[Q] Xoom non-contract question

[brockwitting]

Hi All,

I am purchasing a Xoom tomorrow morning, and I came to a stark realization today while browsing some other forums. I read that even with the no contract version that there is no true month to month data plan (ie the ATT iPad) and that it costs you $35 every time you want to activate it again. So if I use it for two months, decide to not for two, and then want to use it again, I have to pay a $35 fee. Can someone shed some light on this? I am REALLY hoping this is not the case.

Brock

 

[Jrockttu]

Please search, this has been answered many times. Your description is correct. If you cancel the 3g service within 72 hours they will refund the activation fee.

 

[brockwitting]

I apologize, I did search, apparently not well enough, but that doesn't truly answer my question. I don't mind the initial fee, but will I have to pay it multiple times?

 

[Jrockttu]

I apologize, I did search, apparently not well enough, but that doesn't truly answer my question. I don't mind the initial fee, but will I have to pay it multiple times?

Yes. Verizon isn't as kind with this plan as AT&T is with the iPad's month-to-month usage.

 

[brockwitting]

That is absolutely horrible... So basically, if you plan on using ANY data sporadically at all, you are better off getting the subsidized version... This is a bad thing for us consumers. I can't believe they would require reactivation multiple times.

 

[Jrockttu]

That is absolutely horrible... So basically, if you plan on using ANY data sporadically at all, you are better off getting the subsidized version... This is a bad thing for us consumers. I can't believe they would require reactivation multiple times.

It's a shame. I didn't mind getting the 3g version when I thought I could just activate it when I need it, like the iPad. I have a Nexus One I can use as a hotspot in most cases. It's just a kick in the groin to know I'll have to add $35 to the fee if I ever want to use the 3g. In this case, it looks like I'll be turning the 3g off right after I buy it and only activating in case of emergency in the future.

 

[Slimgym20]

It's a shame. I didn't mind getting the 3g version when I thought I could just activate it when I need it, like the iPad. I have a Nexus One I can use as a hotspot in most cases. It's just a kick in the groin to know I'll have to add $35 to the fee if I ever want to use the 3g. In this case, it looks like I'll be turning the 3g off right after I buy it and only activating in case of emergency in the future.

Thats probably what I'd do. But I'd imagine if you made an issue out of having to pay another activation fee (when reconnecting), they would drop it. After all, some money is better than no money.

 

[brockwitting]

Wow.. Thanks for the updates guys. I just actually called verizon to confirm this, and yup. This is absolutely horrible.. I hope they change.

 

[Ingjald]

This is absolutely insane, and has convinced me to not only not get a Xoom, but to drop Verizon altogether once my contract expires in November. The whole point of getting a tablet off contract is to be able to enable data whenever you want. I probably only have use for the data service 3 months (non-consecutive) out of the year, so this has convinced me to wait for a tablet on a carrier that won't screw me as badly.

Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to complain loudly to Verizon. Let them know you're not going to put up with it.

 

[socomdark]

This is absolutely insane, and has convinced me to not only not get a Xoom, but to drop Verizon altogether once my contract expires in November. The whole point of getting a tablet off contract is to be able to enable data whenever you want. I probably only have use for the data service 3 months (non-consecutive) out of the year, so this has convinced me to wait for a tablet on a carrier that won't screw me as badly.

Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to complain loudly to Verizon. Let them know you're not going to put up with it.

yea im also leaving verizon, im trying to go att but my credit is bad and asked for 500 deposit on EACH LINE. so tmobile is what we are looking at now. We are going to switch once we move.

 

[unknown_owner]

That is absolutely horrible... So basically, if you plan on using ANY data sporadically at all, you are better off getting the subsidized version... This is a bad thing for us consumers. I can't believe they would require reactivation multiple times.

Or tether wirelessly with an android phone.

 

[unknown_owner]

This is absolutely insane, and has convinced me to not only not get a Xoom, but to drop Verizon altogether once my contract expires in November. The whole point of getting a tablet off contract is to be able to enable data whenever you want. I probably only have use for the data service 3 months (non-consecutive) out of the year, so this has convinced me to wait for a tablet on a carrier that won't screw me as badly.

Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to complain loudly to Verizon. Let them know you're not going to put up with it.

I don't believe any carrier for any tablet is going to offer a plan where you pay as you go. And if there is such a plan, I can bet you the price would be something like $5 for 250MB of data, or something that will truly not be worth it

 

[Jrockttu]

I don't believe any carrier for any tablet is going to offer a plan where you pay as you go. And if there is such a plan, I can bet you the price would be something like $5 for 250MB of data, or something that will truly not be worth it

The iPad offers it through AT&T. It's one of the competitive advantages they still hold against all of these new devices.

 

[Benkr0n]

just to clarify some of vzw policy about activation

kinda thinking about it the wrong way, if you want a data plan it needs a phone number.
that is basically where the fee goes to.

so if you disconnect the data the number is lost.
but per vzw consumer clear disclosure, reactivating within 60 days there is no activation fee. (this would also waive ETFs, if it had one)

to get around this, you can activate a phone.
saving money and not losing the number.

 

[Ingjald]

just to clarify some of vzw policy about activation

kinda thinking about it the wrong way, if you want a data plan it needs a phone number.
that is basically where the fee goes to.
so if you disconnect the data the number is lost.

When you cancel, wouldn't the number just go into the pool of available numbers? I'm not seeing how this should cost anything. (Also, AT&T doesn't charge an activation fee for the iPad)

but per vzw consumer clear disclosure, reactivating within 60 days there is no activation fee. (this would also waive ETFs, if it had one)

to get around this, you can activate a phone.
saving money and not losing the number.

It's not exactly clear to me how that would save anything. Not only would that require buying another phone (useless to me), but it would require active service on it, which is, to my knowledge, no less than $40/mo--twice as much as the cheapest data plan.

 

[Benkr0n]

When you cancel, wouldn't the number just go into the pool of available numbers? I'm not seeing how this should cost anything. (Also, AT&T doesn't charge an activation fee for the iPad)



It's not exactly clear to me how that would save anything. Not only would that require buying another phone (useless to me), but it would require active service on it, which is, to my knowledge, no less than $40/mo--twice as much as the cheapest data plan.

it doesn't immediately go back into the pool, thats why you can get it back within 60 days

if you look at where the money goes to its mostly a credit check.
but it's easer to think of it as getting the number





i guess before, i made a few assumptions, that you had a phone (non smartphone so no data requirement). and a family share plan already with vzw.

meaning switching from the data plan to a secondary on the family share plan. only 9.99

 

[Ingjald]

if you look at where the money goes to its mostly a credit check.

They should just do it prepaid like AT&T does for the iPad, with no credit check (but then I guess Verizon can't ding you for $20 when you go a byte over your allotment). It also doesn't make sense that they do a credit check on someone who is already a customer in good standing.

i guess before, i made a few assumptions, that you had a phone (non smartphone so no data requirement). and a family share plan already with vzw.

I don't have any other phones and am not on a family share plan. I still wouldn't pay the $9.99/mo just for the privilege of not paying a $35 activation fee; in fact, it would probably cost me about as much as the activation fee anyway.

 

[Benkr0n]

secondary activations are also $25 instead of $35

so if you, again my assumptions, activate a secondary phone its only 25.
then switch to the xoom and data plan.

just throwing out more ways to save money.


and btw, vzw will never do pay as u go data
i've regularly seen international pay as u go in the thousands.

 

[brockwitting]

I just can't believe that verizon would operate like this, esp since att has prepaid data for the iPad.. I'm sorta screwed, I don't have a family plan, and I only have a D1, and afk, xoom can't connect to ad-hoc.. plus it kinda defeats the reason for me getting the 3g Xoom anyway.

 

[Benkr0n]

with the xoom it is being handled differently than the tab...
the tab was an accessory non subsidized meaning you could just purchase it.

but the xoom has to go through a different order process
needing an account and plan

if you don't have vzw, thats where the fee comes into play
if you do, there are ways to order it with out the fee (by ordering it for your current line, and taking it off afterwards)