T-Mobile Value Plan?

[jeffj318]

Okay, special on the web with T-Mo only through last Sunday. Free SG2 with classic plan. We got two SG2's with the 1k anytime minutes, 2gb data and unlimited text. Corporate discount helped. Not a bad price and in the end worked out well. Thanks for the help everyone gave which proved invaluable.

Now ... should we get cases, screen protectors, etc. I probably don't want to put it in my pocket as I did with my tiny Samsung Highlight. Suggestions would be appreciated. Also, having a kickstand case with holster sounds good.

 

[johnny424]

i have a few questions for some of you helpful tmobile users..

Which would you reccomend as far as stronger development and current development..sgs2 or the gnex?


Has anyone thought about buying the sgs3 or one s and using it on the prepaid side of tmobile? or is the price a little excessive to buy out right?


So i could technically buy ANY tmobile phone, buy an activation chip/card..and use it on tmobiles prepaid network correct?


If i decided to go with the Gnex, where would i order it from in order to get the best deal?


thanks for anyone who could help me clear up these few questions..

 

[Chris2183]

Now ... should we get cases, screen protectors, etc. I probably don't want to put it in my pocket as I did with my tiny Samsung Highlight. Suggestions would be appreciated. Also, having a kickstand case with holster sounds good.

I just used a D3O case from T-Mobile on my GS2 and now on my GS3. I just use a TPU case and keep the phone in an empty front pocket, as Im not a fan of cases hanging off of my side anymore. Screen protectors are prefference, I dont use one but I know several who do.

i have a few questions for some of you helpful tmobile users..

Which would you reccomend as far as stronger development and current development..sgs2 or the gnex?

Google Galaxy Nexus is going to have the stronger development community.

Has anyone thought about buying the sgs3 or one s and using it on the prepaid side of tmobile? or is the price a little excessive to buy out right?

There are several in the GS3 section (here and on a few other forums I frequent) who have bought theirs outright and are using them on the $30 100 minute/5gb plan (I have this plan on my GS2)


The Galaxy Nexus was almost $700 when it was introduced, the GS3 is $599 at T-Mobile. While $600 may appear excessive, you do have the freedom to unlock the phone and use it on any GSM Pre Paid service you want. You are under no obligation to stay with one until your contract is up, since you will not be under a contract. Keep in mind there is always the option of buying used if the cost of new is too high for you.

So i could technically buy ANY tmobile phone, buy an activation chip/card..and use it on tmobiles prepaid network correct?

Yes. It can be new or bought somewhere like Swappa, Craigslist, or Ebay. You just cannot finance or subsidize in any way through T-Mobile

If i decided to go with the Gnex, where would i order it from in order to get the best deal?

From the Google Play store for $349
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=galaxy_nexus_hspa

 

[Crashdamage]

Which would you reccomend as far as stronger development and current development..sgs2 or the gnex?

Either is a good choice. I'd go gnex. You get the latest vanilla versions quickly and don't even have to root.

Has anyone thought about buying the sgs3 or one s and using it on the prepaid side of tmobile? or is the price a little excessive to buy out right?

Sure they have. I always buy outright. Buy it outright or financed, you're still gonna pay for the phone. I guess it's really whether or not a chunk of cash is a problem.

So i could technically buy ANY tmobile phone, buy an activation chip/card..and use it on tmobiles prepaid network correct?

Not just technically. You can.

If i decided to go with the Gnex, where would i order it from in order to get the best deal?

Might find a discount from online retailers like Newegg, etc. Or used. Google search is your friend. Be careful who you deal with. Of course It's always in the Play Store.

 

[johnny424]

thanks guys..that takes care of all my questions..well..maybe one more

So your signal with tmobile..will always have 4g unless you are in a terrible area with no coverage, and in that case it would read 3g..where i get thrown off is the whole 4g is 3g 3g is 2g..or is there no 3g? care to clear that up for me please

 

[mogelijk]

thanks guys..that takes care of all my questions..well..maybe one more

So your signal with tmobile..will always have 4g unless you are in a terrible area with no coverage, and in that case it would read 3g..where i get thrown off is the whole 4g is 3g 3g is 2g..or is there no 3g? care to clear that up for me please

There is a difference between 3G and 4G but they use the same radio, so you don't have to worry about an extra radio eating battery life. On your phone, you can tell by the strength signal how you are connected; "H" means HSPA+ or 4G, "3G" is obvious, "E" for EDGE which is 2G. It seems like there is at least one I'm forgetting. Whether you get 4G or 3G speeds depend on your signal strength and location -- not all towers have HSPA+.

One last thing, while I like the Nexus and would recommend it, it likely will have slightly slower 4G data speeds than an S3. The Nexus is HSPA+ 21, the S3 is HSPA+ 42 -- which simplified is that the Nexus radio can't download faster than 21mpbs while the S3 can download data at 42mpbs. Most people I've heard of, however, rarely see speeds 20mpbs or higher.

 

[johnny424]

so in really great coverage areas and god willing, you will see "H" when connected to 4G. I assume that the majority of the time when in areas without 4G coverage you will see 3G..like where i live..always 3G unless im close to DC and then it is 4G...So atleast around here (outside fredricksburg va) i will see a whole lot of 3G..And in areas where there are not alot of coverage i will more then likely see "E" which is 2G. .i guess i could compare that to 1x which is what i see when im in really crappy areas with little to no coverage with virgin mobile..I think i understand now..or please correct me if im wrong..

also.. i would very much like to have the sgs3.. and its not really an issue of the price..but the Gnex is 200 and some change cheaper..and a really nice phone as well..i think i will be happy with it and will save myself a few bucks by going with it..

im just stoked at the idea that with tmobiles prepaid you can pick from all the nice phones and use it on a prepaid service..with all the other prepaid carriers like boost and virgin, you are very limited in your choosing for which phone you are going to use

 

[mogelijk]

so in really great coverage areas and god willing, you will see "H" when connected to 4G. I assume that the majority of the time when in areas without 4G coverage you will see 3G..like where i live..always 3G unless im close to DC and then it is 4G...So atleast around here (outside fredricksburg va) i will see a whole lot of 3G..And in areas where there are not alot of coverage i will more then likely see "E" which is 2G. .i guess i could compare that to 1x which is what i see when im in really crappy areas with little to no coverage with virgin mobile..I think i understand now..or please correct me if im wrong..

also.. i would very much like to have the sgs3.. and its not really an issue of the price..but the Gnex is 200 and some change cheaper..and a really nice phone as well..i think i will be happy with it and will save myself a few bucks by going with it..

im just stoked at the idea that with tmobiles prepaid you can pick from all the nice phones and use it on a prepaid service..with all the other prepaid carriers like boost and virgin, you are very limited in your choosing for which phone you are going to use

I think you'll be happy with the Galaxy Nexus. I think it is the right move being over $200 less, and that is before adding in that you get the Android updates first with the Nexus.

One note about GSM phones and T-Mobile, while all GSM phones will "work", if you buy a phone from a source other than T-Mobile or the Galaxy Nexus you will want to be sure it has the 1700 Mhz radio (which T-Mobile uses for 3G). Phones for AT&T's GSM network typically don't have the 1700Mhz radio (such as the iPhone) and so can't connect using 3G on T-Mobile.

 

[Crashdamage]

So your signal with tmobile..will always have 4g unless you are in a terrible area with no coverage, and in that case it would read 3g..where i get thrown off is the whole 4g is 3g 3g is 2g..or is there no 3g? care to clear that up for me please

I'll make this as simple as I can...

T-Mobile 4G is HSPA+ and fast, from as much as 20-15Mbps to as slow as maybe 1.5Mbps depending on location and system load. Most urban areas now have 4G, but some are faster than others.

3G is HSPA and fairly fast, up to about 2-1.5Mbps. Most 3G coverage has been upgraded to 4G but you may still see some 3G in spots.

2G, also known as Edge, is slow, but usable enough for email, etc. If you have a phone signal you pretty much always will have at least 2G. Even in urban areas you might fall back to 2G in weak signal areas.

For more details Google or Wikipedia are your friends.

 

[johnny424]

I'll make this as simple as I can...

T-Mobile 4G is HSPA+ and fast, from as much as 20-15Mbps to as slow as maybe 1.5Mbps depending on location and system load. Most urban areas now have 4G, but some are faster than others.

3G is HSPA and fairly fast, up to about 2-1.5Mbps. Most 3G coverage has been upgraded to 4G but you may still see some 3G in spots.

2G, also known as Edge, is slow, but usable enough for email, etc. If you have a phone signal you pretty much always will have at least 2G. Even in urban areas you might fall back to 2G in weak signal areas.

For more details Google or Wikipedia are your friends.

gotcha..thank you for the insight..I feel like I understand enough now to make a decision on switching over..gonna order my gnex and sim next Friday..thank you for all the help..

I think what threw me off is the way I view sprints network..1x is so slow its unusable..3g is slow but fast enough for small tasks or maybe watching videos depending in how much 3g coverage you have..and 4g is so spotty I hardly ever see it..

 

[plasticarmyman]

how's this working for people in southern california?...just wondering if i should go with this plan or straight talk