New T-Mobile Monthly 4G plans?

[fuzzybabybunny]

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.

 

[Kanalua]

Unlimited Web & Text + 100 minutes for $30! Then just go with GrooveIP for VOIP and you're set.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Unlimited Web & Text + 100 minutes for $30! Then just go with GrooveIP for VOIP and you're set.

Would this totally hog the battery? Especially if the program needed to always be on standby to wait for incoming calls?

 

[Kanalua]

Would this totally hog the battery? Especially if the program needed to always be on standby to wait for incoming calls?

Drain should be minimal.

If you are constantly connected to WiFi or have constant HSPA+ then you should be good. I use GroveIP on my Gnex, Nexus7 and my wifi only Vibrant. Works great.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

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?

 

[abaez]

These plans aren't new. They've been around for months. You can just order a SIM from tmobiles site and activate.. don't need to go to Walmart.

GrooveIP would not work very well to use regularly. I can really only use it on wifi.

 

[Bateluer]

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?

As I understand it, this would be the order.

1. Order Google Nexus from Play Store.
2. Purchase TMO SIM card
3. Port existing number to Google Voice. This effectively ends your contract/plan with that carrier. Your number will be accessible when you log into the Google Voice app on an Android device after this.
4. Activate SIM card with Monthly 4G plan of your choice, which would give you a TMO number to attach to that SIM.
5. Install and log into Google Voice app, set phone to dial out from GV number.

Far as I know, Sprint usually ports numbers to GV without issue, but I've heard Verizon plays games. I'll find out on that front myself.

These plans aren't new. They've been around for months. You can just order a SIM from tmobiles site and activate.. don't need to go to Walmart.

GrooveIP would not work very well to use regularly. I can really only use it on wifi.

The 30/month/100min/5GB plan is web exclusive to TMO.com or Walmart.

 

[Strk]

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?

Sort of, but as mentioned, you don't need to go to Walmart. And order this ( http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit ) when you order your Nexus.

And porting to GV doesn't automatically cancel the line, but if you ported it to T-mobile it would.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Do you guys think it's worth it to get it from the Play Store versus Craigslist and save $50?

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/mob/3184860854.html

I figure that I won't really need the warranty since I'm purchasing the accidental damage coverage anyway for $7 a month.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

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.

arent they counting hspa+ as 4g which would make their 3g real tmobile 3g=slow and spotty. $30 for unlimited 3g web would be cool for a tablet or an ultrabook though

 

[ponyo]

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.

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.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

A number of us have been on these plans for a while now. There are a few threads about it already. But to reiterate what's been posted in the others:

You won't be using GrooveIP (or any other VOIP client) very successfully over T-Mobile's HSPA network. They work well over wifi and that's about it.

Straight Talk looks appealing at first glance, but they actually have provisions in their contract (if I recall correctly) stating that you're not allowed to stream even music, much less video, over their network and that they can cut you off without warning at any time. This has happened to a few users on this forum and others and the point at which they cut you off seems to be completely random. The de facto rule of thumb has been set at 100MB a day.

 

[sjwaste]

Straight Talk looks appealing at first glance, but they actually have provisions in their contract (if I recall correctly) stating that you're not allowed to stream even music, much less video, over their network and that they can cut you off without warning at any time. This has happened to a few users on this forum and others and the point at which they cut you off seems to be completely random. The de facto rule of thumb has been set at 100MB a day.

I keep reading this, but who are the "few users on this forum" that this has happened to? I'm pretty sure this is anecdotal from a couple of people on XDA and it's just repeated everywhere as though it's common. It may have even been before they were offering a standalone SIM and people were repurposing the E71 SIM for their own devices. I still have never directly corresponded with a single person who actually got booted from Straight Talk.

I'm a happy ST customer, FWIW. Using my AT&T SGS2.

 

[abaez]

Go to howardforums. A ton of people have been hit by the ST limits.

 

[ImDonly1]

Go to howardforums. A ton of people have been hit by the ST limits.

This. Also FYI ST isn't booting anymore it seems they are throttling people now. The bad part I'd it doesn't reset your speeds after you refill. You have to call them and if you ever have to call them you know it isn't fun.

I was throttled a few weeks ago right after I refilled. My iPhone showed I used 1GB the last month or so. I used FB support and the dumbass rep insisted on checking my coverage area and clearing my cache, etc. She would not admit to the throttle and said its working fine. At the end she even said "just use WiFi." Well why would I have a smartphone and data plan if I was going to use wifi all the time? After a few days I submitted a new ticket and got a new rep. I said I'm throttled and all she said was try restarting your phone (which I have done before). After I rebooted my speeds were normal. So, they throttle but will never admit to it.

My speeds when throttled were 0.1 Mbps download and the upload was unthrottled at 1 Mbps. Lots of people get throttled on howardforums.

 

[Phokus]

This. Also FYI ST isn't booting anymore it seems they are throttling people now. The bad part I'd it doesn't reset your speeds after you refill. You have to call them and if you ever have to call them you know it isn't fun.

I was throttled a few weeks ago right after I refilled. My iPhone showed I used 1GB the last month or so. I used FB support and the dumbass rep insisted on checking my coverage area and clearing my cache, etc. She would not admit to the throttle and said its working fine. At the end she even said "just use WiFi." Well why would I have a smartphone and data plan if I was going to use wifi all the time? After a few days I submitted a new ticket and got a new rep. I said I'm throttled and all she said was try restarting your phone (which I have done before). After I rebooted my speeds were normal. So, they throttle but will never admit to it.

My speeds when throttled were 0.1-0.5 Mbps download and the upload was unthrottled at 1 Mbps. Lots of people get throttled on howardforums.

Is there a thread with the complaints?

 

[Robert Munch]

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.

Misleading because the Galaxy Nex isn't really 350 once you tack on taxes and shipping. I'm going on T-Mo's pre-paid plan but, with a HTC One S instead.

I really wanted to go with a Galaxy Nex but, the price differences were better for the One S and spec/battery results were better.

Sure, i'd like to receive Google updates constantly on a GNex, but it's not a game breaker for me.

 

[Chiropteran]

$30 unlimited txt/web + 100 minutes of talk time is perfect for anyone who doesn't need to talk on the phone for hours every day.

I find I can easily keep under 100 minutes, but even if you can't, it's $.10/minutes for going over. 200 extra minutes and you are at $50 for the month, so unless you regularly use over 300 minutes of talk time per month the $30 deal blows away the $50 deal.

 

[Chiropteran]

Misleading because the Galaxy Nex isn't really 350 without taxes and shipping. I'm going on T-Mo's pre-paid plan but, with a HTC One S instead.

Sure it is...

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=galaxy_nexus_hspa

 

[Robert Munch]

Sure it is...

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=galaxy_nexus_hspa

Kay, then add taxes and shipping. Click add to cart and checkout which came out to 390 for me.

If you shop around a bit you can get one for 350~ new + no shipping and tax maybe less.

 

[Chiropteran]

You said it wasn't 350 without tax and shipping. Emphasis on without.

 

[AstroManLuca]

You could always go for the $60/mo plan to get enough data AND unlimited talk. Or just pay the overage charges of 10c a minute once you exceed 100 minutes (more economical than the $60/mo plan if you use less than 400 minutes a month). You could even supplement it with a cheap prepaid phone specifically for talk, but that seems like more trouble than it's worth.

 

[ImDonly1]

Is there a thread with the complaints?

http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...T-has-Throttled-you-and-share-your-experience
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...yone-been-throttled-lately?highlight=throttle
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...helped-me-get-UN-throttled?highlight=throttle

Speedtest from a thread in there (not mine)

 

[AznAnarchy99]

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.

In la socal area, tmobile 2g is about as fast as sprint 3g. I dropped my sprint line for that same pre pay in preparation to my switch to Verizon. I'd choose tmobile over sprint any day even with 2g

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

In la socal area, tmobile 2g is about as fast as sprint 3g. I dropped my sprint line for that same pre pay in preparation to my switch to Verizon. I'd choose tmobile over sprint any day even with 2g

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