Save $ on cell service -- Ting Mobile / Solavei (+ other MVNOs) (1 Viewer)

[The_Burning_Bush]

Sprint seemingly doesn't work in my area. I knew it was reported to be spotty but I thought I'd give it a try.... at least I can return the phone.

 

[(HULK)]

Sprint seemingly doesn't work in my area. I knew it was reported to be spotty but I thought I'd give it a try.... at least I can return the phone.

I can help you find a good deal imo. Whats your zipcode and usage (mins/texts/data)?

 

[Hooper31]

Using three Samsung Galaxy S2's on Ting. First months bill was $48.

We text a lot, but rarely using minutes or MB. Have access to WiFi both at home and at work.

 

[(HULK)]

Using three Samsung Galaxy S2's on Ting. First months bill was $48. We text a lot, but rarely using minutes or MB. Have access to WiFi both at home and at work.

what was your previous bill again?

 

[Jaysus]

Using three Samsung Galaxy S2's on Ting. First months bill was $48. We text a lot, but rarely using minutes or MB. Have access to WiFi both at home and at work.

Stop texting: use Google Voice instead.ETA: use Google Hangouts if it's mostly texts between you and your wife.

 

[Hooper31]

Using three Samsung Galaxy S2's on Ting. First months bill was $48. We text a lot, but rarely using minutes or MB. Have access to WiFi both at home and at work.

what was your previous bill again?

Routinely between $180 and $190 for two 3GS iPhones and a crappy flip phone. I continued to use AT&T for a year and a half after our contract was up. That was stupid.

 

[(HULK)]

Using three Samsung Galaxy S2's on Ting. First months bill was $48. We text a lot, but rarely using minutes or MB. Have access to WiFi both at home and at work.

what was your previous bill again?

Routinely between $180 and $190 for two 3GS iPhones and a crappy flip phone. I continued to use AT&T for a year and a half after our contract was up. That was stupid.

well, now you at least know how much you're saving

 

[sbonomo]

Paging Hulk: Sprint has finally pissed me off enought to look into switching. I would need to pay $450 to get out of my contract, which i don't mind paying....Stats: two lines (HTC Evo 4g & Galaxy SIII) - Avg/High/Low usage (combined) over the last six months = Voice - 887/1,161/689 - Text 2,784/3738/2430 (how the heck do women text so much) - data GB 1.5/1.9/1.1. I can easily cut the data in half by bringing a radio to work (i listen to sports talk radio all day through the i-heart app that could be tuned into with a clock radio). Currently pay $149 per month w/out insurance. 91104 - TIA

 

[(HULK)]

Paging Hulk: Sprint has finally pissed me off enought to look into switching. I would need to pay $450 to get out of my contract, which i don't mind paying....Stats: two lines (HTC Evo 4g & Galaxy SIII) - Avg/High/Low usage (combined) over the last six months = Voice - 887/1,161/689 - Text 2,784/3738/2430 (how the heck do women text so much) - data GB 1.5/1.9/1.1. I can easily cut the data in half by bringing a radio to work (i listen to sports talk radio all day through the i-heart app that could be tuned into with a clock radio). Currently pay $149 per month w/out insurance. 91104 - TIA

Your best bet is Ting for 2 phones, 1000 minutes, 4000 texts, and 2 GBs of data = $83

If you get your data down to 1 GB it drops to $65. Pretty strong incentive to bring your radio to work or use wifi.

You can bring your existing phones too. And the GS3 will be able to still have LTE.

 

[(HULK)]

Paging Hulk: Sprint has finally pissed me off enought to look into switching. I would need to pay $450 to get out of my contract, which i don't mind paying....Stats: two lines (HTC Evo 4g & Galaxy SIII) - Avg/High/Low usage (combined) over the last six months = Voice - 887/1,161/689 - Text 2,784/3738/2430 (how the heck do women text so much) - data GB 1.5/1.9/1.1. I can easily cut the data in half by bringing a radio to work (i listen to sports talk radio all day through the i-heart app that could be tuned into with a clock radio). Currently pay $149 per month w/out insurance. 91104 - TIA

Your best bet is Ting for 2 phones, 1000 minutes, 4000 texts, and 2 GBs of data = $83

If you get your data down to 1 GB it drops to $65. Pretty strong incentive to bring your radio to work or use wifi.

You can bring your existing phones too. And the GS3 will be able to still have LTE.

In 7 months you'll have saved more than your ETF too. Thats at the $83 rate. I paid $450 to get out of Sprint's contract as well. Worth it.

 

[(HULK)]

Be sure to use someone's referral link in post1. Save yourself $25 off your first month of service.

 

[sbonomo]

Paging Hulk: Sprint has finally pissed me off enought to look into switching. I would need to pay $450 to get out of my contract, which i don't mind paying....Stats: two lines (HTC Evo 4g & Galaxy SIII) - Avg/High/Low usage (combined) over the last six months = Voice - 887/1,161/689 - Text 2,784/3738/2430 (how the heck do women text so much) - data GB 1.5/1.9/1.1. I can easily cut the data in half by bringing a radio to work (i listen to sports talk radio all day through the i-heart app that could be tuned into with a clock radio). Currently pay $149 per month w/out insurance. 91104 - TIA

Your best bet is Ting for 2 phones, 1000 minutes, 4000 texts, and 2 GBs of data = $83

If you get your data down to 1 GB it drops to $65. Pretty strong incentive to bring your radio to work or use wifi.

You can bring your existing phones too. And the GS3 will be able to still have LTE.

Thanks, i am going to pull the trigger once i figure out the contract end dates (pretty sure mine is in July so that would save $150 off the $450).

 

[Jaysus]

Paging Hulk: Text 2,784/3738/2430 (how the heck do women text so much)

So texting, use Google Voice

 

[Corporation]

While I'm deciding what to do with my parents, I think I may use Zact to get my son the Optimus LG Elite for $99 with 100 min and 150 data for $7.31 a month. If he goes over they just bump him up to the next level, and I don't really want him going over anyway.

Does Zact have any referrals like Ting?

 

[(HULK)]

While I'm deciding what to do with my parents, I think I may use Zact to get my son the Optimus LG Elite for $99 with 100 min and 150 data for $7.31 a month. If he goes over they just bump him up to the next level, and I don't really want him going over anyway.

Does Zact have any referrals like Ting?

Not yet. They probably will eventually.

Also, don't overlook the $4.99 per line charge... so the true cost is $12.30 + taxes/fees required by your geographic location.

 

[(HULK)]

Anyone interesting or considering a jump to Solavei, now through 30 June they're giving each new member $50 as a thank you for joining.

Full details: http://www.solavei.com/pageView/index/4292

 

[Jaysus]

Anyone interesting or considering a jump to Solavei, now through 30 June they're giving each new member $50 as a thank you for joining.

Full details: http://www.solavei.com/pageView/index/4292

Great deal!

P.S. is there a place I can add my referral email address for those using CallingMart to purchase pre-paid refills? I think it is a neat service, and I save a few bucks each month by using them, which, while minor at the time, should add up do a decent chunk of change on an annual basis.

 

[(HULK)]

Anyone interesting or considering a jump to Solavei, now through 30 June they're giving each new member $50 as a thank you for joining.

Full details: http://www.solavei.com/pageView/index/4292

Great deal!

P.S. is there a place I can add my referral email address for those using CallingMart to purchase pre-paid refills? I think it is a neat service, and I save a few bucks each month by using them, which, while minor at the time, should add up do a decent chunk of change on an annual basis.

Yeah, PM it to me and I'll add it to the first post of course!

What kind of referral bonuses do you get from CallingMart? I can't imagine its that big given that they only save people a few percentage points off the cost of a refill.

 

[Jaysus]

Anyone interesting or considering a jump to Solavei, now through 30 June they're giving each new member $50 as a thank you for joining.

Full details: http://www.solavei.com/pageView/index/4292

Great deal!

P.S. is there a place I can add my referral email address for those using CallingMart to purchase pre-paid refills? I think it is a neat service, and I save a few bucks each month by using them, which, while minor at the time, should add up do a decent chunk of change on an annual basis.

Yeah, PM it to me and I'll add it to the first post of course!

What kind of referral bonuses do you get from CallingMart? I can't imagine its that big given that they only save people a few percentage points off the cost of a refill.

It is points based, and I still have not figured it out exactly, but every time I purchase I earn points. If someone uses my referral email when they sign up, I get more points.

I can, eventually, use points to buy refill cards... not sure how many i would need to do that though.

 

[(HULK)]

Added your referral stuff for Calling Mart to post1. Let me know if you want me to add anything else

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Can you use a data phone on Ting but use it for only talk/text...and NO data?

 

[(HULK)]

Can you use a data phone on Ting but use it for only talk/text...and NO data?

Yes. You only get charged for data if you use data. You'd have to make sure all apps that push/pull and use data are turned off though to avoid using it by accident. Although the first 100 MBs are only $3, so if you have a few apps doing that, it wouldn't be devastatingly expensive.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Can you use a data phone on Ting but use it for only talk/text...and NO data?

Yes. You only get charged for data if you use data. You'd have to make sure all apps that push/pull and use data are turned off though to avoid using it by accident. Although the first 100 MBs are only $3, so if you have a few apps doing that, it wouldn't be devastatingly expensive.

Now THAT'S pretty cool.

 

[UOFI_316]

So I got the new phones up and running, and already my wife has 9 texts today (got her the Array with the slideout keyboard). She probably sent 10 total in the last 3 years of having a flip phone.

Got myself the S2, but of course today my boss finally decided to get me a smart phone to replace my old work flip phone.

The real trick will be to see how long I can keep these phones out of my daughters hands (5 and 2) seeing how they are already addicted to their Aunt's iphones when they are over.

 

[(HULK)]

So I got the new phones up and running, and already my wife has 9 texts today (got her the Array with the slideout keyboard). She probably sent 10 total in the last 3 years of having a flip phone.

Got myself the S2, but of course today my boss finally decided to get me a smart phone to replace my old work flip phone.

The real trick will be to see how long I can keep these phones out of my daughters hands (5 and 2) seeing how they are already addicted to their Aunt's iphones when they are over.

Get them a kindle fire and never let them touch your phone. Thats what I do.

 

[Hooper31]

Can you use a data phone on Ting but use it for only talk/text...and NO data?

Yes. You only get charged for data if you use data. You'd have to make sure all apps that push/pull and use data are turned off though to avoid using it by accident. Although the first 100 MBs are only $3, so if you have a few apps doing that, it wouldn't be devastatingly expensive.

Now THAT'S pretty cool.

You bet. I have three smart phones on Ting now. We used under 100MBs this past month mostly because we all have wifi connections at home and at work.

 

[Wingnut]

Anyone interesting or considering a jump to Solavei, now through 30 June they're giving each new member $50 as a thank you for joining.

Full details: http://www.solavei.com/pageView/index/4292

Sweet, my S3 came yesterday and Ill be activating on Solavei before the end of the month.

Eta: I dont have time to check the details, when I sign up thru your link will I get the $50?

 

[(HULK)]

Anyone interesting or considering a jump to Solavei, now through 30 June they're giving each new member $50 as a thank you for joining.

Full details: http://www.solavei.com/pageView/index/4292

Sweet, my S3 came yesterday and Ill be activating on Solavei before the end of the month.

Eta: I dont have time to check the details, when I sign up thru your link will I get the $50?

yup. You just have to keep your account active until September to get it, that's it.

 

[Wingnut]

Cool.

Man, I think I got the nicest used S3 ever sold on eBay. This thing is 10 out of 10 condition wise. The guy kept it in a thick-### body glove case, its like brand new - not a smudge, nick or scratch...perfect. Can't wait to fire up Solavei service and see how good coverage is.

 

[(HULK)]

Cool.

Man, I think I got the nicest used S3 ever sold on eBay. This thing is 10 out of 10 condition wise. The guy kept it in a thick-### body glove case, its like brand new - not a smudge, nick or scratch...perfect. Can't wait to fire up Solavei service and see how good coverage is.

You activating today?

 

[UOFI_316]

Ha, just got an email for my first bill. It came out to 7.83 for one day. But since someone used my referral link I still have $42 in my account.

Whoever used my link, thanks.

 

[(HULK)]

Ha, just got an email for my first bill. It came out to 7.83 for one day. But since someone used my referral link I still have $42 in my account.

Whoever used my link, thanks.

You can thank Uwe Blab, he used it

 

[Uwe Blab]

Ha, just got an email for my first bill. It came out to 7.83 for one day. But since someone used my referral link I still have $42 in my account.

Whoever used my link, thanks.

 

[Wingnut]

Cool.

Man, I think I got the nicest used S3 ever sold on eBay. This thing is 10 out of 10 condition wise. The guy kept it in a thick-### body glove case, its like brand new - not a smudge, nick or scratch...perfect. Can't wait to fire up Solavei service and see how good coverage is.

You activating today?

EDIT: I think my phone is unlocked, so Ill be activating late tonight/tomorrow morning.

 

[shadyridr]

zip code: 10312

current plan: verizon wireless family, total bill is appx $150 (with work discount)

usage: talk me about 100 minutes, wife might use 700 minutes; text unlimited and necessary; data we both have 2GB but barely need it. Id so 1GB total MAX

what are my options brohan?

 

[Jaysus]

zip code: 10312

current plan: verizon wireless family, total bill is appx $150 (with work discount)

usage: talk me about 100 minutes, wife might use 700 minutes; text unlimited and necessary; data we both have 2GB but barely need it. Id so 1GB total MAX

what are my options brohan?

Hulk will hook you up, but you can easily cut your bill in half

 

[shadyridr]

zip code: 10312

current plan: verizon wireless family, total bill is appx $150 (with work discount)

usage: talk me about 100 minutes, wife might use 700 minutes; text unlimited and necessary; data we both have 2GB but barely need it. Id so 1GB total MAX

what are my options brohan?

Hulk will hook you up, but you can easily cut your bill in half

divorce aint easy bro

 

[(HULK)]

zip code: 10312

current plan: verizon wireless family, total bill is appx $150 (with work discount)

usage: talk me about 100 minutes, wife might use 700 minutes; text unlimited and necessary; data we both have 2GB but barely need it. Id so 1GB total MAX

what are my options brohan?

Coverage wise you seem to be covered by all 4 so we'll have lots of options:

Coverage Reviews for Staten Island, NY 10312Reviews Towers [SIZE=7pt]FILTER:[/SIZE] [SIZE=7pt] AT&T[/SIZE] [SIZE=7pt] SPRINT[/SIZE] [SIZE=7pt] T-MOBILE[/SIZE] [SIZE=7pt] VERIZON[/SIZE]

1. AT&T

3.33 Rating | 27 Reviews

Towers | Map 2. T-Mobile

2.11 Rating | 35 Reviews

Towers | Map 3. Verizon

1.83 Rating | 48 Reviews

Towers | Map 4. Sprint

1.68 Rating | 22 Reviews

Towers | Map

So, if you guys stick together on a family plan, best we can do is this:

Ting, and this really depends on the "unlimited" texts. If you can stick to under 6,000 a month, they're by far the cheapest. For example:

2 phones, 1000 minutes, 6000 texts, and 1 GB of data costs just $68 plus taxes/fees. If you're texting is lower at 4,000 or 2,000 texts, it would be $65 or $62 respectively. Ting is pretty great, fantastic customer service and customer friendly plans, free roaming, and LTE access. That said, they use Sprint's towers and Sprint looks to be the worst in Staten Island. And, you'd need to buy new phones to switch (which is true of most places anyways since you're coming from Verizon). Nothing else is close on price with a family plan, so if you think you can handle Sprint's coverage, this would be your best bet.

Now, if you went on 2 individual plans, here is what I see:

You: T-Mobile $30 prepaid plan. 100 minutes, unlimited texts, and 5 GB of data.

Wife: Voyager Mobile (Sprint Coverage). Unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 5 GB of data. $39. No roaming and no iphone with them though. They do have Sprint's LTE though.

Total: $69 + taxes/fees.

Given that, its probably best for you guys to do a family plan with Ting. If/when you switch, use someone's referral link in post 1 to save an extra $25.

 

[shadyridr]

Thanks Hulk! I checked my usage and the most texts we generally make is around 2000! I like my phone so I dont mind keeping it but my wife needs a new phone as her smart phone broke with 2 months to go and shes using an old flip phone. So if I add in a new smart phone (for lets say $600) thats an extra $25 a month over 2 years and that will still be only $85 a month! I guess my biggest concern is Sprints coverage. I dont know anyone with Sprint. Everyone has Verizon or AT&T.

Thanks for the research. Ting sounds like a real possibility and I will definitely use someones referral link if I go that route. I have a few months to go on my contract so I may wait.

 

[(HULK)]

Thanks Hulk! I checked my usage and the most texts we generally make is around 2000! I like my phone so I dont mind keeping it but my wife needs a new phone as her smart phone broke with 2 months to go and shes using an old flip phone. So if I add in a new smart phone (for lets say $600) thats an extra $25 a month over 2 years and that will still be only $85 a month! I guess my biggest concern is Sprints coverage. I dont know anyone with Sprint. Everyone has Verizon or AT&T.

Thanks for the research. Ting sounds like a real possibility and I will definitely use someones referral link if I go that route. I have a few months to go on my contract so I may wait.

You'll have to pay full price for 2 Ting phones as your Verizon one won't be compatible. They carry everything but the iPhone right now pretty much... S4, HTC One, etc. Usually around $600 for the highest end ones... you can get older ones for less... like new Galaxy S2s are $251.

But, look at it this way, if you stayed with Verizon, over a 2 year period you'd pay 2 x $199 for phones, plus 24 x $150 = $3998.

With Ting you'll pay 2 x $600 for the same phones, plus 24 x $62 = $2688.

So, even without the phone subsidy, you're paying $1310 less over 2 years, or saving about $54 a month. Pretty significant.

 

[shadyridr]

gotcha

 

[(HULK)]

Ting Drops Plans, Replaces Them With "Rates"

Short Version: No more prepaid, you now pay at the end of the month. Basically contract free postpaid.

We have made a change to Ting today that is simultaneously huge and completely insignificant.

From now on, Ting customers will no longer pick plans for voice, text and data. You will simply pay for what you ended up using. I think an example is the easiest way to explain this clearly.

Before today, you might have picked, for example, the Medium plan for everything. At the beginning of the pay period, you would pay us $9 for voice, $5 for texts and $13 for data. Then say, for example, you actually used Large for voice, Medium for text and Small for data. We would reconcile at the end of the pay period. So you would owe us $9 for voice and we would owe you $10 for data. So you would pay $27 upfront and then we would give you back $1. Then you would pay us $27 again for the next pay period.

Now, in that same example, you will pay nothing upfront and would simply pay $26 at the end of the pay period for your actual usage (L for voice, M for text and S for data).

There is no change to the $6 monthly fee per active device or any of the surcharges.

For anyone paying very close attention we have marked this monumental occasion by changing “Plans” to “Rates” in our top nav.

Why do I call this insignificant? Because in the end, there is absolutely no change to what you are paying. In fact, if you have been picking XS for all your plans, this is exactly the same. You were way ahead of us.

So why are we doing this? I can think of three good reasons:

#1

The whole “pick a plan” and “reconcile” approach was unnecessarily confusing. We found ourselves spending way too much time explaining it to people who were considering Ting and people who were looking at their bill. We spent way too much time saying things like “well, you pick a plan but it doesn’t really matter what you pick.” We thought we were rightly conforming to an industry convention (plans) and that people would find it comforting. It sounded sort of exciting when people talked about how Ting “credits you back” at the end of the month. But we realized that we could strip away a whole layer of process, for you and us, and lose nothing.

#2

It just looked and smelled too much like the sort of games the whole industry plays with rollover this and “unlimited but not really” that. In this case, again, there wasn’t anything hidden up our sleeve. The numbers ended up right where they belonged. But you have made your way to Ting through a maze of telco smoke and mirrors. We would hate for even a moment to look like we’re doing the same stuff.

#3

We were holding your money all month. Why not let you hold your money? To me, it’s just like taxes. When I get a big refund, my first thought is, “Hey, I got a big refund!.” My second thought is, “Hey, why was I overpaying taxes all year long?!” Now, to be clear, once you get going, your cashflow likely won’t be different. If you tended to exceed your chosen plan, then you owed us money at the end of the month. If you fell short of your chosen plan, we owed you money. Regardless, you’ll still be paying every month and your total over any aggregate of months will be exactly the same. But in principle, it makes so much more sense for you to keep your money and pay us when you know exactly how much you bought.

So, nothing then. Today, announcing nothing! Come and get it.

Now there is a bit of weirdness in the first month as we roll this out. Stick with me here. If you are an active Ting customer, you are in the middle of a payment period. You have already paid us for your chosen plan at the beginning of your period. So, on your next bill, we will simply reconcile with you for that period. That means you could owe us a bit or we could owe you a bit. But, as per the new system, you will not be charged for the upcoming period. Now you will wait and pay next month for what you used. So, that just means you will likely have a next bill that is somewhere between negative and small. (Remember don’t freak out and start spending money. You haven’t actually saved anything here!)

For what it’s worth, that also means we’re pushing a lot of our revenue back a month. We’ll catch up, but I still think it’s a nice indication how important this sort of thing is to us.

I hope this is all clear to people. If you have questions, please let us know. Ultimately, I hope you appreciate this change as just another effort to bring simplicity, honesty and clarity to mobile.

 

[Jaysus]

 

[gandalas]

Any discount plans that would be compatible with my iPhone 5 (AT&T)?

 

[(HULK)]

Any discount plans that would be compatible with my iPhone 5 (AT&T)?

plenty. How many minutes, texts, and data do you use monthly?

 

[gandalas]

Minutes - low as hell. Have 350 and don't come close to using em. ~300 would be fine.

Texts - use around ~550.

data - varies...up to 3 GB or more.

Data speeds are my biggest concern...doubt anyone has LTE yet, but good 4G at least would be ideal.

 

[(HULK)]

Minutes - low as hell. Have 350 and don't come close to using em. ~300 would be fine.

Texts - use around ~550.

data - varies...up to 3 GB or more.

Data speeds are my biggest concern...doubt anyone has LTE yet, but good 4G at least would be ideal.

Whats your bill currently?

If you could cut your minutes to 100 or use the google voice + groovip wifi calling trick to chop that number down (basically its free calls over wifi that don't count against your T-Mo totals), you could hop right into the $30 a month 100 minute, unlimited texts, + 5GB of 4G data plan.

Thing is, your phone is coming from AT&T... which means its on the 1900 band. T-Mobile initially installed its HSPA+42 on the 1700 band (which AT&T phones don't have). However, they've been "refarming" it, so the 1900 band has HSPA+42 in a lot of places. Over 100,000,000 people covered by the refarm, but not everywhere until the end of this year. If you are not in an area that has been refarmed, you'd get stuck with EDGE (2G) speeds.

Jaysus uses this plan and the groovip + Google Voice trick if you want more details.

 

[gandalas]

I could *probably* cut it down to 100. Something in the 200-range would be better, though.

Any way to check on the availability of that speed in my area? Columbus, OH

EDIT: Current Bill with AT&T is ~$85 a month. 350 minutes, unlimited Text and unlimited Data.

 

[(HULK)]

If you're not in a refarmed area, the cheapest is actually AT&T's postpaid plan 450 mins, unlimited texts, and 3 GB for $89.99.

If you are in a refarmed area, there are two options:

Solavei: $49 a month (plus taxes/fees) for unlimited minutes, texts, + 4 GB of HSPA42+ speed data. I use them and average about 12 MBps download speeds. Free roaming with them too. They do have nano SIM cards for the iPhone 5. Usually I give out free SIM cards for them but I don't have any of the nanos :(

GoSmart Mobile: $45 a month (plus taxes/fees) for unlimited minutes and texts + 5 GB of 3g speed data (downloads about 900 KBps, significantly slower than Solavei FYI).They also have free roaming.

 

[(HULK)]

I could *probably* cut it down to 100. Something in the 200-range would be better, though.

Any way to check on the availability of that speed in my area? Columbus, OH

EDIT: Current Bill with AT&T is ~$85 a month. 350 minutes, unlimited Text and unlimited Data.

Its not worth giving up that plan unless you're okay giving up the iPhone5 or you're in a refarmed T-Mo area. I'll see if I can find out for you on the latter.

You could also sell your current iPhone5 and buy the T-Mo version, removing that obstruction.