$59.99 EVDO Plans (read the small print)

Michael

Perhaps you have seen the TV Commercials or newspaper ads and see that getting Verizon's BroadbandAccess or Sprint's Mobile Broadband (both EVDO), only costs $59.99.

$59.99
2 year plan, voice plan required

Well, read the small print. It is $59.99, IF you sign up for a 2 year contract AND you have a voice plan with the carrier. So, with Verizon, you need a $39.99 Verizon Cell Phone (or greater) to qualify. Having Verizon DSL or landline does not qualify.

With Sprint, you need to have any Sprint voice plan. A Nextel cell phone does not qualify, because Sprint and Nextel currently use different billing systems (this will probably change in the future.

So, if yo have a cell phone with another carrier OR you do not have a cell phone with the carrier you want a data card, you will pay the current standard rate of $79.99.

I personally find this advertising misleading, we talk to MANY people who see the huge $59.99 flash on the TV screen and there is NOT enough time to read the small print and they of course think that broadband access costs $59.99 for everyone. With the current conditions, that is not true.

Anyone else find this misleading?
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magicpie · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 10

I was purchased my plan at a verizon store and the salesman did explain to me what was required to get the 59.99 however, I have just a $15/mo loyality plan on my cell phone and still am receiving service for 59.99 and paying about $80/mo for everything.

boater805

boater805

wankel7 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject:

Wow, that is cool you can work verizon like that and it is setup that way.

The ..... work it took for me to get my sprint plan down to 60 wasn't that clean.

James

educationk12 · EVDO User Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

boater,

I'm just wondering. How in the world can you use your evdo pc card to work as a prepaid telephone? There are some pc cards that will do voice with a per minute usage, however EVDO pc cards cannot do voice to my knowledge. Yes, you get a phone number assigned to your account, but unless there is something I don't know about I am 99.9 percent sure that you can't make a telephone call to another telephone with an EVDO pc card. It is EVDO or text message ONLY. If you can do voice on a pc card then let me know, because I would like to do this even if it is at the prepaid minute rates. Sounds great, but I don't think it is possible. I'm not concerned about the $20 difference, but more concerned about making phone calls with my pc card. Let me know about that, because I really would like to do that if it is possible.

Michael · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject:

When Verizon first announced the $59.99 plan, there was much confusion and many of the Verizon customer service people didn't know about the promotion AND many people who found out about this confusion (from this thread), were able to get switched to the lower rate, however, I don't see any reports of that working any more because Verizon is now up to speed.

The promotion states that you need a qualifying voice plan. The fine print states that needs to be on a Voice Plan of $39.99 or higher, which you don't have when you have a data only plan. Once, Verizon switches you to a lower rate (even if it is their mistake), they cannot switch you back, so anyone that got switched (in error), you have nothing to worry about (and congratulations).

For anyone reading this thread who is confused, you technically have a zero minute voice plan with your data card - but, you cannot really use these voice minutes - since you have a data card only, that CANNOT do voice.

It will be interesting to see what happens after 11/8/05 (Sprint's $59.99 ends), and 1/8/05 (Verizon's $59.99 plan ends).

I am betting at some point in the near future, there isn't going to be a voice plan requirement, once Sprint or Verizon lowers (without restrictions), I imagine the other will follow.
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Michael · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:05 pm Post subject:

Also...

The whole point of the thread, is that when you sign up for new service and you currently don't have Verizon service, you are not going to get the $59.99 plan when you sign up.
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boater805 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject:

rsmag9 · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:36 am Post subject:

can anyone point me in the direction of a dealer who is allowing new customers the 59.99 price with no additional plans, I am in Michigan. thanks

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2001

Apparently Sprint will allow this for new customers as long as there is a voice plan and 2 year contract.

Michael · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

I think the question, was who allowed $59.99 without any additional voice plans, and today, bother Verizon and Sprint require a cell phone voice plan to qualify for the $59.99 data plan. So the answer is neither Verizon or Sprint (currently) will give you the $59.99 without a cell phone.
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educationk12 · EVDO User Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

Yeh, I don't want a Verizon evdo cell phone. I want VOICE and DATA at the same time. Their cell phones only do evdo OR voice and that is just stupid.

UMTS/HSDPA is going to kick their booty with that feature.

Does anybody know if Rev A allows for Voice and data at the same time?

SL10 · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:17 pm Post subject:

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2001

From what I understand EVDO Rev A is still just Data Only but will have the upload bandwidth (and apparently better latency) to allow for VoIP. Rev A doesn't inherently add simultaneous voice capability and data, just allows for VoIP over data.

EVDV has separate data/voice channels, which doesn't have such benefit so VoIP over EVDO makes more sense.