Verizon changing its upgrade policy; you'll have to wait 20 months for a new phone

[Lucian]

Verizon's getting ready to change (they call it "simplifying") its upgrade policy starting Jan. 16, and it's not quite in favor of the consumer. As you can see in the above training material, customers on a standard two-year contract won't be able to upgrade in months 13 through 20 and instead must wait until the contract is nearly up. Also, the "New Every Two" program will be phased out as those customers re-up. Customers on one-year contracts won't be affected.

So it's a step backward, and it makes it that much more important to pick a good phone (and be willing to spend a few extra bucks to do so) -- and that much more important for Verizon and the manufacturers to update phones as best they can.

Source: http://www.androidcentral.com/verizon-changing-its-upgrade-policy-youll-have-wait-20-months-new-phone
-------------------------------------------------
Seems to me Verizon is screwing over the consumer. Again. Starting January 16, you won't be able to get an annual upgrade for a phone anymore (for those on two year contracts). Now you'll have to wait 20 months. I've had my Motorola Droid for 13 months now, and from what I understand, I won't be able to upgrade it until August. August? This phone is outdated already. Now I'll have to pay full retail price for a new phone. :grr: :grr: :grr:

Sprint is starting to look better and better.

[Skittles]

1. OMG heaven forbid you can't have a new phone!!!

[Lucian]

2. That's not my outrage.

My outrage is how Verizon is now screwing over the consumer now. Under the old plan, one could get an upgrade for 1/2 the retail price after 12 months on a phone, which made it affordable. Now, we'll have to wait 20 months. Otherwise we'll have to pay full retail price. And in my line of work, I need an upgraded phone, and I can't afford to pay $500-$600 for one every year.

[some guy]

6. Truly?

What do you need to be able to do with your phone that it doesn't do?
How did you do that a year ago?
How do you do it today?

From a different perspective, what do you do with your old phones?
Swapping out phones every year doesn't do a lot that's good for the mineral wealth of the planet.

[Sherman A1]

8. Agreed & Well Said

I have a 4 year old phone that works just fine. I upgrade when they break or wear out.

[CreekDog]

13. this thread is cementing my belief that the zeitgeist of DU is trending against technology

Smartphones are the norm now and are innovating on a monthly basis.

yet here, people rail against needing a new phone (even though it is a communication medium that is evolving), much as DU represented a new form of political communication when it was created.

just like people here rail against using FB or whatever, even though these are just new ways of communicating.

[Statistical]

15. No some are just not yet infected with the disease consumerism.

My 3 year old phone has GPS, driving navigation, contact management, and integrates into both work email & gmail. Also does text messaging, has decent camera, voice recorder, speakerphone, plays mp3, and MAKES PHONE CALLS.

Honestly what could a new phone do? Not flash, not cool, not games, but something I MUST HAVE to get the job done. Nothing. So if I need to wait a few more months before getting new phone I just don't see that as horrible. Americans are HORRIBLY wasteful when it comes to resources. Maybe this will cause length of phone usage (before it gets tossed into the landfill) to stretch out a little longer.

Sure new phones are nicer but they aren't a necessity. I doubt anyones productivity is greatly reduced by using a phone which is 12 months old.

[CreekDog]

18. the better the phone the more easily it replicates my computer

but is portable, allowing me it's functionality at meetings, for scheduling, shopping, communicating, etc.

i don't know why the term "need" is in your post.

is any of this about need? it's about ways to get things done, some needed, some not.

[some guy]

37. need

this little sub-thread started with me responding to Lucian saying he/she "needed" the latest and greatest phone.

That was Lucian's word choice. I was questioning the need. It may be valid, it may not. I won't know until Lucian answers my questions.

I'm not anti-technology. I'm not (completely) against people wanting the newest gizmo. ( I do think it's wasteful of limited resources, but I'm old, and have no progeny, so the world running out of resources will be someone else's problem)

[Maru Kitteh]

33. speaking of disease

I use my smart phone for medical applications including quick lookups of drug interactions and costs, diagnostics, etc. It's improved availability of information and productivity.

I guess I'm just silly. (or "diseased")

[Statistical]

36. Do you feel the need (not just desire but outright need) to replace your smartphone

with another smartphone in less than 20 months? and then replace that one and replace that one and replace that one?

The OP is about the "horror" of having to wait a WHOLE 20 months between phone upgrades (or pay full price).

I am no luddite I have a rather nice smartphone I just don't feel the "need" to upgrade it continually. If I did upgrade it then it would be a splurge not out of any necessity.

[superduperfarleft]

42. I don't see "horror" anywhere in the OP. n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

51. No, the OP is about the further degredation of the value of service provided

by the Verizon company to its customers.

[superduperfarleft]

40. Plus 1 zillion.

It's like a contest to see who can be more obnoxious and sanctimonious than the guy who got rid of his TV five years ago and hasn't shut up about it.

[uppityperson]

35. some people use their phones for much more than simply calling people

They are, in effect, mini-computers and used for work purposes.

[some guy]

46. I understand that.

I also understand Lucian may be in some profession that does require the latest innovations.

Lucian claimed a need for the newest technology. I'm just asking why.

[snooper2]

16. What line of work are you in where you need a new phone

every year..Come on, Please do tell...

Are you doing mobile twinning? Working at the top of a mountain range so you can get sat coverage? Pulling/pushing calls?



I say everyone should pay full price for a new phone every time. Less crap in the landfills and more copper available for other uses.

[Gormy Cuss]

49. Did they make this change during the current contracts/plans, or only new ones?

If it's the latter they're not screwing anyone, they're simply changing the terms of the agreement and if enough customers jump ship to different vendors Verizon may notice.

If it's the former, they are screwing customers and everyone who feels shorted in the deal should complain early and often.

[brooklynite]

54. Here's a simple solution...don't sign up with them

....or quit when your contract is up.

Companies frequently change their business policies. Other companies competing with them may then offer a better deal. Give your business to a company you like better.

[Sherman A1]

57. Says it all right there........

:toast:

[SoCalDem]

4. I bought a used Jitterbug on ebay

paid $35 to reprogram it & $14.00 a month.. I have yet to use it though :)...but if my Time Warner el cheapo plan ever goes dead for a while, I will be reachable:)


I have our home phone on mute & every few days I check the caller ID..:)

[tabbycat31]

30. I have a 6 month old phone

And it was the first phone I got for more than talking and texting (I probably text more than I talk) and I just love it. I love my crackberry and now would not have anything but a smartphone.

I also have not had a landline since 2002 (and it was my parents') and do not plan on having one ever.

[HEyHEY]

5. The reality of this situation is too horrific

I can't read this thread anymore!

[Dorian Gray]

27. Seriously

I upgrade my phone every three years or so, and I feel frivolous doing that.

[superduperfarleft]

38. OMG heaven forbid you stay the fuck out of a topic that you clearly don't care about.

Don't be jealous just because your phone sucks.

[Sherman A1]

52. A bit tense?

And seems to be a bit of projecting......

[superduperfarleft]

53. Thanks, but my phone is awesome. No projecting here. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. I am about to abandon Verizon...I need GSM based equipment

[brooklynite]

55. Why?

If you need GSM for calls outside the USA, you're much better off buying a cheap unlocked GSM phone and getting a SIM card for the country you need service in.

[nebenaube]

7. It's a marketing strategy...

I'm eligible for an upgrade and was originally planning to do it. I suspect many others are as well. I'm not too happy about Verizon's political actions and the new two tier-ed internet. I'm broke. I can wait because if I stay broke, well then I won't really need a new phone; I may not even keep this one. The reason I think it is a marketing strategy is that I don't think that I am unique in this regard.

[elocs]

9. I use my cell phone to simply talk with people. I guess that makes me almost Amish these days.

I don't need a phone to massage my feet or tickle my fancy, I just need to be able to talk with the person on the other end.

My last cell phone still works although after 6 years some of the numbers are worn off. Currently I am using Verizon through Straight Talk for which I pay $30/month for 1000 minutes, no contract. I got a new cell phone with that first month's $30 subscription fee and it does all I need it to do. I could go with $45/month for unlimited minutes, but then I really don't have that much to say for an unlimited time anyways.

[pipi_k]

11. Got rid of Verizon last October

and went with the Straight Talk $30.00/ month plan.

With Verizon we got 700 minutes for over $80 per month (with taxes, etc)

Now I get 1000 texts and 1000 talk minutes for $30.00

Not that I use them all. There's currently no cell tower near my house so coverage is spotty at best...my cell is just for emergency use right now, but eventually we'll probably consider getting rid of the land line when the three cell towers built last fall are activated sometime this month.

So far the Straight Talk plan is working out fine...

[elocs]

20. Since I have a cmda phone it uses Verizon. Now I have the LG220C

http://dac-staging.deviceanywhere.com/tracfone/straighttalk/home.seam?deviceId=635

which I got for free when I ordered a $30 card and it works fine and there is good Verizon coverage where I live. Since I have to pay another $30 next month I decided to order another free phone, the Samsung 355C:

http://tracfone.deviceanywhere.com/straighttalk/home.seam?custId=STSAR355CP

Straight Talk is owned by Tracfone, but I used Tracfone for 15 years with no significant problems. I am getting rid of my voip landline and so that will be saving me $15 a month, but I will keep my old Tracfone since it still has more than 3 hours on it with another year to go before I have to add more time.

[shanti]

32. i got rid of my landline last month

killed me to lose my long time home number, but oh well. i got a net talk duo (like magic jack) which cost me $70 for the device and a year's worth of phone service. works like a charm. my home phone was costing me almost $40 a month. now, i want to get rid of my dish network service with is almost $120 a month. with netflix (i'm KEEPING that, lol!) and hulu, that should be enough.

i have a verizon blackberry now, but am thinking of cutting that off and going to metropcs, which is unlimited and at least $40 month less than verizon. or???

[Abq_Sarah]

41. I killed my landlines two years ago

And had my home and business numbers transferred to cell phones. My landlines were constantly going down because jackasses were running over the junction box down the street and Qwest refused to protect them with buried concrete posts so now they don't have to worry about me calling.

[ecstatic]

21. I was considering straight talk

I wasn't sure if I could trust them with my cell phone number of 8 years+. Boost might be a better fit.

[elocs]

22. What do you think they will do with your number? I've had the same Tracfone number for over 6 years

and Straight Talk is owned by Tracfone. It's hard to beat 1000 minutes/1000 texts a month for $30 or unlimited for $45.

http://www.straighttalk.com/FAQ

Can I transfer my current phone number to a Straight Talk phone?

Yes, you may transfer your telephone number from another company to Straight Talk. To port in your existing telephone number to your Straight Talk phone, the number you are porting must be active with your current service provider.

You need to request Straight Talk to port in your number, Straight Talk will process your request in your behalf. In order to request the transfer and initiate the activation process please go to www.straighttalk.com/Activate,and select the radio button option "Activate my phone with a number transferred from another company."

The transferring of your number to a new Straight Talk might take a few hours; however, if there are any delays from your current wireless carrier, the transfer process could take up to 7 days and in the case of landline numbers, transfers may take up to 30 days.

Your new Straight Talk will be ready to complete activation when your old phone stops working.

[Statistical]

23. You have the right to port your number to the new phone.

Your new prepaid may come with a number already however call customer service on your new provider and ask them to port your old phone number.

If you are lucky it will take <30 minutes. If you are really unlikely it might take 3 days.

[elocs]

25. Your new Straight Talk phone does not come with a number.

That is determined whether or not you have a number to port or not.

https://www.straighttalk.com/Activate

Activate Your Phone

Phone Number Selection

Please select how you would like to Activate your phone:

Activate my phone with a new number or Reactivate with an existing or new number

A mobile number will be assigned to you based on the zip code you provide. Activation could take anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours.

Transfer my service and phone number from one Straight Talk phone to another.

You can transfer an existing Straight Talk number to the phone you wish to activate. Please sign in to your account to complete this process. The transfer process may take up to 2 business days for wireless phone numbers, but may take longer for landline phone numbers.

Activate my phone with a number transferred from another company.

If you currently have a phone with another company, you can transfer that number to your Straight Talk phone. We are committed to making the transfer of your number as seamless and timely as possible and our goal is to transfer your number to your new Straight Talk phone within a few hours. Due to the holiday volume, the transfer process may take up to 4 business days for wireless phone numbers, but may take longer for landline phone numbers.

With my current voip phone I had a problem getting my number ported from my landline using my local phone company. After several weeks I simply told them to give me a new number and I had one right away. I chose to get a new number right away this time because I didn't want to take the time to get my old voip number ported.

[ecstatic]

50. Thanks for the info. How is their customer service? nt

[superduperfarleft]

39. Yeah, well I use my cell phone as a paperweight!

If I need to talk to someone, I'll use a carrier pigeon, unlike the rest of you consumerist assholes.

[BadgerKid]

10. Translation: We want more money (?) n/t

[CreekDog]

12. you win!

:party:

[frylock]

48. translation: you're phucked if you want an ifone

[MadHound]

14. OMG! I won't be able to get the latest greatest electronic doo-dad!

Actually this could be a good thing. Considering that the average consumer uses their cell phone only eighteen months before tossing it for a new model, making them wait an additional twenty months would be a good thing for the landfills and environment in general.

[dembotoz]

17. might increase their churn rates

people trade in early to get an new phone and a new 2 yr contract.
waiting the extra months might make the customer more vulnerable to leave for a new carrier--almost done with the contract --lets shop around

[tridim]

19. My computer is 6 years old for gawd's sake.

Some of the hard drives in there are 10+ years old!

I'm so glad I'm not addicted to the bleeding edge, smart phones and Apple-type marketing is destroying us.

[qb]

24. There is no such thing as a free phone. So called "free" phone deals are just payment plans.

Compare the monthly rates for a "free phone" contract plan and a buy-your-own phone pay as you go plan. The difference in the monthly rate is the payment on your phone loan.

[Initech]

26. I was on Verizon, hated it. Now I'm on AT&T and considering ditching that for Sprint.

[CreekDog]

31. depends why you hate Verizon

if the coverage is a problem, Sprint often uses the same towers --ergo, that probably won't solve your problem.

i think Tmobile used to piggyback off AT&T towers in places but not anymore (not sure though). for a while Tmobile didn't even work at my house (in fact they waived a bill or two for me -which is a lot).

though i kind of loathe Verizon, their coverage and speed have usually been excellent so i stick around.

the Sprint everything mobile plan for $69/month however, is almost unbeatable with 450 minutes (but unlimited to cell phones of all carriers) and includes the data plan. i still went with Verizon because after two years of Tmobile's spotty network i just wanted everything to work without having to put a lot of thought into it --but i'm paying a premium for that.

[Abq_Sarah]

44. I'm on Verizon

Because they have the best coverage for the northern third of NM. 4 phones + mobile broadband for less than what I was paying just for the landlines before I had them terminated.

[Initech]

45. Customer service

I was on a business plan and I could never get a new phone when I wanted one. Now I switched to AT&T to get the iPhone and with the iPhone 4 I constantly get dropped calls and service. It sucks.

[populistdriven]

28. You should put CYANOGENMOD on it, it will make you love your phone again ! ! ! ! ! ! !! !! ! ! ! !

I still have my 3+ year old G1 and the latest Cyanogenmod makes it really fast and I can install apps on external memory so the internal 100 Mb of memory is not a limit at all with an 8Gb sd card.

Seriously if you havent installed Cyanogenmod you are missing out on the best reason to own an android phone.

http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Motorola_Droid:_Full_Update_Guide

[Romulox]

29. My recommendation for someone like you is to go month to month, and then pay the TRUE cost of the

phone upfront.

Verizon was NEVER giving you anything for free--they were just spreading the cost out over the contract term.

[Xenotime]

34. Sounds like AT&T

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

43. I think it's sad things are "outdated" in months

I just got my first cell phone, an LG Rumor Touch and plan to keep it for two years no matter what.

My parents have had the same Direct TV receivers for over ten years and they still work better than the crap they send us now every other year.

[Sherman A1]

56. The face is that most things are not outdated in months

certainly needs change in some cases & thus upgrades are warranted, but I believe far too often it's just the next shiny toy with which we cannot do without.

My cell phone is 4 years or so old and works just fine for my needs (making phone calls). My college age niece has gone through 4 phones in the first semester of her freshman year, because she "mysteriously" seems to lose them or break them, with the family guessing that she has just seen the latest & greatest new one. Thankfully I am not paying for her phones or her 2 laptops (which I understand do not mix well with Mac & Cheese on the keyboard).

[lafayettelonewolf]

47. My response...

20 MONTHS?! On the "What The Fuck" scale from 1 - 10 with 10 being "Completely Fucked Up"

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

This is a 10!