We have received dozens of e-mails from readers trying to add Verizon Wireless’ coveted 4G $30 unlimited-use Mobile Hotspot feature to their accounts, with varying results.  We’ve compiled, with the help of our readers, a guide to assist you in scoring the only good thing to come from Verizon’s recent changes in data pricing.  If you follow these steps, you should be good to go.

Q&A

1. What is a Mobile Hotspot and What Is Verizon offering? — Verizon Wireless offers customers a service to turn their 3G or 4G phones into a Wi-Fi provider, letting you connect your other portable devices, like a tablet or laptop, to your Verizon Wireless data connection to access the Internet over Wi-Fi.  Technically, this feature is built-in to most smartphones, but cell phone companies monetize it by charging you an extra monthly fee to use the service.  Traditionally, Verizon charges $20 extra a month (on top of your data plan) to enable this feature, and has limited it to 2GB of use per month.  Each additional gigabyte will cost you $10.  But when Verizon introduced its new 4G LTE network, early adopters to 4G phones got access to this feature for free, for a limited time.  On 7/7, Verizon’s new limited-use data plans took effect, and Verizon expired the free 4G Mobile Hotspot feature.  To placate 4G owners, it offered them the chance to continue getting unlimited use of this feature, for an extra $30 a month.

That’s a stiff price to pay on top of your monthly data plan, but because Verizon’s LTE network is currently fast enough to serve as a home broadband backup (we consistently get speeds of 11/3Mbps on LTE from our headquarters), $60 total for unlimited wireless Internet isn’t completely outrageous at those speeds.  Yes, it’s ridiculous Verizon disabled a feature built in and functional on phones in other countries, but it is the same story with other carriers as well.  We even agree with the proposition you should be able to use your unlimited data plan for anything you want, but that’s just not a reality at the moment.

2. Who exactly qualifies for the $30 unlimited Mobile Hotspot? — We have been able to confirm for sure that anyone who activated or at least ordered a 4G phone before midnight on 7/7 is qualified to upgrade to this plan.  You cannot, however, activate the plan on a 3G phone.  Only 4G models qualify.  Where things get murky is whether or not customers who currently have 3G phones can still upgrade to a 4G model after 7/7 and get this plan.  Droid Life believes the answer to this question may be “yes” based on two tweets sent from Verizon Support:

We are more skeptical, however, based on the accumulated responses we’ve collected from Verizon Wireless from our readers, which admittedly are all over the map.  Verizon reps have not been offering consistent information about the Mobile Hotspot plan since it was first announced more than a week ago.  The company is preoccupied with reassuring existing customers they were not at risk of imminently losing their unlimited data plans, an entirely different subject.

I would not upgrade to a 4G phone today in hopes of scoring this Mobile Hotspot plan unless you have the name of an employee you can use if you complete the order, try to activate the feature, and encounter resistance.  In truth, Verizon can do anything they want for any customer, new or otherwise.  The trick is finding an employee with the authority to make things happen.  Be prepared to escalate or call back if you encounter a roadblock.

3. What happens if I have a 4G phone and start a Hotspot session with a 3G signal, is it still unlimited? — Yes.  Any Mobile Hotspot session originated on this plan on a 4G phone is unlimited regardless of what network conditions you encounter, as long as you are on Verizon’s network.

4. Does this apply to mobile broadband, provided by a dongle or a MiFi device?  — No.  Only 4G smartphones qualify for this plan.

5. How many people can share my Mobile Hotspot connection at the same time? — Verizon traditionally says five, but my phone (Samsung Charge) supports up to 10 concurrent Hotspot connections.  That’s a lot, so if everyone piles on, expect some slowdowns from the shared connection.

6. Can you add and drop the featured plan and get it back later? — Verizon has not said.  The company has not responded to questions about the longevity of this plan, whether it could be withdrawn, or whether customers can add and drop it (and add it back) at will.  We see that as evidence this is a promotional add-on that is likely to be withdrawn for new customers at some point in the future.  Verizon traditionally grandfathers customers already on a plan indefinitely, which means if you have it, you can keep it.  If this feature is important to you, we recommend you add it and keep it active.  When it’s gone for new sign-ups, it’s gone.

7. I do not see the plan under Verizon’s My Services on their website.  Should I be concerned? — No.  The plan was being offered to customers initiating new Mobile Hotspot sessions on their 4G phones, but not to all.  We never found it on Verizon’s website.  The only indication it is active on your account is finding this: “4G SMARTPHONE HOTSPOT” listed on this page (to access, you must first login to your Verizon Wireless account and select the line on which the feature was ordered.)

Ordering Advice

We have found multiple methods of securing this plan, and with the thanks of Stop the Cap! reader DJ, we have even located the all-important plan number, which you can reference when contacting Verizon.  If you run into a roadblock calling Verizon customer service, or can’t get the plan added while visiting a Verizon Wireless corporate store, we have some other suggestions.

1. Customers who already had a 4G phone before 7/7 can call Verizon Wireless from your phone at 611 or 1-800-922-0204 Monday-Sunday 6am-11pm ET.  Tell them you wish to add plan code #76153 — $30 Unlimited 4G Mobile Hotspot.

2. If you activated a new 4G phone after 7/7, call VZW’s Orders & Activations Hotline at 1-877-807-4646.  Work through the prompts.  You may be prompted to accept a customer agreement and get “trapped” in a menu asking you to press “1” or “2” after accepting the customer agreement.  Press “0” and wait to be transferred to a live agent.  Tell them you wish to add plan code #76153 — $30 Unlimited 4G Mobile Hotspot.

3. If rebuffed by either, try calling 1-316-681-9940, the number to a Verizon store in Kansas that has employees active in several phone forums helping people trying to get on this plan.  They should be able to add the plan to any 4G phone account, whether you are in Kansas or not.  Again, reference plan code #76153 — $30 Unlimited 4G Mobile Hotspot.

Let us know if you still have any problems in our comments section!

A Verizon Wireless tweet from this morning welcoming customers to a new era of "wonderful usage based plans."

Verizon Wireless might be regretting having a Facebook page open for comments after users started excoriating the company yesterday, when it first publicly broached the subject of its now-implemented wireless Internet Overcharging scheme.

“The price is too damned high,” exclaimed one customer livid that new customers would pay $30 for just 2GB of data usage (one penny higher than the company’s now-retired unlimited use plan).  “$80 for 10GB?  And I thought AT&T was greedy,” commented another.

Judging from the countless hundreds of negative comments, Sprint is about to have a robust quarter of new customer additions defecting from Verizon.  Sprint retains its unlimited use plans on both its 3G and 4G networks, although the speeds do not compare favorably to Verizon’s LTE/4G network.

Matt Hamann summed up the sentiment of customers who despise usage caps, even if they are currently grandfathered on an unlimited use plan:

Hey, Verizon…I will *never* add another smartphone to my plan until you come up with fairer data prices. $30 for 2GB?? You gotta be kidding! How is this fair? How is it in your customer’s best interests?

Bottom line: IT ISN’T! It’s 90% corporate greed. What’s the best way to get more revenue from customers, huh?

Listen here: I’m already looking for better options. As soon as I find one, I’m gone. And I’ll take every family member and friend that I can along with me.

The best mobile provider you are no more.

Verizon created considerable confusion for their customers by saying nothing until just a day before the new plans took effect.  Although the media has covered the imminent end of unlimited data for over a week, customers have not been notified by Verizon itself, despite one customer’s claim Verizon told him they mailed letters in advance of the plan changes.

As we have reported, those customers with pre-existing unlimited data plans will be able to retain them indefinitely, even if they upgrade to a new phone in the future, and even if they renew their contract.  Only new customers, those changing plans or any new lines added to a family plan will face the “wonderful” tiered pricing Verizon tweeted about this morning.

To commemorate Verizon Wireless’ new mobile data prices, we present a clip from the leader of ‘The Rent is Too Damned High’ party.

Mobile Hotspot App from Verizon Wireless (Courtesy: Pocketnow.com)

Things got considerably more confusing over the mobile Hotspot feature — a tethering application built into most Verizon smartphones.

Verizon Wireless representatives were sharing conflicting information with Stop the Cap! about the availability and pricing of this feature as late as this morning, but we’re now confident we have an answer the company will commit to for impacted customers.

For 3G Verizon Wireless smartphones, nothing changes.  It was $20 a month for 2GB before July 7th, and remains the same going forward.  For LTE/4G phone owners, things are much more confusing.  Existing customers have been enjoying free tethering on a special promotion made available only to 4G customers for several months now.  That promotion officially ended this morning.  A software update is imminent for 4G phone owners which will remove the free Hotspot feature and replace it with a prompt for one of two options:

• a $20 for 2GB Hotspot plan
• $30 Hotspot plan with unlimited usage

Most would be foolish not to lock in unlimited tethering with the $30 plan, which is a much better deal going forward.  Where the confusion comes in is for customers rushing out to upgrade their existing phones to a 4G phone just to lock in unlimited data -and- unlimited Hotspot tethering.

We spoke yesterday afternoon to Verizon Wireless representatives who denied any knowledge of the $30 unlimited tethering plan or confused it with the basic unlimited data plan.  Eventually, we were told only pre-existing customers with already-activated 4G phones would qualify for the option of choosing the $30 unlimited tether plan.  It was too late, even before yesterday at midnight, for others to hop on board this deal.

But by this morning, we were starting to get different answers, culminating in a Verizon representative telling Stop the Cap! any customer who placed an order for a 4G smartphone through Verizon Wireless that invoked a plan change (part of the process of ordering the phone direct from Verizon assures that) would have likely found the addition of the “Verizon Mobile Hotspot Promo” as one of the line items added to your plan as part of the order.  If so, that qualifies you for the $30 unlimited tethering option, even if you are still waiting for your 4G phone to arrive in the mail.

Verizon claims after you receive and activate your new 4G phone, attempts to use the Hotspot feature should offer you the choice for the $30 Hotspot plan.  If it does not, we have the name and contact details of a Verizon employee that should be able to cut through the red tape and get you this plan.  The only requirement is you had to order the phone before midnight on July 7th.

Verizon does not know at this point if customers will be offered the promotional $30 unlimited price for a limited time only, or will forfeit it forever if they do not accept it immediately (or drop the optional add-on at some point).

At the end of business Wednesday, Verizon Wireless will end its unlimited data plans for new customers.  If you are an existing customer, you will be able to retain unlimited data for your smartphone indefinitely, but those considering an upgrade to 4G may want to consider doing so immediately, if you want to have an unlimited 4G tethering plan for your 4G-capable phone.

Verizon Wireless data pricing effective 7/7/2011

New Verizon Wireless Customers: You must buy and activate a 3G/4G-capable phone on Verizon’s network no later than 11:59pm Wednesday evening to qualify for the $29.99 unlimited data plan.  At this point, this means buying a phone from Verizon Wireless’ website or visiting a local store.  If you want the best possible price, we recommend calling Verizon Wireless and negotiating with them directly.  Verizon is often able to match prices from online retailers like Wirefly or Amazon, usually by throwing in service credits for your first month’s invoice.  New 4G customers can score an unlimited tethering add-on plan from Verizon for an additional $30 a month.  That means $29.99 for the data plan plus $30 for the tethering option, but if comes without any usage limits.  After July 6, all those new to tethering will only find one option: $20 for up to 2GB of tethering access.

Existing Verizon Wireless Customers: You will keep your current unlimited smartphone data plan indefinitely, perhaps even after upgrading your phone.  However, if you were interested in tethering on Verizon’s 4G network, consider upgrading to a 4G phone before Thursday to qualify for the $30 unlimited tethering plan, good only for 4G users with an existing tethering relationship with Verizon.  You must select the 4G tethering option before Thursday to qualify.  Call Verizon Wireless at 611 from your handset and make sure they take care of this for you to avoid complications.  An automatic update will be pushed to the Thunderbolt, Charge, and Revolution on July 7 to cut off the Hotspot free ride those customers had been enjoying up until now.  You will have to buy the service if you want to continue using it.  All 3G phones (iPhone, Droid X, etc.) will not see any pricing changes for 3G tethering – it is still $20 a month for up to 2GB of usage, no unlimited options for you.

Other pricing details:

• Verizon customers opting for the $30 for 2GB plan will lose company discounts on their data plan.  You must select a higher-cost data plan if you want to keep any employer discount;
• Verizon is now specifically prohibiting tethering any of their phones without a Verizon add-on tethering option.  This means third-party tethering apps you may have used before now violate your contract with them.

[flv width=”360″ height=”290″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WCPO Cincinnati Verizon ending unlimited data plans 6-24-11.mp4[/flv]

WCPO-TV in Cincinnati covers the imminent funeral for Verizon’s unlimited data plans.  Verizon customers are not happy with the loss.  (2 minutes)

New language in a spending bill likely to pass would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from spending any of its budget contemplating approval of LightSquared’s application to deliver a national 4G wireless network over frequencies detractors claim would hamper or block use of GPS signals.

The language voted on in the House Appropriations Committee was approved by members of both political parties on a voice vote — another sign Congress is serious about stopping any provider from interfering with GPS technology.  A combination of concerns from the U.S. military, civil aviation, law enforcement, and private industry got a full hearing in Washington last Thursday, as GPS users complained of grave risks LightSquared could cause to aircraft in flight and the general defense of the country.

Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wisc.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation, was concerned GPS interference might even cause an in-flight emergency. “In aviation, there’s no room for error,” Petri said.

Petri

Last week, just prior to the hearing, LightSquared announced its intent to move the service further away from the GPS band, but industry groups remain resolute the proposed changes would be incremental and still pose an interference problem.

Congress’ vote would seem to indicate they agree, putting the entire LightSquared project in jeopardy.

This week, new questions are also being raised about the management of LightSquared.  Critics charge the company knew about the interference issue years ago, and did little or nothing to mitigate it. Some suspect the company was banking on a lobbying effort and pressure from the White House with an interest of expanding broadband to help push through an approval despite the interference threat.

John Byrne from IDC’s wireless and mobile infrastructure research group told the Washington Post LightSquared is now faced with proving interference will not be a problem before it will win approval.

“At this point I think you have to assume that the deployment is on hold until those concerns are addressed to the satisfaction of the FCC and all of the congressmen and senators that are on the FCC on this issue,” Byrne said.

9 to 5 Mac shows off a mock image of what the newest iPhone 5 will probably look like. Pay close attention to the rounded edges and bezel. (click to enlarge)

Apple’s wildly popular iPhone series gets an upgrade in September as the Cupertino, Calif., company prepares to unveil iPhone 5.  Although the new model is not expected to support 4G/LTE networks, significant upgrades are in the works for the next series of phones:

• iPhone 5 will use Apple’s new iOS 5, which means improved messaging and photo sharing;
• An improved 8-megapixel camera, up from the current 5-megapixel one that got mixed reviews on iPhone 4;
• The introduction of the A5 processor, currently used in iPad 2, to provide more power for apps and features;
• An edge-to-edge screen and rounded glass.

The iPhone currently accounts for half of Apple’s revenue and has almost an 18% share of the smartphone market and dropping.

To counter Google’s increasing share of the smartphone market with its Android operating system, Apple also promises to deliver a stripped-down, less powerful budget-priced iPhone series for the developing world.  While prices have not been announced, the new budget phone is likely to be priced at least $100-200 less than western models.

With iPhone 5 also expected to include built-in support for either GSM or CDMA networks, Apple’s newest phone could be released simultaneously by both AT&T and Verizon.

Whether customers will be able to take their phones activated on one carrier to another is another matter, as is whether Sprint, T-Mobile, and smaller carriers will be allowed to sell it.

[flv width=”640″ height=”500″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/Apple Introduces iPhone 5 6-22-11.flv[/flv]

Even without support for 4G/LTE, iPhone 5 is still likely to generate considerable enthusiasm, especially among would-be Verizon customers waiting for the next version of the phone.  But by then, unlimited data plans will be a dream.  Bloomberg News and WFXT-TV in Boston discuss iPhone 5’s release, and a clip from CNBC’s ‘The Titans’ explains the marketing genius of Apple and its iPhone product line.  (2 minutes)