Database Users

5 gig limit and tethering, i work for tmobile

ok, so i work for tmobile and i spoke to the tmobile vice president yesterday when he came in for a visit, and yes its true, the 5 gig limit to data service will be applied, once you go over 5 gig you will be throttled down to edge connection until your following month and also tethering will now be available as a feature which will cost 15 dollars a month, this will all go official real soon, so everyone who has been tethering on the side, sorry

What do you mean by that last line?

Bbe1367 said:
also tethering will now be available as a feature which will cost 15 dollars a month, this will all go official real soon, so everyone who has been tethering on the side, sorry
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This is worse news for me by far. I tether only now-and-then, but I do use it, and I'd hate to have to pay extra for the few times I do...even though, yes, other carriers currently charge.

This sucks! Well they are a business so I understand them charging for tethering but changing the cap to 5gb is pointless since tethering requires 15 bucks a month extra...
Sent from my T-Mobile G2

I wonder if this applies to nexus one owners. I have had tethering for months on my nexus one have never neared the data cap. Why would I start paying monthly for a feature that I can get for free on my nexus one or for a 1 time fee from the app market for my G2?

Pretty sure that when I signed up for service, I signed up for unlimited data and when I bought my phone, it advertised HSPA+ speeds. So if my phone can only do HSPA+ speeds for a while and T-Mobile wants to try to act like the internet is a depleteable resource. I will be returning my phone and cancelling all of my family's lines and finding a new carrier.

Wraith272 said:
and T-Mobile wants to try to act like the internet is a depleteable resource.
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Air interface bandwidth is [a limited resource].

Wraith272 said:
Pretty sure that when I signed up for service, I signed up for unlimited data and when I bought my phone, it advertised HSPA+ speeds. So if my phone can only do HSPA+ speeds for a while and T-Mobile wants to try to act like the internet is a depleteable resource. I will be returning my phone and cancelling all of my family's lines and finding a new carrier.
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Any of those carriers you switch to will have an even more expensive tethering fee. Best thing to do at this point is to root. I use my nexus when I want to wifi tether.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Wraith272 said:
Pretty sure that when I signed up for service, I signed up for unlimited data and when I bought my phone, it advertised HSPA+ speeds. So if my phone can only do HSPA+ speeds for a while and T-Mobile wants to try to act like the internet is a depleteable resource. I will be returning my phone and cancelling all of my family's lines and finding a new carrier.
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It sounds good and all but be sure to compare. Tmobile has a "fair" usage clause. They base what is fair usage on what the average data usage across the network is or something very similar to that. They never charge more for going over the cap, they just slow you down.

I'm guessing that they will make the tethering official and roll out the OTA at the same time.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

The majority of smartphone users likely don't crest 5GB usage. Those who do continue to have unlimited access at a slower speed. If this is unacceptable to them, they are free to terminate their accounts. As a moderate dataplan user, I'm perfectly fine with that, since in an unlimited scheme, moderate users are basically subsidizing the few outlier heavy users.

I was fine with the 5gb reduction too but charging another 15/month on the "unlimited data" plan to tether? 45/month seems excessive. Need some new perspective.

the cap is for web connect data plans, not for the unlimited plans connected to cell phones

jashsu said:
The majority of smartphone users likely don't crest 5GB usage. Those who do continue to have unlimited access at a slower speed. If this is unacceptable to them, they are free to terminate their accounts. As a moderate dataplan user, I'm perfectly fine with that, since in an unlimited scheme, moderate users are basically subsidizing the few outlier heavy users.
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You do realize that once there are no more heavy outliers, you become the heavy outlier. When T-Mobile lowers the cap again to below your data usage, I guarantee you'll be the first to complain.

What? Tethering won't be free? Sad face...
Sent from my T-Mobile G2

How are they gonna block stuff like PDAnet from being used? heck Id rather pay for their full version than to pay a monthly fee for 2 years..
Iphone tethering is only 10$.. I dont beleive it til i see it. Im thinking it will be free but just capped at 5gb before they throttle to stop people from abusing it

Bbe1367 said:
ok, so i work for tmobile and i spoke to the tmobile vice president yesterday when he came in for a visit, and yes its true, the 5 gig limit to data service will be applied, once you go over 5 gig you will be throttled down to edge connection until your following month and also tethering will now be available as a feature which will cost 15 dollars a month, this will all go official real soon, so everyone who has been tethering on the side, sorry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you saying the 5GB cap will apply to customers on contract (and grandfathered customers free of contract) as well as prepaid customers? - the way that news release is worded, it appears to only apply or refer to prepaid customers.
any clairification appreciated

krayshunist said:
You do realize that once there are no more heavy outliers, you become the heavy outlier. When T-Mobile lowers the cap again to below your data usage, I guarantee you'll be the first to complain.
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There will always be heavy outliers in a chart of users (whether in 1990, 2010 or 2100). The important question is whether the bar is above or below the average. Realistically speaking the bulk of those exceeding 5GB are probably tethering (I don't actually agree that tethering should be separate from the phone access, but that's a different discussion), so with the $15 tethering fee it might move the curve back even further under 5GB.

Well, I just checked my month use on t-mobile's website and looks like i only used 1.7 GB for the whole month. Not bad since most of my heavy downloading is done through my residential internet connection anyways. I don't think that I'll ever reach 5GB..
I'm not worried.

Can they just knock us off from a 10gig soft cap to a 5gig? Isn't there a grandfather clause kinda thing?
Besides, how would they know if i tether using pdanet. My data usage doesn't reflect how its being used.

Nexus 7 HSPA+ compatible w/ Pay by the Day $3 plan?

Hello,
I'm planning on purchasing the Nexus 7 w/ HSPA+ once it's available. As as far pre-paid plans go, it would seem T-Mobile has the best 4G plans available. I know T-Mobile has specific pre-paid tablet plans available, but the amount of data per dollar seems less then what I could get with their "Pay By The Day" $3/day plan.. Now obviously that plan is setup with phones in mind as it includes Talk + Text, but I don't plan on using the cell radio everyday on the tablet because on most days I'm covered by Wifi.
I don't like their tablet broadband plans because the data is offered in 7 day blocks and I'd rather pay a premium price for unlimited data for the day vs paying 5x the cost for a measly 300MB of data.
I'm just curious, Is there any reason why this plan wouldn't work w/ a tablet?
Thanks in advance,
- Mitalis

Since this is not a T-mobile device you may get away with a SIM set up with a phone plan. But it's popularity may induce t-mobile to block it as they have done recently blocking Nexus Phones to be used with broadband plans. It's a wait and see really.
On the other hand, I'm my self planning to use my planned Nexus 7 3G with a combination of ATT Broadband plan, Tmobile broadband and freedom pop.
I will have to see....with broadband plans only you get more data for your money...the bad side is the period limit.
Tip: Tmobile has a special 60 days vs 30 days if you buy your broadband card from Walmart only on the $35 3.5gb and 50 5gb plans. After that you can renew them online without having to go thru Walmart.
The other option I will look into...(which negate the benefit of 3G Nexus) is the Internet on the go plans which use Sprint...but recent changes make them very competitive in a sense you pay like 1.13 cents per MB.....and the gb you buy will never expire....The cons are you have to buy a $80 hotspot device, carry it around and you only get EVDO Rev A...thru sprint...Not as fast as tmobile.

Mitalis said:
Hello,
I'm planning on purchasing the Nexus 7 w/ HSPA+ once it's available. As as far pre-paid plans go, it would seem T-Mobile has the best 4G plans available. I know T-Mobile has specific pre-paid tablet plans available, but the amount of data per dollar seems less then what I could get with their "Pay By The Day" $3/day plan.. Now obviously that plan is setup with phones in mind as it includes Talk + Text, but I don't plan on using the cell radio everyday on the tablet because on most days I'm covered by Wifi.
I don't like their tablet broadband plans because the data is offered in 7 day blocks and I'd rather pay a premium price for unlimited data for the day vs paying 5x the cost for a measly 300MB of data.
I'm just curious, Is there any reason why this plan wouldn't work w/ a tablet?
Thanks in advance,
- Mitalis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats about $80 a month (assuming you go a few days without using the 3G Coverage)
You are going to realize after getting your Nexus 7 it will be used more often than you think... I bought mine, thinking it would be something to keep around the house, watch movies, listen to music on occasion, and take it on road trips. But it turned out I hardly put it down, I use it more than my cell phone. So I will certainly be getting the 3G model as soon as google makes it available for order.
The T-mobile "Classic – Overage-Free Plus" has a 2gb 4G limit, but it doesn't cut you off or charge you more when you use of the 2gb, it just drops you to 3G (maybe 2G) speeds until the next month. So you have Unlimited Data, just not always a High(er) speeds. Its gonna cost you 40$/mo but atleast it doesnt charge you more or cut you off completely like most other Wireless Carriers do. (http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/mobile-broadband-plans.aspx)
I ordered a StraightTalk (US Based) SIM Card, and will see how well it works, and how service is in my small town.
But if that does not work, I have T-mobiles Completely Unlimited Service Plan (Unlimited Talk/Text/Data) for $89. I can just add a new line (to get a another SIM Card) for $10 more a month, and share the Data with the Nexus 7 3G

nashi20002003 said:
Since this is not a T-mobile device you may get away with a SIM set up with a phone plan. But it's popularity may induce t-mobile to block it as they have done recently blocking Nexus Phones to be used with broadband plans. It's a wait and see really.
On the other hand, I'm my self planning to use my planned Nexus 7 3G with a combination of ATT Broadband plan, Tmobile broadband and freedom pop.
I will have to see....with broadband plans only you get more data for your money...the bad side is the period limit.
Tip: Tmobile has a special 60 days vs 30 days if you buy your broadband card from Walmart only on the $35 3.5gb and 50 5gb plans. After that you can renew them online without having to go thru Walmart.
The other option I will look into...(which negate the benefit of 3G Nexus) is the Internet on the go plans which use Sprint...but recent changes make them very competitive in a sense you pay like 1.13 cents per MB.....and the gb you buy will never expire....The cons are you have to buy a $80 hotspot device, carry it around and you only get EVDO Rev A...thru sprint...Not as fast as tmobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dont want to do that sprint EVDO is slower than a snail... Its unlimited but your battery on the device will run out before you can get anything real accomplished.

Mitalis said:
Hello,
I'm planning on purchasing the Nexus 7 w/ HSPA+ once it's available. As as far pre-paid plans go, it would seem T-Mobile has the best 4G plans available. I know T-Mobile has specific pre-paid tablet plans available, but the amount of data per dollar seems less then what I could get with their "Pay By The Day" $3/day plan.. Now obviously that plan is setup with phones in mind as it includes Talk + Text, but I don't plan on using the cell radio everyday on the tablet because on most days I'm covered by Wifi.
I don't like their tablet broadband plans because the data is offered in 7 day blocks and I'd rather pay a premium price for unlimited data for the day vs paying 5x the cost for a measly 300MB of data.
I'm just curious, Is there any reason why this plan wouldn't work w/ a tablet?
Thanks in advance,
- Mitalis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any updates from anyone on this.... Curious if you can use the Nexus 7 3g on a $3 daily plan... I just want to use it when I travel in the states...

It won't work. Tmo will block the tablet. Use a prepaid broadband plan instead, or tether to a phone.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Which MNVO to use?

So I'm currently on the T-Mobile $30 plan, which is great, but I'm left wanting for more minutes. So I use nearly all my data allowance each month, so being on a plan that doesn't have unlimited data with caps lower than 5 GB isn't acceptable. I'd also like to keep my H+ speeds. My budget is $45. My knee-jerk reaction is to go with GoSmart, since they meet all the criteria, and they aren't a subsidiary of tracfone. I'm a tad worried at their definition of High Speed Web, which is 3G. I know that H+ is technically 3g, but many companies have taken to calling it 4g.
My 2nd choice would be to go with Net10 or Straighttalk, but I've heard that data caps are unpredictable, and I'd rather not have to deal with that.
I'm not sure what else is out there...I'd like to go with AT&T due to their superior coverage, but I can accept that they may not have plans that appeal to me.

Sounds like you're out of luck. You can't get much out of prepaid services. Only T-mobile's $70 unlimited prepaid plan offers all you can eat minutes, text and data. But that's way out of your budget.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Use voip for the extra minutes. In you price range you won't be able to find what you are looking for. For what it's worth, net10 is a subsidiary of tracfone and their service reflects that, they sucked big time for me.

I don't think Straight Talk or Net10 throttle as much if you have their T-Mobile SIM. It's AT&T that's screwing over the MVNO's, not the MVNO itself. In fact, I think on Net10's Terms Of Service it even states that if you have an AT&T SIM you'll be capped at 1.5GB of data and it doesn't apply if you have the "pink" net10 T-Mobile SIM.

Not first hand experience but it seems to be the gist from everything I've read... StraightTalk on TMO is a lot more relaxed than on ATT.
GoSmart's data will be slower than you're looking for. If you read closely you'll find the "3G" speedcap (can't remember off the top of my head but there is one. 3mbps?).
Do consider VoIP. If you're looking for something straight forward that works pretty well, download the Vonage app. Since an app update recently, you're now able to dial from the native dialer and choose Vonage (or set it to always). Works over wifi and cell data. If you're fine making your longer phone calls outbound calls, you'll do alright.

I was in a similar place. I just got my Nexus 4 and am testing out the TMo 30 plan. A good alternative is Solavei. If I remember correctly, they are $45 a month. You get unlimited call/text/data. 4G data is capped at 4GB - best I've found from an MVNO that offers decent minutes. I also read they allow TMo LTE. Again, not first hand experience. Just what I found while digging. If I find VOIP imperfect (which it was on the 35 Virgin plan before), I'll probably switch to Solavei.
Bonus: Taxes are NOT included. A lot of users reported approx $50 bills total.
Bonus 2: GoSmart does not offer H+. This has been reported by several users. Kept me away from their plan.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

ziddey said:
Not first hand experience but it seems to be the gist from everything I've read... StraightTalk on TMO is a lot more relaxed than on ATT.
GoSmart's data will be slower than you're looking for. If you read closely you'll find the "3G" speedcap (can't remember off the top of my head but there is one. 3mbps?).
Do consider VoIP. If you're looking for something straight forward that works pretty well, download the Vonage app. Since an app update recently, you're now able to dial from the native dialer and choose Vonage (or set it to always). Works over wifi and cell data. If you're fine making your longer phone calls outbound calls, you'll do alright.
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I have tried that, but I had a lot of people complain about an echo. Is that fixed?

sailerboy said:
I have tried that, but I had a lot of people complain about an echo. Is that fixed?
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Click to collapse
With Vonage? Others always complain about echo when I use sipdroid/pbxes/gv, but over Vonage, everyone stops the conversation at some point to say that I sound way better than I usually do.

ziddey said:
With Vonage? Others always complain about echo when I use sipdroid/pbxes/gv, but over Vonage, everyone stops the conversation at some point to say that I sound way better than I usually do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm quite pleased with Spare Phone vs Groove IP.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

swagstr said:
I was in a similar place. I just got my Nexus 4 and am testing out the TMo 30 plan. A good alternative is Solavei. If I remember correctly, they are $45 a month. You get unlimited call/text/data. 4G data is capped at 4GB - best I've found from an MVNO that offers decent minutes. I also read they allow TMo LTE. Again, not first hand experience. Just what I found while digging. If I find VOIP imperfect (which it was on the 35 Virgin plan before), I'll probably switch to Solavei.
Bonus: Taxes are NOT included. A lot of users reported approx $50 bills total.
Bonus 2: GoSmart does not offer H+. This has been reported by several users. Kept me away from their plan.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I think Solavei would be his only choice. I have Simple Mobile now, but they screwed me on the data. They throttled me a little after I passed the 2 gig mark, so I wouldn't recommend them. I'm tired of dealing with these MNVOs and all their bull, so I'm switching to the $70 unlimited plan from T-Mobile.

[Q] What are my Pay as you go sim card options for Nexus 4 unlocked?

Hi,
I saw that Google is offering an unlocked Nexus 4 for $199, so I went and ordered one.
I don't use cell phone minutes too much in a month as I often have access to Wifi in my area. I was wondering what pay as you go sim card options are compatible with this device (in the USA).
For example, I saw an ATT GoPhone plan that is $2 per day of use which I think may work for me, but I don't know if it is compatible with the Nexus 4 or if there are other similar or better options.
Thank you

Is that $2 every day or just the days you use it? That would still be $60/month.
As long as you can get a micro SIM card, any plan should work.

You could do tmobiles 30$ plan. 100 minutes, text unlimited and 5gb of 4g data then slowed down after that. Not a pay as you go but seems way cheaper and better than what you had in mind.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I just bought 2 N4's from GPlay as well and have been looking for the best option. I know that for my area the only two options are T-Mo and Straight Talk. Both have inexpensive monthly plans. It basically comes down to which carrier provides better service on your area. I chose T-Mo. If after I activate my phones, I'm not pleased, I'll try out the other monthly carrier next month.
Sent from my Nexus using xda premium

michaelandrew said:
I just bought 2 N4's from GPlay as well and have been looking for the best option. I know that for my area the only two options are T-Mo and Straight Talk. Both have inexpensive monthly plans. It basically comes down to which carrier provides better service on your area. I chose T-Mo. If after I activate my phones, I'm not pleased, I'll try out the other monthly carrier next month.
Sent from my Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you do realize that straight talk probably will use T-Mobile towers and more than likely will give you worse reception. Now if you have AT&T in your area then Straight Talk may use them. T-Mo can be 40-60 a month and Straight Talk is about 45 a month
there are threads in xda and the web with a breakdown of every MVNO and prepaid cell company out there.. Just Google it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2001290

I'm using Simple Mobile. It's part of the Tracfone family. Unlimited everything (even 4G - HSPA+ or LTE with patch). There are two options for unlimited everything $40 and $50. The $40 option supposedly throttles you after 500mb (haven't seen it yet and always over 500 x2 or 3), $50 no throttle.
All the Sim seller did was cut down a Sim for me.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

2nd post
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014

Thank you for your replies, I will be going through them for more information
As for the $2/day then you only pay $2 on the days that you use it.
Also, I am not interested at all in using a plan that includes data, my wifi connections are good enough for that. I am more interested in making phone calls from time to time, especially in cases of emergency or when away from wifi. Maybe on average I use less than 100 minutes a month.

Then you might as well do pay as you go, and save even more by using Vonage to make free calls over Wi-Fi. I still recommend the T-Mobile $30 100min/5GB plan though.

Simple mobile also has a talk and text plan. As well, for others, they just up'ed the amount of 4g data on all their plans. So my $40 plan is now 1gb of 4g before they supposedly throttle me
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

If you don't plan to use very many minutes and you don't need to use any data then I'd recommend Lycamobile. It is a T-Mobile MVNO, so as long as you have good T-Mobile service in your area you'll be good. http://www.lycamobile.us/en/national-plans

[Q] Thinking of switching from Sprint, but have a question

Hi folks,
First post on the Verizon side. I've been on Sprint forever but am looking at converting to Verizon for their better coverage and better customer satisfaction (at least according to Consumer Reports). We went to the local Verizon store and it seems like we could save money by switching to their 2 year contract. But I want to confirm a couple of things with the forum, as I know sometimes you get, um, incomplete info from the sales folks.
On Sprint, you have to pay an additional charge to make the phone a hotspot. It is THE reason I rooted my S4, to be able to do that for free. I was told it is a free include on the Verizon smartphone plans. So can y'all confirm that is true, and talk about any issues/details I should know about? It would sure make the deal pretty sweet if that is included and pain free!
It sounds like it's easy to change the plan we are on for anticipated data usage. Most of the time, we have very little data usage during the month as we're almost always on a wifi connection. But we own an RV and can use a lot of data (hotspot) when on the road, for up to 2 months at time. Is it as easy as they say to call and bump it up for a couple of months, and then back down when done? Any pitfalls or costs associated with it?
How about roaming data usage? I was told at the store that as long as 50% or less of the data usage is roaming, they don't care. True? Horror stories?

Yes Hotspot usage is included in the plans for everyone except people like myself who still have unlimited data plan. You can also bump up your data if you expect to go over your limit and also bump it back down whenever needed without any problem or extra charges. Your roaming question im not sure about.
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

No data/domestic roaming on Verizon. 50 states included
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app

Savagerun said:
Yes Hotspot usage is included in the plans for everyone except people like myself who still have unlimited data plan. You can also bump up your data if you expect to go over your limit and also bump it back down whenever needed without any problem or extra charges. Your roaming question im not sure about.
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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That's technically incorrect. It's not free on the $60 2gb unlimited talk and text plan, it's $15 each device(not a more everything plan). In a more everything plan it'll be included.
OP say you get 4gb of data.
1. On more everything it would be $70 for data and $40 for each smart phone so $150 total. The data is one allotment.
2. You do it on the individual plans on a family account, it can be done, but it would be $60 for 2gb per line and unlimited talk and text, so $120 for two with 4gb total. Add $15 per phone for hotspot, if it's on both then the plan cost is equal.
3. Edge, a bit more complicated but if you 4gb just get 10gb as the cost is the same because of the access fee discount per line.

joshua.justice said:
That's technically incorrect. It's not free on the $60 2gb unlimited talk and text plan, it's $15 each device(not a more everything plan). In a more everything plan it'll be included.
OP say you get 4gb of data.
1. On more everything it would be $70 for data and $40 for each smart phone so $150 total. The data is one allotment.
2. You do it on the individual plans on a family account, it can be done, but it would be $60 for 2gb per line and unlimited talk and text, so $120 for two with 4gb total. Add $15 per phone for hotspot, if it's on both then the plan cost is equal.
3. Edge, a bit more complicated but if you 4gb just get 10gb as the cost is the same because of the access fee discount per line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the break down. I think I get it.
Another question about the hotspot. When hooked to the Hotspot, can the phone still make/receive calls? Assuming S5 and Note 3.

jejb said:
Thanks for the break down. I think I get it.
Another question about the hotspot. When hooked to the Hotspot, can the phone still make/receive calls? Assuming S5 and Note 3.
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Click to collapse
You're welcome, unfortunately I understand it all too well as I work at Best Buy and I'm fairly certain it wouldn't as voice is still a separate network frequency and CDMA can't use voice and data simultaneously. When they do VoLTE (voice over lte) it will work. They're suppose to be rolling out anytime.

joshua.justice said:
You're welcome, unfortunately I understand it all too well as I work at Best Buy and I'm fairly certain it wouldn't as voice is still a separate network frequency and CDMA can't use voice and data simultaneously. When they do VoLTE (voice over lte) it will work. They're suppose to be rolling out anytime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mostly right.
If you're in a 4G area, you can make/receive a call and still use 4G data at the same time.

quantumalpha said:
Mostly right.
If you're in a 4G area, you can make/receive a call and still use 4G data at the same time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ding ding a ding ding ...
Data drops on phone call if on 3g .... LTE and voice work simultaneously no problem I do it all the time.