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Verizon Stops Subsidizing Android Tablets
Though Few Get Tablets Through Carriers Anyway
Buried under the slew of changes unveiled with Verizon's recently announced shared data plans were a few less noticed changes -- including the fact that the company will no longer charge users a tethering fee to use their phone as a modem. The company also has decided to stop subsidizing Android tablets, after never having had subsidized the iPad. This may not really impact things either way, since tablet sales through carriers have never been particularly hot. The significant majority of tablets sold are Wi-Fi only, with customers uninterested in paying a steep premium for data or in a contract -- apparently even if some of the up front tablet cost is reduced.
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tom thomas
join:2010-11-04

tom thomas

Member

finally would have been a little more attractive

although overall i do not find verizon new family data plans attractive they would have finally made the idea of adding a subsidized tablet to an account a bit more attractive.
RDC17
join:2011-05-15
Vienna, VA

RDC17

Member

Re: finally would have been a little more attractive

But the iPad has never been subsidized and it outsells Android tablets by a hefty margin.

The demand for Android tablets is not very high. On the other hand the iPad sells like hotcakes at full price.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: finally would have been a little more attractive

there is a reason why. some tablets are really buggy. I got Samsung galaxy I 10'' that is supposedly one of the better high end tablets. Its still powered by Honeycomb 3 and I doubt Samsung will release official firmware + os upgrade to ICS 4 since they released newer tablet ver 2 with ICS. Im glad I did not get it for a full price. Honeycomb is horrible, slow, most flash videos laggy, many applications restricted from installation. I installed CyanogenMod 9 ROM + ICS and now I enjoy better performance and access to more applications (i.e. Google Chrome). However, microphone and camera doesn't work with this ROM but I really don't care too much for that. There are other problems which sometimes bother me which did not have before upgrade. Web browsing tend to stalls sometimes regardless of what browser you use. And you can't continue until you shut down the application and start again. This might be a problem when I am in the middle of ordering some tickets.
chgo_man99

chgo_man99

Member

Re: finally would have been a little more attractive

Now look at ipad 2 which is older tablet as well but its gotten newer IOS release and app development is top notch. Fast response, all apps from Apple store work.

Andrew J
Premium Member
join:2001-11-09
Lancaster, PA

Andrew J to chgo_man99

Premium Member

to chgo_man99
It gets ICS any day now and Jelly Bean not long after that:
»tinyurl.com/6mjlsyw
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: finally would have been a little more attractive

Not available for my model yet (p7510)

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Free tethering can prevent paying for another device

The "free tethering" feature can save people some money. Why register a tablet device(like an iPad) on Verizon's plan as another device, when you can tether it instead and pay no fee.

otherreasons
@mullvad.net

otherreasons

Anon

Re: Free tethering can prevent paying for another device

For some it's probably the convenience factor and for others, they may not be the ones using the device.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: Free tethering can prevent paying for another device

imagine you have kids and you're trying to bit save on smartphones + plans. Now you can give them a prepaid feature phone with texting and as well tablet that is prepaid and has data limits and you never have to worry about overages.
chgo_man99

chgo_man99 to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
P.s. only like maybe 10% people or less know about "free tethering" and jailbreak or root devices. Its kind of a "secret" that will never be out and probably its good that it won't otherwise carriers would be harder trying in preventing users from jailbreaking. You have not only users that may not know how, but also those that don't want to assume "risks" and void warranties. If something happens with your iphone and its jailbreaken and bring it to Apple genius, they won't help you. And in effect they voided warranty unless it was already purchased over 1 year ago without extension. Yes you can restore it to stock software or hide cydia app from dashboard before you bring it but what if you can't access screen, its blacked out, its still within warranty and want to bring it to service.

I don't know whats the policy on Android rooted devices but I imagine its similar.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Free tethering can prevent paying for another device

said by chgo_man99:

P.s. only like maybe 10% people or less know about "free tethering" and jailbreak or root devices. Its kind of a "secret" that will never be out and probably its good that it won't otherwise carriers would be harder trying in preventing users from jailbreaking. You have not only users that may not know how, but also those that don't want to assume "risks" and void warranties. If something happens with your iphone and its jailbreaken and bring it to Apple genius, they won't help you. And in effect they voided warranty unless it was already purchased over 1 year ago without extension. Yes you can restore it to stock software or hide cydia app from dashboard before you bring it but what if you can't access screen, its blacked out, its still within warranty and want to bring it to service.

I don't know whats the policy on Android rooted devices but I imagine its similar.

No jailbreaking needed if Karl's story is correct and Verizon will no longer charge for or prevent tethering under their new pricing plans.

»Verizon Stops Subsidizing Android Tablets [22] comments

a few less noticed changes -- including the fact that the company will no longer charge users a tethering fee to use their phone as a modem.

chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: Free tethering can prevent paying for another device

I had in mind tethering to smartphone with wi-fi only tablet regardless of what carrier you use.

Verizon's new data pricing seem to give you less data for the same value, especially if you only have a single smartphone. They included in it cost for unlimited talk and text. At&t also made a similar move in fate of eroding profit for texting so now they require all new users unlimited texting plan for $20 under pretense they include mobile to mobile calling.
theoak
join:2012-03-20

theoak to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
Other than ... in order to tether ... you have to have the other lug two devices around. The "tetherer" and the "tehteree" ...
mob (banned)
On the next level..
join:2000-10-07
San Jose, CA

1 recommendation

mob (banned)

Member

No real loss

All a carrier branded tablet would do is restrict your ability to load software of your own choosing..

Even after your contract is over their software is still loaded, and the company still can block your access to apps they do not want on their network, such as apps for free tethering.

Bamafan2277
Premium Member
join:2008-09-20
Jeffersonville, IN

Bamafan2277

Premium Member

Free tethering

I wonder if I can get the free tethering while still on my unlimited data????

PaulHikeS2
join:2003-03-06
Fitchburg, MA

PaulHikeS2

Member

Re: Free tethering

said by Bamafan2277:

I wonder if I can get the free tethering while still on my unlimited data????

Me too...tethering with a 1 GB cap could get a bit pricey.
Paul in WA
join:2010-09-11
Centralia, WA

Paul in WA to Bamafan2277

Member

to Bamafan2277
No. I already checked. The free tethering only goes with the new plan. It's OK though, as I already get "free" tethering on my rooted Rezound.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

If only...

... the radio was built in, I think while for MOST people will be MOSTLY wifi, quite a few would be willing to pay a very high rate for occasional non-contract usage i.e. pay as you go for when wifi isn't there or is overpriced (think- some hotel chains or in the gaps between starbucks and McDonalds.
Otherwise people will buy WiFI only models and verizon gets nothing.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

1 edit

chgo_man99

Member

Re: If only...

many places have horrible wi-fi. One time I noticed it when I stayed at hotel Holiday Inn, the signal was little weak and it was slow. They were only using adsl 1.5. But with signal it was maybe only 500kb/s.

Now I just got signed up for membership at a nice gym, LifeTime Fitness that is more like a country club, and has a wide array of utilities. But their wi-fi is inadequate and you can't stream videos except music. Speeds are no better than EVDO 3G.

Andrew J
Premium Member
join:2001-11-09
Lancaster, PA

Andrew J to tshirt

Premium Member

to tshirt
»gigaom.com/mobile/your-m ··· rt-wont/

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: If only...

It's ok but fairly expensive for rare/occasional use.
better than a longterm contract

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Bought my iPad at Verizon Wireless

I bought my iPad at Verizon Wireless and they gave me $175 trade in allowance from my old 32GB first generation iPad 3G (AT&T version). I bought a 3rd Generation 16GB iPad VZW LTE version and added it to my Share Everything plan for $10 per month.

I would have rather bought my iPad at Best Buy and earned RewardZone points but Verizon offered a better deal on the trade-in.