Grass Isn't Always Greener Is It Verizon Customers?

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macworld.com/article/157680/2011/02/verizon_throttling.html?lsrc=rss_weblogs_ioscentral' target='_blank'>http://www.macworld.com/article/157...logs_ioscentral</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Data customers reacted with outrage at a Verizon Wireless warning that it will throttle back network speeds for the top 5 percent of customers who consume the most data."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/lpt/auto/1294796570.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Uproar over Verizon throttling back the bandwidth of their top 5% data hogs is spreading. There are also <a href="http://thenextweb.com/2011/02/04/verizon-throws-best-customers-under-the-bus-charges-them-3x-for-iphone/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed:+TheNextWebApplicious+(TNW+Apple)" target="_blank">complaints about not getting the same upgrade deal</a> as new customers by some longtime Verizon clients after they switched to Android and found they aren't eligible for the upgrade. Then there is that pesky slower network speed issue. Well, I do agree that if you purchase an unlimited plan, it should be unlimited. Verizon shouldn't offer it if they are concerned about the data usage but since they are indeed offering it, they need to take the hit and not put conditions on it. The upgrade deal is pretty common across the industry, so if you just had to have that Android phone and now want to get an iPhone, pay up and quit crying. It just goes to show you it's not always greener on the other side of the cell signal.&nbsp;</p>

[Vincent Ferrari]

It just goes to show you it's not always greener on the other side of the cell signal.&nbsp;</p>

The problem is that AT&T would take a relentless beating if they did stuff like this, but for some reason Verizon (who I also have an account with so don't go calling me an AT&T fanboy people) gets away with it.

Another perfect example: Verizon's plans are slightly more expensive than AT&T's which, for years, we were told were out of line. It's insanity and it's unfair.

AT&T can fight its own battles, and I'm not defending them, but I do think that it's funny how one company can be perceived as this magnanimous pro-consumer happy go lucky company and one is the evil monster company when, in the end, they're both giant telecoms who will nickel and dime you to death.

In fact, just the other day, I posted on Twitter about how unsurprised I was that the VZW iPhone reviews all said the same thing: great phone, slow data network. Apparently that set people into a tizzy because I got so many heated responses telling me that AT&T is no better, AT&T sucks, and of course the venerable "I never hear complaints from the people I know."

I've only been in the business 13 years. It's not like I have any experience on the issue. You go ask your buddy Fred.

[lexden]

This site used to be of interest to all us all over the world. A quick check of the articles on the main page now shows that most are of relevance only to US readers.

This resource is becoming less and less useful to me.

[Fritzly]

[QUOTE=Jeff Campbell;733866 The upgrade deal is pretty common across the industry, so if you just had to have that Android phone and now want to get an iPhone, pay up and quit crying. It just goes to show you it's not always greener on the other side of the cell signal.&nbsp;</p>[/QUOTE]

Well, that is the problem, actually one of them, with Verizon network: you can only buy a device through them; using a GSM one I can buy a device wherever I want and use it with or without a contract.