Cell phone plans: Talk, Text, Data

[crazelion]

If you want nationwide coverage and have good AT&T coverage in your area, you also might want to look into StraightTalk prepaid. You can buy their SIM cards for $15, and use it in any unlocked or AT&T (or T-Mobile, but their coverage is limited) cell phone.

I bought my wife a new AT&T Fusion Go-Phone (Android touch-screen) for $110 at Walmart. I ordered a $15 SIM card from StraightTalk and it will be here Friday. I've been playing around with the phone, and have it connected to our WiFi, and it's very nice. I'll give an update after getting everything going.

We've had StraightTalk for several years, and it's been great. For $45, I get unlimited voice, text and data. They don't advertise any limits for the data, but word on the street is if you go over 2-3 GB a month, they'll cut off your data. You can call and get it reactivated, but if you go over more than a couple of times, they might cancel your service. This is actually quite generous, as most plans charge $45 or more just for 2GB of data, not including voice or texting.

I just coming to post the same thing about straight talk. BYO use the straight talk sim card that have buy from the straight talk website.

I am seriously thinking about doing this my self.

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

maggie,

just today i read an article on yahoo that said verizon is changing up all their plans and it look like it will be way less expensive for family's share phones. Even the data plans can be shared! I think they said it goes into effect near the end of this month.

 

[burnsoc]

I'm also switching to straight talk for my out of contract iPhone. I've read good reviews. Being that I'm on AT&T now the service will be the same because Straight Talk uses AT&T's cell towers. $45 for unlimited minutes, texts and data is great! Just waiting for the SIM card to come.

 

[jebobak]

Just for the heck of it, I popped the SIM card from my StraightTalk Nokia E71 into my "wife's" new AT&T Fusion android phone. (The E71 is one of only two regular StraightTalk SIMs that you can use in other phones) It works great! I had to set up the data, but it was easy and the necessary info was on the StraightTalk website.

The SIM card I ordered for "her" new phone won't be here until Friday...I think I will have to buy her another phone...

 

[emeraldmom]

I switched from Verizon to Virgin Mobile a few years ago. Verizon was just too expensive once I got my son a phone. I have an android touch screen phone, the Samsung Intercept. I think it's a great phone, it does everything I need it to and more. Just today I activated 2 new Samsung Intercepts. One is a replacement for my DS14's phone. The other is for my DS10. First DS got his first cell phone when he finished 5th grade, now the little one is finishing. DS14 currently has a non-android phone. So I got him an upgrade, and got his brother the same phone. They don't know yet, they get them tomorrow

I have been happy with the service. It really depends on how the Sprint service is in your area, since they use the Sprint network. I have shopped around, and I can't beat the price, $35 per month. We don't use a lot of minutes, so the 300 monthly per phone is fine for us. It's the data that really gets you. Even with Verizon's new data sharing, I still don't think it would work out as a better price for my family.

You also have to look at the phone choices. Make sure that whatever carrier you go with has phones you will be happy with. Some of the prepaid services don't have a great selection of phones.

 

[maggiew]

Is your DH willing to wait a few months?? My friend who works for Verizon told me that starting later this summer they are going to change data plans so that your family can share the data plan. So if you buy a 2 Gig data plan, that 2 gig will be shared among all the family members on your family plan. That might work out well for you.

DH is the only one who was going to switch right now. His phone is out of contract, so he can do the switch. So, the rest of us will stay with Verizon until Jan. when my older DD's phone contract is up.

If Verizon changes plans by then and we find it a good deal, I can just add DH back onto the family plan. Since the Virgin Mobile will be month to month, I believe he could drop that at any time.

Maggie

 

[luvmy3]

This can help you figure out what your monthly cost would be on the new Verizon plan.

http://solutions.vzwshop.com/shareeverything/pdf/verizon_share_everything_plan_details.pdf

It will be $40 per month per phone for smartphones, and $30 per phone per month for basic phones. The lowest shared data is 1GB for $50 a month.

At those rates our family would be paying over $200 a month for cell phones. We have been Verizon pre-pay customers for years, but don't have data so we can get away with $15 a month per phone.
I just switched over to Page Plus because they run on the Verizon network and that is the only coverage we get here. I got my first smartphone and have used the data on my home wi-fi only. I don't plan on using it while I'm out unless its an emergency. I am doing the $12 a month plan.
I just signed my ds up for the PP $10 standard plan (every 120 days). His phone is for emergencies only.
Dh and dd will be next (still on VZ), I'll probably sign them up on the $30 a month plan since they will probably use more data than I do. For less than $100 a month we will have what we need.

I would definitely shop around OP. There is no reason to pay what amounts to a car payment for cell phones if you aren't even going to use all that you are paying for.

 

[billdob62]

T-mobile has a prepaid plan at 35 a month and you have to buy your own phone. It is a great plan if you want to use more data then calling.

You get 100 minutes of voice, unlimited text and web. The data part is that you get 5GB at 4g speed so it's great for watching videos, games, anything on the web.

 

[eliza61]

We have sprint mainly because their unlimited is full on unlimited. My peeve is that the smartphones have a 10 per phone "smart phone" charge which I think is a rip off.
I'm one of the "old fogies" LOl. I wanted a nice phone but I don't email, take pictures, web surf or any thing on my phone.

Sorry that I have no useful information

 

[soccermomof3]

We use MetroPcs. Dh and I both have Androids with unlimited talk, text and web for 45/month. DD also has unlimited talk and text for 25/month. There are no discounts on phone upgrade but we enjoy it.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Great thread!

 

[kellia]

We just switched for the same reason! DD and I went to Virgin Mobile. If you look on Ebay, you might be able to get a "grandfathered" $25/mo phone/plan off of someone. (The same as now is $35/mo). You can put a new phone on it, but nothing newer than the Triumph (ie- can't get 4g). It's worked great for me, I'll admit I was worried about switching. Dh is getting a sim card and using my old verizon smart phone and getting Straight Talk since he actually uses his phone to talk. (Note- most Verizon phones won't work with Straight Talk, but mine will once unlocked.) But, for dd and I,the 300 minutes of talk and unlimited text/data is perfect.

Verizon service is horrible! Unfortunately, we had to pay to get out of my contract, but it will still be cheaper. Dh was going to keep my phone and finish the contract, but wanted to keep his old phone number from his phone (another Verizon phone in our family plan). They wouldn't let him switch the number! I'm not sure what they gained by losing customers of 13 years, but oh, well!

 

[maggiew]

We just switched for the same reason! DD and I went to Virgin Mobile. If you look on Ebay, you might be able to get a "grandfathered" $25/mo phone/plan off of someone. (The same as now is $35/mo). You can put a new phone on it, but nothing newer than the Triumph (ie- can't get 4g). It's worked great for me, I'll admit I was worried about switching. Dh is getting a sim card and using my old verizon smart phone and getting Straight Talk since he actually uses his phone to talk. (Note- most Verizon phones won't work with Straight Talk, but mine will once unlocked.) But, for dd and I,the 300 minutes of talk and unlimited text/data is perfect.

Verizon service is horrible! Unfortunately, we had to pay to get out of my contract, but it will still be cheaper. Dh was going to keep my phone and finish the contract, but wanted to keep his old phone number from his phone (another Verizon phone in our family plan). They wouldn't let him switch the number! I'm not sure what they gained by losing customers of 13 years, but oh, well!

Did you have to pay the full amount/penalty to get out of your contract or was it prorated based on number of months left?

Thanks,
Maggie

 

[megveg]

I had virgin mobile as my first phone company, switched back and forth through a bunch but now I'm back to Virgin. I can't say enough GOOD things about this company! To avoid paying full price for a brand new phone, ebay, amazon and craigslist are great places to look. 300 Mins for 35 a month is such a good deal, and if you buy top up cards from walmart.com, its actually LESS than 35 with free email shipping Virgin is also releasing the Iphone 4s to its service and if you enroll for the auto-top up (where it comes directly from your credit card or anything) you save 5 dollars a month. So an iPhone with 300 mins and unlim data/text for 30 dollars a month, you cant find that ANYWHERE else. The unlimited everything(mins/txt/data) with the 5 dollar off for autopay is 50$. totally worth it and totally user friendly. I love VM and Ill never use another phone company!

 

[kellia]

Did you have to pay the full amount/penalty to get out of your contract or was it prorated based on number of months left?

Thanks,
Maggie

Yes, they prorated it.

 

[DawnM]

If they would let me use my SPrint based iphone, it would be even better! They use Sprint towers and will be using the iphone soon but you have to buy the iphone strait out from them for $550.

I know this would still save me in the long run, but that is a lot up front.

Dawn

I had virgin mobile as my first phone company, switched back and forth through a bunch but now I'm back to Virgin. I can't say enough GOOD things about this company! To avoid paying full price for a brand new phone, ebay, amazon and craigslist are great places to look. 300 Mins for 35 a month is such a good deal, and if you buy top up cards from walmart.com, its actually LESS than 35 with free email shipping Virgin is also releasing the Iphone 4s to its service and if you enroll for the auto-top up (where it comes directly from your credit card or anything) you save 5 dollars a month. So an iPhone with 300 mins and unlim data/text for 30 dollars a month, you cant find that ANYWHERE else. The unlimited everything(mins/txt/data) with the 5 dollar off for autopay is 50$. totally worth it and totally user friendly. I love VM and Ill never use another phone company!

 

[kellia]

If they would let me use my SPrint based iphone, it would be even better! They use Sprint towers and will be using the iphone soon but you have to buy the iphone strait out from them for $550.

I know this would still save me in the long run, but that is a lot up front.

Dawn

I'd look for info on this online. Guys at work (who are much more knowledge than I on the subject) were saying you could take another iphone and either change the sim card or unlock it or something for it to work either with virgin or straight talk.

 

[a1tinkfans]

my head is spinning Im on cell phone overload

need to have my ds review this all for me and tell me what the heck to do.....

appreciate all the input

 

[andysomma1]

Please know that while it is true that Virgin and boost use sprints towers they do not have near the service of sprint phones. While it is nationwide its not as large. Same with contract at&t and prepaid at&t.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Look into Page Plus Cellular: http://www.pagepluscellular.com/. You will be able to use your old Verizon phones and then upgrade to data phones at your leisure. They have a thing called "The Fifty-Five" which has unlimited talk, text and 2 GB of data for $55 per month. For $39 per month you get unlimited talk and text plus 100 MG of data.

I have heard good things about this service.