A Real World Comparison of Verizon vs Sprint

With both Gizmodo and C/Net reporting the July 7 death of Verizon unlimited data plans , I decided to take another look at Verizon.

Disclaimer: I used Verizon for many, many years.  I left them for Sprint because I was tired of them crippling phones to force us to use their services (picture uploads, ringtones, etc.) and their lack of a data plan.  In my opinion, Verizon had decided to market solely to teens.  I'm on my 4th or 5th two year Sprint contract now, have just as good connectivity, no billing issues, etc.

Ok, let me tell you where I am with Sprint as that'll be my baseline for looking at Verizon.

My account currently has three lines.

1. My HTC EVO 4G WiMax Android phone, $350 after rebate with a two year contract.  This was just over a year ago.
2. My wife's Samsung flip phone, free with a two year contract as of last month.
3. My Dell 11Z notebook with integrated 3G/4G WiMax, $150 with a two year data contract as of last month

My EVO plan is $90 a month plus tax.  That includes 450 "Anytime" minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, unlimited texting and unlimited 4G data.  3G data is limited to 5GB a month.  I also get some kind of bonus of 300 Anytime minutes.  I'm not sure what that entails but it sounds like I actually get 750 "Anytime" minutes a month.

To get the same plan from Verizon would also be $90 a month.  With the caveat that unlimited data plans will no longer be available after July 6th.  So instead of $30 a month for unlimited data, it'll be $30 for 10GB of data.  The second caveat is that instead of unlimited mobile-to-mobile, you only get unlimited Verizon-to-Verizon, though you can add up to five out of network numbers to talk to free if you boost to a 900+ minute plan..

Now even I probably don't use 10GB a month on my mobile devices.  It is hard to say because since 4G is unlimited use, my 4G data usage isn't tracked (or at least not where I can see it). As for 3G, I'll use about 250MB this month extrapolating what I've used so far, 2/3rds into my billing period.

So as it currently stands with unlimited data plans, Sprint and Verizon are a tie for my EVO.

My wife rarely leaves the house as she's now retired and enjoying being "just" a house mouse.  However, I insist that she carry a cell phone "just in case".  She's on Sprint's least expensive plan... 200 "Anytime" minutes a month with unlimited nights and weekends.  She doesn't text, do phone based email or anything web related.  The camera might as well not be in there either.

With Verizon, this same plan is $40 a month, though in a few years when she turns 65, Verizon will charge her the same as Sprint does now.

As for the Dell 11z? My Sprint data plan is $65 a month for unlimited 4G use and 5GB of 3G use.  With regards to hardware, Verizon offers nothing similar.  The closest thing they offer is a USB modem for your existing notebook.

While Verizon offers a number of USB modems ranging from free for a reconditioned one to $50, the user ratings on them are pretty bad with the exception of the free one.  Worse though is the data plan.  Even now you can't get an unlimited data plan.  Instead, You're going to pay $50 a month for up to 5GB of usage, or $80 for up to 10GB of usage.

Bottom Line:  For me to have the equivalent setup with Verizon, it would cost me about $25 a month more than with Sprint.  Instead of unlimited data, I'd have limits.  I see no compelling reason for me to switch to Verizon.  Not even the iPhone 4, iPad 2 or Xoom 3G.