What Note 3 should I go for? - Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I'm currently with Verizon but my contract doesn't end until another year and I'm not eligible for an upgrade either, although I'm not so sure if I want to sign another 2 year contract. I want to buy the Note 3 but I'll have to pay full price and I'm not sure if I should go for the Verizon version or the International one since I'm already going to be paying full price... What do you guys suggest? Thanks.

What is coverage like in your area for AT&T and T-Mobile? Try OpenSignal's app to see coverage maps from all the providers and see if a GSM device would be right for you. An unlocked GSM phone will work on either AT&T or T-Mobile. I bought my original Note on an AT&T contract and paid ETF earlier this year, unlocked it, and went to a T-Mobile prepaid plan. It is working out great for me, $30 for 5GB data is awesome but I'm in Kansas City area which is one of T-Mo's LTE areas. Problem is that prepaid plans don't count as acceptable service for discounts on T-Mo devices apparently. I want to get the Note 3 but they said it would be $740 instead of $700 due to having prepaid vs. postpaid. I'm still probably going to buy it after AOSP based ROMs start showing up. Loved the hardware when I played around with the demo unit but the software was just messy...never been a fan of Touchwiz, it lasted all of a week on my Note 1 before CM took its place.

CalcProgrammer1 said:
What is coverage like in your area for AT&T and T-Mobile? Try OpenSignal's app to see coverage maps from all the providers and see if a GSM device would be right for you. An unlocked GSM phone will work on either AT&T or T-Mobile. I bought my original Note on an AT&T contract and paid ETF earlier this year, unlocked it, and went to a T-Mobile prepaid plan. It is working out great for me, $30 for 5GB data is awesome but I'm in Kansas City area which is one of T-Mo's LTE areas. Problem is that prepaid plans don't count as acceptable service for discounts on T-Mo devices apparently. I want to get the Note 3 but they said it would be $740 instead of $700 due to having prepaid vs. postpaid. I'm still probably going to buy it after AOSP based ROMs start showing up. Loved the hardware when I played around with the demo unit but the software was just messy...never been a fan of Touchwiz, it lasted all of a week on my Note 1 before CM took its place.
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Verizon has the best coverage in my area and also the best speeds. I had Sprint before and it was horrible. I also had AT&T before they went LTE but my brother has it and I always get better signal than him or faster speeds. T-Mobile should be below AT&T if i'm not mistaken but I should check their coverage like you said. So International phones are only GSM? The International Note 3 wouldn't work on Verizon?

Yeah, International are GSM phones, Sprint and Verizon aren't compatible I don't think (unless LTE changed this).

Related

TMo 3G vs. Att 3G

Do you guys know how is TMo 3g compared to Att (I live in NYC). I've always been only with Att (currently Fuze) but want HD2. I would need to pay ~$100 to terminate my contract but not sure if it worth switching to TMo just because the phone is great. Anyone has recently switched?
My 2 cents...
I had a TMO account (US-Chicago area) up until last week. I was holding on to it ONLY to get the HD2 US TMO model. Once I found out that the Telstra model worked on ATT and I confirmed it--I dropped my TMO acct. TMO 3G wasn't great, and it wasn't as fast as ATT where I live. I couldn't even make phone calls or data connections from within my house with TMO...but that's just ME.
I never used ATT, but I use T-Mobile and I have full bars in Manhattan on my HTC Dream.
My friend did switch from ATT to T-Mobile. I haven't heard anything about signal differences. The monthly fees should be cheaper on T-Mobile for similiar services.
technillion said:
I had a TMO account (US-Chicago area) up until last week. I was holding on to it ONLY to get the HD2 US TMO model. Once I found out that the Telstra model worked on ATT and I confirmed it--I dropped my TMO acct. TMO 3G wasn't great, and it wasn't as fast as ATT where I live. I couldn't even make phone calls or data connections from within my house with TMO...but that's just ME.
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I was going to do the same. However, $449 on TMo without contract vs. ~1000 from Testra is a big difference for me. Thanks for your input.
The main differences to keep in mind for anyone living in the major metropolitan areas (New York, Chicago, Philly, etc...) is that sometime in 2010 Tmobile will have HSPA+ in those places where it used to be just normal 3G.
You can't compare At&t's 3G to those speeds by any means.
Heres a Tmobile test review if you haven't seen it yet:
http://jkontherun.com/2009/12/08/t-mobile-21-mbps-hspa-network-hands-on/
This launch will hopefully be completed by the end of 2010 in all major areas where Tmobile currently has 3G.
Here is how long At&t customers are said to wait:
http://www.betanews.com/article/ATT...ade-does-not-promise-faster-speeds/1262734305
Just think about this when choosing a carrier
Another note to keep in mind is Price per month.
With At&t the lowest you can have a plan with all needed services for the HD2 (pulled from their site for the tilt2)
would be: 450 minutes and Unlimited Messaging, Data, Tethering (only 5gb's a month) which is $99 a month
With Tmobile the lowest you can have a plan with all needed services depends on whether its contract or no contract.
Contract plan cost = 500 minutes and Unlimited Data, Messaging, Tethering (10 gb of tethering with no possible overage charges) which is $80 a month
Non Contract plan = All the same as the above except only $59.99 a month.

T-Mobile or ATT?

Hey guys
I bought my nexus one the week it came out and have been putting up with edge for a while. I have wifi at home and work so I haven't had to suffer too much.
I have had ATT for 5-6 years and have been off contract for a while.
I looked at T-Mobile's pricing for their Even More+ no contract plans and I am paying about the same amount per month as the 500min+text+web plan.
I know reception will vary by area but I live and typically stay in the Pittsburgh area.
My current choices are:
1. Keep my nexus and stay on ATT (not likely)
2. Keep my nexus and switch to T-Mobile
3. Sell my Nexus and buy the ATT compatible version and stick with ATT (seems like too much work and will likely cost me more)
What would you guys recommend?
Thanks for the help!!
TMO is awful in my area so when I was deciding the same, I went with selling my launch nexus one and buying the ATT compat. version. I have been quite pleased with my speeds (2.xMbps down / 1.x Mbps up) on average.
You can sell your phone on ebay for about 500 (that's what mine went for) and in the end, a new one will run you about 30 dollars.
it depends on where you live. If you live in a major area like NYC where tmobile has good 3G coverage then get tmobile, it will be cheaper and tmobile doesnt screw you over in ways that att does.
Just do what's best in your situation. I was a long time AT&T sub as well. I moved to T-Mobile because I like the Even More Plus plan, fits my usage on my phone as well as my budget. Plus it's easier to turn in my phone bill on my expense report at work.
degs said:
Hey guys
I bought my nexus one the week it came out and have been putting up with edge for a while. I have wifi at home and work so I haven't had to suffer too much.
I have had ATT for 5-6 years and have been off contract for a while.
I looked at T-Mobile's pricing for their Even More+ no contract plans and I am paying about the same amount per month as the 500min+text+web plan.
I know reception will vary by area but I live and typically stay in the Pittsburgh area.
My current choices are:
1. Keep my nexus and stay on ATT (not likely)
2. Keep my nexus and switch to T-Mobile
3. Sell my Nexus and buy the ATT compatible version and stick with ATT (seems like too much work and will likely cost me more)
What would you guys recommend?
Thanks for the help!!
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Sign up for tmobile and evaluate their reception in your area, you have 14 days if you don't like it before commiting.
I looked at T-Mobile's pricing for their Even More+ no contract plans and I am paying about the same amount per month as the 500min+text+web plan.
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Don't forget to factor that if you stay with AT&T you will pay $30/mo for smartphone data, not $15 for medianet. AT&T will auto upgrade you to the smartphone data if you're currently on medianet.
T-Mobile is definitely way cheaper overall, you can even get 500 mins + unlimited text for $39, then get the web2go plan (using the internet2.voicestream.com APN on your phone, instead of epc.tmobile.com) for $10. Total will be $49 which is a great deal - AT&T can't beat that.
At the same time although its cheaper with T-mobile....The signal in most cities switches between edge and 3g alot of the time....And alot of buildings you will go straight to edge. And edge for me dosent even work! So although i have T-mobile if sprint wasnt coming i would go with AT&T. "Personal experience/advice"
dallastx said:
At the same time although its cheaper with T-mobile....The signal in most cities switches between edge and 3g alot of the time....And alot of buildings you will go straight to edge. And edge for me dosent even work! So although i have T-mobile if sprint wasnt coming i would go with AT&T. "Personal experience/advice"
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True, in some buildings you will have to deal with EDGE (but of course, you may also have wifi in the building to make up for that)...
But in and around NYC, you're pretty much guaranteed to have 3G, and it works quite well.
gsvnet said:
Don't forget to factor that if you stay with AT&T you will pay $30/mo for smartphone data, not $15 for medianet. AT&T will auto upgrade you to the smartphone data if you're currently on medianet.
T-Mobile is definitely way cheaper overall, you can even get 500 mins + unlimited text for $39, then get the web2go plan (using the internet2.voicestream.com APN on your phone, instead of epc.tmobile.com) for $10. Total will be $49 which is a great deal - AT&T can't beat that.
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Well I currently pay 19.99 a month for internet with ATT. I have the OLD "smartphone" that I picked up when I got my 8525. I had that for almost 3 years and then just finished up a year with an E71(not X) and never had a problem.
What's this web2go you speak of?(I'll go search the forums as well)
I'll also have to find out if I can get a student discount with T-Mo like I do with ATT.
Thanks for all the help so far! Hopefully I don't come across as stupid or anything. I own a small deli/restaurant and work about 12 hours a day. My father has been in the hospital for a while and I am also taking care of the rest of my family so my time has become extremely limited.
Obviously I've been trying to find ways to reduce costs. 49 a month would be amazing
I've had both and prefer T-Mobile.. they have far better customer service, and their coverage here in north San Diego is far superior.. I get HSDPA speeds everywhere I go with T-Mobile and no more dropped calls.
Personally, I'd go for T-Mobile if I were you. You guys already have access to the 3MBit 3G service over there.
muncheese said:
Sign up for tmobile and evaluate their reception in your area, you have 14 days if you don't like it before commiting.
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If he's signing up for an Even More Plus plan then he has as long as he wants to cancel - there is no contract. Since he already has the N1 this would be the best type of plan to get.
Well I think that I will try to swing by a T-Mobile store tomorrow if I have time.
I'll get a SIM card and an Even More Plus plan. 500min+Text and web2go.
Has anyone had any problems using web2go with the nexus?
I'll try to see if I can get the activation fee waived and also add a student discount.
Anyone have any experience with porting a number later on? I'd like to try it for a week or so before porting my ATT number over and cutting that account(if I'm happy)
degs said:
Well I think that I will try to swing by a T-Mobile store tomorrow if I have time.
I'll get a SIM card and an Even More Plus plan. 500min+Text and web2go.
Has anyone had any problems using web2go with the nexus?
I'll try to see if I can get the activation fee waived and also add a student discount.
Anyone have any experience with porting a number later on? I'd like to try it for a week or so before porting my ATT number over and cutting that account(if I'm happy)
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The Even More Plus plans already include data. I'm using it myself with the 500 minute tier plan just fine with my N1.
edit: I ported too and that took a few hours and was fairly painless from AT&T
I'd stay with AT&T if I were you.
I switched to t-mobile from at&t to get the n1 with 3g coverage and I can honestly say in Houston, at&t has far more coverage and is faster.
I had pretty much the same choice between AT&T and T-Mobile, and I ended up just sticking with AT&T and buying the compatible version because I split my time between Pennsylvania and Virginia, and T-Mo coverage in Virginia is spotty at best (even with AT&T roaming agreements).
However, since you're Pittsburgh, it might be good to take the 14 evaluation period as others have said and see if your happy with T-Mobile in the area (plus the rate plans with data will be comparable, or T-Mo will be slightly cheaper).
gsvnet said:
T-Mobile is definitely way cheaper overall, you can even get 500 mins + unlimited text for $39, then get the web2go plan (using the internet2.voicestream.com APN on your phone, instead of epc.tmobile.com) for $10. Total will be $49 which is a great deal - AT&T can't beat that.
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I was told the $10 plan was not 3G, only edge, is this true?
Please. I too would be very interested in finding out if I can use this service to access the internet with my N1. I am currently a T-Mobile Customer using the N1 with the usual plan one gets with this phone.
jimbobalu said:
I was told the $10 plan was not 3G, only edge, is this true?
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No - it's full 3G for $10. You just have to use internet2.voicestream.com as the APN.
gsvnet said:
No - it's full 3G for $10. You just have to use internet2.voicestream.com as the APN.
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So is there something special I need to tell the salesperson or something I have to do to my phone to use internet2.voicestream.com?
Thanks

Anyone that has the Galaxy Note also has U.S.A AT&T service ?

Currently I have the U.S.A T-mobile service so when I get the Galaxy Note, I will only have Edge speed.
I am willing to switch over the AT&T for 3G service or higher internet speed but only for month to month basis since this Galaxy Note will be an unlocked phone so I will not be require to sign up in a contract.
For those in the U.S.A that has AT&T and also has just received the Galaxy Note, do you like the internet speed of AT&T ?
I have heard bad things about AT&T such as dropped call and poor signal, etc...
so I am just a little bit worry about signing up with AT&T.
My initial intention was to get the Nexus and go with Verizon but the Nexus is not as good as the Galaxy Note.
Also, which AT&T plan should I get?. I don't talk much on the phone but I do a lot of surfing on the internet. I need internet speed that is fast and reliable.
Just get the lowest minute plan and get 2GB internet. I'd get on contract, buy the Nexus or the iPhone and sell them on ebay for $700 and use that towards your note, that's what I did. I can't comment on internet speeds because I'm always on wifi.
Buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note. Put it on Straight Talk Mobile prepaid for $45/month which uses AT&T's network. You would have to buy a refurbed Nokia E71 phone for $99 to do it and put the sim card in the Note with some settings changes. You get unlimited talk/text/data with no contract using AT&T's 3G network.
No Sim
adelmundo said:
Buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note. Put it on Straight Talk Mobile prepaid for $45/month which uses AT&T's network. You would have to buy a refurbed Nokia E71 phone for $99 to do it and put the sim card in the Note with some settings changes. You get unlimited talk/text/data with no contract using AT&T's 3G network.
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I went in to a Walmart to check this straight talk out and they said they don't carry sim cards. it's like sprint.
getmouse said:
I went in to a Walmart to check this straight talk out and they said they don't carry sim cards. it's like sprint.
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My understanding is that they employ different network types in different regions.
Get the MediaNet plan which is either $10 or $15 (depending if you have messaging or not) a month for unlimited data.
Earthbrain said:
Currently I have the U.S.A T-mobile service so when I get the Galaxy Note, I will only have Edge speed.
I am willing to switch over the AT&T for 3G service or higher internet speed but only for month to month basis since this Galaxy Note will be an unlocked phone so I will not be require to sign up in a contract.
For those in the U.S.A that has AT&T and also has just received the Galaxy Note, do you like the internet speed of AT&T ?
I have heard bad things about AT&T such as dropped call and poor signal, etc...
so I am just a little bit worry about signing up with AT&T.
My initial intention was to get the Nexus and go with Verizon but the Nexus is not as good as the Galaxy Note.
Also, which AT&T plan should I get?. I don't talk much on the phone but I do a lot of surfing on the internet. I need internet speed that is fast and reliable.
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even I was thinking of doing the same thing, after a lot of discussion here on forum I have learnt that you go for att pay as you go prepaid plan which is $50/month, you get unlimited call/sms/data even sms to some 100 countries! the only thing you have to follow is activate the card using a dumbphone like razr or similar and then put your card in unlocked phone with correct APN and profit!
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
So is there any other suggestions on the best AT&T plan?
I am currently using the Note for the last 4 days.
I am still using T-mobile plan since my contract won't be up until next month in December.
However, I am only getting EDGE speed for my $10/month for 200 MB and it is so slow.
I really need to take advantage of Note since it is an expensive phone and I want to get at least 3G speed at AT&T. I have never signed up with AT&T so I am not familiar with its plans or any good tricks to get the best data plan.
waghoba said:
even I was thinking of doing the same thing, after a lot of discussion here on forum I have learnt that you go for att pay as you go prepaid plan which is $50/month, you get unlimited call/sms/data even sms to some 100 countries! the only thing you have to follow is activate the card using a dumbphone like razr or similar and then put your card in unlocked phone with correct APN and profit!
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
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Click to collapse
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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that is correct, its a loophole, you should never tell them that you are using a smartphone!
that is why I said 'activate using a dumbphone and then put the card and APN in your note, att can only detect their own subsidized smart phones and not the unlocked ones, so you are safe...
EDIT: and I dont think att representative will tell you this method even if he is using it! as he wants his job, right?
I've heard using prepaid services (gophone, straight talk) with a smart phone only give you around 500Kbps speeds. So even if its unlimited (I've heard straight talk caps you at 70MB per day) its hardly worth it considering how slow the internet is. And yes. Those speeds were with HSPA+ compatible phones on AT&T.
Can anyone confirm/deny/elaborate? At 500kbps I should just stay on Tmo since Edge speeds are not much slower.
There is a whole thread here of people's speeds on Straight Talk. Seems like it is not capped at 500kbps.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1737642-Post-Your-Straight-Talk-Speedtests
Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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Click to collapse
I experienced this last month while on hols in New York. Im a Brit and took along my Galaxy Tab 7". Dropped by an AT&T shop and said I wanted to buy a pre-paid SIM to use in it. He refused to sell me one. No technical reasons why it wouldn't work. Just seemed like a policy decision. I was shocked!
Tried a T-Mobile shop nearby and picked up a PAYG SIM for around $30, which did the job, but it was slooow. Think I was on Edge network at best. Good enough for Places and navigation, but a bit crap for browsing. Lesson learned - don't tell them the device is a smartphone/tablet .
You were on EDGE on T-Mobile because ATT and T-Mobile use different freqs for 3g in US. The GTab probably doesn't support T-Mobile s 3g freqs.
Next time go to a Walmart and get a Straight Talk prepaid package. You have to buy a 99 dollar dumbphone to activate the SIM then you should get 3g data once you move that SIM to the GTab and set the APN.
The howardforum link in earlier post is good info.
I am running my Note on AT&T with a $10/mo unlimited data for non-smartphones plan (family plan) and I get 4.5mbps down and 1.06mbps up in H+ areas. Freakin sweet.
Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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Ya that was a wrong move to go in and talk to an ATT rep about it. There are many that have this plan who use the international SGS2. Check in their XDA forum. It works.
waghoba said:
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
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Click to collapse
I think i f'd this up just now. Got my note today and ordered the sim from at&t after porting number over from verizon. I originally signed up online for the $40 450 mins + $30 dumbphone unlimited sms/data. But when calling to activate the phone i used the galaxy note's imei to activate the sim and they were able to detect that it was a smartphone (i thought they weren't able to do that with an international unlocked phone??); so the rep signed me up for $20 sms and $25 2gb plan. so now is there any way to go back to the dumbphone unlimited plan or will my Note's imei always be detected as a smartphone now??
leaverus said:
I think i f'd this up just now. Got my note today and ordered the sim from at&t after porting number over from verizon. I originally signed up online for the $40 450 mins + $30 dumbphone unlimited sms/data. But when calling to activate the phone i used the galaxy note's imei to activate the sim and they were able to detect that it was a smartphone (i thought they weren't able to do that with an international unlocked phone??); so the rep signed me up for $20 sms and $25 2gb plan. so now is there any way to go back to the dumbphone unlimited plan or will my Note's imei always be detected as a smartphone now??
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you're screwed, you needed to give the imei of a dumbphone or just put the sim into a dumbphone first. maybe have a friend do it for you as you are likely flagged forever.
I'm currently still on contract with 2 GB data and a captivate. If I get the international note can I bump it down to the medianet plan?
I've got a note on ATT in the US. I have a 4g plan (used the note's imei) and the best speeds I've seen with speedtest are in the 5m down 1m up range. Some places it's been 1m/1m or worse, and the phone's bounced between 3g and H+.
I found some link the other day that showed ATT H+ coverage area, and I guess it shouldn't come as a big surprise.

Straight talk with att phone

Sorry first time trying a phone other then cdma. If i get the galaxy note 2 on att when it comes out and order a straight talk sim can i just slip it into the att galaxy note 2 and have hspa+ working. I want to try straight talk first because i here good and bad stories and if it sucks i can just cancel my contract within 14 days for att. Atleast so i can try out the note 2 to see if i like it. Once again i never had a sim card phone so im kinda clueless if i can swap them freely for tmobile and att phones or if i have to get an unlocked international version.
If you buy an AT& T phone, it will indeed work with an AT& T SIM card from ST (without being unlocked).
However, if I read your post correctly, you're going to get the phone on (an) AT& T subsidized (plan) then put a ST SIM in it? You DO realize that you will then have to pay AT& T a monthly fee and still pay ST their fee (even is it's month to month without a contract)....that makes no sense. You're paying an extra 45$ a month that you don't have to, on top of AT& T' s monthly fees....
Snowflake approved this message....
Lol i know im just wanted to get the note 2 to try and try out straight talks sim for att and see within 14 days if they cancel or slow my speeds like i hear so many people say. I guess i could just buy the phone at att without a contract to right? And use it for 14 days to see if i like it and return it if i dont
al52025 said:
Lol i know im just wanted to get the note 2 to try and try out straight talks sim for att and see within 14 days if they cancel or slow my speeds like i hear so many people say. I guess i could just buy the phone at att without a contract to right? And use it for 14 days to see if i like it and return it if i dont
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Yes. It really depends on your area and how you set the APN (with or without proxy), that dictates speed. (Mostly area). ST on the AT&T side is pretty strict on data USAGE though. Most have found that staying under a 100MB per day/2GB per month is acceptable. Any more and you can not only be throttled but, they can (and will) shut off your service without notice or refund.
That being said, if your are aware of the cons to ST, many have found that the service works well for them and they are extremely happy with the price.
If you live in an area that T-Mobile has refarmed their 1900mHz band to HSPA+ you can get a T-Mobile ST (and use it on "4G") (or a T-Mobile SIM, prepaid or otherwise) and use that phone (unlocked only of course) that way. Some have found the T-Mobile side of ST to be more lenient with data usage policies.
If you don't talk much (and your area has been refarmed and your phone unlocked) the 30$ plan (only available at Wal-Mart or on T-Mobile.com) with 100 minutes, unlimited texts and 5GB data is a another option.
Snowflake approved this message....
Babydoll25 said:
Yes. It really depends on your area and how you set the APN (with or without proxy), that dictates speed. (Mostly area). ST on the AT&T side is pretty strict on data USAGE though. Most have found that staying under a 100MB per day/2GB per month is acceptable. Any more and you can not only be throttled but, they can (and will) shut off your service without notice or refund.
That being said, if your are aware of the cons to ST, many have found that the service works well for them and they are extremely happy with the price.
If you live in an area that T-Mobile has refarmed their 1900mHz band to HSPA+ you can get a T-Mobile ST (and use it on "4G") (or a T-Mobile SIM, prepaid or otherwise) and use that phone (unlocked only of course) that way. Some have found the T-Mobile side of ST to be more lenient with data usage policies.
If you don't talk much (and your area has been refarmed and your phone unlocked) the 30$ plan (only available at Wal-Mart or on T-Mobile.com) with 100 minutes, unlimited texts and 5GB data is a another option.
Snowflake approved this message....
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Click to collapse
Good info here. To add to it, you can check for your area being refarmed if it has T-Mobile 3g on your network scan. Or you can check airportal.de where users have reported the refarm.
Sent from my XT883 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Which USA S4 will have the most compatibility (opinion)?

Howdy kids,
Quick question for those with more knowhow/info on the LTE bands and carriers. In your opinion at this stage of the game... Which US S4 version will have the most compatibily domestically (formost) and internationally? I know he carries all get thier own hardware/modem... im just currious which phone i should try if i might end up switching carries after 6months or so (no contract).
thanks for your thoughts
If I had to guess, probably T-Mobile. Unfortunately where I live, T-Mobile is almost all 2G/3G so I have to go with Sprint CDMA. But GSM networks are definitely the most flexible if you travel.
Sarcron said:
If I had to guess, probably T-Mobile. Unfortunately where I live, T-Mobile is almost all 2G/3G so I have to go with Sprint CDMA. But GSM networks are definitely the most flexible if you travel.
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If I had to guess I'd say AT&T...def not T-Mobile - although both are gsm which adds flexibility, T-Mobile has terrible service and AT&T has better service (not saying ATT has the best...but its def better than T-Mobile) and sprint service is pretty bad too...
Also keep in mind it depends on where you live. The above is based on where I love which is southern California (orange county)
But definitely go for either the T-Mobile or att as gsm networks seem to be the most flexible
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Yep, GSM all the way if you travel and probably the snapdragon for the LTE if you have it in your home area or roam frequently where it is available. I'd likely go AT&T for the coverage unless you are in an area where you get good Tmo service and seldom leave it. No reason not to save the ching and get a cheaper plan with Tmo in that case.
I'd also add that if you plan on going off-contract and paying the full phone price, T-Mobile has the advantage of offering much better prepaid plans with unlimited data.
At&t id say. The verizon one will to but im betting the bootloader will be locked up. Once a dev cracks it then im sure roms will follow.

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