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Guys I just wanted to give you a forewarning about T-Mobile's business practices.
I apologize if anyone takes offense but I am simply posting my experience with T-Mobile. I understand I signed a 2 year contract but where I am moving I have horrible service and I am not asking for a sympathy boat either, but if you don't agree with the way T-Mobile handled this, please feel free to upvote this.
tl;dr - T-Mobile's map shows 4+ bars where I'm moving; we (my fiancee and I) get 2... outside and that doesn't include the many dropped calls we get either. I never got a dropped call until I went to the new location. I have to pay $300 in cancellation fees because they wouldn't budge because their map is supposedly "right."
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/b5php/tmobile_trying_to_screw_over_their_own_customer/
If you guys are willing, please upvote. I'd really appreciate it.
Once your locked in....its pretty hard to get out.
Yeah I'm seeing that now. I honestly loved the service, but now that I am moving, it's no good to me.
Contracts blow. Stupidest thing you can ever do is lock yourself into a phone contract, especially when there is the possibility of moving, and the FACT that in a few months, some OTHER carrier will probably offer a better deal. Might as well avail yourself to the chance!
It is ALWAYS better to buy your phone outright.
Note: I suspect that eventually, the US carriers will be forced out of their contract practices.... we in CANADA even already have a new NATIONAL carrier that DOES NOT OFFER contracts.
I've never understood contracts personally, I hate being tied into anything just because they give you a sparkly new phone. That's why I'm thankful T-mobile have 30 day rolling sim only deals, I can get huge discounts after a year on a newer phone upgrade, get 350 minutes (any network) unlimited text and free unlimited internet (thank you rewards) for £15 a month and can walk away with only 30 days notice anytime.
Thank god for the sim only plan
thats why you get used phones and no contract.. plus being on an employee plan is always nice
You don't need to get a used phone... the carrier will still sell you the phone without contract, just at the "full price". You can also buy your phone from a STORE rather than from the carrier.
Note: The way the contract works, you end up actually paying SIGNIFICANTLY MORE for the phone through the contract than just buying the thing from a store for full price.
lbcoder said:
You don't need to get a used phone... the carrier will still sell you the phone without contract, just at the "full price". You can also buy your phone from a STORE rather than from the carrier.
Note: The way the contract works, you end up actually paying SIGNIFICANTLY MORE for the phone through the contract than just buying the thing from a store for full price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that the full price of these devices is quite high. A lot of people can only afford a decent phone by getting the contract.
Another problem I had when looking at the g1 initially was a lack of good data plans on non-contract deals.
The people that are telling you it's cheaper to buy your phone outright... this really isn't the case for the G1. At launch, I purchased my G1 for $179 in 2 year contract. Unlocked would have cost $399. I needed phone service regardless, so the fact that I was paying for service is moot.
Now, when I moved, I knew I wasn't going to still get service, and didn't want to stick with T-Mobile. So I paid the $200 to get out of contract. That brings the total cost of the phone up to $379. That's pretty damn close to the $399 price point I would have paid for an unlocked phone from the start .
To the OP, your only real choice is to live with it or pay the termination fees. Read every contract you sign carefully. Service outage isn't a reason to break the contract. It sucks, but that's US carriers for you.
I appreciate all of the responses but again, why pay for a service I cannot use? I had no intention of moving until after the contract; things changed, so I had no option. I'll just be glad when contracts like this are over with worldwide; cell phones could get away with murder if they wanted to. BLEH I say, haha.
We will see how things turn out with the FCC and FTC. Maybe my complaint will push them over the barrier and stop advertising fake signal readings? Roughly 5 phones report all the same exact thing, but their map is always right apparently.
BBB will probably just tell me to deal with it, so we will see on that too.
Again, thanks guys.
esmith972 said:
I appreciate all of the responses but again, why pay for a service I cannot use? I had no intention of moving until after the contract; things changed, so I had no option. I'll just be glad when contracts like this are over with worldwide; cell phones could get away with murder if they wanted to. BLEH I say, haha.
We will see how things turn out with the FCC and FTC. Maybe my complaint will push them over the barrier and stop advertising fake signal readings? Roughly 5 phones report all the same exact thing, but their map is always right apparently.
BBB will probably just tell me to deal with it, so we will see on that too.
Again, thanks guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you upgraded your radio ?
have you tried using EDGE instead ?
you seem more upset with the contract than the service, and one of those two might help things.
if you're at 2 bars with edge, ya, that's pretty bad. 2 on 3g is about average to bounce around at from my experience. 2 - 4 on 3g can mean a person standing between me and the tower.
good luck
That's why I hate contracts. You get a $600 phone for $150, but you're stuck with it for 2 years. And you envy evr1 who gets a new phone while you're stuck with yours and then in 2 years when you get a settle phone, a new one comes out a month later.
Just as an update, T-Mobile received my complaint from the FCC and took the charges off immediately. I'm only left with the last monthly bill.
Goes to show they do care about you... a little.
So how exactly did you get FCC to contact T-mobile, you write them a letter, eh?
The squeakiest wheel gets the oil.
Good to hear it mate . Generally they won't budge as far as cancellation fees, from my experience.
I have done the research, and I have been anticipating the release of some sexy android phones on my current AT&Crap Service, and am at the point of pissed off because the lack of android selection, and their restrictive android behavior.
Now, I obviously know the EVO is a better phone, here is my question. Is it worth paying the $85 Termination Fee's on my Fuze, and jumping ship to the Everything Data- 450minutes Plan $69.99 (can get company discount to make it $55.99).
Are you guys happy with your Sprint Converage, and 3G speeds? (I will be using this phone majority in 3G area (buffalo) for the next year, and then will be in Long Island (hopefully getting 4G from NYC in the next 4 months).
Does anyone have Sprint in Long Island/Buffalo, can you gimme some opinions.
Thanks again.
GO ANDROID SENSE!! 1GHZ SNAPDRAGON
I am on the other side of the country, so can't speak to the Sprint service there, but I am paying $140 to terminate my iPhone plan early to get the Evo. I already switched the rest of the family to Sprint from AT&T and when I have switched on Friday I will save almost $100 monthly. I sold my 3GS last week for $400 so the cost of the Evo and my ETF are covered.
Why are you interested in EVO? Screen size? Or front facing camera?
Have you looked at HTC Incredible (Sense UI) or Nexus One (stock Android UI - soon to have Android 2.2)?
I looked at the Incredible very closely when it was released and almost pulled the trigger. Two things stopped me...the cost of the Verizon plans and the fact that if I didn't like it I would have to pay a restocking fee for the phone. Sprint's 30 day policy is totally cost free if you decide to cancel. The Nexus One would keep me at AT&T or off to T-Mobile and I don't care for the T-Mobile service.
chazglenn3 said:
I looked at the Incredible very closely when it was released and almost pulled the trigger. Two things stopped me...the cost of the Verizon plans and the fact that if I didn't like it I would have to pay a restocking fee for the phone. Sprint's 30 day policy is totally cost free if you decide to cancel. The Nexus One would keep me at AT&T or off to T-Mobile and I don't care for the T-Mobile service.
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Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat, the Cost of the Verizon plan is approximately $20 more with less features.
Now you reminded me about the Nexus One ATT Compatible Version, however it can not be purchased without a discounted price.
So now i have to weight my options of, switch to Sprint, be on a separate plan from my family (cause my Mom and Brother are Not technologically sound and have a 3GS and 3G Respectively). Which will be $199.99 for the EVO and $55.99 +Fee and Taxes a month.
Or i could purchase an unbranded ATT Compatible Version of the nexus one for $529.00 ......
here's something else that might sway you to the Sprint side:
http://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/02/atandt-announces-iphone-tethering-and-new-smartphone-data-plans/
SilverStone641 said:
here's something else that might sway you to the Sprint side:
http://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/02/atandt-announces-iphone-tethering-and-new-smartphone-data-plans/
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Click to collapse
Yea, I read that earlier, However I currently have the $30 unlimited plan, so if i stay with AT&T I would just keep that. No point in saving $5 for the chance of going over, especially if i get the nexus one, there would be endless downloading from my end.
I'm paying a $70 ETF to leave AT&T for the Evo. I also have a Fuze, and it's seen it's better days. I doubt it'll even last till my contract is up. So I could pay full price for one of AT&T's crappy phones, or I can pay the ETF and get the Evo. It was an easy decision for me..
xviiivx said:
I'm paying a $70 ETF to leave AT&T for the Evo. I also have a Fuze, and it's seen it's better days. I doubt it'll even last till my contract is up. So I could pay full price for one of AT&T's crappy phones, or I can pay the ETF and get the Evo. It was an easy decision for me..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you have at least tried an Energy ROM on your Fuze... It has brought back to life the dead phone for me many times..
The reason i'm wanting to switch is not cause my fuze is dieing or failing, but i am a true techie, and want the newest gadget... also cause i think its time for an upgrade.. lol so yea...I believe i will be doing the same as you...
or I'll get a Nexus One, and just let my Dad continue Paying for my service (I'm 21, so it might be time for me to be independent..in that case Sprint+EVO Here I come)
I hope the Line @ Best Buy is not Long on Friday.
I am on the other side of the country, so can't speak to the Sprint service there, but I am paying $140 to terminate my iPhone plan early to get the Evo. I already switched the rest of the family to Sprint from AT&T and when I have switched on Friday I will save almost $100 monthly. I sold my 3GS last week for $400 so the cost of the Evo and my ETF are covered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did pretty much the same thing. Switched everyone but myself last week at a cost of $100 ETF per. Sold wife's iPhone for $500 and will be selling my nexus one
$500? Must have been a 32GB unlocked one? Good on ya either way because it will be close to cost neutral!
to the OP... dont forget the added $10/month fee for EVO/Premium data charge.
I dont know about the coverage and quality of service in the areas you asked about... but it cant be any worse than AT&T.
then add on the new pricing plans for data... which dont apply to you NOW.. but I think they will find a way to pop you; if not now.. soon in the not to far future!
30-day guarantee
Sell your fuze for a few bucks on craiglist.
The gravy on top of all this.. is that you get an EVO / android.. without the service provider killing all the good things on it!
chazglenn3 said:
Two things stopped me...the cost of the Verizon plans and the fact that if I didn't like it I would have to pay a restocking fee for the phone.
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Click to collapse
Forgot about Verizon's restocking fee ($35?). This is insane.
sergey.povzner said:
Forgot about Verizon's restocking fee ($35?). This is insane.
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Click to collapse
Exactly...it was a deal breaker for me (and a blessing in disguise now that I'm getting an Evo)
chazglenn3 said:
I am on the other side of the country, so can't speak to the Sprint service there, but I am paying $140 to terminate my iPhone plan early to get the Evo. I already switched the rest of the family to Sprint from AT&T and when I have switched on Friday I will save almost $100 monthly. I sold my 3GS last week for $400 so the cost of the Evo and my ETF are covered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm thinking about paying the ETF on 3 of 4 lines on family shared (mine is contract free since i never got upgrade phone with them); total cost will be $340 (that's what the rep told me yesterday) to terminate the 3 lines; probably can sell Iphone 3GS for about $400 and my N1 for $300-350 so that can cover most of the cost
also, i'll get 23% discount with Sprint for all recurring monthly charges
Edit: will need to unlock the Iphone first since unlocked ones sell for more (although the Ebay/Paypal fees will take a good chunk of it)
chazglenn3 said:
Exactly...it was a deal breaker for me (and a blessing in disguise now that I'm getting an Evo)
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Click to collapse
I've been playing with EVO for few days and have mixed feelings about it. I normally use Nexus One (T-Mobile's coverage is working ok for me in the Bay Area), so I'm comparing EVO with Nexus One.
Good:
- front facing camera
- kick stand. You'll be amazed how convenient it is. Everything: typing, browsing, watching videos, video calling is much easier with the stand.
- buttons are significantly better than on Nexus.
Bad:
- screen size and overall phone size. I'm not convinced about 4.3 inch screen running at 480x800 resolution. I think if Android starts supporting higher resolutions, it may make 4.3 inch screen worth it.
But for now, I think 480x800 looks good enough on 3.7 inch screen. Of course, EVO's screen is beautiful (and is much brighter in the daylight than Incredible or Nexus), but for me EVO would be too large of a device to carry around all the time (e.g. pocket is out - need to have a belt clip).
- Sense UI. I prefer stock Android UI both for the cleaner (although admittedly simpler) look and for the speed of the OS updates.
sergey.povzner said:
I've been playing with EVO for few days and have mixed feelings about it. I normally use Nexus One (T-Mobile's coverage is working ok for me in the Bay Area), so I'm comparing EVO with Nexus One.
Good:
- front facing camera
- kick stand. You'll be amazed how convenient it is. Everything: typing, browsing, watching videos, video calling is much easier with the stand.
- buttons are significantly better than on Nexus.
Bad:
- screen size and overall phone size. I'm not convinced about 4.3 inch screen running at 480x800 resolution. I think if Android starts supporting higher resolutions, it may make 4.3 inch screen worth it.
But for now, I think 480x800 looks good enough on 3.7 inch screen. Of course, EVO's screen is beautiful (and is much brighter in the daylight than Incredible or Nexus), but for me EVO would be too large of a device to carry around all the time (e.g. pocket is out - need to have a belt clip).
- Sense UI. I prefer stock Android UI both for the cleaner (although admittedly simpler) look and for the speed of the OS updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you think the Nexus One is a Better Option.
I am switching from Verizon to Sprint (Currently have the HTC Titan) you just can't beat their prices, especially since we are on a 5 person family plan. And now my wife is able to have a smart phone (She got the Palm Pixi) for less than Verizon was charging us us for only one smart phone.
Here in L.A. coverage is great, and a buddy of mine did a speed comparison side-by-side with is iPhone 3G and Sprint was notably faster. Can't speak to other areas, but uh, hey, there's a map for that. LOL!
warri said:
So you think the Nexus One is a Better Option.
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Click to collapse
I think they are comparable and it just depends on how you use the phone (and of course network). I don’t like my phones to be bulky and heavy, so I personally wouldn’t trade Nexus One for EVO even if anybody offered that to me. I also have no problems with T-mobile, unless I get to the rural areas, but that of course depends on your area.
For me Nexus One wins because of the stock UI (my Nexus already runs test version of Android 2.2 which I installed manually and it will have an official 2.2 in few weeks) and smaller size/weight (yet same resolution as EVO).
EVO obviously has better cameras, better screen (Nexus’s screen looks poorly under sunlight), but Sense UI + EVO’s size/weight are showstoppers for me. I don’t want HTC bugs on top of the Android OS (for example, I’ve never seen the sd card permissions errors on either Nexus or G1 while using camera app, but have seen it on EVO) and I don’t want to wait extra 6 months or more for the Android updates.
Well, I'm just wondering what everyone else is thinking. I just purchased the aria after buying (and returning the motorola backflip) - which btw, I have to give *some* credit. I read a lot of bad things about the backflip and I have to say, I really didn't have all that many problems with the phone, i personally thought it was a step up from my tilt2.. I was at my wits end with either winmo or htc.. but the backflip just didn't have enough power for me and I feared att would take forever to release 2.1 for the device.
Anyway, so far ( my first few hours ) with the aria, I am quite impressed. I wanted a small device and I think this packs a nice little punch. My experience has been fairly good. There are a couple things I dislike already about the phone.. the speaker quality is really bothering me, I can barely hear when I'm getting a phone call, the actual handset sound quality is not bad, its crisp and clear, but not NEARLY as good at the backflip.. if anything the backflip should get some excellent credit for having a great speaker and sound quality. The headphones or ear buds are HUGE, I'm not a small guy, but how is someone suppose to stick those huge buds in their ear hole? I'm slightly concerned about battery life, but I understand this may be an issue with most of android phones (or 2.1 down maybe???) but really that's about the only downfalls I'm running into at the moment. Overall I am quite satisfied with the device and think I'm actually going to keep this one. I love how it's just zipping through most screens and programs. I seen some video reviews of android central putting it through some benchmark test along with 3 other devices and this aria kept up with them.. (and even beat the droid, yes, I know, droid has twice the resolution but still.. not bad). Oh and I was also really concerned with the low resolution of the device, I understand a higher res on such a tiny screen would make things very hard to read. This screen is very vivid and I don't know why I was so concerned anymore.
would I buy my mom this phone? heck yah, so far, it's ranked up there in my list of fav phones.. and maybe take the #1 spot here soon after more playing around. (YES, UNTIL MY NEXT DEVICE!!!)
well, just thought I would say Hi to all my fellow aria owners, see what you guys thought and maybe offer some opinions for others who haven't bought the device.
I picked up the phone yesterday and I have to say I'm really enjoying it so far. For the 600mhz processor it's packing it's actually VERY responsive. I have been pleasantly surprised at the speed this little guy packs (and that's coming from a Nexus One owner!). The screen looks small when placed beside my Nexus One but while using the device I find myself having plenty of room to browse, type, and just about do anything. So far so good!
Ever since I got my Nexus One and ditched iPhone I've been looking at the Legend but didn't want to give up 3G. This device in my opinion is a smaller and more pocketable model. It has the same processor, screen size, and resolution but it's not AMOLED (which doesn't bother me because I can see it in sunlight) and runs just about identical software. Over all I'm impressed with the device.
Now hopefully it will see a root pretty soon and maybe even some ROMs/Kernels if were lucky!
HTC Aria
I just registered to xda-developers to post about the HTC Aria. The thing about the phone is that it's FAST. For a 600MHz processor, it screams. I've seen the EVO 4G and Droid and the Aria seems to keep up in terms of smoothness. Listening to music, surfing the web and getting text at the same time is smooth.
I have the phone fully charged, with brightness set to automatic, and wifi turned on so we'll see how long the phone lasts through out a normal day.
I went to the ATT store yesterday to check the phone out in person. I was pretty impressed with its speed over all. I had no issues with the screen size what so ever. In fact... the fact that the phone is small and very thin (compared to my Tilt 1) makes it one of my first choices for a new phone. BUT... I'm out of contract with ATT on July 5th and am thinking of switching to sprint and getting an EVO but I have yet to get my hands on one to really compare. But again... the size of the Aria is very appealing to me. And I'm not so sure Sprint will have the coverage I need in all the places I go?
I REALLY hate how ATT neuters their phones!!! And hate it even more that i have an UNLIMITED data plan now...BUT.... ATT wants to charge me more a month for a new data plan for "smart phones". $5 more for 200megs $15 more for 2GBs, and I for get how much more if I want to teather... WTF??? I can teather NOW (and do often)... such a rip off... data is data and unlimited is unlimited in my mind!!! Sprint would be the exact same price I pay now for unlimited everything and and i could get an EVO.
I think my biggest concern with the Aria is that... until I root it, and am able to change radios, i'm worried about signal strength!!! My tilt was BAD until I installed the radio I have now around here. It was impossiable to travel and talk on it because I kept loosing signal. I drive a lot for work, and to some remote places too, I could look at my in dash NAV screen and watch the signal drop out every couple mins. Installed the battery eating monster and all was well. But I REALLY don't want to go through that again, I'd actually like it to be good out of the box (imagine that?)
I had recently played with a friends backflip and managed to lock it up inside 15mins and had to reboot it to get it to function again. Plus i didn't care for the keyboard on the outside and lack of 2.1 to start with... So I'm still on the fence... nice sized Arai but still have to deal with ATT, or go to Sprint, get an EVO and the great unknown of how my service will be. Live in 12866 but travle 100+ miles in every direction for work.
So far I'm 60/40 toward the Aria... maybe once it's rooted I'll make the jump??? IDK!
Chris
sentinel_cm said:
I REALLY hate how ATT neuters their phones!!! And hate it even more that i have an UNLIMITED data plan now...BUT.... ATT wants to charge me more a month for a new data plan for "smart phones". $5 more for 200megs $15 more for 2GBs, and I for get how much more if I want to teather... WTF??? I can teather NOW (and do often)... such a rip off... data is data and unlimited is unlimited in my mind!!! Sprint would be the exact same price I pay now for unlimited everything and and i could get an EVO.
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, if you already have an unlimited data plan, you can keep it as long as you like, even if you switch phones. I had the HTC Fuze for the longest time and as long a you mention that you want to keep your unlimited plan, you should be able to keep it.
lorcharlie said:
Actually, if you already have an unlimited data plan, you can keep it as long as you like, even if you switch phones. I had the HTC Fuze for the longest time and as long a you mention that you want to keep your unlimited plan, you should be able to keep it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this arguement with the people who work at the ATT store too... I couldn't get them to upgrade me to the Arai and keep my plan AS IS. I can get the phone via the store for $130, or $29 via ATT web site (both with 2yr contract extensions). But both require me to upgrade to the dataplan for smart phones. I'm going to try the 800 # and see if I can get my way... I have in the past.
Chris
Those AT&T guys needs an update. When I went to get my phone on Sunday, I was the only informed person about the HTC Aria. They had to go online to find the phone cause they didn't believe me. I got the only one there that day.
BestBuy Mobile acknowledges that you have an unlimited plan and will keep you on it when I went to ask them on Saturday. If AT&T doesn't work, BB?
go to best buy, i work there and at least at my location the mobile team knows all about the aria, its 129 and we dont have any mail in rebates, its all in store
lorcharlie said:
Those AT&T guys needs an update. When I went to get my phone on Sunday, I was the only informed person about the HTC Aria. They had to go online to find the phone cause they didn't believe me. I got the only one there that day.
BestBuy Mobile acknowledges that you have an unlimited plan and will keep you on it when I went to ask them on Saturday. If AT&T doesn't work, BB?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just spent 30 mins on the phone with ATT and here's where I got....
I'm told that I have the "wrong" data plan for the phone I have now. I find this amuseing because I bought the phone 2 years ago via the web site, and the plan in March at the ATT store. They tell me that as soon as I put my sim chip in the Arai my plan would be automatically upgraded, I call BS!!! (heard this from the guy in the store too). I gave them a "little bit" of hard time and talked to a manager too.
The manager was very cool and was willing to work with me... He offered to change me to the 200Mb smart phone data plan + unlimited text. This would bring my bill up $5 a month for the 2 year contract. He then offered me a $120 credit to my account to cover the extra $5 for the whole 2 years. I told him I wanted to think about it and he put a note on my account and told me I could do the online thing then call back and referance the note and get the credit.
So... I can upgrade to the Aria for $29 via att site, my bill goes up $5 a month, but they will give me a $120 credit to cover it. Not bad...
Now my thought process is this... IS 200Mb enough... I adverage about 15Mbs normally but with a full HTML browser and Android as a new toy will it be enough???? Or do I jump ship for Sprint and a $200 Evo???
Decisions decisions....
sentinel_cm said:
I just spent 30 mins on the phone with ATT and here's where I got....
I'm told that I have the "wrong" data plan for the phone I have now. I find this amuseing because I bought the phone 2 years ago via the web site, and the plan in March at the ATT store. They tell me that as soon as I put my sim chip in the Arai my plan would be automatically upgraded, I call BS!!! (heard this from the guy in the store too). I gave them a "little bit" of hard time and talked to a manager too.
The manager was very cool and was willing to work with me... He offered to change me to the 200Mb smart phone data plan + unlimited text. This would bring my bill up $5 a month for the 2 year contract. He then offered me a $120 credit to my account to cover the extra $5 for the whole 2 years. I told him I wanted to think about it and he put a note on my account and told me I could do the online thing then call back and referance the note and get the credit.
So... I can upgrade to the Aria for $29 via att site, my bill goes up $5 a month, but they will give me a $120 credit to cover it. Not bad...
Now my thought process is this... IS 200Mb enough... I adverage about 15Mbs normally but with a full HTML browser and Android as a new toy will it be enough???? Or do I jump ship for Sprint and a $200 Evo???
Decisions decisions....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That really depends on how you are going to use it. If you use wifi most of the time and don't use 3G to do much multimedia streaming, then you should be fine. Don't download big email attachments and don't send them while on 3g. 200mb is not a lot of data for this type of smartphone, but if you don't want to pony up for more data, you can stay within 200mb with some discipline and judicious use of cell data. Restricting most of your playing to wifi will help a lot.
T-Mobile and Sprint both offer more attractive data plans that might work for you. But where I live and travel, only AT&T and Verizon offer the kind of service that make it worth having a cell phone at all. If I lived and traveled in a more urban area, I'd have a lot more choices.
sentinel_cm said:
I just spent 30 mins on the phone with ATT and here's where I got....
I'm told that I have the "wrong" data plan for the phone I have now. I find this amuseing because I bought the phone 2 years ago via the web site, and the plan in March at the ATT store. They tell me that as soon as I put my sim chip in the Arai my plan would be automatically upgraded, I call BS!!! (heard this from the guy in the store too). I gave them a "little bit" of hard time and talked to a manager too.
The manager was very cool and was willing to work with me... He offered to change me to the 200Mb smart phone data plan + unlimited text. This would bring my bill up $5 a month for the 2 year contract. He then offered me a $120 credit to my account to cover the extra $5 for the whole 2 years. I told him I wanted to think about it and he put a note on my account and told me I could do the online thing then call back and referance the note and get the credit.
So... I can upgrade to the Aria for $29 via att site, my bill goes up $5 a month, but they will give me a $120 credit to cover it. Not bad...
Now my thought process is this... IS 200Mb enough... I adverage about 15Mbs normally but with a full HTML browser and Android as a new toy will it be enough???? Or do I jump ship for Sprint and a $200 Evo???
Decisions decisions....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's some clarification on how the data plans work. In the past, there were a total of five data plans: Media Net, PDA, Blackberry, iPhone, and aircard data. Out of these five, only Media Net truly had unlimited data, but it was only for non-smartphones, such as the Samsung Eternity, or more recently, Samsung Sunburst, etc. The PDA, iPhone, and Blackberry plans were all $30, but none of them were truly unlimited. In the fine print on the brochures that had this plan, or if you ask any honest AT&T rep, you truly had a 5GB limit, just like the aircard plans.
This being said, you may have had Media Net on your phone before, but Media Net is not the internet plan associated with smartphones, the smartphone plans are. And if you did not have any of the smartphone data plans before, it is IMPOSSIBLE for AT&T (it is not a clickable option in the activation system any longer) to give you that old plan. For me, this doesn't matter. The AT&T online bill payment system has the option to see a nice graph of data usage for the previous six months to give you an idea of how much you use, and I think there is some truth to AT&T's statement that 98% of their users do not exceed 2GB. I myself peaked at 300 mb in May, so while my average is above the cheap $15 200 MB limit plan, It is well beneath the $25 2GB plan, which is cheaper than the archaic 5gb limit plans.
So you see, the unlimited smartphone data plan is a lie, there has never been one for AT&T (and of course, Verizon, because their plans mirror each other).
Not an owner yet.. but I have a renewal coming up, and I'm kicking the idea around. I've used Windows Mobile for a while now, but I really like the flexibility & apps available with Android.
I'm debating whether to just get the Aria, or use my upgrade to get an iPhone 3G, sell it then turn around & buy a Nexus one.
Assuming I do the adb thing to allow apps and then do a root to get rid of the bloatware, what would the pros & cons be between the Aria and the N1? I know the N1 has a larger screen and the faster processor, the Aria has the HTC interface.. is there anything other than that?
attn1 said:
That really depends on how you are going to use it. If you use wifi most of the time and don't use 3G to do much multimedia streaming, then you should be fine. Don't download big email attachments and don't send them while on 3g. 200mb is not a lot of data for this type of smartphone, but if you don't want to pony up for more data, you can stay within 200mb with some discipline and judicious use of cell data. Restricting most of your playing to wifi will help a lot.
T-Mobile and Sprint both offer more attractive data plans that might work for you. But where I live and travel, only AT&T and Verizon offer the kind of service that make it worth having a cell phone at all. If I lived and traveled in a more urban area, I'd have a lot more choices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never paid for a data plan on my Windows phones, I've always turned off pictures in my browser and rarely checked anything. I'd spend like $2-$3 per month on data..
But on this upgrade, it looks like I have to add a data plan, which is ok with me because of the new $15 option. Other than general web browsing, I might download or email small files (word/excel etc) here & there.. I run some websites that I might edit from time to time (if I can get used to the touchscreen keyboard).. I can't see myself doing any streaming.. The most data-intensive thing I can see myself doing is Google Maps/Navigation. Think I'd be ok with the 200MB plan? Is tethering possible on the new plans? I'd definitely do that if it was possible (but again, just for general use, no streaming or large files or anything..)
sentinel_cm said:
I just spent 30 mins on the phone with ATT and here's where I got....
I'm told that I have the "wrong" data plan for the phone I have now. I find this amuseing because I bought the phone 2 years ago via the web site, and the plan in March at the ATT store. They tell me that as soon as I put my sim chip in the Arai my plan would be automatically upgraded, I call BS!!! (heard this from the guy in the store too). I gave them a "little bit" of hard time and talked to a manager too.
The manager was very cool and was willing to work with me... He offered to change me to the 200Mb smart phone data plan + unlimited text. This would bring my bill up $5 a month for the 2 year contract. He then offered me a $120 credit to my account to cover the extra $5 for the whole 2 years. I told him I wanted to think about it and he put a note on my account and told me I could do the online thing then call back and referance the note and get the credit.
So... I can upgrade to the Aria for $29 via att site, my bill goes up $5 a month, but they will give me a $120 credit to cover it. Not bad...
Now my thought process is this... IS 200Mb enough... I adverage about 15Mbs normally but with a full HTML browser and Android as a new toy will it be enough???? Or do I jump ship for Sprint and a $200 Evo???
Decisions decisions....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to say that even though I have unlimited data, I realize that almost everywhere I'm at, I have Wi-Fi. That's something else to consider if they won't let you have unlimited data. You could probably do most of your steaming/downloading on Wi-Fi and only do 3g when necessary.
I just checked when I had my iPhone 3gs and I only used 300MB of 3g on average, which means most of my internet interactions were on wifi.
Just a thought. And yes, I can't wait for this phone to be rooted.
ShinerDraft said:
I've never paid for a data plan on my Windows phones, I've always turned off pictures in my browser and rarely checked anything. I'd spend like $2-$3 per month on data..
But on this upgrade, it looks like I have to add a data plan, which is ok with me because of the new $15 option. Other than general web browsing, I might download or email small files (word/excel etc) here & there.. I run some websites that I might edit from time to time (if I can get used to the touchscreen keyboard).. I can't see myself doing any streaming.. The most data-intensive thing I can see myself doing is Google Maps/Navigation. Think I'd be ok with the 200MB plan? Is tethering possible on the new plans? I'd definitely do that if it was possible (but again, just for general use, no streaming or large files or anything..)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "option" to teather is listed @ $45 per month. So $15 for 200Mb, $25 for 2Gb or $45 for 2Gb + Teather which is decribed as... "2 GB of data to share between your phone and your laptop or Netbook"
I'm sorry... but that is a TOTAL ripoff!!! $20 more to SHARE the same amount of data between my phone and laptop???
I just got my Aria yesterday and am so far happy with it. I still need to figure out how to push apps to it with the side step procedure linked elsewhere here in the forum, so the AT&T restriction really doesn't seem to be that big of a problem to me.
I concur on the insanity on the data plans with AT&T. I've got it doubly complicated as I have a Family plan shared with my husband's iPhone which has the grandfathered in unlimited data and we have unlimited text. The online upgrade system was still giving me the option last week of adding on to my phone for data unlimited for $10 more as we have the text option. But of course I got the same song and dance from the store monkeys on the 'well that's not for smartphones' dodge. Nicely done as far as SNAFU'd corporate communications goes. Though I wouldn't expect anything less from AT&T .
My only complaint with my phone so far is that it is unable to refind my unadvertised home wifi net after a reboot or extended sleep. There's probably a fix, I haven't looked yet for it.
I REALLY hate how ATT neuters their phones!!! And hate it even more that i have an UNLIMITED data plan now...BUT.... ATT wants to charge me more a month for a new data plan for "smart phones". $5 more for 200megs $15 more for 2GBs, and I for get how much more if I want to teather... WTF??? I can teather NOW (and do often)... such a rip off... data is data and unlimited is unlimited in my mind!!! Sprint would be the exact same price I pay now for unlimited everything and and i could get an EVO.
Chris,
I just went through the data question w/ AT&T (I know I can barely stand them) I was told that my 'unlimited' data plan was grandfathered and I didn't have to change anything, however, I did have to talk with customer service to have them set it up.
ShinerDraft said:
Assuming I do the adb thing to allow apps and then do a root to get rid of the bloatware, what would the pros & cons be between the Aria and the N1? I know the N1 has a larger screen and the faster processor, the Aria has the HTC interface.. is there anything other than that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just went from an N1 to an Aria and like the change. Even though the N1 has a faster processor, the Aria is just as fast because it doesn't have as much to power. There are some articles out there which show it's comparable to the Evo and N1 in terms of speed (despite lower specs) (try http://forum.dailymobile.se/index.php?topic=24656.0). I was saying in another post that the Aria can actually juggle 7 or so apps at a time while the N1 will start seriously lagging at just 3 or 4. This is before I had upgraded the N1 to 2.2, but a lot of Market apps were not available or compatible with that build (and some of the stuff I'd already purchased didn't show up!). Of course, the 2.2 build on N1 is 450% faster than the 2.1 build and could easily be considered the fastest android build out there.
I also had a lot of trouble holding onto the N1. It was sleek, but just a little *too* sleek, if you can imagine! I'd also had a negative buying experience with Google where their checkout software screwed up and then the manager-less customer service reps didn't have any idea about what to do (even though that was just my own personal experience).
The N1 did have a gorgeous, big screen and it was sweet on 2.2. The Live Wallpapers can be a thrill, if you are as easily amused as myself. But the Sense ui on the Aria is amazing and seems more interactive than what was on the N1.
Plus, if you root the N1, you void your manufacturer's warranty - your boot screen will display a message to that effect. With the G1, I was able to reload a stock rom and it was accepted under the original warranty. I'm hoping the Aria will be the same way. I was thinking I could root it (if/when that happens) and overclock, but it just doesn't seem to need it now....
Btw... anyone want to buy an N1?
damn pixie said:
I just went from an N1 to an Aria and like the change. Even though the N1 has a faster processor, the Aria is just as fast because it doesn't have as much to power. There are some articles out there which show it's comparable to the Evo and N1 in terms of speed (despite lower specs) (try http://forum.dailymobile.se/index.php?topic=24656.0). I was saying in another post that the Aria can actually juggle 7 or so apps at a time while the N1 will start seriously lagging at just 3 or 4. This is before I had upgraded the N1 to 2.2, but a lot of Market apps were not available or compatible with that build (and some of the stuff I'd already purchased didn't show up!). Of course, the 2.2 build on N1 is 450% faster than the 2.1 build and could easily be considered the fastest android build out there.
I also had a lot of trouble holding onto the N1. It was sleek, but just a little *too* sleek, if you can imagine! I'd also had a negative buying experience with Google where their checkout software screwed up and then the manager-less customer service reps didn't have any idea about what to do (even though that was just my own personal experience).
The N1 did have a gorgeous, big screen and it was sweet on 2.2. The Live Wallpapers can be a thrill, if you are as easily amused as myself. But the Sense ui on the Aria is amazing and seems more interactive than what was on the N1.
Plus, if you root the N1, you void your manufacturer's warranty - your boot screen will display a message to that effect. With the G1, I was able to reload a stock rom and it was accepted under the original warranty. I'm hoping the Aria will be the same way. I was thinking I could root it (if/when that happens) and overclock, but it just doesn't seem to need it now....
Btw... anyone want to buy an N1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah just keep them both! Lol...I am and I'm still enjoying the hell out of my Aria. This thing doesn't skip a beat! Its easily the fastest 600mhz phone I've ever used. I'm guessing the smaller screen size needs less processing power or something because this little guy flys. I can't even imagine what it would do with a snap dragon! If we can get a root and maybe a 800-850mhz over clock on this bad boy it will be crazy fast.
On a side note my Aria is easily kicking my Nexus Ones ass in battery life. Im extremely surprised.
Can anyone who has an Aria comment on call sound quality, speaker phone quality & volume, and how the phone performs in general in reguards to having a signal vs. not having a signal on the network???
Hello everyone,
After the worst customer experience EVER with T-mobile...I am moving on from my beloved Vibrant. Here is what happened... I paid retail for my phone using the "Equipment Instalment Plan" and entered into the non-contract plans. At that time I was told that once you enter these type of plans you cannot go back to contract plans or get phones at the discounted price unless I start over with a whole new account only to find out that in Oct 2011 I was placed onto a contracted plan which I never authorized. In most cases it wouldn't have been a big deal, but was because my some dropped my phone on my cement driveway and cracked the screen, so after finding out that it would cost $130 for the insurance replacement (I mean really, after paying all the insurance it still costs that MUCH!!! Insurance on other carriers replaces phones for way less and even free on Verizon) and just replacing the screen isn't that much different.
Anyway, I was told I could not upgrade unless I paid retail. But, T-mobile changed the way that works. When I first started the "EIP" plan, you would pay the full retail value of a phone in payments split up over 21 months which would be added to your monthly phone bill and all you would pay upfront was the first monthly instalment, but now they make you pay 1/3 of the retail value of the phone upfront and the rest over 21 months. Which to me defeats the purpose because that is basically what you pay for a phone on a 2 year contract and then of course you don't have to pay any more toward the phone after that.
So now we go back to the problem of being on the contract I never agreed to. The rep said they knew that you couldn't get back onto a contracted plan after going to EIP plans, but somehow I was able to and they couldn't reverse it. The rep said I could file a dispute by email because no one could take care of it over the phone. So, I filed my dispute and never heard back. I was really busy with work and family and basically put this whole issue on the back burner for a few months but checked back with T-mobile at the beginning of June and was told they never got my dispute. I saved my email I sent and informed them that I have confirmation they received it...still, was told I had to filed my complaint all over again. So I did and had to wait 10 days for a response which OF COURSE was declined.
I called T-mobile back (I should add that this whole time I have been very friendly with everyone I spoke to and never once got loud or disrespectful) and explained everything going on and explained that my only intention was one of two things, either pay retail on the EIP plan like I originally should have....just that it should be done in the same manner as my vibrant which was my payment upfront be only the first of 21months, or give me the upgrade price since I was put on a contract without my consent and never used an upgrade on my account. Keep in mind that at this point it has been over two years since I got my Vibrant. I was told no and no. My only option was to pay 1/3 retail and the rest over 21 months or buy a phone somewhere else.
My intention was never to leave....in fact, I was only promising that would be there for another two years, T-mobile would not be losing out on anything except keeping a customer longer and I have been with them for 6 years already. But at this point I told them either give me an upgrade or I will take my business elsewhere. The rep said they didn't want to lose my business and that they would either put me on my previous non-contract plan or they would give me the upgrade price on a new phone. So I put aside the fact that it took over 6 months for them to give in, I agree to just go with the upgrade price and stay on contract. I asked the rep if I could go to a store to complete my purchase and they said yes. So I go to the store and the rep at the store said I was misinformed on the phone and could not get the upgrade price. My only option is to pay retail.
Now I'm back to my original spot...I can only pay retail, like I did with my vibrant and be on a contract I didn't agree to and obviously didn't want in the first place, the rep I spoke to the first time couldn't figure out how I got onto contract, but couldn't reverse it and even agreed that my situation didn't make sense. I know I could get a phone on craigslist or something, but I wanted something new and an upgrade, but now it's all about the principle of the business ethics T-mobile is using with me. So as a last resort, I go to the forums on T-mobile website and post my problem there. I get several responses saying I should contact a forum this specific forum moderator (name withheld, I don't want to get into trouble) because she is known for fixing issues like mine. So I did...AND NO RESPONSE, I sent another private message and again no response and this went on for 2 weeks.
So I hit my last straw...I'm moving on. My wife and I each are getting SGS II's free and will be on a cheaper plan then we had with T-mobile by going with Sprint. I have never used Sprint, it could turn out that I don't like their service areas compared to T-mobile in my area or their network seems sluggish but either way, T-mobile again lost another long time customer.
If you actually read through all that then thank you for listening to my complaint. I didn't even list every detail about the situation and some of the events just make it even more ridiculous.
I loved the phone, but that is only because of the developers on this site. I mean that literally. So special thanks to all the devs out there...they certainly deserve every thanks they get and then some.
FaultException-thanks for your fast and detailed responses and work with CM9.
jrongi1-thanks
Cyanogen-thanks
serendipityguy-thanks for your kernel bible
bay_wolf-loved your toolbox (haha, that sounds bad)
Fishman0919-thanks for reviving bionix
Sombionix-thanks for bionix
Romanbb-Thanks for work (loved them all)
krarvind-thanks for Slim ICS (used that for while)
sixstringsg-thanks for Glitch (My fav kernel)
Jellette-thanks for all the choices (hope life is well and live long and strong)
So many more I can't think of off the top of my head so thanks to everyone and I wish you all the best.
Wow.. seems like everything really went against you throughout the process. Instead, I wouldnt even waste time and would have began by threatening to cancel my (nonexistant) contract through the cancellation department since they have more power than your average rep.
But what is done is done, and I would do the same if I encountered that.
You might not like sprint and their mess going on over there with slow network and sketchy plan with wimax and lte. In other words, you might be miserable with their speeds, regardless of unlimited plans. Good luck. I'm looking to upgrade this vibrant to the s3 soon enough too. Served me well and still holds up against most low and mid range phones, but my GPS is just..
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app
I know I may not care for the speeds and all, but 90% of the time I am connected to wifi anyway so it really isn't that big of a deal and there are a few people I know around here on sprint that get good data speeds. I am in MN, so it's not like the network would get as overloaded as if I were in LA or NY. Plus I got the phone for free, and it's a good phone...but only time will tell. I will miss the trusty Vib, but I am going to use it as a music player I think...cracked screen shouldn't matter to much using it for that.
What's happened to T-Mobile's customer Service?
One of the thing that used to separate T-Mobile from other carriers was their customer service. Their one year wooing by AT&T seems to have completely screwed this once great attribute. I too am seriously dumping T-Mobile and switching to Sprint. I have a friend with 3 lines. He (and I) always buy our phones retail/Craigslist and go with No Contract plans. At the time he was using the pre-paid plan while I was on the Even More Plus plan. Both no contract plans. After getting the Galaxy Nexus, he decided to switch over to the 5GB EMP plan, but now they don't have that plan anymore. In fact, they have no non-contract plans at all anymore. I'm pretty sure, T-Mobile's going to lose 3 more customers in a couple of months. Oh well.
os2baba said:
One of the thing that used to separate T-Mobile from other carriers was their customer service. Their one year wooing by AT&T seems to have completely screwed this once great attribute. I too am seriously dumping T-Mobile and switching to Sprint. I have a friend with 3 lines. He (and I) always buy our phones retail/Craigslist and go with No Contract plans. At the time he was using the pre-paid plan while I was on the Even More Plus plan. Both no contract plans. After getting the Galaxy Nexus, he decided to switch over to the 5GB EMP plan, but now they don't have that plan anymore. In fact, they have no non-contract plans at all anymore. I'm pretty sure, T-Mobile's going to lose 3 more customers in a couple of months. Oh well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at their Monthly 4G plans. They are very in-expensive and contract free. (You can just buy a SIM and pop it into any unlocked/t-mo phone)
Hey guys, been reading a bunch of reviews and have been wondering about which phone to get for my upgrade. Coming from a T-Mobile G2 (HTC Desire Z), I've really been struggling between all the flagships like S3, Note 2, N4, and even the new Nokia. Some facts:
- I'm on T-Mobile Classic Plan, so an N4 upgrade would cost $200
- No, I don't plan on switching from T-Mobile any time in the near future
- I'm a student, so there is WiFi in 90% of the places I go
- I intend to use the phone primarily for texting, social media, and news
- I don't game on my phone and my music library is under 50 songs
- I am very satisfied with the build quality of my current phone, I have only dropped it 1-2 times in 2 years, but would prefer a phone that can survive a fall or two
- I want a phone that is built to last the next two years before I can upgrade again
If anyone who owns an N4 can tell me if it seems like a good fit for me, I would greatly appreciate it! Reading reviews and posts about specs like AMOLED vs. LCD and benchmarks really doesn't translate into real world use for me.
It seems like a good fit for you. I would just get a case to help project the phone.
Go Nexus 4 if you want the best Android ever built...and also for Development, mods, and etc if you love flashing roms by some of the best devs on xda we have it all here...
other than that go Note 2 its a beast just like the N4 but without all the extra I posted above....
You should probably know that the price is $199 down and 20 payments of $15. The phone will cost you $499.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
Should last 2 years easily, as Google gives updates for a full 2 years. The hardware is top notch as well, so it won't lag behind. I certainly recommend the N4
estallings15 said:
You should probably know that the price is $199 down and 20 payments of $15. The phone will cost you $499.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is? Huh. I thought the down payments applied for people on the Value Plan and the Classic Plan subsidizes the phone cost so you only pay the initial down payment. Could be wrong though.
Well, for $500 bucks ($300ish if I wait a month or so I suppose) a Nexus 4 doesn't seem nearly as attractive anymore.
Hohumhurrdurr said:
It is? Huh. I thought the down payments applied for people on the Value Plan and the Classic Plan subsidizes the phone cost so you only pay the initial down payment. Could be wrong though.
Well, for $500 bucks ($300ish if I wait a month or so I suppose) a Nexus 4 doesn't seem nearly as attractive anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was under the impression they only offered it with value plans. I'm probably wrong.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
Hohumhurrdurr said:
Hey guys, been reading a bunch of reviews and have been wondering about which phone to get for my upgrade. Coming from a T-Mobile G2 (HTC Desire Z), I've really been struggling between all the flagships like S3, Note 2, N4, and even the new Nokia. Some facts:
- I'm on T-Mobile Classic Plan, so an N4 upgrade would cost $200
- No, I don't plan on switching from T-Mobile any time in the near future
- I'm a student, so there is WiFi in 90% of the places I go
- I intend to use the phone primarily for texting, social media, and news
- I don't game on my phone and my music library is under 50 songs
- I am very satisfied with the build quality of my current phone, I have only dropped it 1-2 times in 2 years, but would prefer a phone that can survive a fall or two
- I want a phone that is built to last the next two years before I can upgrade again
If anyone who owns an N4 can tell me if it seems like a good fit for me, I would greatly appreciate it! Reading reviews and posts about specs like AMOLED vs. LCD and benchmarks really doesn't translate into real world use for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have nexus 4, note ii and siii with me. To answer your questions first thing you want to decide is, are you going to do lot of flashing and rooting and tweaking on your phone? If yes then stop thinking and get nexus 4 right away. There is no better option if you wanna do that. No need to even read further. If not then i would recommend note ii. There are multiple reasons for that. 1) you said you are not going to play lot of games on your phone. Note ii and nexus 4 are similar in many aspects but gpu. Nexus 4 gpu is much much better and hence much better gaming. As gaming is not your concern it would be fine... 2) You are going to do lots of texting, social media and news. In these cases bigger screen comes in handy. Also according to some reviews note ii performs much better with html 5 benchmarks than nexus 4. Also features like pop up browser and all comes in handy. Speaking from experience. 3) You are a student. S-pen might help you a lot for taking notes and all. 4) Nexus 4 has gorgeous build quality. But great things comes with great responsibility. you have to be careful with this device with glass on both sides.
This video might help you a bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cZp6YGBEW0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I use both the phones. I have to have one working phone for my business and other reasons. And i also love to do all the rooting and flashing roms. I learnt the hard way not to do this on same phones. I love both phones for completely different reasons.
Hope this helps...
Forgot to add one thing. I am not anal about the displays and color rendering and all. I personally like note ii display. Not for colors and all. I am no professional or expert on all that. I just like bigger screen. Hehe..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
It's offered with the classic plans as well. I can confirm that I paid $200 for mine with a two-year extension.
estallings15 said:
I was under the impression they only offered it with value plans. I'm probably wrong.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mandatory prepaid post
I think it's mandatory when someone posts a thread like this for someone to suggest they go prepaid. I guess I'm that guy. So, why not go prepaid?
On the cheapest classic plan, you're paying $70 per month for 500 minutes and 2GB of 4G data. Over two years, that's:
$70*24 + 200 = $1,880.
If you want more minutes or data, of course you're paying more.
You can do Straight Talk and get a T-Mobile SIM card and pay $45 per month. Unlimited voice, uncertain amount of data but probably at least 2GB per month. You buy the phone from Google, of course.
$45*24 + 350 = $1,430.
If you don't like Straight Talk, you can try Solavei for $49 per month or possibly the new Go Smart mobile for $45. They offer at least 4GB of high speed data per month.
And if you end up not liking their service or network, you can switch to AT&T's network any time you want.
The savings are significant enough that I'd seriously consider waiting a month or two to get my phone.
dan in la said:
I think it's mandatory when someone posts a thread like this for someone to suggest they go prepaid. I guess I'm that guy. So, why not go prepaid?
On the cheapest classic plan, you're paying $70 per month for 500 minutes and 2GB of 4G data. Over two years, that's:
$70*24 + 200 = $1,880.
If you want more minutes or data, of course you're paying more.
You can do Straight Talk and get a T-Mobile SIM card and pay $45 per month. Unlimited voice, uncertain amount of data but probably at least 2GB per month. You buy the phone from Google, of course.
$45*24 + 350 = $1,430.
If you don't like Straight Talk, you can try Solavei for $49 per month or possibly the new Go Smart mobile for $45. They offer at least 4GB of high speed data per month.
And if you end up not liking their service or network, you can switch to AT&T's network any time you want.
The savings are significant enough that I'd seriously consider waiting a month or two to get my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe? I'm not sure what the costs boil down to in the end, but I know that my whole family (5 people) is is on the Classic Plan with my father simply adding 4 other lines to his plan. I believe additional lines have significantly lower costs, but thanks for the heads-up, I'll check out the costs.
It seems like a good fit BUT you are wasting money staying on the classic plan, you'd be better off paying $300 for the phone and switching to the $30 prepaid or straight talk.
The build quality is better than the G2 by a good margin, I have a G2 and that hinge is janky, but don't expect the N4 to survive multiple drops without a case. The N4 will be the most up to date phone for the next 2 years, that is available today, you might be looking for something else in a phone but to me that was important.
I was fully expecting to spend $650 on a phone, I was going to buy the iphone 5 off contract and still will but it'll be 6mos from now, so I could have bought any of the flagship phones right now and IMO the N4 is the best choice out of the current crop of android phones.
---------- Post added at 11:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 PM ----------
Hohumhurrdurr said:
Maybe? I'm not sure what the costs boil down to in the end, but I know that my whole family (5 people) is is on the Classic Plan with my father simply adding 4 other lines to his plan. I believe additional lines have significantly lower costs, but thanks for the heads-up, I'll check out the costs.
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With tmo usually the 2nd line is cheap to add ($10 or less) but on the 3rd/4th/etc line it is usually the same $10 add on fee plus whatever the data/texting costs are (for me to add a third unl data/taxting line was going to cost ~$50 total.) I would definitely sit down with your dad and see if tmo is really giving him the best deal a lot of people still aren't taking the long view with phone contracts (sure the phone is $200 to start but it costs you an exxtra $2k over the course of 2 years.) AND tmo charges you ~15% in tax, I negated that with a 15% plan employee discount but still with prepaid you can avoid it altogether.
It seems like a good fit for you.
The G2 is pretty old.. you'll have to get used to the lack of a physical keyboard (I used to have a Nokia N97 before switching to touchscreen keyboard).
Hm, if you like flashing roms and having the ability to customize your phone, then I would say N4 is a good fit. Since you're on a classic family plan then having one additional line is just $10 more plus data (do you have family texting bundle?). If you don't mind putting more money down, then I would suggest to not buy it not from t-mobile as it's the exact same phone as what google offers, but the price is so much higher. As long as you don't mind with dealing with buying from third parties. You can either save your upgrade for when the iphone 5 comes out and perhaps resell that at a higher value, or to get something like galaxy s3 now to resell. Also, if you speak with a tmobile loyalty rep over the phone, you may be able to get a phone for less than the standard price since you'll be upgrading.
The N4 definitely has a nicer feel to it, though I don't know how well it will survive against falls due to the front and back glass. But.. you stated you rarely drop your phone so that's good .
i think jalshah05 makes some pretty good points when it comes to the note ii. i mean you get the best of both worlds or a tablet and phone. i had an s3 and it was awesome........until i accidentally dropped it face first onto concrete the day before i was about to sell it. =(
i was able to get a hold of the N4. aside from at&t not recognizing the phone officially and not getting the 4g speed i was paying (i finally switched over and get out of at&t), it's a pretty solid phone. you just have to be careful if you don't have a case since the glass could crack if dropped (some people reporting that). i guess the big thing is that you'll always have first dibs on any android updates that come out. if you like to flash different roms, i guess that won't make much of a difference.
but i'm like you. i don't game much. mainly for texting, calling, web surfing, social media, random internet apps (like looking up movies or sports scores) and i couldn't be happier.
go with Nexus 4!