plan. Tmobile does the exact same thing with their Blackberry's/Smartphonse and I believe the Samsung Memoir (correct me if I am wrong about the Memoir). I worked for Tmobile when they put these mandatory data requirements in place and AT&T was the last one to jump on board and do the same thing they did (Change for AT&T was October 2009). So again, AT&T does not require data on any of their phones except Blackberry's/Smarphones (again plan specific). Verizon is the KING of giving the customer the Shaft, and most customers just ta...
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Aethix

Jan 20, 2010, 8:04 PM
No I am not wrong. As of the 18th AT&T requires all qwerty phones to either have a 20 dollar data or texting plan per line or a 30 dollar family texting plan on family accounts.
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Kilya

Jan 22, 2010, 2:16 PM
This is true, but most people buying QWERTY keyboards are getting unlimted SMS, thus they are covered. But again AT&T also didn't increase their ETF to rediculous prices on stupid phones like verizon did. Verizon is hands down the biggest rip off anyone can buy.
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Kilya

Jan 22, 2010, 4:14 PM
Also one other thing to note is this is only if the customer is getting the new unlimited plan, this does not apply to basic plans.
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SugaR-E

Jan 20, 2010, 3:46 PM
Exactly. If you do choose to go to another carrier, just be aware that AT&T also charges for data, if you were to get a smartphone from there, it will be $30/month. So which would you prefer, $30 or $10? If you don't want internet then why get a smartphone that is designed for the internet usage? Get a simple basic phone then and you won't have to worry about it. Simple as that.
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Pro_12

Jan 19, 2010, 8:38 PM
Haha... Ha... Cellenator said "GTFO".... ๐Ÿ˜ ๐Ÿคค ๐Ÿ˜
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attsomm

Jan 19, 2010, 10:09 PM
LOL
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Menno

Jan 19, 2010, 9:27 PM
What can they do about this? not that much.
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VZWTestman

Jan 19, 2010, 9:55 PM
People need to quit expecting the government to intervene in business affairs. I don't go whine to my congressman when McDonald's decides to raise the prices on a Big Mac. Let the government stay the government and businesses manage themselves. As long as it isn't any type of monopoly and they are not breaking any laws. Let them manage themselves. We live in a capitalist society.
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attsomm

Jan 19, 2010, 10:12 PM
That is very ture. Besides, with the high rate of competition out there, cell pricing is getting very inexpensive. Look at how much it cost to have a cell phone back in the 90s and even 80s. It was something only rich people could afford to have. Now everybody has one! Just keep your eyes open. I saw huge changes in the industry last year and this year the competition is even bigger. There are going to be extreme changes coming very soon in technology and in pricing.
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info411

Jan 20, 2010, 3:30 AM
You miss the point. VZW is forcing data on phones that for some people would get because of the function, ie. camera, QWERTY, and form factor but forcing the consumer to take DATA even though they don't use it.

If they get BIG enough they would control the whole pipeline, look at MS they tried doing that with Internet Explorer back in the day and letting Mozilla and other browser company to come in to stop MS practices with help of government.
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VZWTestman

Jan 20, 2010, 9:49 PM
There are 4 major carriers in the US, several midlevel and tons of smaller regional carriers. It is far from a monopoly. If VZW tried buying another carrier I can understand the FCC not allowing that because of protecting from monopoly's. But I do not want the government to start telling companies how much or for what they can charge. Customers have the option to which phone they upgrade to. If you do not want a data pack do not buy the phone. Do I agree with the charge, absolutely not. I think this is going to hurt VZW a lot more than helping with their data adds like they are hoping to. But customers can make a difference by switching to another carrier. If enough people do it, it will make the company change their business practices.
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Azeron

Jan 19, 2010, 11:41 PM
๐Ÿคฃ ๐Ÿคฃ ๐Ÿคฃ ๐Ÿคฃ ๐Ÿคฃ
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stephen5688

Jan 20, 2010, 1:58 AM
Let me say this again, PREPAID, PREPAID, PREPAID... its not just for the people with poor credit anymore. You can get so much more for less this way and not have to sign a contract or pay all those taxes, Pageplus has 1200 minutes 1200 text and 50mb of data all for 29.99 a month and NO contract and guess what Verizon fanboys, they use your network. Why would anyone sign a contract now days.
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Menno

Jan 20, 2010, 2:09 AM
that's the irony of the whole thing... is that people are asking the government to look into how expensive cellphone plans are, when at least 12% of EVERYONE's bill is from taxes.
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Desolationblade

Jan 20, 2010, 3:54 PM
Prepaid is still not the way to go. Monthly plans minus the contract is the way to go. Reason being is prepaid has ZERO customer service and support. Once u prepay the month and the phone they got ur money who cares if they leave. They roam off other networks so they dont pay for that either.

I sell tracfone, net10, virgin mobile, boost mobile, at&t go phone, everything except cricket, Also at&t VW, TMO and SPrint as well. I have soo many issues with boost and trac and virgin too. Tmo prepaid and go phones have decent service/customer service,

but the best thing for me was finding a black berry curve 8330 on ebay slightly used for 80 bucks, activate it on sprints 69.99 data plan, minus 20% discount, 64.87 after taxes full unlimi...
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stephen5688

Jan 20, 2010, 5:00 PM
Why does everyone make a big deal about the customer service on prepaid? Why would you need to call customer service anyway? The main reason people call customer service is to complain about there bill and that would not be a problem with prepaid.
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