Motorola has promised a summer release date for the Droid Bionic, and forum members want the Droid Bionic ASAP. They would really like it before July 7 when Verizon will end unlimited data plans for new customers.
They are getting so antsy that the are saying it's "time to retire" the Droid Bionic. They are anxious because those who bought the original Droid are ready to retire their old Droid, and they want to get grandfathered into unlimited data plans. Also tech-savvy people are waiting for a dual-core 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless.
They are concerned that current Verizon 3G customers will not be grandfathered for unlimited data for 4G.LTE on the Droid Bionic. From what was previously leaked, it appears that current unlimited 3G customers could be grandfathered for unlimited 4G LTE as long as they are still under contract.
We called our local Verizon PR rep who told us he didn't have any details that he could reveal, yet. So what should you do?
Leaked documents showed that feature phone owners without an unlimited plan will not be eligible for
a Verizon unlimited data after July 7. New Verizon customers before July 7 can
purchase an unlimited plan for $29.99 a month.
A recent Tweet from Verizon support stated, "Existing smartphone custs can keep ulmied date pricing when upgrading to another smartphone."
Verizon or any other wireless provider cannot change the terms of your
contract, such as pricing, while you are still under contract.
CNET
columnist "Ask Maggie" noted that, if you are already under contract with
Verizon for an unlimited smartphone data plan, you should be
grandfatherd in, "but once your contract ends, all bets are
off." She also noted that there has been no official details from
Verizon, yet.
According to Nielsen, most smartphone
owners used 435MB of data in month Q1 2011, which is increasng but
well below many limited data plans. The major data hogs are music and
video streaming. If you don't stream music or video, you probably don't
need unlimited data, yet.
If you r-e-a-l-ly want a Droid
Bionic, and you know that it will be released in 14 days, the current time you
have to return a phone, you can buy any phone with an unlimited data
plan before July 7 and exchange it for another smartphone within 14
days, paying a $35 restocking fee. You are permitted to make one
exchange of new merchandise. After 14 days, you will be subject to a $175 or
$350 Early Termination Fee.
Previously, Verizon offered a 30-day return policy but changed it to 14 days when the iPhone came out.
Update 07/03/11 - Our Facebook fans suggested that Costco has a 90-day return policy, and they are buying Droid Charges and hoping to exchange them for a Droid Bionic when it comes out.
You can also try going into a Verizon store and ask the reps for options.
We wish that there were an easy way for those who want one of the many dynamic dual-core smartphones of summer to get in on the Verizon unlimited plan. Let us know if you figured out a way via our Facebook wall.
Here's the text that was found in a leaked email:
EXISTING CUSTOMERS - That have our $29.99 unlimited data plan
WILL BE GRANDFATHERED IN, they will keep their unlimited plan after
7/7/11.
EXISTING CUSTOMERS - That currently have the unlimited data WILL BE
ABLE TO UPGRADE AND KEEP the unlimited data feature (No known end date
on this as of this moment).
EXISTING CUSTOMERS - That add lines after 7/7/2011, will NOT be able to choose the $29.99 unlimited data feature.
Read all Droid Bionic articles.