A few questions about companies like Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, Virgin, etc.

[Red Storm]

For the first time I find myself seriously considering leaving Verizon. Long story short, some recent problems and confusion with my account and billing and their lack of support has irked me enough to consider parting ways. Now, my questions to you all:

I've decided if I'm going to leave Verizon then I'm getting a Nexus 4. But, which carrier? Looking at AT&T and T-Mobile, but if I go with one of the smaller guys (I believe Straight Talk?) who use AT&T's network, does this mean that anywhere I would get signal with AT&T I will get with Straight Talk? What about data speeds, do they differ between AT&T and Straight Talk?

 

[SAWYER]

I use ST and when you order a sim you can choose a Tmo or ATT sim and it will use the respective towers and it is the same speeds you would get on either carrier(no lte)

 

[jpeyton]

if I go with one of the smaller guys (I believe Straight Talk?) who use AT&T's network, does this mean that anywhere I would get signal with AT&T I will get with Straight Talk?

Yes. At least I know this for certain in regards to Straight Talk on AT&T; I haven't used their T-Mobile-based service so I can't comment on that.

What about data speeds, do they differ between AT&T and Straight Talk?

They are the same.

 

[pm]

Yes. At least I know this for certain in regards to Straight Talk on AT&T; I haven't used their T-Mobile-based service so I can't comment on that.

I was trying to convert my father over to Straighttalk - his last monthly phone bill was $600. Yes, seriously. Even if I can't get him onto ST, then I at least need to get him to talk to Verizon about changing the minutes on his plan.. but ST seems even better.

Anyway, how do you know which Straighttalk network you are on? I see the coverage maps for GSM-A, GSM-T, GSM-V and GSM-S (http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage), but I found that that map just confused me. First I assume that the A, T, V and S are AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint respectively, so assuming that, I had no idea that Verizon and Sprint even had GSM networks. And then, how do you choose which network you are on? It seems obvious to me that you want GSM-A because it has the best coverage but how do you know that's what you'll be using? Is it SIM based? Phone based? Are the network frequencies posted anywhere?

 

[jpeyton]

I was trying to convert my father over to Straighttalk - his last monthly phone bill was $600. Yes, seriously. Even if I can't get him onto ST, then I at least need to get him to talk to Verizon about changing the minutes on his plan.. but ST seems even better.

Anyway, how do you know which Straighttalk network you are on? I see the coverage maps for GSM-A, GSM-T, GSM-V and GSM-S (http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage), but I found that that map just confused me. First I assume that the A, T, V and S are AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint respectively, so assuming that, I had no idea that Verizon and Sprint even had GSM networks. And then, how do you choose which network you are on? It seems obvious to me that you want GSM-A because it has the best coverage but how do you know that's what you'll be using? Is it SIM based? Phone based? Are the network frequencies posted anywhere?

This is a better coverage map, off their Straight Talk SIM website: http://www.straighttalksim.com/coverage.php

You pick your network when you order your SIM at www.straighttalksim.com

You are given these options for your SIM:

- Unlocked GSM Phone (Phone must operate in 850 and 1900 MHz bands)
- AT&T Compatible Phone
- T-Mobile Compatible Phone

If you pick "AT&T Compatible Phone", you get an AT&T SIM, etc. Now even though you may have an unlocked phone, you can still pick the AT&T SIM so you default to AT&T's network. Not sure which SIM they give you if you pick "Unlocked GSM Phone", but 850Mhz/1900Mhz are AT&T bands.

If you pick T-Mobile, you likely get access to the 1700/2100 AWS bands, and T-Mobile has some of the fastest HSPA+ coverage available (almost LTE speeds).

Here's one thing to note: T-Mobile has a 3G roaming agreement with AT&T on the 850Mhz band. I think that's why Straight Talk is showing a single coverage map now, because of AT&T/T-Mobile's roaming agreements.

I might be FOS on some of those points, since I've only had experience with Straight Talk using an AT&T SIM. Check Howardforum to see if someone else asked/answered this type of inquiry.