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Dec 13

Verizon’s Unlimited EVDO Wireless Not So Unlimited

This article was written on August 09, 2006 by CyberNet.

Verizon's Unlimited EVDO Wireless Not So Unlimited Verizon’s EVDO service lets users take broadband Internet wherever they may end up so that you can keep in touch with your friends, family, or co-workers. However, a few weeks ago ConsumerAffairs.com had an interesting article on how Verizon really does limit their unlimited wireless service.

Verizon customers are able to receive the unlimited wireless package for just $59.99 a month while non-Verizon customers will have to dish out $79.99! Unlimited sounds great but how much is really too much? A customer received this letter from Verizon claiming their usage was more than 40 times what the norm is:

We found that your usage over the past 30 days exceeded 10 Gigabytes. This level of usage is so extraordinarily high that it could only have been attained by activities, such as streaming and/or downloading movies and video, prohibited by the terms and conditions…

After doing some research the customer found the fine print in the terms that states:

data sessions may be used with wireless devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access. services cannot be used: (1) for uploading, downloading or streaming of movies, music or games; (2) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, Voice over IP (VoIP), automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing.

So basically if you do anything that will force you to leave your Web browser then you are screwed. I understand that they are trying to keep their bandwidth levels low but streaming audio and video is becoming a way of life for so many people. Judging by what Verizon recommends as “average usage” you will only be able to download 8.3MB per day! I guess downloading that DVD ISO with Linux on it will be out of the question .