Visible by Verizon

[leebee]

Any opinions here? I've come to the conslusion that I'm going to have to get a cell phone. I hate them, but that's neither here nor there. It's a safety issue as we get older, and also so many things are going over to only being accessible via apps. Anyhow... I anticipate using it for checking my email, facebook/messenger, DISboards, and probably texting if I ever figure out how to do that. Visible looks like it's a pretty decent deal. Does anyone use it, and do you like it? Not like it? I don't need much in the way of a cell phone... is there a better deal out there somewhere, with a different provider?

 

[kdonnel]

I can't believe you have gone this long without a smartphone.

You might want to look at Mint Mobile. It is $15 a month.

The MVNO (Multiple Virtual Network Operators) like Visible and Mint are all going to be cheaper then going directly to Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.

You should ask your neighbors/co-workers about how happy they are with the coverage from their provider and then pick either that provider or an MVNO that uses that network.

Edited to add:
You should pick Apple or Android based on who you think will be able to help you should you run into issues. If your family is Apple, go Apple, if your family is Android go Android.

 

[BrianL]

I can't believe you have gone this long without a smartphone.

You might want to look at Mint Mobile. It is $15 a month.

The MVNO (Multiple Virtual Network Operators) like Visible and Mint are all going to be cheaper then going directly to Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.

You should ask your neighbors/co-workers about how happy they are with the coverage from their provider and then pick either that provider or an MVNO that uses that network.

Yes, and I think the MVNO carriers would be fine for leebee. The only disadvantage is that your network traffic is deprioritized, so in times of heavy traffic, your speeds will get throttled. For someone who likely isn't a heavy data user, that wouldn't be a big deal. Plus you can use wifi to supplement that.

I have had Verizon for years but have considered switching it Visible since I really don't use that much data. When I do though, I want it to be fast. It's a tough call for me. I wouldn't want it to impact my Disney trips since the park wifi can be slower if it's really busy.

 

[john7994]

I can't believe you have gone this long without a smartphone.

You might want to look at Mint Mobile. It is $15 a month.

The MVNO (Multiple Virtual Network Operators) like Visible and Mint are all going to be cheaper then going directly to Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.

You should ask your neighbors/co-workers about how happy they are with the coverage from their provider and then pick either that provider or an MVNO that uses that network.

Edited to add:
You should pick Apple or Android based on who you think will be able to help you should you run into issues. If your family is Apple, go Apple, if your family is Android go Android.

To be advised and full disclosure - Mint was purchased by T-Mobile - just as visible is owned by Verizon

 

[kdonnel]

To be advised and full disclosure - Mint was purchased by T-Mobile - just as visible is owned by Verizon

Many of the MVNO are actually owned by T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T.

For a list of MVNO that operate on each network:
https://bestmvno.com/

 

[john7994]

Many of the MVNO are actually owned by T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T.

For a list of MVNO that operate on each network:
https://bestmvno.com/

Yes, I am aware - thank you. MVNOs operating on the big three networks is also different than who may own the MVNO as well.

 

[kdonnel]

Yes, I am aware - thank you. MVNOs operating on the big three networks is also different than who may own the MVNO as well.

To me it does not matter who owns the MVNO. What matters is what network does the MVNO use and is the plan the best for your needs.

For me, ownership has no bearing whatsoever.

 

[mikehn]

I have mint mobile now and it works fine. I bought a yearly subscription that expires in January. When it expires, Im thinking about switching to visible. Visible is a little bit more but it has some extras that seem worth it.

 

[john7994]

To me it does not matter who owns the MVNO. What matters is what network does the MVNO use and is the plan the best for your needs.

For me, ownership has no bearing whatsoever.

That is certainly a consideration.

However, ownership does have a potential impact on current and future pricing and any planned migration (forced, voluntary or otherwise) that may impact those customers based on price points / benefits currently enjoyed, grandfathered, or offered in the future.

And, some people may have strong opinions based on past experiences related to the owners themselves and the carriers they may want to do business with.

 

[kdonnel]

That is certainly a consideration.

However, ownership does have a potential impact on current and future pricing and any planned migration (forced, voluntary or otherwise) that may impact those customers based on price points / benefits currently enjoyed, grandfathered, or offered in the future.

And, some people may have strong opinions based on past experiences related to the owners themselves and the carriers they may want to do business with.

Maybe I am a cynic but I don't think any company has the customers best interest in mind and past behavior is no indication of future behavior when dealing with corporations.

I have no loyalty to any company. If another can give me what I perceive to be a better deal, I am there.

 

[john7994]

Maybe I am a cynic but I don't think any company has the customers best interest in mind and past behavior is no indication of future behavior when dealing with corporations.

I have no loyalty to any company. If another can give me what I perceive to be a better deal, I am there.

Again, that is certainly a point of view - one that I am sure is shared by many. In the calculation, at least for me in addition to network performance (domestic and internationally), I also look for the best deals on services (Total Cost) inclusive of more than wireless, whether split or bundled, with the same or different carriers and/or MVNOs.

 

[lanejudy]

@leebee As a fellow New Englander my recommendation is to talk to neighbors, co-workers, friends. Find out what networks work for them. Think about where you expect to use the phone most. Every company will tell you they have good coverage, but those of us who live in and/or travel through some rural communities know there are dead spots. It can be the best service everywhere else, but if your house (or office or wherever you expect to most need the phone) is in a dead zone it's useless. I have a very low T-Mobile signal at my house however down the block it's just fine; 5 miles down the interstate is a big dead zone for all the major carriers.

 

[fla4fun]

@leebee As a fellow New Englander my recommendation is to talk to neighbors, co-workers, friends. Find out what networks work for them. Think about where you expect to use the phone most. Every company will tell you they have good coverage, but those of us who live in and/or travel through some rural communities know there are dead spots. It can be the best service everywhere else, but if your house (or office or wherever you expect to most need the phone) is in a dead zone it's useless. I have a very low T-Mobile signal at my house however down the block it's just fine; 5 miles down the interstate is a big dead zone for all the major carriers.

I agree with this. When I was considering changing from Verizon to T-Mobile, a friend and I took her T-Mobile phone on a little road trip. We drove everywhere I would go in my normal daily routine to see if the signal remained strong.

I have a very old, no longer available, T-Mobile prepaid plan that does not include data at all (data wasn’t a thing when I got the plan). It’s very cheap and I plan to hold onto it until I am forced off. However, I do keep up with current plans and if I were forced to change tomorrow, I would go with Mint due to the low cost and the coverage in my particular area.

Make a short list of the things you really want in a cell phone plan, find out which carriers have a good signal where you need to use the phone, and that should narrow down the choices considerably. As far as whether to go with Apple or Android, I agree with the PP who said to think about who might be assisting you as you learn to use it or with troubleshooting, and buy accordingly. Both Apple and Android have good and bad points, and I would consider them to be fairly equal overall. Don’t buy without seeing the phone in person, to make sure the size is comfortable to use.

 

[tvguy]

I would try and find someone with the carrier you think you want and ask them to come to your house and see if you have a signal. I am amazed at how many people, without regard to provider they have, that discover their house is a dead zone for their carrier.
I do have a Google G-mail account linked to my phone because I have a Google phone and it is requirement, but it is a dummy account I don't use. I would never do e-mail or banking on a phone, too many people I know have gotten hacked on their phone. And with 66 year old eyes, I need my 17 inch desktop screen to comfortably view anything.
But I agree, it seems impossible these days to do many things without a phone to scan a QR code to read a menu, or do other things. I was pleased to see that Major League Baseball is considering making paper tickets an option since they discovered fans consider a paper ticket a valuable souvenir.

 

[soccerdad72]

I just want to say MVNO a bunch of times

 

[_19disnA]

I agree with others that where you live makes a difference in which provider would be 'best' for you. Coverage is spotty in same places due to terrain or how far apart the cell towers might be. If you get spotty coverage from some provider then the fact it is the lowest cost option won't mean very much. Talking with neighbors is a good place to start since they can tell you what their actual experience has been. I find using the internet on a cell phone to be cumbersome due to the small screen size and many websites seem primarily formatted for use on a PC so they look jumbled on a phone. Unless there are sites you have to use when away from home, I would still wait until you are home to use a regular PC.

I also think it makes sense to limit what you do on your phone since you will be carrying it around in public where it can get lost/stolen. I would NEVER store passwords for things like online banking on my phone. Clever marketing makes it sounds like your life isn't complete unless you do everything on your phone. I think that is a really bad idea for a LOT of reasons. I would also limit the number of apps you download on your phone and ONLY get them from known/reputable sites to avoid other issues.

Some people enjoy texting, but generally I find it annoying with those minuscule virtual keyboards that requires you to tap with the point of a pin to get the words spelled correctly. Perhaps a matter of personal preference, but if I want to have a conversation with someone, I still rather call and talk live. Texting to me is mostly good for yes/no type of questions or perhaps confirming plans you have previously made with others.

Using it as a phone, occasionally doing some texting or perhaps reading emails are the major things I think cell phones are good for. Some brands advertise fancy camera features that the average user doesn't need or will rarely use. If you are an avid photographer, you will still want to use regular cameras to get the best pictures. Apple products tend to be more expensive then their Android counterparts mostly because of brand recognition. If you mostly want to use it as a phone, then you don't need to run out every couple of years to buy whatever the newest model happens to be. The phone I currently have is over 5 yrs old and works fine. Mostly I find the need to get a newer phone when the battery no longer holds a charge and isn't something that can be replaced. I agree that choosing the brand that is compatible with what your family members have makes sense since they can more easily assist you if you need help setting up/configuring something.