jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
I may have had it with Sprint, don
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Cheapest Carrier
- Thread starter jefboyardee
- Start date
breadnatty08
pain rustique
You'll get a little bit of info here:
http://androidforums.com/device-carrier-comparisons/641213-no-bs-whats-word-straighttalk.html
And there's always the Straight Talk forum:
Straight Talk - Android Forums
I hear you though. Our bill (2 smartphones) on Verizon is $200 a month.
I have really no interest at all in upgrading my Galaxy Nexus anytime soon and the wife is content with her Bionic (aside from the camera). I'll be looking seriously at moving to T-Mobile when our contract is up later this year.
The only thing I've heard about with Straight Talk is they often throttle your data. Since you're piggy backing on a big carrier's network, they get preferential data speeds of ST users. Could be wrong about that, but it's the only thing I've heard around here.
But seriously, Froyo?
http://androidforums.com/device-carrier-comparisons/641213-no-bs-whats-word-straighttalk.html
And there's always the Straight Talk forum:
Straight Talk - Android Forums
I hear you though. Our bill (2 smartphones) on Verizon is $200 a month.
I have really no interest at all in upgrading my Galaxy Nexus anytime soon and the wife is content with her Bionic (aside from the camera). I'll be looking seriously at moving to T-Mobile when our contract is up later this year.
The only thing I've heard about with Straight Talk is they often throttle your data. Since you're piggy backing on a big carrier's network, they get preferential data speeds of ST users. Could be wrong about that, but it's the only thing I've heard around here.
But seriously, Froyo?
I will move this to device comparison as you will get more response from other carrier users and they might have more suggestions with St and maybe offer other carriers as a suggestion
I agree with BD, I have been with Sprint for a while now, and I also may switch my wife's line to TM, she does not hardly use the phone, and this way at least she won't have the minute restrictions, she does care about the other stuff.
I agree with BD, I have been with Sprint for a while now, and I also may switch my wife's line to TM, she does not hardly use the phone, and this way at least she won't have the minute restrictions, she does care about the other stuff.
jhawkkw
Chinchillin'
The beauty of some of these prepaid gsm carriers is the ability to being your own device. Combine that with the low cost at retail of the Nexus 4 and it becomes quite awesome. T-Mobile has the best deal in town if you don't need lots of minutes. 100 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data throttled after 5gb for 30 dollars a month. Straight talk and net 10 offer service on AT&T network though so that's something to consider as well.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
Thanx, didn
hstroph
Android Expert
Net10 is also a T-Mobile MVNO with unlimited voice, text and data for $50/month. I switched my net10 SIM from AT&t to T-Mobile after AT&T decided to cut data at 1.5GB/month, when I had already paid for unlimited service. AT&T didn't throttle data after 1.5GB, they cut it, leaving me in an awkward navigating position through an 8-state trip.
AT&T promised but failed to deliver, good network but bad business.
DarkJedi
Android Enthusiast
Can't get any cheaper than Republic Wireless. You are limited to just their one phone model right now (not a great phone, but not bad either - at least it has camera flash and autofocus - the Straight Talk cheapies don't).
Pay $99 for phone gets you $29/mo service.
Pay $249 for phone gets you $19/mo service.
What is extra cool here is that it runs on Sprint's post-paid network (the full network) and will roam on Verizon's network when there isn't Sprint coverage. -- no extra cost!
It is truly unlimited talk/text/internet. But READ all the info on them first. For example, no MMS (if you're into that). No SMS short code support (you know, those 5 or 6 digit number you text to).
I'm like you. Got tired of paying a car payment to have a fancy toy. I just want phone, email, GPS directions, and my music. All the other stuff is just not worth a hundred bucks a month.
If you do decide to try them, I recommend you go with the $99 phone option. It is a little more on the monthly rate, but there are new phones coming out later this year that you may want to upgrade to. (Currently can't sell your used phone - may change later).
Oh, and if I was helpful in deciding to use Republic Wireless, please use my referral link below. We each get $19 (a free month) if you stay for 30 days.
Republic Wireless - You've been referred
Pay $99 for phone gets you $29/mo service.
Pay $249 for phone gets you $19/mo service.
What is extra cool here is that it runs on Sprint's post-paid network (the full network) and will roam on Verizon's network when there isn't Sprint coverage. -- no extra cost!
It is truly unlimited talk/text/internet. But READ all the info on them first. For example, no MMS (if you're into that). No SMS short code support (you know, those 5 or 6 digit number you text to).
I'm like you. Got tired of paying a car payment to have a fancy toy. I just want phone, email, GPS directions, and my music. All the other stuff is just not worth a hundred bucks a month.
If you do decide to try them, I recommend you go with the $99 phone option. It is a little more on the monthly rate, but there are new phones coming out later this year that you may want to upgrade to. (Currently can't sell your used phone - may change later).
Oh, and if I was helpful in deciding to use Republic Wireless, please use my referral link below. We each get $19 (a free month) if you stay for 30 days.
Republic Wireless - You've been referred
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
Thanks, it’s very tempting and truly cheap, but...
It won’t take my phone number, which is odd cuz I got it on Sprint and they’re working under Sprint. That’d be doable, but a pain in the.
And the closest area I can choose is about a hundred fifty miles away, but I’m not sure if that even matters.
It appears that the higher hardware cost of the cheap plan is amortized after 15 months, so that’s how I’d go. The phone seems to be perfectly acceptable. I’m keeping your link handy just the same...
It won’t take my phone number, which is odd cuz I got it on Sprint and they’re working under Sprint. That’d be doable, but a pain in the.
And the closest area I can choose is about a hundred fifty miles away, but I’m not sure if that even matters.
It appears that the higher hardware cost of the cheap plan is amortized after 15 months, so that’s how I’d go. The phone seems to be perfectly acceptable. I’m keeping your link handy just the same...
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
That 250 phone price is also paid off just by the 70 dollar them vs Sprint monthly saving over four months. I may have to make the switch this just to justify the title of my thread.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
Saw this in one of their reviews:
This summer, he plans to introduce three new phones for his service--"good, better, and best" options. The Defy XT won't be one of them, but the "better" phone will be on a par with that device. Morken won't reveal the brands or models but says the "best" phone will have a larger screen and be a "hero device" equivalent to a Samsung Galaxy. All three phones will operate on the latest version of Android.
Makes me wonder if I should wait til then, even though their current phone seems fine, as I said.
That’s a good idea. You’ve certainly given me something to ponder.
DarkJedi
Android Enthusiast
Do what I did, port your cell number to Google Voice. Then, it doesn't matter who your carrier is. You can link the number to your new cell, no matter who they are and no matter how often you do it. For example, what do you do if you break your phone? You're out of luck for at least a few days. With Google Voice, you can redirect it to another phone (home, work, friend, $10 el-cheapo from WalMart).
Look at the list of phones under my name (to the left)... That's only half the list. Using Google Voice is how I dealt with the constant transitions without missing a call or pulling out a hair on my head.
Oh, and as you said... no local number? Who cares. Your new cell could have a number on the other side of the country. Makes no difference. Everyone still calls your "local" number they all know by heart... and all your outgoing calls show up as your "local" number. --- In fact, I have no clue what my "real" cell numbers have ever been. I only looked at the number once to add it as a forwarding number in Google Voice.
Look at the list of phones under my name (to the left)... That's only half the list. Using Google Voice is how I dealt with the constant transitions without missing a call or pulling out a hair on my head.
Oh, and as you said... no local number? Who cares. Your new cell could have a number on the other side of the country. Makes no difference. Everyone still calls your "local" number they all know by heart... and all your outgoing calls show up as your "local" number. --- In fact, I have no clue what my "real" cell numbers have ever been. I only looked at the number once to add it as a forwarding number in Google Voice.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
You are a fountain of wonderful ideas!
Wow, I have a lot to learn, from you, apparently.
I didn
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
DarkJedi
Android Enthusiast
Wow! That is bad luck. I guess at this point it is your call on what to do. How bad do you want to keep your number, and how bad would it be if you did have a number that was miles away? At least if you do get a new number, do it on Google Voice... maybe they have a number closer to you? Then you can treat that number as a lifetime number (will never have to change it again).
Best of luck to you.
Best of luck to you.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
It’s not that I need to keep it, it’s the severity of changing one I’ve had for almost ten years. I can do it, but need to be darn sure it’s worth the hassle involved. Republic’s price will probably still win me over, but this will just make me think about it first.
That doesn’t really matter, when my current number was issued, it didn’t have a local geographical connection to anything, just a strange cell number.
I agree with that, if they take it this time...
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
My next RW question is at the RW forum.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
But this isn
DarkJedi
Android Enthusiast
I mean, just accept whatever number Google Voice wants to issue you (don't port a number to them). In fact, you can do it now, and then add your current phone to the forwarding list. This way you can play with Google Voice features prior to moving to Republic Wireless or anyone else. Gives everyone a chance to learn your new number. And then when you get your new RW phone, just add its number (whatever it is) to your Google Voice forwarding number list.
Saves you the $20 porting fee.
Glad I've been of help.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
So let
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
Me in purple, RW in blue...
I believe I’m about to dump Sprint and join the Republic, but I have one question: I could get a Defy right now, but being that three new phones are being released this summer, I’m thinking I should just wait unil that happens, so I don’t waste money on a dead phone. Unless, of course, you’re going to offer upgrade credit. So should I wait?
At this moment we do not know when the phones will be released. We ask our customers to keep checking the community for updates on the devices and their release date. Also, we do not know if we will have a feature in place to offer upgrade/trade in credits.
If I get a Defy now under the Save Now plan ($99 phone, $29 month, can I
switch to the Save Later plan when the new phones arrive? And what
happens to the Defy I have at that point?
We do not have any date when the phones will be released or a process in place for upgrade/trade in. You can not switch later to the other plan as once you choose a plan it is for the life of the device.
That means I have no choice but to wait, or forever wish I had.
I believe I’m about to dump Sprint and join the Republic, but I have one question: I could get a Defy right now, but being that three new phones are being released this summer, I’m thinking I should just wait unil that happens, so I don’t waste money on a dead phone. Unless, of course, you’re going to offer upgrade credit. So should I wait?
At this moment we do not know when the phones will be released. We ask our customers to keep checking the community for updates on the devices and their release date. Also, we do not know if we will have a feature in place to offer upgrade/trade in credits.
If I get a Defy now under the Save Now plan ($99 phone, $29 month, can I
switch to the Save Later plan when the new phones arrive? And what
happens to the Defy I have at that point?
We do not have any date when the phones will be released or a process in place for upgrade/trade in. You can not switch later to the other plan as once you choose a plan it is for the life of the device.
That means I have no choice but to wait, or forever wish I had.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
I
DarkJedi
Android Enthusiast
Since you couldn't port your existing cell number to Google Voice, use whatever number Google gives you. Don't port your new phone number to Google Voice... you ADD it as a phone that Google Voice can FORWARD to (Settings -> Phones - Forward Calls To).
Now that you have Google Voice, add your current cell, home, work numbers to it. Then, just use the checkbox to mark which phone or phones should ring when someone calls your Google Voice number.
When you get your new phone, just add it to the list of phones available to forward to... and update which phone (or phones) you want calls to route to.
In other words, give out your Google Voice number to everyone. Tell them to stop using your old number (and that it will no longer work after you dump that cell carrier). Your Google Voice number is your number for life now... even after you move, change phones, change carriers, anything.
Now that you have Google Voice, add your current cell, home, work numbers to it. Then, just use the checkbox to mark which phone or phones should ring when someone calls your Google Voice number.
When you get your new phone, just add it to the list of phones available to forward to... and update which phone (or phones) you want calls to route to.
In other words, give out your Google Voice number to everyone. Tell them to stop using your old number (and that it will no longer work after you dump that cell carrier). Your Google Voice number is your number for life now... even after you move, change phones, change carriers, anything.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
It already did that and linked it for me, but when I tried tried calling g-voice number from a phone with no involvement and expecting my current cell to ring. nuthin...
So I went to settings, and they said I have to make a choice at Check eligibility for Sprint integration:
Sprint users can now seamlessly integrate Google Voice on their mobile phone.
Option 1: Replace your Google Voice number with your Sprint number
Calls made from Google Voice and Gmail will display your Sprint number. Your Google Voice number will remain on your account for 90 days.
Enable with my Sprint Number
Option 2: Replace your Sprint number with your Google Voice number
Calls made from your Sprint handset will display your Google Voice number.
Enable with my Google Voice number
Both options will replace your Sprint voicemail with Google voicemail. Any voicemail messages currently on your Sprint phone will be deleted.
I chose not to choose, for now, although option 1 sounds the same as entering my current number, something I was just not allowed to do.
jefboyardee
Extreme Android User
This smells... I bought and returned a Gnex from Sprint last winter. On their site, my ‘discounts’ understandably disappeared, but never returned. I squawked and now they’re back. But if I can get a new GS3 or an HTC one for ‘zero,’ It’s just a 90 dollar x 24 month trap, which comes to over two grand.
I may write them and say that I’m not concerned with the price of the phone but with the price of the plan. In fact, if you let me stay on my current plan for forty bucks a month, instead of ninety, I’ll just keep using my ancient, eensy Optimus. I could do something like this for a lot less at Republic, by the way. So whaddya say?
The smart money says I get no reply.
I may write them and say that I’m not concerned with the price of the phone but with the price of the plan. In fact, if you let me stay on my current plan for forty bucks a month, instead of ninety, I’ll just keep using my ancient, eensy Optimus. I could do something like this for a lot less at Republic, by the way. So whaddya say?
The smart money says I get no reply.