Tmobile phone advice

[Arsinek]

So I have the option of getting on my sisters family plan on Tmobile. She has the classic unlimited everything. I went to a Tmobile store today and was told Id be paying $50 a month if I got on her plan. So Im thinking about doing that. Im not sure what phone to get though. Im looking to get the best phone they offer. Any suggestions?

 

[Chocu1a]

Galaxy S2

 

[Pliablemoose]

If you don't want to get locked in to a contract, you can go to Straight Talk, buy a sim card and bring your own phone. They now support ATT & TMobile GSM smartphones for $45/month sans contract.

 

[bearxor]

Yeah, for $50/month I don't really see why you'd want to be locked in on her contract when you can go prepaid and no contract for $5 less. Thats what I would do anyways.

 

[Arsinek]

Yeah, for $50/month I don't really see why you'd want to be locked in on her contract when you can go prepaid and no contract for $5 less. Thats what I would do anyways.

But then wouldnt I be limited to bottom tier phones?

 

[Pliablemoose]

But then wouldnt I be limited to bottom tier phones?

Any GSM phone sold in the US by ATT or TMobile.

Best tactic is to wait till the end of the month and score one off Craigslist with some dickering & cash in hand...

 

[Arsinek]

Galaxy S2

Thats what I was thinking.



But then I was thinking would it be worth it to wait for this phone to come out?

 

[Gibson486]

Or, you could just get the prepaid version of the $50 plan. The only difference between that and the contract is that you only get the first 100MB at 4G speed (used to be 2GB, but now that is only under contract). If all you do is check email and surf the web, then it's plenty.

The only issue I have with Straight talk is that they never mention what types of wireless data speeds you may get. Unlimited is great, but if it is with EDGE speeds, dam, that will suck.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'd wait a bit for a promotion like this to run again: http://www.tmonews.com/2011/02/all-smartphones-free-today-and-tomorrow/

Actually, they're running a promotion this weekend, invitation only, but they may give it to you, they just got hammered by JD Powers, they traditionally rank as #1, dropped to #4.

 

[dagamer34]

Thats what I was thinking.



But then I was thinking would it be worth it to wait for this phone to come out?

Meh, that phone is still worse than the GS2.

 

[bearxor]

Meh, that phone is still worse than the GS2.

Actually, what's the difference between the Blaze and the GS2? Both use a 1.5 dc S3. Is it just the modem? Is the GS2 limited to just 21Mbps?

 

[dagamer34]

Actually, what's the difference between the Blaze and the GS2? Both use a 1.5 dc S3. Is it just the modem? Is the GS2 limited to just 21Mbps?

GS2 has a Super AMOLED+ display which has a true RGB sub pixel matrix compared to the RGBG layout in the Galaxy S Blaze and Vibrant.

I certainly don't think it's worth "waiting for" when there's already a better phone on the market. And if the display is the only difference, then it's not going to be that much cheaper. It also sounds like by the time this is released, the Galaxy S III will have been announced and GS2 prices should be cheaper.

 

[preslove]

Why would he go with prepaid when the family plan is only $5 cheaper? 24 x $5 = $120. The subsidy on any top tier tmo device is much higher than that.

 

[Rambusted]

I bought the sensation 4g when it was new and according to HTC it will be the first model updated to ICS this march. I have heard complaints about the phone but honestly I havent had a single issue with it. Its dual core has a pretty high res slcd screen and its really comfortable in the hand and against the face. Not too mention it is now 78$ all the time at wal-mart.

 

[Arsinek]

so galaxy s2 is better then the galaxy s blaze?

 

[Arsinek]

any ideas when galaxy s3 will be out?

 

[Fire&Blood]

I would stay away from subsidy plans, especially T-Mobile ones. You can get the AT&T version of SGS2 used on ebay for ~$350 and go prepaid. One of the easiest phones to unlock should you still want to use it on a T-Mobile prepaid plan. It's a better phone than anything T-Mobile has to offer and likely the first Gingerbread native phone to get ICS.

If you insist on a T-Mobile phone for data speeds, they'll let you pay $200 for a new phone and the rest you'll be paying off $10 per month for 2 years.

Buying a used SGS2 and going to Straight Talk is your best option IMO.
SGS3 will likely follow the predecessor's schedule, meaning a international version is likely to be launched in May with a high price tag at launch. It's doubtful it will be compatible with T-Mobile's HSPA network. If you don't have frequent wifi coverage and data speeds are important to you, stay away from T-Mobile.

 

[OS]

i have the tmo prepaid 4G $30 plan. 100 min, UL text/data.
Using it with the samsung exhibit II 4G for $200.
The phone is supposedly a derivative of the Galaxy W in other countries.


I used to have verizon but i was paying something stupid like $75/month even with a corporate discount and they only have two year contracts now. I had enough.

Tmo has pretty decent coverage atleast in socal.
Data signal is weak in large commercial buildings, I read somewhere this something a function of the data frequency they use which has poor penetration. Outside the signal is always good.
Voice no problems so far.


I am pretty happy with service and device all things considered.
Both the device and plan are really inexpensive and are good value.

 

[N4g4rok]

Lumia 710 isn't bad, if you aren't looking for Android specifically.

 

[DaWhim]

what is her monthly usage like? like many have suggested, you may want to look into prepaid, just fvck contract, i don't know how someone can agree to those term. i have been cellphone contract-free since 8/2008

 

[preslove]

I would stay away from subsidy plans, especially T-Mobile ones. You can get the AT&T version of SGS2 used on ebay for ~$350 and go prepaid. One of the easiest phones to unlock should you still want to use it on a T-Mobile prepaid plan. It's a better phone than anything T-Mobile has to offer and likely the first Gingerbread native phone to get ICS.

If you insist on a T-Mobile phone for data speeds, they'll let you pay $200 for a new phone and the rest you'll be paying off $10 per month for 2 years.

Buying a used SGS2 and going to Straight Talk is your best option IMO.
SGS3 will likely follow the predecessor's schedule, meaning a international version is likely to be launched in May with a high price tag at launch. It's doubtful it will be compatible with T-Mobile's HSPA network. If you don't have frequent wifi coverage and data speeds are important to you, stay away from T-Mobile.

Your advice is terrible and your description of T-Mobile is inaccurate. T-Mobile has better service than ATT in some areas. Definitely where I live. Who the hell wants to buy a used smartphone off of Ebay? Smartphones are just about the last thing you should buy used off ebay.

 

[Fire&Blood]

Who the hell wants to buy a used smartphone off of Ebay?

People who don't want to pay full price and want some buyer protection rather than craigslist option?

I am with T-Mobile right now and as long one treats them as a dumb pipeline and brings their own device, it's about as good of a deal as Straight Talk.

Yeah, T-Mobile has better service than AT&T in "some" areas. Those areas being right below the tower with unobstructed view of it. Enable voice roaming, drive around or leave town and guess what network name will pop on the screen. Go inside a building or move away from the tower and you are lucky to pull 20% of advertised speeds even on the "uber" HSPA+ devices.
Their smartphone selection is shitty as over a million people who went through the trouble of getting an ATT phone to T-Mobile can tell you, has always been and won't get better anytime soon because they have a fetish for theoretical high speeds their customers will never achieve as opposed to offering good phones.

 

[lupi]

Then go to at&t.