Cell service resellers that use the Verizon network?

[Throckmorton]

I have Virgin Mobile but my Kyocera Rise is dying, and the coverage sucks anyway, so I'm looking for similarly cheap service that uses the Verizon network-- less than $50. I spend a lot of time in rural places. I'd like an physical keyboard Android or Blackberry with 3G, don't need 4G. I usually use less than 2GB because I don't stream. So far I've only found Straight Talk, but I'd rather not support Wal Mart.


Verizon is ridiculously expensive. What kind of sucker pays $60 for a 2GB plan and another $40 "for the device"?

 

[notposting]

Page Plus rolls on VZW's network

 

[SunnyD]

PagePlus, TalkForGood are both Verizon MVNOs.

StraightTalk is resold through Walmart. It isn't a Walmart product. It's an America Movil product (aka: Carlos Slim).

 

[kalrith]

You can use one of the monthly services through PagePlus, or you can buy a phone card with a set amount of money on it. You can get 5% off through callingmart using a coupon code they send out about once a month.

I bought my wife a Droid Incredible 2 and the $80 card, which lasted about 6 months. I'm about to buy myself an Incredible 1 or a Droid X. You could get either a Droid 2 or Droid 3 for the physical keyboard.

Verizon doesn't allow PagePlus to use 4G, although some people have activated 4G phones on there. Specifically, you need a 3G Verizon post-paid phone with a clean ESN.

Read more here: http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/364-Page-Plus-Cellular

 

[Phokus]

PagePlus, TalkForGood are both Verizon MVNOs.

StraightTalk is resold through Walmart. It isn't a Walmart product. It's an America Movil product (aka: Carlos Slim).

Straight Talk is also only T-mobile (at the moment) and possibly AT&T if they get Sim cards for AT&T again.

 

[you2]

My understanding is that Ting roams on verizon (for voice). Btw verizon 3g kind of sucks; I would go with at&t if all you want is 3g.

 

[ImDonly1]

Straight Talk is also only T-mobile (at the moment) and possibly AT&T if they get Sim cards for AT&T again.

They sell Verizon phones though. They just don't allow you to bring any Verizon phone you want. For example, the iPhone 5 they sell is running on Verizon's 3g network.

 

[cardiac]

Pageplus offers some great plans, too. I have my wife and I on the TNT1200 (1200 min/3000 texts/250mb data - $29.99) and both of my sons on the "12" (250min/250 texts/10mb data - $12) and it works flawlessly. I service my plans through http://www.kittywireless.com http://www.kittywireless.com)which has an auto-pay service. Verizon's 3g is pretty decent around here. Bring your own device, which is awesome... We use a Droid original, Droid X, Incredible, and I use a Razr. My bill was almost $175 on AT&T before I switched 2 years ago...

 

[Slick5150]

As cardiac said above, if you're going to use Page Plus, go through kittywireless.com

Their customer service is outstanding, compared to Page Plus' directly which is abysmal. So you're getting the same product and the same pricing (if not a bit cheaper), but far superior support.

 

[corkyg]

Comcast's Xfinity now is teamed with Verizon for bundled wireless service.

 

[Ksyder]

As cardiac said above, if you're going to use Page Plus, go through kittywireless.com

Their customer service is outstanding, compared to Page Plus' directly which is abysmal. So you're getting the same product and the same pricing (if not a bit cheaper), but far superior support.

Page Plus has had a bad reputation for CS but they have improved it by leaps and bounds. They also have online chat if you are registered on their site.

 

[bamx2]

Here is another Verizon network MVNO- http://www.nextgmobile.com/

I am a satisfied Page Plus user . Their CS has been fine. Discount refills are available at callingmart.com, pindirectcell.com, pincheap.com and few other places .

 

[cardiac]

Comcast's Xfinity now is teamed with Verizon for bundled wireless service.

While there is a bit of a "bundle" discount, this is substantially more $ than the prepaid services such as PagePlus....

 

[corkyg]

While there is a bit of a "bundle" discount, this is substantially more $ than the prepaid services such as PagePlus....

Very true. But, does PagePlus have the same coverage and reliability? Do they include broadband service for data. tethered or Wi-Fi?

 

[lothar]

I have Virgin Mobile but my Kyocera Rise is dying, and the coverage sucks anyway, so I'm looking for similarly cheap service that uses the Verizon network-- less than $50. I spend a lot of time in rural places. I'd like an physical keyboard Android or Blackberry with 3G, don't need 4G. I usually use less than 2GB because I don't stream. So far I've only found Straight Talk, but I'd rather not support Wal Mart.


Verizon is ridiculously expensive. What kind of sucker pays $60 for a 2GB plan and another $40 "for the device"?

Why is this?

 

[lothar]

Comcast's Xfinity now is teamed with Verizon for bundled wireless service.

Ugh...

 

[cardiac]

Very true. But, does PagePlus have the same coverage and reliability? Do they include broadband service for data. tethered or Wi-Fi?

It uses the Verizon network. Some roaming is handled differently, but I haven't experienced it. I drove from No. Indiana to Naples Florida, and I saw the roaming symbol once in Kentucky for about 10 minutes, but could still text; I didn't try voice.
I keep my push email on 24/7, get about 20 emails or more daily, and use less than 200mb a month. I am on WiFi periodically throughout the day when in my office. I live out in a very rural area of Northern Indiana, and have good coverage even inside my house.

There is a 5gb plan that would probably be good for tethering. If you are a high-end user, you may still want to stick with one of the major carriers. I think that most users don't fall into that category

 

[bamx2]

The 3G phone limitation is the main problem with PPC for me. You have to use Verizon 3G phones that were last released >2 or 3 years ago (or non-LTE iPhones) if you want plug n play . Otherwise, you have to flash the phone either DIY or use a commerical flashing service and possibly wind up with less than perfect results ( issues with data,mms, updates) . However, lots of people do it for the value in the plans that Page Plus Cellular offers.

DIY Flashing -

http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/518-Page-Plus-Handset-and-Technical-Forum

http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/364-Page-Plus-Cellular


search -xda-developers.com for page plus- one example below-

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1895548

 

[Red Storm]

Can you use any Verizon phone on Page Plus? Like if you bring in any 4G phone, it will work but only utilize 3G?

 

[bamx2]

No, you can't. That's a big problem. Any 4G / LTE phone will have to be flashed to use on Page Plus Cellular at all. This is the situation until Verizon allows 4G / LTE service on its MVNOs (who knows when).

See the links in in the post above for examples of phone flashing to Page Plus Cellular. http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=34753820&postcount=18

Can you use any Verizon phone on Page Plus? Like if you bring in any 4G phone, it will work but only utilize 3G?

 

[bamx2]

Apparently, Straight Talk is about to offer BYOD service on the Verizon network . The phones must be set up for 3G like the other MVNO's using
the Verizon network.

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1794084-Cdma-byop?highlight=cdma+byop

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1794091-A-Little-Competition