Cell phone plans: Talk, Text, Data

[herdtoDisney]

Wow, that Cricket plan sounds great-it's $25 in my zipcode. I have currently 5 phones with Verizon family plan, no data or smartphones. Would i have to buy 5 new phones? It's so confusing

 

[luvdamouse91]

We live in Chicago and my DH has a VM phone. We are relatively happy with the service.

The only bad side I can think to point out is that when you get out of the big cities, the service is on/off. We found that when we travel to Northern Wisconsin, there is often no service north of Wausau. To solve this, I ditched my VM and got Verizon. Problem solved.

 

[maggiew]

Thanks for the local review!

I'm wondering if I should keep my Verizon smartphone when the rest of the family migrates somewhere else? I am grandfathered in to the unlimited data. Although, I think the base rate is $69 per month plus data charge ($30). So that seems too expensive for the potential problem of no cell reception out of big cities??

Maggie

 

[luvmy3]

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.

Verizon too, the pre-paid coverage is good but it isn't the same as contract. I used pre-paid and I always had coverage where I went so I switched to PagePlus because their coverage is the same as VZ's pre-paid.
For anyone thinking of switching to any carrier check the coverage maps on the websites. Most of them let you put in your home address and you can see the exact type of coverage there.

Wow, that Cricket plan sounds great-it's $25 in my zipcode. I have currently 5 phones with Verizon family plan, no data or smartphones. Would i have to buy 5 new phones? It's so confusing

I think your VZ phones would work on Cricket because they are both CDMA networks. I read that while researching for my ds's phone.

 

[andysomma1]

I think your VZ phones would work on Cricket because they are both CDMA networks. I read that while researching for my ds's phone.

They are both CDMA but they operate on different spectrums. You have to unlock the VZ phones in order to operate on another carriers network. It's a long convoluted deal but Verizon and AT&T have the best service because they control the lower spectrums. You have to unlock your VZ so it can operate on the higher spectrum.

 

[brunette8706]

True, even if you have unlimited data, if you spend a lot of time on Netflix or YouTube, it could put a strain on your monthly data usage and most phone companies will slow-down your data speed (my recommendation is if your phone makes use of Wi-Fi hotspots to use them for streaming video whenever said hotspots are available).

Verizon recently launched an Android smartphone for the prepaid market, but IMO, $80 is way too expensive for the service offered (I know in most places, VZW is often the best, and sometimes only carrier serving that area).

For those second-guessing this thread, prepaid has been the service of choice in many countries around the world -- seems here in the U.S., up until a couple of years ago, it was heavily-marketed to those who couldn't get the "more sexy" contract phones (i.e., couldn't pass a credit check). With the arrival of smartphones for a low flat monthly fee, that mindset has changed.

My best source for what's happening in the world of prepaid is www.prepaidphonenews.com -- make sure you bookmark it...[/QUOTE]

 

[Green Tea]

USA Today discusses Cricket v. VM:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/s...-iphone-cricket-virgin/55619450/1?sf4706373=1

 

[Lintasare]

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.

So true. VM and Boost actually run on the old Nextel network which is owned by Sprint. The coverage area is so much smaller. I got fed up with not having service when I travel that I went back to Verizon.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Unfortunately it looks like I may have to go with Verizon. My wallet wants Virgin Mobile. I spend a lot of time in a lake area and it looks like Verizon my be my only hope for coverage. Sprints coverage map shows that I have coverage, but I know that at least with may current phone, I do not have coverage.

One side note, I currently have free roaming with my contract plan, and I use it a lot on the road. It doesn't appear that any of the prepaid plans have free roaming? (Anyone out there have free roaming on a prepaid plan?)

Anyone use Net10? The unlimited nationwide plan w free 411 looks pretty good at 50.00. Only thing is it looks like they only have one smart phone? Anyone know what towers they use? Coverage map looks like Verizon, but it is hard to tell as they don't let you zoom in much. Anyway to use any other phones with them?

Thanks

 

[Friendly Frog]

For those of you on straighttalk using an android phone;

Do you have issues using the data away from home? I did a google search and found a comment from someone who was very upset because she could not use data if she was are too far from her home zip code? Also in the official terms and conditions it says something about mobile web service not being available outside your coverage area. ( not sure how they define "YOUR" coverage area vs "their" coverage area? )

Are you allowed to YouTube or Internet radio? What I read made is sound like you can not?

Finally I notice that the coverage area map for android is very, very different than the non smart phone coverage.

 

[nowellsl]

.

One side note, I currently have free roaming with my contract plan, and I use it a lot on the road. It doesn't appear that any of the prepaid plans have free roaming? (Anyone out there have free roaming on a prepaid plan?)

I just checked my Verizon pre-paid plan and I would have to pay .20 cents a minute for roaming. Luckily I never have to roam. That could add up!

 

[a1tinkfans]

for those that did go with virgin mobile, are there free disney ring tones available anywhere?
TIA

 

[elfbo]

If you havent seen it already, Verizon is changing up their plans, becomming available on June 28th. You might want to check into that and see if staying with verizion could be a good option for you with the new plans.

 

[JB2K]

So true. VM and Boost actually run on the old Nextel network which is owned by Sprint. The coverage area is so much smaller. I got fed up with not having service when I travel that I went back to Verizon.

Not exactly...

VM has always operated on the Sprint National Network.

As for Boost, several years ago, they operated exclusively on Nextel's IDEN (Push-to-Talk) network. As the Nextel network is slated for decommissioning in 2013, new Boost subscribers are now using phones compatiable with the Sprint National Network...

Both VM and Boost Mobile are owned/operated by Sprint.

 

[JB2K]

For those of you on straighttalk using an android phone;

Do you have issues using the data away from home? I did a google search and found a comment from someone who was very upset because she could not use data if she was are too far from her home zip code? Also in the official terms and conditions it says something about mobile web service not being available outside your coverage area. ( not sure how they define "YOUR" coverage area vs "their" coverage area? )

The majority of the ST Androids you buy from either ST or Walmart use the Sprint National Network -- best to check for coverage on the Sprint website (Sprint does cover all major cities, as well as the nation's interstate highways.

Are you allowed to YouTube or Internet radio? What I read made is sound like you can not?

You can, but -- I suggest doing it "in moderation", as one of the criticisms of ST is that if they believe you to be using data "excessively", they will cut you off with no warning.

Finally I notice that the coverage area map for android is very, very different than the non smart phone coverage.

Yes, it is -- the ST phones (non-smartphone) utilize either the Verizon Wireless or AT&T network (all depending-upon where you live). As I previously stated, all smartphones operate on Sprint's network.

 

[JB2K]

Unfortunately it looks like I may have to go with Verizon. My wallet wants Virgin Mobile. I spend a lot of time in a lake area and it looks like Verizon my be my only hope for coverage. Sprints coverage map shows that I have coverage, but I know that at least with may current phone, I do not have coverage.

If that's the case, then you may want to look elsewhere, as I am certain a VM phone would operate similiarly in your area.

One side note, I currently have free roaming with my contract plan, and I use it a lot on the road. It doesn't appear that any of the prepaid plans have free roaming? (Anyone out there have free roaming on a prepaid plan?)

No - none of the prepaid carriers have "free roaming", as this keeps costs low (instead, they use the native network of the carrier they are partnered-with).

Anyone use Net10? The unlimited nationwide plan w free 411 looks pretty good at 50.00. Only thing is it looks like they only have one smart phone? Anyone know what towers they use? Coverage map looks like Verizon, but it is hard to tell as they don't let you zoom in much. Anyway to use any other phones with them?

Net10, like Straight Talk, is owned by America Movil (Tracfone) -- as Net10makes use of GSM networks, it's highly-likely their Android phones are powered by AT&T --I doubt you could do anything different with a Net10 phone, since it's pretty much legendary that the average user cannot unlock a Tracfone.

 

[JB2K]

I just checked my Verizon pre-paid plan and I would have to pay .20 cents a minute for roaming. Luckily I never have to roam. That could add up!

This is good for anyone to know who uses the I-65 corridor as a means to drive to Florida from Indiana...

While VZW has a strong "native" network in much of the U.S., one of their biggest "holes" (roaming spots) is smack in the middle of Kentucky from south of Louisville to the Tennessee state line (large towns directly-affected by this lack of VZW coverage are Elizabethtown/Ft. Knox and Bowling Green). Reason being is that area already has a strong local carrier (Bluegrass Cellular) which is used by VZW to roam their contract/postpaid customers.

 

[Friendly Frog]

JB2K- Thank you for all of the great information you have provided to me!

I wish that there was a way to actually test coverage (epecially data coverage) before paying 200.00 to purchase a prepaid smart phone.

 

[LisaR]

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.

My DH and DD have a Fusion and love it. They have had theirs since February and haven't had any problems.

To use the Fusion with Straight Talk, do you need to have the phone unlocked? If not, I think I will try it for DH phone. We pay $50 a month with AT&T for unlimited talk and text but he can't use the data without a plan.

 

[JB2K]

To use the Fusion with Straight Talk, do you need to have the phone unlocked? If not, I think I will try it for DH phone. We pay $50 a month with AT&T for unlimited talk and text but he can't use the data without a plan.

The general answer to this is "no, you don't need to have the phone unlocked/jailbroken", as even through ST will be sending you one of their branded SIMs, it's pretty much identical to an AT&T SIM.