There are over 412 million There are over 412 million subscriptions in the US, it is my second biggest bill every month, behind the mortgage. Granted I am paying for 3 phones and a cellular tablet.
spdrun
January 18, 2018 @
10:42 AM
I think I’ll drop my data I think I’ll drop my data plan next month and go with some $25 talk/text unlimited plan. I use my phone for talking/texting most of the time anyway.
moneymaker
January 18, 2018 @
12:22 PM
Last time I shopped around Last time I shopped around and its been awhile seemed like all the providers were saying data was required with their service. I have to have it myself as I like to use it for lots of stuff.
spdrun
January 18, 2018 @
12:59 PM
AT&T and T-mobile both have AT&T and T-mobile both have voice/text only plans — they’re just not publicized heavily.
evolusd
January 22, 2018 @
8:36 AM
I’ve been researching Project I’ve been researching Project Fi from Google, which seems like a straight forward plan. Problem is my wife and kids are iPhone and Fi requires Google Pixel or Nexus phones.
bewildering
January 22, 2018 @
3:22 PM
evolusd wrote:I’ve been [quote=evolusd]I’ve been researching Project Fi from Google, which seems like a straight forward plan. Problem is my wife and kids are iPhone and Fi requires Google Pixel or Nexus phones.[/quote]
My wife and I use project Fi. Our last bill was $57. The big cost is the phones, we got pixel2. But you can buy the Android One Moto X4 for $300.
We used to have the iphone 6, and pay ~80 per month for ATT prepaid. Again you only get the 80/month with your own phone.
I use gmail, and I like the unlimited photo storage. Also, sharing pics/video is real easy. It is also nice to be able to use the phone and data in Europe.
moneymaker
January 27, 2018 @
9:27 PM
So far Verizon seems to be So far Verizon seems to be ahead. When our 3 phones are paid for I will probably look around for deals or just call Verizon and see if they will renegotiate.
zk
January 27, 2018 @
11:22 PM
We switched from Verizon to T We switched from Verizon to T Mobile a couple months ago for their get out of the red promotion. They paid off over a thousand dollars worth of phones, and they have unlimited data for less than we were paying Verizon (which limited the three of us to 4 GB).
T Mobile’s coverage is spottier, even in San Diego. Pretty good but still occasionally spotty in Chicago, Austin, L.A. and Tahoe. Not sure what it would be like in more remote areas.
Customer service has been equally sucky between the two.
Coronita
January 28, 2018 @
8:05 AM
TMobile 3 phones unlimited TMobile 3 phones unlimited voice and text, data capped at 2gb per month…
$76 total for 3 lines.
currently using a Pixel 1 , Nexus 5, and an iPhone X….no issues.
I am kicking myself because TMobile offered a get 3rd and 4th line free promotion two black Fridays ago.
you just need to pay the $4/month taxes… I should have gotten a 4th line even though I didn’t need it at the time. my kid is growing up so most likely will need one, plus I could have added one parent to save them money.
FlyerInHi
January 28, 2018 @
10:16 AM
Someone was telling me about Someone was telling me about the Oppo F5 Chinese phone. Great camera. Double SIM card slots so excellent for travelers or people who need 2 lines.
What do you think?
I don’t want to spend money on a “high end” phone anymore if the copycats are just as good.
Coronita
January 28, 2018 @
7:21 PM
FlyerInHi wrote:Someone was [quote=FlyerInHi]Someone was telling me about the Oppo F5 Chinese phone. Great camera. Double SIM card slots so excellent for travelers or people who need 2 lines.
What do you think?
I don’t want to spend money on a “high end” phone anymore if the copycats are just as good.[/quote]
I wouldn’t trust any Chinese phone that hasn’t passed any US carrier certification. can you say spyware?
spdrun
January 28, 2018 @
9:54 PM
Because it’s really better to Because it’s really better to have the big-4 of tech (Amazon, Apple, Google, M$) spying on you. Since they’re not in bed with various 3-letter agency filth in the US. No, never.
If any of those companies wanted to engage in industrial espionage for their own benefit, they have the perfect tech for it. And the likely blessing of the US government.
moneymaker
January 30, 2018 @
8:51 PM
The big 3 used to put a The big 3 used to put a circuit in a landline phone that would listen for a particular frequency, a tuned circuit, it would then energize a small relay that was put in the phone which would cause it to go off hook, i.e. the phone would be on while hung up. So much easier nowadays, all of the electronics needed is already in every cell phone. Employers can do the same thing, turn company provided phones into microphones without the persons knowledge. That is how Fox spied on Angela Merkel among others, no wonder everyone is so paranoid these days.
FlyerInHi
January 31, 2018 @
11:24 AM
I have a friend who as a I have a friend who as a teenager was a phone hacker like Steve Jobs.
He told me how unsecured the old phone network was. Ah, the good old days!
spdrun
January 31, 2018 @
7:23 PM
Yes and no — way back when, Yes and no — way back when, every landline was tied to an address and identity. Now anyone can get a burner cell phone for cash or a dodgy VoIP service that allows easy caller ID spoofing to run a scam. Any script kiddie can also install spyware on someone’s cell phone.
The network is, if anything less secure now. It’s easier to hide your identity (especially legally), and legal to communicate for nearly free. You can talk to another continent for almost free when it used to be $5/min, creating a real incentive for hacking and phreaking.
The bug a previous poster mentioned didn’t exist in every phone. It was called a “harmonica bug” and exploited the fact that old phone switches opened a voice channel before the first ring on the line. The bug would listen for a specific tone (often generated by a caller with a harmonica), pick up the phone, suppress ringing, and open a voice channel to the phone’s mic. But this was easily caught, since the line would be busy while the bug was being used. Installation also required physical access to the mark’s phone.
Eventually, people who called the mark would complain of busy signals while the mark wasn’t on the phone, making the monkey business quite likely to be discovered.
Escoguy
March 4, 2018 @
7:46 PM
Don’t kick yourself too much. Don’t kick yourself too much. I signed up for the extra lines but T-mobile never got the billing right so they were trying to charge $20/month each.
So I cancelled them. Still we get 4 lines for $96/month unlimited data.
There are spots it can’t be used though.
moneymaker
March 5, 2018 @
12:20 AM
Maybe the Homeland security Maybe the Homeland security techies should hire phone sex workers to keep people on the phone while they download spy ware to their phones, might even be some benefits for the tech types. I don’t honestly know if phone sex still exists but sounds like an interesting way to catch criminals.
Hobie
March 4, 2018 @
9:14 AM
Got the Project Fi with Got the Project Fi with Pixel2. Phone itself is super, coverage is provided with T-moblie, others and sucks.
Works better overseas than in the US for coverage. Go inside building and other person can’t hear you, yet it is still connected. Same inside a home, have to go outside for phone to work. Texting will work however. Annoying when coming from Verizon which seems to have best coverage.
Voice quality is better than old iphone6. Of course now have green text blocks rather that cool blue with apple. Problem for younger folks, ha. cool factor, don’t cha know. However, seems more younger are tiring of apple and are slowly accepting to android. Just my distant opinion.
spdrun
March 4, 2018 @
11:14 AM
Doesn’t T-Mobile do WiFi Doesn’t T-Mobile do WiFi calling?
January 18, 2018 @ 10:20 AM
There are over 412 million
There are over 412 million subscriptions in the US, it is my second biggest bill every month, behind the mortgage. Granted I am paying for 3 phones and a cellular tablet.
January 18, 2018 @ 10:42 AM
I think I’ll drop my data
I think I’ll drop my data plan next month and go with some $25 talk/text unlimited plan. I use my phone for talking/texting most of the time anyway.
January 18, 2018 @ 12:22 PM
Last time I shopped around
Last time I shopped around and its been awhile seemed like all the providers were saying data was required with their service. I have to have it myself as I like to use it for lots of stuff.
January 18, 2018 @ 12:59 PM
AT&T and T-mobile both have
AT&T and T-mobile both have voice/text only plans — they’re just not publicized heavily.
January 22, 2018 @ 8:36 AM
I’ve been researching Project
I’ve been researching Project Fi from Google, which seems like a straight forward plan. Problem is my wife and kids are iPhone and Fi requires Google Pixel or Nexus phones.
January 22, 2018 @ 3:22 PM
evolusd wrote:I’ve been
[quote=evolusd]I’ve been researching Project Fi from Google, which seems like a straight forward plan. Problem is my wife and kids are iPhone and Fi requires Google Pixel or Nexus phones.[/quote]
My wife and I use project Fi. Our last bill was $57. The big cost is the phones, we got pixel2. But you can buy the Android One Moto X4 for $300.
We used to have the iphone 6, and pay ~80 per month for ATT prepaid. Again you only get the 80/month with your own phone.
I use gmail, and I like the unlimited photo storage. Also, sharing pics/video is real easy. It is also nice to be able to use the phone and data in Europe.
January 27, 2018 @ 9:27 PM
So far Verizon seems to be
So far Verizon seems to be ahead. When our 3 phones are paid for I will probably look around for deals or just call Verizon and see if they will renegotiate.
January 27, 2018 @ 11:22 PM
We switched from Verizon to T
We switched from Verizon to T Mobile a couple months ago for their get out of the red promotion. They paid off over a thousand dollars worth of phones, and they have unlimited data for less than we were paying Verizon (which limited the three of us to 4 GB).
T Mobile’s coverage is spottier, even in San Diego. Pretty good but still occasionally spotty in Chicago, Austin, L.A. and Tahoe. Not sure what it would be like in more remote areas.
Customer service has been equally sucky between the two.
January 28, 2018 @ 8:05 AM
TMobile 3 phones unlimited
TMobile 3 phones unlimited voice and text, data capped at 2gb per month…
$76 total for 3 lines.
currently using a Pixel 1 , Nexus 5, and an iPhone X….no issues.
I am kicking myself because TMobile offered a get 3rd and 4th line free promotion two black Fridays ago.
you just need to pay the $4/month taxes… I should have gotten a 4th line even though I didn’t need it at the time. my kid is growing up so most likely will need one, plus I could have added one parent to save them money.
January 28, 2018 @ 10:16 AM
Someone was telling me about
Someone was telling me about the Oppo F5 Chinese phone. Great camera. Double SIM card slots so excellent for travelers or people who need 2 lines.
What do you think?
I don’t want to spend money on a “high end” phone anymore if the copycats are just as good.
January 28, 2018 @ 7:21 PM
FlyerInHi wrote:Someone was
[quote=FlyerInHi]Someone was telling me about the Oppo F5 Chinese phone. Great camera. Double SIM card slots so excellent for travelers or people who need 2 lines.
What do you think?
I don’t want to spend money on a “high end” phone anymore if the copycats are just as good.[/quote]
I wouldn’t trust any Chinese phone that hasn’t passed any US carrier certification. can you say spyware?
January 28, 2018 @ 9:54 PM
Because it’s really better to
Because it’s really better to have the big-4 of tech (Amazon, Apple, Google, M$) spying on you. Since they’re not in bed with various 3-letter agency filth in the US. No, never.
If any of those companies wanted to engage in industrial espionage for their own benefit, they have the perfect tech for it. And the likely blessing of the US government.
January 30, 2018 @ 8:51 PM
The big 3 used to put a
The big 3 used to put a circuit in a landline phone that would listen for a particular frequency, a tuned circuit, it would then energize a small relay that was put in the phone which would cause it to go off hook, i.e. the phone would be on while hung up. So much easier nowadays, all of the electronics needed is already in every cell phone. Employers can do the same thing, turn company provided phones into microphones without the persons knowledge. That is how Fox spied on Angela Merkel among others, no wonder everyone is so paranoid these days.
January 31, 2018 @ 11:24 AM
I have a friend who as a
I have a friend who as a teenager was a phone hacker like Steve Jobs.
He told me how unsecured the old phone network was. Ah, the good old days!
January 31, 2018 @ 7:23 PM
Yes and no — way back when,
Yes and no — way back when, every landline was tied to an address and identity. Now anyone can get a burner cell phone for cash or a dodgy VoIP service that allows easy caller ID spoofing to run a scam. Any script kiddie can also install spyware on someone’s cell phone.
The network is, if anything less secure now. It’s easier to hide your identity (especially legally), and legal to communicate for nearly free. You can talk to another continent for almost free when it used to be $5/min, creating a real incentive for hacking and phreaking.
The bug a previous poster mentioned didn’t exist in every phone. It was called a “harmonica bug” and exploited the fact that old phone switches opened a voice channel before the first ring on the line. The bug would listen for a specific tone (often generated by a caller with a harmonica), pick up the phone, suppress ringing, and open a voice channel to the phone’s mic. But this was easily caught, since the line would be busy while the bug was being used. Installation also required physical access to the mark’s phone.
Eventually, people who called the mark would complain of busy signals while the mark wasn’t on the phone, making the monkey business quite likely to be discovered.
March 4, 2018 @ 7:46 PM
Don’t kick yourself too much.
Don’t kick yourself too much. I signed up for the extra lines but T-mobile never got the billing right so they were trying to charge $20/month each.
So I cancelled them. Still we get 4 lines for $96/month unlimited data.
There are spots it can’t be used though.
March 5, 2018 @ 12:20 AM
Maybe the Homeland security
Maybe the Homeland security techies should hire phone sex workers to keep people on the phone while they download spy ware to their phones, might even be some benefits for the tech types. I don’t honestly know if phone sex still exists but sounds like an interesting way to catch criminals.
March 4, 2018 @ 9:14 AM
Got the Project Fi with
Got the Project Fi with Pixel2. Phone itself is super, coverage is provided with T-moblie, others and sucks.
Works better overseas than in the US for coverage. Go inside building and other person can’t hear you, yet it is still connected. Same inside a home, have to go outside for phone to work. Texting will work however. Annoying when coming from Verizon which seems to have best coverage.
Voice quality is better than old iphone6. Of course now have green text blocks rather that cool blue with apple. Problem for younger folks, ha. cool factor, don’t cha know. However, seems more younger are tiring of apple and are slowly accepting to android. Just my distant opinion.
March 4, 2018 @ 11:14 AM
Doesn’t T-Mobile do WiFi
Doesn’t T-Mobile do WiFi calling?