Data plan include texts?

M

Merkel

New member
I just found out by reading here about the mandatory unlimited data pack that they're forcing on their customers with smartphones. I had been looking at getting a phone soon with wifi capabilities so I could access the internet through wifi (such as at my house) without having to pay extra. Seems this ain't gonna happen now, and has likely dissuaded me from getting a smartphone altogether.

However, on the off chance I'll opt to spend money on features I don't want or need, does the unlimited data plan include text/pix messaging? I do pay $10 extra per month for unlimited in texting and 500 outside the network, and if that is included in the unlimited data pack, I could drop that. And though I'm practically certain about it, this data pack would only apply to one phone, not one plan, correct? I have 2 phones on a family plan that both pay the $10 for the unlimited texts, and on the off chance that the plan would apply to both AND it covers texting, I could drop $20 right there.

Alternatively, if anyone knows a way I can better "optimize" my plan to shave the price down while maintaining unlimited texting on both phones, I'd be grateful (and surprised). Minutes aren't important to me, if they had a family plan with less minutes, I'd be on it. My current plan includes:

AMERICA'S CHOICE II FAMILYSHARE 700 MINUTES - $60.00
Add Additional Line - $9.99
Unlimited inTXT/500 outTXT - $10 x 2
15% Access Discount (I believe this only applies to the voice plan)


Thanks for any help anyone can provide. I'd love to get a phone like the Omni, Verizon is just trying their hardest to change my mind.
 
Verizon's data package does not include Txt. Your TXT allotment will come from your txt package. BUT, if you use an IM service such as AIM, yahoo, etc, that WON'T take away from your txt, it just uses your data allotment.

Hope thats not too confusing.
 
Can you send an IM to a phone number (as in they receive it as a text)? Even if so I can imagine this would just make things a bigger pain, and probably start charging everyone I "text" data charges.

I looked at the family plans available through verizon. The connect plan says it has unlimited on web browsing and unlimited texting, pix messages, and mobile email. Is this the data plan included in a package, or would I STILL have to pay double for these features?
 
To clarify...

I'm currently on a family plan with 700 minutes (Americas Choice or something, yes I'm aware I'll probably have to change to a nationwide plan to upgrade my phone). I need to stay on a family plan. Do any of the family plans meet the requirements to use a phone like the Omni, such as the Connect plan which says it includes unlimited web browsing? And I'm talking without having to add additional data plan charges and pay twice for the same features. Thanks for the feedback so far.

EDIT:

And if it does not and I went with the Dare on the Connect plan, am I able to go anywhere on the net or only to certain designated places?
 
Here's what I am finding, as I've been doing a lot of research and visiting of the VZN store & Costco ... We're also in the market to buy into Verizon..

The Omnia & Storm are "smartphones" - compared to touch screen phones like DARE & Voyager. Smartphones REQUIRE the additional $29.99/mo. data package which gives you unlimited data-everythying, excluding Texting. That price is a per-phone rate ... You do not have an option here - you MUST buy at least that package if you own a SmartPhone. From what I've determined, this does not include Texting. (see below)

For a Touch Screen phone, you either pay per-megabyte of usage for HTML Web access & text messaging (.20/per message) - or you can buy the $15/mo. VCAST VPAK for unlimited data usage - but again, NOT TEXT MESSAGING ... you still will be charged .20 per message - even with the VCAST VPAK.

For either phone, the TEXT messaging appears to be $5/mo for BASIC messaging (250 messages) and goes up from there with "bundled" Messaging packages ($10, $15, $20).

Clearly they try to make this as confusing as possible so that we just pay the maximum to avoid being nickled and dimed. Just part of the cell phone industry.

If anyone disagrees with my analysis, please speak up. I'm going through all this as well.
 
I am on the Nationwide Family plan with 700 min & unlimited txt. I had 2 smart phones attached to this plan. I was being charged a data charge for every pix/flix message from both smart phones.

Verizon told me that the Connect plan would not cover either of the smart phones when it came to data & I would have to shell out $29.99 per smart phone if I wanted to do that.

I agree with you about charging double for the same thing. Verizon does not honor the plan you have when it comes to smart phones, they also charge different prices for the same thing when it comes to smart phones vs. dumb phones. Used to be Kb vs. Mb, now it is $29.99 (PDA web and email) for smart phone vs. $10.00 (Connect plan) for dumb phone.

Both plans cover email and web surfing, so then why two prices???

They justify this difference in price by saying that because your smart phone can do more with the data that you should be charged more. So in fact they are not charging for the actual data that is downloaded but the actual capabilities of your phone.

I now longer have the smart phones and have replaced them with two LG Dare phones.
These will be covered under the connect plan and also have the full HTML browser.

But there is a rumor that sometime in 09 all full HTML browser phones will have to have a data feature added also. Check out Boy Genius Report they have the leaked document talking about it. (They also had the doc talking about the PDA/Smartphone mandate also before it came to pass)
 
Isn't the VCAST VPAK for the TouchScreen ($15/mo.) already the Data package? or are you saying that it is NOT currently required, and we only get billed for megabytes used - but in 2009 they will likley REQUIRE it for all Touchscreen (non-SmartPhones) like they do now for the SmartPhones ($29.99/mo.) ????
 
I too would like one of the PDA phones and was considering a Palm Centro, Palm 700, or maybe Q off of eBay. My main desire is the organizer but one that had wifi would be great for hotspots.

Anyway, I read here that if I purchased one of these phones that I may be able to continue to receive texts but pictures would not be included? I have the family 29.99 unlimited text and picture messaging.

Pic messaging would not work on one of these PDA phones without having a data plan is that what you guys have determined?

Thanks.
 
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