I just bought the 32gb Nexus 5 and will be switching from Verizon as soon as my phone arrives. Who do I go with, Sprint or T-Mobile? I know it is basically a $10 difference between the 2 unlimited plans but who has better 4G & faster speeds? I travel everywhere so I need plenty of coverage and speed. Am I really going to miss Verizon's fast speed and good coverage that much?
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btmosley72
Lurker
If you are a new customer to T-Mo order the sim card online. you will probably be able to google a coupon to make it free. I did this. There is a $35 plan that is pretty good. Unlimited data and text BUT 100 mins talk time. If you have a GV account and install GrooveIP it will run voice over the data spectrum basically giving you unlimited everything. THIS IS WHAT I DO.
Bonezmcgee
Lurker
I'd say that would depend on where you are located.
I'm doing the same, and will personally go with Tmo. The beauty is that you can come and go as you please between the two. So perhaps try them both and see which works better.
I'm doing the same, and will personally go with Tmo. The beauty is that you can come and go as you please between the two. So perhaps try them both and see which works better.
Gatman
Android Enthusiast
I just looked on the T-Mo website and can't find this plan. I selected "bring your own device", picked a sim card, and it only offered unlimited talk and text plus 500mb ($50), 2.5gb ($60) and ulimited data ($70). I would hop on a $35 plan if I could find it.
Jocelyn84
Member
Get a SIM card for free via T-Mobile, then buy one of these...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-30-Wireless-Airtime-Card/15443357
$30
btmosley72
Lurker
The $35 plan is only if you order the sim card from T-mobile.com It is in the paperwork you get.
Jocelyn84
Member
It's $30, and you can get it via Wal-Mart or Amazon. They email you all the activation info.
Gatman
Android Enthusiast
I might have to check this out. I use almost no minutes, so this would be a great option for me. I'll need to check out T-Mo's coverage in my area. My buddy had them several years ago, and the coverage was so bad he cancelled during the first month. If they've improved their coverage, this would definitely be the way to go.
Thanks!
Thanks!
alfick3
Android Expert
There's also MetroPCS. Since they merged with T-Mobile, you will be on T-Mobile's data/voice network, but with Metro's cheaper price; unlimited voice, text, and data. Now, you will be limited on the amount of data at full 4G speeds (500mb, 2.5gb or unlimited depending on which plan you choose). Also, (I believe) the plans are $10 less than T-Mobile's; $40, $50, & $60.
OP you said you travel everywhere and need coverage. Only one carrier gives you that. The one you're on. Then AT&T. If you stick to big cities you might be ok but T-Mobile coverage is still very spotty. When you stay in one major city like I do you're fine. You can shop for the cheapest prices and best speed. When you travel? You'll find out soon. My girlfriend road tripped from Seattle to Montana and was out of coverage 90% of the time on T-Mobile. Sprint will roam (voice) on Verizon so that helps with them. Good luck.
jhawkkw
Chinchillin'
That's the beauty of an unlocked GSM phone. Use T-Mobile while you're home, then buy a AT&T pay by the day sim for when you travel.
Sandroidfan
Android Expert
If you travel a lot, I would rather go with AT&T, not T-Mo or Sprint. TMO has good pre-paid plans and service is ok in big cities, but it's too spotty elsewhere. I personally will go with AT&T GoPhone for Nexus 5.
dakster
Well-Known Member
Aio Wireless. A new pre-paid service, owned by AT&T. $55 a month gets you unlimited talk/text. First 2 GB of data is like 8MBit speeds. After your data allotment, it drops your speed down a lot, but never cuts it off. Unlimited data. There's other plans for different amounts of high speed data.
Wife has it, says she can't tell any difference between it and her old AT&T plan. This is what I'm gonna activate on my nex5.
AIO also has a 7GB plan for $70 (if the 2 GBs are not enough), this is what I'll end up on if tmo doesn't have good reception in my area.
Another thing to note is most of these prepaid plans are "unlimited" they will throttle you (2g speeds on most) after you hit that data allotment.
Gatman
Android Enthusiast
That might be a problem for some folks that need the speed, but for me I would much rather get throttled down for a few days or a week than get banged with a bill for going over. I don't think I've actually ever hit 2gb in a month, but I know I've come close a few times. I am on my grandfathered umlimited plan at Verizon so it's hasn't been an issue (until next week when the N5 shows up and I leave Verizon).
~Gary
sharkizzle
Newbie
I've had Tmobile service for the last year since getting my Nexus 4. Before that, I had VZ service since the Droid Incredible came out.
VZ was awesome everywhere I took it. Tmobile....not so much. It has been very spotty - sometimes will just drop signal for no reason at all. Even though my business is heavily dependent on being able to respond quickly to messages, I have learned to live with it by connecting to wifi whenever possible. The fact that I cut my bill in half helps keep the frustration down, as well.
VZ was awesome everywhere I took it. Tmobile....not so much. It has been very spotty - sometimes will just drop signal for no reason at all. Even though my business is heavily dependent on being able to respond quickly to messages, I have learned to live with it by connecting to wifi whenever possible. The fact that I cut my bill in half helps keep the frustration down, as well.
1. just pissed @ Verizon for their inability to play nice. Would like to keep my unlimited data but I have poor service at my house with them. Additionally, no Nexus is kind of a deal breaker for me.
2. Doing my research and Sprint seems better for my area than T-Mobile. However, tried to get deets with Sprint but online representative said you had to have a 2 year contract. I tried to point out that I think she was confusing the unlocked Google Play store phone with their upcoming subsidized...the rep just got confused and said I needed to visit the store. (Online site was not much help.)
3. The thought of AIO Wireless sounds doable. Best of both worlds perhaps. Any others have experience with them?
G
2. Doing my research and Sprint seems better for my area than T-Mobile. However, tried to get deets with Sprint but online representative said you had to have a 2 year contract. I tried to point out that I think she was confusing the unlocked Google Play store phone with their upcoming subsidized...the rep just got confused and said I needed to visit the store. (Online site was not much help.)
3. The thought of AIO Wireless sounds doable. Best of both worlds perhaps. Any others have experience with them?
G
noahj1102
Well-Known Member
I've been with Sprint for about 12 years.
I'm in Denver and get no 4g and poor 3g. I've been listening to Sprint promise 4g here forever, that I'm about done with them. Thus the reason I bought the N5 yesterday.
Here is my dilemma about going with T MO prepaid. First, the upgrade on my family plan is my wife's phone. Switching from Sprint I lose my number, which I can't. If anyone would know how to keep my number while using my wife's upgrade, please tell me. If this was my phone, I'd be on T MO as soon as I get the N5. Any ideas?
Secondly, anyone here from in or around Denver tell me about TMOs service in town and the suburbs?
I'm in Denver and get no 4g and poor 3g. I've been listening to Sprint promise 4g here forever, that I'm about done with them. Thus the reason I bought the N5 yesterday.
Here is my dilemma about going with T MO prepaid. First, the upgrade on my family plan is my wife's phone. Switching from Sprint I lose my number, which I can't. If anyone would know how to keep my number while using my wife's upgrade, please tell me. If this was my phone, I'd be on T MO as soon as I get the N5. Any ideas?
Secondly, anyone here from in or around Denver tell me about TMOs service in town and the suburbs?
runtmms
Well-Known Member
I'm in Highlands Ranch. My husband and I both switched from Sprint to Solavei (T-Mobile MVNO) in January. I believe my overall service is better than with Sprint - and we were with them for years. I was periodically dropping calls with Sprint. I don't have that problem with Solavei.
Data speed is very dependent on location. If you look at a coverage map my house is in a light just satisfactory coverage area. I usually get around 3Mbps. At the grocery store a couple blocks away I get 15Mbps. (Nexus 4 - so no LTE.)
My brother is still on Sprint. We've been out to dinner at Park Meadows where I was looking stuff up online, and he couldn't because Sprint data was so bad.
I don't understand your number situation. My husband and I ported two numbers out of Sprint to Google Voice with no problems. We had concerns that porting one number might close the account and cause problems but it all went smoothly. We actually called Sprint customer service to ask about porting multiple numbers out at different times and they were surprisingly helpful.
I don't know what prepaid plan your looking at, but for my usage Solavei was the best deal on the T-Mobile network. They also have a referral program which can effectively lower their rate. A concern for the Nexus 5 is Solavei doesn't currently offer LTE, but they claim they will when T-Mobile makes it available to the MVNOs.
noahj1102
Well-Known Member
My phone on Sprint isn't up for renewal, my wife's is. I want to use her upgrade for my new Nexus 5. I believe if I use her upgrade, I would need to port her number and not mine. No way to port my number that isn't up for upgrade without losing my number and paying a early termination fee.
If anyone knows how, please tell me.
If anyone knows how, please tell me.
Jocelyn84
Member
Assuming they're both Sprint lines, you can simply order a Nexus 5 using her upgrade and put it on your account. I'm not really following the whole port thing.
noahj1102
Well-Known Member
I've purchased a Nexus 5 from Google Play. We haven't used her upgrade. What I'm trying to do is get away from Sprint.
I'm wanting to do TMobile prepaid. However, I need to keep my number and to do that I would have to pay the early termination fee since my line isn't up for upgrade.
I could use my wife's phone to take my N5 to T Mobile, but it would need to use her number.
That's how I understand it.
I'm wanting to do TMobile prepaid. However, I need to keep my number and to do that I would have to pay the early termination fee since my line isn't up for upgrade.
I could use my wife's phone to take my N5 to T Mobile, but it would need to use her number.
That's how I understand it.
