I I were on VZW's policy making committees, I would change the whole PDA service model to a data-based plan not a voice-based one. You'd get a data plan as a base for $29.99 and then you would add optional voice minute packages at say $10 for 100 any-time/500 N&W in increments of $10.

Americans need to become more progressive in their thinking and quit thinking of digital phones as "voice machines" as the old American-spawned landlines were. New Administration, new business models. DATA is the wave of the future. Get with the program, yanks.

Edit: Just filled out the survey and told them my suggestion about data-based business model for PDAs. Wonder if I'll get a callback.....

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My brain is so full of S (Entropy, that is), I don't know anything anymore.

Does anyone know of any carriers that don't require a data package with a Windows Mobile phone? Since I'm probably leaving Verizon over this, I need to find a new carrier.

You'll be soorrryyy!
I have heard Verizon had so many folks on a no data plan (pay as you go) month to month that ran up huge bills and then gave Verizon hell for something that was the customers fault that Verizon decided it wasn't worth the hassle and would just require data plans with all new data capable phones. I agree with the "get Data Plan first and then add voice minute increments" idea though. Well , too bad you can't get a Sprint SERO plan anymore. That seemed to be a pretty good deal. I looked at web sites of ATT and T-Mobile. Looks like you have to have a data plan there for a WinMo device as well.

Calling Pillaging Jack: did you guys find this to be true? Is your store allowed to sell these new phones with Pay as you go plan? I don't see how you can use the phone part of this device without running up data charges as well. Some program or other is going to phone home and then you've got data going back and forth.

I've been running a Windows Mobile phone for years now without any sort of data plan. I don't even have the pay as you go. So I've never had to worry about running up any sort of bill.

I too have gotten by just fine without a data plan. Don't need it. Wi-Fi at home and work. I'm set. But get this: I got an Omnia in exchange for my very buggy i760. Great, I thought. They simply exchanged the new phone with me and sent me on my way. THEN I got my next bill! They jacked me up with the $45 data plan without ever telling me! I couldn't believe they would just unilaterally change my plan terms without asking me or requiring me to sign something to OK taking on an additional $45 per month. I called and was told "Sorry. Policy changed the day before you got this phone. You're stuck with a data plan or go get a non-PDA phone." Wow. I mentioned that I just purchased and received Christmas gift accessories for this phone worth about $150 and she said "maybe you can return those"!!! My very polite but irritated e-mail to VZW last week has gone unanswered. I've never experienced anything like this with any company. I don't know what to do now. I'm wondering if enough people have been unknowingly forced into plans like me to get the interest of a class-action attorney.

Verizon has no right add anything to current customers contract and this per their own contact policy. They are breaking a law and especially for all customers that had problems with Samsung i760 which was a lemon device from the start.

Now they're offering either Saga or Omnia as a exchange device without letting customer know that they will be forced to pay additional $30 or $45 for data plans.


Anyone that had problems Samsung i760 or any other pda/phone device should able to get exchange for a different equal or greater value device without being forced to get data plan period !

VERIZON IS BREAKING A LAW !!!

Robbo, where did you send the e-mail? If you haven't yet, I would recommend filling out a survey at www.verizonwirelesssurvey.com. That's what I did and got a chance to talk to someone. Also keep in mind that the past couple weeks have been filled with holidays so their response back to you might be a bit delayed. Let us know what you find out from them. I'd be curious to hear what they have to say about your situation.

Remi,

I will agree with you that some of these people are getting shafted, especially the ones that aren't even being told that its a required option. Though I don't think they are breaking the law - execpt for the the fact they aren't being told.

FWIW - the 760 wasn't a lemon outside of the bluetooth issue. I know, I got it the day it came out and the only issue it had was the BlueTooth problem. Otherwise the phone was one of the best phones they ever came out with.

I was told at a VZW store that Verizon will no longer ACTIVATE any smartphones without a data plan for any reason. This means: if you have to replace your grandfathered smartphone, new or old, you must choose between paying for a data plan or switching to a dumb phone. Your situation, past present or future, have no bearing on this rule. So when my treo650 gets ruined and insurance sends me a new one, VZW will not activate it without a data plan.

Those of you (and me) currently using smartphones that have been grandfathered are using your last phone without a data plan.

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Downhills and tailwinds, 73

Has anyone tried signing up for the data plan, then cancelling it after a few days or a month?

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Downhills and tailwinds, 73

I smell class action suit. Verizon can not do this to its current customers if their contract has not expired yet. Very ez win if must to the court even if going on your own. I bet Verizon will settled without going to avoid bad publicity.

SHAME ON YOU VERIZON! CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

I don't see where VZW has done anything wrong. It has no affect on your current phone.

Forcing you to get data plan ...how does this sound for starters? If your phone/pda is not working as it should and they can not fix it or becuase it is a lemon phone they must raplace it for equal or greater value no questions asked without foring you to get data plan and simply can not add any other feature which you have not requested this is per their own terms and condtions.

Terms and Condtions do stand for a term of a contract -customer must obey them so is Verizon.

SHAME ON YOU VERIZON! CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

This is not exactly true. As stated in prior posts, and Verizon Policy....any PDA that has launched after November 14th, 2008 is required to have a data plan. This includes The Samsung Saga and Omnia, The HTC Touch Pro, And any other new PDA launched after that. The prior phones, XV6800, i760, i730 and all treo models will still be able to activate without a data package. If your insurance company sends you a comparable model, or the same, you will still be able to activate without a data package.

HTC XV6800 very soon they will discontinue this phone plus it is older than Samsung i760

Samsung i760 - a lot problems with this device from the start, was discontinued after 6 months after its release, but Verizon still sends them as replacement I only wonder why.... to piss off more of it customers so they switch to different carrier???

Samsung i730 - This phone not qualified as replacement since it was discontinued and Verizon do not sell them or sends them as replacement for quite some time.

So once again anyway you look at this they will be sending by their own admission one those new phones Saga and Omnia, HTC Touch Pro. Now since some of its customer’s contract has not expired yet implementation of force data plans on those new devices should not apply to them and this where Verizon is breaking a law.

If your phone/pda is not working as it should and Verizon cannot fix it or because it is a lemon phone they must replace it for equal or greater value no questions asked without forcing you to get data plan and Verizon cannot simply add any other feature which you have not requested this is per their own terms and conditions.

So if you're thinking of switching becuase Verizon is forcing something on you one way or the other this is very easy way out if your contract has not expired yet and you want to avoid the early termination fee.

SHAME ON YOU VERIZON! CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Seriously buddy, you need to take a chill pill. First off, I work for a leading multi-carrier agent. That being said, I am familiar with all major carriers in the US (I should be, I work with them). If there is something you don't like about Verizon, then by all means, switch carriers. I can not think of anytime that Verizon held a gun to my head and told me to join their network. Now, if you say that only Verizon has a network worth using, well then you just have to deal with it. Second, which company, pray tell, does not require a data plan with their new smart devices? The only company that hasn't done this wide scale yet is T-Mobile and that is being changed as they roll out their 3G coverage nationwide. Furthermore, tmobile doesn't require it only on their smart phones, but they also require on some basic phones! So please, REMI, please do some research before you rant and rave. I love coming to this forum for the wealth of knowledge and for the people that I have been able to help myself. I do not come here to listen to people b*tch.

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If you have any questions at all feel free to PM me, or email me on my personal account. nathan.burlison@gmail.com
Also, please feel free to call me at my store anytime, (314) 291-8699. Just ask for me.


Nate

I respectfully disagree. I can only repeat what I was told by a store sales rep. I stand by my previous post: All currently active smartphones are grandfathered, but VZW will not activate any new ones without a data plan. I am not refering to phone models here. NO NEW PHONES, even a replacement for my ancient treo650, will be activated without a data plan. I invite anyone with more intimate knowledge of VZW policies than mine to share their knowledge. As I said, I am only repeating what I was told in person by a store rep. They claim that their computer system no longer allows any smartphone activations without a data plan. I hope I am wrong.

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Downhills and tailwinds, 73

People like you should not be here in the first place. So please don't waste your time and ours with your nonsense. I just stated the facts here. Now whether T-Mobile or AT&T had required data plans for some time is not the issue here.

Read, read and read again then cool it off chief before you say anything.

Issue is quite simple here and I explained. This is why each carrier has their own contracts that they sell to their customers with specific features, terms and conditions stated within.

Customers and Carriers must obey them if not why would they sell them in the first place.

Now whether you work for multi-carrier agent or for president of the USA no one really cares.

Mark my words Verizon would either bring changes or will pay some hefty fines if they cannot offer working pda/phone replacement for a faulty device and force data plans on its existing customers which contract has not expired yet.

CHEERS!

Yikes!!!!!

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Downhills and tailwinds, 73

I take back part of what I wrote..... I wrote " If your insurance company sends you a comparable model, or the same, you will still be able to activate without a data package" I meant if they send you a comparable model that is not one of the new phones launched after Nov. 14th you are fine, as well as the same model. I was just using phone models to go with my example.

I do work for VZW, and am well aware of the policy in place. I just misunderstood your post. And I agree, this thread is getting a little nasty. Everyone should share there opinion and state how they feel, but lets all just get along