Same as Sprint, but MUCH cheaper?

[agianne]

Thinking the Optimus Slider for my spouse (he wants a keyboard) and the Wildfire for me. 300 minute plan and route through Google Voice when we are home.

I've read that Google Voice is not fully compatible with Virgin Mobile service (unlike Sprint branded service, which is). If people call your GV number, it goes to GV voicemail. If people call your Virgin Mobile cellular number and you don't answer or decline the call, it goes to your Virgin Mobile voicemail. You don't get the one mailbox convenience.

Could you explain why you'll be routing through Google Voice when at home? Whenever I've used Google Voice, it has used up some of my 300 cellular minutes (whether I'm at home or not). Are you planning to have your Google Voice number ring to a land line when you are at home so you don't burn up cellular minutes?

 

[androidfonefan]

Verizon and TMobile staff keep telling me that Virgin does not use the same towers that Sprint uses.

Is this true or not?

Jake

Yes and no. Sprint has their Native Tower area and they have extended roaming area.
Sprint uses both where VM and Boost only use the Sprint native towers.

The coverage between the two is very different. Sprints native coverage is only 1/10 its advertised coverage with roaming.
So TMob and Verizon are right mostly in that VM does not use all the towers Sprint uses but VM does use towers that Sprint uses. VM just does not have roaming and that is where the other 90 percent of Sprints coverage comes from.

 

[Terpsicore]

I've read that Google Voice is not fully compatible with Virgin Mobile service (unlike Sprint branded service, which is). If people call your GV number, it goes to GV voicemail. If people call your Virgin Mobile cellular number and you don't answer or decline the call, it goes to your Virgin Mobile voicemail. You don't get the one mailbox convenience.

Could you explain why you'll be routing through Google Voice when at home? Whenever I've used Google Voice, it has used up some of my 300 cellular minutes (whether I'm at home or not). Are you planning to have your Google Voice number ring to a land line when you are at home so you don't burn up cellular minutes?

You are correct. I did more research and I can not use my phone for Google Voice over wifi. There are a few work arounds using 3rd party apps, but there are complaints about lag. Most likely I will use Google Voice over my computer for the few long conversations I have in the evenings.