Verizon will not honor grandfathered unlimited data if you upgrade this summer onward
We knew this was coming. When and how, we weren’t sure, but we know it was coming. I’m referring to Verizon’s plan to get rid of unlimited data for those who are grandfathered in. When Verizon originally axed unlimited data they honored standard grandfathered clauses that allowed people to keep their unlimited data.
Even if you upgraded after that change you were able to keep your data. You can say goodbye to that soon. Verizon Wireless CFO Fran Shammo announced in a conference call that users who wanted to upgrade their phone that’s on a grandfathered data plan from this summer onward would be forced to switch to the tiered and shared data plans that Verizon is looking to introduce.
We assume the policy will be enforced starting on the day those new plans start, but we don’t have a launch window outside of “summer” for those. For the time being you can upgrade and keep unlimited data, but you better act before it’s too late. It wasn’t clear whether or not this policy would apply to those who buy their phones off-contract either through Verizon, a retailer, or another source, but we’ll be trying to dig for confirmation.
I know many of you will be disappointed by Verizon’s decision, but I’m sure you’re no less surprised. Unlimited data is a dying breed and to expect Verizon to honor grandfathered contracts forever would be setting your hopes at an extremely high and unrealistic level. Sure, some less important perks may have lasted longer but Verizon’s bread and butter is data and they have to leverage that every way they can.
As a customer of Verizon, I’m going to do everything in my power to keep my unlimited data. If that means going without an upgrade, then so be it: my Galaxy Nexus should suffice for a fair amount of time beyond late 2013. And if people can last on the G1 this long (there are still some out there), then it should be no problem for me. Thoughts? [via The Verge]