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Verizon to offer early upgrade for some featurephone owners moving up to smartphones?

posted by Alan F. / Mar 17, 2010, 8:23 AM

This article contains unofficial information.

Verizon to offer early upgrade for some featurephone owners moving up to smartphones?

A BGR tipster passed along information relating to a new early upgrade program from Verizon. Unfortunately, there is fine print everywhere as the program appears limited to Target and Sam's Club kiosks in four areas of the country from March 15th through May 1st. The goal is to move non data paying featurephone owners into a steady flow of revenue by switching them to an expensive new smartphone and the accompanying monthly data plan. The upgrade offer is available in Northern California, Central Texas, Upstate New York and Ohio/Pennsylvania and is open to someone who does not currently own a 3G smartphone. If the upgrade is accepted, the customer cannot get another upgrade for at least 12 months and cannot be currently eligible for a standard upgrade. The upgrade cannot be combined with any other offer and a $29.99 monthly data plan is required as is your signature on a 2 year contract. So if you currently own a Verizon featurephone and you've been wondering what the excitement is over these new-fangled Android things you keep reading about, here's your chance to get an early upgrade so you can join the rest of the smartphone totin' world.

source: BGR

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26 Comments

1. Homotechual

Posts: 65; Member since: Oct 27, 2009

Following in the footsteps of T-Mobile like always. First the friends and family, then cheaper unlimited minuets, and now this.

posted on Oct 20, 2010, 1:45 AM 0

2. Gsmalltheway

Posts: 277; Member since: Aug 15, 2009

Amen to that

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 9:10 AM 0

7. iHateCrapple

Posts: 734; Member since: Feb 12, 2010

You say that like it's a bad thing? The best carrier in America is trying to match the carrier with hands down the best deals and your b*tching about it?

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 10:16 AM 0

11. Mateo8326

Posts: 472; Member since: Jul 15, 2009

if you cant beat em join em

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 10:57 AM 0

19. whocares

Posts: 235; Member since: Dec 19, 2009

technically they are beating them. very badly.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 12:56 PM 0

20. nosense

Posts: 53; Member since: Jul 19, 2009

The best Deals are you serious Tmobile does not have the best pricing. Best pricing hands down is Sprint. Over all feature wise there is no company that can compete with Sprint pricing. Why do you think Tmobile new comercial only say they are cheaper than att and verizon, because they would be lying if they say they are cheaper than sprint.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 1:38 PM 0

23. thecellphnman

Posts: 10; Member since: Mar 17, 2010

Im sorry but correct me if I am wrong. But didnt Alltel start the whole "My Circle" thing and T-Mobile copied them. Dont bother correcting me because I am right. Oh! Guess who owns Alltel now??? Verizon! Also this offer started in the Midwest at the beginning of the year so it is nothing new phone arena. T-Mobile is like the Walmart of the cell phone industry. Every place they service another town turns into a low income slum.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 6:32 PM 0

3. 203RichBoy

Posts: 76; Member since: Dec 15, 2009

Verizon is so damn Greedy. Wouldn't give them a dime...

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 9:15 AM 0

5. testman22

Posts: 339; Member since: Nov 03, 2009

yea, they have a lot of nerve to spend billions of dollars on developing a reliable network and then trying to make that money back with higher prices than other carriers. greedy bastards

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 9:48 AM 0

4. crappypunk

Posts: 131; Member since: Aug 15, 2009

I like how phone arena puts question marks at the end of all their articles so they're saying.. I really don't know what i'm talking about, but it could be true but you really can't discredit this article because of the question mark.. but I love the format of the site that's why I keep coming back lol

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 9:48 AM 0

6. CODYPHOBIA

Posts: 58; Member since: Jun 21, 2008

this is available for all indirect (i think direct too) stores in those regions..not just Target and Sams

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 10:07 AM 0

12. johnolesen

Posts: 20; Member since: Oct 17, 2009

just in direct. they use eROES, Direct doesnt

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 11:27 AM 0

26. crackers8199

Posts: 1; Member since: Mar 23, 2010

does the ohio/pennsylvania region include the entire state of PA? from looking at the web i'd say it does, but the guy in the authorized retail store i went into today said "oh no, you're in the philadelphia region. the ohio/PA region is in the midwest." he seemed like a dolt who didn't know what he was talking about, so i figured i'd check here to make sure...

posted on Mar 23, 2010, 3:45 PM 0

8. runin2music

Posts: 14; Member since: Mar 11, 2010

Huh. US Cellular has offered a Smartphone/Premium Device upgrade for the past year: may upgrade at 12months (instead of 18mo) with a new 2yr contract, standard unlimited data plan ($5 cheaper than any other carrier), must upgrade from a feature phone to be eligible. Looks the same to me, only cheaper.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 10:17 AM 0

9. CODYPHOBIA

Posts: 58; Member since: Jun 21, 2008

No...this promotion DOES NOT REQUIRE you to CURRENTLY be eligibile. Example. You upgraded to a LG Accolade 2 months ago, and now you want a Droid....You're in luck...come visit a store

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 10:36 AM 0

15. runin2music

Posts: 14; Member since: Mar 11, 2010

oh I see. Thank you for the correction. That's a sweet deal!

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 11:39 AM 0

10. Sharky

Posts: 259; Member since: Jun 24, 2008

I have an enV2 righht now and my contract is up July... but I'm NYC so I'm guessing I can't do this.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 10:50 AM 0

13. numberonenygfan

Posts: 211; Member since: Oct 19, 2009

Upstate New York take a drive ? its worth it!

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 11:27 AM 0

14. CODYPHOBIA

Posts: 58; Member since: Jun 21, 2008

if ur contract is up in July you should be eligible to upgrade in March?

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 11:38 AM 0

16. mahers

Posts: 7; Member since: Mar 17, 2010

How would the common person know about this? Is it advertised anywhere other than Phone Arena type sites?

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 12:03 PM 0

17. VZWtrainer

Posts: 50; Member since: Jul 24, 2008

It isn't suppossed to be advertised. Even with this level of exposure, you are going to get people that don't live in these regions (like our friend from NYC above) that want these deals but can't get them. They will obviously be upset. This is why it is an internal document so the employee will only make the offer if the customer is eligible. I'm sure there may also be some kind of mailer sent to the qualifying customers.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 12:28 PM 0

18. mahers

Posts: 7; Member since: Mar 17, 2010

I see your point, but as somene who is eligible (I think), I would like to know about in a way other than reading it here. Besides, if the point is to get less spending customers to go out and get this deal, you'd think VZW would get it out to as many eligible folks as possible. It's all moot at this point, since now I know and will pop over to Target and see if it's for real.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 12:32 PM 0

21. VZWtrainer

Posts: 50; Member since: Jul 24, 2008

You are right. The people that qualify should be made aware. It just won't be via mass advertisement.

posted on Mar 17, 2010, 2:14 PM 0

22. bgrdfan2

Posts: 9; Member since: Mar 04, 2010

Just please be careful when buying phones from an indirect agent... (Target, Walmart, GoWireless..) because you sign TWO contracts-one with them for the device and one with VZW for the service. If you don't like the phone that indirect agent has a totally different return policy. Most of the time it's only 3-7 days and VZW can't do a Worry Free Guarantee because they didn't provide the equipment... So before you buy from an indirect just make sure you like...