Verizon Smartphone on old Alltel plan

[jakewill]

Hey everyone,

As a HTC Touch Diamond Windows Mobile 6.5.x user of about 1 year, I have been around this site a lot. Recently, thanks to many developers I was able to try out Android 2.0.1 and 2.1 and Sense 2.1, and as most people who have used Android have found -- I fell in love.

Of course I had a year left on my contract, and I didn't want to jump on one of Verizon's "unlimited data" contracts as I would have been paying about $70 more /month. I decided to get my wife a HTC Incredible this week, and that would only add $20/month to our account (moving her line from dumbphone to smartphone) if we could keep our old Alltel contract. I read and found that this would definitely be possible if we kept one Alltel phone (my Diamond), so I was okay with that. I also read that you can purchase a smartphone outright (~$549) and avoid the contract "upgrade" to Verizon's payment structure... I went in today thinking I would be spending $549 for an Incredible, but ended up only paying $170(!). Here's the deal:

On April 9th, Verizon reset all of their old Alltel contracts to use the "New every two" promotion immediately... They also are able to keep customers on their old Alltel contract terms (at least my CSR was able to(!)). With that, I kept my $69.99+$20add-a-line alltel account (no texting, unlimited data), and just upgraded to $69.99+$40add-a-line(no texting, unlimited data on both). I got two Incredibles, one for $200 and one for $170.

I'm not arguing that I got the best deal, or whether or not I should have waited or purchased through Wal-mart instead, I just wanted to let everyone know that it was possible to (A)Keep the old Alltel unlimited plan, and (B)Take advantage of the new 2year commitment discount if you were formerly on Alltel's contract.

Hope it helps,

jakewill

[rainfreak]

Moved to the Carrier Discussion forum for more relevant discussion.

[drewcam888]

thanks for the great info

[eenieMINI]

So for regular Verizon customers who say have a "Dare" with unlimited text and limited data plan and upgrade to the incredible what would be the cost affect is their plan fine or would they need to have unlimited?

[jdmm72]

So, you didn't have to buy a new Verizon data plan. I have the Alltel smartchoice plan with unlimited data and text, and 2 Verizon CSRs were insistant on me also paying an additional $29.99 month for data, which I already had.

Well...I did it today. I ended up getting more minutes, losing 5 F&F, and spending $.01 less a month. Still have an Alltel plan and have been assured that I can switch back if I so choose.

[drewcam888]

Originally Posted by eenieMINI

So for regular Verizon customers who say have a "Dare" with unlimited text and limited data plan and upgrade to the incredible what would be the cost affect is their plan fine or would they need to have unlimited?

No Verizon's system see a smart phone and requires a real data package, not the Dare dumb phone plan.

[eenieMINI]

Ah that's what I was thinking would happen. My friend is with Verizon and wants to try the incredible but doesn't use all that much data, she barely added a minimal data package to her Dare so she could get Facebook and email.

[DMWagner]

Originally Posted by jakewill

purchased through Wal-mart instead

Regarding this statement, is there a benefit to purchasing through Walmart?