Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

If you do the "bring your own phone" plan it has to be a GSM phone so you can't pick Verizon. If you want Verizon, you have to buy a phone through StraightTalk.

With a GSM phone, you can pick either ATT or T-Mobile networks.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

^^^ I think it has a little to do with phones too. I just had a basic flip phone before we switched over. Since we were going to have access to data, I decided to cheaply dip my toes in the smart phone world.

From what I gathered, since I wanted to go iPhone I was limited to just the AT&T option (which was fine).

 

[britisher]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

If you like T-Mobile, then consider Metropcs instead. Metropcs were merged with T-Mobile late last year and Metro now uses the same network as T-Mobile. It's 4G as well with good nationwide coverage. The range of phones is smaller at Metropcs then T-Mobile right now, but that is because they are starting to launch GSM (have sim cards) phones now for the T-Mobile network and phase out the phones they previously offered that ran on Metropcs's CDMA (NO sim card) network. Like most providers, they offer unlimited talk & text with date usage throttled back from 4G after a set data limit, depending on plan. They have 3 plans $40, $50 and $60 per month.. But the biggest difference is that Metropcs's plans are INCLUSIVE of all taxes and fees.
I have the $40 per month plan. My wife has a similar plan with Virgin, but after taxes and fees, her monthly payment is $48.15. That's a saving of nearly $100.00 per year on a single line plan. They also offer Family plans with 4 phones for $100.00 per month all in. poster mentioned

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Another alternative that is similar to ST and that has family plans is Net10.
NET10 Wireless

 

[tazrig]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

If you do the "bring your own phone" plan it has to be a GSM phone so you can't pick Verizon. If you want Verizon, you have to buy a phone through StraightTalk.

With a GSM phone, you can pick either ATT or T-Mobile networks.

O.k.... So would there be any reason not to just go to Walmart buy an iphone from them and request Verizon service? What if any features or services am I loosing by buying my phone through Walmart and getting straight talk with them as apposed to getting the phone and plan from Verizon?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

O.k.... So would there be any reason not to just go to Walmart buy an iphone from them and request Verizon service? What if any features or services am I loosing by buying my phone through Walmart and getting straight talk with them as apposed to getting the phone and plan from Verizon?

Not at all. If Verizon is what you want. You are paying the non-subsidized price for the phone which is fairly high but you will make up the price difference in less than a year.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Thanks for the info bruce. Just to recap... the verizon service will be the exact same whether I get it though straight talk at walmart or a dedicated verizon store. The only difference is with straight talk you pay for the phone upfront and much less per month. All other Verizon services remain identical?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Tazrig: I don't think you can do the CDMA iPhone (Verizon Network) through Straight Talk. If you go CDMA, I think you'll have to go with what they have (several types of Android based smart phones).

I think the only way Straight Talk support the iPhone is GSM (which puts you on TMobile or AT&Ts network).

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

I have noticed a little bit of a performance hit regarding dropped calls even though you are supposedly using the exact same equipment but this is with the ATT side.

Customer support won't be the same. I had a good experience getting it all going but others have had issues. I was porting my number over so that was the biggest issue.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

That all sounds pretty expensive. We're at $100 a month with T-Mobile for 5 phones with unlimited talk/text and data with the possibility for throttling after 500MB (or you can up that to 2.5GB for another $10 a line)

I agree. 4- iPhones , unlimited talk and txt, 2.5 gb data with Verizon.....$45 a month

 

[tazrig]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Tazrig: I don't think you can do the CDMA iPhone (Verizon Network) through Straight Talk. If you go CDMA, I think you'll have to go with what they have (several types of Android based smart phones).

I think the only way Straight Talk support the iPhone is GSM (which puts you on TMobile or AT&Ts network).

thats what I was afraid of but thanks for the info. Good to get a definitive answer.

I have noticed a little bit of a performance hit regarding dropped calls even though you are supposedly using the exact same equipment but this is with the ATT side.

Customer support won't be the same. I had a good experience getting it all going but others have had issues. I was porting my number over so that was the biggest issue.

So customer support comes from straight talk and not Verizon?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

So customer support comes from straight talk and not Verizon?

Yes.

You can get an iPhone
Choose Your Phone

If you bring your own phone, it has to be GSM.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

I agree. 4- iPhones , unlimited talk and txt, 2.5 gb data with Verizon.....$45 a month

Yes, less advantage when you have a family plan.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

so an iphone purchased from straight talk would have to be GSM which eliminates Verizon service?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

so an iphone purchased from straight talk would have to be GSM which eliminates Verizon service?

No...it would be on Verizon.

Contact them and ask them to be sure.

iPhones have both GSM and CDMA radios in them so to be sure, you will have to ask them.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Is Straight talk and Net10 the same company? It seems like they are both part of Tracphone.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Is Straight talk and Net10 the same company? It seems like they are both part of Tracphone.

Hmmmm...sure looks like it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/América_Móvil

In the United States, it operates through its subsidiary TracFone Wireless under the brands TracFone, NET10 Wireless, Straight Talk, SIMPLE Mobile and Telcel Am?rica. It is one of the leading national pre-paid wireless service provider in the U.S.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Just as a cap to this discussion, happened upon this little tidbit. Apparently tracfone was the subject of a class action lawsuit this past summer due to the at the time misleading unlimited data plans. Here is the adjustment to the plans that resulted..

Straight Talk, Net10 clarify "unlimited" plans: 2.5 GB of high-speed data - Liliputing

I am going to give them a try as now my concerns are answered and looks to be the best deal in wireless for me..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

I have used about 1GB in the last 20 days but that included around 380MB when I was using it as a hotspot when I was on vacation for a few hours.

2.5GB is plenty for me. I have had Straight Talk just over a year. Already saved over $700 by switching.

I started out using it with an iPhone 4. I now have the Google Nexus 5 so I can do tethering(even though its against the rules..you just need to watch data usage). Nice thing about the iPhone 4 is that it has the same size sim card as the Google nexus so you can switch it back and forth if need be.

Iphone 5 and 5s has the nano sim so you will need to cut the micro sim card down for it.

 

[sam60]

Re: Forget everything you heard about prepaid cell phone service!!

Great info. The ideas posted here are going to save me about $100 per month!