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Save $ on cell service -- Ting Mobile / Solavei (+ other MVNOs) (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter (HULK)
- Start date
(HULK)
(Smash)
no idea on Sprint there, but T-Mobile is supposed to be epic in both Dallas and Houston. Like crazy fast LTE speeds.
Psychopav
Help us, Joebi-Wan Brynobi, you're our only ho
Thanks Hulk!
Sprint looks like they have it covered, and the area is so flat I have to believe signal access is not a problem:
http://coverage.sprint.com/IMPACT.jsp?
saintfool
Dead sexy
Update - Got the G2 and was ready to stay on with PgaePlus but checked VZW prepaid on a lark. It's really pretty much the same, in terms of pricing, but an upgrade with 4G LTE and a truly compatible phone for it. $45 gets me unlimited talk/text and 1 GB (with autopay enrollment). $10 more gets me another 1 GB data.
So $55 for talk/text and 2 GB on 4G with a phone that can handle it. Very happy now with service and phone.
KCitons
Footballguy
I just signed up yesterday with Verizon as well. I couldn't take using the Moto X2 on Red Pocket any longer. I'm pretty cheap, so spending $45 is the most than I've spent on cell phone service in years.
Random
Footballguy
Would the Moto G need to be flashed to work on PagePlus?
could I buy this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-G-Verizon-Prepaid-Android-Smartphone-3G-Internet-MOTO-G-VERIZON-/321465412958?pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item4ad8d4ed5e
or do I need to buy this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-MOTO-G-FULLY-FLASHED-TO-PAGE-PLUS-CELLULAR-NEW-OPEN-BOX-ANDROID-4-4-4-/281401200765?pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item4184d1907d
(HULK)
(Smash)
Best thing you can do is call them directly. Or call Kitty Wireless (Page Plus reseller).
Random
Footballguy
From a quick search, it looks like it needs to be flashed. Is this still a good phone for $150?
(HULK)
(Smash)
Yup. Although I'd spend the few extra $ to get at least 16GB internal storage.
Also, make sure its the version thats right for Verizon's towers... there are several different versions.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
What do y'all pay per month for your smart phone service plan? Looks like if I want to upgrade to an iPhone or a Galaxy, I'm going to have to pay $80 a month. Does anyone use a pay-as-you-go service that makes these monthly charges cheaper?
I have a Virgin pay as you go, and it's only $35 a month. But this phone stinks.
I have a Virgin pay as you go, and it's only $35 a month. But this phone stinks.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
Actually, the phone isn't bad. It's slow (3G), but mostly it's been ok for web surfing, etc. Where it utterly fails is the sound quality on all the calls sounds robotic - almost auto-tuned. I've gone back and forth with Virgin about that and they have no solutions. The second and less-annoying part is trying to call someone and waiting minutes for the call to go through.
I don't do a ton of texts, but I do like to use the web features. I wouldn't mind a cap on data as long as it wouldn't be tiny. Do you have a provider or phone you like?
(HULK)
(Smash)
I have a database of every plan offered in the US. If you can hone in a bit on what exactly you want, I can find you a fit at the best price. Virgin runs on Sprint, sounds like you'd want to avoid them this time out. That delay connecting is uber annoying. Could you try and quantify your usage for minutes, texts, and data?
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
I probably only send about 40 texts per month. I don't use a lot of talk minutes - probably less than an hour per month. Data isn't easy to quantify. I only web surf about 30 to 60 minutes a day. I check e-mails often on my phone, but I assume that data use isn't very high. Is there a report in my settings that would allow me to forward to you exactly how much data I use?(HULK) said:
KCitons
Footballguy
Verizon prepaid is offering unlimited talk/text and 1gb of LTE data for $45 a month. (with auto renewal) You can use any clean ESN verizon phone. If you need more data, they have extra 1gb, 2gb and 3gb options.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
(HULK)
(Smash)
Its totally wrong for you though.
You said you talk <60 minutes a month, and send about 40 texts a month. You're unclear on data usage, but its low. Why pay for unlimited when you won't be taking advantage of it? Its like flushing $ down the toilet.
If you wanted to stick w/ Sprint coverage (not sure you do), then Ting could be a big win for you. 100 minutes talk, 100 texts, and 500 MBs of LTE would cost you just $24 there. If you're under 100 MBs of data, it would be just $15. This seems like a much better fit. The only downside is you'd have the same coverage you currently have, which doesn't seem to be ideal.
KCitons
Footballguy
I've only been using my current setup since Saturday. Previously, I was using an old Motorola X2 on Red Pockets Network. (the Red Pocket plan was using Verizons towers)
For me, the difference was huge between A&T coverage and Verizons. Mostly because ATT has poor coverage around my house and my work area. Other areas of the city seemed to be fine. I haven't had coverage issues anywhere I've needed while on Verizons towers.
The only reason I changed to Verizon Prepaid, was to be able to use a Galaxy S4 mini. Most all Verizon MVNO's force you to use older/slower phones. That X2 was just too slow to use all day at work. If you can live with a one of the phone options, there are cheaper options for you.
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My contract with Verizon ends in September. Currently have 6 phones with unlimited talk/text, 10GB data. Wife and daughters all have Iphones, I have Galaxy3. Need the unlimited talk/text and 10 GB has been fine. Pay way too much monthly and want to change. Wife and one or two daughters will be upgrading to Iphone 6. I'll be changing phones too, but I do very little with data.
Wife travels in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin and needs reliable coverage. I've looked at T-Mobile but not sure about the quality of the service, which is what's kept me with Verizon.
Not opposed to having more than one plan if it makes sense.
Any recommendations are appreciated.
Wife travels in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin and needs reliable coverage. I've looked at T-Mobile but not sure about the quality of the service, which is what's kept me with Verizon.
Not opposed to having more than one plan if it makes sense.
Any recommendations are appreciated.
Jaysus
Good times!
ohh... this will be a good one for the Hulkabase
In the meantime, can you provide him with the usage by line?
Sure - this would be pretty much an average monthohh... this will be a good one for the Hulkabase
In the meantime, can you provide him with the usage by line?
Me - 1500 talk 500 text under 1 GB
Wife - 3000 talk 500 text about 1 -1.5 GB
D1 - 250 talk 2500 text about 1 GB
D2 - 300 talk 500 text 1.5 GB
D3 - 400 talk 800 text 1.5 GB
D4 - 100 talk 400 text 2.5 GB
Data at home is through Comcast internet and for the most part everyone tries to use wifi where available.
I should also include we're in the western suburbs of Chicago.
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(HULK)
(Smash)
Welp, you'll have to decide if you want to buy phones outright or to keep subsidizing them.Sure - this would be pretty much an average monthohh... this will be a good one for the Hulkabase
In the meantime, can you provide him with the usage by line?
Me - 1500 talk 500 text under 1 GB
Wife - 3000 talk 500 text about 1 -1.5 GB
D1 - 250 talk 2500 text about 1 GB
D2 - 300 talk 500 text 1.5 GB
D3 - 400 talk 800 text 1.5 GB
D4 - 100 talk 400 text 2.5 GB
Data at home is through Comcast internet and for the most part everyone tries to use wifi where available.
Cheapest monthly plan for everyone is $190 for AT&T Share 10 GB (unlimited calls/texts + 10GB shared). No subsidies for this though. If you want a contract and subsidized phone prices, then it jumps to $340, which is probably what you're currently paying on Verizon. Thats $150 a month, or $3600 over the life of a contract. If you're buying your kids iPhone 6s, you're out about $650 per phone vs $199 subsidized. So, its a difference of $451 per line, or $2706 total. Thats less than $3600 obviously, so looks like you'd save about about $900 over 2 years by making the switch and buying phones outright. Savings would be much higher if you bought cheaper phones. People love their iPhones, but they're double what a Nexus 5 is and from my view, inferior. You're paying a premium for the brand and a slightly better app store imo. If you switched everyone to Nexus 5's @ $349 a pop unlocked vs $99 on contract, your 2 year savings jumps to $2100. Mix in phones like the Moto G LTE for the kids and your savings climb even higher. Thats a perfectly functioning phone for a kid... not "cool" like an iPhone would be in their eyes, but whatever. You're paying for it, not them imo.
(HULK)
(Smash)
Just to examine this as 2 year costs:Welp, you'll have to decide if you want to buy phones outright or to keep subsidizing them.Sure - this would be pretty much an average monthohh... this will be a good one for the Hulkabase
In the meantime, can you provide him with the usage by line?
Me - 1500 talk 500 text under 1 GB
Wife - 3000 talk 500 text about 1 -1.5 GB
D1 - 250 talk 2500 text about 1 GB
D2 - 300 talk 500 text 1.5 GB
D3 - 400 talk 800 text 1.5 GB
D4 - 100 talk 400 text 2.5 GB
Data at home is through Comcast internet and for the most part everyone tries to use wifi where available.
Cheapest monthly plan for everyone is $190 for AT&T Share 10 GB (unlimited calls/texts + 10GB shared). No subsidies for this though. If you want a contract and subsidized phone prices, then it jumps to $340, which is probably what you're currently paying on Verizon. Thats $150 a month, or $3600 over the life of a contract. If you're buying your kids iPhone 6s, you're out about $650 per phone vs $199 subsidized. So, its a difference of $451 per line, or $2706 total. Thats less than $3600 obviously, so looks like you'd save about about $900 over 2 years by making the switch and buying phones outright. Savings would be much higher if you bought cheaper phones. People love their iPhones, but they're double what a Nexus 5 is and from my view, inferior. You're paying a premium for the brand and a slightly better app store imo. If you switched everyone to Nexus 5's @ $349 a pop unlocked vs $99 on contract, your 2 year savings jumps to $2100. Mix in phones like the Moto G LTE for the kids and your savings climb even higher. Thats a perfectly functioning phone for a kid... not "cool" like an iPhone would be in their eyes, but whatever. You're paying for it, not them imo.
Current plan (@ $340 a month) + 6 phones over the year (@ $199) = $9354
AT&T No Contract (@ $190 a month) + 6 unlocked iPhones (@ $650) = $8460
AT&T No Contract (@ $190 a month) + 6 unlocked Nexus 5 (@ $349) = $6,654
AT&T No Contract (@ $190 a month) + 2 unlocked Nexus 5 (@ $349) + 4 unlocked Moto G LTE (@ $219) = $6,134
Anyway you slice it, its a LOT of money spent of phones imo. But switching from your current set up to my recommended bottom one nets you over $3K every 2 years.
Brady Marino
Footballguy
For what it's worth, I've been very happy with my Republic Wireless Moto X. $40 a month for unlimited everything (including 4G). They use Sprint towers, but if you're roaming, you can roam for free on Verizon's towers.
Only thing is they have a limited phone selection (including the solid Moto X) because of the special software they put in to get you to make calls via wi-fi as much as possible.
Edit: Here's a link for info. It's also a referral link, but that's kosher here, right?
Only thing is they have a limited phone selection (including the solid Moto X) because of the special software they put in to get you to make calls via wi-fi as much as possible.
Edit: Here's a link for info. It's also a referral link, but that's kosher here, right?
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(HULK)
(Smash)
Thanks for your recommendations. Yep, that's a lot of money on phones. Pales in comparison to clothes though.(HULK) said:Just to examine this as 2 year costs:(HULK) said:Welp, you'll have to decide if you want to buy phones outright or to keep subsidizing them.fourd said:Sure - this would be pretty much an average monthJaysus said:ohh... this will be a good one for the Hulkabasefourd said:
In the meantime, can you provide him with the usage by line?
Me - 1500 talk 500 text under 1 GB
Wife - 3000 talk 500 text about 1 -1.5 GB
D1 - 250 talk 2500 text about 1 GB
D2 - 300 talk 500 text 1.5 GB
D3 - 400 talk 800 text 1.5 GB
D4 - 100 talk 400 text 2.5 GB
Data at home is through Comcast internet and for the most part everyone tries to use wifi where available.
Cheapest monthly plan for everyone is $190 for AT&T Share 10 GB (unlimited calls/texts + 10GB shared). No subsidies for this though. If you want a contract and subsidized phone prices, then it jumps to $340, which is probably what you're currently paying on Verizon. Thats $150 a month, or $3600 over the life of a contract. If you're buying your kids iPhone 6s, you're out about $650 per phone vs $199 subsidized. So, its a difference of $451 per line, or $2706 total. Thats less than $3600 obviously, so looks like you'd save about about $900 over 2 years by making the switch and buying phones outright. Savings would be much higher if you bought cheaper phones. People love their iPhones, but they're double what a Nexus 5 is and from my view, inferior. You're paying a premium for the brand and a slightly better app store imo. If you switched everyone to Nexus 5's @ $349 a pop unlocked vs $99 on contract, your 2 year savings jumps to $2100. Mix in phones like the Moto G LTE for the kids and your savings climb even higher. Thats a perfectly functioning phone for a kid... not "cool" like an iPhone would be in their eyes, but whatever. You're paying for it, not them imo.
Current plan (@ $340 a month) + 6 phones over the year (@ $199) = $9354
AT&T No Contract (@ $190 a month) + 6 unlocked iPhones (@ $650) = $8460
AT&T No Contract (@ $190 a month) + 6 unlocked Nexus 5 (@ $349) = $6,654
AT&T No Contract (@ $190 a month) + 2 unlocked Nexus 5 (@ $349) + 4 unlocked Moto G LTE (@ $219) = $6,134
Anyway you slice it, its a LOT of money spent of phones imo. But switching from your current set up to my recommended bottom one nets you over $3K every 2 years.
Jaysus
Good times!
My father in-law is finally on board with prepaid now that he has seen how easy it was to get my wife set up on Net10. I'm having him collect his usage data then I will ask to run it though the Hulkabase®. He's on AT&T now, he may even be able to keep that brick of a phone he is using
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
What do you think of the HTC? AT&T has a GoPhone plan for only $45 per month and it includes 500 minutes a month talk, unlimited text, and 600MB of data per month.
saintfool
Dead sexy
might as well go with the VZW monthly prepaid for the same price. at least you'll get more out of their data plan for $45.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
(HULK)
(Smash)
Its a good phone. You can get a cheaper plan via Net10 that still uses AT&T coverage and meets your needs.
Do you specifically want AT&T coverage? LTE? Roaming? I can use all of these as filters on my database.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
You're awesome. Do you do this for a living or just as a hobby?(HULK) said:
I don't really care which carrier I get so long as it's not Virgin.
(HULK)
(Smash)
I'm building a website around the database, but it's been slow going, over a year and still not quite at the finish line. Hopefully it will generate some cash for me. Ideally enough to indeed do this for a living, but I don't know if it will.
If you think your data usage will be relatively lowish still, you could try Consumer Cellular. They're AT&T coverage. Free voice/text roaming, but no data roaming. LTE included. It'd be just $25 for 200 voice minutes, 2000 texts, and 300 MB of data. Thats pretty darn cheap and should cover your needs. Since they use AT&T coverage, you can bring any unlocked GSM phone, which is nice also.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
Cool. I work at a college, and the only advice I give to students is to pick something you love and find a way to make a career out of it.
Someone told me that the Samsung Galaxy and the HTC are pretty similar, but that the Samsung has a faster processor. Am I correct that these two are pretty close and that they are kind of high end units? I want to be sure I am upgrading to a better unit.
(HULK)
(Smash)
Honestly, you won't notice the difference in speed between a Galaxy S5 and an HTC One M8.
What is your current phone?
Long Ball Larry
Footballguy
Any more info on this? I actually don't need unlimited texts, as I have google voice, but have a few legacy texters causing me around 10-20 texts per month, so it wouldn't hurt. Use about 2 GB per month and have only gone over 100 minutes once since November. I also like the TMobile option to call on Wi-Fi, as my house is a total dead zone. Do those count against your minutes?
TMobile is supposedly 2nd best in the Philadelphia area for data speed/coverage.
My ATT contract expires this month.
Jaysus
Good times!
Wi-fil calling is not officially supported on the $30 pre-paid plans.
I use a third party app for my wifi calling needs.
(HULK)
(Smash)
Jaysus uses this plan. Not sure if the T-Mo wifi calling is included w/ this one or not. I don't think it used to be, but it may be now. WiFi calling should NOT count against minutes. If you go over your 100 mins on this one, you just pay like $0.10 per minute I think.
ETA: Lol, should've kept reading before responding.
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(HULK)
(Smash)
Jaysus
Good times!
Yes, the old version still supports Google Voice. Shhhhh....
ETA: oh yeah, and I use Google Hangouts to make work related calls while working from home - forgot about that... much better audio quality.
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jdoggydogg
Footballguy
I have a Virgin LG Optimus (3G).
Am I right in thinking that the iPhone 5 is fairly overpriced for the performance? I've been a Mac fanboy for years. But I am resisting buying an iPhone because the phone is expensive and the monthly fees seem fairly high.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
Sweet. Where does one acquire a moderately priced monthly service for this phone?(HULK) said:
(HULK)
(Smash)
Take a look at Consumer Cellular. They have plans that will fit well for your low usage pattern. And you can use the unlocked Nexus 5 with them.
As for the Nexus 5 itself... its not quite as good as the Galaxy 5 or HTC One M8, but its close. And its just $349 unlocked, versus over $600+ for the others. It does have some advantages though... it will always get Android updates, and get them first. It has wireless charging (which is awesome, use it on my Nexus 4 and 7 every day). And price. Its an overall great value, which is why I recommend it.
ETA: You should get the Nexus 5 from the Google Play store, in the devices section.
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