Not sure how many of you are trying to find answers about the new Verizon plans but I am and I thought this would be a good thread to get some Q&A going about them. Does anyone know what is going on with what will be charged when using Get it now? I for one use backup asistant since it is free if you register on my account. But will I be charged data if this is updating?? Also what about picture and video messaging does this use your minutes anymore and does it charge data as well??? Things like this are what I want answers to basically what is going to be charged on the data side and what will not.
You will not be charged DATA or MINUTES for Picture/Video Messaging. PIcture and Video messaging come out of your pics/video messaging bucket.
NOTHING will be charged as airtime on the new Nationwide Plan. It's not set up as MOU in the billing system, so there is no way anything can count against airtime.
data, if you do not have a plan of any kind is 1.99 per mb on the nationwide plan. For regular phones, the 15.00 data plan covers this I believe. For smartphones, the 44.95 plan covers this.
I switched to a Nationwide Select plan on Christmas Eve. 4 lines with unlimited msg/pic text for the family plan. When I checked my current usage a few days later, I had over 9 MB data usage (over all phones). I downloaded Backup Assistant on each phone, but other than that, did nothing else (my kids may have access Mobile Web, even though they say they only browsed GIN). When I called Verizon about it, they said that even browsing (not just downloading) GIN applications count towards MB data charges. On my old plan (Americas Choice), we were able to browse GIN and download free demo games without incurring any additional charges (during peak, it would use plan minutes). The CSR was kind enough to credit some of the MB charges because it was not clear that browsing GIN would incurr MB charges. Since then, I have not accessed GIN or Mobile Web on my line. I checked my current usage again today and noticed that there were more MB data usage on each of my lines. Again, my kids may have accessed something, but I know that I did not on my line. I called again and talked with a CSR and a Tech Specialist. They are unable to tell me what the MB data usage was for (GIN, Mobile Web, Other??) The Tech Specialist could only match downloads with usage, but there were none (other than Backup Assistant). The time indicated for my MB usage as of... correlated with the last time I sent a Video message. I asked if sending video messages caused MB usage and was told no. I don't think they really know what is counting towards MB data usage. I get different answers each time I ask. Anyhow, I asked to have all services that would cause MB data usage to be blocked. This is not really a good option, because now if we wanted to access something we are not able to, but I needed to get control of what is causing all of the MB usage. I am now up to 17 MB over all 4 lines (they round up to the whole MB on each line). This is an additional $34!! and I have only had the plan for 11 days. CRAZY! Now I will see if the MB data usage goes up anymore from pic/video messaging. I asked to switch back to America's Choice, but they said that I can't. I thought they had a 30 day Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. I am definately NOT satisfied with the Nationwide plans!! How is paying for something that I was able to do for no additional cost a better plan??? I think VZW is going to have alot of unsatisfied people once they get their first bills and find all of the extra MB data charges. Their "Monthy Usage Example" they provide on their website is a crock! "View 50 pages on Mobile Web - .6MB; download one game from GIN - .2MB; download 1 ringtone from GIN - .2MB = total 1 MB = $1.99". Yeah right! Sorry for the rant, but obviously I'm frustrated...
I love the National Premium Plan. I get unlimited texts/pics messages which help big time with my girlfriend who loves to text all day long!! Plus i love the fact that moblie web now works when i'm roaming on USCC!! Very big deal since i need to force my phone to USCC at my apartment because of the weak VZW signal. Only wish that my "old" VX8600 could be used with this plan. Oh well, guess i'll sell that on eBay and get a RAZR or some other phone to play with!!
Just want to clarify...on the NW plan, sending/receiving txts/pix will NOT eat up your anytime minutes?
Yeah you will not be used for minutes at all. But your data could be being used check your monthly statement.
The Natonwide Premium plans include unlimited data... you have to have the appropriate phone, though. I know that the Voyager, RAZR, and the Chocolate are just some of the phones that are eligible for the Premium Plan.
I'm hoping that Verizon decides to see reason before our current non-nationwide family Select II plan runs out. After shopping around a bit, I'm not going to re-up on a plan that charges per mb for browsing GIN applications...
Verizon won't switch your plans by you renewing your contract. Only if you change your plans to a different type (i.e. more/less minutes or going from basic to select etc) or if you buy the Voyager (IIRC). So if you like your existing plan but you want a discounted phone, the contract is extended, not changed.
That's great news! I didn't realize they would let us keep extending an older style contract indefinitely. Yeah, too bad about the Voyager, at this point I'm not that interested in getting a voyager after playing around with the SMT5800 tester they had at the local store. I can see why they aren't putting it up for sale in the stores yet, it really makes the ENV look bad...
Wow, I just took a gander at the SMT5800 - I'm really ticked I didn't hold out and wait to use my NE2 on that phone.
Just an update on the MB usage and the Verizon Nationwide Plan - JULY 2009 My family currently has been placed on this Nationwide Plan, since updating one of our 5 phones. Most of the new phones require this plan so many people now have to switch from the America's Choice Plan. We share 700 minutes with Unlimited Text, Picture, Video and Instant Messaging. My kids and family do not access the internet. As the minute cop in my family, I will check the account regularly. Each month since we had to change in March 2009, there are MB usage charges of .01 MB, which round up to 1MB at 1.99 each on each line. This can add up quickly. Two more of our phones were upgraded last month. More MB charges have incurred. Speaking with the Customer Service Rep (CSR), Verizon still (7/19/09) cannot identify what each MB charge is for on the bill (yet they have no problems billing us for it). I have found out the following: If you use Instant Messaging, you will incur MB charges the first time you establish a connection to the IM service. If you log out and then log back in again, MB charges will incur. if you browse on Get It Now (GIN), MB charges WILL incur. If you use an app (even if it was preloaded as part of a FREE* trial usage (TO GET YOUR KIDS ENTICED TO USING THE APP), you will incur MB usage each time they use the app.) .01 + .01 + .... BackupAssistant claims to be FREE if you have a MY VERIZON account, but I would bet that each time it updates you will be incurring MB usage - but this has not been clarified because we do not have it on our phone. If you check on MY VERIZON, it will list any DOWNLOADS on your phones, but this is just for the line and is misleading. If your phone changes (my daughter had to change her phone so the app is not on her phone), but it still lists on her line on MY VERIZON. I have had CSRs tell me that the MB usage was for perhaps a large picture file, or a video file over a certain limit... which was WRONG - make sure you speak to a supervisor. If you want immediate attention, you can click on the CONTACT US link on the Verizon Wireless site and send a comment. They are quick to answer - about a day for a return phone call. MOST IMPORTANT - CHECK YOUR BILL AND USE THE MY VERIZON ON LINE ACCOUNT. I have put in a suggestion that they record what caused each MB usage on the bills. Per the CSR, I am not the only one with this complaint. The My Verizon site has gotten better over the last few months. SO COMPLAIN - the more that do, the faster we will see action. By the way, for those of you that simply say update to the next NATIONWIDE PLAN for MB usage, this is not an option. It would add at least $50 a month more to my bill. My kids now know not to use the apps. Verizon just cannot claim FREE Instant Messaging or Free Apps, when obviously it is not entirely free - there is a COST to it.
As an additon: if you cause your phone to open the Mobile Web or Media Center/Get it Now, you have just caused a data charge. Many data charges are caused by this. So the bottom line: be careful and if you don't like this possiblity, look into your phone's manual for how to program the hotkeys so you can't accidentally do this.
THIS IS A GREAT SITE!!! Thanks to so many of u I will keep my Americas Choice and not go to Nationwide. I just wanted better web access. Thanks Dave
