Best U.S. prepaid provider for essential phone? - Essential Phone Questions & Answers

I am curious to know which provider will the essential phone never most from? I'm thinking about getting away from mvno's and going with someone like Verizon, att, TMobile, etc. I'm looking for best overall provider. Price wise, as well as coverage and data. Thank you.

I decided to go with Verizon's prepaid. They have a deal $40 for 3gb but if you sign up they double it, plus roll over data. Which should be great because I only use like 2gb a month.

Of course Mint sim . 25$ for 10 gb .

I use straight talk. 55$ for unlimited. They used to be pretty good but I've noticed recently it's been painfully when I'm around a lot of people on their phones. Also one thing I've noticed is my essential doesn't get as good of WiFi or cell service as my s8+ did.

I used total wireless $35 plan for a while. Good if you can deal with the 5mbps limit, if they still have that limit.
I'm now using straight talk $55 unlimited with Verizon SIM, actually my total wireless SIM. On ST you are heavily deprioritized BUT you have good speeds at night and early mornings... Depending on your area of course.
From all I've read Verizon works best with this device, usually.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA Labs

I'm usually happy with my usmobile plan, seems to work great with the essential phone, so far.

"never most from'"
What the hell does that even mean?

I'm using Verizon and get 7 GB of data a month plus unlimited calls and texts for $50.00 a month. This includes roll over data as well. I'm not a huge fan of any cellular provider but where I live Verizon has the best overall coverage although their network speed sucks compared to T-Mobile.
I get about the same performance using my S8+ or PH-1.

Related

Why did you choose your current cell phone carrier

Just wondering why people choose a certain carrier. I'm on AT&T. For me, it's because I get a 23% discount off my monthly bill because of my employer/company. What are your reasons for being with X carrier?
1. Financial i.e. monthly discount, cheapest plan, ect.
2. Reception
3. Family/friend related or family plan
4. LTE in your area?
5. Specific/high end phones?
6. Loyalty
7. Customer service
8. Other
Pick one, any, or all if applicable.
For T-mobile i would have to say #1,6,7, and occasionally #5
Because of my mom, it was easier to buy one (I am only 14 years old) and almost everyone I talk the most have TIM. But the rest, every Brazilian carrier sucks.
Sent using Mini CM7 Pro by Paul
I've been on T-Mobile for about a decade I think. T-Mobile's pricing is what attracted me as a customer. Their desperation is what keeps me. These guys will bend over backwards to keep me happy and have. I appreciate the things they've done for me that I see people on other carriers getting refused with. Such as very early upgrades just because I was unhappy with my current phone.
My carrier (telus) has better service while traveling yet after signing with them i found i have no service in my school -_- thankfully i'm out of there next yea so i''m cool with it and I got a good loyality plan out of them (i hope)
200min, Unlimited texting , Voicemail (Not visual ;( ) unlimited evenings and weekends and 6 gigs data, for like $65 the only thing I would like them to improve is visual voicemail and Caller ID but I don't want to spend $10 more a month for that.
#4 and #5
10char
At&t
#2. Coverage is the primary factor for me
AT&T
20% discount at work, same carrier as my fiance, best voice coverage in my area, fastest data in my area, decent plan prices, good phone selection, good business customer service.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
I have Sprint. It was more of a legacy thing for me. My parents had it so I got it.
Plus they do a 15% discount for my work and were the cheapest single plan with the discount.
Of course now that I'm married, the plans of other carriers are a bit closer in price. Even with unlimited data, I only use maybe 1.5 or 2 gigs at the most per month, so it's not as worth it to shell out as it once was.
Many of my family and friends are in the same network. That's why.
~ Sent from iOS/Android device
1. AT&T offered us a plan with unlimited everything (cept data, but I got that one) for cheaper then T-Mobile if we switched, and even paid our ETF's, needless to say, we did it.
2. Better reception.
4. Yep, I have an LTE enabled phone and live in an LTE market, obviously I would take advantage of that.
At&t because its the only carrier with signal where I live...
Enviado desde mi Samsung Galaxy Note
cheaper, unlimited data and special offer to switch from helio when i was shut down
Because I was an employee of my carrier up until June of this year and got waived the activation fee, 50% off my bill and a 1-year contract but 2-year pricing on my 4G phone. I also wanted to get grandfathered into unlimited data which is worth its weight in gold! No throttling here nor snooping into my 3rd party tethering unlike ATT.
2. Reception - In my area AT&T has the best service, followed by Sprint and then a large drop to Verizon. Causes me to get a bit irked when people say AT&T is universally bad and Verizon can do no wrong since I constantly see the exact opposite, but whatever.
6. Loyalty - My family has been on AT&T since the Cingular days, so we're grandfathered into an ancient family plan that's really cheap. If we were to switch carriers our bill would go way up.
Aldi Talk
Because its the best in my town !
1. Internet usage is for free
Verizon seems to have the best coverage in my area (Atlanta, OTP north side). Also, I'm grandfathered in for unlimited data.
cuz Monopoly nothing else LOL
AT&T
3. Family/friend related or family plan
I don't pay a single cent since I'm on my uncle's business/familty plan thing
however, AT&T does suck and the second I can afford it I'm getting Verizon...

VZW worth the extra 12-15 bucks a month?

So I'm at a point where I am striking out on my own and dropping off my parents family plan. What I am looking at is A $100 plan from vzw for 2gb data and a $90 plan from att for 3gb data. (I use no more than 1.5gb in a month) Coverage in my area for verizon is a little bit better than att but no LTE from either side. My company has a discount for both providers at 17% so no advantage there. Verizon has the bad habit of locking up phones so I can't play with them as well.
Another option I've had is since my work doesn't allow cell phones on the premises, I have thought about switching to a dumb phone since I won't be using it 40-50 hours of the week but that is for a later time.
In other words, do you all think VZW "service" is worth a $150 bucks extra a year than att?
From what you've told me about your usage patterns, I'd go with ATT, or even a MNVO like Straight Talk.
I had ATT and the only reason I left was because of their throttling.. I prefer GSM phones to CDMA since they hold value better and since they are worldwide, you have more compatibility and a larger selection.
bukithd said:
So I'm at a point where I am striking out on my own and dropping off my parents family plan. What I am looking at is A $100 plan from vzw for 2gb data and a $90 plan from att for 3gb data. (I use no more than 1.5gb in a month) Coverage in my area for verizon is a little bit better than att but no LTE from either side. My company has a discount for both providers at 17% so no advantage there. Verizon has the bad habit of locking up phones so I can't play with them as well.
Another option I've had is since my work doesn't allow cell phones on the premises, I have thought about switching to a dumb phone since I won't be using it 40-50 hours of the week but that is for a later time.
In other words, do you all think VZW "service" is worth a $150 bucks extra a year than att?
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Click to collapse
Straight Talk:
$45 a month ($50 after taxes)
Unlimited Talk
Unlimited Text
Unlimited* Data (just don't go nuts with it, but 1.5 GB is more than safe)
It runs on AT&T (also T-Mobile, but it asks you to choose which SIM you want. Choose AT&T). No, there's no LTE, but there's full speed HSPA+ which should be plenty fast. I don't think Verizon is worth it unless you're in an area where they're the only viable option, or if you need insane speed for some strange reason. I switched off my family's Sprint plan to Straight Talk. I don't know how I survived on CDMA; once you go GSM, the freedom of being able to switch phones whenever you want is great. If you're already on a GSM network, it's not worth giving up. That, and the price.
Order a SIM from http://straighttalk.com and choose "AT&T compatible SIM". It works in a locked AT&T phone or unlocked phone. You could even use your Rezound; I know it works on AT&T believe it or not. They found out a while ago. But if you're looking for a new phone, best bang for your buck? Galaxy Nexus from the Play Store.
Oh and when you fill in the APN for data, leave out the "Proxy" fields except for MMS Proxy. It disallows them from throttling you or monitoring what apps you use. They've been known to call people for streaming a lot, but I've gone over 2GB of usage and haven't gotten any calls from them or anything.
I agree. Verizon is just crap compared to what they used to be. In the days of unlimited data it wasn't so bad but now they are just plain greedy. Plus striking out on your own you don't want to get stuck if you lose your job paying a $100/mo bill when you could use that money for food. Trust me, it happened to me and now I owe Verizon and can't afford to pay them. If T-Mobile has good coverage they may be an option as well.
Pageplus is a Verizon MVNO.
For $55 per month (No Taxes!), you get unlimited talk/text and 2Gb of 3g data.
You can use a Verizon phone too!
Plus, if you buy from Pageplusdirect.com, you get a 7% discount!
Product F(RED) said:
Straight Talk:
$45 a month ($50 after taxes)
Unlimited Talk
Unlimited Text
Unlimited* Data (just don't go nuts with it, but 1.5 GB is more than safe)
It runs on AT&T (also T-Mobile, but it asks you to choose which SIM you want. Choose AT&T). No, there's no LTE, but there's full speed HSPA+ which should be plenty fast. I don't think Verizon is worth it unless you're in an area where they're the only viable option, or if you need insane speed for some strange reason. I switched off my family's Sprint plan to Straight Talk. I don't know how I survived on CDMA; once you go GSM, the freedom of being able to switch phones whenever you want is great. If you're already on a GSM network, it's not worth giving up. That, and the price.
Order a SIM from http://straighttalk.com and choose "AT&T compatible SIM". It works in a locked AT&T phone or unlocked phone. You could even use your Rezound; I know it works on AT&T believe it or not. They found out a while ago. But if you're looking for a new phone, best bang for your buck? Galaxy Nexus from the Play Store.
Oh and when you fill in the APN for data, leave out the "Proxy" fields except for MMS Proxy. It disallows them from throttling you or monitoring what apps you use. They've been known to call people for streaming a lot, but I've gone over 2GB of usage and haven't gotten any calls from them or anything.
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That's been one of the most complete decent answers I've got on this forum in a while. I will seriously consider it. AT&T gets good enough service for me to get the same stuff for half price. Thanks!
bukithd said:
That's been one of the most complete decent answers I've got on this forum in a while. I will seriously consider it. AT&T gets good enough service for me to get the same stuff for half price. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Product F(RED) said:
Straight Talk:
$45 a month ($50 after taxes)
Unlimited Talk
Unlimited Text
Unlimited* Data (just don't go nuts with it, but 1.5 GB is more than safe)
It runs on AT&T (also T-Mobile, but it asks you to choose which SIM you want. Choose AT&T). No, there's no LTE, but there's full speed HSPA+ which should be plenty fast. I don't think Verizon is worth it unless you're in an area where they're the only viable option, or if you need insane speed for some strange reason. I switched off my family's Sprint plan to Straight Talk. I don't know how I survived on CDMA; once you go GSM, the freedom of being able to switch phones whenever you want is great. If you're already on a GSM network, it's not worth giving up. That, and the price.
Order a SIM from http://straighttalk.com and choose "AT&T compatible SIM". It works in a locked AT&T phone or unlocked phone. You could even use your Rezound; I know it works on AT&T believe it or not. They found out a while ago. But if you're looking for a new phone, best bang for your buck? Galaxy Nexus from the Play Store.
Oh and when you fill in the APN for data, leave out the "Proxy" fields except for MMS Proxy. It disallows them from throttling you or monitoring what apps you use. They've been known to call people for streaming a lot, but I've gone over 2GB of usage and haven't gotten any calls from them or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally am done with Verizon. The very first phone I had wouldn't charge completely (8 hours on charger, half full, 2 hours battery life) almost from the get go, they started sending me refurbs and I've been stuck in refurb hell ever since. To top it off the data speeds and connection have gotten gradually worse in my area, like they are trying to push you to upgrade to a 4G phone and go to the new shared plans (which I don't doubt a bit). I can't get a good enough connection in the parking lot at work most days make a phone call, and I'm in the 2nd largest city in my state, we have 4G, and the coverage map is blood red with both 3G and 4G coverage. At my desk I'm lucky to get any coverage (thank god we have wifi, guy next to me on his VZW iphone 4 gets full signal). I got an unlocked GNEX a couple weeks ago, got a TMO sim to try out, I have consisten 4-5 bars at my desk and full signal in the parking lot, I only got the 100mb 4G plan but TMO's 2G speeds are about as fast as what I get on average with VZW. I'm on my 12th phone with VZW and had enough even though they keep replacing them. I pay $210 a month for service that doesn't work all the time and slow data speeds.
I'm going to straight talk next, because I learned the hard way TMO doesn't include roaming with their prepaid. Otherwise I'd stick with them because where they have coverage its been great. But for $45 a month, Straight Talk is getting a try it out month from me on AT&T's network which I have great signal with here.
Anyway, point was, stay away from VZW, they're greedy and pushing a bad product IMO.
I think android made verizon that way. When I first hopped on the network I got an incredible that was about 6 months after its release, I loved everything. Since then, there have been overly modded phones, worsening signal quality jack ups in price, and and my phone is just now (in the next couple of weeks maybe) set for an ICS update. I just wish there were more prepaid providers with better service history. Verizon does have good personal customer service, at least in my experience.
bukithd said:
I think android made verizon that way. When I first hopped on the network I got an incredible that was about 6 months after its release, I loved everything. Since then, there have been overly modded phones, worsening signal quality jack ups in price, and and my phone is just now (in the next couple of weeks maybe) set for an ICS update. I just wish there were more prepaid providers with better service history. Verizon does have good personal customer service, at least in my experience.
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Yeah I think so, with the success of Android they got greedy. Signal quality, prices, just not worth it anymore. However, their customer service has been fantastic, I have no problems getting replacement phones, just tired of needing them and really the problems have never gone away. Now that I've gone to an unlocked GNEX, I'm never going back, lol.
Verizon has to be the most controlling carrier in my knowledge. I mean they are one of the only ones to put a locked boot loader on the SGS III, and FFS they striped ram out of my old HTC Touch Pro. It's not like they charge any less for the crippled phones they sell, they're just in it for the money.
icomrade said:
Verizon has to be the most controlling carrier in my knowledge. I mean they are one of the only ones to put a locked boot loader on the SGS III, and FFS they striped ram out of my old HTC Touch Pro. It's not like they charge any less for the crippled phones they sell, they're just in it for the money.
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I used to work in a third-party Verizon store and a customer we've known for a while had been through 3 BB Storm 2's, all of them crapping out differently, but in ways that made them totally unusable. He was a doctor, so he needed a reliable phone. I called up CS on behalf of him, with him sitting across from me. All he wanted was a BB Bold, even a refurbished replacement (he had insurance), and they told me to tell him to just leave Verizon. How crazy is that?
They're also against Net Neutrality, which means they want to be able to charge you more for certain services. Like how AT&T is planning on charging extra for Facetime over 3G on the iPhone. It's like saying, "Oh, you want to watch YouTube on your phone? You'll need to shell out an extra $10 a month for our YouTube package. You wanna browse Facebook? You need to add $5 a month to your bill to have access to the Facebook app."
Product F(RED) said:
I used to work in a third-party Verizon store and a customer we've known for a while had been through 3 BB Storm 2's, all of them crapping out differently, but in ways that made them totally unusable. He was a doctor, so he needed a reliable phone. I called up CS on behalf of him, with him sitting across from me. All he wanted was a BB Bold, even a refurbished replacement (he had insurance), and they told me to tell him to just leave Verizon. How crazy is that?
They're also against Net Neutrality, which means they want to be able to charge you more for certain services. Like how AT&T is planning on charging extra for Facetime over 3G on the iPhone. It's like saying, "Oh, you want to watch YouTube on your phone? You'll need to shell out an extra $10 a month for our YouTube package. You wanna browse Facebook? You need to add $5 a month to your bill to have access to the Facebook app."
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this is what scares me about cell service regardless who is providing it. I want what was free to begin with to stay free. I already pay about 1000 bucks a year for you to do what you will with me.
Verizon perk though, they just hooked up 4g in my area today and it actually works.

Straight Talk Reviews?

I am currently on At&t and paying about $100 a month for my Nexus 4 with 3GB of data and Unlimited texts. Now I see this straight talk by walmart for $45 unlimited everything. That is one great deal. But as usual the old saying if it sounds to good to be true it usual is comes to mind. I'm in the Bay Area so coverage is good. I usually never leave this area too much. Is Straight talk a good service and worth it or are their hidden problems with it?
I've been on it two months no issues. I'm using Tmobile on ST and I love it the only thing I hated was that I had to cut my sim card. If you stick with ATT you won't have that issue. Since you are with ATT I heard after 1.5gb ST may throttle you or contact you to in regards to your data.
ATT is data stingy.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Can I get the T-Mobile sim if I am on At&t? And do they offer LTE now or in the future?
Each sim is separate so if I took a att sim I couldn't just say I want Tmobile service.
The nexus4 isn't officially 4g compatible so.... I'm not sure how to answer your second question.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
falcon26 said:
I am currently on At&t and paying about $100 a month for my Nexus 4 with 3GB of data and Unlimited texts. Now I see this straight talk by walmart for $45 unlimited everything. That is one great deal. But as usual the old saying if it sounds to good to be true it usual is comes to mind. I'm in the Bay Area so coverage is good. I usually never leave this area too much. Is Straight talk a good service and worth it or are their hidden problems with it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ST AT&T will throttle down to 2G speeds after 1.5 GB in a month (or less as some have reported in the threads) and they also have daily data usage limits. People also report being throttled with using anywhere from 20-100 MB in one day. It all depends upon how congested your tower is. A better option if you want AT&T is to use their own GoPhone service at $25 for 250 talk minutes, unlimited texts then add the 1GB of data for another $25, total $50 a month. Or the $65 unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data plan. These are the cheapest AT&T itself offers. Any of the MVNO's (ST, Net10, etc) your going to be capped to 1.5 GB (or less) anyways and their customer service is crap. Wait on hold for over an hour a few times to speak to one and you eventually get tired of it.
A few points
Straight Talk no longer sells AT&T-compatible SIM cards through their website. People on eBay are selling them for around $50.
Straight Talk has never made any statement about throttling people at 1.5 GB. Net10, which is owned by the same company as Straight Talk, established a 1.5 GB limit (see https://net10data.com/), but Straight Talk has not.
Different people have widely different experiences of being throttled on Straight Talk, and it seems to be highly unpredictable. I was throttled for the first time ever this month after using about .95 GB, though to be fair I used that data in less than a week, and I was tethering a lot. The weird thing is that I was throttled a few days after I was using large amounts of data.
Because of this uncertainty, I wouldn't recommend starting Straight Talk AT&T service now, especially with the high price of SIMs. You might consider Net10, which has SIMs widely available on eBay for $1. It's $50 per month, and supposedly you'll get 1.5 GB before being throttled or cut off. Other AT&T MVNOs cost $55 or $60 per month, or you can do GoPhone for $50.
If T-Mobile has good service where you live, you can get better deals on their network. I think there's a good chance they'll let prepaid/MVNO customers have access to their LTE network, something AT&T has not done yet.

Who is your MVNO?

Not on one of the big 4 here in the USA with your Angler? Since the Nexus 6p is mostly not carrier subsidized, I'm thinking this is a good place to find out what MVNO's people are using to save money.... If so for you, please tell us who your with, what plan your on with them, and why your with them!! And anything else you care to share both good and bad...
In the last year I have been on the following MVNO's...
Ting - Sprint
Ting - T-Mobile
Straight talk - T-Mobile
Straight talk - Verizon
Straight talk - AT&T
Google Project Fi
Cricket - AT&T
Page Plus - Verizon
Verizon Prepaid
AT&T Gophone
And have signed up for Harbor Mobile AT&T and Red Pocket Mobile Verizon. Haven't received the Sim's yet for the last 2.. Let me know if you have questions on any of these. Will be happy to report my results
In addition to that, I was in contract with the real big red dollar sucking Verizon and also was on the real big Orange AT&T on a company business plan.
crowsnestitsupport said:
Not on one of the big 4 here in the USA with your Angler? Since the Nexus 6p is mostly not carrier subsidized, I'm thinking this is a good place to find out what MVNO's people are using to save money.... If so for you, please tell us who your with, what plan your on with them, and why your with them!! And anything else you care to share both good and bad...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been using Straight Talk AT&T for about 3 years now.
Reasonable price ($45), 5GB of 4G data, and a strong AT&T network keeps me with them.
I switched from Sprint post-paid on December 2013 back when I bought my Nexus 5 and decided to go with Simplemobile to pay half of what I was paying with Sprint. It all went well up until 5 months in when all of a sudden I lost data connection for the better part of a month, as usual with MVNO's the customer service is flaky so I couldn't find out what was wrong.
I then switched to t-mo $30 plan but the whole 100 minutes per month had me cutting people's conversations short or forcing them to use wifi calling apps. It became too much of a hassle so I decided to go with Straighttalk using t-mobile's service. I used them for a whole year without any issues, however I kept looking for cheaper service and that's when I discovered Cricket. For $35 a month (taxes and fees included) I get everything I need and since I don't use much data, 2.5GB a month is more than enough for me.
Once this month is up I'm going to try project Fi, since I use less than 1GB of mobile data I would probably end up paying less than with Cricket.
83097markcynt said:
Been using Straight Talk AT&T for about 3 years now.
Reasonable price ($45), 5GB of 4G data, and a strong AT&T network keeps me with them.
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Yeah, I really like Straight talk AT&T as well.. Did you know that they have a new plan, 10gb for 55$ !! Cant hardly beat that! Here are the details.
HueleSnaiL said:
I switched from Sprint post-paid on December 2013 back when I bought my Nexus 5 and decided to go with Simplemobile to pay half of what I was paying with Sprint. It all went well up until 5 months in when all of a sudden I lost data connection for the better part of a month, as usual with MVNO's the customer service is flaky so I couldn't find out what was wrong.
I then switched to t-mo $30 plan but the whole 100 minutes per month had me cutting people's conversations short or forcing them to use wifi calling apps. It became too much of a hassle so I decided to go with Straighttalk using t-mobile's service. I used them for a whole year without any issues, however I kept looking for cheaper service and that's when I discovered Cricket. For $35 a month (taxes and fees included) I get everything I need and since I don't use much data, 2.5GB a month is more than enough for me.
Once this month is up I'm going to try project Fi, since I use less than 1GB of mobile data I would probably end up paying less than with Cricket.
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Yup, Customer service is the number 1 complaint with MVNO's.. If you live where Sprint and T-mobile have good coverage and you aren't a heavy data user then Fi is an excellent choice!! I currently have it on one of my phones and really like it except that where I live both Sprint and T-mobile have less than ideal coverage. Also, FI has excellent customer service!
crowsnestitsupport said:
Yeah, I really like Straight talk AT&T as well.. Did you know that they have a new plan, 10gb for 55$ !! Cant hardly beat that! Here are the details.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that's good to know but for now 5GB is enough.
83097markcynt said:
Thanks, that's good to know but for now 5GB is enough.
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:good::good: Good for you I can never have enough data for cheap lol I take way to many speed tests
crowsnestitsupport said:
:good::good: Good for you I can never have enough data for cheap lol I take way to many speed tests
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Speaking of speedtests Post your here!
I'm on the MetroPcs $60 unlimited plan. Both me and my wife are on it so I get $5 off each line. Its comes down to $110 a month. They throttle after 23gb but I always end the month at about 20gb.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
mexiking713 said:
I'm on the MetroPcs $60 unlimited plan. Both me and my wife are on it so I get $5 off each line. Its comes down to $110 a month. They throttle after 23gb but I always end the month at about 20gb.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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Same here.. I've been using way more than 23gb though and have never been throttled... My data speed is faster than my wifi so I'm always using my mobile data
So can any one please confirm that with the Nexus 6P on Metro PCS... Does WiFi calling and VoLTE both work OK?
Im on MetroPCS I can confirm Wifi Calling works great although you have to delete all the apns then change the APN on GPRS to MetroPCS from fast.tmobile... To fast.metropcs... VoLte is enabled too not sure how to test it though. Also visual voicemail might work also in stock dialer but Im on PureNexus rom can anyone confirm it works? I flashed Google Fi Dialer.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
DroidDogg said:
Im on MetroPCS I can confirm Wifi Calling works great although you have to delete all the apns then change the APN on GPRS to MetroPCS from fast.tmobile... To fast.metropcs... VoLte is enabled too not sure how to test it though. Also visual voicemail might work also in stock dialer but Im on PureNexus rom can anyone confirm it works? I flashed Google Fi Dialer.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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Cool! Post some screen shots of your APN settings please!! One way to test to VoLTE is check and see if you have mobile data while on a phone call. What about roaming to AT&T where T-Mobile has no coverage? Any luck there? T-Mobile had finally turned up LTE in my area and I'm considering using them in my back up phone. I have FI now, but to expensive if you use lots of data and FI has no mobile data while on the phone.
Visual Voicemail works in the stock dialer also
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/help/wifi-calling-metropcs-t3247414
(Instructions listed on page 4 of that thread)
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA-Developers mobile app

Project Fi not worth it?

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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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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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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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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FiSwitch
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cheekydevs.fiswitch&hl=en
Root makes it easier but is not required.

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