I don't think they make "data-less" phones either, though. I have an extremely basic phone (one of the ones they give out free in bulk with the purchase of a better phone ), but it can still get simple internet and instant messaging. But up till now its been $1.99 for 24 hours of internet and same fee for messaging. Is that what's going to be replaced by the $10 flat fee?

@Karen: Good point about the analog phones. (They are called analog, right?)

@Locutus: I have a smartphone yet don't desire/have/need a data plan =O. Waste of $30 a month in my opinion since I would rarely, if ever, really use it.

Ashraf said:

Pwnana said:

That $10 charge (and AT&T does it now too) is for "sort-of" smart phones. Basically any phone that has the ability to get to the internet even if it isn't considered a "smart" phone.

If you just have a "plain" phone that only does voice and texting, then you don't have that extra $10 charge.

Pwnana said:

Or get a Droid and use Verizon =P. I don't really understand what your saying about the $10 data plan... So if you are a current Verizon customer, you will have to pay $10 more a month for a data plan, even if you don't use one? Why don't they just include that in the base plan price?

As far as I know, all new customers or customers who buy new phones/renew their contracts with Verizon will have to purchase a data plan. If you are using a smartphone, you can get the smartphone data plan. Otherwise, you will have to get their $10 data. Yes even if you don't use one.

Verizon's rationale behind this is that many customers want to use data but don't because they dont have a data plan. In my opinion, it is just another way to cover their decreasing revenue from voice plans.

karen said:

That sucks. I'm assuming that AT&T will match that. And I have an iPhone in the US so I'm stuck with them.

As I mentioned, if your cell phone service provider (AT&T in your case) raises the prices on you, they have a legal obligation to allow you to break your contract without the early termination penalty.

In your case, you could jailbreak your iPhone and move to T-mobile if you still want your iPhone.

Jabtano said:

Just in case many of you haven't noticed, but the price of data use has gone up yet again. Verizon taped up the price of there data use by ten bucks yesterday. so even if you have a smart phone and use little data your still going to see the up-cost in this Months bill.

I thought Verizon made it so everyone who doesn't have a data plan had to purchase a data plan for $10? So from that point on, all new customers would need to buy one regardless of if you have as smartphone. I wasn't aware that they also raised smartphone plans.

BTW If you are a current Verizon customer, they can't raise the price on you without giving you a chance to break your contract. So if you are on a contact, and they tell you they will be increasing the price on you, you are within your legal rights to break the contract - just call them and tell them you want out. They can't charge you an early termination charge in the case where they raise your prices.