New T-Mobile Monthly 4G plans?

[fuzzybabybunny]

And why is the Galaxy Nexus (GT-I9250) being sold elsewhere for $400+ elsewhere when you can get it for $350 before shipping and tax directly from Google?

https://www.google.com/search?sugex...cp.r_qf.&fp=697c9bb553ac053f&biw=1536&bih=756

 

[Chiropteran]

The sprint and verizon version use different cellular technology than the one sold by google. Other than that, I don't know. Maybe foreign versions of the phone, maybe they are just trying to sell to customers who aren't aware of google's direct pricing, I don't know.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Where do I go to find user reports of speed and network for 4g, 3g, and 2g in my area? dslreports? speedtest?

Dont know. Im going by my actual experience. In addition, Sprint's 3G network was spotty. It would have full reception but downspeeds would freeze multiple times during any download. I could tether off of Tmobile's 2G, although slow, it was always consistent.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Well, I still went ahead and got the Nexus. $359.97 after tax and shipping to Hawaii.

I'm still going to try the $30 a month plan. When I make phone calls I'm usually at a spot with WiFi anyway. I used VOIP on just a regular cell signal a year ago, but this was in Taiwan. It seemed to work fine on whatever GSM networks they have over there (Taiwan Da Ge Da).

 

[lothar]

These are looking pretty damn good:

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans

T-Mobile's 3G is already pretty damn fast, right? Definitely faster than Sprint?

$50/month - unlimited talk, text, and 100MB of 4G, after which it's 3G.

But if 3G is already fast enough... my unlimited text, web, and 500minutes of talk with Sprint is $80/month. If T-Mobile's 3G is faster than Sprint's there's no reason not to switch to T-Mobile, right? That's saving at least $30 a month.

Get the Galaxy Nexus for $350. A little over a year of saving $20 a month the phone will be paid off.

How is this a good price?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

How is this a good price?

At the time I didn't know that T-Mobile didn't really have a 3G service. Apparently it's either 4G or 2G Edge. So I'd either go for the 2GB 4G plan at $60 a month or the 100 minute unlimited data/text plan for $30 a month. I'll go for the $30 a month plan first. Either way it's better than $80 a month with Sprint. Plus I'll have a phone and be on a network standard that functions better worldwide.

 

[lothar]

I'm more surprised that Amazon doesn't sell the GSM Galaxy Nexus for $350 directly or that Google doesn't let them? Or is there a $50 subsidization on Google's part(I doubt this)
Whichever way it is...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm more surprised that Amazon doesn't sell the GSM Galaxy Nexus for $350 directly or that Google doesn't let them? Or is there a $50 subsidization on Google's part(I doubt this)
Whichever way it is...

I don't know. I ordered the Nexus today and the cheapest place selling it was actually Google... everyone else was selling it for at least $400 before tax/shipping. I did not check eBay.

 

[lothar]

At the time I didn't know that T-Mobile didn't really have a 3G service. Apparently it's either 4G or 2G Edge. So I'd either go for the 2GB 4G plan at $60 a month or the 100 minute unlimited data/text plan for $30 a month. I'll go for the $30 a month plan first. Either way it's better than $80 a month with Sprint. Plus I'll have a phone and be on a network standard that functions better worldwide.

T-Mobile's network standard doesn't function better worldwide.
In fact, it probably doesn't function anywhere worldwide.

If you're referring to the fact that the GSM Galaxy Nexus is a pentaband phone, then yes. However, T-Mobile's craptastic AWS network standard has nothing to do with it being able to function better worldwide.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

T-Mobile's network standard doesn't function better worldwide.
In fact, it probably doesn't function anywhere worldwide.

If you're referring to the fact that the GSM Galaxy Nexus is a pentaband phone, then yes. However, T-Mobile's craptastic AWS network standard has nothing to do with it being able to function better worldwide.

yes, pentaband

 

[wirednuts]

So basically:

1. Order the Google Nexus.
2. Once it arrives, I port my number to Google Voice. Google voice then gives me a Google number in return.
3. I immediately go to Walmart and tell them I want the $30/month plan.
4. I register the Nexus and the Google Voice number to them and start my new plan.
5. Is this the correct order? Does porting my number automatically cancel my Sprint plan?

im a sero user going on how many years i cant remember... and i think im going to do just this. i use less then 100min talk anyway per month! and if the SIP phone isnt working well, ill just wait till i get to a spot that has wifi. big deal. or just use texts like i normally do anyway because even normal talk minutes can be lousy on the quality too.

so this will be like the same thing, same cost but 4g speeds and android phones! im going to talk to sprint and see if they can give me an android phone on my sero account! if not, GOODBYE!!!

 

[OBLAMA2009]

none of these prepaid or cheapo contract thingies are really a deal when you take into consideration the throttling, crappy coverage and poor building penetration. youre going to have way more than $40 worth of frustration every month which means it just makes more sense to spend $100 a month to get verizon or att

 

[OBLAMA2009]

It's 4g for the first 100mb, then T-Mobile drops you down to 2g EDGE, not 3g. Totally not worth $50 a month.

Straight Talk is a better deal at $45 a month. My wife and I are now on Straight Talk AT&T and loving it. We're saving money and getting better coverage and features. I ported my number to Google Voice and wife # to Straight Talk. I now have two Google Voice numbers.

jesus christ thats retarded. someone really needs to crack down on the completely fraudulent advertising of all these "unlimited 4g plan (for first 100mb)" etc...

 

[Thegonagle]

Just a point of technical accuracy: T-Mobile never kicks your phone to the EDGE network. You remain connected to the 3G/"4G" HSPA network, but they throttle your speed to 120 kbps.

Also, T-Mobile does have 3G. They use an advanced form of 3G called HSPA. What they do not have is true 4G, which uses the LTE standard. Their updated 3G is so advanced that it approximates the speed of early 4G networks, so T-Mobile's marketing department simply started calling it "4G."

 

[SniperWulf]

I switched my wife and I over to prepaid a few months back. Best thing I've ever done. We are currently using GNex's that we bought off the Play Store.

I'm currently using the $30 100minute/unlim text/5GB of HSPA data plan with T-mobile. I drop the phone into airplane mode with I'm at home and use Groove IP.

She's currently using a Straight Talk plan with an AT&T SIM for $45. But we are probably going switch her to the same setup as me once this next billing cycle ends.


Here are a few threads with great info:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1646755

 

[wirednuts]

the 30$ a month data plan is much better though. the 'unlimited data' for that is 5gb of '4g' and then unlimited slower internet after that.

add in the 100min of anytime talk, which is perfect for when your data isnt letting you make calls and you cant find wifi.

i think im going to do this. now i just need $200 for a cheap unsubsidized phone! the sgsIII is $599!

 

[sjwaste]

Well that shut me up. I now believe people are being booted/throttled from ST. If it happens to me, I'll port my number out to TM, but I use very little data in the first place since I have wifi at work.

 

[benzylic]

Well that shut me up. I now believe people are being booted/throttled from ST. If it happens to me, I'll port my number out to TM, but I use very little data in the first place since I have wifi at work.

I think if straight talk boots you, you lose your number.

 

[abaez]

none of these prepaid or cheapo contract thingies are really a deal when you take into consideration the throttling, crappy coverage and poor building penetration. youre going to have way more than $40 worth of frustration every month which means it just makes more sense to spend $100 a month to get verizon or att

The $30 plan uses Tmo's regular network, gives you 5gbs, and has pretty good coverage in L.A. There is absolutely no frustration.

Obviously it's not Verizon coverage, but you are paying hundreds of dollars more on Verizon and it's not worth it. At all.

 

[wirednuts]

The $30 plan uses Tmo's regular network, gives you 5gbs, and has pretty good coverage in L.A. There is absolutely no frustration.

Obviously it's not Verizon coverage, but you are paying hundreds of dollars more on Verizon and it's not worth it. At all.

yeah i used to have tmo here in the midwest, and quite frankly it was fantastic. the service was surprisingly good. i only switched to sprint because of the sero deal... but i think im finally ready to ditch the shitty service and crappy phone for the tmo $30 data deal with android! same price, a little different since i must use gv, but overall it will be much better!

 

[ponyo]

I think if straight talk boots you, you lose your number.

I don't even know my Straight Talk number nor do I care. I ported my number to Google Voice since it's also my business number. I have two Google Voice numbers now, one business, one personal. One time $20 fee to have permanent second Google Voice number is a deal.

 

[Oyeve]

Ive been on tmo since they were omnipoint and have never had any issues with building penetration or calling from out of country. In fact my job at the time insisted on tmobile because I had to travel all the time to europe and tmo was by far the most reliable and cheapest. That said I did cancel my old plan and jumped on their new family plan. 1000 shared mins, unlimited texting and unlimited data (5gb highspeed then throttled) per phone. I have 2 lines and it costs me $109 a month. My jobs supplied razr is around the same cost and its only 1 line the VRWs 4glte is pathetically slow. So so I dont even use the phone as I should. I only use it for calls to and from work.

 

[sjwaste]

I think if straight talk boots you, you lose your number.

Good point. I wonder if I can port my number to GV then reactivate the same SIM on ST without re-porting, or if I'd need a new SIM.

 

[benzylic]

Good point. I wonder if I can port my number to GV then reactivate the same SIM on ST without re-porting, or if I'd need a new SIM.

You would port your number to GV, then you would have to activate a new SIM on ST, who would give you a ST number, then you set GV to forward all calls from your ST number. You may be able to use the same sim, I've never used a phone with a sim, only CDMA networks.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

If you go with ANY prepaid carrier you need to port your number to Google Voice first. Never port a number you care about to a prepaid carrier.

In response to the frustration comment, I've been using the $30 T-Mobile plan for a few months ago and it's been perfect for my needs. The only frustration I've experienced has been at how crappy Sipdroid and its alternatives are. So far Sipdroid has been the least crappy, but it's still crap.