VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchange
 

Just read this a few hours ago. Essentially if you want to take full advantage of the Droid, you could be shelling out an extra $75 bucks ON TOP of your normal plan rate!!!

Breakdown as follows:

$30 for "Unlimited" 5 gig data plan (forced by VZW if you buy the Droid)
$30 additional for "Unlimited" Tethering (but this option includes another 5 gig of data)
$15 addition if you want to use Exchange features

So, thats an additional whopping $75 just be able to have Data, Tether, and use Exchange??!!?!!?

This is why I left VZW. Besides, why do they insist on calling a 5 gig cap "Unlimited". I use almost 4 gigs a month on my Sprint account and I maybe tether one day at most.

Heres the article from PCWorld:

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente..._cost_you.html

Mods: If I have posted this in the wrong section, please forgive me. This is my first news submission. Just let me know, and I will move/delete it.

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

I don't think you need above the $30 plan but yeah I'm gonna try to get out of Verizon when my contract is up because they are greedy.

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

Well, if you dont plan on tethering and dont plan on using an Exchange server, then all you will need is the $30 forced data plan.

But if your like alot of "power users" (like me), then those features are kinda necessary. I need exchange for my work email, and I also need to be able to tether. Although I hardly tether, there are times when I have to remote some servers when I am on the road, and free WIFI isnt always easy to find :)

Honestly, VZW should just have a flat rate pricing. I mean what justifies the extra 15 bucks for Exchange? Why not include all of those features in the 30 data plan?.

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

Bottom line is that the can do it because they know their customers will pay it..

Sprint has the lowest pricing and is bleeding customers
Verizon has higher prices (and the best coverage) and they know they can charge customers more. And their customers may complain but most of the always pay.

Charge less and lose customers...
Chare more and gain customers...
Which business model would you chose?

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

That $15 exchange charge is for corporate accounts only. Normal users will only pay $30, and can still use exchange.

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

Yeah I was gonna say you can use Exchange just fine. And Sprint's business model isn't hurting them, just that they lost so much earlier and now it is hurting them.

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

Personal accounts dont pay the 15.00 for exchange.

Just like winMo there is a workaround for tethering that lets you do it without the Verizon service.

Sprint and AT&T require their premium plans with their high end phones as well which also have a 5gb limit on data.

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

I dunno if I would tether using a "hack". check out the TOS for VZW "unlimited" data plans:

If they caught you tethering unauthorized, then you would be stuck paying the outrageous and double priced cancellation fee.

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

Pretty sure its the same for Sprint too. None of the carriers want you tethering without paying them for it, but we all do it. If you wouldn't tether using a "hack" then how exactly are you tethering?

Re: VZW Droid could cost as much as $75 above plan rates for Data, Tethering, Exchang
 

I actually added PAM on one of my SERO accounts just last week. I think it was like 10 bucks extra. But the cool thing about that is the fact you can load up the sprint software on your laptop, use the phone as a modem, legally, AND they have a cool feature that passes the phones GPS data to your laptop....essentially letting you use your phone as a tethered modem, and an external GPS receiver.

I remember reading somewhere (I think on the sprintusers forum) that sprint's data plans were truly unlimited. I could be wrong on that, I will look for the link and post it if I find it.