• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Looking for Carrier feedback for the wife to switch to !!

DonB

DonB

♡ Truth, Justice and the American Way !! ♡ ™
Moderator
Figured I post a thread to get ready to change my wife's carrier from Sprint to the suggestions here to come. I have had 2 lines with Sprint now for over 10 years, but they are dropping the ball, and as I agree they might get better down the road, it is time for a change, at least for her. We live in South Florida, so I am going to shy away from the big carrier and use the sub ones, like ST, MPCS, etc.. So since she likes to talk and does not pay attention when she is on her cell and talks forever, we need an unlimited talk plan so I don't have to worry about her going over her minutes every month. I would prefer one of the sub carriers that are using Verizon since I will still be on Sprint and so at least one of us will have coverage, LOL and from what I have seen, Verizon seems to be number one when it comes to coverage. Her contract does not expire for a few months, but I want to do my homework right now, I have my personal suggestion from research, but what to see what others have experienced first.

So I am looking for suggestions to which one to switch to for her, which phones to use to be on the Verizon towers, and one that will work good here in Florida and also New York with unlimited Talk and Text with data included, does not need to be unlimited data. So post your suggestion.

Right now I have her on the 450 minute plan with sprint for $39.99, no data and text and that just not cut it for her. ;)
 
Using Verizon's towers for mvno's is really tough. None of the carriers allow usage of the LTE network. Page plus is the popular mvno for them, and Straight talk does have some Verizon compatibility as well. Also, most phone selection is terrible, though ST does have the iPhone 5 available for Verizon I believe. Both have BYOP programs, though they only allow 3g only phones. If a phone has LTE capability, it's a no go. So that basically rules out anything newer than 2 summers ago as far as phones go.
You really are better off either going direct T-Mobile prepaid, or using Net10 on AT&T's towers. T-Mobile's 50 dollar plan has unlimited minutes, texting and data (but throttled after 500mb). As you go up in price, you get a higher data cap before throttling. There is also the famous 30 dollar plan, though that sounds like it's ruled out due to it only having 100 minutes with the exchange for 5 gb of data before the throttling. Net10 has a 50 dollar plan(45 dollars if you sign up for automatic credit card refills) that has unlimited minutes & texting with a 1.5 gb hard cap for data. Plus with these being gsm, you can bring any compatible device and that's a lot of them. There's also direct at&t through gophone or aio wireless (only available in select markets at this point) that might be worth checking out as well.
 
So looks like Net10 might be a plan, since it also gives the 1.5 GB data include, although hard capped, she will have to make sure she uses her phone on WiFi when at work and home, that will save on data immensely. I thought about T-Mobile, but it is very spotty here in S FL and when we go on the west cost hardly any coverage, not ruling it out, but will keep it on the list, thanks for the info
 
Got that, but for her I think it will be sufficient, she talks more then she surfs, but I will cross that bridge before I make her move.

Also looks like you can use a TM Sim card and phone on this plan and not affected by the data, an I reading correctly
 
Yeah, if you don't have Sprint LTE or WiMax, it will seem like fresh air compared to 3g. You should expect speeds between 2-6mbps down, 1-2mbps up.
 
Yep Sprints 3G is pathetic, when I was in NY and downtown, barely had any data coverage at all in the village close to time square, which was crazy, with a Sprint store right in front of us. :confused:
 
Anyone else here on Net10 here from South Florida, I would like to here your experience with the carrier, even if your not in SFL.
 
Yes, Solavei runs on T-Mobile's network. So it would likely come down to how T-Mobile's coverage is in your area.
 
jhawkkw said:
Yes, Solavei runs on T-Mobile's network. So it would likely come down to how T-Mobile's coverage is in your area.
Click to expand...


So if that is the case, I thought TM had a $50 plan, what is the difference using them for $49, no data cap ? same coverage same price, an I missing something ?? TM id fine here on the east coast, it is when we go to the west coast of FL that the issues occur, U had bought a TM phone and service a few years ago and took it back on buyers remorse. I could always try them again and see.
 
Tangent: To help with the voice calling, sign her up for Google Voice, port her number to that, and have her use Talkatone or Groove IP (or etc) when on WiFi...or even on mobile data if connectivity is sufficient.
 
^^ Yep, she already has that on her tablet, but she hates having to use other apps ans prefers simply having one that she can use with no issues, so I will get her an unlimited plan, just need to make sure of the correct one.
 
DonB said:
So if that is the case, I thought TM had a $50 plan, what is the difference using them for $49, no data cap ? same coverage same price, an I missing something ?? TM id fine here on the east coast, it is when we go to the west coast of FL that the issues occur, U had bought a TM phone and service a few years ago and took it back on buyers remorse. I could always try them again and see.
Click to expand...
Typically with prepaid, you don't get to use the data roaming, so coverage could be a little bit smaller. But in exchange, I've heard Solavei gives a 4GB cap instead of the 500 MB. However, Solavei can't use T-Mobile LTE to my knowledge where actual T-Mobile obviously can.
 
So for the extra $10 I am better off signing her up with TM and be done with it. This way for $60 she gets 2.5GB of high speed data and 2.5GB of slower
 
jhawkkw said:
Typically with prepaid, you don't get to use the data roaming, so coverage could be a little bit smaller. But in exchange, I've heard Solavei gives a 4GB cap instead of the 500 MB. However, Solavei can't use T-Mobile LTE to my knowledge where actual T-Mobile obviously can.
Click to expand...


I should of also asked you how is your service with TM ?? and what plan you on ??
 
DonB said:
So for the extra $10 I am better off signing her up with TM and be done with it. This way for $60 she gets 2.5GB of high speed data and 2.5GB of slower
Click to expand...
All of T-Mobile data plans are unlimited. The first 2.5 GB you use, will be at full speed or lower depending on coverage. After you pass the 2.5GB, it slows you down to 2G speeds, but you have unlimited data after that. Then it obviously resets when you enter the next bill cycle.
DonB said:
I should of also asked you how is your service with TM ?? and what plan you on ??
Click to expand...

My service is pretty decent. Not as good as Verizon, but still just fine for where I live. There are a couple of thick older buildings that service degrades quite a bit within, but I usually have enough to make a call or text. Most of the major interstates have towers all along them so you have coverage necessary to make calls or text. Getting out into the extreme rural areas can be suspect at times though.

Speeds are absolutely awesome if you're in an LTE or HSPA+42 area with download speeds at or above 20mbps. I use the $30 prepaid plan that gives 100 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data with the first 5GB at full speed before the throttling.

If you're willing to spend 60 dollars on the plan, you can also use AT&T GoPhone which gives unlimited minutes, unlimited texting, and a hard 2gb data cap. This does include their LTE network in this plan as well. Obviously much better service with AT&T than T-Mobile.
 
You have to love when they say unlimited data but your capped, LOL
 
Believe it or not, from the research I have done, I am leaning towards giving Solavei a shot when her contract expires in October, I would love to hear from others with this service for some feedback.
 
DonB said:
So if that is the case, I thought TM had a $50 plan, what is the difference using them for $49, no data cap ? same coverage same price, an I missing something ?? TM id fine here on the east coast, it is when we go to the west coast of FL that the issues occur, U had bought a TM phone and service a few years ago and took it back on buyers remorse. I could always try them again and see.
Click to expand...
Solovei is not capped, just throttled after 4gb. like tmo does. I think other then LTE you would be happer, plus cheaper to go with them.
 
Have you tried their service, or know anyone that has ?? I also assume that LTE is not included ?? So without the LTE, I would like to know how the speeds are without LTE. I would also like to know how their customer service is, that tells you alot about a comapny.
 
I posted a link to some ones actual experience I my self never went with them, I would have if LTE had been offered.

As of now I do not think they have LTE they may in the next 12 months.

T-mobile speeds with just hspa + are normally very good, with all the LTE upgrading though some speeds seems to be down so after the period of adjustment I expect them to get back to normal.

Normal can be anything from 10mbs down to 30 down 1.7 to 3.3 up it really depends on where you live/work.
I used to get at home 14mbs down now with the lte merger its closer to 3-6 down but still 1.7 up. this was all on tmo.
They will have the same speed as tmo.
 
I saw your post in the Solavei thread asking for info posted here... My husband and I have been using Solavei since January. We switched from Sprint and have no complaints. It's phone service, and it works.

I'm in Colorado. My house is in an area that only shows very light green on the coverage map. I often only have 1 bar but I don't drop calls which is what matters to me. Data in my house has been as high as 9 Mbps, but recently has settled out around 3 Mbps when I test. At the grocery store a couple blocks away I routinely get 15Mbps.

We've driven to California. Much of the route is 2g which is pretty unusable for data - but I was getting regular texts from my niece no problem. Data speed picked up in bigger cities and we were fine once we were in California. I found the coverage maps to be pretty accurate. We didn't bother getting on WiFi when visiting family. (My brother in Southern California also uses Solavei.)

I have actually had unusually good customer service. I've posted some fairly specific questions in their support forums and gotten prompt responses, and in a contract cases phone calls in response to my posts - totally unexpected. I assume I'm an outlier. I know some people have been unhappy with the call center support. Personally, I would never call support, I'd go through the forums. Also, I expect my phone to work. If I needed customer service with any sort of regularity it isn't the right service for me.

I was skeptical of the referral aspect at first. The fact that the offering was the best value for my needs without participating ($49 unlimited talk/text/data unthrottled for 4GB. My total bill with taxes and fees is just shy of $55.) The referral program has been an unexpected bonus.

I think I covered the questions the OP had... Let me know if I missed any.
 
Yep, you sure did, one more quick question as I did read all the threads in the Solavei section, so I got most of those answered you just answered for me already as you had posted in many of those threads so great work by the way. For the referral program without going into great detail, as this will be for the wife but if she can get added bonuses on the way, just explain what the bonuses are, and are they constant on a monthly basis ?? ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom