iPhone 3g to prepaid - options?

[slackerinabox]

My dad (retired) has an iPhone 3g and wants to break ties with AT&T because of the high monthly bill... He doesn't use the phone very much and I think prepaid might be a good option.,..

Assuming he's ok with either EDGE or simply no data at all (just use the phone as an MP3 player plus for voice calls), what are his options?

 

[Slick5150]

If he doesn't care about data then Page Plus is the best option. $29.99/month for 1200 minutes & 1200 texts, and it uses Verizon's network.

If he wants data still, Boost is a decent option. $50/month for unlimited talk/text/data, runs on Sprint's network.

 

[slackerinabox]

If he doesn't care about data then Page Plus is the best option. $29.99/month for 1200 minutes & 1200 texts, and it uses Verizon's network.

If he wants data still, Boost is a decent option. $50/month for unlimited talk/text/data, runs on Sprint's network.

Great info but he definitely want to stay with GSM because he wants to use his iPhone for media/ contacts/voice, and has long term plans of switching to a full data/voice carrier once his plan to move back to india happens.

 

[pm]

You can't use an iPhone 3G on either Boost or Verizon. They are both CDMA and the iPhone is stuck on GSM.

I would suggest T-Mobile's $100 for 1000 minutes (expire in 1 year).
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/Prepaid-Plans.aspx

I don't know of a good GSM prepaid data plan on any of the networks in the US.

 

[Slick5150]

I think T-Mobile's plan suggested above would be his only option if he wants to keep his iPhone. Frankly, I think he'd be better off getting rid of it. He'd save a ton of money, that's for sure.

 

[slackerinabox]

You can't use an iPhone 3G on either Boost or Verizon. They are both CDMA and the iPhone is stuck on GSM.

I would suggest T-Mobile's $100 for 1000 minutes (expire in 1 year).
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/Prepaid-Plans.aspx

I don't know of a good GSM prepaid data plan on any of the networks in the US.

Great info about the expiration of minutes, I dug around t-mobile and couldn't find it that clearly stated - thanks!

Question - would data be edge or simply not exist? It's not a huge concern, but I'm sure he'd be ok paying additional data charges in case he wanted to say use the web for an emergency. I honestly doubt he'd ever would, but I'd like to give him all the info so that he can make a good decision. Simply put, is there data at all with tmobile prepaid, at an additional charge of course?

Thanks so much!

 

[slackerinabox]

I think T-Mobile's plan suggested above would be his only option if he wants to keep his iPhone. Frankly, I think he'd be better off getting rid of it. He'd save a ton of money, that's for sure.

I agree with you but part of his long term plan is to return to India, where I know plenty of people have cheap data/voice on unlocked iPhones. He also will end up paying a termination fee and being able to keep his shiny phone (however gimped for now) will help lesson the blow I think.

But your original post is VERY useful, I'm considering it for myself and my wife... $29 - $39 a month is a steal (especially since I prefer Verizon's network).

 

[pm]

I think that data would show up as EDGE - the "E" icon would be there - but pretty sure data wouldn't exist for the vast majority of sites.

I think you can get limited WAP access (text-based internet) on T-Mobile's T-Zones for free with the T-Mobile prepaid. You might be able get to Yahoo mail via this. As I recall, T-Zones was locked into Yahoo and then a bunch of T-Mobile stuff to see you things like wallpaper and ringtones.

Using these settings:
http://support.t-mobile.com/doc/tm21625.xml

I haven't actually used T-Mobile prepaid, but my sister is using it on her iPhone and she does get limited WAP access to some things. She can view the weather, and do some limited (text-based) internet functions using the T-Zones internet on her iPhone.

For the expiration, you can click on the little "go gold" icon on the matrix. You can "go gold" if you spend $100, after that all minutes expire in a year after purchase (which is pretty good even by international prepaid standards). http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/g...ro_GoldRewards

 

[Slick5150]

I agree with you but part of his long term plan is to return to India, where I know plenty of people have cheap data/voice on unlocked iPhones. He also will end up paying a termination fee and being able to keep his shiny phone (however gimped for now) will help lesson the blow I think.

But your original post is VERY useful, I'm considering it for myself and my wife... $29 - $39 a month is a steal (especially since I prefer Verizon's network).

Yeah, I got my GF moved over to Page Plus and she's been very happy with it.

But yeah, understand then with your Dad wanting to keep the iPhone if the plan is to eventually be able to use it in India. Unfortunately the options are fairly limited here with it, but if he's willing to live with the gimped service for that period of time, then it should work ok.

 

[jalaram]

I had the iPhone with TMobile To Go. You can still get some useful basics via the limited T-Zones. This thread at Howard Forums lists a site that shows all of those available sites including one proxy to allow limited access to the regular web.

[/b]

Yeah, I got my GF moved over to Page Plus and she's been very happy with it.

But yeah, understand then with your Dad wanting to keep the iPhone if the plan is to eventually be able to use it in India. Unfortunately the options are fairly limited here with it, but if he's willing to live with the gimped service for that period of time, then it should work ok.

Be aware that Page Plus has recently banned smart phones. I found out while activating a K1M on Page Plus for my sister. It's not a smart phone, but I was told it at that time.