iPhone 5s and personal hotspot on Verizon unlimited data plan

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iPhone 5s and personal hotspot on Verizon unlimited data plan

I am going to buy an iphone 5s when they arrive in stores. I currently have a verizon plan with unlimited data. If I register my new iphone 5s with my current verizon account, will I be able to use my 5s as a personal hotspot without purchasing it?

My current iPhone 4 has the button for a hotspot, however when I press it an error box pops up and tells me I need to add it. I read that based on a ruling verizon was no longer allowed to charge customers more for personal hotspots, however that only applied to _new_ plans.

I bought that iPhone 4 at the verizon store so I suppose I'd like to know if it makes a difference if I buy it independently at the Apple store, then just switch it using verizon's website.

It seems a personal hotspot should be completeley isolated from the carrier, would verizon even be able to tell? Other than cancelling my internet plan and phone data usage skyrocketing 🙂

iPhone 5s

Posted on Sep 10, 2013 7:00 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 10, 2013 7:01 PM in response to jstrate

Ask Verizon.

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Answer 2

AnaMusic

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Sep 10, 2013 7:02 PM in response to jstrate

That is a question for Verizon.

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Answer 3

Sep 10, 2013 7:08 PM in response to jstrate

If you are going to use the new iPhone on Verizon, you must buy one of the CDMA capable models...you cannot buy the GSM model and convert it to CDMA. HotSpot is a hardware capability built into the iPhone, but use of HotSpot requires data service support from the carrier. So you have to arrange use with the carrier, Verizon in this case.

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Answer 4

jstrate Author

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Sep 10, 2013 7:14 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

What an unhelpful reply, you could have saved some time by skipping it.

I've spoken with verizon in the past and would rather not. Mostly because of unhelpful/misleading responses similar to yours.

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Answer 5

Sep 10, 2013 7:19 PM in response to jstrate

If you buy a new phone at a contract price, you will lose your unlimited data. You will need to switch to a current plan (they include the hotspot feature). If you purchae the phone at full retail (unsubsidized) price, you should be able to keep your unlimited data. The unlimited data plan on 4G includes the hotspot.

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Answer 6

jstrate Author

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Sep 10, 2013 7:19 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

Thanks for clarifying, verizon provides a web application interface which I can supply an iphone id and switch phones from there without modifying my current contract (which includes data)

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Answer 7

deggie

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Sep 10, 2013 7:20 PM in response to jstrate

I'm not aware of any court ruling that requires Verizon to provide a Hotspot feature under their unlimited plan (the "unlimited" plan actually throttles at around 3GB depending where you are located) so I would guess it will not be available to you. There is nothing in the 5S that would change that. No matter what you want to do to get a Personal Hotspot you will have to deal with Verizon - or change to another cell provider.

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Answer 8

Sep 10, 2013 7:25 PM in response to deggie

deggie wrote:

I'm not aware of any court ruling that requires Verizon to provide a Hotspot feature under their unlimited plan (the "unlimited" plan actually throttles at around 3GB

Last I checked, they only throtled phones that were running 3G. 4G phones aren't throttled.

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Answer 9

Sep 10, 2013 7:25 PM in response to jstrate

It does not matter where you buy your iPhone as long as it is a CDMA model, Verizon capable, and then you can switch the service to the new iPhone when you activate it.

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Answer 10

Sep 10, 2013 7:26 PM in response to jstrate

jstrate wrote:

Thanks for clarifying, verizon provides a web application interface which I can supply an iphone id and switch phones from there without modifying my current contract (which includes data)

Yes, the website is quite easy. As long as you're willing to pay full price, you should be able to keep the unlimited plan. I'm giving some thought to that myself.

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Answer 11

jstrate Author

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Sep 10, 2013 7:34 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Ok thanks that's good news. I'm fine with paying full price which is why I'm getting it from the apple store instead of using my contract.

Now I'd just like to know if I can use the hotspot without modifying my current plan, and presumably losing my 'unlimited' data plan.

AFAIK verizon can enforce the personal hotspot fees on preexisting accounts at the time of the ruling.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57485518-94/what-verizons-fcc-tethering-settlem ent-means-to-you-faq/

Which I was hoping wasn't the case. But if the iPhone 5s can run a personal hotspot independently I'd like to know. FWIW I've had phones that can in the past.

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Answer 12

Sep 10, 2013 7:44 PM in response to jstrate

I currently have an iPhone 5 on the unlimited data plan. I don't pay anything extra for the hotspot feature. I did when I had my 4S. On 4G LTE phones, it's included. When you change the phone, you should start being able to get the hotspot.

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Answer 13

Sep 17, 2013 7:28 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Hi Meg,

When you went from the 4S to the 5, did you need to get a sim card to do so? I have heard that I will need to get a new 4G sim card separate from the iPhone 5S, as the current one in my 4S is only good for 3G.

Thanks!

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Answer 14

Sep 17, 2013 7:30 AM in response to bellabaloooky

The Verizon iPhone 5C and 5S, just like the 5, will come with a 4G LTE SIM.

Best of luck.

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Answer 15

Sep 18, 2013 1:53 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thanks, Meg. I don't know why people were telling me that I'd need a separate one sent.

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