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This morning I got a SMS from AT&T (USA) saying that they have identified my device as a "smartphone" and they will now be charging me $30 per month for data. (I checked and have used about 400MB of data in the last month)
(previously I was on a $10 data unlimited + $5 (forced messaging) plan (EDGE).
When I called to ask, they said that the only way I can use the EDGE data unlimited plan was if I went back to my SE w810 phone. (Note that it has a full browser and IM capability too)
I'm shocked how they can force me to pay more by using their ignorance of data technology (diff between EDGE and 3G) as an excuse.
Some questions for the community:
1) has this happened to you and what did you do ?
2) which are the other providers that provide EDGE? (the ATT rep stated as a matter of fact that t-mo DOES NOT have a EDGE-only plan, but I have read that t-mo does have it)
3) do you think I should return my phone and wait for the ATT version?
4) which 3G band is more common around the world? (UMTS Band 1/4/8 2100/AWS/900 ) or the bands on the upcoming ATT N1 ?
ps: I'm thinking of calling them back and saying that my phone is not a smartphone. (coz its a superphone )
Switch your phone to "use only 2g networks" (under settings>wireless networks) and tell them that they are wrong and your phone is incapable of 3g connectivity. I'm on tmo and I don't think they have a 2g (edge) only plan...
so....
you have a nexus that gets at&t 3g? how is that possible?
britoso said:
This morning I got a SMS from AT&T (USA) saying that they have identified my device as a "smartphone" and they will now be charging me $30 per month for data. (I checked and have used about 400MB of data in the last month)
(previously I was on a $10 data unlimited + $5 (forced messaging) plan (EDGE).
When I called to ask, they said that the only way I can use the EDGE data unlimited plan was if I went back to my SE w810 phone. (Note that it has a full browser and IM capability too)
I'm shocked how they can force me to pay more by using their ignorance of data technology (diff between EDGE and 3G) as an excuse.
Some questions for the community:
1) has this happened to you and what did you do ?
2) which are the other providers that provide EDGE? (the ATT rep stated as a matter of fact that t-mo DOES NOT have a EDGE-only plan, but I have read that t-mo does have it)
3) do you think I should return my phone and wait for the ATT version?
4) which 3G band is more common around the world? (UMTS Band 1/4/8 2100/AWS/900 ) or the bands on the upcoming ATT N1 ?
ps: I'm thinking of calling them back and saying that my phone is not a smartphone. (coz its a superphone )
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They are not "using their ignorance of data technology as an excuse". I am sure that AT&T knows more about the technology behind their service than you or I. They are not using any "excuses" they are going by policy. If you have a smart phone on their network they require you to have a data plan. It is really in your best interest to pay for the unlimited plan. It prevents you from having insanely large bills. And if you can afford to by the Nexus One, you can afford the $30 plan. I had to pay for the data plan when I had my 8525 on AT&T and they didn't even have 3G in my area at the time.
thewayne01 said:
If you have a smart phone on their network they require you to have a data plan.
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You're missing the point. THEY get to decide what is a "smartphone". Even though there are two levels of service (EDGE and 3G), they force you into paying for 3G even if your phone does not support it.
An analogy is a gas station forcing you to fill premium gas even though your car runs fine on regular. The gas station's excuse is that you have a shiny car so as per their policy you can only fill up on premium.
britoso said:
You're missing the point. THEY get to decide what is a "smartphone". Even though there are two levels of service (EDGE and 3G), they force you into paying for 3G even if your phone does not support it.
An analogy is a gas station forcing you to fill premium gas even though your car runs fine on regular. The gas station's excuse is that you have a shiny car so as per their policy you can only fill up on premium.
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LOL at the analogy. How about drop the bucket of loss that is AT&T and go with TMobile????
j2eubank said:
LOL at the analogy. How about drop the bucket of loss that is AT&T and go with TMobile????
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i second this lmao
b1337 said:
you have a nexus that gets at&t 3g? how is that possible?
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this .
Are you on contract? If you are tell them to go eat a ****, or free you from your contract because they are changing the terms on you.
If you're not on contract, then well, it's really up to them to change terms as they see fit, and they get to decide how you use their network.
I'm not in contract, been with them (Cingular) since 2003.
What are my options for voice+EDGE only.
I will surely miss my rollover minutes.
I could be wrong, but I don't think data plans are ever Edge or 3G specific. You are paying for data based on smartphone usage expectations. They think smartphone users will use a larger bandwidth than someone who uses a feature phone regardless of what the phones 3g/edge capabilities are.
If you are interested in checking out tmobile, you would be suited perfectly do to one of their even more plus plans (no contract, no subsidy) which range from $59.99 for 500 min with unlimited data/text (or ~$55 for no text) up to $79.99 for unlimited everything...
Depending on where you live you may only get edge, or GPRS so make sure to check the coverage maps etc...
Edit: IIRC DFW is supposed to well covered by tmo...
rossiscatch said:
You are paying for data based on smartphone usage expectations.
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So browsing on EDGE on my old sony w810i uses less bandwidth than browsing the same websites on my N1 ?
There is NO cap on the EDGE-only "data unlimited" data plan.
In the past they have forced people who used more than 2GB/month to switch. I'm not even close to that number. All they have right now is that i'm on a phone they classify as a "smartphone".
So those rates are for t-mo 3G correct ?
Damn that sucks that they're forcing you to upgrade >.< unfortunately, it's the same with t-mobile so it's up to you if you want to switch carriers
I had the "total internet add-on" data plan with t-mo with my dash, i only got edge on it though since the phone didnt support 3g. When i got my N1 i had 3g working for about 2 weeks just fine but one day it stopped working altogether, so i called them up and they said the same thing, "We have detected that you are using an android smartphone so you'll have to upgrade to the android internet plan"
Now i'm paying $25/month.
That's not too much of a difference than ATT's $30 but if you switch you'll actually be able to use 3g, and t-mobile's pretty cheap too so it shouldnt be too bad for you
britoso said:
So browsing on EDGE on my old sony w810i uses less bandwidth than browsing the same websites on my N1 ?
There is NO cap on the EDGE-only "data unlimited" data plan.
In the past they have forced people who used more than 2GB/month to switch. I'm not even close to that number. All they have right now is that i'm on a phone they classify as a "smartphone".
So those rates are for t-mo 3G correct ?
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Yup, T-mobile is essentially going for an "all or nothing" pricing structure.
Basically three options, X Minutes voice, text, data.
I hope they roll text and voice together soon.
britoso said:
So those rates are for t-mo 3G correct ?
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Yeah, the rates listed are for tmobile 3G (there is no EDGE plan on any carrier as far as I know), and you can take a closer look at tmobile.com. If those prices are good to you you should at least test tmobile out for a couple of weeks... 3G is definitely much more fun on the nexus than edge, and if you are going to be paying $30 a month more on At&t anyway you have nothing to lose. Also, you wouldn't be signing a contract, so you'd be in about the same position as you are now but with 3G capabilites.
With regards to data plans, I am not saying I agree with their logic; In fact, I think they should have 3G and Edge specific data plans. You would think AT&T would also welcome this to alleviate some of the 3G congestion for users who don't demand 3G speeds, or who's phones are not capable. I would even welcome a tiered package, for example, a 1GB hard cap for $10-15 or something.
Anyway, I think (total guess here) that they believe there is more use of push email, etc and apps that constantly update and grab data on phones like the iphone and nexus, so those are the capabilities I am referring to, not simply browsing the web.
There's no reason for them to have edge/3g data plans, that's not what they're charging you for. they charge more for smartphones because they use more bandwidth since they're able to load actual websites and do more than a basic cellphone with mobile web browsing. They may have a poor way of explaining the situation if they're saying it's because you've accessed their 3g networks (which as somebody has already pointed out is impossible with an N1), but it's simply because a smartphone accesses the data network more than a basic cellphone.
Why do you want EDGE only? Thing is the unlimited voice plans on tmobile are so cheap you don't need roll over. I used to be on AT&T as well and always felt more like I was the one doing the rolling over.
j2eubank said:
Why do you want EDGE only? Thing is the unlimited voice plans on tmobile are so cheap you don't need roll over. I used to be on AT&T as well and always felt more like I was the one doing the rolling over.
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I dont need more than EDGE. (gmail, gvoice, IM, occassional web lookup. thats all I use the web on my phone for)
original iphone (2g) users when they acquire a 3g or 3gs iphone receive emails and texts from att letting them know they have a 3g capable device (even if they have 3g disabled on the phone) and need to upgrade their plan to reflect this.
My girlfriend broke her 2g and adopted my iphone 3g when I moved to the n1. About a week after the migration, texts and emails started rolling in from ATT telling her to upgrade to a 3g data plan. I called ATT and they were less than friendly about the entire thing. I explained why she was on a 3g device and that if they checked their records, she was not using it. After a manager began to talk down to me I let them know she was in contract for the services offered for the iphone 2g and if they were adamant about the forced upgrade, they were free to let her out of her contract at not additional cost...so far the emails and texts have stopped. Keep in mind that she has 3g turned off on her phone so it's not like she is attempting to use a service that was not in her original plan.
It seems to me that they do actually offer an edge/2g only data plan if they are this persnickety regarding edge vs. 3g data usage.
...seriously lame if you ask me.
If the rumors about an upcoming AT&T N1 are true, then AT&T is probably gearing up to be able to detect the 3G N1's on their system and force them to upgrade. That would at least make some sense, even though I think they should be gearing more off of amount of data rather than type of data.
So, if they are gearing up for that - perhaps the current N1's are coming up in their system as "rogue 3G smartphones" even though these particular N1's are not accessing their 3G? They probably use IMEI numbers so it would boil down to whether HTC uses separate ranges for the different forms of the N1 or not - or whether they report the ranges with such fine granularity to the carriers.
My take on the "smartphone data" plan distinctions is that they really want to charge more for higher volumes of data, but any plan that includes a limit has such a bad public reaction these days that instead they make all of the plans "unlimited" and bank on how easy it is for the device to use the data to throttle the customers rather than a hard limit. In the end, the result is that they classify your device instead of your usage to appease the other customers and then you may pay in circumstances which seem unfair - all to save the "we don't like limits" crowd from rebelling...
Ok, so here's the deal. US subscribers are in a pickle as far as unlimited data plans are concerned with tethering. Our plans suck (comparatively).
Some of it has to do with wording of contracts by carriers. Some of it has to do with the entitlement we feel when we purchased our respective unlimited data plans. Either way, we all feel hurt by this. As consumers, we want it our way. We want our unlimited data plans to cover our 2GB months to our 200GB months. We don't want to be told about limits on plans labeled and sold as unlimited.
Here's where you come in. How would you change the terms of the agreement as an AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or other carrier's customer if you were in charge? Keep in mind that you may have limited network resources, funds, or staff to carry out the extreme plans. You still need to generate income for your investors. What would you do to make your customers happy as well as the investors? Is it possible? Is there any sort of reform that is possible in our wireless industry?
Ban contracts all-together. The bundling of phones with network vastly distorts both markets; phones are no longer truly competing on price (e.g. apple's strong position with the iPhone allows them to dictate high carrier subsidies, whose costs must be paid off by effectively taxing everyone else on the network) while carriers are instead competing on phones (rather than the quality of their service).
On the other hand, without subsidies (which essentially hide the costs for the average person who doesn't think it through), manufacturers would have to actually worry about choosing a price low enough to be attractive. This is something that is sorely missing under the current regime.
Not to mention, contracts themselves are effectively anti-competitive, locking in users who don't really know how to properly evaluate their choices. The way to ensure the best service for the user is to allow them to quit at a moment's notice.
Now, I notice you might be thinking more specifically about how the service agreements can be modified, rather than the "contracts" per se. Do the above, and this woud automatically happen. The carriers will have to actually compete for better service (rather than just drawing in people with new shiny phones in order to lock them in). If their service is not up to par with their advertisements, people would just quit the next month. Hence, no more random throttling of plans, etc.
thebobp said:
Ban contracts all-together. The bundling of phones with network vastly distorts both markets; phones are no longer truly competing on price (e.g. apple's strong position with the iPhone allows them to dictate high carrier subsidies, whose costs must be paid off by effectively taxing everyone else on the network) while carriers are instead competing on phones (rather than the quality of their service).
On the other hand, without subsidies (which essentially hide the costs for the average person who doesn't think it through), manufacturers would have to actually worry about choosing a price low enough to be attractive. This is something that is sorely missing under the current regime.
Not to mention, contracts themselves are effectively anti-competitive, locking in users who don't really know how to properly evaluate their choices. The way to ensure the best service for the user is to allow them to quit at a moment's notice.
Now, I notice you might be thinking more specifically about how the service agreements can be modified, rather than the "contracts" per se. Do the above, and this woud automatically happen. The carriers will actually have to compete for better service, rather than just ensure that people are locked in longer than they can think about. If their service is not up to par with their advertisements, people would quit the next month. No more throttling plans with nothing the users can say about it.
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I understand your position, but I have doubts that this would be possible to implement in our market. T-Mobile's CMO made a statement about device subsidies contorting what the devices actually cost. T-Mobile actually has a line of Value plans that are kind of on par with what you're thinking about. The rate plans are considerably cheaper than the ones with a device subsidy. The real problem is convincing the other carriers to follow suit.
See, by doing this, it put investors at risk. It's all a money making game. If an idea isn't profitable, then it generally never sees the light of day. What about a sales model similar to what T-Mobile is offering? Could you see a way to make this model profitable to both carriers and consumers alike?
I think it should be handled like the european networks handle their service agreements. You sign up for service when you buy a phone, and you pay full retail price for the phone. Then you pay a relatively lower price for service. Instead of paying say, 59.99 for a phone that retails for 399.99 and then paying 100$ give or take a little each month, you pay full price for the phone, and then get your bill for 50ish a month. Which one sounds better?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
leo321 said:
I think it should be handled like the european networks handle their service agreements. You sign up for service when you buy a phone, and you pay full retail price for the phone. Then you pay a relatively lower price for service. Instead of paying say, 59.99 for a phone that retails for 399.99 and then paying 100$ give or take a little each month, you pay full price for the phone, and then get your bill for 50ish a month. Which one sounds better?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
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I agree that this would benefit us more as consumers, but we would need to come up with a marketable solution to the current situation that would be agreeable to the carriers as well.
cajunflavoredbob said:
If an idea isn't profitable, then it generally never sees the light of day.
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This.
Blaming carrier greed is easy but really doesn't solve anything. Carriers want to make more money and contracts make them more money - I can't fault them for that.
I don't see the US market becoming like Europe's. Although T-Mobile USA is trying to change things, I can think of two things in the way:
-Americans are too stupid to save money~~ Everyone thinks short term savings, hence the persistence of contracts.
-Carrier incompatibility~~ Verizon and Sprint are CDMA. T-Mobile and AT&T run on (mostly) different 3G bands. Buy a phone for full retail and you're probably going to be stuck with one carrier anyway.
luftrofl said:
This.
Blaming carrier greed is easy but really doesn't solve anything. Carriers want to make more money and contracts make them more money - I can't fault them for that.
I don't see the US market becoming like Europe's. Although T-Mobile USA is trying to change things, I can think of two things in the way:
-Americans are too stupid to save money~~ Everyone thinks short term savings, hence the persistence of contracts.
-Carrier incompatibility~~ Verizon and Sprint are CDMA. T-Mobile and AT&T run on (mostly) different 3G bands. Buy a phone for full retail and you're probably going to be stuck with one carrier anyway.
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The incompatibility is changing this year, at least with AT&T and T-Mobile. T-Mobile is currently refarming their spectrum to rollout a network on the 1900MHz PCS spectrum. This will be used for their HSPA/+ network, while the existing 1700MHz network will be used for LTE. This move makes their network inter-operable with AT&T devices.
Other than that, I agree with your points. I don't feel that T-Mobile is going to make contracts as we know them go away. I admire the bold move, but I doubt it will ripple the waters much. That being said, I'm hoping we can come together and brainstorm a bit to think of a way to benefit carriers and customers alike. Our market NEEDS to change.
Pentaband unlocked handsets for everybody! Then you can choose whatever retarded WCDMA bands you like!
A list of things I would do:
1) Bring back the unlimited data plans, but only for LTE. (bandwith limits 3g unlimited plans)
2) Have them start rolling out LTE v10 or LTE advaned right now.
3) Voice over LTE.
4) Unlimited voice and text added to a data plan like this:
Plan1) Unlimited voice and text+2gb of data for $
plan2) Unlimited voice and text+5gb of data for $$
plan3) Unlimited voice and text+10GB of data for $$$
plan4) Unlimited voice and text+Unlimited data for $$$$ (LTE only)
They are just ex and I hope the pricing is better than that, but I am trying to be real here.
And verizon needs to fix this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDxJoGv3FLA&feature=player_embedded
4ktvs said:
A list of things I would do:
1) Bring back the unlimited data plans, but only for LTE. (bandwith limits 3g unlimited plans)
2) Have them start rolling out LTE v10 or LTE advaned right now.
3) Voice over LTE.
4) Unlimited voice and text added to a data plan like this:
Plan1) Unlimited voice and text+2gb of data for $
plan2) Unlimited voice and text+5gb of data for $$
plan3) Unlimited voice and text+10GB of data for $$$
plan4) Unlimited voice and text+Unlimited data for $$$$ (LTE only)
They are just ex and I hope the pricing is better than that, but I am trying to be real here.
And verizon needs to fix this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDxJoGv3FLA&feature=player_embedded
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This isn't really a plan. It's more of a wish list. I was hoping that some of the people around here might actually have better ideas of how to do things than the carriers. This isn't a wish list thread. I intended it more as a brainstorming thread.
Well, before anything I want to happen will even be possible, we'd have to see real net neutrality laws in this country...
I would like to see wireless carriers charge for internet access the same way that most ISPs charge. You pay for speed and have unlimited data. Say I have an LTE device. I can pay $50 for unlimited data at 10 Mbps or $100 for 20 Mbps. This makes much more sense to me.
Also, carriers need to be dump pipes. That's just how it has to be. I know they all fear that and will do everything in their power to stop it but I think it's inevitable.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
cajunflavoredbob said:
This isn't really a plan. It's more of a wish list. I was hoping that some of the people around here might actually have better ideas of how to do things than the carriers. This isn't a wish list thread. I intended it more as a brainstorming thread.
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#2 was more of a wish, but the rest of it is not. Let me try to put it in a better way:
1) give 4G LTE users a higher cap/unlimited data, becuase there is more bandwith. They could charge a bit more for the new Data plans, but over all save $ for the buyers. In turn, this would likely help the push for LTE and kill 2g and 3g sooner, so that the bandwith can be used for 4G.
2) Voice over LTE( 3 will be why)
3) When Voice over LTE is done, then make voice/text/data all one plan, Like:
1) 2GB for $60. ( Voice and text would use data)
2) 5GB for $80.
3) 10GB for $100.
4) 20GB/unlimited for $120.
Any way I am not a CEO and I don't have the # for everything, so this "plan" of mine may not work/be good, but I tryed.
I have both AT&T and verizon unlimited data plans and don't like the low bar they have set of 2-5gb plans, but really most don't use more than about 5GB. Now I bet they would if they used a crap load of voice at 50mb per 60 min. ( If you used 900min per bill then you would use about 750mb or about bit less 1/2 of the 2GB plan and then a few e-mails, some text and bam over the limit.)
Mobile voice is surely not 50Mb for 60 minutes. That'd be close to 128kbps MP3 quality, which our phones certainly are not!
I read that on verizon, that voice would be about 45mb per hour. I don't know all the #, but think it may work. They may up the voice quality to make this work and I think it's one of there goals with voice over LTE.
4ktvs said:
#2 was more of a wish, but the rest of it is not. Let me try to put it in a better way:
1) give 4G LTE users a higher cap/unlimited data, becuase there is more bandwith. They could charge a bit more for the new Data plans, but over all save $ for the buyers. In turn, this would likely help the push for LTE and kill 2g and 3g sooner, so that the bandwith can be used for 4G.
2) Voice over LTE( 3 will be why)
3) When Voice over LTE is done, then make voice/text/data all one plan, Like:
1) 2GB for $60. ( Voice and text would use data)
2) 5GB for $80.
3) 10GB for $100.
4) 20GB/unlimited for $120.
Any way I am not a CEO and I don't have the # for everything, so this "plan" of mine may not work/be good, but I tryed.
I have both AT&T and verizon unlimited data plans and don't like the low bar they have set of 2-5gb plans, but really most don't use more than about 5GB. Now I bet they would if they used a crap load of voice at 50mb per 60 min. ( If you used 900min per bill then you would use about 750mb or about bit less 1/2 of the 2GB plan and then a few e-mails, some text and bam over the limit.)
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That's actually a much better way of saying it. It's not a bad idea. Going all data would seem to be the way to go for the future. That problem is going to be getting carriers to realize this and make adjustments accordingly. They keep saying that they don't have enough bandwidth to service everyone, but this plan makes exclusive use of data. It requires a nationwide "4G" footprint. Verizon is the closest to this right now. T-Mobile is close behind with its HSPA+ rollout. AT&T has a large HSPA+ footprint as well, but it's not any/much faster than their 3G in my testing. We won't even go into Sprint's "4G" services....
I think that Verizon and T-Mobile would be the biggest players in this. T-Mobile currently has the bandwidth and lower customer base to make this a reality. Verizon may still have quite a way to go, though. CDMA technology really needs to hurry up and die already.
In any case, this is any interesting plan, that would indeed be beneficial to both parties. The biggest hurdle is that their are still large parts of the country that do not have high speed wireless access. Within the next three years, I can see this being put into play.
EDIT: Also, GSM networks use the G.729 codec (as far as I recall) for voice calls which compress the call to roughly 6-8Kbps. This makes it about 3.6MB per hour on a normal, non VoIP GSM call. I have no idea what CDMA uses.
4ktvs said:
They are just ex and I hope the pricing is better than that, but I am trying to be real here.
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... you're not trying hard enough
Seriously though, that list is unrealistic. "I want more advanced tech and I want it released and working now." is not a useful answer for "How would you change the wireless market?"
As for me, I want American cell networks to be more compatible with other networks - right now AT&T and T-Mobile are the only carriers with anything close to this. Maybe there's hope for this with LTE developments, but I don't know.
If this happens, maybe cheaper postpaid plans will be available - I really like this - it's why I'm on T-Mobile. I wish AT&T would have discounted plans if you're not on contract - it's not like they need to subsidize a phone.
luftrofl said:
... you're not trying hard enough
Seriously though, that list is unrealistic. "I want more advanced tech and I want it released and working now." is not a useful answer for "How would you change the wireless market?"
As for me, I want American cell networks to be more compatible with other networks - right now AT&T and T-Mobile are the only carriers with anything close to this. Maybe there's hope for this with LTE developments, but I don't know.
If this happens, maybe cheaper postpaid plans will be available - I really like this - it's why I'm on T-Mobile. I wish AT&T would have discounted plans if you're not on contract - it's not like they need to subsidize a phone.
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You're answer is similar to the one you jest about. How would such a move benefit the carriers? If it is not beneficial to them, it will not happen. What would be their motivation to make their networks or devices interoperable? Customer loyalty, or doing it to make customers happy isn't a reason, unfortunately. Generally, there needs to be financial motivation to make changes to the market.
cajunflavoredbob said:
EDIT: Also, GSM networks use the G.729 codec (as far as I recall) for voice calls which compress the call to roughly 6-8Kbps. This makes it about 3.6MB per hour on a normal, non VoIP GSM call. I have no idea what CDMA uses.
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Thank you, I couldn't remember the exact bitrate but I knew it was really very low.
Adaptive Multi-Rate Speech (AMR) is the codec used by WCDMA voice and it tops out at 12kbps.
Now I know were I got 45mb/hour. I read it in the mobile broadband part of a verizon mag.
It list Voice call(VoIP) as 45MB/hour over 4G LTE.
I currently use T-Mobile's $30/month prepaid plan, but coverage in my area is pretty horrible, along with only getting EDGE speeds. AT&T on the other hand is pretty good in my area.
Ideally, I would like to keep T-Mobile, but I really don't like the coverage in my area (but it is bearable). I'd like to try out AT&T, but only if I could get it for a "cheap" price (being somewhere near T-Mobile's price).
Unlimited data would be ideal. Don't need voice "too" much. Unlimited texting would be nice, but not needed either.
espionage724 said:
I currently use T-Mobile's $30/month prepaid plan, but coverage in my area is pretty horrible, along with only getting EDGE speeds. AT&T on the other hand is pretty good in my area.
Ideally, I would like to keep T-Mobile, but I really don't like the coverage in my area (but it is bearable). I'd like to try out AT&T, but only if I could get it for a "cheap" price (being somewhere near T-Mobile's price).
Unlimited data would be ideal. Don't need voice "too" much. Unlimited texting would be nice, but not needed either.
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There's nothing comparable to the $30 plan at that price point. Especially not with anything near unlimited data.
espionage724 said:
I currently use T-Mobile's $30/month prepaid plan, but coverage in my area is pretty horrible, along with only getting EDGE speeds. AT&T on the other hand is pretty good in my area.
Ideally, I would like to keep T-Mobile, but I really don't like the coverage in my area (but it is bearable). I'd like to try out AT&T, but only if I could get it for a "cheap" price (being somewhere near T-Mobile's price).
Unlimited data would be ideal. Don't need voice "too" much. Unlimited texting would be nice, but not needed either.
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Here is a link to their plans. http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/prepaidplans.html
The $60 month is unlimited talk and text with 2gb of data and $10 for additional 1gb's of data.
I switched from t-mobile as well due to "EDGE" everywhere and not connecting to data.
I could'nt be happier on ATT, my nexus is "H" everywhere with full signal everywhere.
Don't let the data deter you, you will find that 2gb is enough after awhile, and you only pay $10 for each 1gb when you need it each month, they'll send you a text if you a nearing your limit to buy more.
I love it. Getting started is a little pricey and don't let them talk you into a contract, the store workers are morons and don't know anything. They will also probably try to give you hassle about your phone, just tell them it's unlocked, and then you need the right apn setting, there is another thread on that to get faster data speeds.
Also, they will be puzzled when they first insert the sim card into your phone saying it doesn't work. They just need to wait about 30mins, then it will work. If you need to, just get the sim card and leave the store either way leave with the sim card even if they tell you it won't work. We will get you going.
It cost me about $90 the first month, you have to buy the sim card. Then $63 with tax each month after.
The subject kinda says it all. I'm one of the lucky ones that got grandfathered in on big red's unlimited data plan.
My wife has been on at&t and she's tired of it. Her phone (Atrix 4G) is falling apart and she isn't thrilled with the phone offerings from at&t.
She loves the Razr M so I've been looking to get her added to my account. It would also save us about $30 per month for her not to be on at&t separately.
A few months ago it was still possible to add an individual line to an existing account, without affecting the primary account.
Now they force me to convert my primary line over to a share-all-your-money plan, which will mean I lose my unlimited data.
The thing is, I use, on average, about 2.5G of data. I'm not a heavy user and I know that. My wife isn't either so we could make due with 4GB.
So, I need some thoughts.
1) Keep my unlimited and sign my wife up for her own individual big red plan? (no savings per month, but happy wife)
2) Convert over to a shared data plan, and add line for wife. ($30/mo savings)
So, it comes down to this: is having unlimited data you don't really use worth the $30 in added cost?
One side of my brain says no, the other says yes.
I have been battling that same question. My answer was keep my unlimited data as long as I can. Why? With more and more things going towards the cloud my data usage is sure to go up in the future. So I'm thinking for then and not now. I don't think Verizon is doing this because the masses asked to share data as they would have us believe. Verizon seen data usage dramatically increasing in the future as well and is trying to get us to switch now when our usage is low. Now is when they can convince us we don't use much data.
Sent from my XT926
I was grand-fathered into unlimited data for a while, but then I started tracking my actual data usage and it was only about 1.5-2.0GB per month so I just switched over. The only time now where I would maybe want it back, is if I was using 4G has my home Internet connection and just using my phone as a mobile hotspot. I don't feel that would be reliable enough so I'm fine with it.
I have a feeling sooner or later Verizon will come up with some way to get those who are still on unlimited data and won't sign a new contract.
I would just get her a verizon pay as you go plan. Decent phones. Give your wife your phone and then make twelve monthly payments on yours?
I am almost certain if you keep calling back eventually you'll get someone to transfer you that can help. You can probably find a rep to finagle 29.99 4GB...
Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD
THe only reason to a share plan is to get subsidized phone.
I have resigned myself to keep unlimited until they kick me off. I'll buy my phone retail if I have to.
If they kick me off I'll switch to Sprint.
Keep unlimited at all costs.
We use a combined 11-13GB on three lines.
I kind of split the difference. I stayed on the old voice plan but was able to get a subsidized phone upgrade by losing my unlimited data. I instead got a 5GB data plan and dropped unlimited texting and switched completely over the Google Voice (which I had been meaning to do). So I pay the same as a 2GB share everything plan but with 400 minutes of voice (not a problem for me) and 5 GB of data... I only ever use up till 3 GB so I have been considering lowering to 3 or 4GB and just paying the $10/GB overage on months that I go over.
So there is some room for negotiations when you talk to the tele sales folks. That's good to know!
-- Android: It's a UNIX thing. You wouldn't understand.
Keep it no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT. Even if you don't use the unlimited, you could sell it to a friend (someone trustworthy) who has a crappy home internet connection, and turn a hefty profit. Just give them the activated SIM card and they can put it in a mobile hotspot and easily beat ADSL speeds for less money and better reliability.
Seriously, you guys are making a huge mistake by giving up one of the last reasonable cellular data plans in North America; nay, the entire world.
Don't do it. Keep your unlimited. Set up a new account for a new phone if you have to. Pay retail on new phones if you have to. Sell your activated SIM to someone you trust who'll use the data for a huge profit. Do anything EXCEPT willingly give in to The Man and the fascist data plan, oops I mean the shared data plan.
Sent from my Motorola RAZR Maxx HD with Tapatalk 4
I wish I never got rid of mine. I switched to the 2gb plan when they first offered it to save money because I used about a gig a month. Now I have the 15gb plan.. Damnit
Sent from my PACMAN MATRIX HD MAXX
Howard forums has people wanting to do assumption of liabilities. Now I've never heard of someone selling their unlimited plan but that's only because most people that go the aol route are in contract, need out, and find people that really need unlimited.
I would not be advising someone to use the sim solely for home Internet. Yes it's unlimited but some use hundreds of gigs of data. This isn't good for others. You could also get caught.
The only reason I'm keeping my unlimited plan is because we have 2 smartphones and 3 feature phones. Always transfer upgrades to the feature phones and transfer new phone back. Why waste upgrade when feature phones are super cheap retail?
Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD
jfriend33 said:
I would not be advising someone to use the sim solely for home Internet. Yes it's unlimited but some use hundreds of gigs of data. This isn't good for others. You could also get caught.
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Few things:
1. You can consistently use between 50 and 75 GB per month and not get in trouble. Believe it or not there are people who use more than that and haven't been threatened with disconnection. But yes, if you download at 100% line capacity 24/7 you will get disconnected. Even 50 GB can be downloaded in an extremely short time (about 1 to 2 days depending on your LTE signal), leaving a lot of room for other users on the network.
2. Verizon is contractually prohibited by the FCC, which allows them to operate the licensed 700 MHz spectrum, from discriminating against a user because of that user's choice of device, which means you can either tether a smartphone or use a mobile hotspot, or even a USB modem, and they can't do anything against you based solely on your choice of device or they risk losing their operating license.
3. All of Verizon's towers will throttle your LTE speed down to a lower level (faster than 3G, but way slower than your LTE is capable of) if they identify you as a heavy data user AND the tower is 100% utilized. So they minimize data hogs' impact on other users by slowing them down when the tower is busy. Light or Occasional data users will be able to use the tower at full LTE speeds. When the tower isn't busy, well, why do you care if unlimited users are just using up spare capacity? That doesn't hurt anyone at all, and doesn't cost Verizon a penny, since all their back haul and peering is unmetered, so if they aren't 100% utilizing it they are actually paying for capacity that isn't being used, which is a waste.
I'm lucky that the tower closest to me at home is ALWAYS extremely under-utilized. I get fantastic speeds and no throttling, ever, at home. In the city I have seen close to 3G speeds on the LTE network due to saturation, which I am fine with. I still benefit from LTE's improved reliability and ping compared to 3G, so even if it's not 20 Mbps, I'm happy to have what I'm allowed. Verizon keeps me on a pretty long leash.
And no, I don't make the network worse for everyone else by using 70GB on an underutilized tower. 70GB over a month is not even a drop in a bucket to Verizon's back end infrastructure. I know some FiOS users who run multiple terabytes per month.
Sent from my Motorola RAZR Maxx HD with Tapatalk 4
I love my unlimited data and I'm definitely gonna keep it. If i like a new phone that comes out, ill just pay full price for it. I canceled my internet and cable at home because I have access to both thru my phone. I average around 150gigs a month and haven't seen a decrease in speed.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
I seem to have struck a nerve with someone and that was not my intention. You are probably used to having countless people advocating for verizon and following their rules. I am not one of them.
I was not aware that such policies were in place to protect the consumers. This is good to hear. I was under the impression that 4G devices weren't throttled (for the most part), even when on 3g and that only 3g devices were being throttled after heavy use. Verizon has obviously updated their guidelines so I need to read up on it.
I could not limit my home internet consumption to only 50 gigs. What is an average use anyway? I'm generally under 200 gigs. I am in areas where 4G is new and isn't that fast (under 10mbps, 3g tops off at 0.75) or in a big city where it's over utilized. I pay $20 a month for 50 mbps cable internet and that is a luxury many do not have.
Let's face it. We are lucky to have this unlimited plan. There are no guarantees on how much longer it will last. Just keep it, please?
Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD
I switched from Sprint Unlimited to Verizon "share-all-of-your-money" (that's about right) plan. I had a real hard time letting go, but my wife and I have been on for 2 months now and it hasn't been a problem. We went with 4GB, and I initially thought it would be a problem, but we haven't even come close to 2GB yet. I mitigate that a lot by using WiFi as much as possible. Especially when I'm home, but also at work. I've also become a lot less bashful about asking for their WiFi password. What's the worst that could happen? They just say no. Many of them don't care though and don't give it a second thought. I also make the conscious decision to wait until I'm home to watch that YouTube video or what have you everyone one is clamoring about. I also used to tether my laptop to my phone and used that as my primary internet connection. Haven't needed to do that, so data consumption has gotten a lot less.
I haven't found it that difficult to live with a 4GB cap.
tech_head said:
THe only reason to a share plan is to get subsidized phone.
I have resigned myself to keep unlimited until they kick me off. I'll buy my phone retail if I have to.
If they kick me off I'll switch to Sprint.
Keep unlimited at all costs.
We use a combined 11-13GB on three lines.
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And what happens when Sprint cuts off unlimited? I agree with the idea of voting with your wallet but in this case, I feel there needs to be an exception. Given the financial standing of Sprint atm, I can't see why any one would risk jumping to them. Plus if enough people follow suit like you, it is bound to bog down Sprint's network until they start to cap data plans to.
Xplorer4x4 said:
And what happens when Sprint cuts off unlimited? I agree with the idea of voting with your wallet but in this case, I feel there needs to be an exception. Given the financial standing of Sprint atm, I can't see why any one would risk jumping to them. Plus if enough people follow suit like you, it is bound to bog down Sprint's network until they start to cap data plans to.
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They claim "unlimited forever".
What financial standing, they just got bought by SoftBank Mobile (Japanese).
They are building out their network and adding more LTE from their old iDEN spectrum, that and they bought Clearwire.
When Verizon makes me move from unlimited, I'll be jumping to Sprint.
tech_head said:
They claim "unlimited forever".
What financial standing, they just got bought by SoftBank Mobile (Japanese).
They are building out their network and adding more LTE from their old iDEN spectrum, that and they bought Clearwire.
When Verizon makes me move from unlimited, I'll be jumping to Sprint.
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There is an old saying. Talk is cheap. I seriously doubt they will retain unlimited forever. I would ask for a contract and read that thing over and over and over again as I would not be surprised to see some sort of clause in there that they have the right to terminate the unlimited data at any time because they get greedy like ATT and VZW.
Finance wise, you're right. I forgot about the buy outs. They are in a much better position financially and network wise, but they are still in the early roll out stages making it to early to judge just how well the network upgrade will be in the end. I also haven't heard how involved SoftBank has been so far. Have they only put up the money while still letting the former Sprint execs run the company for the most part?
My wife and I both gave up our unlimited data. She gave up hers to upgrade and I just gave mine up to save money. We have 3 smart phones sharing 4GB. I was using more than 10GB every month myself on unlimited. But a little prudence and control and we have no problem. In fact our month is over next week and we haven't even used 2GB between three phones.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2
I'd say to just do the math of what saves you more of the course of 2 yrs. If its cheaper in the long run by a significant amount to switch to the new plan and get a subsidized phone, and you can't foresee needing unlimited data, it just makes sense to switch. I personally am planning on keeping my unlimited plan while buying phones at full price due to highly fluctuating data usage.
Xplorer4x4 said:
There is an old saying. Talk is cheap. I seriously doubt they will retain unlimited forever. I would ask for a contract and read that thing over and over and over again as I would not be surprised to see some sort of clause in there that they have the right to terminate the unlimited data at any time because they get greedy like ATT and VZW.
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Oh, they've already added that to the contract, effective July 1st. If you no longer qualify for a plan or they no longer support a plan, they can switch you to a new one. (Paraphrased, but close to a direct quote)
So glad I jumped ship from Sprint in May.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
After doing extensive research and comparison....I don' t see how Project Fi is a better deal price wise.
I have not tried Google Fi....I just ordered a Pixel XL....but unless their plan prices lower to be more competitive....no thanks.
In-fact, I find Republic Wireless or MetroPCS to be a better deal if you are looking for a cheap NVMO.
I was gonna switch to a cheaper carrier, but then Tmobile is now offering 10gb pre-pay plan for $50. (vs the $40 3gb plan I was on).
Since I am directly with the network carrier, and not a NVMO like Fi, faster speeds and higher priority.
( Tested out Republic Wireless and MetroPCS in my area to compare, both are Tmobile NVMO's....and download speed is capped at around 25megs. On my Tmobile prepay sim, I get full speeds of 100+megs.) (ATT/Sprint NVMOS are capped at 8megs)
If Fi lowered their base plan to $10 or made it $5 per GB...then it would be far more competitive. Sure, they do the refund thing, but 10gb base would be $120 on Fi....i would have to only use up to 3GB on Fi to get a refund to make it $50 to match Tmobile 10gb price.
The only real advantage i can see with Fi is for low data users and those who needs the carrier switching ability in there area. Tmobile is far better in my area...and the 3rd carrier Fi uses isnt even anywhere near me. So, travel wise, I suppose Fi would also be a low cost option to VZW(which seems to be the most preferred for travel)
The only reason I'm on Fi is because data for tablets, etc. is free.
Well, it gets rolled into your plan's existing data usage.
But they don't charge you like $10/month for having a tablet or something.
Between that and the fact that I'm locked in, I'd already be back with AT&T which has the best overall coverage here in Texas.
Fi is good. But it's not GREAT.
Fi user here.
When Fi first came out it was a lot more competitive. Now that the other major carriers are offering unlimited data, unlimited streaming, etc. for ~$50-60 a month, it's hard to make an argument for Project Fi. I don't use a whole lot of data while on the go; I average about 2 GB a month, so Fi makes sense for me (a $45 phone bill is awesome) but this is not the case with most others. I also like the networking switching because T-Mobile is a bit weak where I work, while Sprint is somehow very strong (Sprint sucks pretty much every where else in my area). The data only SIMs are cool, the idea is cool, the speed is great, WiFi calling is stellar, network switching is neat and works relatively well, and if you don't use a whole lot of data, you can save a lot of money on your phone bill every month. If you're a person who likes to stream video and snapchat every aspect of their life while on the go, I'd say look elsewhere lol.
I used to be a T-Mobile customer. I switched to Project Fi when I got a Nexus 5X. My phone bill was substantially lower. Things have changed, however, and pricing among competitors has gotten a lot more... competitive. I find myself considering going back to T-Mobile from time to time, but it's not worth the hassle. Perhaps when I move to a new area / get a new job.
The main reason I'm still on Fi is because I travel overseas yearly and international data is considered part of your normal data pool. I came from T-Mobile who I wouldn't mind going back to if it wasn't for a bad experience with John Legere. Only other carrier I've considered is Verizon who have a terrible international data plan so thats not going to happen anytime soon.
FI User since i got my Pixel XL in 2016
Silenthillnight said:
The main reason I'm still on Fi is because I travel overseas yearly and international data is considered part of your normal data pool. I came from T-Mobile who I wouldn't mind going back to if it wasn't for a bad experience with John Legere. Only other carrier I've considered is Verizon who have a terrible international data plan so thats not going to happen anytime soon.
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I agree.
No Roaming.
Variety in carrier when traveling is a huge plus.
Low fees.
Hangouts works really well for ProjectFI users, still texting and making calls.
Even when i do have a month where i use 10gb it is still cheaper than the group plan i was supporting with ATT before.
And the peak is only that month.
Otherwise I am in the 65-95 per month range. Which was still half of my monthly with ATT.
If Verizon would take corporate discounts on the Unlimited plan I would switch but they dont so i wont.
I have been with Fi since the beginning. I travel quite a bit and has come in handy out of the US.
I was with AT&T before and they had great service everywhere I went here in the states. That said with my 2 phones I was spending 150ish a month for service.
With Project Fi my bills are around 70 a month. Very worth it for me.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
If you don't like the idea of Fi, you're wanting to use it for the way wrong reasons. Fi isn't for people who want cheap data. It's for people who want reliable service and not having to worry too much about dropped calls and just want to have phone service. Yes you can get cheap plans from other carriers but you're stuck to their towers and where they have service. With Fi you have 4 options. T, S, US and WiFi.
Fi for the win! ??
Jammol said:
If you don't like the idea of Fi, you're wanting to use it for the way wrong reasons. Fi isn't for people who want cheap data. It's for people who want reliable service and not having to worry too much about dropped calls and just want to have phone service. Yes you can get cheap plans from other carriers but you're stuck to their towers and where they have service. With Fi you have 4 options. T, S, US and WiFi.
Fi for the win! ??
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I agree I came from at&t and never looking back, I love that fi has around the clock live customer service
In my country, unlimited LTE data is only about 25USD. and I'm not a frequent flyer.
so it's really too expensive for me.
but if it can lower it's base price, I'm willing to try it.
sakumaxp said:
I agree I came from at&t and never looking back, I love that fi has around the clock live customer service
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We were trying to same some money when we switched from T-Mobile so Fi works great for my wife and I. We are thinking of Xfinity Mobile but they are stuck on Verizon. Plus they got that whole net neutrality thing going on. The deal is attractive as fudge though. If you're an Xfinity customer that has home internet, you'll only have to pay for the data you use. So for my wife and I, or Mobile bill will be $24 total. But... Verizon! ?
stone0504 said:
In my country, unlimited LTE data is only about 25USD. and I'm not a frequent flyer.
so it's really too expensive for me.
but if it can lower it's base price, I'm willing to try it.
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Click to collapse
If you need unlimited data I suggest sticking to your current service. I used to be one of those people that T-Mobile would cut off completely each month. Yeah, 200+GB most months. One month we are on Project Fi, and boy that was a total slap in my internet habits face. Turns out though, I actually only need to use 600mb of data a month because I'm always on WiFi at work, lol.
Still...Fi is a NVMO...so its gonna have multiple backend phone numbers (1 on each network) so more spam calls. (this is an issue with several people I know that use NVMOs)
.and the phone always searching and comparing multiple networks, so that would cause a bit more battery drain as the radios are more active than just locked to one band.
They need to catch up to the modern day times tough in price...to stay competitive. I read they are gonna offer a mid range price device compatible with Fi...so..they are doing...something.
speedingcheetah said:
Still...Fi is a NVMO...so its gonna have multiple backend phone numbers (1 on each network) so more spam calls. (this is an issue with several people I know that use NVMOs)
.and the phone always searching and comparing multiple networks, so that would cause a bit more battery drain as the radios are more active than just locked to one band.
They need to catch up to the modern day times tough in price...to stay competitive. I read they are gonna offer a mid range price device compatible with Fi...so..they are doing...something.
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Click to collapse
Yeah but my Pixel tells me when its a spam caller so its no big deal. Same amount as when i was on ATT really.
You can also anchor it on one carrier or another so it isnt switching constantly which is what I do only because of preference for Tmob coverage over Sprint in my area.
parakleet said:
Yeah but my Pixel tells me when its a spam caller so its no big deal. Same amount as when i was on ATT really.
You can also anchor it on one carrier or another so it isnt switching constantly which is what I do only because of preference for Tmob coverage over Sprint in my area.
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Click to collapse
How do u set it to use only one carrier?
As someone that has looked at most MVNOs, I'd say some possible selling points of FI might be for someone that:
1) Uses enough talk and text to justify unlimited talk and text, since some users don't actually need unlimited
2) Wants to limit their phone bill by not using a lot of data, since limiting data usage generally results in a lower bill at FI
3) Wants better coverage than just Sprint or T-Mobile native service, since there are probably cheaper options with Sprint or T-Mobile MVNOs that lack roaming
With that sort of criteria, the main competitors are probably going to be Verizon or AT&T MVNOs, although there may be a few other options like Twigby (Sprint MVNO with voice roaming). $20 is about where Verizon and AT&T MVNOs start with unlimited talk and text, and customers might get a bit of data. For example Boom Mobile begins at $20 for Verizon service and includes 250 MB with the option to add data that lasts 90 days. Like any service provider that only offers one plan, FI probably just doesn't fit your interests, since either #2 & #3 don't seem to be major considerations in your comments. It doesn't fit my usage either, simply because I don't use enough voice service that I need to pay $20 each and every month (#1).
Note: Currently there's probably no actual reason to use Twigby, since Sprint postpaid is offering a year of service for nearly free. The Pixel is one of the phones in the offer, so many users here could probably port to Sprint postpaid for nearly free service. Personally my main reason for passing on the free unlimited service from Sprint offer is that their limits for data roaming are rather low, and Verizon or AT&T have far more data coverage.
alluringreality said:
As someone that has looked at most MVNOs, I'd say some possible selling points of FI might be for someone that:
1) Uses enough talk and text to justify unlimited talk and text, since some users don't actually need unlimited
2) Wants to limit their phone bill by not using a lot of data, since limiting data usage generally results in a lower bill at FI
3) Wants better coverage than just Sprint or T-Mobile native service, since there are probably cheaper options with Sprint or T-Mobile MVNOs that lack roaming
With that sort of criteria, the main competitors are probably going to be Verizon or AT&T MVNOs, although there may be a few other options like Twigby (Sprint MVNO with voice roaming). $20 is about where Verizon and AT&T MVNOs start with unlimited talk and text, and customers might get a bit of data. For example Boom Mobile begins at $20 for Verizon service and includes 250 MB with the option to add data that lasts 90 days. Like any service provider that only offers one plan, FI probably just doesn't fit your interests, since either #2 & #3 don't seem to be major considerations in your comments. It doesn't fit my usage either, simply because I don't use enough voice service that I need to pay $20 each and every month (#1).
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My mother uses Republic Wireless $10 unlimted talk/txt plan. No data. Great for her. U can get some data for $5 more. (discontinued 2.0 refund plans though)
Fi $20 off code: NV503E Now should be worth it
kolyan said:
Fi $20 off code: NV503E Now should be worth it
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lol...not like a quick Google search wont find more than 100 Fi referral codes.
A one time $20 credit....
I would like to know how much the "real cost" is of Fi....that is...how much they charge for taxes and fees etc.
On my Tmobile Prepay...only thing is state sales tax...so $40 plan is $43.91
Duplicate post...wtf?
speedingcheetah said:
How do u set it to use only one carrier?
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FiSwitch
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cheekydevs.fiswitch&hl=en
Root makes it easier but is not required.