AT&T to discontinue subsidizing phones with contract this Friday Jan 8th

[MillauFr]

Im not sure why they dont want to continue down the 2 yr plans. This only makes me want to try other carriers now. I probably get a phone line plan with Apple and can jump carriers whenever i feel like it.

I believe T-Mobile started the trend and AT&T and Verizon had to follow suit to stay competitive. Also the 2 year plans were generally way too expensive. Once other companies started offering unlimited texting and data for $30 per month AT&T started losing too many customers.

 

[Golf4food]

How is service in WDW and other highly crowded locations on those non-BIG3 plans like Straight Talk?

 

[havaneselover]

How is service in WDW and other highly crowded locations on those non-BIG3 plans like Straight Talk?

Straight talk uses Verizon or AT&T towers. Mine uses at&t. There really is no difference in service.

 

[Golf4food]

Straight talk uses Verizon or AT&T towers. Mine uses at&t. There really is no difference in service.

My understanding is the piggy-back companies get throttled back during peak usage situations. Looking more for practical experience from people who have been there, done that and can comment from actual experience in the parks with those secondary providers. Have you used them in the parks when it was crowded? Any noticeable difference in data speeds?

 

[havaneselover]

My understanding is the piggy-back companies get throttled back during peak usage situations. Looking more for practical experience from people who have been there, done that and can comment from actual experience in the parks with those secondary providers. Have you used them in the parks when it was crowded? Any noticeable difference in data speeds?

This is not true with straight talk. I believe it is the case with cricket.

 

[robinb]

This is not true with straight talk. I believe it is the case with cricket.

Yes, it does appear that I have been throttled with Cricket. I checked Speedtest results on my phone and got 20.83 Mbps down and 8.38 up back in September with AT&T and I'm now getting 8.27 down and 7.89 up with Cricket. That being said, I don't do anything particularly data intensive on my phone and I have not noticed a difference in how peppiness of my data in the last week.

 

[Albort]

I believe T-Mobile started the trend and AT&T and Verizon had to follow suit to stay competitive. Also the 2 year plans were generally way too expensive. Once other companies started offering unlimited texting and data for $30 per month AT&T started losing too many customers.

They sorta made the Next cheaper though. when i did the math, Next was like $50 more expensive than the 2 yr contract. I recently did the math again for a friend and with the new pricing, its better. But now, i can jump carriers as much as i want, no contract to hold me back now. Even MVNO looks very tempting!

This is not true with straight talk. I believe it is the case with cricket.

Awhile ago when i was using a $45 line on straight talk and also an ATT line, Straight talk was throttled. I would get like 20mbps on ATT and only get 5mbps on ST. not sure about cricket though. I know ATT can prioritize the lines though, making ST and Cricket second priority behind ATT. Makes sense though, to throttle those on cheaper plans.

 

[bgenew1]

Comparing Cricket vs Straight Talk now to switch from ATT. Cricket states on their website all taxes and fees included. I don't see this on Straight Talk's website but maybe I don't know where to look. Are they any additional fees with ST or do you pay the flat rate of $45 a month? Thanks.

 

[havaneselover]

Comparing Cricket vs Straight Talk now to switch from ATT. Cricket states on their website all taxes and fees included. I don't see this on Straight Talk's website but maybe I don't know where to look. Are they any additional fees with ST or do you pay the flat rate of $45 a month? Thanks.

I paid $448 annually last month. That includes $8 in taxes.

 

[HM]

My DD, DS, and DH all have iPhone through Virgin Mobile. (I still have a slider/pay as you go phone).
We paid full price for them, but keep them as long as we possibly can (last set were well over two years). We pay $30 +tax a month for each of them for unlimited everything (2.5 G before throttle). We've saved a ton of money over the years by not going with a major carrier on a plan.

 

[robinb]

FWIW, one reason I avoided Straight Talk is because it's a partnership between Tracfone and Wal*Mart. I don't shop at Wal*mart and that includes my phone service.