Anyone as cheap as me? StraightTalk users utilizing SIM Cards

[Meractik]

So here is the deal, I absolutely LOVE the fact that I can utilize my simple CDMA cellphone with straighttalk's $45 Unlimited program and piggyback on verizon's wonderful network (I almost NEVER have problems with being an an area where I cannot use my phone)

I currently have a very very outdated LG 220C phone - its rugged and works wonderfully at T-9 texting/everyday phone calls.

I am entertaining the idea of updating to a newer phone now (one which would enable me to have a full qwerty keyboard, and utilize occasional web browsing, hell maybe even apps or WIFI functionality if possible..)

I have seen some youtube videos of people utilizing the $45.00 unlimited plan SIMS with newer phones and wondered if anyone tried it? and if so what are your thoughts.... I am curious as to which phone would be the cheapest I could obtain and give me the functionality I want, I seldom do web browsing so I wouldn't really need the 24/7 web browsing functionality of 4G/3G etc... a simple WIFI option would work better since it would always be free, but only if available.

Basically what I want to do is get the most bang for my buck and remain at the $45.00 price point. My current LG 220C phone is a wonderful little device but its starting to wear itself physically... I like staying on the CDMA networks and fear that if i move to the SIM's and utilize GSM, i might be severely impacted by coverage I am used to for making calls..

 

[zephyrprime]

I do it. Works good. I used to use verizon through PagePlus but I was having problems with the low data allowance (100MB/month back then) and the lack of support for any 4G phones (and all new phones are 4G so it's a big problem.)

Moved to straight talk. Can't tell you how much better the roomier data allowance is. It says the data allowance is unlimited but it's more like ~2GB. Maybe more if you limit yourself to web browsing and no media streaming.

The network coverage is good. Verizon's claims to having more network coverage are greatly overstated. However, speeds are bad. Even though I can almost always get a HSPA connection which is supposed to be faster than 3g CDMA, my real data speeds are worse than Verizon's unless I'm using my phone in the dead of night. Hopefully as AT&T builds out their 4G network, load will be reduced on their 3g network.

 

[Meractik]

I do it. Works good. I used to use verizon through PagePlus but I was having problems with the low data allowance (100MB/month back then) and the lack of support for any 4G phones (and all new phones are 4G so it's a big problem.)

Moved to straight talk. Can't tell you how much better the roomier data allowance is. It says the data allowance is unlimited but it's more like ~2GB. Maybe more if you limit yourself to web browsing and no media streaming.

The network coverage is good. Verizon's claims to having more network coverage are greatly overstated. However, speeds are bad. Even though I can almost always get a HSPA connection which is supposed to be faster than 3g CDMA, my real data speeds are worse than Verizon's unless I'm using my phone in the dead of night. Hopefully as AT&T builds out their 4G network, load will be reduced on their 3g network.

Glad to hear you're happy with your service, by chance which phone are you utilizing? I wouldn't be very interested in doing big heavy video streaming with a new phone, simply if i needed to be able to check my gmail, and occasionally use a browser when shopping to check product prices online... that would be about it.

I really desire to just make sure I gain the benefits above without losing my current coverage area for actual phone calls and txt messages. All for the same low low price a month, plus whatever I end up paying to get a better phone (I would like to get something rugged and semi-affordable *under $200*, because the little phone I have now is a beast! LG 220C)

 

[Chiropteran]

I like staying on the CDMA networks and fear that if i move to the SIM's and utilize GSM, i might be severely impacted by coverage I am used to for making calls..

I think your fear is unfounded. I once felt the same way, but as Verizon kept charging more and more for less and less, I decided to risk trying T-Mobile, despite all my friends and family claiming I'd get terrible service. Since the switch, I have had 0 dropped calls, and 0 cases where my phone was unusable for calls due to lack of service. Admittedly I live in the city and I'm sure in some rural areas my T-mobile service will fall off, but it's certainly not worth paying an extra $60/month to Verizon for those once-a-year cases.

Yeah, it's not really that bad, at least around here.

And now I pay $30/month.

 

[Red Storm]

Just curious but why pay for the $45/month plan when they have a $30/month option? It's "only" 1000 minutes but that should be plenty. I can't imagine anyone using data on an old phone.

 

[Meractik]

Just curious but why pay for the $45/month plan when they have a $30/month option? It's "only" 1000 minutes but that should be plenty. I can't imagine anyone using data on an old phone.

Simply put, I would go over the 1000 minutes. So i pay for the $45.00 option. I like knowing its unlimited for both text and talk. And currently I do not utilize data at all, but since I am paying for the option to be able too.... I am considering upgrading my phone and wondering what I could purchase second hand or used to get the functionality I want with what limited data usage I would incur...

 

[Meractik]

I think your fear is unfounded. I once felt the same way, but as Verizon kept charging more and more for less and less, I decided to risk trying T-Mobile, despite all my friends and family claiming I'd get terrible service. Since the switch, I have had 0 dropped calls, and 0 cases where my phone was unusable for calls due to lack of service. Admittedly I live in the city and I'm sure in some rural areas my T-mobile service will fall off, but it's certainly not worth paying an extra $60/month to Verizon for those once-a-year cases.

Yeah, it's not really that bad, at least around here.

And now I pay $30/month.

I agree with you, I am not a subscribing Verizon customer (I do not have a contract) and I like that, I do however know that I am piggybacking on their network with my CDMA phone with straight-talk. If I knew I would get the same coverage that I currently have plus the extra added features with a newer phone for the same price, I would hop elsewhere since I am pre-paid month to month....

are you under contract with T-mobile for your $30.00 a month? what kind of phone did they give you with what package?

 

[Red Storm]

Simply put, I would go over the 1000 minutes. So i pay for the $45.00 option. I like knowing its unlimited for both text and talk.

Makes sense then. I forget that thing is an actual phone that makes phone calls and not much else so it will probably get used a bit.

Just got ST setup on my Nexus 4. $45/month plan on AT&T network. So far so good, I'm probably going to test it for a month and then try T-Mobile for a month and compare.

 

[Meractik]

Just to provide more info, i went with straight-talk because I liked the pre-paid month to month payment, I figured if I didn't like it I could just walk.... Now i have been with them for over three years paying month by month with auto-pay..

Prior to using straight-talk I was a Iphone 4 user, paying AT&T the $90.00 a month, then I went with Sprint paying about $60.00 a month and ultimately felt they where far worse then AT&T and finally went with straight-talk and have been with them ever since....

I was a verizon customer +-5 yrs ago and I still remember how well what I had operated for me at that time, but the biggest factor in me not wanting to jump back into their services was I did not want to be under a contract.... thus... I now utilize Straight-Talk with CDMA and piggyback on the network for cheaper than a contract.

 

[Meractik]

Makes sense then. I forget that thing is an actual phone that makes phone calls and not much else so it will probably get used a bit.

Just got ST setup on my Nexus 4. $45/month plan on AT&T network. So far so good, I'm probably going to test it for a month and then try T-Mobile for a month and compare.

When you setup the SIM card thing with straight talk how is that handled when you order it do you have to mention the phone you have then select which network? whether you want it to be AT&T or T-Mobile? regardless I would assume its $45.00 either way... you just have to make sure your phone is unlocked and ready to sync with whichever network you buy (I think?)

I have never done it... its just intrigued me.. since ive been a ST customer for so long...

 

[s44]

You just buy the ST SIM that uses the GSM carrier you want.

 

[Meractik]

You just buy the ST SIM that uses the GSM carrier you want.

oh okay, thanks for that.