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Which carrier to use with N4 in USA?

W

wise_guy69

Member
I took a look through this forum to make sure this wasn't already asked and answered but couldn't find it, so please forgive me if this topic has already been beaten to death..

I recently purchased the unlocked 16GB N4 from Google and am trying to determine which carrier is better between T-Mobile and AT&T. The coverage areas are roughly the same in my geographic area. I would like to get feedback from other US-based N4 owners what their experience has been (good and bad) with their carriers. Things that I'm most interested in are data speeds/reliability and customer service.

Thank in advance!
 
I could tout AT&T and say they are the best, but there are reasons why they have been named one of the most hated companies in the country. That being said, they did help me big time getting my data plan figured out and my APN settings fixed, mostly because the person I was talking to had a Nexus 4 himself so he knew exactly what to do.

It comes down to personal preference, and cost.
 
Coverage is everything. If there really isn't a difference then I would look at the value different plans offer. I'm familiar with the T-Mobile side because they were the network I wanted to be on. I don't have any experience with AT&T. (I would really make sure you've examined the coverage maps.)

I'll explain in great detail if you want, but I'm going to keep this short. I went with Solavei. They are a T-Mobile MVNO. $49 for unlimited talk / text / data. The data isn't throttled until you use 4GB. (This makes it a better value than the $50 or $60 plan from T-Mobile.)

Instead of traditional advertising Solavei is doing the referral sign up thing which can effectively lower this rate if you're interested in such things.

My husband and I have both been very happy with our service. I've never had to call customer service so I can't speak to that. The do have service forums that their representatives are active in. I'm happy to try to answer any specific questions you have.
 
T-Mobile hands down. Best data speed, good customer service, very reasonable rates. Prepaid providers may sometimes be a little bit cheaper, but there's reasons for that. You may get limited coverage, slower data, poor customer service, etc. IOW you get what you pay for. Prepaid or postpaid get the genuine article if you want quality service.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
 
Solavei is pretty good, and probably the best option if you call a lot, have good T-mobile coverage in your area, and aren't a data hog.

I use the $30 Monthly4G plan from T-Mobile, which gives me 5GB of unthrottled 4G data and unlimited texts, but only 100 minutes. I'm an avid Google Voice user, and between using Talkatone over VoIP (this can be less stellar over mobile data, but works like a charm over WiFi), Vonage Mobile, and my office phone (which GV can forward to and call from), I manage better than just fine. I don't even end up using much of the actual 100 minutes I do get.

That said, VOIP, Google Voice and all these combinations may not - will not - work for everyone. It requires both a good deal of patience and some technical know how. If you don't want to do all of that, go with Solavei.
 
Crashdamage said:
T-Mobile hands down. Best data speed, good customer service, very reasonable rates. Prepaid providers may sometimes be a little bit cheaper, but there's reasons for that. You may get limited coverage, slower data, poor customer service, etc. IOW you get what you pay for. Prepaid or postpaid get the genuine article if you want quality service.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
Click to expand...

Funny, I have better features with Solavei than with T-Mobile prepaid directly. I have conditional call forwarding so I can easily use Google Voice voicemail for my sim and GV number. I also have 2g data roaming in service partner areas - not just voice. I'm pretty sure you don't get either of those features from T-Mobile prepaid directly. $49 for 4GB of 4g data or $50 for 100MB? It's the same network. I don't believe that just because it's more expensive it must be better. (I'd still be with Sprint.)
 
runtmms said:
Funny, I have better features with Solavei than with T-Mobile prepaid directly. I have conditional call forwarding so I can easily use Google Voice voicemail for my sim and GV number. I also have 2g data roaming in service partner areas - not just voice. I'm pretty sure you don't get either of those features from T-Mobile prepaid directly. $49 for 4GB of 4g data or $50 for 100MB? It's the same network. I don't believe that just because it's more expensive it must be better. (I'd still be with Sprint.)
Click to expand...
Solavei doesn't come close. For $50/mo (postpaid) I get:

GV - all features.
3G roaming.
Unlimited minutes (very important for us) + unlimited text + 2GB @4G (plenty).
Much better customer service.
Phone financing interest free if I want.
Free home signal booster.
LTE data service (it's on already here in Kansas City).

My wife and I both run our businesses from our cellphones. We would never trust our businesses to a company like Solavei.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
 
yfan said:
I use the $30 Monthly4G plan from T-Mobile, which gives me 5GB of unthrottled 4G data and unlimited texts, but only 100 minutes. I'm an avid Google Voice user, and between using Talkatone over VoIP (this can be less stellar over mobile data, but works like a charm over WiFi), Vonage Mobile, and my office phone (which GV can forward to and call from), I manage better than just fine. I don't even end up using much of the actual 100 minutes I do get.
Click to expand...

The $30 plan is great if you can make it work. We tried the $30/GrooveIP combo for my husband's phone and away from wifi we struggled with call quality. I'm a little jealous you got it working well.

Solavei was the next best choice for us. We also figured if we were lucky enough to get 3 people to sign up we'd effectively be paying $30 for that line. That appealed to the gamble in us.
 
Crashdamage said:
Solavei doesn't come close. For $50/mo (postpaid) I get:

GV - all features.
3G roaming.
Unlimited minutes (very important for us) + unlimited text + 2GB @4G (plenty).
Much better customer service.
Phone financing interest free if I want.
Free home signal booster.
LTE data service (it's on already here in Kansas City).

My wife and I both run our businesses from our cellphones. We would never trust our businesses to a company like Solavei.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
Click to expand...

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far.

I wanted to specifically call this post out as I was hoping to get someone who was able to make use of the LTE radio on T-Mobile, as I see this a big differentiator between the 2 carriers. How has the performance been on T-Mobile's brand new LTE network? I am in the metro Detroit MI area and it will probably be a while until we see that network expand to our area, but if it's anything close to Verizon's performance I think I will go with T-Mobile.
 
wise_guy69 said:
Thanks to everyone who has responded so far.

I wanted to specifically call this post out as I was hoping to get someone who was able to make use of the LTE radio on T-Mobile, as I see this a big differentiator between the 2 carriers. How has the performance been on T-Mobile's brand new LTE network? I am in the metro Detroit MI area and it will probably be a while until we see that network expand to our area, but if it's anything close to Verizon's performance I think I will go with T-Mobile.
Click to expand...

I haven't been in a city LTE is live in yet. Sorry.
 
I'm using Straight Talk with the AT&T sim option. $45 pre-paid, no contract, unlimited talk, text, data. I live in Atlanta and am getting 6MB down and 1MB down. I just came from a Galaxy Nexus on Verizon LTE and didn't get any faster. I love this phone! Love the battery life (compared to GN LTE), love the speed, love no contract. I wouldn't go back for anything. EDIT: PS - I'm using the APN setting that came recommended with the sim.
 
I wish a mod would just make a sticky addressing this question and presenting options seeing as how there have been over 9000 threads discussing this topic -_-

@OP there is almost no cities with active LTE right now through T-Mobile.
 
NeXuS4 said:
I wish a mod would just make a sticky addressing this question and presenting options seeing as how there have been over 9000 threads discussing this topic -_-

@OP there is almost no cities with active LTE right now through T-Mobile.
Click to expand...

@NeXuS4 - I meant no disrespect or harm when I posted, as I said I did a search but didn't see anything similar. Sorry to have bothered you. And yes I know there are are very few active TMO LTE cities right now, but I recognize that could be a key differentiator for those choosing between AT&T and TMO.

Mods - if this has been asked and answered elsewhere please feel free to close/lock this thread.
 
wise_guy69 said:
Thanks to everyone who has responded so far.

I wanted to specifically call this post out as I was hoping to get someone who was able to make use of the LTE radio on T-Mobile, as I see this a big differentiator between the 2 carriers. How has the performance been on T-Mobile's brand new LTE network? I am in the metro Detroit MI area and it will probably be a while until we see that network expand to our area, but if it's anything close to Verizon's performance I think I will go with T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
FAST! Don't want to get into details yet as I've only had time to piddle around a bit with LTE on my Nexus 4. I think it will take a software update to really sort it out.

LTE will be far better on T-Mobile than Verizon. A newer version of LTE and T-Mobile is spending big bucks to get the latest, best equipment. Very impressive what they are doing.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
 
can't wait for the tmobile lte network and a lil better coverage here in michigan i live in the suburbs so service is spotty but when i'm out and about its great so i use wifi at home and data away from home 30$ plan for me is great :D
 
wise_guy69 said:
@NeXuS4 - I meant no disrespect or harm when I posted, as I said I did a search but didn't see anything similar. Sorry to have bothered you. And yes I know there are are very few active TMO LTE cities right now, but I recognize that could be a key differentiator for those choosing between AT&T and TMO.

Mods - if this has been asked and answered elsewhere please feel free to close/lock this thread.
Click to expand...

I'm not offended.
 
john30308 said:
I'm using Straight Talk with the AT&T sim option. $45 pre-paid, no contract, unlimited talk, text, data. I live in Atlanta and am getting 6MB down and 1MB down. I just came from a Galaxy Nexus on Verizon LTE and didn't get any faster. I love this phone! Love the battery life (compared to GN LTE), love the speed, love no contract. I wouldn't go back for anything. EDIT: PS - I'm using the APN setting that came recommended with the sim.
Click to expand...

I second this! i have straight talk with at&t and i think it's the best. My sister had tmobile 4g coverage she was getting higher speed than me and my phone internet connection when surfing the web was still blowing hers out of the water. The other thing is coverage, i've traveled to 5 different states including Oregon and Idaho and the coverage has never failed me but it's failed my sis who has tmobile.
 
Amaeloeze said:
I second this! i have straight talk with at&t and i think it's the best. My sister had tmobile 4g coverage she was getting higher speed than me and my phone internet connection when surfing the web was still blowing hers out of the water. The other thing is coverage, i've traveled to 5 different states including Oregon and Idaho and the coverage has never failed me but it's failed my sis who has tmobile.
Click to expand...

I hope straight talk never decides you have been using too much data since their terms of service allows them to cut off your service at anytime for any arbitrary reason.

I have not heard of T-Mobile cutting off any ones data for using too much on a prepaid plan. Also I'll take my us based customer support thank you very much.
 
After much personal debate and reading the slew of posts across the internet about T-mobile not holding signal in smaller towns, ST AT&T seemed to be the only way to go for me. I care FAR more about being able to make a call or text (it is a phone after-all) than being able to surf the net super fast when applicable. If I lived in a larger city and was fairly stationary, it'd be different.

If you're confused, search around and look at the coverage maps and such. It becomes pretty obvious fairly quickly that the conversation is mostly about data in most posts. If you're a heavy data user, ST probably isn't the way to go due to their unclear throttle policy, but if you are looking to make a call in a smaller area, most threads end in ST AT&T for that. T-mobile are likely the better provider of the two in terms of quality, but if you can't make a call in your area, or it's super spotty and drops.. it's not all that important how fast they are.

Couldn't hurt to try both along the way though. ;)
 
Anyone know if the T-Mobile prepaid (more specifically the $30 one) lets you do wifi hotspot natively on a non Nexus device? I'm curious since I'm getting a Note 2 monday and I'll be doing more mobile data stuff with that and moving my Nexus down to a 200MB plan.
 
Wanna know the cool thing about the Nexus 4? You get to try them ALL!! Seriously, pick one that sounds the best to you and give it a shot for a month, you don't like it; try another! The most money you'll ever be out in one month is still ~$20 less than the cheapest contract options on Verizon, Sprint, or AT&T. I already LOVE being contract free!
 
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