iPhone 5 Upgraders Can Keep VZW Double Data Promo - How Keep Unlimited Data

The new Verizon Wireless Share Everything plan is supposed make things less confusing. However those with grandfathered plans maybe wondering about what plans they can keep if they decide to upgrade to an iPhone 5 from Verizon Wireless.

There have been rumblings in forums on what kind of plan can or can not be kept with a subsidized iPhone 5. As of today we checked Verizon Wireless online preorders of the iPhone 5 will be delivered by 10/05/2012.

We have confirmed from Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney, that it you have  a data-usage-based line of  service plan (such as the double data promotion or usage based data plans started in July 2011), you can keep the plan you already have and don't have to switch to the Share Everything Plan:

 "People who have double data promotion as long as they keep the service or until they change their plan. So if they upgrade their line of service to an iPhone 5 for example, they keep it.  If they move to a Share Everything Plan, they lose it.  It is not a shared data plan and can’t be shared with other devices."

Verizon customers with two year contracts can upgrade after 20 months prior to that time there is a prorated Early Termination Fee.

In regards to families and friends switching Verizon phones - in general, the customer is buying a line of service, subsidized phones are paid within the line of service.  As long as the parties agree to they can switch numbers to different Verizon phones.

An example would be say, your spouse lost his new smartphone and you have previously used smartphone, you can through My Verizon, have the spouse's number switched to the pre-owned smartphone while continuing to pay the same price for the line of service.

Raney also confirmed the only option for new customers is the Share Everything Plan for smartphones while customers with usage-based data plans, can keep their plans when upgrading.

"Those who want to keep unlimited data plans will need to pay full retail price for their smartphone. If they want to purchase a subsidized samartphone (eg. iPhone 5) they will need to switch to a Usage Based data plan, or to the Share Everything plans that includes unlimited voice and unlimited messaging with a data allowance that can be shared with up to 10 devices, " Raney wrote in an email.

If you obtain a Verizon approved device from a source other than Verizon Wireless, you can keep your current Verizon plan including unlimited data. It is not considered an upgrade,” Verizon spokesman Albert Aydin told WiMo News.

The Verizon and other forums are rife with schemes to keep unlimited data.  In previous articles we showed some options for Verizon customers to keep their unlimited data plans.

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