I think that it is total BS, Verizon should not advertise a "Unlimited" data plan when it is clearly not unlimited. To pay $30 a month and only get 5GB is ridiculous.

On the other hand if all there users were to use there data plan non stop because its unlimited it would over load there network, so I see why there is a cap.

But they still shouldn't advertise a unlimited plan for $30 a month when your only getting 5Gb a month and have to pay $.05 a megabyte after you reach your maximum, it's miss advertising, but I'm sure all cell companies do it though.

$45 a month just for data is pretty insane and typically out of most users price range, I know it's out of mine.

I actually spoke to Verizon again today..I got escalated to a supervisor upon my demand and here is the ABSOLUTE END ALL TRUTH TO IT ALL:

the $29.99 is unlimited - the 5GB and overage ONLY comes into play if you tether the device and that is the ONLY time you would be charged for exceeding the 5GB...other than that surf and d/l to your hearts content, its all included in the price

the $44.95 is for BLACKBERRY ONLY...its additional fees for exchange and whatnot

this is the answer and there is no other...

Verizonwireless.com plans under "Calling Plan Information" reads:

"The Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses, continuously for one hour, could typically use 100 to 200 MBs, or, if engaged in prohibited uses for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, could use more than 5 GBs in a month.

For individual use only and not for resale. We reserve the right to protect our network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. We reserve the right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred, and to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone we believe is using an Data Plan or Feature in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. Anyone using more than 5 GB per line in a given month is presumed to be using the service in a manner prohibited above, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate the service of any such person without notice. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term."

Basically, you are not going to exceed the 5 gigabyte limit, unless you are hosting/streaming directly from your phone. I am positive this policy has been with Verizon forever. Everybody is just hyped up about it. For example, if you look at the bottom of your browser on a Blackberry when loading a page, it says the amount of kilobytes being downloaded. That number is usually under 100 kilobytes. If the number was 30 kilobytes then:

1000 kilobytes = 1 megabyte ~ 3000 kilobytes (100 websites) = 1 megabyte
1000 megabytes = 1 gigabyte ~ 1000 megabytes (100,000 websites) = 1 gigabyte
1 gigabyte goes to 5 gigabytes ~ 500,000 websites

Hopefully my math is correct .

You have the ability to go to half a million websites... per month.

AND! the best part is... WiFi does not count towards the 5 Gigabytes. This means you can use WiFi truly unlimited(ly).

Ok, here is the 411 on this whole unlimited data situation. I visited both verizon stores in my area and spoke to both the reps and on site managers in both stores and they all said the same thing:

"Verizon does not limit bandwidth to 5GB a month on the smartphone data plan in the state of Oregon (which is where I live), the smartphone plan comes with truly unlimited bandwidth unless you try to tether it to a pc, but they do on the mobile broadband plan which uses an air card for pc's/laptop's."

So there is no 5GB limit/max/cap or whatever you want to call it where I live but that may be different in other states or areas. The rep also said that if there even was a cap that it would be very hard to reach it on a smartphone, you would literally have to download every app in the Android Market and use your browser/E-mail 24/7 just to get close to 5GB in a single month.

Hope this helps.

LD10562, my opinion would be pages. Jon's math could only be used as a guideline though he does a nice job to make it so you can wrap your brain around it.

You had mentioned above:
"there is a $44.99 per month option that I have for my Eris that is truly unlimited"
"this is the answer and there is no other..."

Just out of curiosity, are you going to downgrade your data package with the new information you found?

Craig

I have the 29.99 data plan. My understand is that if I set up the activesync with Exchange to get my work e-mail, contacts and calendar that Verizon Wireless will automatically bump me up the 44.99 plan. Has anyone experienced this or can anyone confirm this???

I'd like to do it, but only if I can remain on the $29.99 plan.

Mike