Smartphones

[goldfinch]

It is amazing how much data you can use. Because I travel all the time I use a mifi device for the internet. I have to use Verizon because of the completeness of US coverage. "Unlimited" data is 5GB a month. That is outrageously low when this is your primary internet access. I really have to think about whether I can watch a video (I have no tv) or download something. I listen to a lot of podcasts and often hunt for a wifi signal to do a download. I pay more to get 8GB, which is about right. Of course, this isn't a phone but a computer. So, because I already pay Verizon a pile of money for the mifi I am resistant to paying them more for a data phone plan. I have a very old cell phone plan with them that is very inexpensive and no longer offered. But it is not a smart phone. My gripe is that it is getting harder to find quality flip phones as everyone moves to smart phones. My other gripe is that Verizon now charges an upgrade fee when buying a new device. I want to upgrade my mifi to a 4G device but am resistant to paying the fee.

I really, really dislike cell phone companies. They promote all these services and then limit your ability to use them by limiting data or forcing you into plans with options you don't want or need just to get one thing you do need.

[OakLeaf]

because I already pay Verizon a pile of money for the mifi I am resistant to paying them more for a data phone plan

I was just looking at their website, and it looks like all their plans are "share everything." You get one data package for everything, then it's like $10 a month to connect each device.

Verizon now charges an upgrade fee when buying a new device.

That's not new, but if you buy your device directly from Verizon rather than a reseller, they credit it back to you. At least that's how it worked with my last two phones, and my newest one I only got in like October or November. I still would've had a better deal buying online or from a reseller, but because I really wanted to touch and compare two phones with a salesperson's help before I chose, I felt like I owed her her commission.


Still, it sounds like your usage isn't near what I thought ours would be. As far as TV, have you thought about hanging a satellite dish off the top of your RV?

[goldfinch]

I was just looking at their website, and it looks like all their plans are "share everything." You get one data package for everything, then it's like $10 a month to connect each device.

The share everything plan is more expensive than what I pay now because my phone plan is so cheap. Even the Verizon rep said it would not be a good deal for me.

That's not new, but if you buy your device directly from Verizon rather than a reseller, they credit it back to you. At least that's how it worked with my last two phones, and my newest one I only got in like October or November. I still would've had a better deal buying online or from a reseller, but because I really wanted to touch and compare two phones with a salesperson's help before I chose, I felt like I owed her her commission.


Still, it sounds like your usage isn't near what I thought ours would be. As far as TV, have you thought about hanging a satellite dish off the top of your RV?

I'll call on the credit to see if that is the case for the mifi device they sell. At Target they did not mention a credit. I used to use a satellite dish and had tv service but I watched so little tv that I cancelled it. I have this aversion to monthly bills.

[goldfinch]

Just talked to Verizon. They now have a $30 upgrade fee for phones and devices you buy from them at the discounted price you get for continuing your contract. This is relatively new. They say it won't be waived. The fee to activate the phone is waived. Too many types of fees!

I also Googled about and the consensus is that the fee will not be waived and it is against Verizon policy for a rep to waive the fee.

You can avoid the upgrade fee by buying the phone/device outright from someone else but odds are you won't get the price you would get from Verizon. At least, I won't with a 4G mifi device. And, you might have to pay a fee to activate anyway.

[OakLeaf]

The fee to activate the phone is waived. Too many types of fees!

Too many for sure. I was probably confusing the two fees.

[smilingcat]

if you want a portable and personal hot spot, you can get Virgin Mobile. It's using SPRINT.
You can also use Freedom Pop. They are also using Sprint.
You can use ClearWire. They too are using Sprint.

All three uses basically the same hardware so if you go to any of the three web site and look at their 4G-WiFi hub or the 4G USB dongle, they look very much alike with the exception of the logo on the hardware. All three have variation on the plans.

MiFi is 3G and you can get it really cheap for either the hub or the dongle. When I need the personal hot spot, I'm roaming so I try to keep my data usage low and below the threshold. 3G is a good bottleneck for this. So I'm not tempted to stream music/video. It's good enough to check e-mail, send and receive messages, even look up information.

Freedom pop wants you to go over the limit so they can charge you big $$ per excess MB of data.
Version Mobile just throttle you by your neck when you reach the limit. I think that is the way with all the other carriers.

Also check Consumer Report 2012 Dec. issue.

Internet connection in US is Byzantine. It's expensive, restrictive and slow... Compare it to S. Korea, France, Japan...