National Single Rate vs. Nationwide plans?

[vwnsrc]

I have the National Single Rate (NSR) plan and it works very well for me. Verizon has been strongly encouraging me to switch to the new Nationwide (NW) plan. The more I have investigated and compared the plans, and talked with Verizon, the more the stories vary on the plans and the more confused I get. I don't care about analog, especially since it is disappearing, and I don't really care about any of the new features available with the Nationwide plans. All I use or need is plain phone minutes. In the past I have had very good CDMA coverage as long as there was CDMA signal available, even in rural and off interstate areas.

From what I have read (not the map) about the NSR, I get CDMA coverage regardless of the provider, in all "50 states." The only exception is some "mom and pop" cell services (now very few still exist, if any) that do not have any agreements with Verizon or other major carrier that Verizon has agreements with. These will require a credit card to access their network.

I was lead to believe when I originally got the plan that there was coverage with most providers throughout the US, provided the fees to access their network were below a certain amount. Even if Verizon did not have an "Agreement" with the provider, they would reimburse the provider X cents per minute of usage, if the provider wished to let a Verizon customer on their network. Otherwise the Verizon customer was required to pay for access to the providers network.

In theory the NSR coverage should be a greater area than the NW plan. In theory the NSR coverage area should not shrink (aside from the loss of analog coverage.)

Recently I've been given the impression that my CDMA coverage may have changed and even shrunk because of changes in agreements, partially due to mergers and acquisitions of different providers, but also due to changes in Verizons compensation to other providers for usages, and/or other usage issues. However, when I got the plan, and a few years afterwards, I was given the impression that, for the most part, my CDMA coverage should only grow, and that even though there were mergers and changes, agreements grandfathered for pre-existing plans. Changes would effect new plans (often plans with many more minutes).

The old NSR plan had much better coverage than the AC and AC2 plans, but I am not really sure how it compares with the NW plan. I've been told recently that is "virtually" is no different for CDMA coverage. I've also been lead to believe that the NSR PRL has blocked providers, and other settings "limiting" my coverage. Any info on this would be much appreciated.

Originally it was my understanding that the lower allowance of minutes for the NSR plans was because of the "50 states no roaming charges" large coverage area. Recently I heard it was more to do with higher costs associated with analog support and analog roaming agreements, but I am not sure about this. I also heard that in areas where I previous had analog coverage, that got converted to CDMA, any agreements with Verizon would still be in place for the new (replacement) CDMA coverage if it was from the same provider. This could potentially cost Verizon more with the NSR plan than with the NW plan Therefore Verizon wants people of this plan, BUT since the NSR plan has reduced minutes I don't see the issue. Anyone have some decent information on this?

I while back I was told the fine print with the NSR plan was more favorable to the customer than new plans, but I didn't see anything that stood out as a big benefit to the NSR plan. The main difference that I see is "no roaming charges in the 50 states" for the NSR plan and "no roaming charges " for the NW plan. However its my understanding that there is "no roaming" with the NW plan, because if there is a CDMA signal from a signal that Verizon does no have an agreement with, it is blocked, therefore you never get roaming. If I missed something, any information would be appreciated.

On a side note I heard there was some litigation regarding "blocking" signals (regardless of the network / provider) because a person may not try to dial 911 because they think they do not have coverage. Providers are arguing that they are providing a service (plus advertising "no roaming fees") to customers to prevent inadvertent roaming charges which customers complain about. I have not found anything about this litigation on the internet, so I think it might only be a rumor.

Any reasons to keep my NSR plan? Any reasons to switch to the NW plan?

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by vwnsrc

I have the National Single Rate (NSR) plan and it works very well for me. Verizon has been strongly encouraging me to switch to the new Nationwide (NW) plan. The more I have investigated and compared the plans, and talked with Verizon, the more the stories vary on the plans and the more confused I get. I don't care about analog, especially since it is disappearing, and I don't really care about any of the new features available with the Nationwide plans. All I use or need is plain phone minutes. In the past I have had very good CDMA coverage as long as there was CDMA signal available, even in rural and off interstate areas.

From what I have read (not the map) about the NSR, I get CDMA coverage regardless of the provider, in all "50 states." The only exception is some "mom and pop" cell services (now very few still exist, if any) that do not have any agreements with Verizon or other major carrier that Verizon has agreements with. These will require a credit card to access their network.

I was lead to believe when I originally got the plan that there was coverage with most providers throughout the US, provided the fees to access their network were below a certain amount. Even if Verizon did not have an "Agreement" with the provider, they would reimburse the provider X cents per minute of usage, if the provider wished to let a Verizon customer on their network. Otherwise the Verizon customer was required to pay for access to the providers network.

In theory the NSR coverage should be a greater area than the NW plan. In theory the NSR coverage area should not shrink (aside from the loss of analog coverage.)

Recently I've been given the impression that my CDMA coverage may have changed and even shrunk because of changes in agreements, partially due to mergers and acquisitions of different providers, but also due to changes in Verizons compensation to other providers for usages, and/or other usage issues. However, when I got the plan, and a few years afterwards, I was given the impression that, for the most part, my CDMA coverage should only grow, and that even though there were mergers and changes, agreements grandfathered for pre-existing plans. Changes would effect new plans (often plans with many more minutes).

The old NSR plan had much better coverage than the AC and AC2 plans, but I am not really sure how it compares with the NW plan. I've been told recently that is "virtually" is no different for CDMA coverage. I've also been lead to believe that the NSR PRL has blocked providers, and other settings "limiting" my coverage. Any info on this would be much appreciated.

Originally it was my understanding that the lower allowance of minutes for the NSR plans was because of the "50 states no roaming charges" large coverage area. Recently I heard it was more to do with higher costs associated with analog support and analog roaming agreements, but I am not sure about this. I also heard that in areas where I previous had analog coverage, that got converted to CDMA, any agreements with Verizon would still be in place for the new (replacement) CDMA coverage if it was from the same provider. This could potentially cost Verizon more with the NSR plan than with the NW plan Therefore Verizon wants people of this plan, BUT since the NSR plan has reduced minutes I don't see the issue. Anyone have some decent information on this?

I while back I was told the fine print with the NSR plan was more favorable to the customer than new plans, but I didn't see anything that stood out as a big benefit to the NSR plan. The main difference that I see is "no roaming charges in the 50 states" for the NSR plan and "no roaming charges " for the NW plan. However its my understanding that there is "no roaming" with the NW plan, because if there is a CDMA signal from a signal that Verizon does no have an agreement with, it is blocked, therefore you never get roaming. If I missed something, any information would be appreciated.

On a side note I heard there was some litigation regarding "blocking" signals (regardless of the network / provider) because a person may not try to dial 911 because they think they do not have coverage. Providers are arguing that they are providing a service (plus advertising "no roaming fees") to customers to prevent inadvertent roaming charges which customers complain about. I have not found anything about this litigation on the internet, so I think it might only be a rumor.

Any reasons to keep my NSR plan? Any reasons to switch to the NW plan?

I would think about the places I frequently travel; if you look at the areas you go to on NationWide coverage map, are they white or pink? If the areas you travel are covered by dark red, it's likely safe fo you to switch and reap the benefits of the newer plans.

The NationWide plans have the same coverage as the AC2 plans. The main difference is how data is treated. Most parts of the country (area wise) have at least one CDMA roamer. The other non CDMA roamers only had analog service available and that has been mostly shut down. The Single rate plans certainly included analog coverage in them. If you get a new device, it will likely be CDMA only, nullifying any benefits (IMO) of your plan... or you will be forced to change plans anyway. As far as any "mom and pop" wireless companies go, Verizon has been either building out coverage and/or buying out the roamers (i.e. Unicel, Ramcell, Alltel).

No roaming charges on the NW plans means that your phone either works or it doesnt... Verizon picks which roamers you can use.

[morpheusq3]

The biggest differences is that data is no longer treated as using your minutes from your calling plan. It is now charged $1.99/Mb of data....unless you have a data package (Vcast Vpack) for unlimited usage at $15.00/month. Unfortunately this may hurt some people that got on every now and then vs those who get on the mobile web all the time

[BillRadio]

For now, the NSR is still Golden. The fact that Verizon wants you change should tell it all. There have been very few changes that make the NSR worse, and yes, it has become better iin some areas. The "Nationwide" plan gives you more minutes for your money, and in return, gives you slightly fewer areas to roam freely.

If you are happy with the current price and service, I would keep the NSR. There have been very few coverage changes. And analog has not been totally removed yet. It is still active in a few isolated, but very exclusive areas, and most are not available with AC or NW plans.