yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] humblewarfare:
Can you let me know if there is anything I can do to get unlimited on my phone based on situation:

- Wife's phone having problems so I ordered new phone and wanted to "use" my upgrade.

- Accidentally activated phone on my number before "moving" upgrade to her line.

- Her line has unlimited data still, but I'm on the 2GB plan now.

- We both use Google Voice as our primary number that we give out.

Is there a way to get the unlimited from her account to my account? She has an S3 right now. I wanted to purchase the S4 outright. Can we swap sim cards or is there another way to make this happen?

Followup question. Is it worth trying to keep the unlimited package if we are going to be adding two lines in the near future and moving to share everything plan? I'm just curious if the resale value of the VZW S4 will still be there a year or two from now if I buy outright instead of waiting until August to use the upgrade on the other account.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your responses.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] andross77:
I would reverse it if you can by returning the phone. if you are moving to share everything plans soon it would be nice to be able to sell 2 unlimited lines. They go for $300-$4,000 on ebay. Mostly around $300-$500. I know i wouldn't sell mine for under a grand and I still wouldn't do that because in this digital age that we've really just begun there is nothing more valuable than unlimited data....
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] humblewarfare:
Thanks for the reply. I am past the 14 day window to return. Without unlimited data, is paying full price for the S 4 worth it? We're happy with the service, but I just hate giving up unlimited. However, I don't think I have a choice if we are adding family to our plan and adding two phones to our account.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jpen:
So I have unlimited and my upgrade is here, but I am the only person on my account. Is the only way to keep unlimited is to buy it at full price? I really can't afford that, but I need to keep unlimited. I have no internet at home and use my Galaxy Nexus for internet.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] humblewarfare:
Would you be able to do the device payment play and break the cost up over 12 months. It will be around $55/month extra I believe.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jpen:
hmm maybe...I will have to see what the pricing for the shared plan is, and the charges for going over in data.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skiggs:
ughans laws

I just got back from getting my S4 from Verizon. The sales rep dude said that since I'm on an individual grandfathered unlimited plan, they throttle my data usage at 5 GB? Is that true? He was trying to convince me NOT to do the device payment plan and that I would save money by using their shared data plan. I didn't go for it...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jpen:
So did you do the device payment plan? How much did it come to if you don't mind me asking?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Southern_mind:
No they can't throttle by law.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] geoff5093:
They don't throttle (yet), but AT&T does after 5GB.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Southern_mind:
Hey guys I want to get the s4 but I also want to keep my unlimited data I use on average 30GB.

I was thinking of either doing the device payment plan which would be close to $700.

Or adding a line to my account and getting the s4 with it then move it to my line and put an old dumb phone on the new line which would come out to $438 plus taxes over the two year period.

Not really sure which route to go with.

Any advice would be great.

I also want the 32GB version.

I was thinking of getting the phone from like Amazon or Newegg then moving it to my line chose it would be cheaper. But I read somewhere saying they have restrictions on you not moving the phone to other lines and higher ETF and other crazy restrictions.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] stuartv:
- Go to Verizon and add a line to your account. Get the S4 at the subsidized price, with the cheapest data plan. This will not affect your existing line or the Unlimited Data on your existing line.

- Go buy a dumbphone that will work on Verizon. Any phone that works. If you don't already have one laying around, you should be able to score one on CL for probably $20 or so.

- Swap your existing smartphone and the S4 between your two lines. Now, the S4 will be on your existing phone number, with Unlimited Data, and your current phone will be on the new line, with the new number and small data plan.

- Change the new line to your Verizon dumbphone and turn off the data plan on that line. Your 2 year contract does not obligate you to maintain a data plan.

Now, your new added line should be $9.99 / month. With taxes, that works out to around $13/month, for 2 years.

$200 for the phone plus $13/month for 24 months works out to you have a new S4 and keep your Unlimited Data for around $525, total, spread out over 2 years, plus the cost of the dumbphone you buy (if you don't already have one).

I don't know why anybody would pay full price up front for a Verizon smartphone, if their purpose is simply to maintain Unlimited Data. $650+tax up front, versus $525 over 2 years seems like a no-brainer to me.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] andross77:
Not everyone is on a plan that allows line upgrades. Some of us are on promotional/market specific plans. Also, some people would rather pay an extra $125, rather than try to remember and cancel a line in 2 years :)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] stuartv:
Oh. Funky. The poster I was responding to said he had an individual plan. I didn't know they ever had any individual plans that wouldn't allow you to add a line. I wonder why they would do that.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skiggs:
Cash Price: $649.99

Finance charge: $24.00

Taxes: $42.25

Total: $716.24

1st payment must be made in store: $54.23 (device) + $2.00 (finance charge) + $42.88 (taxes) = $99.11

Next payment will be $56.23 + my usual monthly data/talk/text service fee.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Justblazeitup:
I would also like to clear up my questions before moving forward with purchasing the s4. I also have the unlimited data plan which i share with my mother who has a dummy phone (lg cosmos) pay as you go data plan.

I would like to get the s4 on her upgrade (both accounts are eligable btw). All i need to do is:

get the phone (get 2gb data plan)

activate phone on her line.

Deactivate phone on her line

Activate on my line

im not sure if hers has a sim card (not in front of me currently) but my droid charge does...Will i just remove my sim card and place it in the s4 and activate from there?

after this is done i just reactivate her lg cosmos on her line and that should remove the plan adjustments made while ordering the phone.

if i missed anything in the middle of those steps with the sim card or anything like a waiting period (heard a few comments about 24hrs or something) please let me know.

thank you.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] SCDroid:
Think I might do this. The payment plan isn't an option for me because i'm on a business plan (i'm a small business owner) and VZW said only personal lines can do the payment plan. I already have 4 lines, can I add a 5th?

---------- Post added at 01:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------

You will need a new sim card from Verizon. The Charge uses a different size sim card. But other than that, should work.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] laughingmom:
The Charge SIM is not compatible with the S4. You will get a new SIM to go with the S4.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gtp021:
Hey xda,

My brother and I have had our upgrades for a while and were thinking about upgrading to the S4's and now its finally out. However, I still have an unlimited 4G LTE plan from having suffered with a HTC Thunderbolt for this whole time, and if possible I'd like to keep it. Is there a method to keep the data plan without having to lose the subsidy upgrade bonuses for both lines?

I'm guessing it would go something like

1. Upgrade Brother's iPhone 4 to S4

2. Swap S4 to my Line

3. Transfer upgrade on my line to brother's line

4. Upgrade to S4 again

Is there anyone who would know if this would work?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Justblazeitup:
thanks a lot guys!!!!! all i needed to know. now i just gotta wait for the 32gb
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] SCDroid:
Then you would both have 2GB plans.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gtp021:
If we both ordered phones online using the upgrades and then activated each others phones, would we still both have 2GB plans?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] SCDroid:
Yes. You can't use your upgrade and keep unlimited data unless you do the payment plan or pay for the phone in full. You can open a new line then transfer it over and continue to pay the 10 bucks for 2 years on the new line (that's what i'm doing)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] aldread:
That would work until your brother uses the upgrade that you gave him. As soon as your (the one you gave your brother) upgrade is used, your line will revert to 2 gb.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] epphllps:
Just tried to buy the s4 at a verizon corporate store and they said no full retail sales until 2 weeks after launch. Just another way to shove it up the @$$ of their unlimited data customers. Pretty lame. Though she did say it could be purchased at Best Buy or another store for retail today, which I knew. Anyone else have this experience?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] andross77:
I had that with the S3. It's definitely a per store basis. i called a bunch of stores for the S3 and a couple said they wouldn't sell outright but the rest said they would. For the S4 both stores next to my work said they would sell me outright today. But i used my friend's upgrade :) woot!

---------- Post added at 03:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

So i went into the store at lunch. They told me that they could upgrade my friend's line but then i would have to wait 24 hours to activate it on my line. I said 611 CSR told me that's not true, but whatever, just activate his phone and we'll come back tomorrow to activate. They activated his phone so he had the S4, i still had my iphone 5 and his dumphone was inactive.

Called up 611 on the way back to work. Told the lady what we wanted to do. She got his security info, activated his dumbphone, then we hung up my iphone, turned it off, she called us back on his now working flip phone, and activated the S4 on my line. We had to wait 2 minutes to make the test call instead of it being instant like on his flip phone.

TLDR: in my experience 611 Customer Service People either are a lot better informed than in store Verizon employees OR in store employees jerk your chain/give you the run around because they are telling you what makes them the most profit.

Either way, got my S4! *happy dance*
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] MUSCULATURE:
Same thing happened to me. Was planning on buying it during my lunch break but they said no they couldn't. I was pissed and didn't bother to ask why, guess I will try Best Buy instead after work.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rednoved:
If I was going to pay full retail, I would prefer buying it at Best Buy. Reward Zone points. The S4 is $750, so that would be $15 dollars right there. If you put it on their credit card, you qualify for 18 months no interest.

Am I missing something?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] geoff5093:
Yeah, you're still paying $85 more for going through Best Buy after taking into account the reward zone points. It's still more expensive.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rednoved:
Ah. Verizon is only $650. I thought the full retail price was the same. That's weird. Is Best Buy high, or is Verizon low?

---------- Post added at 06:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 PM ----------

I guess Best Buy is high. RadioShack and Walmart are $700.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] soopervoo:
Hi everyone,

Grandfathered unlimited data user here also.

Can anyone confirm the strategy of buying subsidized for other line, activate, swap sims, downgrade to dummy plan works?

If so, which stores did you use?

I read somewhere that this trick only works if purchased at Verizon, best buy, and Costco. Can anyone confirm if it works elsewhere?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 4butchybutch:
I was just told from Verizon wireless that all unlimited accounts will be cancelled on 08/04/2013.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Dubbsy:
That would blow if that were true.

I kept my unlimited by upgrading another line and swapping the phone into my line as posted on the last page. The vzw guy I go through does it all the time when people ask for it.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 4butchybutch:
I hope it isn't true to but I have had unlimited data for a few years now, and went in to buy the new S4 when I was told this. I was about to pay full price just to keep my unlimited data.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Div033:
I renewed my 2 year contract on 06/25/12. I don't think they can change my contract on me.

Everyone expects them to remove unlimited data on 06/29/14, 2 years 1 day after the final date you could renew a 2 year contract and keep unlimited data.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 299792458:
soopervoo: Me suggests u read this thread?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] geoff5093:
Just another fake "fact" to get you to change to a share everything plan, sales reps will say anything to get you to switch.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] arcanexvi:
It kills their commission for you to keep your unlimited
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 4butchybutch:
My contract ended on 4/26/13 so I have been on a month to month. Tryed to upgrade but was told my old plan would only last to 08/04/2013 unless I change to a shared plan with out unlimited data. But will try again at a later date.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] tdowrie:
I just purchased the Galaxy S4. I have my unlimited data line along with another line that has 2gb/month. I transferred the upgrade from the unlimited to the 2gb line to order the Galaxy S4 from the Verizon Wireless pre-order page. I received the phone yesterday and activated the phone on the 2gb line. At this point I drove to the Verizon Wireless store to reactivate the original 2gb phone with a new SIM card. I just put the unlimited data SIM card in the new Galaxy S4 and it worked without any additional steps. Hope this helps...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rushless:
Correct. In fact, 3g and 4g are not even specified as different on an account.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] kcasner:
I called the day after the pre-order was announced, and simply said I wanted to pay full retail for the phone in order to keep my unlimited data plan. This worked, and I got the phone yesterday. I''ve since activated it, and verified my unlimited data is still in effect. :victory:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Brodrick:
They tell you this (the wait 24 hour thing) so they dont possibly lose their commission on the sale/red flag it to their store etc. Having worked at Best Buy Mobile, Sprint and T-Mobile (customer service) I can smell that BS a mile away
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] andross77:
I completely believe you. It's sad, but i know HATE going into many retail stores because i know it's commission based and i know the sales employees are often getting screwed by management so they have to do things that suck for the customer like pushing tons of accessories on them.

After we decided yesterday to just activate the phone on my friends line, the lady IMMEDIATELY said, "Ok, great. Now let me show you the accessories YOU are going to WANT to get with the phone." And she started talking really fast about the different colors and options and i just cut her off because i didn't want to waste her time and said, "You know, i'm really ok not buying a case. I just want the phone." And she goes, "REALLY?!?!" With a huge laugh/smile/surprised expression that made me feel like a douche. And i was like, "Yep, really."

Then she marched to the back to get the phone and did the activation mostly in silence.....

THIS IS WHY I ORDER EVERYTHING ONLINE PEOPLE! ARE YOU LISTENING STORE MANAGERS?? DON'T MAKE CUSTOMERS FEEL LIKE ASSES WHEN THEY DON'T BUY OVERPRICED CASES + INSURANCE + CAR CHARGER + $20 SCREEN PROTECTOR + A COWBELL.

Sorry, rant over.

---------- Post added at 08:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:06 AM ----------

Best Buy is definitely high (love the double meaning here haha :)

Since we know Samsung will be selling the Developer Edition S4 for $649 and it's $649 at every carrier, $750 is a joke. It's also high at Amazon and other places where they discount the new contract/upgrade price real low (to like $179.99 i think). So then they keep the buy outright price high to offset.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] deranger:
I did the 'alternate upgrade' at a third-party cell phone kiosk in an AAFES PX. While you obviously can't do this unless you're military, I think you will be able to do this anywhere. Used the upgrade on one of the dumbphones on my family plan, swapped lines, worked like a charm. Subsidized pricing and unlimited data FTW. What you need is an experienced salesman who knows exactly what to do, my salesman had two SGSIII with grandfathered unlimited data and was obviously well-versed in the 'alternate upgrade' method.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] atharwaqas:
Verizon Unlimited Data

I just got my S4 and paid full retail price, to continue my 4gLTE unlimited Data plan... freaking awesome. The data speed is so much faster... now.. :cool:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] zetachi:
So basically I have a Bionic on unlimited with an upgrade. The wife has an s3 on a 2GB line.

So I transfer the upgrade to her line, buy the S4 at subsidy price, activate S4 on her 2GB line. Now can I swap the sim from my Bionic into her S4 and transfer sim that sim from the s4 into her s3 and retain my unlimited now with s4 and her have her s3 back?

thanks
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] andross77:
yes. just make sure you don't do an upgrade on the unlimited line and you are good. After the upgrade has been taken on her line, you can do anything with the phone.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jpen:
I think i am going to do this. One question though, how do you swap the phones between lines?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] stuartv:
Well, I'm no longer sure you can.

I tried to do this myself today, doing it online on Verizon's website. I have an Individual plan. When I tried to add a line, it was going to force me to convert to a Family Share plan on my existing line, and I would have lost my Unlimited.

But, if you are able to add a line to get the new phone, then I'm not sure how you swap the new phone to your old line. I saw a post that said you just swap the SIMs. But, my brother has actually done this before and I think he did it by going to his account online on Verizon's website. Or possibly you can do it by dialing *86 or something like that.

Sorry I'm really no help.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Southern_mind:
If your upgrade gets used then you lose your unlimited data. If it was hers then yeah you would be fine

I think.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Brodrick:
Also, for those of you who want to get your phone from Best Buy Mobile, they have this great thing called price matching :P "Hey, Verizon store has this S4 for 120 bucks cheaper...price match please!"
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] bulvine420:
If you want to keep your unlimited for verizon just go to any non corporate verizon and tell them you dont want to loose it.

---------- Post added at 05:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 AM ----------

They will ad a line and swap the phone to your line then put a old basic phone on there and bam
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jpen:
Alright so I am still thinking about adding a line on to my individual line. Now my question is what happens to my unlimited line? It has an upgrade right now and in september my 2 year contract is up. Does that mean it will automatically renew the contract for 2 years with the unlimited data plan or will I have to renew it myself, thus canceling the unlimited and going on the share plan?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rednoved:
I didn't think they would price match on cell phones, but when I just read their Low Price Guarantee, it just says it does not apply to "Contract mobile phone devices and plans." So full retail should be good to go since you are not buying on contract.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Coderedpl:
Wouldn't adding the new line trick be better to do via a site such as Amazon since its a bit cheaper?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rednoved:
Assuming you aren't already at your line limit on a family plan.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Southern_mind:
No. I believe sites like Amazon wireless and wirefly have added restrictions. That you have to keep the phone on the same number for months and have a higher etf. And all kinds of other restrictions I don't know about. Now for places like Sams club or Costco I don't know.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] denpad2010:
I care more than your comment indeed

---------- Post added at 10:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 PM ----------

Does that apply if is a family plan? I have 5 lines 3 or 4 ready to upgrade 3 lines with unlimited data what can I do to keep my unlimited data
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rednoved:
That is how I have done it on my family plan.

For example. Say you have 5 lines.

Line 1: Smartphone w/ Unlimited Data (upgrade available)

Line 2: Smartphone w/ Unlimited Data (upgrade available)

Line 3: Smartphone w/ Unlimited Data (upgrade available)

Line 4: Smartphone w/ 2GB Data (No upgrade)

Line 5: Basic Phone w/ No Data (No upgrade)

Let's say you want to upgrade your Line 1 to an S4. You can "transfer upgrade" from Line 1 to Line 5, allowing you to purchase the S4 at the subsidized pricing. When you purchase the S4 you will be technically be required to add a data package to the Line 5 when you activate the S4 on that line. It doesn't matter since you are going to turn around and take it right off. Once the purchase is complete, you will begin the swap process. You may now reactivate your Basic Phone back on Line 5, and drop the data package. This puts your Line 5 back to the way you had it. I believe they actually prorate your data usage, which shouldn't have been anything. Now that the Line 5 is back to normal, you now have the S4 free to activate on your Line 1, with unlimited data.

You may also do a similar process using a tiered data line, such as Line 4. You will "transfer upgrade" from Line 1 to Line 4, allowing you to purchase the S4 at subsidized pricing. Since this line is already on tiered data, you just keep your data plan the same. Reactivate your old phone. Now that the Line 4 is back to normal, you now have the S4 free to activate on your Line 1, with unlimited data.

I have used this method multiple times, in a Verizon store, not some 3rd party kiosk. It does not require swapping SIM cards since they can activate new ones on the spot for whatever line you need.

I will say, the person I dealt with on Thursday told me it couldn't be done. She was very convinced it wasn't possible to transfer upgrades, or keep unlimited data. After I assured her it indeed was possible, with some slight aggressiveness, we got it sorted out. After the process got started, she said, "Wow, that's really smart. I didn't know you could do that." Still not sure if she was trying to play me. :rolleyes:

Hope this helps.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Southern_mind:
Hey let me ask this.

What if I add a line to my account to get the s4.

Move it to my line with unlimited data.

Can I then transfer my upgrade from my unlimited data line back to the new line and get a s4 again at the discount price?

My wife and I both have an upgrade and both want to keep our unlimited data.

So if I could add one line and get the s4 then put a dumb phone and transfer my upgrade to the dumb phone and get a s4 again I could end up with 3 s4. I only need two put just wondering if that would work.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Kenpachi 91:
Well I lost my unlimited data once I upgraded. It's okay since I use 1.5-1.8GB. Still sucks that I lost it though