KillerG

Been wanting to get a smartphone for a while and i figured id pull the trigger in September when the new iphone drops, but with the data packages being severely overhauled in 2 days, im wondering whether I should get an iphone 4 and lock in unlimited data (downside: have an iphone 4 for two years...no new iphone 5 ) or just suck it up wait and get an iphone 5 in september (downside: have 2gb data cap a month for outrageous free)
I have a basic phone right now and cant get grandfathered in to unlimited data unless i already own a smartphone come july 7 which is what sucks
How much data do you guys use every month? Opinions?

rossv1

I'm with AT&T but doesn't Apple offer a cheaper upgrade for those with an iPhone no matter how long they've had it?
If they do, I'd go ahead and get the 4 with the unlimited data then upgrade to the 5 in September and sell the 4.

GIBSON6594

In before the move.

tnl_tsx

verizon is ending their unlimited data on july 7.

http://www.tipb.com/2011/07/05/veriz...cing-july-7th/

Moog-Type-S

Street Spirit

I'd get unlimited data and a cheaper monthly rate...that is what will cost you on a regular basis in the long-term. Why pay more for less?

Phones are always upgradeable, new phones are always coming out, you'll never win no matter how you try to plan it. As long as you're happy with your phone, you won't miss much of what you don't have.

CocheseUGA

Unlimited. 5 is going to be no great shakes.

GIBSON6594

You guys should check how much data you actually use before getting so worried about not having unlimited.

Street Spirit

I wouldn't worry as much about the unlimited part -- more about the monthly fees going up, according to the OP. I'd rather pay less for what I need than more for something with a ceiling.

Costco

que?

Hardly ever approached 2GB unless I was on AIM the whole time and streaming youtube, usually on road trips.

yohan81718

i personally don't think most of basic/general users won't need more than 2GB per month..

i'd wait

CocheseUGA

You'll always be able to upgrade phones, unlimited most likely won't be back.

Streaming music/vids eats it up quick.

Scrib

Get it now, find someone in your family to give the iPhone 4 to, buy the new iPhone 5 (4s, whatever) as a new line to your plan, you keep the unlimited data plan.... Voila.

leftride

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't upgrade just to get grandfathered into unlimited, as gibson hinted at I don't think most get close to the 2GB mark. I know for one I'm rarely over 300 MB, wifi is everywhere and I don't really stream video.

If you were planning on waiting I'd just wait.

KillerG

i have heeded the wisdom of acurazine, and after going some things in my head ive decided to get grandfathered in. I will use it heavily once i have it, my new place of residence next year has no wifi (dorm) and ill be in a strange new city where ill make use of the interwebs

my sister who is a light user already gets close to 2gb a month according to our bills so unlimited seems the way to go

thank you for all your opinions, either for or against, you guys really helped move my decision process along (honestly!)

Mizouse

all i know is im glad im still grandfathered in to the AT&T 5GB unlimited plan.

i know i dont get close but thats only cause i cut back on my usage. otherwise i could chew up that 5GB in less than a week. maybe even a day or 2.

KillerG

im enjoying my soon to be obsolete iphone 4. Now that i own an apple product i can finally fit in with all the cool kids

Street Spirit

^ Every phone is obsolete within 6 months of purchase.

rza49311

iTrader: (1)

I'd probably get it to be grandfathered in.

Yes, you probably won't get near the limits of the upcoming tiered plans but that could change down the road when LTE is more widespread. More MB's will likely be nom'd as you can do much more at those speeds.

Derk's K24

+1. I've had the unlimited from ATT for the last 1.5 years and I don't think I've ever come close to 2GB even though I thought I was. I'd look at my bill at the end of the month and see I got just over 1GB sometimes.

KillerG

i must be some sort of super user then cause ive already gotten close to 2g in the few days ive had my phone

mrstak

iTrader: (1)

You can try but you'll never be a cool kid but hey, fake it till you make it right?

In all seriousness, were you only looking between Verizon and AT&T? Cuz Sprint has the cheapest unlimited plans. Where will you be next year? I know Verizon has good coverage almost anywhere but AT&T blows donkey nuts. My best friend never gets full bars with his iPhone 4 ever he said. He lives in SF and he came back to NY and the whole time he never had 4 bars.

Also, good thing you got the unlimited plan...if you jailbreak and tether, you can make use of internet wherever you are. I've used over 8gb before tethering a laptop and d/ling stuff. Almost 2 gb in several days of owning your phone? Stockpiling porn?

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Verizon FTW!

i'm staying on my unlimited plan! eff everything else

KillerG

Yeah, i have a family plan and we also get a discount off verizon service so i have no reason to switch over, and i guess its cause all the apps i downloaded and i watched a bunch of crap on youtube too

no porn on my phone yet

i am going on vacation soon though so no promises

and yes, fake it till you make it

mrstak

iTrader: (1)

That reminds me. One of the first things my friend, when we all started getting into the smartphone era, asked me when I got a smart phone was "can you watch porn on it?" which i replied "yea i guess i could" and he wanted me to load some for him...nasty...

KillerG

thats why we buy screen protectors...

mrstak

iTrader: (1)

Remind me to never touch your phone...or your car for that matter...who knows what you've done in that thing.

KillerG

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