We Americans are always getting screwed - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket SGH-I727

Whether by our politicians, bankers and now phone service providers, we are always getting screwed. Everyone doing business here looks to the American consumer as a Cash Cow.
After milking us for 4 or 5 years by charging us $30/month while 3G speed was so slow and calls were being dropped every time you make a call, att now decided to screw the customers that made it the most money in the past. Those customers that made att the behemoth company it is today.
While we Americans are being pushed to pay exorbitant amounts for such tiny amounts of data, with crappy coverage at times, with download speeds less than 1Mb/s, look how people in Germany are being charged, not on tiered-plans basis but rather based on how fast they want their internet connection to be. They are being charged the way we are with respect to cable internet. And by the way, all of their plans are unlimited.

Well, i think you should take a hike up north and see how Canadians get screwed...we are out on all the good stuff of technology. No netflix, pandora, google voice, no amazon services, no tivo, hulu, no access to any major american TV site like NBC or FOX, no google TV, no spotify, and the list can go on and on and on.
As for your specific claim about data, you have to understand one thing, unlimited data is NOT GOOD for you. The reason why unlimited data is not good is because unlike Germany, a third of a billion people live in the USA, if only phone carriers could keep up with supply it would be great, but they cant do it without impacting the network. And in a country where tens of million of smartphones are activated a year, the growth is much bigger the any carrier could ever keep up.
Again, we here in canada are getting screwed because we dont have the population density problem, we dont have half a billion, we have less than 40 million and we are considerably larger, and because of you guys down there, we dont have access to unlimited data because most of our companies here are owned or associated with american mother ships.
P.S. Our contracts are not 2 years like you guys, but 3!!! hows that for getting phucked up the arse with a huge massive dong

Where did you get that half-a billion number from?
Even with the hordes of illegals, I think the US population is less than 330 M.

i was exaggerating the number, but the point stays the same.

polish_pat said:
i was exaggerating the number, but the point stays the same
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Click to collapse
I unerstand your point, but you forgot that Germany, a country of the size of one US state, has a much higher population density than the US. Germany has 85m people and compared to California, the most populous state in the Union, it is much smaller, some 30,000 sq miles to be precise, but has 40 million more persons.
Telecommunication companies provide these unlimited data everywhere in Europe which has a population of half a billion indeed because they know European governments protect their citizens and have strong consumer laws.
So the population argument is moot. Also remember that not all people use huge amounts of data. Most are content with posting few pictures to facebook and consider it the pinnacle of their monthly data usage.

Our damn government promotes strong company control, but no protection to the consumer.
The FCC and FTC help us greatly, but only to the extent of the power they had. If the US Government handed all control of that kind of stuff to the FCC, we'd be paying $50 for unlimited everything, and insanely fast data, because the FCC knows how to keep a good network going, while not bending the customers over a barrel and raping them with a sandpaper condom.
Thank god I get my account credited for bull**** every month, makes the sandpaper condom ass rape a bit more bearable.

The stats say it all, there are more mobile phones in the USA than there are people living in the USA. USA is the 3rd largest consumer of mobile phones right behind population giants such as india and china. The usa have the largest smartphone penetration rate of the entire planet by far...111%
all the different stats like this make the american communication web much slower to develop than a densely populated country. This argument is not mine, but its the argument of major communication gurus that have many times try to explain why ATT was hit by so much troubles, the iphone was the major cause of the ATT Hate going on a few years back, the network could not handle it. Today att have worked on the problem, but as the iphone argument is over, here is another, android devices are reproducing more than rabbits...the need for faster, larger networks is more than any company can handle, thats why they are limiting the data, remember how only 3 years ago, ALL CARRIERS did have unlimited data...
I'm not denying that the carriers have hit 2 birds with one stone, slow down the network and make money off of this.

polish_pat said:
The stats say it all, there are more mobile phones in the USA than there are people living in the USA. USA is the 3rd largest consumer of mobile phones right behind population giants such as india and china. The usa have the largest smartphone penetration rate of the entire planet by far...111%
all the different stats like this make the american communication web much slower to develop than a densely populated country. This argument is not mine, but its the argument of major communication gurus that have many times try to explain why ATT was hit by so much troubles, the iphone was the major cause of the ATT Hate going on a few years back, the network could not handle it. Today att have worked on the problem, but as the iphone argument is over, here is another, android devices are reproducing more than rabbits...the need for faster, larger networks is more than any company can handle, thats why they are limiting the data, remember how only 3 years ago, ALL CARRIERS did have unlimited data...
I'm not denying that the carriers have hit 2 birds with one stone, slow down the network and make money off of this.
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So we know this is their excuse for the US market, what is theirs for the Canadian one. BTW what companies do you guys have?

Some of you guys are just plain stupid and lack of common sense. How stupid can you be this whole tier data plan and throttle unlimited users has all to do with carriers wanting to make MORE MONEY. They can't cash in by offering Unlimited Data for $30. They know we love data, We have no choice but to pay. Don't believe the hype of data traffic that's BS they are well prepare and with lots of money to deliver data to us with no problem. For all those that want to stand up and fight I'm with you.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

privatewarrior1 said:
So we know this is their excuse for the US market, what is theirs for the Canadian one. BTW what companies do you guys have?
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they dont...for some stupid reason, our companies follow the trends in the USA. Sometimes i think canada is just an extension of the USA with a better social, heath and financial system.
We have Rogers, Bell, Telus...here are the major companies, other are just subsidiaries or extremely small market share companies
@dxtra: i'm not saying money and profit is not involved in this, but im also saying COMPANIES ARE NOT ALWAYS ABOUT SCREWING THEIR CLIENTS. Stop being such a conspirator. An extremely small portion of user actually use more than 1gb, but hose that do, tend to use their phones as their residential internet and/or download hundreds of gigs per month

Canada has the highest cell rates in the world and the US is not far behind (2nd). We are both getting screwed. We are all to blame though, we buy into LONG contracts with insane data prices which give them the green light to keep it up.

I can't really say i'm getting screwed by my phone carrier. My plan is AMAZING!!! Nobody, not even corporate plans can beat mine for the price. But i do agree that 3 years is too much, thats 50% more than in the US.
My plan:
Unlimited talk and text
Unlimited SMS to US and Canada
Unlimited MMS to Canada
Unlimited long distance to Canada
Unlimited video calling to Canada
10GB of LTE data
Adavnced caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, up to 10 people on the same convo
Ringback service with 1 free new ringback (music instead of buzz while calling)
And all this for the rip off price of 84$ tax included.
Why i have this plan? Because i used to pay 100$ for my iphone plan, for 3 years i paid the price, havent missed a single payment or compaignes about my high cost, so one day, i called and said im tired, in a student and want better pricing. They basically told me they could not play around much with the pricing, but for the price they could give me a much better plan. So as it turn out, they were able to bring the cost down as i have a 35$ rebate every month on my plan
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P.S. Sorry for the french version

privatewarrior1 said:
Where did you get that half-a billion number from?
Even with the hordes of illegals, I think the US population is less than 330 M.
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Click to collapse
he said a third of a billion, so 330 million is about right

You guys are lucky. Here in Brazil i have unlimited data plan but i've yet to see 1mb speed with my HSPA connection
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This is what most of you voted for. I am 100% for capitalism but the politicians we keep electing are all crooks and write bills with favors like allowing to throttle and wireless taxes up the ass.
I also think Cingular should not have been allowed to buy at&t wireless. At&t wireless was awesome, I know I worked for them. Cingular is all unionized and doesn't give a **** about their employees or customers which is why they changed their name to at&t since they owned the rights.
Don't be fooled the at&t we are using is Cingular. Blue was way better than orange but orange is better than red unfortunately.....
Ceo is an ass hole too.
End rant.
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Serously????
You have just got to be totally kidding! I mean really?
Look: first to the idiot that said the government is controlling it all, *BZZZ* Wrong! AT&T is controlling it all. AT&T does NOT have to look at the FCC or any other agency to adopt a throttling clause. That is the essence of the 'open market'. You don't like AT&T then go to Verizon or Sprint or (you get my point...)
The problem is 100% due to bandwidth. AT&T did a worst case scenario and looked at the true abusers of the system. You know EXACTLY who you are. The folks that complained that they could not watch three or four movies a day without going over the limit.. REALLY? Now we all know that NOBODY is watching the 4-6" screens for 6-8 hours a day to play movies, more than likely they have an HDMI hookup or a tether to allow another device to use the system.
Put plainly this is NOT what the network was designed for in the first place. It was NOT meant as a substitute for FIOS or GLOBALNET or CenturyLink or whatever.
If you want to blame somebody for the [email protected] we have to endure, look at the idiot that is doing just that and yell at them to cut it out.
Geez... And for those that are watching on a 4" screen... GET A LIFE! GO OUTSIDE! THAT BIG YELLOW BALL IN THE SKY WONT HURT YOU (take sunscreen of course)...

Send this thread back from whence it came!

Mak why the hell did you revive this old ass thread I wanna punch you so bad for being a noob
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He just had to do it...
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MakAttak said:
You have just got to be totally kidding! I mean really?
Look: first to the idiot that said the government is controlling it all, *BZZZ* Wrong! AT&T is controlling it all. AT&T does NOT have to look at the FCC or any other agency to adopt a throttling clause. That is the essence of the 'open market'. You don't like AT&T then go to Verizon or Sprint or (you get my point...)
The problem is 100% due to bandwidth. AT&T did a worst case scenario and looked at the true abusers of the system. You know EXACTLY who you are. The folks that complained that they could not watch three or four movies a day without going over the limit.. REALLY? Now we all know that NOBODY is watching the 4-6" screens for 6-8 hours a day to play movies, more than likely they have an HDMI hookup or a tether to allow another device to use the system.
Put plainly this is NOT what the network was designed for in the first place. It was NOT meant as a substitute for FIOS or GLOBALNET or CenturyLink or whatever.
If you want to blame somebody for the [email protected] we have to endure, look at the idiot that is doing just that and yell at them to cut it out.
Geez... And for those that are watching on a 4" screen... GET A LIFE! GO OUTSIDE! THAT BIG YELLOW BALL IN THE SKY WONT HURT YOU (take sunscreen of course)...
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Click to collapse
Very well stated!
+1
Sent from, The Eclectic Chair.

Related

What do you guys think of the AT&T/Tmobile Merger?

Do you guys think AT&T and Tmobile Merger will get approved by the Senate?
F***!!!!!! ATT
I will be moving to Sprint if this does go through... I left ATT for a reason...
I will be gone the day my grandfathered plan expires. I refuse to pay $100 more a month for less services. Why would any sane person do that?
I guess it will be back to sprint....
If it goes through im going back to sprint or boost, I refuse to pay att for any media services
Didn't ATT announce that existing T-Mobile customers will be able to keep their existing plans for as long as they want and still benefit from ATT's network and phone selection?
Pretty sure I read that this is a big point they will be making in front of the Senate.
Unless you want to upgrade your phone ever.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Yeah what he said... if the merger means there will still be 2 companies, I'm down. But when has that ever happened. I been with tmo before they were tmo
... remember voicestream ? Once att gobles up tmo say buh by to decent customer service and decent rates... if I can't keep my plan indefinitely ... ill be heading to Verizon. **** sprint.
"If Satan lived in heaven he'd be me.... "
Senate has nothing to say - FTC and Justice department. And even if they disapprove, Courts could can overturn ruling - they have done so with other anti-competitive mergers.
Hate ATT customer service!!! Do not want the merger to take place any time soon or ever! 100% against it!!!!
I will leave if it gets approved.
I liked AT&T. I left AT&T because even with full bars at my house, you can't make a call. Even if you can, the call would be dropped before you can finish it.
My GF has AT&T and her phone does the same thing. My neighbors have AT&T and they do they same thing. Even friends on AT&T that visit my house say the same thing.
The sad part is that it isn't just at my house, it's everywhere. Tmobile may not have great service everywhere, but it works where it should and I hardly get disconnected.
I don't mind AT&T because I travel across the US and I found that AT&T pretty much covers me better then Tmobile and they have pretty decent 3G coverage even between cities where Tmobile is GPRS only (not even EDGE).
My feelings toward the merger can go 2 ways:
First, I would not mind AT&T so much IF/WHEN they merge, they allow AT&T customers to use the great Tmobile signal found at my house... or keep the companies separate but allow access to all the GSM signals. Basically the best of both worlds. Like having access to both Tmobile and AT&T networks.
Second, they bring over the Even More Plus plans where you can have your own device and have a lower monthly bill, which makes sense. A part of the monthly bill pays for the big discounts you get off the phones you buy them on contract. If you don't buy their equipment, why would anyone be forced to pay for a discount they never got? I really like the EMP plans and I think they are awesome.
Lastly, they don't rape my bill. $30 a month for internet is INSANE!!!! Plus don't advertise $79 a month plans* (*requires a $30 data plan). WTF is that? It a plan REQUIRES something, then it should all be included in the price. The math should be $109 a month, which is too damn expensive.
I'm actually really happy with $59 1000 minutes unlimited everything else (less a 5gb cap).
That is reasonable and a good deal.
Will switch to VZW if merger happened.
mightywonton said:
Do you guys think AT&T and Tmobile Merger will get approved by the Senate?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Senate doesn't approve or disapprove the sale. The FCC and the DOJ have the power in this. One of the closing off the cuff comments from one of the Senators was that he figured the sale would be approved with stipulations as has been speculated all along. We are not many years from a two carrier system...Sprint will never survive against the two behemoths.
I just read a cent article saying its gonna take up to 12 months to evaluate the deal and most of the senate is against it so I doubt it will be approved. If it gets approved that means that there will only be one GSM carrier in the US and consumers will not have a choice but to go with ATT if they want GSM so I dont see how the FCC will approve that.
maciek82 said:
Didn't ATT announce that existing T-Mobile customers will be able to keep their existing plans for as long as they want and still benefit from ATT's network and phone selection?
Pretty sure I read that this is a big point they will be making in front of the Senate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are playing nice right now because they are trying to get the deal approved. Do you think that the deal would get approved if ATT was out right saying they were going raise the rates on 50 million ppl? Probably not.
In turn if you own a company and you had 50 million ppl you could raise the rates up 20+ dollars why wouldn't you? Its all about the $$$$$$$$
johnnyp500 said:
I just read a cent article saying its gonna take up to 12 months to evaluate the deal and most of the senate is against it so I doubt it will be approved. If it gets approved that means that there will only be one GSM carrier in the US and consumers will not have a choice but to go with ATT if they want GSM so I dont see how the FCC will approve that.
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Click to collapse
Again, the Senate doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. And the same folks that will decide this sale approved the XM-Sirius merger which resulted in ONE satelite radio provider.
The vast majority of folks could care less if they have GSM or CDMA or TDMA or ABCD or whatever...they want good signal with cheap prices.
I hate to see it and say it, and it will probably take a while, but its going to get approved. AT&T will probably have to make some concessions, but in the end it will go through.
bluemoon737 said:
Again, the Senate doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. And the same folks that will decide this sale approved the XM-Sirius merger which resulted in ONE satelite radio provider.
The vast majority of folks could care less if they have GSM or CDMA or TDMA or ABCD or whatever...they want good signal with cheap prices.
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cent = cnet
Im sorry but I disagree with you. Those who travel internationally and use different sim cards in different countries want a global phone and want to choose a gsm network. There are many people like that and it is only fair that they have a choice between at least 2 carriers
jcbofkc said:
I will be gone the day my grandfathered plan expires. I refuse to pay $100 more a month for less services. Why would any sane person do that?
I guess it will be back to sprint....
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+1
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The T-Mobile / Dark Side Merger May fall Through...

For some reason I can't post comments on Tmonews [despise those complicit A-Holes anyway], I thought I'd post this here....
AT&T's Merger with T-Mobile May Actually Fall Through
OHN HUDSON AUG 12, 20113,533 ViewsComments
In a surprising turn of events, the mega merger that consumer watchdogs decried, but most deemed a fait accompli, faces a real risk of disintegrating at the hands of federal regulators. Last night, a new poll of policy analysts examining the proposed $39 billion merger between AT&T and T-Mobile found that the deal was now more likely to fail than pass FCC and Justice Department approval, according to an average taken from the respondents
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Death to the Deal! Although I dislike ATT, T-Mobile is no better.
I think it's bound to happen they just wanted us all to soak it in that is why it will take so long.
if it does fall through then we are all doomed!
rvdangel630 said:
if it does fall through then we are all doomed!
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Wtf?!
Sent from my LG G2x
I don't know... AT&T sure has their tentacles well wrapped in the government... I would imagine they have people on the inside working to their benefit just like all the other bought out politicians & federal officials...
http://community.nasdaq.com/News/20...-by-congress.aspx?storyid=90349#ixzz1V6WJKweI
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I'd have to think with the few billion and extra cell sites T-Mobile would get from the deal falling through, we might make out okay. If the deal went through, we'd be doomed. AT&T is the worse provider in the world and should be shut down.
Sent from my brain using Google Think!
Agree
Agree. Really hope the deal fails like flat breaks.
I would love to see the deal fall through considering I just paid two ETFs of 200 dollars to leave ATT last night and switch to T-mobile. I've been with ATT for almost ten years, dealing with tech support and unresolved issues was the last straw.
Either way, Tmobile people will win.
If the deal fails - there is a roaming agreement with ATT, and Tmobile gets cash + spectrum (enough spectrum to deploy LTE - which is odd since ATT says they don't have enough as it is).
If the deal does go through, then you have a combined network, and your plan will be grandfathered in.
Either way, service is going to be improved.
bobdelt said:
Either way, Tmobile people will win.
If the deal fails - there is a roaming agreement with ATT, and Tmobile gets cash + spectrum (enough spectrum to deploy LTE - which is odd since ATT says they don't have enough as it is).
If the deal does go through, then you have a combined network, and your plan will be grandfathered in.
Either way, service is going to be improved.
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Click to collapse
My service is excellent now. If AT&T gets it grubby little paws on the network in NYC, its going to go down hill. AT&T does not grandfather plans. Once my contract is up, my plan goes up. I HATE AT&T will a passion. To the point that any media outlet that runs this AT&T "the possibilities are impossible to predict..." advertisement, I boycott that media source.
What's the cheapest plan anyone has in here?
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My fear is this...
I had a bad experience with Cingular back in the day and it left a pretty sour taste in my mouth. I'm not normally one of those people that says "never again!" to things based on one support rep, bad billing issue, etc... I'll normally work through a brunt of issues before declaring war on a company.
I won't go into great detail but it is war now. It's made me consider cancelling my plan with Tmobile and withdrawing service to someone/something else. If ever there is a time to investigate gizmo and sip service with wifi, it's now... I'm not completely there yet, but I have begun to investigate.
The first sign of doomsday has already struck, my unlimited loyalty plan has slowly increased in price, and I haven't changed single thing about my plan and now I suddenly have a cap on my "unlimited" data... the tmobile I signed up with back in 2004 is not the same tmobile it is now... and I've only just recently noticed it. Yes, it is possibly because since the news of the merger I have feared the worst... but so far it's grim. It seemed like they have also slowed down production on new phones for tmobile, I'm assuming this is because of network merging etc that they are focusing their eyes on other tasks first, but I'm disheartened to say the least.
I hope that I am proven wrong because I already hate Sprint and I'm not 100% sold on verizon either. Tmobile, please, reconsider your "unlimited data" plans and give me what I pay for... otherwise you should have given me the option to change and void my contract instead of changing it and saying "deal with it", which has never been your MO until the news of a merger.
/rant
Sadly this is ATT's tactic. They are trying to scare away as many customers from tmob as they can. The weaker tmobile is the easier the buyout will pass.
The commercials they are running make me sick.
Lets all go into an at&t store and kick them all in the ass
Sent from my G2X
If xda had a like button I would hit it for you.
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New info:
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2011/08/fcc-wants-info-on-att-tmobile-merger.html
Its funny I remember being a kid and there was no verizon or cell phones even. The Govt broke up the monopoly and created the baby bells to promote competition and make phone service affordable and give us a choice.
Now cell phones are today what landlines were back then and they are doing just the opposite. AT&T wants Tmobile to get rid of competition. The less choices one has the more customers for AT&T.
In todays economy everyone has to look at costs. My company just switched to Tmobile because of the new business plans that they started to offer. If the merger goes through and the plans don't grandfather in, I cant see my company staying with AT&T but for two years they get to save some money.
Stephenson is a giant turd.
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ENJOY!!!
http://tinyurl.com/3dnfy4o
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AT?T deal dead

Just heard on CNN - the deal is dead. They nade the announcement and then said deals latter.
Opps - ? rather then & in title...
Yes, the deal between ATT and T-Mobile is totally dead, killed by the U.S. Justice Department's anti-trust lawsuit. T-Mobile, which is owned by Deutsche Telekom, gets $3 Billion plus some spectrum from ATT as compensation for the deal not going through. Deutsche Telekom wants to sell T-Mobile and isn't investing any more money in it and won't upgrade the network's high speed capabilities which will cause it to lose customers as they switch to other networks to get higher speed data services. T-Mobile will also not be getting the iPhone which will also deprive it of new customers and cause it to lose customers. In spite of the positive spin Pilipp Humm, the CEO of T-Mobile, has promoted "We have an opportunity to write our own future" T-Mobile is in serious trouble.
The next suitor will be Sprint - not sure if that is better or worse for TMO customers.
Beggars1923 said:
The next suitor will be Sprint - not sure if that is better or worse for TMO customers.
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Click to collapse
May not be that way.
"Now that the merger has failed, it’s unlikely T-Mobile could court Verizon or Sprint as potential suitors because they use completely different cellphone technologies to service their phones, Mr. Kuittinen said.
He said that T-Mobile must now explore more creative opportunities — for instance, seeking partnerships with media giants like Amazon, Facebook or Google. T-Mobile’s spectrum, not its customer base, is its most valuable asset."
From http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/att-t-mobile/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha26
Does T-Mo have poor service/reception in a lot of areas? It's fine where I live and the price is great, I hope it sticks around for a while. Verizon charges SO much for their plans
xAshxMoneyx said:
Does T-Mo have poor service/reception in a lot of areas? It's fine where I live and the price is great, I hope it sticks around for a while. Verizon charges SO much for their plans
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I have great signal too, or I did before I got the G2X lol... but seriously - I think T-Mobile's "bad reception" compared to other carriers is a complete myth perpetuated by those who feel the need to defend their decision to spend more, and by those who believe that just because they pay twice as much for their cell service that it guarantees them better service. In the "real world" I've seen as many times that I had signal and verizon/at&t customers did not as I have the other way around.
Now TMobile has $4 billion to play with
Jufjufjuf said:
Now TMobile has $4 billion to play with
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http://www.tmonews.com/2011/12/with-att-out-of-the-picture-where-does-t-mobile-go-now/
Only if. It's all going to their parent company, Deutsche Telekom, and they're under no obligation to give a cent of it to T-Mobile US.
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xAshxMoneyx said:
Does T-Mo have poor service/reception in a lot of areas? It's fine where I live and the price is great, I hope it sticks around for a while. Verizon charges SO much for their plans
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I drive a lot between Houston, Baton Rouge and New Orleans and I can go for a long while where I am on "Edge".
Hoping google will buy tmobile but not holding my breath.
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T-Mobile signal is ****ty I am sorry. It depends on location. I lived in Milwaukee WS and its best signal hands down. I moved back to NJ and its same ****ty signal I endured for 10 years.
I have to rely on wifi and if not for that, I have no signal.
T-Mobile signal is ****ty. Again, depends on location. My time in Milwaukee, I was shocked how awesome signal is there.
Again depends on location.
Its where I live, dead zone. Sucks!!!
Yah well instead if this Att should of lobbied to have congress mandate sharing of cell phone towers no matter the carrier who built it. So this way ATT can stop complaining like a girl.
That's what other countries do and their prices dropped and network coverage grew.
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fabricatedhero said:
Yah well instead if this Att should of lobbied to have congress mandate sharing of cell phone towers no matter the carrier who built it. So this way ATT can stop complaining like a girl.
That's what other countries do and their prices dropped and network coverage grew.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
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but...but...that would create a fair and competitive market that served the customer! Are you mad?!
Seriously though, the carriers in the US (aside from T-Mobile, who have actually lobbied to get something like this to happen), would HATE this. It would require they actually step up to serve their customer rather than just their shareholders.
The fact is that most companies are blind to what ACTUALLY serves their shareholders. By stepping up to serve their customers, they also step up to serve their shareholders. The fact is that consumers would FLOCK to a Google based cell provider. Google follows a simple model. Take care of their consumers by offering a "low cost" offering then exploiting that for moderate ad shares, and also (most importantly) trying to build upon that offering by moving consumers to their other offerings by true "integration", thereby "owning the house" generating quadruple the original marketshare generating BILLIONS in additional revenue, ie share holder profits. If someone beats Google to the punch on this model in the mobile communications market, they stand to make a MASSIVE profit. Companies simply over complicate economics/marketing.
JaiaV said:
but...but...that would create a fair and competitive market that served the customer! Are you mad?!
Seriously though, the carriers in the US (aside from T-Mobile, who have actually lobbied to get something like this to happen), would HATE this. It would require they actually step up to serve their customer rather than just their shareholders.
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Sent from my LG-P999
jeremyritzmann said:
The fact is that most companies are blind to what ACTUALLY serves their shareholders. By stepping up to serve their customers, they also step up to serve their shareholders. The fact is that consumers would FLOCK to a Google based cell provider. Google follows a simple model. Take care of their consumers by offering a "low cost" offering then exploiting that for moderate ad shares, and also (most importantly) trying to build upon that offering by moving consumers to their other offerings by true "integration", thereby "owning the house" generating quadruple the original marketshare generating BILLIONS in additional revenue, ie share holder profits. If someone beats Google to the punch on this model in the mobile communications market, they stand to make a MASSIVE profit. Companies simply over complicate economics/marketing.
Sent from my LG-P999
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Click to collapse
We are pretty much in agreement, my post was more than a bit tongue-in-cheek. I'm a big fan of moving to the way most of Europe does their cell phones:
1. Usually the government owns the towers and the cell providers lease those towers in order to provide the actual services to the customer. This helps to remove the problem of technology and coverage divisions that cell companies have in the US and is one of the main reasons switching carriers is far easier there.
2. No annual contracts. US customers are spoiled on the false idea that their smartphones are 'free' or <$200 when in actuality they are paying out of the nose for vastly over-inflated contracted plans that are anywhere from double to triple that of any cell service in Europe in order to subsidize their phones. This isn't helped by the fact that it seems the public can't get over the idea that paying $400-600 for the full price of the phone would amount to them saving thousands of dollars over a couple of years, even if they bought another phone during that time. Another factor that makes switching carriers easier and helps promote competition on a service level. Also, not subsidizing phones means that carriers lose less money buying up phone stock they never sell (and have to make up by making the contracts more expensive and charging for stupid things like tethering!).
3. Well I guess I kind of ate up all of my points in the first two by elaborating a bit too much.
Um I seen somewhere that dish is looking into it.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
JaiaV said:
2. No annual contracts. US customers are spoiled on the false idea that their smartphones are 'free' or <$200 when in actuality they are paying out of the nose for vastly over-inflated contracted plans that are anywhere from double to triple that of any cell service in Europe in order to subsidize their phones. This isn't helped by the fact that it seems the public can't get over the idea that paying $400-600 for the full price of the phone would amount to them saving thousands of dollars over a couple of years, even if they bought another phone during that time.
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Click to collapse
+1, Tmobiles value plan is at least $25/month cheaper than the regular one, which amounts to $600 over the 2 year contract. I know I've never gotten a $600 phone for free.
xAshxMoneyx said:
+1, Tmobiles value plan is at least $25/month cheaper than the regular one, which amounts to $600 over the 2 year contract. I know I've never gotten a $600 phone for free.
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Unfortunately most people can't do basic math and still opt for the $250 phone and Classic (non-value) plan. In effect paying hundreds of dollars more over the life of the contract. Back when the Even More Plus first rolled out I still worked at tmo tech support and you'd be surprised how many people were absolutely livid that they couldn't get a discounted phone after being a customer for X years, AND have the Even More Plus... they thought they were being ripped off by being asked to pay for the phone.
Honestly, the failure of the American cell phone consumer to be able to do BASIC MATH is one of the reasons T-Mobile is failing. I have friends who honestly believe that Verizon gave them a better price.
Its beyond them doing basic math. Our culture in the US is always about the short term when comes to saving money, never the long term. Interest only mortgages is a PRIME example of that. No pun intended.
lotherius said:
Unfortunately most people can't do basic math and still opt for the $250 phone and Classic (non-value) plan. In effect paying hundreds of dollars more over the life of the contract. Back when the Even More Plus first rolled out I still worked at tmo tech support and you'd be surprised how many people were absolutely livid that they couldn't get a discounted phone after being a customer for X years, AND have the Even More Plus... they thought they were being ripped off by being asked to pay for the phone.
Honestly, the failure of the American cell phone consumer to be able to do BASIC MATH is one of the reasons T-Mobile is failing. I have friends who honestly believe that Verizon gave them a better price.
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Click to collapse
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

Why are we the only ones that subsidize phones?

So Verizon releases the GS3 locked and all the other US carriers, and the world for that matter, get an unlocked version. After that Samsung releases a developers edition unsubsidized right from them.
It got me thinking, what if it was always like this. You don't buy the phone from the carrier you buy whatever phone you want from the manufacturer or Best Buy or wherever and as long as it will work on the network you can activate it on whatever carrier. That's how the rest of the world does it, I think we're one of the few if not the only countries that has a set up that subsidizes phones.
Think about it, Manufacturers could concentrate on making phones, instead of making a special phone for each carrier, then going through the hassle of putting their software on it, even packaging would be reduced by standardizing it. Just a few different models to cover different wordwide networks, not 3 or so for the world and 4 or 5 just for the US. Sure they may be expensive at the beginning but the prices will come down and budget phones will appear too that arent absolute crap because you would actually still have to pay for it.
Not to mention having more options as to where yo can get your phone which should also help prices.
Carriers could stop concentrating on what new phone to release and what to add and what to lock down and actually concentrate on improving their networks. Also in theory plan prices should come down too, because you may pay less up front but the extra cost of that phone is built in into everyones plans. I mean they get the money back over the course of the plan by forcing you into a contract, does that make them that much extra money? I mean it must right?
On the surface this looks like it should work. Now In sure there is a reason it wont otherwise it would have happened by now right? But then again the rest of the world does it this way.
Why are we different? Yeah it would be painful at the beginning but I really think that this would be better form everyone in the long run. Wouldn't it be great to just go out and buy whatever new phone you wanted. Not have to wait to see what gets picked up by what carrier. All the complaining about this phone not coming here or that phone not going there gone.
Alot of Americans do this. It is called prepaid.
lowandbehold said:
Alot of Americans do this. It is called prepaid.
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That used to be the inferior way to go though. They were on some off network with spotty coverage and the phone selection was usually garbage. They have come a very long way, but still arent quite there, albeit very close now. It would be nice if everyone did it though. When my contract is up on Verizon next year there is a good chance Ill go prepaid if they take unlimited away which I'm nearly sure they're going to do.
loki993 said:
That used to be the inferior way to go though. They were on some off network with spotty coverage and the phone selection was usually garbage. They have come a very long way, but still arent quite there, albeit very close now. It would be nice if everyone did it though. When my contract is up on Verizon next year there is a good chance Ill go prepaid if they take unlimited away which I'm nearly sure they're going to do.
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Not quite there?? With straight talk you have the option to use either t-mobile or AT&T. It uses the exact same towers and gets the exact same service as the customers of their carriers! Prepaid has come a long way my friend.
lowandbehold said:
Not quite there?? With straight talk you have the option to use either t-mobile or AT&T. It uses the exact same towers and gets the exact same service as the customers of their carriers! Prepaid has come a long way my friend.
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Amen. Unlimited everything for $50 a month, and I'm enjoying it on my i9300. Full AT&T service for a fraction of the cost. I've gone over the safe limit of 2GB and haven't been warned or cut off either. Port your number to Google Voice and you never have to worry about losing it if you get cut off.
A big part of it is control; a bigger part is money.
Despite Sprint and Verizon's 3G being compatible (and commonly sharing towers), neither carrier will allow each others phone to be on their network. They want to ensure that the phone you are using, they (VZ) were paid for (a model that GSM providers cannot (easily) do).
And you best believe that the Dev SIII has VZ's blessing; again, they can block any phone they like, and this phone would not activate on their network if they didn't allow it to. They allow it, because Sammy has assumed all the liability on this one (can't buy it at a VZ store, no worry about warranty issues).
The control comes in, in the form of nice "cheap" phones, getting you to agree to nice long contracts. Far too many people live just for today; they opt for the $200 phone, but agree to a far more expensive contract for 2 years. They know people will only look at the "now" cost, not the total, so it is easy to lure em in...
I have Sprint with TEP. I have 3 lines and had two phones replaced this year, one with a broken speaker and the other the charging port broke off. I don't think a prepaid service would ever do that for me. I'd be stuck shelling out $500+ to replace my phone.
OP is basically asking for how the "rest of the world" does things. And Divine_Madcat got it down best. They want to control their own phones, even though it's sold to you. And they want more money.
There's thread on the Gnex forum that goes into better detail how these "subsidized" models are bad overall, as the OP is realizing(or has already). I always buy my phone off-contract because I don't want to tied to a contract. Now? I want to buy a pentaband phone so I can get service anywhere I please.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
I agree there actually at the point where they are an option now. I said they were very close. The phones they offer are still not the greatest, but I guess that wouldn't matter as you just go get whatever you wanted and had it activated. I don't know though I looked at straight talks coverage map and it looks pretty bad, well not pretty bad but really really bad, if your using an android phone, for whatever reason they have one for non android and one for.
phatmanxxl said:
I have Sprint with TEP. I have 3 lines and had two phones replaced this year, one with a broken speaker and the other the charging port broke off. I don't think a prepaid service would ever do that for me. I'd be stuck shelling out $500+ to replace my phone.
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Click to collapse
Manufacturers offer warranties as well. There are also many different insurance options out there...ensquared comes to mind...and most of them are cheaper per month with no deductible. Think of it like buying an Iphone straight from the Apple store. Just because you didn't purchase it on AT&T doesn't mean you are screwed if it is defective...
alpha-niner64 said:
OP is basically asking for how the "rest of the world" does things. And Divine_Madcat got it down best. They want to control their own phones, even though it's sold to you. And they want more money.
There's thread on the Gnex forum that goes into better detail how these "subsidized" models are bad overall, as the OP is realizing(or has already). I always buy my phone off-contract because I don't want to tied to a contract. Now? I want to buy a pentaband phone so I can get service anywhere I please.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
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Click to collapse
Yeah I know its bad, but I guess the way I see it is it seems bad from everyone. I could see everyone making more money if we went unsubsidized.
Also if I were to go no contract which I will be doing weather I stay with Verizon or not, as I have unlimited, I doing see how I would save any money doing it. They don't change me any less of I don't use their phones, though that would be nice. They actually make more money because the subside fee is built into everyones plans as far as I know.
lowandbehold said:
Manufacturers offer warranties as well. There are also many different insurance options out there...ensquared comes to mind...and most of them are cheaper per month with no deductible. Think of it like buying an Iphone straight from the Apple store. Just because you didn't purchase it on AT&T doesn't mean you are screwed if it is defective...
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Click to collapse
They would just sell you applecare for you iphone. You would still get protection it would just come from somewhere else.
Hey I'm from Britain, how does it work in the USA with phone then? Here even of you buy it from a carrier you can get it unlocked for say £10 or do it yourself if you do a quick Google search and some reading then it works on all other carriers?
Sent from my GT-I9000 running remICS-UX using XDA premium
lowandbehold said:
Manufacturers offer warranties as well. There are also many different insurance options out there...ensquared comes to mind...and most of them are cheaper per month with no deductible. Think of it like buying an Iphone straight from the Apple store. Just because you didn't purchase it on AT&T doesn't mean you are screwed if it is defective...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that was one of my concerns with prepaid. I have kids with smartphones, they are pretty rough with them sometimes.
phatmanxxl said:
I have Sprint with TEP. I have 3 lines and had two phones replaced this year, one with a broken speaker and the other the charging port broke off. I don't think a prepaid service would ever do that for me. I'd be stuck shelling out $500+ to replace my phone.
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Click to collapse
TEP is just went up to $11 a month with a $200 deductible. $11 x 24 months x 3 lines = $792, +2 broken phones x ($200) = $1192. If the phones were broken starting from the day the price changed. This is assuming you had the protection from the beginning to the end of your contract.
Square-Trade covers almost any type of device, including phones. 2 years of protection is $125. The deductible is $100. If you had Square-Trade, you would have paid $125 x 3 + 2 broken phones x ($100) = $575. Also, $125 for 2 years of coverage divided by 24 months is $5.21 per month per device vs $11 with Sprint. And if they can't fix it, they'll cut you a check for a new one up to $750.
The only thing they don't cover, I believe, is theft. But let's be honest, how often are you robbed? And I've personally never lost a phone because I watch out for my $600 device.
alpha-niner64 said:
OP is basically asking for how the "rest of the world" does things. And Divine_Madcat got it down best. They want to control their own phones, even though it's sold to you. And they want more money.
There's thread on the Gnex forum that goes into better detail how these "subsidized" models are bad overall, as the OP is realizing(or has already). I always buy my phone off-contract because I don't want to tied to a contract. Now? I want to buy a pentaband phone so I can get service anywhere I please.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
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Click to collapse
Check those coverage maps, Maybe I'm used to Verizon but the coverage on those GSM Prepaid guys especially for smartphones is pretty terrible.
calum96 said:
Hey I'm from Britain, how does it work in the USA with phone then? Here even of you buy it from a carrier you can get it unlocked for say £10 or do it yourself if you do a quick Google search and some reading then it works on all other carriers?
Sent from my GT-I9000 running remICS-UX using XDA premium
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Click to collapse
Doesn't work that way here and thats the problem, it should. You buy a phone from the carrier that only works on that carriers network. Even if you get say a Verizon phone that should theoretically work on Sprint, as theyre both CDMA and even share towers sometimes, they wont let you. You would have to get Verzion to unlock your phone first and then even if they did you would have to activate it on sprint which they wont do. They will only activate an ESN that is tied to them. I think they get all the ESNs for the phones they're going to sell and put them in a database. If you have an ESN isn't in the database the phone will not activate. I think the GSM providers basically do the same thing, but I would know I haven't been on GSM for I cant even remember how long.
loki993 said:
Check those coverage maps, Maybe I'm used to Verizon but the coverage on those GSM Prepaid guys especially for smartphones is pretty terrible.
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Click to collapse
Straight Talk offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $50 a month after taxes. It comes with full AT&T coverage or full T-Mobile coverage, with your choice of SIM. There's no throttling, and I get the same data speeds that any post-paid AT&T subscriber would get.
Product F(RED) said:
Straight Talk offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $50 a month after taxes. It comes with full AT&T coverage or full T-Mobile coverage, with your choice of SIM. There's no throttling, and I get the same data speeds that any post-paid AT&T subscriber would get.
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I'm sure your right, but if someone went to the straight talk website wanting a smartphone and looked at that coverage map they would think the coverage was awful. They need to update that map.
Still arguing coverage aside the real question is I guess is why does subsidizing happen here but not anywhere else?
Product F(RED) said:
Straight Talk offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $50 a month after taxes. It comes with full AT&T coverage or full T-Mobile coverage, with your choice of SIM. There's no throttling, and I get the same data speeds that any post-paid AT&T subscriber would get.
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Click to collapse
It's not true unlimited data though, right. If you go over around 2 don't they cut off your service?
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
TJBunch1228 said:
It's not true unlimited data though, right. If you go over around 2 don't they cut off your service?
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
I've been over 2GB. Others have gone over 6GB. Nothing has happened. It depends on the subscriber base in your area; if a lot of people are on the same network you're on (meaning AT&T ST SIM and AT&T Post-paid subscribers, for example) you shouldn't strain the network by streaming Pandora for hours and tethering. But hey, I'm in NYC and nothing has happened. I live in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan by Radio City Hall/Rockefeller Center. Not even a single warning.
leo321 said:
Here's me data usage with att straight talk this month. I don't think they give a ****... Mind you my month started June 28th
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Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
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loki993 said:
I'm sure your right, but if someone went to the straight talk website wanting a smartphone and looked at that coverage map they would think the coverage was awful. They need to update that map.
Still arguing coverage aside the real question is I guess is why does subsidizing happen here but not anywhere else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you shouldn't be looking at a straight talk coverage map as they don't own towers. You should be looking at an AT&T or T-Mobile coverage map.

Who else is about to see Verizon end the world?

So I can't be the only one here, who has been in contract with Verizon since day 1 of the Thunderbolt hitting the streets. Since Verizon has removed unlimited data, and moved with alltell customers to loose their plans, I am wondering if come March those of us who will be the first people out of contract with Verizon with LTE will be getting letters telling us they have decided to move us to their wonderful tierd data plans!
I am only saying this because I really want to buy a Note II but I don't want to drop 500-600 dollars on a used one and find out that my service is getting changed, and have to leave Verizon for another carrier with unlimited data anyway.
So, any one worried about march?
Who says they are going to bunp those with unlimited data to a tiered plan when their contract is up?
mentose457 said:
Who says they are going to bunp those with unlimited data to a tiered plan when their contract is up?
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Click to collapse
I didn't say anyone said they would, I am just looking at how verizon does things.
Also, no one on unlimited data with 4G has had their contract expire yet, so no one can say they won't.
They are making the alltell plans go away, so why not the unlimited data ones as the contracts expire?
Sounds exactly like some **** they'd do too.
my tapatalk signature sucks more than yours
my parents just got divorced and myself and my brother have unlimited data plans. We had to alter our plan because of this. one sibling is on my fathers new plan, one is on my mothers new plan. we both retained unlimited data through this situation.
If they gonna force tiered data they are going to start in june 2014 just after everyone who preorder the GS3 to retain unlimited is off contract
iSheep... iSheep... Meowww that's Apple VZW GSIII
Just an fyi... I know many people here try to keep their unlimited data and hold off as long as possible to get their upgrade so they dont lose it. I had a thunderbolt that worked when it pleased for almost 3 months before i finally gave in.
When i went to get my s3 a fee weeks ago i found a pretty cool rep. I was with my sister as she shares an account with me and my mother. Showed the rep my beat up tb and he asked y i took so long to get my upgrade which i have been due for for nearly 7 months. Explained to him i had no intention of giving up my unlimited data because i constantly use 4+gb a month. But my phone completely died so i juat had to do it.
He pulled up the account and saw that my mother already ady had the tiered data on her line. At this point he told me that if i wanted to keep my unlimited data i could apply the upgrade to her line... So activate the s3 with her number, at which point the phone is mine...then he would deactivate it and read activate it with my number and reactivate my mothers line... So now we have 2 s3 will unlimited data and and ipone with 2gb cap on my account.
If you have multiple lines... One of which is either suspended or has tierd data this is an option you can use. If the rep you get your phone from isnt as friendly, apply your upgrade to the other line instead of yours... Call customer service when you get home and have them do it. Reps might be kind of iffy about doing this i was told its supposed to be unmentionable.
i pwn noobz
One of my lines contract's has run out, without any word from Verizon on cutting it's unlimited plan.
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Ace2d said:
Just an fyi... I know many people here try to keep their unlimited data and hold off as long as possible to get their upgrade so they dont lose it. I had a thunderbolt that worked when it pleased for almost 3 months before i finally gave in.
When i went to get my s3 a fee weeks ago i found a pretty cool rep. I was with my sister as she shares an account with me and my mother. Showed the rep my beat up tb and he asked y i took so long to get my upgrade which i have been due for for nearly 7 months. Explained to him i had no intention of giving up my unlimited data because i constantly use 4+gb a month. But my phone completely died so i juat had to do it.
He pulled up the account and saw that my mother already ady had the tiered data on her line. At this point he told me that if i wanted to keep my unlimited data i could apply the upgrade to her line... So activate the s3 with her number, at which point the phone is mine...then he would deactivate it and read activate it with my number and reactivate my mothers line... So now we have 2 s3 will unlimited data and and ipone with 2gb cap on my account.
If you have multiple lines... One of which is either suspended or has tierd data this is an option you can use. If the rep you get your phone from isnt as friendly, apply your upgrade to the other line instead of yours... Call customer service when you get home and have them do it. Reps might be kind of iffy about doing this i was told its supposed to be unmentionable.
i pwn noobz
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Click to collapse
This has been the case for a long time. Many many people have used this well after unlimited data was over. Its kinda been unspoken to only refer to it in passing as an alternate upgrade or stealing an upgrade. The more people that use thus loophole the more likely Verizon will patch it.
spotmark said:
One of my lines contract's has run out, without any word from Verizon on cutting it's unlimited plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How? Were you on a 1 year plan? There is no way that went month to month on a 2 year LTE contract.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Yes, it was a two year plan. It started out as unlimited 3g, and went to unlimited 4g about half way through.
I think everyone should be aware that unlimited data will be ending for ALL carriers sometime in the future, probably not this year or next year but certainly within 5 - 10 years.
The number of smart phone users is growing, bandwidth is not growing and the handwriting is on the wall, like it or not. No carrier has the ability to provide unlimited bandwidth to unlimited subscribers.
Fortunately for me, my 2GB plan is more than adequate, almost all my data use is over WiFi and I seldom hit even 1GB. One thing I've done to limit my data use is to install wireless 'N' routers at my house, my sister's house in California and my girlfriend's house here in Phoenix, those $20 swapmeet/Craig's List/Ebay second hand routers plus free WiFi at most places where I hang out almost eliminate my 3G/4G data use.
I bought a droid x a little after it came out and signed a new 2 year contract..I eventually got a used gs3 from craigslist so I activated it and my contract has been up for months and I still have unlimited..
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I think the problem will come up if you try to get a new phone at the 2 year contract price. They will likely try and force you to a tiered data plan when signing the 'new' 2 year agreement. You would likely be able to get around it by paying outright for a new phone (no new contract to sign), but that's if you want to pay the $500-600 to do so.
I understand why Unlimited Data is on its last legs for all carriers, I just wish the tiers were more reasonable. I don't consider myself someone who abuses the network, but I am away from WiFi often and use about 6-12 gigs a month. I'd have to pay an insane premium to have that capability again. It really feels like a huge step backwards and contradicts the cloud movement but I get it. I just don't like it. We need a breakthrough dammit!
I'll be sure to enjoy my next 1.5 years of unlimited service.
uber_mike said:
I think the problem will come up if you try to get a new phone at the 2 year contract price. They will likely try and force you to a tiered data plan when signing the 'new' 2 year agreement. You would likely be able to get around it by paying outright for a new phone (no new contract to sign), but that's if you want to pay the $500-600 to do so.
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Click to collapse
Depending on your data usage, it can be far cheaper to buy the phone outright instead of paying for a bigger data package over the 2 year contract. Of course you can always choose to change your data usage behavior and get the 2GB route which will be cheaper. I bet they're banking on people to do that.
But here's to hoping they lit the minority unlimited users remain as long as they're willing to buy phones full price!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
xs11e said:
I think everyone should be aware that unlimited data will be ending for ALL carriers sometime in the future, probably not this year or next year but certainly within 5 - 10 years.
The number of smart phone users is growing, bandwidth is not growing and the handwriting is on the wall, like it or not. No carrier has the ability to provide unlimited bandwidth to unlimited subscribers.
Fortunately for me, my 2GB plan is more than adequate, almost all my data use is over WiFi and I seldom hit even 1GB. One thing I've done to limit my data use is to install wireless 'N' routers at my house, my sister's house in California and my girlfriend's house here in Phoenix, those $20 swapmeet/Craig's List/Ebay second hand routers plus free WiFi at most places where I hang out almost eliminate my 3G/4G data use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that this is totally wrong. The teared pricing will go away as pressure mounts and people can move to local Wmax systems. I have unlimited and have had it since WM4 when it was "3g what is that". Many cities are gong Wmax (where I live Grand Rapids many areas are complete) this will totally eliminate need for Cell data. 4G consumes less electrical power, has greater bandwidth for the end user with less tax on there system than 3G. They are simply making money when they can. It is like all technology the General public is finally getting connected so prices are rising once saturation and competition meet prices will fall or stabilize.
I don't have cable internet at home anymore. 4g is faster and way cheaper, I am still at $24 per month unlimited. I simply turn the hot spot on and feed my home network. Granted Verizon hates me using 60+ gig a month so what.
I might have just been lucky. I walked into a Verizon store a couple of weeks after the GS3 came out to upgrade. I got the 2 year contract price and got to keep my unlimited data plan. He didn't even ask if I wanted to change it. I was so happy, I bought a couple of accessories that I could have got online cheaper. As far as I am aware they still get a commission bonus for that.
I have heard some horror stories of existing customers being forces out of their unlimited plans. Cell phones are one of the few things these days that are usually best bought in corporate stores.
That_Guy said:
I might have just been lucky. I walked into a Verizon store a couple of weeks after the GS3 came out to upgrade. I got the 2 year contract price and got to keep my unlimited data plan. He didn't even ask if I wanted to change it. I was so happy, I bought a couple of accessories that I could have got online cheaper. As far as I am aware they still get a commission bonus for that.
I have heard some horror stories of existing customers being forces out of their unlimited plans. Cell phones are one of the few things these days that are usually best bought in corporate stores.
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well yeah we get commission on accessories sold, and salesmen make more on accessories than phones, which is why we push that whole, "buy 3 accessories!" thing
I was lucky too. I upgraded to my S3 back in August through Verizon and was able to keep my unlimited for some reason.
I prefer 4g, but if I was somehow forced to a tiered plan I could manage. I use 4G at home since it's faster than my WiFi, but I would just switch to WiFi at home.
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love my unlimited vz 4g

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