I am in love with this Nexus-S, my fav Android phone by far, and in the past I have owned; MyTouch 3G...Nexus-One...EVO 4G...
I really like the compact size and lightweight feel to it, but still feels like a solid device to me, and it is super thin for a powerful smart phone, plus of course the S AMOLED screen is drool worthy. And battery life is way better than the EVO. And to top it off, being a Google developer phone, comes with no carrier bloatware, or manufacturer UI's, and is a "pure" Android phone with the latest OS.
But...T-Mobile is a deal breaker for me, compared to Sprint for connection. In Chicago it is pretty good, just sucks once inside houses or buildings. I own a Millwork supply business for custom home builders, and I am in and out of new homes a lot, and it seems to drop signal once I go inside a new construction building. Same with my own home, I have my Office in Basement, and it is like 90% loss of signal down there. I can never make or receive calls down there, but texting is good. Where as my EVO on Sprint, worked pretty good in the Basement, not perfect, but much better than the Nexus-S, and going to job sites, my EVO never dropped calls. And Navigation on the Nexus-S, I have had a few slight issues, just having hard time locating me, that has only happened three times so far, had to restart phone each time. But my EVO the 6 months I owned it, I can remember maybe once it not locating me. Again I blame this on T-Mobile not the Nexus.
But T-Mobile monthly is approx $30 cheaper per month which is nice. But then what good is saving thirty bucks, if I drop signal indoors, and somewhat spotty navigation service. Not sure what to do...I bought the Nexus-S on launch day Dec 17th, at Best Buy Mobile, paid cash full retail for the phone, not sure what my return options are ?
Is your nexus on 3g mode? Have you tried to put it in edge to see if it helps?
JasjarMan said:
Is your nexus on 3g mode? Have you tried to put it in edge to see if it helps?
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Click to collapse
Tried that this morning, more for battery saving. But then went to make a call, and it screwed up. It was calling my client, but no ringing tone, and I clicked end call, and it just hung there, so I had to restart and tried again in 3G and it worked fine.
I was driving near O'Hare airport at the time, and that area is know to kill cell signals.
ya T-mo has horrible building penetration but other than that, i love em, great customer service, great speeds, and they are always improving
slowz3r said:
ya T-mo has horrible building penetration but other than that, i love em, great customer service, great speeds, and they are always improving
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That is my only beef with this phone. "horrible building penetration", too bad that can't be upgraded by T-Mobile. Other than that I LOVE this phone.
Zorachus said:
That is my only beef with this phone. "horrible building penetration", too bad that can't be upgraded by T-Mobile. Other than that I LOVE this phone.
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Click to collapse
the building penetration has nothing to do with the phone its the frequency that T-mo uses the higher the frequency the worse the building penetration.
Kinda sucks but T-mo is coming out with one of those Cellphone base station signal thingies (forgot what they are really called) so that may help you out
I'm with the OP; best damned phone I've owned in terms of appearance, feel, performance right out of the box...but T-Mo just doesn't deliver in some areas I need it to. When it delivers, it's the best out there, but too many places that indoors it kills the service. When I've got full 3G service it's at least 25% faster than AT&T, and 3-5 times faster than Sprint.
One office building I work out of is T shaped. If you're on the left side of the T, great signal, but go anywhere on the right side of the T and you're in a total dead zone. AT&T's not much better in that building, but in most places of town (Los Angeles SF, SG, SC Valley areas), it's better than T-Mo. Verizon works well there.
To the OP, if you're willing to shell out the dough, about $300, you can buy a cellular signal booster, I did when I got a Nexus One, it allowed me to actually get a T-Mo signal inside my house; I'd recommend one for your basement office if you can run the antenna coax line to outdoors. Voice and EDGE only, though, there's only one brand that claims to do T-Mo AWS/3G right now, and their device is $450.
EDIT: I think this is the model I got for the extender: http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Exte...W5WI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294073803&sr=8-1
Zorachus said:
I am in love with this Nexus-S, my fav Android phone by far, and in the past I have owned; MyTouch 3G...Nexus-One...EVO 4G...
I really like the compact size and lightweight feel to it, but still feels like a solid device to me, and it is super thin for a powerful smart phone, plus of course the S AMOLED screen is drool worthy. And battery life is way better than the EVO. And to top it off, being a Google developer phone, comes with no carrier bloatware, or manufacturer UI's, and is a "pure" Android phone with the latest OS.
But...T-Mobile is a deal breaker for me, compared to Sprint for connection. In Chicago it is pretty good, just sucks once inside houses or buildings. I own a Millwork supply business for custom home builders, and I am in and out of new homes a lot, and it seems to drop signal once I go inside a new construction building. Same with my own home, I have my Office in Basement, and it is like 90% loss of signal down there. I can never make or receive calls down there, but texting is good. Where as my EVO on Sprint, worked pretty good in the Basement, not perfect, but much better than the Nexus-S, and going to job sites, my EVO never dropped calls. And Navigation on the Nexus-S, I have had a few slight issues, just having hard time locating me, that has only happened three times so far, had to restart phone each time. But my EVO the 6 months I owned it, I can remember maybe once it not locating me. Again I blame this on T-Mobile not the Nexus.
But T-Mobile monthly is approx $30 cheaper per month which is nice. But then what good is saving thirty bucks, if I drop signal indoors, and somewhat spotty navigation service. Not sure what to do...I bought the Nexus-S on launch day Dec 17th, at Best Buy Mobile, paid cash full retail for the phone, not sure what my return options are ?
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Click to collapse
Do what I'm doing. Month to month in at&t no data... buy a clear 4g wimax ispot...hack it to work on any device. Only $25 a month works great. I couldn't stand edge but know how crappy tmobile is
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
distortedloop said:
EDIT: I think this is the model I got for the extender: http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Exte...W5WI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294073803&sr=8-1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the link, reading the user reviews, makes this sound like exactly what I need for my home Office. But still won't help when out at job sites, and losing signal inside.
So now I need to decide, keep the Nexus-S which I LOVE, but have iffy service inside, or just go back to the EVO with near perfect indoor service ?
I am with the OP on this one too.
Best Android phone on the market but T-mobile's coverage inside buildings is sub par.
I understand that the 1700/2100mhz spectrum has harder time penetrating buildings but it should not be THAT bad...
I come from Europe where most of the networks only use 2100Mhz and i don't recall seeing such a penetration issue.
It has to be T-Mobile's lack of towers which results in such poor indoor coverage.
at&t is also 90% 1900Mhz in the SF Bay Area and they have no problem with indoor reception, at least not as bad as T-Mobile.
That's my only main issue with the phone.
I ordered a signal booster from JDteck.com (which are the only ones who are providing a 1700/2100Mhz boosters). I'll report back how it works.
clubtech said:
AT&T is also 90% 1900Mhz in the SF Bay Area and they have no problem with indoor reception, at least not as bad as T-Mobile.
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Click to collapse
As of 2009, AT&T moved most of their 3G spec to the 850mhz band, so indoor reception should be EVEN better, or at least battery life should have improved a bit. I remember this was a big issue back in the iPhone days. I'm pretty sure they're entirely on 850mhz.
slowz3r said:
Kinda sucks but T-mo is coming out with one of those Cellphone base station signal thingies (forgot what they are really called) so that may help you out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whatever happened to that TMo [email protected] thing a few years ago? I remember they did a pilot program and then expanded. It was pretty popular. Too bad they stopped that.
Looks like this is now an error page: http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/hotspotathomelearnmore.aspx
clubtech said:
It has to be T-Mobile's lack of towers which results in such poor indoor coverage.
at&t is also 90% 1900Mhz in the SF Bay Area and they have no problem with indoor reception, at least not as bad as T-Mobile.
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Click to collapse
Agreed on T-Mo needs more towers, if they weren't so far spread apart, we'd get better penetration in more areas.
Not sure about the AT&T in San Francisco part, though. I've listened to Leo LaPorte, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose and all that ilk ***** and moan about AT&T poor signal/reception on the iPhone in San Francisco for a couple of years until AT&T started rolling out the 850mhz on the 3G side. New York City the same thing - poor AT&T penetration on the 1900mhz side in and amongst all the tall buildings.
clubtech said:
That's my only main issue with the phone.
I ordered a signal booster from JDteck.com (which are the only ones who are providing a 1700/2100Mhz boosters). I'll report back how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll be very interested in your report back on that. This is the one I referenced, but not by name, in my earlier post. It didn't seem worth the $200 extra premium to get the AWS service repeated, since in my home I have WiFi anyways, but when I bought the unit I do have, this JDteck one wasn't available.
allen099 said:
As of 2009, AT&T moved most of their 3G spec to the 850mhz band, so indoor reception should be EVEN better, or at least battery life should have improved a bit. I remember this was a big issue back in the iPhone days. I'm pretty sure they're entirely on 850mhz.
Whatever happened to that TMo [email protected] thing a few years ago? I remember they did a pilot program and then expanded. It was pretty popular. Too bad they stopped that.
Looks like this is now an error page: http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/hotspotathomelearnmore.aspx
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Click to collapse
Not sure what happened to that I used to have it as well.
but really i say wait till after CES, rumor is T-Mo will announce their router
I'm with T-mobile for their tremendous pricing plan advantage over Att (I'm also in SoCal and T-mobile has tremendous coverage here)
T-mobile: $10 - $20 per month for 5gb of data
Att: $25 per month for 2gb of data
ap3604 said:
I'm with T-mobile for their tremendous pricing plan advantage over Att (I'm also in SoCal and T-mobile has tremendous coverage here)
T-mobile: $10 - $20 per month for 5gb of data
Att: $25 per month for 2gb of data
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Click to collapse
even more savings with em+ 60 bucks 500 minutes, texting and web
ap3604 said:
I'm with T-mobile for their tremendous pricing plan advantage over Att (I'm also in SoCal and T-mobile has tremendous coverage here)
T-mobile: $10 - $20 per month for 5gb of data
Att: $25 per month for 2gb of data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What part of SoCal are you in? I'm in the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley most of my time. In the North part of both valleys T-Mo data is EDGE only in large areas, and even voice has a hard time getting into buildings. It's really a bummer when I have to spend time up in Santa Clarita.
My house is actually in a little dead/poor coverage area spot even on T-Mo's maps...it's right on the edge of three different towers that don't quite fully overlap their coverage circles. I can get a signal outdoors, but inside not very good without my cellular extender.
I've still got my grandfathered iPhone SIM for one of my Androids (i9000), $30 for true "unlimited" data, no caps or throttles on that one. Someone told me they're using the unlimted data for non-smartphones on their Galaxy S with AT&T because AT&T can't recognize the IMEI and that it's a smartphone. I think that data is $10/month.
PS. SimplyMobile sounds intriguing. Read some good reports of it in another thread. Uses T-Mo's voice and data service, everything unlimited (voice, text, data (3g)) for $60/mo.
clubtech said:
I am with the OP on this one too.
Best Android phone on the market but T-mobile's coverage inside buildings is sub par.
I understand that the 1700/2100mhz spectrum has harder time penetrating buildings but it should not be THAT bad...
I come from Europe where most of the networks only use 2100Mhz and i don't recall seeing such a penetration issue.
It has to be T-Mobile's lack of towers which results in such poor indoor coverage.
at&t is also 90% 1900Mhz in the SF Bay Area and they have no problem with indoor reception, at least not as bad as T-Mobile.
That's my only main issue with the phone.
I ordered a signal booster from JDteck.com (which are the only ones who are providing a 1700/2100Mhz boosters). I'll report back how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have to realize that tmobile's 3g network is still very young, so all the gaps are not filled in which is required for higher frequency networks. since towers need to be spaced closer together for bands such as 1900mhz and higher, i'm sure tmobile only laid out the bare minimum during their initial 3g roll out just to get SOMETHING out there. over time they may fill in the gaps.
and we all know how stellar the coverage is in UK even using the 2100mha band. however its the same story, less physical geography to cover, in addition to better government regulations over there "forcing" one technology standard and set of common frequencies. that makes it much better for ubiquious coverage in general.
distortedloop said:
What part of SoCal are you in? I'm in the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley most of my time. In the North part of both valleys T-Mo data is EDGE only in large areas, and even voice has a hard time getting into buildings. It's really a bummer when I have to spend time up in Santa Clarita.
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Click to collapse
Sorry to hear about your lack of coverage distortedloop
I'm in Orange County area and get great coverage around 3 mbps download on my Nexus One.
distortedloop said:
I've still got my grandfathered iPhone SIM for one of my Androids (i9000), $30 for true "unlimited" data, no caps or throttles on that one. Someone told me they're using the unlimted data for non-smartphones on their Galaxy S with AT&T because AT&T can't recognize the IMEI and that it's a smartphone. I think that data is $10/month.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I looked into that too (since the Vibrant has Att's 1900 3g band built in and Att won't recognize the IMEI) but I believe the $10 data is only available on a family plan and only if they have the unlimited messaging already on their plan, an extra $20 per month.
So say you do this family plan trick the savings are kind of washed out compared to T-mobile:
$70 per month for 700 minutes
$25 per month for 2gb of data for iPhone
$20 per month for unlimited messaging
$10 per month for "dumbphone" data
___________________________________
$125 per month. Yuck!
I'd rather just stick with T-mobile even more plus contract free:
$30 per month 500 min
$10 per month for data
distortedloop said:
PS. SimplyMobile sounds intriguing. Read some good reports of it in another thread. Uses T-Mo's voice and data service, everything unlimited (voice, text, data (3g)) for $60/mo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering about simple mobile and how it worked with the NS..anyone have it?
alnova1 said:
I was wondering about simple mobile and how it worked with the NS..anyone have it?
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Click to collapse
The guy who started this thread has it.
I've seen some posts where they're saying that "unlimited data" on Simple Mobile actually means 1GB cap. I'd check that out before switching.
I know this is off topic but I would like to hear some info from the xda members. I currently have tmobile and live in Philadelphia. I am looking to switch to Sprint and just wondering how is Sprints data speeds, coverage, voice, etc...
It varies...I live in Florida and it's great here, but this post is only helpful if you were looking toward moving here...Lol
3g speeds are terrible in Detroit but the 4g speed is decent. Coverage is excellent, I have never been somewhere where I have no signal(the free roaming on vzw, incl free data roaming, helps). The areas where I KNOW there is signal but I can't reach it (in the dungeon-like basement of a building behind many many layers of concrete) are reduced now also. Where I had no signal a year ago I have enough to text and call now. For the record, in that dungeon the vzw customer next to me had 5 bars and 3g while I had nothing. Voice is good. I have 4 phones, 2 with the 4g fee, and it costs me $220 for 1500 mins and unlimited everything else. This is probably only helpful if you plan on moving to Detroit, unlikely based on the latest census results.
Ask some of your friends how Sprint is in your area.
Thank you. I am not really looking site specific really just overall quality of sprint itself. Just trying to see if its the right move
Overstew said:
It varies...I live in Florida and it's great here, but this post is only helpful if you were looking toward moving here...Lol
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I live in the FL panhandle and its terrible here. When I go visit the family in gainsville its awesome! A constant 3 to 4 times faster than here.
During the week I can have data speeds as low as 15k down 90k up. During off peak hours its usually about 100k down 125k up. Still terrible compared to verizon (constant 1meg down) or att (700 to 900k down)
I have compared to people at work. We check frequently, just to compare.
So I got my VZW Dev Moto X Wednesday and wanted to give a little review so far. Like most of us I replaced an aging VZW Galaxy Nexus w/ extended OEM battery.
Initial impressions
- this thing is FAST!!!!!
- its physically smaller then the GNex and taking a little bit to get used to (typing is a little off while getting used to the new phone)
- signal is much better then the Gnex (duh!)
- battery is worlds better (ran from 8-5 yesterday on LTE at work with 7 hours of Google Music streaming, then home and on wifi. Ended up with 4hr 43min of screen on before it died)
- its official, I'm addicted to Active Notifications.
- I find myself wishing for the stock android browser for a few sites, seemed a little snappier then Chrome (could side load I'm sure)
Overall I am a happy camper. Now to see what the dev community comes up with!
Wow it sounds amazing, I hope it will come to europe!
VolcyDX said:
So I got my VZW Dev Moto X Wednesday and wanted to give a little review so far. Like most of us I replaced an aging VZW Galaxy Nexus w/ extended OEM battery.
Initial impressions
- this thing is FAST!!!!!
- its physically smaller then the GNex and taking a little bit to get used to (typing is a little off while getting used to the new phone)
- signal is much better then the Gnex (duh!)
- battery is worlds better (ran from 8-5 yesterday on LTE at work with 7 hours of Google Music streaming, then home and on wifi. Ended up with 4hr 43min of screen on before it died)
- its official, I'm addicted to Active Notifications.
- I find myself wishing for the stock android browser for a few sites, seemed a little snappier then Chrome (could side load I'm sure)
Overall I am a happy camper. Now to see what the dev community comes up with!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the themes/apps section. There is a thread for the AOSP browser.
good phone:good:
I'm in almost the same boat as you coming from the Verizon Gnex.
I loved being able to play with different ROM's.
So I bought the Verizon Moto X DE.
This phone is lightyears ahead of the Gnex.
I'm not a heavy user but I've been getting great battery live.
6AM to 9PM with 1 1/2 or more of screen time with 70% battery left!
Much better reception, I'm even getting 4G in the building at work where the Gnex had trouble gettting 3G.
Have anyone compare this device or the regular Moto X to the Droid Maxx?
Switched from Verizon Galaxy Nexus to T-Mobile Moto X. Moto X is definitely light years ahead.
aysiu said:
Switched from Verizon Galaxy Nexus to T-Mobile Moto X. Moto X is definitely light years ahead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking about switching from Verizon to T-Mobile and I'm wondering how you like it. I live in San Diego and T-Mobile LTE is supposedly pretty good out here. Earlier in the year I experimented with the Nexus 4 and T-Mobile before they had LTE in my area. I had a couple of dead spots here and there, but it was OK. I'm thinking of trying them again since they have LTE now.
If you don't mind answering:
1) Do you happen to live in Southern California?
2) How's your coverage so far compared to Verizon? Does your area have LTE?
skinien said:
I'm thinking about switching from Verizon to T-Mobile and I'm wondering how you like it. I live in San Diego and T-Mobile LTE is supposedly pretty good out here. Earlier in the year I experimented with the Nexus 4 and T-Mobile before they had LTE in my area. I had a couple of dead spots here and there, but it was OK. I'm thinking of trying them again since they have LTE now.
If you don't mind answering:
1) Do you happen to live in Southern California?
2) How's your coverage so far compared to Verizon? Does your area have LTE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in LA and just switched from a RAZR m and previous to that a gnex on Verizon. I'm running a Puerto Rico model moto x without aws hspa and I think it still has better reception than Verizon. Verizon actually had some areas with no reception. Verizon does almost always give you 3g when t mobile for me might hit edge but I haven't seen a dead spot on t mobile yet. Have had it about two weeks...
In the bay area where I used to live Verizon was much better than t mobile but in LA at least its not really worth the money
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk 4
skinien said:
I'm thinking about switching from Verizon to T-Mobile and I'm wondering how you like it. I live in San Diego and T-Mobile LTE is supposedly pretty good out here. Earlier in the year I experimented with the Nexus 4 and T-Mobile before they had LTE in my area. I had a couple of dead spots here and there, but it was OK. I'm thinking of trying them again since they have LTE now.
If you don't mind answering:
1) Do you happen to live in Southern California?
2) How's your coverage so far compared to Verizon? Does your area have LTE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to live in Northern California, and now I'm in New England (have used T-Mobile and Verizon in both locations). Basically the theoretical coverage of Verizon is better, but I find the T-Mobile experience leaves me with a less frustrating experience.
T-Mobile, when it has coverage has good coverage. The coverage is solid. But when T-Mobile doesn't have coverage, it's got nothing--zero. This usually happens in rural areas or remote suburban areas.
The problem I had with Verizon on the Galaxy Nexus was the horrrible handoffs between CDMA and LTE. There were a lot of times (in urban areas, even) when my Galaxy Nexus would be on the cusp of 3G with two bars and 4G with one bar, and the phone couldn't make up its mind, so I ended up with essentially no usable data. If I switched to CDMA-only, things would work better for a while, but eventually my entire workable signal would just disappear. This was with the stock Android, rooted Android, old radios, new radios. I tried everything and could not get a good consistent signal. There were also weird situations in which I would appear to have a full signal and couldn't connect to anything. Other times, I would appear to have no signal, and web pages would still load.
TLDR version: Verizon was a headache.
I'm much happier with T-Mobile. When I have good coverage, it's good, and the signal bars never lie. Transitions between 3G and 4G are smooth. In fact, I rarely have 3G at all. Seems to just be 4G HSPA+, 4G LTE... or nothing.
skinien said:
I'm thinking about switching from Verizon to T-Mobile and I'm wondering how you like it. I live in San Diego and T-Mobile LTE is supposedly pretty good out here. Earlier in the year I experimented with the Nexus 4 and T-Mobile before they had LTE in my area. I had a couple of dead spots here and there, but it was OK. I'm thinking of trying them again since they have LTE now.
If you don't mind answering:
1) Do you happen to live in Southern California?
2) How's your coverage so far compared to Verizon? Does your area have LTE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in San Diego and TMO's 4G LTE is great from South to North County. My wife has Verizon and it has better coverage when we go out of town up the Sierras (Yosemite), but in every metropolitan area I have been to TMO has been blazing fast with 4G LTE data speeds actually faster than Verizon's. Here in Poway, I can consistently get 23MB down with 15MB up. Even in standard 4G non LTE, I see 15MB down and 3MB up. :good:
Scott-
SGBE said:
I am in San Diego and TMO's 4G LTE is great from South to North County. My wife has Verizon and it has better coverage when we go out of town up the Sierras (Yosemite), but in every metropolitan area I have been to TMO has been blazing fast with 4G LTE data speeds actually faster than Verizon's. Here in Poway, I can consistently get 23MB down with 15MB up. Even in standard 4G non LTE, I see 15MB down and 3MB up. :good:
Scott-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome. I work in Poway and live in Mission Valley. Verizon has really been pissing me off with forcing people off of unlimited, increasing the upgrade to 24 months, and delaying updates. I love what T-Mobile is doing. I think I may have to see what the Nexus 5 has to offer and make a switch if it's good enough.
Hey, if you do not talk much, TMO offers a $30/month prepaid plan that offers unlimited data (first 5GB up to 4G LTE), unlimited text, and 100 voice minutes. Even if you go over the 100 minutes, the per minute price is pennies and would not equal a traditional voice plan for approx. 250+ additional minutes. I use this plan and Google voice and Skype since TMO allows WiFi calling too and it's all good, but most of the time I use less than 80 voice minutes per month regardless.
Scott-
SGBE said:
Hey, if you do not talk much, TMO offers a $30/month prepaid plan that offers unlimited data (first 5GB up to 4G LTE), unlimited text, and 100 voice minutes. Even if you go over the 100 minutes, the per minute price is pennies and would not equal a traditional voice plan for approx. 250+ additional minutes. I use this plan and Google voice and Skype since TMO allows WiFi calling too and it's all good, but most of the time I use less than 80 voice minutes per month regardless.
Scott-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. Thanks for the heads up...
Sent from my Moto X