To hell with the 5 GB and nothing except email and browsing.

I have one of these things, I have to admit that the speed is relatively standard, but I’m really dissatisfied with the rampant connection cuts and freezeups, not to mention the client bugs.

But I use about 3 GB per week… which totals up to around 12 for you non-math types. Obviously, 12 > 5. Verizon hasn’t done anything yet, and they probably never will.

Nevertheless, I’m returning it and canceling my contract this weekend.

You misread the part about “automatic data feeds”. Look at it in context:

“Examples of prohibited uses include the following: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, continuous Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds…”

Clearly, they are talking about “automatic data feeds” *from* your phone, not ordinary periodic checking of an RSS feed.

Verizon’s record of deliberately crippling phone technology, changing service terms for the worse out from under existing customers, etc. is well known enough by now that few knowledgeable 3G users choose or recommend them (at least for anyone who has another option in the service area). This is utterly unsurprising.

I’d be surprised if automatic data feeds pertains to checking rss, checking email, etc. from the phone or device. I bet it has more to do with serving up data from the device to outside consumers.

This may sound restrictive, but its actually a step in the right direction. Previously the same restrictions regarding types of usage applied plus they would terminate your account if you went over the 5gb/month quota, often without any prior warning. While 200kb/s may be slower, it’s still service and should be quite usable for permitted uses of their network.

Do we think they are actually going to get mad and monitor us for using an RSS feeder? Just seems odd as I would think people using streaming apps would be a bigger threat to bandwidth utilization. Isnt using slingbox a bigger deal than mostly text rss feeds?

The plan I have doesn’t even charge roaming, which means I get more use out of Verizon’s network than Verizon’s subscribers do. Kind of sad, isn’t it?

Wow! Are any of the other carriers doing this? I won’t be switching to Verizon any time soon.

No RSS? Are they doing business in THIS century?

That’s 200 kbps MAXIMUM with the right to change that speed as desired. I suspect they will shut those “abusers” down to no speed.

“automatic data feeds” are not permitted. Hmm… did they build this off of a 1993 TOS draft? One could argue that e-mail retrieval at regular intervals is an “automatic data feed”. I’m sure that they allow for that action, but their wording leaves a bit to be desired IMO. The challenge for them (all carriers really) is that they can’t account for every possible service in a TOS as things are evolving daily. Still: 200 kbps after 5 GB is much better than termination.