Help choosing smart phone plan please!

[sksjasams]

DH and I both have tracfones, and DS14 has a Net10 phone, so we have no experience at all with contract phones and/or smart phones.

My mom has said she would like to surprise DS14 with an iPhone for Christmas and she would be paying his bill. She is looking to get herself the Motorola Moto at the same time. She has always had prepaid as well, so no experience.

She lives in the Milwaukee, WI area, and we live in the Madison, WI area. In an online chat with Best Buy, I have been told they could each get a phone with their own area codes.

Choosing a carrier first of all...she has always had at&t, but we had poor service in the country, so our tracfones use cdma technology - verizon and us cellular towers. Will verizon/us cellular/sprint work just as well for her in Milwaukee?

Us Cellular is said to be getting the iPhone, but they do not have it yet. Sprint offers unlimited data, but maybe coverage not as good? Verizon has free tethering/wifi hotspot. If she goes with a plan with limited data, how many gb would a teenager typically use? He rarely talks, does some texting, and would love to have instant internet everywhere he goes, so data will be something he would love.

I would really appreciate any input and advice - thank you in advance!!

 

[JB2K]

Choosing a carrier first of all...she has always had at&t, but we had poor service in the country, so our tracfones use cdma technology - verizon and us cellular towers. Will verizon/us cellular/sprint work just as well for her in Milwaukee?

You pretty much answered your own question -- if a Tracfone provisioned on VZW or USC works in Milwaukee, so shall VZW and USC's own phones.

Some friendly advice -- the phone salesperson most likely works on some sort of commission, so don't let them sell you "too much phone" for your money...

 

[sksjasams]

You pretty much answered your own question -- if a Tracfone provisioned on VZW or USC works in Milwaukee, so shall VZW and USC's own phones.

Some friendly advice -- the phone salesperson most likely works on some sort of commission, so don't let them sell you "too much phone" for your money...

Thank you for your reply!

We live in a rural area near Madison and have the VZW/USC tracfones, so I don't know if they work well in Milwaukee. My mom lives in Milwaukee and has an at&t go-phone. I know those do not work well in our area because I used to have one.

 

[smokeyblue]

My brother works in Milwaukee and lives over an hour's drive north west. He usues Verizon and seems to have no trouble.

 

[Fire14]

I have VZW and live in country but in Ohio. AS for data we have 3 smartphones and a mifi on 10 GB of data. I could easily downgrade to 6GB and be fine but the teen ager on my plan was told to use wifi whenever possible and if he went over on Data there would be BIG Issues.
AS for each phone having number for their area that isn't an issue with VZW and I wouldn't think it would be with any other provider.

WE got our last phones from Best Buy and I honestly think it was one of easiest phone buy I'd ever done. I also like their insurance much better than Verzion's. I had no pressure from sales people at Best Buy at anytime in my multiple trips to look at phones, buy phones.

 

[ssawka]

We have VZW but live in a populated area. VZW has the best coverage, but you pay for it. We are still on unlimited data. If they ever take away our unlimited data, we are switching to Sprint. I use about 7-9GB myself, but that is mostly from streaming high quality music (MP3s @ 320 Kbps). Most users probably do not come close to that much usage.

 

[JoanneDisFan]

Check into Ting.com (Endorsed by Dave Ramsey). We switched from AT&T in December. It's pay as you go, but very low rates. We went from 3 dumb phones and paying $100-$120 a month to 3 smart phones and paying $35-50 a month. We don't use a lot of data as we have wifi at home and work and church.

 

[JaymeC]

It's pay as you go, but we use Virgin Mobile. I'm not sure if they have iPhones, but dh and I both have Samsung Galaxy S2's that we love and it's a lot cheaper than every other data plan I've heard of. Best of all it's unlimited so no worries about overages.

 

[ssawka]

It's pay as you go, but we use Virgin Mobile. I'm not sure if they have iPhones, but dh and I both have Samsung Galaxy S2's that we love and it's a lot cheaper than every other data plan I've heard of. Best of all it's unlimited so no worries about overages.

This might work for an adult and personally as a "tech guy" I would only go with an Android, but if a teenager wants an iPhone they are not going to be happy with anything but an iPhone. Kids are ruthless in how they tease each other and if all of his friends have an iPhone then he will not want anything but an iPhone. If it was a budget thing, I would agree with trying to convince him that an Android is just as good, but since DGM offered to pay for it as a gift, get him an iPhone.

 

[wiigirl]

This might work for an adult and personally as a "tech guy" I would only go with an Android, but if a teenager wants an iPhone they are not going to be happy with anything but an iPhone. Kids are ruthless in how they tease each other and if all of his friends have an iPhone then he will not want anything but an iPhone. If it was a budget thing, I would agree with trying to convince him that an Android is just as good, but since DGM offered to pay for it as a gift, get him an iPhone.

 

[IUTBAM]

My DD and I both have iPhone 4s's with the Virgin Mobile unlimited no contract plan. Each phone plan costs me $54 per month for unlimited text/talk/data. BUT, I had to buy the phones up-front with no carrier incentives. Target had a great Black Friday deal last November...got my 4S for $450 plus a $100 Target Gift Card.

 

[sksjasams]

Thank you for all your replies!

I am thinking maybe Verizon would be the way to go. US Cellular would be an option for coverage, but even if they do get the iPhone, their plan is the same price as Verizon and does not come with tethering.

The phone types are set - my mom wants to get the Moto X because she read soemthing about how its made in the US, and DS has been absolutely dreaming about an iPhone for the last few years.

Anyone buy Squaretrade for their phones? Seems like it would cost less than the Verizon or Best Buy protection plans...

And what about data use? How many GB would a teenage boy use? He rarely talks, does some texting, but would love to have instant internet everywhere he goes...

Thanks again!!

 

[ssawka]

Thank you for all your replies!

I am thinking maybe Verizon would be the way to go. US Cellular would be an option for coverage, but even if they do get the iPhone, their plan is the same price as Verizon and does not come with tethering.

The phone types are set - my mom wants to get the Moto X because she read soemthing about how its made in the US, and DS has been absolutely dreaming about an iPhone for the last few years.

Anyone buy Squaretrade for their phones? Seems like it would cost less than the Verizon or Best Buy protection plans...

And what about data use? How many GB would a teenage boy use? He rarely talks, does some texting, but would love to have instant internet everywhere he goes...

Thanks again!!

That's kind of hard to say! It depends on what he is doing with the " instant internet everywhere". If it is just surfing, the minimum plan would probably be plenty. If he is streaming media, that's when you need higher data plans.

 

[drinkme]

USCellular discontinued service in some places, including Chicago area where we live. If u do go with them let me know. I have a couple of USCellular smart phones I can sell you!

Anyway I would caution against USCellular. Who knows how long it will be until they end up just getting bought out all together.

 

[robinb]

I live in Madison too. I have an iPhone with AT&T and my DH has one with Verizon. I have ZERO issues with reception. My DH has major problems in our house (we live on the near east side) and some problems around town. My DD's Galaxy S Droid phone is also on the Verizon network but with PAYG carrier Page Plus (without data). She also has problems with service.

 

[sksjasams]

I live in Madison too. I have an iPhone with AT&T and my DH has one with Verizon. I have ZERO issues with reception. My DH has major problems in our house (we live on the near east side) and some problems around town. My DD's Galaxy S Droid phone is also on the Verizon network but with PAYG carrier Page Plus (without data). She also has problems with service.

Hi Robin! Thanks for your reply! Years ago I had an at&t go-phone and it would drop calls all the time right on east wash, and I would have to go outside whenever I needed to make a call at work near the airport. When visiting DMiL in the hospital in Baraboo I had no service at all. I have a friend with at&t iPhone and she has no issues around here, but for school events in Cross Plains and Stevens Point she had no data service (not sure if talk worked). That was why I had been interested in the cdma providers (verizon, sprint, us cellular). I have $15 tracfone with USC number and I when I had 4 bars, she had none. I'm not sure how verizon coverage would be in those areas...

I am sorry to hear your DH and DD have such issues with verizon! I thought I had really narrowed it down, but maybe I eliminated at&t too quickly?

 

[robinb]

Hi Robin! Thanks for your reply! Years ago I had an at&t go-phone and it would drop calls all the time right on east wash, and I would have to go outside whenever I needed to make a call at work near the airport. When visiting DMiL in the hospital in Baraboo I had no service at all. I have a friend with at&t iPhone and she has no issues around here, but for school events in Cross Plains and Stevens Point she had no data service (not sure if talk worked). That was why I had been interested in the cdma providers (verizon, sprint, us cellular). I have $15 tracfone with USC number and I when I had 4 bars, she had none. I'm not sure how verizon coverage would be in those areas...

I am sorry to hear your DH and DD have such issues with verizon! I thought I had really narrowed it down, but maybe I eliminated at&t too quickly?

Oh yes, I have issues in Cross Plains (I haven't been to Point in a while). I remember the ATT dead zone right near Johnson and 1st Ave. Service has gotten better here in Madison and in Chicago and most of all in Orlando! I remember a couple years ago my iPhone was a *brick* at WDW. No data, no voice and no texts. I would get a ton of texts in at the end of the day. Yeah, it's nice to know that my DD was waiting for me at the Test Track exit 5 hours ago .. NOT . Verizon is still a little bit better there.

Does you son need to use it in Cross Plains and outside Madison?

 

[sksjasams]

Oh yes, I have issues in Cross Plains (I haven't been to Point in a while). I remember the ATT dead zone right near Johnson and 1st Ave. Service has gotten better here in Madison and in Chicago and most of all in Orlando! I remember a couple years ago my iPhone was a *brick* at WDW. No data, no voice and no texts. I would get a ton of texts in at the end of the day. Yeah, it's nice to know that my DD was waiting for me at the Test Track exit 5 hours ago .. NOT . Verizon is still a little bit better there.

Does you son need to use it in Cross Plains and outside Madison?

You know, I just don't know where he will need it. He is not doing sports this year so I think Cross Plains will be out, but still has older sibs in Lodi, Grandma in Westfield, goes to the Dells with friends, summer mission work in Montello. When I zoom out on the Wisconsin coverage map for ATT there are lots of areas with no service...but it certainly never occured to me that Verizon would have issues right here in Madison, like your DH and DD have experienced!

 

[robinb]

You know, I just don't know where he will need it. He is not doing sports this year so I think Cross Plains will be out, but still has older sibs in Lodi, Grandma in Westfield, goes to the Dells with friends, summer mission work in Montello. When I zoom out on the Wisconsin coverage map for ATT there are lots of areas with no service...but it certainly never occured to me that Verizon would have issues right here in Madison, like your DH and DD have experienced!

Is your mom set on getting the phones right away? Maybe your son can activate a Verizon PAYG phone for a month or two and see if the service will be OK for him. Sadly, whatever plan she pulls the trigger on she will be stuck with it for 2 years.

 

[sksjasams]

Is your mom set on getting the phones right away? Maybe your son can activate a Verizon PAYG phone for a month or two and see if the service will be OK for him. Sadly, whatever plan she pulls the trigger on she will be stuck with it for 2 years.

It will be a surprise Christmas present for him, so no way to test it until he opens it. She is totally set on the surprise, and very excited about it...