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Prepaid carrier comparison blog

Have you used T-Mobile prepaid before? Because as I recall, there are usually no taxes on the prepaid plans.

By the way, T-Mobile does offer bring-your-own-device Value Plans. Unlimited Talk + Text + Data (throttled after 2GB) costs the same $60 as the prepaid plan. The nice thing about it is it's cheaper than prepaid if you need multiple lines.
 
rui-no-onna said:
Have you used T-Mobile prepaid before? Because as I recall, there are usually no taxes on the prepaid plans.

By the way, T-Mobile does offer bring-your-own-device Value Plans. Unlimited Talk + Text + Data (throttled after 2GB) costs the same $60 as the prepaid plan. The nice thing about it is it's cheaper than prepaid if you need multiple lines.
Click to expand...

Thanks rui,

I have not yet used T-Mobile prepaid, but if no taxes (other than maybe sales tax for buying a reload card) then the savings are even more.

From my reading the T-Mobile Value plans require a 2 year agreement. I do agree that it can be good value, but I believe the 2 GB that is with the 2 lines for $50 per month is shared.

It can work well for many lines, but my focus overall is what I experience with individual lines on prepaid. Doing a family plan post might be a good idea to break it all down to see what it would cost.

-Sev
 
Laws vary by state. Some collect taxes/fees when you buy the prepaid card, others deduct a monthly 911 charge, etc. I actually created a breakdown a while back here when the Galaxy Nexus was first released (and cost $800 unlocked from 3rd party sellers).

Here's the breakdown revised using the new cost for the Nexus along with a comparison to Verizon's new Share Everything plan:

T-Mobile Value 1000

  • 1000 minutes + unlimited text, $59.98
  • Line 1: unlimited data w/hotspot (throttling after 5GB), $25
  • Line 2: unlimited data (throttling after 2GB), $10
  • Line 3: unlimited data (throttling after 2GB), $10
  • Line 4: unlimited data (throttling after 2GB), $10
  • Add-a-line fee: $10 ($5/line for lines 3&4)
  • TOTAL: $124.98/mo or ~$3,000 for 2 years
T-Mobile Value 1000 cost with 4x Galaxy Nexus:
$3,000 + $1,400 = $4,400


AT&T

  • 700 minutes, $69.99
  • unlimited text, $30
  • Line 1: 5GB w/hotspot, $50
  • Line 2: 3GB, $30
  • Line 3: 3GB, $30
  • Line 4: 3GB, $30
  • Add-a-line fee: $19.98 ($9.99/line for lines 3&4)
  • TOTAL: $259.97/mo or ~$6,240 for 2 years

Verizon

  • 700 minutes & unlimited text, $99.98
  • Line 1: 5GB w/hotspot, $50
  • Line 2: 2GB, $30
  • Line 3: 2GB, $30
  • Line 4: 2GB, $30
  • Add-a-line fee: $19.98 ($9.99/line for lines 3&4)
  • TOTAL: $259.96/mo or ~$6,240 for 2 years

Verizon Share Everything

  • unlimited talk, text + 6GB data, $80
  • Line 1: $40
  • Line 2: $40
  • Line 3: $40
  • Line 4: $40
  • TOTAL: $240/mo or ~$5,760 for 2 years

2-year savings on contract cost:
Verizon/AT&T Family 700 vs T-Mobile Value 1000
$6,240 - $3,000 = $3,240
with device (4x Galaxy Nexus)
$6,240 - $4,400 = $1,840 ($76.67/mo savings)

Verizon Share Everything vs T-Mobile Value 1000
$5,760 - $3,000 = $2,760
with device (4x Galaxy Nexus)
$5,760 - $4,400 = $1,360 ($56.67/mo savings)


Amount available per device:
$3,240/4 = $810
$2,760/4 = $690

ETF on smartphones are as follows:

  • AT&T: $325 (-$10 per month of service completed)
  • Verizon: $350 (-$10 per month of service completed)
  • Sprint: $20 * remaining months in contract ($100 min, $350 max)
  • T-Mobile: $200 180 days left in contract, $100 31~90 days left, $50 last 30 days
 
Thanks Rui for that!

The one concern I have is that the T-mobile value plan requires signing a 2 year contract with an ETF and neoted below:

Limited-time offers; subject to change. Taxes and fees additional. Domestic only. Not all features or plans available on all devices. Unlimited features for direct US communications between two people. General Terms: Credit approval, $35 per line activation fee, and two-year agreement with up to $300/line early cancellation fee required; deposit may apply. If you switch plans, you may be bound by existing or extended contract term (including early cancellation provisions) and/or charged a fee of up to $300. You may be unable to switch to some plans. Regulatory Programs Fee (not a tax or government-mandated charge) of up to $1.61 per line/month applies. Taxes approximately 6%
 
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