Need input on new phone and carrier.

[mcveigh]

I'm starting a new job in a couple weeks. My employer pays for (I think) $100 of your cell phone bill (I'll be working from home/ on the road, cell will be my business phone).

I'd like to get a shared data plan, so I could just add my wife. My new boss said that's what he does, not being shady.

I'm thinking Verizon or T-mobile.

Verizon would be 6Gb for $60 plus $20x2 for phone = $100
T-mobile would be 6Gb EACH for $100

I like verizon coverage, hate their bloatware.
T-mobile gives me more data, and I think better international coverage. I may have to goto europe sometimes, so this might help.
I have no idea how Verizon would handle europe.

I have no idea on AT&T.

Phones:
Iphone.....maybe. Never had one but I need to have a reliable phone with great camera. I like that updates come from apple.

Main contenders: Note5, G4, V10. Droid Turbo2-- I'd prefer a Nexus 6P, but can't get it through the carrier. I may just get an older note4 and then pay for a Nexus later.

ANY ideas on a better plan or phone is appreciated.

 

[smitbret]

I'm starting a new job in a couple weeks. My employer pays for (I think) $100 of your cell phone bill (I'll be working from home/ on the road, cell will be my business phone).

I'd like to get a shared data plan, so I could just add my wife. My new boss said that's what he does, not being shady.

I'm thinking Verizon or T-mobile.

Verizon would be 6Gb for $60 plus $20x2 for phone = $100
T-mobile would be 6Gb EACH for $100

I like verizon coverage, hate their bloatware.
T-mobile gives me more data, and I think better international coverage. I may have to goto europe sometimes, so this might help.
I have no idea how Verizon would handle europe.

I have no idea on AT&T.

Phones:
Iphone.....maybe. Never had one but I need to have a reliable phone with great camera. I like that updates come from apple.

Main contenders: Note5, G4, V10. Droid Turbo2-- I'd prefer a Nexus 6P, but can't get it through the carrier. I may just get an older note4 and then pay for a Nexus later.

ANY ideas on a better plan or phone is appreciated.

International travel will require GSM (T-Mobile and AT&T). Verizon and Sprint use CDMA which isn't nearly as globally accepted. T-Mobile is nice as long as you stick to metro areas but when you hit the countryside your 4G LTE drops to Edge coverage really fast.

Of the phones you mentioned I would probably get the G4. Best bang for the buck for sure and the camera is fantastic. If you are going T-Mobile you will probably want to get it directly through them so you can get a phone that supports WiFi calling. T-Mobile runs on a much higher frequency that gets blocked pretty quickly in things like basements or if you are in the middle of a large building so WiFi calling comes in really handy for situations like that.

 

[soulcougher73]

Id probably try to get on AT&T if you travel here and internationally as well. More solid coverage vs. T-Mobile.

 

[openwheel]

For business travel, I have Verizon unlimited everything plan but its expensive. Verizon phones accept European sim cards, so international travel is okay as long as your employer pays for the local sim. T-Mobile has free data in Europe but it is very slow. Good only for occasional email and turn by turn navigation.

If I were you, I'd try to get a grandfathered Verizon plan, otherwise, T-Mobile.

 

[Oyeve]

Tmo on all fronts. They have the best international coverage by far and their 4g and h+ network are much better than from years ago. I have my note 4 and lgv10 on tmo and a 5s and a 6 on vzw. Tmo is at least twice as fast and better penetration than vzw. Imo tmo has much better overall coverage than vzw. With vzw it's either 4glte or 2g.no in between. With tmo you have 4glte then H+ then H then 3g then E.

 

[paperwastage]

International travel will require GSM (T-Mobile and AT&T). Verizon and Sprint use CDMA which isn't nearly as globally accepted. T-Mobile is nice as long as you stick to metro areas but when you hit the countryside your 4G LTE drops to Edge coverage really fast.

Of the phones you mentioned I would probably get the G4. Best bang for the buck for sure and the camera is fantastic. If you are going T-Mobile you will probably want to get it directly through them so you can get a phone that supports WiFi calling. T-Mobile runs on a much higher frequency that gets blocked pretty quickly in things like basements or if you are in the middle of a large building so WiFi calling comes in really handy for situations like that.

new phones are fine... they have basic 2G/3G GSM for international support, even for the stuff from verizon/sprint

I'd recommend getting a global cross-carrier phone - iPHone 6 or nexus 6p/5x... less bloatware too, and you can switch between verizon/att/t-mobile (and perhaps sprint) whenever you like, and more global support on 3G(looks at japan) and LTE bands

how important is your job and voice coverage? as other people say, t-mobile might not be good enough in your area... verizon is by default the best at getting voice coverage (but not always speeds)

 

[Midwayman]

I'd give tmobile a shot. Nice bit is if you get the iphone 6 or 6s it will work on all the major US carriers now. With no contracts you can always just take your phone and move to another carrier. Worst case scenario is you have to pay the phone off before you move. (ATT has band 30 LTE that the others don't, so that's the best version to buy if you can choose)

 

[lopri]

If you hate bloatware then forget Samsung phones from the carriers. You can go with an international version which lacks bloats but it also lacks warranty. But that is the route I chose.

Nexus 5X/6P + Project Fi if you want to be a bit out-of-the-box. I hear good things about the project Fi. You do not have to use it on Fi, however. You can use the Nexuses on any carrier.

You probably cannot go wrong with iPhone 6s + Verizon, but if you have not used iOS devices previously, it is not exactly going to be easy to learn iOS anew. Frustrations may await you, depending on your expectation.

 

[npaladin-2000]

I'd get the Nexus 5X, 6P, 6, or even a Nexus 5 if you want an el-cheapo option (they're on sale for $200, but you can get a Nexus 6 for $300). They've got the best and most universal frequency support out there, and you can use them with AT&T or T-Mobile. All of them but the Nexus 5 will work on Project Fi also.

Out of those T-Mobile and Project Fi have additional goodies for international users, free (slow) data roaming in several countries, free international texting, free or discounted calling while overseas using WiFi calling (which both offer). Fi is cheaper, and their overseas roaming is faster (256 kbps vs T-Mo's 128) but T-Mobile has Music Freedom and BingeOn. Up to you which is more important, but I'd be looking at one of those two.

 

[dainthomas]

I'd get the Nexus 5X, 6P, 6, or even a Nexus 5 if you want an el-cheapo option (they're on sale for $200, but you can get a Nexus 6 for $300). They've got the best and most universal frequency support out there, and you can use them with AT&T or T-Mobile. All of them but the Nexus 5 will work on Project Fi also.

Out of those T-Mobile and Project Fi have additional goodies for international users, free (slow) data roaming in several countries, free international texting, free or discounted calling while overseas using WiFi calling (which both offer). Fi is cheaper, and their overseas roaming is faster (256 kbps vs T-Mo's 128) but T-Mobile has Music Freedom and BingeOn. Up to you which is more important, but I'd be looking at one of those two.

Also with T mobile's new plans you get all your data, text, and minutes in Canada and Mexico.

 

[Carson Dyle]

For coverage, Verizon. I wouldn't want a mission-critical phone on any other network. If you need a more expensive plan, pay the difference yourself.