Cell phones forum: Annoying Verizon smart phone data plans

So now Verizon has the Kin Two m capable of free wi-fi access... but you STILL have to buy the package? If they made it capable, why not just make initial cost more? If you have to pay for unlimited ($30), what's the point? I wish they'd have a blanket fee so everyone on your acct could have internet.

Any other suggestions? Is there a way to use wi-fi & not require data pkg on the kin?

You should be able to avoid the monthly data fee if you sign up for a phone without 4G technology. We all signed up for regular cell service with no data plan with LG Env2 phones, but there are other phones available. Choices are limited however! Good luck!

It's a phone and even more mobile then a notebook and can use data when not on a wifi network. Without it many things can be accessed unless on a network.

...calling or writing one's congressional representative to express displeasure with semi-collusive market behavior by corporations equate to creating 'more government'. Me thinks you haven't truly thought this through very well, amigo. This is a separate issue from letting corporations be run as their board of directors see fit. When big oil, big auto, airlines and large telco/catv behemoths buy their way to decisons that affect you & I things have become a problem.

This is more akin to actually holding our elected representatives accountable to their constituents. This absolutely *needs* to happen more. Looking at the actually voting numbers, most U.S. citizens barely vote outside of the presidential elections, let alone take this arguable radical next step .

cheers

Case and point, when mega-companies such as Exxon-Mobil pay a grand total of $0 (that's zero) in corporate taxes, it's safe to say "Houston, we have a problem".

You overstep in your generally false assumption on exactly what needs to happen when one's congressional representative takes on an issue. There's no reason why our existing governmental bodies cannot take on this extra charge. It does not equate to necessarily creating any sort of new agency, etc. This must be the libertarian or republican in your personal views speaking out. Of course convincing these elected officials to act on behalf of their constituents is another task entirely. I'm not so certain the vast majority of our officials are up to the task.

I am in the same boat as everyone else right now. I have free wifi from Comcast (meaning I pay way too much for cable/phone/internet and they provide an additional service I can't easily access). Right now I am in the process of contacting Motorola Investor relations. My family has owned shares of Motorola for over 40 years and after much math and now reading this forum I realized the potential loss is upwards of billions of dollars in profit.

The best and most realistic way to make changes is to do several things.

1) Continue to voice complaints with the carrier. It won't make any changes but the complaint will be on record.
2) Buy shares in the carrier (only a small amount as not to infuse significant cash into the company) and into the mobile device manufacturer you prefer.
3) Start contacting the company as an investor and say you are losing return on investment because of company policies.

Not sure how well it will work but it worked for my mortgage. I was being given a run around about a delay with a certain mortgage company and when they said it was the policy of someone else I actually had shares of the third party and threatened to contact investor relations. The next day a resolution was found and the mortgage was issued.

Government won't help unless we all come up with millions of dollars to file a class action lawsuit, but if enough people become shareholders and force the issue, things may change.

Motorola and other manufacturers are impacted greatly! Let's say I want to go to buy a Motorola phone but told I can only purchase an LG (again hypothetical). Motorola loses out on a sale period. Multiple this by the several hundred on the forum or even several thousand a year and this can add up quickly to several million dollars. While it may seem like a few million dollars is nothing, right now companies will take any type of profit. While I can't divulge any further information, Motorola is starting to listen to its investors as well.

Because they can get away with it. As some people have posted here, it's not illegal for them, therefore, they will continue to do it until there's a law that forces them to give you other options, as always, it's all about money. I would understand if there was something technical about it, truth of the matter is, that it isn't. I've had a droid for almost two years now, as much as I like it, I can't justify paying $30 ($60 a month in my case for two phones in a family plan) extra a month when I don't really take advantage of it, 99% of the time I'm in a place where wi-fi is available; furthermore, I can do without for the 1% that it would be useful, if it means saving $30/mo per phone. I already pay my regular home internet which allows many computers to connect, even have free wi-fi in a lot of places. For the people that say that government has nothing to do with this, as sad as it sounds, it really does. I have also read the typical..."just switch companies", to that, I have to say "Really?"...just like that...wow, what a solution...this is bigger than that. I'm going to start by switching my droid to a "feature" phone, and complain, complain, complain...maybe write to our government officials...etc. etc.. I have never really been a "forum writing" type of person; however, I've been super ticked off @ Verizon since I've found out about this "forced data" plan injustice. Shame on them. Let the people be heard.

It's another great app combo to place and receive calls for free over wifi. Requires an iOS device at this time though.