OT: Cell Phone Advice

User Forum Topic
Submitted by joec on July 1, 2012 - 8:50am

Did a search and surprised I didn't see anything show up on this, but does anyone have recommendations between the different cell phone carriers and plans?

I know Verizon just changed all their plans to a share all and prices all look pretty high if you want data and all the plans aren't unlimited anymore.

Wife wanted to use an iPhone and I was thinking of jumping to a data plan as well to use wi-fi around the house (on the can, etc). It's hard to say how much data you use if the device can do wi-fi, but it's nice to not have to worry about going over and having an insane bill.

I read up a bit was planning to do Sprint since they have unlimited wireless, but noticed Sprint doesn't really have 4G LTE yet and no quick plans for San Diego initially. Also, the main concern is their financial viability of them with the punishing 15 mil/year iPhone contract they just signed with Apple.

Verizon looks good since they seem to be the furthest along with 4G LTE, but prices are very high.

That leaves AT&T which we use now, but I assume prices are the same.

They all look bad in the end, but was curious what other folks are using and ways to minimize cost.

We can choose one of the small local carriers with no plan, etc, but those don't tend to have good coverage outside the local area.

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You can use any carrier that
Submitted by bearishgurl on July 1, 2012 - 12:37pm.

You can use any carrier that has the coverage you need but the key to having low monthly cell bills is to NOT sign a contract.

You will need to use your existing equipment or purchase new/used equip on the open market and even flash/debrand it if it is not already done and you wish to do it. I don't know if this can be done with i-phones. There are quite a few services that become available on a feature phone if it is flashed (unlocked) which are unavailable under contract or the carriers CHARGE you monthly for (such as wifi, for example).

I AM aware that a 2-yr basic i-phone contract from AT&T (where you buy the phone from them) ends up costing the user $1800-$1920 over the life of the contract ($75-$80 mo), PLUS the initial cost of the phone. I'm not sure if there is any way to get basic i-phone svc cheaper if you were to "acquire" an i-phone (new or used). Any Piggs know?

I use sprint, and their
Submitted by mike92104 on July 1, 2012 - 2:17pm.

I use sprint, and their unlimited plan is just that. I know they don't have 4g in san diego yet, but the 3g works fine. I like that I can watch netflix all day on my phone without incurring any additional fees.

Longtime Sprint customer
Submitted by svelte on July 1, 2012 - 2:22pm.

Longtime Sprint customer here. I'm happy with them. Have their unlimited plan too.

Re: AT&T You could acquire an
Submitted by spdrun on July 1, 2012 - 4:45pm.

Re: AT&T

You could acquire an iPhone that "fell from the truck" and only get voice service with it. Jailbreak and turn 3G data off entirely, only use data when you have WiFi.

PS - my next device will be Android. At least the user can actually decide which apps to install without playing the stupid jailbreak game, which gets old after a short while. iPhone is a great device, but still crippled by an ill old man's vision of what it should and shouldn't do.

spdrun wrote:Re: AT&T You
Submitted by bearishgurl on July 1, 2012 - 4:51pm.

spdrun wrote:
Re: AT&T

You could acquire an iPhone that "fell from the truck" and only get voice service with it. Jailbreak and turn 3G data off entirely, only use data when you have WiFi....

Thanks, spdrun, I didn't know this was possible. I'm sure there are LOTS of "slightly used" i-phones out there which are out of contract and whose owners would give them away or sell them for little to nothing. The "jailbreaking/debranding" procedure should cost less than $50.

Um, jailbreaking is free if
Submitted by spdrun on July 1, 2012 - 4:55pm.

Um, jailbreaking is free if you do it yourself, and it isn't hard to do. If you're going voice-only, you could also go T-mo.

I have Sprint and Tmobile for
Submitted by flu on July 1, 2012 - 5:04pm.

I have Sprint and Tmobile for myself and my side gig, and ATT for my primary gig, and once upon a time had Verizon.

I liked Verizon mainly because they had great service and great customer service. Then they got too expensive, so I dropped them.

TMobile, I'm not so thrilled about. Service is ok, but customer service sucks...

Sprint service is good, customer service is better these days, but I don't like not having a sim card.

ATT I have mixed feelings. I think actually the service is not as good as TMobile, but customer service is better.

yeah, I guess I wasn't very helpful.

iPhone sucks btw :)

spdrun wrote:Re: AT&T You
Submitted by sdrealtor on July 1, 2012 - 6:04pm.

spdrun wrote:
Re: AT&T

You could acquire an iPhone that "fell from the truck" and only get voice service with it. Jailbreak and turn 3G data off entirely, only use data when you have WiFi.

PS - my next device will be Android. At least the user can actually decide which apps to install without playing the stupid jailbreak game, which gets old after a short while. iPhone is a great device, but still crippled by an ill old man's vision of what it should and shouldn't do.

Such the stereotypical new Yorker. Don't you dare ask me what I doing. But buying stolen goods is perfectly acceptable.

C'mon sp...say it just like every other a hole from NY.

"Don't you know who i am!"

Ironically, I bought my
Submitted by spdrun on July 1, 2012 - 6:18pm.

Ironically, I bought my iPhone directly from AT&T, and got a device loaded with a severely gimped OS. Is that OK?

I just switched from verizon
Submitted by paramount on July 1, 2012 - 6:55pm.

I just switched from verizon contract based to straight talk (carlos slim's) unlimited.

I just couldn't find a downside to making the switch.

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