I've always liked the versatility of a PDA/smartphone but I could never justify the cost of a voice plan that I barely use and a data plan. It occurred to me to try getting a data only plan and running Skype with a subscription for the few voice calls I get. I'm hoping someone here has tried this before and can give me some feedback on their experience.
AT&T's coverage maps claim Houston is blanketed in 3G/HSPDA. For the majority of my day I'm in a WiFi area and not really mobile too much, but the quality of both the call and 3G service when driving around Houston is still a slight concern.
What will happen to my phone number when I switch to a data only plan? If I keep it, what happens when someone tries to call it or send me a text message?
I can't really upgrade to a smartphone to try it out and drop the data plan if it doesn't work, considering AT&T has made data plans mandatory for smartphones, and I'll be stuck paying for one.
Huh, that's very nice!
nathanpc said:
Huh, that's very nice!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I suppose it is. Instead of paying $50 for a bunch of minutes I don't use, I can pay $35 for unlimited data and messaging and a couple $ more for unlimited calling and a phone number with Skype. I end up paying about the same amount but getting a much better deal.
IF it works. I've been able to test a call on Verizon but that doesn't tell me anything about AT&T's data network. I tried streaming Pandora while driving when I got my current phone and that was a disappointment - though I think the Pandora app was the majority of the problem. Still, I have no idea if the call quality will be terrible or if calls will be dropping on me while having full signal, etc, etc. Has anyone tried this recently?
It's a little bit expansive...
Just to make sure, I'll drop it after this: There is no one out there who has tried this already?
haven't / cant try it here, often wondered about this too. id say double check att's buyer remorse policy (i think its 30 days return) make sure you can undo any contract changes, but take the phone and try it. all you would stand to lose is the time lost with returning bureaucracy, a small risk given the potential reward
Sprint sell smartphones with data only plans
including plam pre and touch pro 1 & 2 with 2 year contract what's great about it's the data plan is just $30
http://www.sprintrelaystore.com/
they don't ask for proof that you are really are deaf
Still being under contract with AT&T kind of limits me to sticking with them. As soon as I can get some pricing for upgrade on the LG Expo's, I'll probably be moving ahead with this. I spoke with three people at AT&T to make sure there wouldn't be any trouble and confirmed I'll be able to get the data only plan on a smartphone and fulfill the data plan requirement.
The plan isn't actually just data with voice disabled, it's really the reverse of a regular voice plan: package with minutes, billed per Kb of data usage VS unlimited data package, voice/messages billed per minute/message. Beauty of it is that you can forward incoming calls on your cellphone and you won't be charged - which solves the problem of everyone still calling me on my cellphone.
Unfortunately sms/mms will still go through and I'll be charged. Still working out the kinks on that. I figure I'll have to start giving out a different number at some point in time so I'll probably use Google Voice for this and forward SMS to email, but that doesn't work for MMS. Maybe I'll just have to get the cheap messaging plan, or maybe just eat the cost of the occasional MMS. Unless I can also forward messages to a different number or email from the phone which would just solve everything.
Of course, none of this is a problem for me, but trying to make this seamless and hassle free for people calling me is the goal.
llvllerlin said:
I've always liked the versatility of a PDA/smartphone but I could never justify the cost of a voice plan that I barely use and a data plan. It occurred to me to try getting a data only plan and running Skype with a subscription for the few voice calls I get. I'm hoping someone here has tried this before and can give me some feedback on their experience.
AT&T's coverage maps claim Houston is blanketed in 3G/HSPDA. For the majority of my day I'm in a WiFi area and not really mobile too much, but the quality of both the call and 3G service when driving around Houston is still a slight concern.
What will happen to my phone number when I switch to a data only plan? If I keep it, what happens when someone tries to call it or send me a text message?
I can't really upgrade to a smartphone to try it out and drop the data plan if it doesn't work, considering AT&T has made data plans mandatory for smartphones, and I'll be stuck paying for one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does not work very well.
also - skype absolutely drains the battery. we are talking 1-2 hours of standby time before the battery goes from 100% to 0%.
llvllerlin said:
Still being under contract with AT&T kind of limits me to sticking with them. As soon as I can get some pricing for upgrade on the LG Expo's, I'll probably be moving ahead with this. I spoke with three people at AT&T to make sure there wouldn't be any trouble and confirmed I'll be able to get the data only plan on a smartphone and fulfill the data plan requirement.
The plan isn't actually just data with voice disabled, it's really the reverse of a regular voice plan: package with minutes, billed per Kb of data usage VS unlimited data package, voice/messages billed per minute/message. Beauty of it is that you can forward incoming calls on your cellphone and you won't be charged - which solves the problem of everyone still calling me on my cellphone.
Unfortunately sms/mms will still go through and I'll be charged. Still working out the kinks on that. I figure I'll have to start giving out a different number at some point in time so I'll probably use Google Voice for this and forward SMS to email, but that doesn't work for MMS. Maybe I'll just have to get the cheap messaging plan, or maybe just eat the cost of the occasional MMS. Unless I can also forward messages to a different number or email from the phone which would just solve everything.
Of course, none of this is a problem for me, but trying to make this seamless and hassle free for people calling me is the goal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI, AT&T still doesn't have the eXpo, but RadioShack is selling it right now. I upgraded mine for $149.
In the UK we have "Three", They allow skype calls on their mobile phones and offer plans for as little as £15 with unlimited texts, unlimited internet, 200 minutes and unlimited skype usage (I believe it comes with "SkypeOUt" or whatever it's called). Skype to skype calls are always free even if you are on pay as you go (Prepay) and have no credit!
If you don't have something similar in the US then it will more than likely come soon as this sort of thing is starting to catch on. It's actually quite encouraging because if Google Voice does launch over here and google plans on having a "google voice" only mobile phone then three would be a network willing to consider it.
coolVariable said:
does not work very well.
also - skype absolutely drains the battery. we are talking 1-2 hours of standby time before the battery goes from 100% to 0%.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I take it you've tried it out then. My phones are usually docked while I'm at work and when I get home they might go 3 hours before it's back on the charger for the night.
If you don't mind, what carrier and city, and around when did you try it out? Was it over WiFi or 3G?
SPIDERTECH said:
FYI, AT&T still doesn't have the eXpo, but RadioShack is selling it right now. I upgraded mine for $149.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to check it out then. I still haven't seen a single word on availability yet and RadioShack's website shows nothing about it. What city?
llvllerlin said:
I take it you've tried it out then. My phones are usually docked while I'm at work and when I get home they might go 3 hours before it's back on the charger for the night.
If you don't mind, what carrier and city, and around when did you try it out? Was it over WiFi or 3G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3G. AT&T. Tried it pretty much all over SoCal, primarily LA, San Diego and Santa Barbara.
Just doesn't work.
Related
I seem to be able to get internet and go to any site I want to when I connect T-Zones. But I do not pay for any data plans at all, just my Get More 600 plan. Is this normal? Am I going to get billed if I use it? It is using minutes instead?
Be carefull. T-Mobile will let you access what you like without a data plan but charge you a fortune for it!!!!
First time I did it, I downloaded a few emails and before I knew it my data cost was over 90 pounds!
Ring them and check your current bill/plan.
same happened here on cingular. It adds up fast. (im currently looking into how to prevent the un-intentional ussage of such a feature. ITs on by default. Scarry.
Be very careful! Many providers do that, if you did not purchase data plan then you will most likely pay much more than expected.
If you disconnect very often then it will make it worse because they count data transfer in big blocks for example 50KB instead of real usage.
Some even round up data blocks every hour, so if you use 10KB and stay connected then in an hour they will round up for you, as if you used 50KB - which you did not.
I don't know about T-Mo USA, but T-Mo Hungary has a default data plan pretty much for everyone. It has no monthly fees but the data is very expensive and has a daily activation fee.
I too appear to be getting free internet/wap/gprs. I sent in a message to T-mobile USA and they said that I was NOT getting charged for my usage and that they were probably doing work in my area.
I expected them to say "Oh, you are getting free service! Well lets fix that right away. Please forgive us for this heinous inconvenience, sir." but the gut just shrugged it off.
Despite this, I don't use it incessantly. I figure they'll surprise me with charges sooner or later.
prepaid
I been getting free internet by using a prepaid sim(no charge to credit in account) for the past week or two but i havent had a chance to test this on another wizard and a different sim. I think its a problem with tmobile like when you could send free sms through gprs on some nokia phones and tmobile could not notice how many you were sending. if you tried this pim me with the results
Hi,
in a few days I will be going in vacations (lucky me) in Mexico. But I don't want to pay for international Datas. I want to use my phone only has a phone and will contect thru Wifi when available.
ma question is: If the "Data roaming" (settings-wireless and network- mobile networks) is un checked, is that mean it will "cut" the datas as soon as I'm not with ATT?
Thanks
Yes, but you'll still be subject to roaming charges for voice and messaging.
- Dial *#*#INFO#*#* which is *#*#4636#*#*
- Go to Phone Info
- You can hit your "More" softkey and there will be a menu with an option called More
There should be an option that says disable data on boot. Now any time you restart your phone you should not be getting data network
LinuxNewb said:
- Dial *#*#INFO#*#* which is *#*#4636#*#*
- Go to Phone Info
- You can hit your "More" softkey and there will be a menu with an option called More
There should be an option that says disable data on boot. Now any time you restart your phone you should not be getting data network
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this code but it doesn't seems to work on my captivate
xargs1 said:
Yes, but you'll still be subject to roaming charges for voice and messaging.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it was what I tough.
Just keep it in airplane mode. I travel mostly out of the country and that's what I do. You can enable wifi while in airplane mode.
a_fuegon said:
Just keep it in airplane mode. I travel mostly out of the country and that's what I do. You can enable wifi while in airplane mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, but in my case I have to be able to anwer calls
Duh, I guess I selectively absorb content I read. I just get sim cards locally and pass that number to the people I need to stay in touch with. Granted it's only a select few though, perhaps that's why it's practical for me. It's the more cost efficient way for me. I do have an unlocked winmo phone that I use abroad for this.
Turn off data, and call at&t and sign up for the international plan. You can cancel it after the vacation and it is pro-rated. I went on a cruise to mexico and ended up paying like $120 on less than a half hour of calls back home.
I am on a trip in Brazil right now, and have the exact same requirements. I turn off Data Roaming so that I don't run up any data charges. Just to be safe, I also turned off sync for Google, Twitter, and Facebook. I signed up for the AT&T International Plan at $5.99 per month, which makes calls between US and Brazil at $1.99 per minute. Text messages are $.80 each. If you really want to save money on calls, take a laptop and use Skype. I can call a US landline from Skype for $.02 per minute, not quite free, but it feels like it compared to the AT&T rate.
just fff up your apn.. but remember settings.. that is what the disable/enable data widgets do anyway.. screw up something in the apn and you will get no data.
grmcgee said:
I am on a trip in Brazil right now, and have the exact same requirements. I turn off Data Roaming so that I don't run up any data charges. Just to be safe, I also turned off sync for Google, Twitter, and Facebook. I signed up for the AT&T International Plan at $5.99 per month, which makes calls between US and Brazil at $1.99 per minute. Text messages are $.80 each. If you really want to save money on calls, take a laptop and use Skype. I can call a US landline from Skype for $.02 per minute, not quite free, but it feels like it compared to the AT&T rate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can use nimbuzz on your phone to connect to skype thru wifi
Simple as turning off data roaming, I went to Mexico City a few weeks ago and didn't incur any data charges. I've been there a few times with my iPhone and haven't had to pay anything extra either. Just make sure you get the AT&T Mexico feature. It's $4.99 a month and .59 a minute while roaming in Mexico.
Mexico Plans
I am currently travelling to Mexico every week for business and signed up for a voice plan.
Instead of the regular $59.99 plan giving 900 minutes, I have a $74.99 plan that allows me to use my minutes while in Mexico also. ATT has some weird scheming where they say, the first month you can use all of the 900 mins, 2nd month only 40% of the minutes, 3rd month again 900, 4th month 40% only, and so on. Go figure what the smartypants at ATT were dreaming when they created this plan.
But again, everytime I call ATT, the idiots give me a new answer. SMS and MMS, I have gotten multiple answers, so i try not to use it.
Data plan - ATT will rip you naked in a few minutes of data usage. It's like $20 per 10MB or something like that - that's if you sign up for a plan before hand. If not, it gets even more ridiculous.
So, bottom line, if you need to make/receive calls on your US #, signup for one of those international plans. Forget data. SMS - I don't know.
Turnoff data roaming - settings --> Wireless Networks --> Mobile networks --> Data roaming uncheck.
Verizon has a $35 unlimited data plan (on top of your regular plan), if you have a choice.
edit: btw, I am unable to call any toll free #s while in Mexico. Whether those calls are allowed or not seems to be dependent on the combination of ATT and local carrier (for me Telcel). Didn't have this problem with Verizon.
For what it's worth, the international plans and the flip flopping of at&t reps is what drove me to simply give up using my phone abroad. I am somewhere south of the US almost weekly, so for me it is a big issue. I eventually resorted to picking up local sim cards, which works for me. I usually spend max of $10 for the sim and a bucket of mins, which also includes texting if need be. All incoming calls are free, which is what makes it work for me.
Enough of the thread jacking for me.
Hey guys! Just got off the phone with an AT&T rep, tried to talk him into getting me unlimited data for $30 per month. Obviously that didn't work so well, but he did share some valuable info with me...
Every time someone calls and asks for it, they file a report and send it make to the main department. The keep each report, and he says they've been getting so many recently, they're considering bringing back the plan for those who have called in and asked for it sometime in the next few months.
I don't really know how it will work, but here's your time to call!
Can someone else ask AT&T if these reports actually exist so I know this thread isn't pointless?
Just dial up an ATT rep and ask for unlimited data. They'll most likely say no, but they will also most likely file that report that one guy mentioned.
ok thank.........
In other news, the temperature of earths core has dropped buy over nine thousand degrees.
-sent via 1.21 giggawatts of android.
When I spoke to a CSR manager he didn't say anything about reports but he did confirm that they've been getting bombarded with irate customers who want the unlimited data plan back. His outlook on it was that AT&T was forever changing their plans to meet customers needs and that it was very likely that an unlimited plan would become available in the near future.
BUT and this is a big BUT .... He insinuated that it would come at a heftier price tag. So maybe instead of $30, we might be looking at a $50 all you can eat smorgasbord of data.
Sent from my Inspire w/rapid fire and dual mags
I foresee a lot of people switching to Verizon is that is their comeback.
berryman13 said:
I foresee a lot of people switching to Verizon is that is their comeback.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon is getting rid of unlimited data too...
Sounds like something I would say to a customer who had spent the last 30 minutes bombarding me with impossible requests.
Just wanted to confirm that I also got 'grandfathered' into an unlimited data plan at $30/month, though it took almost 3 weeks in 'management review' to get there. The problem for me is that I wanted the MEdia Net plan back, and I'm half tempted to tell them to stick their new phone and go back to using my HD2.
Here's why.
In all the years I've been with AT&T (four or more have been out of contract), I've never gone over 200MB a month, and I don't think I've ever gone over 30 text/mms messages a month. Never. Ever. Not when using my Kaiser, and not when using my HD2 both of which were bought privately from Ebay, and not as an upgrade. If anything, I've paid for MEdia net for many months when I didn't use data or messaging at all.
So, for me, a 2G data plan with 200 messages at $20/month would be fine for my needs, and still not hurt AT&T, since I'm not a data hog.
Anyway, just sayin'. YMMV.
Lol I doubt they will bring it back. It had more to do with them having network capacity issues than anything else.
Besides if they actually do keep that info then they will probably corolate the info with the average usage of the people making complaints and if those people are considered high use then it is unlikely their voices will be heard.
Besides I think they where even looking at getting in trouble for the network overload. Doubt they will go back.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
First off I dont have to worry about it because I already have the TBolt.. However, if friends or family ever switch over, it could be an issue for them...
That being said - if they are going to have this implemented, they need to make some changes to the android OS.
First off - when you buy a new phone, the employee types in your gmail address and syncs your phone. This is done over 3/4G since they rarely bother to put you on wifi for doing this. Not to mention you probably want to leave the store... Therefore you will be syncing all your apps on your wireless account consuming your bandwidth.
There are too many instances that the OS contacts the net for this to be viable and pointless if you turn them off. My iPhone on at&t never went over 900mb a month and I use it the same amount as this android phone. The difference? The iPhone doesnt sync over the web and pull all of your apps back down for you if you factory reset or load a custom rom. On the TBolt, I regularly hit over 10gb per month.
I believe Verizon must limit bandwidth after you reach your paid allowance, not charge overages. The FCC really needs to step in here as this is literally the internet form of rape.
I guess Sprint is smiling now?
psufan5 said:
First off I dont have to worry about it because I already have the TBolt.. However, if friends or family ever switch over, it could be an issue for them...
That being said - if they are going to have this implemented, they need to make some changes to the android OS.
First off - when you buy a new phone, the employee types in your gmail address and syncs your phone. This is done over 3/4G since they rarely bother to put you on wifi for doing this. Not to mention you probably want to leave the store... Therefore you will be syncing all your apps on your wireless account consuming your bandwidth.
There are too many instances that the OS contacts the net for this to be viable and pointless if you turn them off. My iPhone on at&t never went over 900mb a month and I use it the same amount as this android phone. The difference? The iPhone doesnt sync over the web and pull all of your apps back down for you if you factory reset or load a custom rom. On the TBolt, I regularly hit over 10gb per month.
I believe Verizon must limit bandwidth after you reach your paid allowance, not charge overages. The FCC really needs to step in here as this is literally the internet form of rape.
I guess Sprint is smiling now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most people aren't loading custom roms (not to mention it's not Verizon's problem, technically they don't condone it), or downloading them over 3G/4G, but rather via the computer and transferring over USB. How you hit 10 GB without netflix is beyond me. If you're using LTE as a home internet sub than that's a whole different topic.
Streaming music for ~2hours a day except on the weekend, and moderate use each day, only puts me at max around 4GB.
psufan5 said:
First off I dont have to worry about it because I already have the TBolt.. However, if friends or family ever switch over, it could be an issue for them...
That being said - if they are going to have this implemented, they need to make some changes to the android OS.
First off - when you buy a new phone, the employee types in your gmail address and syncs your phone. This is done over 3/4G since they rarely bother to put you on wifi for doing this. Not to mention you probably want to leave the store... Therefore you will be syncing all your apps on your wireless account consuming your bandwidth.
There are too many instances that the OS contacts the net for this to be viable and pointless if you turn them off. My iPhone on at&t never went over 900mb a month and I use it the same amount as this android phone. The difference? The iPhone doesnt sync over the web and pull all of your apps back down for you if you factory reset or load a custom rom. On the TBolt, I regularly hit over 10gb per month.
I believe Verizon must limit bandwidth after you reach your paid allowance, not charge overages. The FCC really needs to step in here as this is literally the internet form of rape.
I guess Sprint is smiling now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well several things. No one has to let the vzw employees set up their phones. No one is required to sync their apps or even download any. And why should vzw, if /once they go to tiered plans simply throttle instead of charge overage. Go over you cell minutes you pay extra. Same for txt. And how is it any concern of the FCC if vzw changes their plans?
My main issue with the plans as rumored is that they do not include tethering. Most normal users will be fine with a 2g cap. My gf, on a rooted DX with Netflix, has used 700 megs this month. Just for example.
das BAMF sense 3.0 rocking the bolt
JBAeroEngineer said:
most people aren't loading custom roms (not to mention it's not Verizon's problem, technically they don't condone it), or downloading them over 3G/4G, but rather via the computer and transferring over USB. How you hit 10 GB without netflix is beyond me. If you're using LTE as a home internet sub than that's a whole different topic.
Streaming music for ~2hours a day except on the weekend, and moderate use each day, only puts me at max around 4GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I haven't been able to stay under 10 gigs since Amazon Cloud / Google Music came out. And that is about 2-3 hours a day. Although I do use TuneIn Radio the other 90% of the time...
Yeah, lucky for most of us TB users, we are grandfathered in to the "unlimited" plans. I have been a VZ customer for over 15 years now, and there is no question that their services is the best....
But when the time comes for me to sign another contract, if these are the terms I will probably be forced to switch carriers...
Sprint looks appealing, they have strong data coverage in my area...and I am not concerned about "dropped calls" because I almost never use the phone any more...
Hopefully this kind of pricing will force more competition. Maybe if they offered unlimited texting and cheaper (lower than 450 minute) phone plans along with it, that would soften the blow.
I am also finding that 4G speeds really only matter to me when tethering, other than that 3G does everything I need just fine with better battery life. I could definitely do with "slower" 4G speeds with another carrier.
JBAeroEngineer said:
most people aren't loading custom roms (not to mention it's not Verizon's problem, technically they don't condone it), or downloading them over 3G/4G, but rather via the computer and transferring over USB. How you hit 10 GB without netflix is beyond me. If you're using LTE as a home internet sub than that's a whole different topic.
Streaming music for ~2hours a day except on the weekend, and moderate use each day, only puts me at max around 4GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FTP transfer for work on the fly while traveling around town. My phone is on the car charger or my desk charger most of the day. And I have an Unlimited Verizon 3G mobile modem for my laptop, so no it isn't tethering.
turbosrrgood said:
Yeah, lucky for most of us TB users, we are grandfathered in to the "unlimited" plans. I have been a VZ customer for over 15 years now, and there is no question that their services is the best....
But when the time comes for me to sign another contract, if these are the terms I will probably be forced to switch carriers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why switch carriers? Since they did away with the 1-year commitment earlier this year, I made the decision just to buy my phones without a subsidy. Therefore, no need for a new contract. I got my TBolt on eBay for a pretty decent price and it's like new.
bogatyr said:
FTP transfer for work on the fly while traveling around town. My phone is on the car charger or my desk charger most of the day. And I have an Unlimited Verizon 3G mobile modem for my laptop, so no it isn't tethering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
way to use a completely off base scenario
JBAeroEngineer said:
way to use a completely off base scenario
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you did say:
How you hit 10 GB without netflix is beyond me. If you're using LTE as a home internet sub than that's a whole different topic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was just giving you an example that doesn't involve tethering I use 50-70GB/mo on my phone. A lot less on my grandfathered laptop modem - mostly VPN/Remote desktop/Console work.
10GB a month? wtf?
I just averaged up my last 6 months and i average .21 GB a month. and i stream pandora, have all my accounts syncing and look on the net, facebook and twitter all day. When i get my tablet (hopefully the amazon hollywood) this will go down evenmore bc i'll be using it at home on my wifi.
I use mine heavily with netflix....and i was around 4 gigs this month
I also call shenanigans on 10gigs a month just by synching. I use about 6gigs a month but I use my LTE for a lot of things.
turbosrrgood said:
Yeah, lucky for most of us TB users, we are grandfathered in to the "unlimited" plans. I have been a VZ customer for over 15 years now, and there is no question that their services is the best....
But when the time comes for me to sign another contract, if these are the terms I will probably be forced to switch carriers...
Sprint looks appealing, they have strong data coverage in my area...and I am not concerned about "dropped calls" because I almost never use the phone any more...
Hopefully this kind of pricing will force more competition. Maybe if they offered unlimited texting and cheaper (lower than 450 minute) phone plans along with it, that would soften the blow.
I am also finding that 4G speeds really only matter to me when tethering, other than that 3G does everything I need just fine with better battery life. I could definitely do with "slower" 4G speeds with another carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint coverage maps are a joke, yes they have coverage but the towers are so overloaded you are lucky to break 200/kbps (yes, 200k) downstream on rev A. EVDO during the day.
WiMax is great if you are on top of your roof or in an open field, but as soon as you get into any structure with more integrity than a tree house your signal tanks (Charlotte, SC has the best Wimax from my observation) because it operates at such a high frequency.
After being a customer for 11 years I jumped ship from Sprint over the weekend and picked up two TBs to replace my 2 EVO's. Sprint 3G is horrendous, not just in South Carolina, but in NYC, Charlotte, Atlanta, San Francisco, Detroit---I have traveled to all of these places in the last 6 months, and in each location I test between the hacked Verizon PRL for the EVO and the most recent Sprint PRL both in a Sense ROM and on Cyanogen...without fail, the year old hacked Verizon 3G PRL is faster, and more consistent. I was hoping my contract would just be canceled for having 5+ gigs of roaming data every month (not supposed to exceed 300 megs), but alas I was grandfathered into unlimited roaming data.
Sprint has been "upgrading its network" for years now yet the service still seems completely overburdened. I'm going to spend 40 bucks more a month going to Verizon for two lines, but I don't really care at this point, I would rather pay to play than save and suffer...
bogatyr said:
Well you did say:
Was just giving you an example that doesn't involve tethering I use 50-70GB/mo on my phone. A lot less on my grandfathered laptop modem - mostly VPN/Remote desktop/Console work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's something that most companies should/would/could pay for. you're clearly an outlier in phone usage.
velopirate said:
Why switch carriers? Since they did away with the 1-year commitment earlier this year, I made the decision just to buy my phones without a subsidy. Therefore, no need for a new contract. I got my TBolt on eBay for a pretty decent price and it's like new.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have a 4g plan or is the unlimited data plan independent of 3/4g? Are you able to use the 4gon th e TB without having upgrade?
I use 6-8GB per month.
I know I could cut that more than in half if I wasn't ROM Flash happy and dl'd them on my PC instead of the phone.
I have 12 down and 1 up at home...I often get faster with my LTE/Bolt.
I can survive...somehow...with downloading ROMs, etc., on my PC...lol.
Update via Droid-Life
Hopefully this is the case:
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/06/2...-by-tiered-data-only-new-customers-and-lines/
The prices for data are criminal. The prices for tethering are even more so. I'm happy I'm grandfathered in, but I doubt I'll ever go over the 2GB since I'm on WiFi 99% of the time. I didn't even want a data plan because I have so little use for one.
Taykiin said:
Hopefully this is the case:
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/06/2...-by-tiered-data-only-new-customers-and-lines/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope this is truth I barely got my TB for the same. Reason
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Well I drive a truck and use the phone for everything, on my imago I was lucky to stay under 8gigs, with the bolt I am at 20gigs
Transmitted using my Sagem 835 mobile communication device.
I'm going to college next year, and I'll be stuck paying my own phone bill for the first time, and I'm wondering if it's even an option to have no mobile service. A plan with no calling or texting, just data.
If I could only pay $30 per month for my phone bill, that would be huge, considering minutes and texting. I could buy minutes from Skype or Google voice and make calls with those applications, and text through AIM or another free texting app.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/messagingplans.jsp
That's probably what you're looking for but not sure if it's available for 4G devices and it says documentation required for smartphones.
I bought an off-contract Incredible and have it as a house phone using Google Voice and GrooVe IP. Works perfectly, too.
No plan required, just a wifi connection.
That could work, but is it required to either get texting or minutes? I really just want to be $30 for the unlimited data, and text through a texting app or AIM. I could easily make calls through skype or google voice.
The off-contract phone could work too, especially with a phone like the tbolt, but isn't a bit inconvenient to not be able to call or text while you're out? Also, does anyone know what a typical internet speed is for a college dorm?
U can also get the 50 minute loyalty plan for $20 + $30 data.
Verizon doesn't offer data only on phones. If u bought a galaxy tablet, then u could have data only.
I'd just use wifi if I was on campus, I'm sure its faster than 3g.
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booda3000 said:
U can also get the 50 minute loyalty plan for $20 + $30 data.
Verizon doesn't offer data only on phones. If u bought a galaxy tablet, then u could have data only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out the link in post 2, unlimited data and messages and no voice minutes
The link in post 2 says that documentation is required though... think that means you need proof that you are deaf or hard of hearing... so unless you have this they probably won't even give you that..
necosino said:
I bought an off-contract Incredible and have it as a house phone using Google Voice and GrooVe IP. Works perfectly, too.
No plan required, just a wifi connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you do this as when you try to use google voice it wants the number associated with the phone right?
don't have a clue about the plan, I've never heard of such being offered though. Speeds will depend on what college you're at. Most major universities have at least a T1 line in my experience. YMMV
your best bet is to just visit your local verizon store and see if you get a tech who is nice enough to activate the service listed in post #2
I had the unlimited text/data activated over the phone with the corporate #. 800-922-0204. They didn't ask questions.
i like the $50 loyalty plan better. Its cheaper, u get 50 emergency minutes a month and u can text unlimited with google voice.
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