Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)
I'm surprised no one has talked about the major changes to Verizon
Wireless' prepay system...even more extensive than when they
rejiggered it from the old "FreeUp" system.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=prepayItem&action=viewPrepayOverview
Here's the good and the bad. We'll start with the good, but wait till
we get to the bad...
Good:
---------
Unlimited VZW in-Network calling is now included
Unlimited nights/weekends are now included
Calls outside those hours are now 10 cents a minute, without the first
25 cent "connection charge"
Ah, but...
Bad:
-------
To get access to all these cool benefits, VZW now automatically will
charge "inPulse" accounts 99 cents a day. Period. Even on days you
don't use it.
So, for those looking for a "prepay phone to have around", this just
upped the cost to just under $30 a month, and that does NOT include
whatever money you spend making calls! So, if you put, say, $30 in
there, it would be completely eaten up by the service charges within a
month.
They're apparently going after a different prepay market now... those
who want similar features to the postpaid accounts without going
through credit checks. The unlimited N/W and in-Network is a great
thing, but it'll cost you $30 to use it every month. VZW
Prepay/"inPulse" is not going to be for casual users anymore.
Oh, and one more thing. From the coverage maps, it appears they are
slicing off ALL non-VZW network roaming. I can't confirm this, but
former Alltel areas, for example, are now showing "No Service".
However, the page above does mention a now-lower 69c/min. roaming fee
(it was 99c/min in the FreeUp days, at least), so maybe the maps are
not accurate.
This doesn't affect me at all, since I went to postpaid long ago, but
it's an interesting development.
Mike
I'm surprised no one has talked about the major changes to Verizon
Wireless' prepay system...even more extensive than when they
rejiggered it from the old "FreeUp" system.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=prepayItem&action=viewPrepayOverview
Here's the good and the bad. We'll start with the good, but wait till
we get to the bad...
Good:
---------
Unlimited VZW in-Network calling is now included
Unlimited nights/weekends are now included
Calls outside those hours are now 10 cents a minute, without the first
25 cent "connection charge"
Ah, but...
Bad:
-------
To get access to all these cool benefits, VZW now automatically will
charge "inPulse" accounts 99 cents a day. Period. Even on days you
don't use it.
So, for those looking for a "prepay phone to have around", this just
upped the cost to just under $30 a month, and that does NOT include
whatever money you spend making calls! So, if you put, say, $30 in
there, it would be completely eaten up by the service charges within a
month.
They're apparently going after a different prepay market now... those
who want similar features to the postpaid accounts without going
through credit checks. The unlimited N/W and in-Network is a great
thing, but it'll cost you $30 to use it every month. VZW
Prepay/"inPulse" is not going to be for casual users anymore.
Oh, and one more thing. From the coverage maps, it appears they are
slicing off ALL non-VZW network roaming. I can't confirm this, but
former Alltel areas, for example, are now showing "No Service".
However, the page above does mention a now-lower 69c/min. roaming fee
(it was 99c/min in the FreeUp days, at least), so maybe the maps are
not accurate.
This doesn't affect me at all, since I went to postpaid long ago, but
it's an interesting development.
Mike