Verizon prepaid's fractured byod...

[fonezfonz]

Verizon prepaid byod used to be simple. Any Verizon prepaid phone. Any Verizon postpaid phone. If it had a clean esn. Then things got complicated. First smartphones weren't allowed at all. Then they were but only on the post paid counterpart plans. And of course, no iphone.

Then Verizon unleashed came out which didn't allow any phones but Verizon unleashed and other Verizon prepaid feature phones . No postpaid devices allowed at all.

Now they're coming out with a new $80 plan that allows two measly Verizon smartphones. Prepaid only. You can't bring postpaid devices to it. If you want postpaid Verizon devices on a Verizon prepaid, plan, you get the plus of unlimited 3g data but the minus of having to pay a lot more for the talk/text portion.

Virgin Mobile has a similar fractured device to plan policy. Old phones (pre Beyond Talk) can be used on any plan usually (Shuttle, Slash, TNT, etc) . Android, Blackberry and some higher end feature phones can only be used on BT. Low end feature phones can only be used on Paylo. We may be seeing more fractured policies here when the new Wimax devices come out, or not. Sometimes VM has been known to change things even after they are announced good and bad (Delaying throttling , which was a good thing and other changes that contradict previous announcements).

They should make it simple: All Verizon postpaid and prepaid with clean esns for any Verizon prepaid plan with the possible exception of smartphones only on monthly and smartphone/premium plans.

Their new $80 plan isn't that great compared to Page Plus's 55 for example, which has way better Verizon and other cdma byod, but more people know Verizon more then PPC and to them that $80 deal might be a bargain compared to other Verizon deals.

We'll see... I hope they open up the new $80 plan a bit more though...this fractured byod thing is really going to cause confusion because a lot of people who see the plan are going to wonder if they can put their other non Verizon prepaid smartphone on this plan . Until they hear about Page Plus that is....

[vmobi]

Wirelessly posted (HTC Wildfire S: Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/7.29703/27.1573; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

This is probably only temporary.

New prepaid 4g smartphone options are still rumored for introduction. Once they replace the current prepaid 3g smartphone option it will clarify things.

The new $80 service looks like a (basic 3g) smartphone option for the (basic devices only) Unleashed service plans. Maybe Sprint will follow this example and introduce basic smartphones (Venture, Intercept, etc...) on VM's PayLo service.

[Pabster]

I think it is a given with them launching the 4510L on pre-pay that 4G prepaid smart phone offerings are coming. I'd like to see them revamp the 3G pricing, significantly downward, but I won't be holding my breath...Also Verizon has never been great about BYOD hence why Page Plus became so big (Relatively speaking.)

[fonezfonz]

I think it is a given with them launching the 4510L on pre-pay that 4G prepaid smart phone offerings are coming. I'd like to see them revamp the 3G pricing, significantly downward, but I won't be holding my breath...Also Verizon has never been great about BYOD hence why Page Plus became so big (Relatively speaking.)

You're right about byod. Before, there were NO smartphones at all allowed on Verizon prepaid. Then Androids, Blackberries and Web OS devices. Verizon prepaid phones are also blocked from being put on any Verizon mvno especially Page Plus. By introducing first the "Unleashed" plan and now the $80 plan, they are fragmenting it further. BUT, it's still better then 2009...

[Pabster]

You're right about byod. Before, there were NO smartphones at all allowed on Verizon prepaid. Then Androids, Blackberries and Web OS devices. Verizon prepaid phones are also blocked from being put on any Verizon mvno especially Page Plus. By introducing first the "Unleashed" plan and now the $80 plan, they are fragmenting it further. BUT, it's still better then 2009...

My gut feeling (or my two cents, if you will) is that Verizon will ultimately differentiate itself from Page Plus with 4G LTE support on the prepaid side. Their "new" plan is not competitive in any way with Page's offerings but if you had LTE access suddenly that extra $25 or $30 might be justified.

I could be wrong, hope I am, but it seems logical with them starting the LTE push and allowing it on prepaid.

[fonezfonz]

I think that Verizon will give its prepaid division first in line for it. They already have LTE iPad/Tablet data plans and just launched a new mifi Jetpack device broadband LTE data plan. Phones should be soon.

[Pabster]

I think that Verizon will give its prepaid division first in line for it. They already have LTE iPad/Tablet data plans and just launched a new mifi Jetpack device broadband LTE data plan. Phones should be soon.

Yep local Verizon "premium retailer" is already advertising the prepaid Jetpack and plans. My suspicion is that Verizon will reserve LTE access for native customers only and force MVNOs to the old 3G which is being freed up more as folks jump on the LTE wagon. They can milk that tired old EVDO for all it has left while cashing in on LTE and stealing customers back from the MVNOs with LTE.

[billm261]

All MVNO and prepaid divisions will get LTE............................................... ......someday. There simply will not be anything else.

Just like analog faded into the sunset, so will the cell networks that we know today. One of the vendors that I purchase equipment from uses the AT&T network to transmit data. We were told AT&T plans to keep the network going till the end of this decade so we have a way to go.

Verizon does not have to be so liberal with this hyped 80.00 a month plan and BYOD. Page Plus is such a huge unknown except in the forums. For those savvy enough to know about them, great. For the average Joe and Jane consumer, it's pick your poison at your local Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy etc.

It's not complicated at all, it's rather simple.

50.00 a month for unleashed.....device specific phones
80.00 a month for this new (limited device) offering

Impulse I don't think is all that popular as it's price points may be too much for some and your better off being on month to month postpaid.

74.99 - 124.99 a month for any 3G Verizon Android device on Impulse.

Verizon knows that they are perceived as the best and while never have they been a company to cater to the broke or cheapskate people out there, these offerings will suffice to satisfy the "I must have Verizon" crowd.

[Pabster]

"Someday" is the key phrase. EVDO will be milked out for a LONG, LONG time yet. We're talking years. Verizon may well quit offering equipment on the EVDO side but it isn't going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

They have to have something to make Verizon Prepaid a value over their MVNO competitors, besides simply the Verizon name. My bet is, as I said, that something will be LTE access exclusive to Verizon Prepaid. Forever? No. For quite a long time? I'd say most likely.

[nwm4ever]

They have to have something to make Verizon Prepaid a value over their MVNO competitors, besides simply the Verizon name. My bet is, as I said, that something will be LTE access exclusive to Verizon Prepaid. Forever? No. For quite a long time? I'd say most likely.

Why would you think this? Verizon isn't that stupid. The company knows that there are better offers out there through MVNOs--they had to sign off on use of their towers. VZW is about banking profits on postpaid accounts, and this latest prepaid offering will likely be profitable as well.

This new VZW smartphone service will have a puncher's chance because its an easier buy (a shiny NEW buy, at that) than most of the bring-your-own-device MVNOs, where you 1) must have tower service, 2) must find dealers with little threat of closing up shop or dropping that brand, 3) must have a compatible [and likely used] device to use that service.

[speedwelltn]

All MVNO and prepaid divisions will get LTE............................................... ......someday. There simply will not be anything else.

Just like analog faded into the sunset, so will the cell networks that we know today. One of the vendors that I purchase equipment from uses the AT&T network to transmit data. We were told AT&T plans to keep the network going till the end of this decade so we have a way to go.

Verizon does not have to be so liberal with this hyped 80.00 a month plan and BYOD. Page Plus is such a huge unknown except in the forums. For those savvy enough to know about them, great. For the average Joe and Jane consumer, it's pick your poison at your local Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy etc.

It's not complicated at all, it's rather simple.

50.00 a month for unleashed.....device specific phones
80.00 a month for this new (limited device) offering



74.99 - 124.99 a month for any 3G Verizon Android device on Impulse.

Verizon knows that they are perceived as the best and while never have they been a company to cater to the broke or cheapskate people out there, these offerings will suffice to satisfy the "I must have Verizon" crowd.

I have 2 androids on the old plan. If I switch phones online, as my daughter needs a new phone, do I still get to keep the plan. I understand it is no longer available.
Impulse I don't think is all that popular as it's price points may be too much for some and your better off being on month to month postpaid.

[HF305]

After the plans changed, reportedly the old 3G smartphone plans with unlimited data were still going (even for new customers) but you had to call in and ask for them. I assume this is still the case.