After contemplating this for a long time...

[T_Yamamoto]

I've decided to try to convince my dad to allow me to switch to T-Mobile.

The reasons are that I want to help save money. Yes I will lose my unlimited data and Verizon's awesome coverage but in a year, I will be moving to college. I won't be able to torrent on the school's network (I torrent using Verizon's 4G ) but I'm okay with that. The phones on GSM have a high resale value, the service is cheaper (unlimited data is 30 bucks on its own at Verizon). I don't feel the need to buy a full priced phone and get hammered by the high rates.

Am I right?#

 

[dguy6789]

Nexus 4 and Straight Talk on ATT's network is the best smartphone deal there is imo

 

[ponyo]

It's cheaper for you to stay on your parents family plan. You'll pay more for individual prepay plan than piggybacking off your parents.

 

[bearxor]

It's cheaper for you to stay on your parents family plan. You'll pay more for individual prepay plan than piggybacking off your parents.

More than likely, yes. You're probably only paying the $30 unlimited fee plus a fee to add yor line to the plan. Yes, you'll have to buy your phone outright to keep your unlimited data, but I'd really suggest sticking with Verizon. As a fellow Carolinian whose traveled to Raleigh recently with a TMo SIM (as well as some other area of NC/SC), TMo's not really that great 'round these parts.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

It's cheaper for you to stay on your parents family plan. You'll pay more for individual prepay plan than piggybacking off your parents.

Our plan has 4 phones

S3, Samsung Stratosphere, iPhone 5, Gnex.
700 shared minutes (which we only use like 200 at most)
unlimited texting for all

S3 and gnex has unlimited data
Samsung has 4 gb
iP5 has 2 gb

And this is all cheaper than me buying a GSM phone and switching to tmo?

 

[Tom]

So your family is going to stop using cell phones, sell everything you listed, and the only person with any cell phone is going to be you ?

Yes, if that's the case you're correct.

 

[bearxor]

Our plan has 4 phones

S3, Samsung Stratosphere, iPhone 5, Gnex.
700 shared minutes (which we only use like 200 at most)
unlimited texting for all

S3 and gnex has unlimited data
Samsung has 4 gb
iP5 has 2 gb

And this is all cheaper than me buying a GSM phone and switching to tmo?

That would depend on how the bill is being broken up. Usually, the parents are paying the bulk and only charging the kids the add on fees for their lines. if that's the case, you're probably paying less than $50 for far superior coverage to TMo.

If you're splitting the total bill four ways, it may be a different story.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

That would depend on how the bill is being broken up. Usually, the parents are paying the bulk and only charging the kids the add on fees for their lines. if that's the case, you're probably paying less than $50 for far superior coverage to TMo.

If you're splitting the total bill four ways, it may be a different story.

I don't pay at all.

I'm thinking about my parents.

And since I want to keep my unlimited data, I HAVE to buy a phone full priced.

 

[Joe1987]

Don't give up your unlimited data, just find a used S3 for VZ and call it a day.

VZ has the best network and the best signal, it will serve you well in college, with massive buildings that the T Mobile signal will have difficulty penetrating. Plus, you shouldn't jump to T Mobile without knowing what the signal is like at the college you're going to. T Mobile is still building out it's network, and there's no roaming on the $30 plan.

 

[bearxor]

I don't pay at all.

I'm thinking about my parents.

And since I want to keep my unlimited data, I HAVE to buy a phone full priced.

If you're not going to pay for it, then it would not significantly lower your parents monthly payments.

If you're on the 700 minute family share plan, then your line costs your parents $40/mo. $10/mo for your add a line fee, $30/mo for your unlimited data. It makes almost no sense, to me, for you to discontinue that and then make them pay for the $30/mo 5GB 100 minutes plan from TMobile. You're simply losing too much and gaining too little.

To keep your unlimited data on a new phone, take advantage of Verizon's device payment plan. They will let you break the cost of a new device up over 12 months. This is completely different than Verizon's new EDGE upgrade program, where you trade your phone out every year.
http://support.verizonwireless.com/...OptionalServices/device-installment-plan.html

Plus, you shouldn't jump to T Mobile without knowing what the signal is like at the college you're going to. T Mobile is still building out it's network, and there's no roaming on the $30 plan.

It is not what I would characterize as "great" in the Carolina's. Unless you live like directly in a city and don't go anywhere else.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I'll just pony up the 600+ I have to pay for a new phone

My dad says I use 30 dollars worth of data (I use at least 10gbs a month).

Guess its gonna be iphones from here on out.

 

[openwheel]

No. Don't do it.

 

[bearxor]

I'll just pony up the 600+ I have to pay for a new phone

My dad says I use 30 dollars worth of data (I use at least 10gbs a month).

Guess its gonna be iphones from here on out.

If you're staying on Verizon, then have your dad take full advantage of the device payment plan. A $650 phone would run you about $60/mo.

 

[Trombe]

If the $10 difference bothers you, you're still better off just handing your parents $10 a month than moving to TMobile at this point in time. I'm assuming you're getting money somewhere somehow if you're even thinking about buying a new phone to begin with. If the non-unlimited lines aren't upgrading much you can just make use of the whole phone transfer after activation trick.

 

[desura]

re: signal.

Since you'll spend most of your time on campus, where there is campus wifi, T-mobile has wifi calling on several phones. I believe actually that they don't count against minutes, etiher.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

If you're staying on Verizon, then have your dad take full advantage of the device payment plan. A $650 phone would run you about $60/mo.

It won't make a difference whether I pay 650 in one go or 60 bucks a month

re: signal.

Since you'll spend most of your time on campus, where there is campus wifi, T-mobile has wifi calling on several phones. I believe actually that they don't count against minutes, etiher.

Well I'm not at college yet.