VZW Admits that their Unlimited Data Plan is Limited to 5GB Per Month

[jones]

Verizon Admits that their Unlimited Data Plan is Limited to 5GB Per Month
By Ryan

Back in August of 2006 I wrote about a guy who had his unlimited Verizon EVDO Wireless Data Service canceled because buried deep into the Terms of Service (TOS) they mentioned some things that were unacceptable. Some of these things included downloading/streaming music and videos…which is what the Internet is all about these days.

At the time Verizon didn’t explicitly state that their unlimited service really was limited, but I was looking at the service once again yesterday for someone and decided to see what the terms look like 7–months later. Now they explicitly come out and say that their unlimited plan can only be used for up to 5GB a month otherwise your usage will be considered unacceptable and your service will be terminated (the bold text points out the important things):

Unlimited Data Plans and Features (such as NationalAccess, BroadbandAccess, Push to Talk, and certain VZEmail services) may ONLY be used with wireless devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation). The Unlimited Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine–to–machine connections or peer–to–peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses, continuously for one hour, could typically use 100 to 200 MBs, or, if engaged in prohibited uses for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, could use more than 5 GBs in a month.

For individual use only and not for resale. We reserve the right to protect our network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. We reserve the right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred, and to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone we believe is using an Unlimited Data Plan or Feature in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. Anyone using more than 5 GB per line in a given month is presumed to be using the service in a manner prohibited above, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate the service of any such person without notice. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term.

So all the service is really good for is viewing websites and sending emails since you cannot download or upload anything. They say that sending emails is okay, but what about if you constantly have large attachments in your email which results in high bandwidth usage? Does that fall under the download/upload restriction that can terminate your account, or is that considered acceptable use since it is an email?

One of the other restrictions that they mention is that you must have another Internet service as well since you cannot use it as a substitute or backup of a dedicated Internet connection. Even if all you do is check emails for work, you must have another Internet connection as your primary source for access.

So why would anyone use the service? Many people use it because their employers pay for it, and I’m sure they never inform their employees about what they can and can’t do with it. For that reason, a lot of people are “inappropriately” using the service which is good news for Verizon because they can terminate your account whenever they want. I look at it as Verizon’s way to cover their own back since they can sell the service to as many people as they possibly can, and then when their network starts to see a pattern of overall heavy usage, they can just terminate the people who use their accounts the most. This will maximize their revenue while keeping the network usage to a minimum.

I definitely understand their reasoning for limiting the service to only 5GB of bandwidth per month, but what boggles my mind is how they can advertise this as unlimited when they explicitly say that any usage over 5GB will cause your account to be terminated?

http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/04...5gb-per-month/

Originally Posted by jones

I definitely understand their reasoning for limiting the service to only 5GB of bandwidth per month, but what boggles my mind is how they can advertise this as unlimited when they explicitly say that any usage over 5GB will cause your account to be terminated?

This doesn't surprise me in the least. Verizon also advertises their network as the "most reliable" even though they clearly are not!

[TNDan21]

Verizon DEFINATELY enforces this 5 GB monthly limit. I was a counsil member, $200 a month customer with Verizon, Merits customer, and had three lines with them. Yet when I signed up for EVDO just one month into the so called "Unlimited" Broadband access I received a letter from Verizon saying they was canceling me cause I used it too much.

I had a terrible time with Verizon over this and I won't get into what all happened to me but I couldn't believe how they treated me. Especially since I was a high paying customer with not as much as a late payment on my account. Verizon refused to admit any fault with me and I can't believe they can get away with this false advertising so easily and on top of that to treat customers like myself the way they did. I really hope Verizon faces a class auction lawsuit over the false advertising and the way they are treating Broadband access customers.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by TNDan21

Verizon DEFINATELY enforces this 5 GB monthly limit. I was a counsil member, $200 a month customer with Verizon, Merits customer, and had three lines with them. Yet when I signed up for EVDO just one month into the so called "Unlimited" Broadband access I received a letter from Verizon saying they was canceling me cause I used it too much.

I had a terrible time with Verizon over this and I won't get into what all happened to me but I couldn't believe how they treated me. Especially since I was a high paying customer with not as much as a late payment on my account. Verizon refused to admit any fault with me and I can't believe they can get away with this false advertising so easily and on top of that to treat customers like myself the way they did. I really hope Verizon faces a class auction lawsuit over the false advertising and the way they are treating Broadband access customers.

That's just sad that Verizon treats high paying, good customers like this. I hate to hear you had to jump through hoops with them. How's Sprint working out for you in the Tri-Cities? That's an iPCS market isn't it? I'm thinking that the Tri-Cities was mentioned as one of IPCS's key markets on yahoo finance but I could be wrong. Do they have EVDO?
Sorry for the barrage of questions. When I was in the Alltel store asking about EVDO on the Q I'm thinking about picking up, I asked about Alltel EVDO in the Tri-Cities (I'll probably be staying there for about a month this summer) and why they didn't have it while many far more rural places were covered. The rep checked something on the computer and said that the Tri-Cities should be upgraded by this summer. So it would seem like the pressure would be on Sprint/iPCS to upgrade to EVDO if they're not already. And if they are, hopefully I'll be able to use the Sprint EVDO this summer if Alltel's not upgraded their system yet when I'm there!

[T Sizzles]

I download music from iTunes on my Cingular Data Plan. Never had a problem with Cingular.

[mingkee]

VZW data sucks big time
with 5GB cap on EV-DO is WAY TOO STINGY (20GB is more acceptable)

[TNDan21]

Originally Posted by UFO

That's just sad that Verizon treats high paying, good customers like this. I hate to hear you had to jump through hoops with them. How's Sprint working out for you in the Tri-Cities? That's an iPCS market isn't it? I'm thinking that the Tri-Cities was mentioned as one of IPCS's key markets on yahoo finance but I could be wrong. Do they have EVDO?
Sorry for the barrage of questions. When I was in the Alltel store asking about EVDO on the Q I'm thinking about picking up, I asked about Alltel EVDO in the Tri-Cities (I'll probably be staying there for about a month this summer) and why they didn't have it while many far more rural places were covered. The rep checked something on the computer and said that the Tri-Cities should be upgraded by this summer. So it would seem like the pressure would be on Sprint/iPCS to upgrade to EVDO if they're not already. And if they are, hopefully I'll be able to use the Sprint EVDO this summer if Alltel's not upgraded their system yet when I'm there!

Yes, the Tri-Cities area is ran by iPCS. I've had Sprint PCS service for roughly a month now and I've been pretty impressed overall in how well their service works in the Tri-Cities area. My only real complaint is Sprint gets a weak signal at my house but it's useable and I really haven't had any problems using my phone in my house yet. Overall I'd have to say in this area Sprint's coverage is pretty close to Verizon and in a couple of spots is actually better than Verizon.

Sprint (iPCS) does have some EVDO in the Tri-Cities but it's pretty limited according to the coverage maps. Verizon on the other hand has a solid EVDO network in the area and they are now Rev A here on top of it! It's sad that Verizon limits their EVDO network so much because in the Tri-Cities they have a very fast and rock solid broadband access network in place now.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Another reason for me to dislike Verizon? I didn't know I needed another...

-Jay

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by TNDan21

Verizon DEFINATELY enforces this 5 GB monthly limit. I was a counsil member, $200 a month customer with Verizon, Merits customer, and had three lines with them. Yet when I signed up for EVDO just one month into the so called "Unlimited" Broadband access I received a letter from Verizon saying they was canceling me cause I used it too much.

I had a terrible time with Verizon over this and I won't get into what all happened to me but I couldn't believe how they treated me. Especially since I was a high paying customer with not as much as a late payment on my account. Verizon refused to admit any fault with me and I can't believe they can get away with this false advertising so easily and on top of that to treat customers like myself the way they did. I really hope Verizon faces a class auction lawsuit over the false advertising and the way they are treating Broadband access customers.

Wow, I didn't know they did this to you Dan, and your right being a high paying customer you would think they would give some slack on this.

I really am not liking the lower national provider's & how they are getting tighter & tighter on the customer & raising their rates.
I wish those of us here in the NYC/NJ area had another carrier choice.

As long as Sprint is working for you, that is what's important & this way you stuck it to Verizon since they aren't getting your money anymore.
(I was suprised today, I was at Chubb Insurance for school & in their cafeteria I had no coverage with my Cingular phone & had 1 bar with Sprint. I didn't try calling or get a chance to check out the db but it was interesting).

[TNDan21]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Wow, I didn't know they did this to you Dan, and your right being a high paying customer you would think they would give some slack on this.

Verizon Wireless is just a bunch of snotty that are out to get every dime they can from you. I think as of lately Verizon just rapes you in the and tries to see how much you will take before you get fed up and leave.

I'll never give another dime of money to Verizon Wireless under my name.

[Jay2TheRescue]

You know, this is just like the all you can eat buffet saying you can't go up take more than 5 trips to the buffet.

[TNDan21]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

You know, this is just like the all you can eat buffet saying you can't go up take more than 5 trips to the buffet.

More like Verizon is just allowing you to take one trip to the buffet and with a small plate at that. Not only is Verizon's TOS way too restrictive but 5 GB of usage in a month with a high speed connection is nothing. It's very easy to go over 5 GB a month and for Verizon to consider such a low amount of use as "Unlimited" is ridicolous. Not to meantion the fact that Verizon after only ONE month of over usage will just cut you off with a letter informing you that your service will be terminated soon with no previous warning, is just unacceptable!

Verizon is being very dirty and deceptive on their so called "Unlimited" EVDO plan.

[ctk74]

Originally Posted by TNDan21

More like Verizon is just allowing you to take one trip to the buffet and with a small plate at that. Not only is Verizon's TOS way too restrictive but 5 GB of usage in a month with a high speed connection is nothing. It's very easy to go over 5 GB a month and for Verizon to consider such a low amount of use as "Unlimited" is ridicolous. Not to meantion the fact that Verizon after only ONE month of over usage will just cut you off with a letter informing you that your service will be terminated soon with no previous warning, is just unacceptable!

Verizon is being very dirty and deceptive on their so called "Unlimited" EVDO plan.

Aside from the 5 gb cap listed in the TOS, who is Verizon's different from any of what the other carriers have in their TOS? Give it time, they will all start enforcing it. I have the Sprint EVDO card and their TOS prohibits a lot of stuff but they seem to tolerate it for now. Perhaps it is because they are not in a position where they can alienate customers? Once people start using AT&T to tether large amounts, they will be right there doing the same thing.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by ctk74

Aside from the 5 gb cap listed in the TOS, who is Verizon's different from any of what the other carriers have in their TOS? Give it time, they will all start enforcing it. I have the Sprint EVDO card and their TOS prohibits a lot of stuff but they seem to tolerate it for now. Perhaps it is because they are not in a position where they can alienate customers? Once people start using AT&T to tether large amounts, they will be right there doing the same thing.

They may start enforcing it, but it's how it's done that I believe was the problem. They didn't take into account a high paying no problem customer & didn't even give a warning, they just sent a letter saying "you cut off" & that is where I believe the biggest problem is & would have caused me to do the same thing Dan did.

I also wouldn't put it past AT&T to start doing the same thing, especially since Verizon is & people aren't happy with it. They like doing the wrong things that other carriers do.

I don't think Sprint will start enforcing it unless they are bleeding money from it & at this time they have the higher ARPU of the carriers and part of it may be as you said they aren't in a position to do it right now & loose any more customers.

[bobolito]

Cingular has a limit as well. They just won't admit it. I've heard some people that have been cut off. The truth is cellular networks were never designed to provide unlimited voice and data service to everyone. Capacity just runs out too quickly. The problem is carriers advertise it as unlimited but 3G wireless was never meant (or designed) to be your primary source for internet access. If you are home, you can have WiFi (connected to your DSL or Cable) so there's no need to use 3G wireless there. If you are at work and you need to use the Internet, your job will offer a broadband connection as well which means you won't need your 3G wireless there either. Plus your home/work Wifi connection can always be faster and more reliable than 3G. So that only leaves those times when you are mobile in a car or when you are at someone else's house and they don't have WiFi, then you can use your 3G. If you use it this way, 5GB is a very generous limit, unless you spend all your time on Bittorrent or Limewire downloading movies and MP3s. If that's the case, then just wait until you get home.

Originally Posted by bobolito

Cingular has a limit as well. They just won't admit it. I've heard some people that have been cut off. The truth is cellular networks were never designed to provide unlimited voice and data service to everyone. Capacity just runs out too quickly. The problem is carriers advertise it as unlimited but 3G wireless was never meant (or designed) to be your primary source for internet access. If you are home, you can have WiFi (connected to your DSL or Cable) so there's no need to use 3G wireless there. If you are at work and you need to use the Internet, your job will offer a broadband connection as well which means you won't need your 3G wireless there either. Plus your home/work Wifi connection can always be faster and more reliable than 3G. So that only leaves those times when you are mobile in a caror when you are at someone else's house and they don't have WiFi, then you can use your 3G. If you use it this way, 5GB is a very generous limit, unless you spend all your time on Bittorrent or Limewire downloading movies and MP3s. If that's the case, then just wait until you get home.

I agree with you on all points here except the one about using 3G while in a car, IF you are the driver. Why put others at risk?...... But then again I suppose some people would think that is better than reading the newspaper while you're driving.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess

This doesn't surprise me in the least. Verizon also advertises their network as the "most reliable" even though they clearly are not!

You know, uneducated blank statements like these can be said about any carrier's advertising, whether it be Verizon's most reliable or Cingular's fewest dropped calls. Marketers always play with words and terms and no one carrier holds this term everywhere, its overall by "independent" companies, which happen to be on their payroll.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by bobolito

Cingular has a limit as well. They just won't admit it. I've heard some people that have been cut off. The truth is cellular networks were never designed to provide unlimited voice and data service to everyone. Capacity just runs out too quickly. The problem is carriers advertise it as unlimited but 3G wireless was never meant (or designed) to be your primary source for internet access. If you are home, you can have WiFi (connected to your DSL or Cable) so there's no need to use 3G wireless there. If you are at work and you need to use the Internet, your job will offer a broadband connection as well which means you won't need your 3G wireless there either. Plus your home/work Wifi connection can always be faster and more reliable than 3G. So that only leaves those times when you are mobile in a car or when you are at someone else's house and they don't have WiFi, then you can use your 3G. If you use it this way, 5GB is a very generous limit, unless you spend all your time on Bittorrent or Limewire downloading movies and MP3s. If that's the case, then just wait until you get home.

That is a great point and I have to agree. My only question is why Verizon has to limit customer's data usage so severely, when Sprint and maybe even Cingular doesn't care or run out of capacity when I use 100 GB per month. Verizon does nickle and dime to death, Cingular is no better, and neither will the smaller carriers once they get as big.