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Best Priced Unlimited Data and Talk Plan that can b Tethered

I am on the road a good bit, and I need a phone and a company that provides the best rates on talk and data. I am in rural areas a good bit so Tmobile may not be the best option. I need at the very least unlimited data and over 1000 mins a month. Also need a phone that is easily tethered. I'd love to hear all opinions!

SprintSprintSprint. I love itand their truly unlimited.

I agree, Sprint.

Verizon for coverage in rural areas.

verizon. You have the best coverage with their network as long as you don't mind not having a sim card.

panicfreek said:
I am on the road a good bit, and I need a phone and a company that provides the best rates on talk and data. I am in rural areas a good bit so Tmobile may not be the best option. I need at the very least unlimited data and over 1000 mins a month. Also need a phone that is easily tethered. I'd love to hear all opinions!
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For coverage I WOULD have suggested Verizon... but they are going to a tiered Data plan next month and I think even now you may have to get that if you are a new customer.
I am shopping around myself for another carrier assuming I am not grandfathered into the unlimited Data plan I have on Verizon now. I was told by a Best Buy employee that when you upgrade your phone you will be forced onto the new tiered Data plan after July 7th.... and possibly even before then for high end phones.
After having a "Buffet" of Data I am not willing to go back to rationing data.
I understand WHY AT&T and Verizon are going to rationing Data plans ... they can claim their Data network is very fast.... and it is, since no one can afford to use it....

First, it doesn't go into effect until 7/7, then it applies to new customers/new lines only. Verizon said that customers that currently have unlimited data will get to keep it when they upgrade (3G or 4G). Their statement did say "at this time" though, so I'm sure they'll come up with some way to get everyone into tiered data. The good news is that if you already have unlimited data, or lock it in before the 7th, you won't have to worry about tiered data for a while.

ATT to force upgraders to tiered plan

So I went to the local AT&t warranty center to exchange a bricked captivate.
Luckily I had exchanged my captivate 3 months ago hoping the gps would be fixed, it wasnt. They give you a 90 day warranty on the exchange if 90 days is past your 1 year warranty. otherwise I would have been sol 2 months ago. He told me that even my 90 day warranty was up 2 days ago, and he still exchanged it!
but thats not why Im writing this
there was a woman waiting in line with me, bragging that she was grandfathered on the unlimited data plan. I proceded to tell her that its not truly unlimited as At&t has announced the throttling of customers who use lots of data.
One of the women working the counter said something to me that I hope is not true for you who have an unlimited data plan. She said that At&t has plans to soon implement policy which would require you to choose a new tiered data plan if you want to upgrade your phone.
Now this is an At&t employee, however there is always a chance she does not know what shes saying..

Wouldn't be surprised. After this t-mobile merger thing at&t is going haywire with its policies...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium

I think sprint did the same thing to people on sero plans iirc. I'm not really surprised.
Sent from my Captivate

Retail pricing ftw?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G via XDA Premium

I think they have been doing this already, I had to go back to At&t from Cingular. When I had the Cingular 3125 with Unlimited Data, I was told there was no grandfathered plans if I went to HTC Fuze with At&t since Cingular didn't count the 3125 as "smartphone" data plan. Unless I got the iphone 1 or something I forget.

AT&T is indeed forcing all unlimited contracts onto tiered data when they can. The best policy is to buy a phone without using the upgrade/contract extension. If you take the upgrade, it triggers a conversion to tiered data.
There is a major caveat to all of this....do you remember when they decided to force you onto a data plan just for the privilege of owning a smartphone? Well, it worked once before, so they are doing it again. This time, if you try to activate any device with an EMEI that is listed as 4G capable, you will be forced to change to a 4G plan. Since it is a 'new' contract, you are forced to accept the tiered data, as well. This means that a SGS or the unbranded SGSII is the best choice (since it is considered 3G). The AT&T version of the the SGSII (Attain) has different hardware and is a 4G device, if you can call HSPA+ 4G, which I don't.
I for one sincerely hope the T-mobile merger is nixed by the FCC and/or SEC. I'm just about ten seconds away from switching to the Tmob Walmart plan, which only charges for the data you use, and you can pre-purchase 'blocks' of data. You can bet your sweet patootie that will evaporate if NewMaBell gets ahold of Tmob. Just in case you might be thinking that AT&T is not all that bad, and are just getting a bad rap, here is a link to an article all AT&T customers need to read.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20097133-17/fcc-asks-at-t-for-more-information-on-lte-rollout/
What are we to do? Simple. Write your congressmen and senators and tell them to pass a simple bit of law. Require all cellular devices to operate equally well on all versions of LTE. Level the playing field. I cry foul on all cellular providers, who worked their way around the FCC's requirement to allow wholesale access to wireless networks by running different protocols. We need to unify the cellular spectrums and protocols, and let them differentiate themselves based service, price and coverage. Since they have spectrum and protocol niches, competition is stifled, and we are paying the price with higher costs and reduced coverage and data rates. Wanna change networks? It's gonna cost you! You have this nasty $4000, 2 year contract, supposedly justified by the cost of providing you new phones that you can only use on one network.

OwenW71 said:
AT&T is indeed forcing all unlimited contracts onto tiered data when they can. The best policy is to buy a phone without using the upgrade/contract extension. If you take the upgrade, it triggers a conversion to tiered data.
There is a major caveat to all of this....do you remember when they decided to force you onto a data plan just for the privilege of owning a smartphone? Well, it worked once before, so they are doing it again. This time, if you try to activate any device with an EMEI that is listed as 4G capable, you will be forced to change to a 4G plan. Since it is a 'new' contract, you are forced to accept the tiered data, as well. This means that a SGS or the unbranded SGSII is the best choice (since it is considered 3G). The AT&T version of the the SGSII (Attain) has different hardware and is a 4G device, if you can call HSPA+ 4G, which I don't.
I for one sincerely hope the T-mobile merger is nixed by the FCC and/or SEC. I'm just about ten seconds away from switching to the Tmob Walmart plan, which only charges for the data you use, and you can pre-purchase 'blocks' of data. You can bet your sweet patootie that will evaporate if NewMaBell gets ahold of Tmob. Just in case you might be thinking that AT&T is not all that bad, and are just getting a bad rap, here is a link to an article all AT&T customers need to read.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20097133-17/fcc-asks-at-t-for-more-information-on-lte-rollout/
What are we to do? Simple. Write your congressmen and senators and tell them to pass a simple bit of law. Require all cellular devices to operate equally well on all versions of LTE. Level the playing field. I cry foul on all cellular providers, who worked their way around the FCC's requirement to allow wholesale access to wireless networks by running different protocols. We need to unify the cellular spectrums and protocols, and let them differentiate themselves based service, price and coverage. Since they have spectrum and protocol niches, competition is stifled, and we are paying the price with higher costs and reduced coverage and data rates. Wanna change networks? It's gonna cost you! You have this nasty $4000, 2 year contract, supposedly justified by the cost of providing you new phones that you can only use on one network.
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I was on unlimited data when I got my iphone 3g. I bought a captivate at full retail a year later, and used it for almost a year. By the time my 2 year contact was up from my iphone, I decided to use my upgrade to get the infuse 4g. They let me stay grandfathered in to unlimited data, even though I had to switch to the 4g data plan.
So in other words, since I'm drunk right now, haha, if you are grandfathered in to 3g unlimited data, switching to a 4g phone still lets you keep unlimited data, unless they changed something in the last couple of months.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App

I just went nine rounds with the CS manager at a local store, and there was no way I was going to be allowed to keep my unlimited data and go to a 4G phone. My situation was perhaps a little different, however. I am a former Alltel customer, and in our area, they grandfathered our $20 unlimited data from Alltel (they did revoke my free tethering) and they are doing anything they can to get that back from those of us that still have it.
I am honestly surprised that they let you go 4G without a change to tiered. Not sure how you pulled it off, since the manager I was working with showed me the plan options and unlimited 4G was not anywhere to be seen. He did say that there were people that had unlimited 4G prior to the tiered plan roll-out, but that was no longer an option for plan changes.

Unlimited plans will be going away. Deal with it.
Pay for what you use, or don't use anything at all.

You sound like you work with att.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App

silver91342 said:
I think they have been doing this already, I had to go back to At&t from Cingular. When I had the Cingular 3125 with Unlimited Data, I was told there was no grandfathered plans if I went to HTC Fuze with At&t since Cingular didn't count the 3125 as "smartphone" data plan. Unless I got the iphone 1 or something I forget.
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3125 is using a cheaper $20/mo unlimited plan just like iPhone1. Such $20 plan is known to be not grandfathered in. Only the $30+ plans are grandfathered in.

I can't help but think of the irony that with every new generation of phone the big selling features are how much faster it can use data and all the data consuming features, while at the same time the phone companies are trying to keep us from using data. They keep it up eventually the new generation phones will be low data consumption Razors.

bulletproof1013 said:
You sound like you work with att.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17044408&postcount=42

That would be an easy way to get out of your contract early. If they alter your contract then you can refuse and they have to let you out of your contract without penalty.

Sure AT&T I'll upgrade... to Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint!!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

toy028 said:
That would be an easy way to get out of your contract early. If they alter your contract then you can refuse and they have to let you out of your contract without penalty.
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That's a great point.

unlimited data- they are going to allow you to keep it, but are using the throttling to scare you into a tierd plan. Either way, I'm keeping my unlimited.
refer to this post for directions. A friend who was also originally with Alltel, just did a transfer of responsibility, and they said he had to change plans entirely since he was leaving a family plan. He now has the unlimited data on his phone as well. Hope you guys find this helpful.
I doubt they truely revoke it, as their customer base would be non-existent.

ashies7 said:
unlimited data- they are going to allow you to keep it, but are using the throttling to scare you into a tierd plan. Either way, I'm keeping my unlimited.
refer to this post for directions. A friend who was also originally with Alltel, just did a transfer of responsibility, and they said he had to change plans entirely since he was leaving a family plan. He now has the unlimited data on his phone as well. Hope you guys find this helpful.
I doubt they truely revoke it, as their customer base would be non-existent.
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Except that very few customers are still on that plan. And most of those are people that frequent sites like XDA. Hardly AT&T's bread and butter sadly...

Unfortunately, by the time I got a smart phone, a captivate, they didn't even offer an unlimited plan.

Eventually, I would think that data plans, in general, would become more affordable.... supply and demand, baby!!

Question about Skyrocket and AT&T data metered data?

I currently have a Epic 4G Touch over on Sprint with their craptasic unlimited data. I'm lucky to speed test 5~30kbps on 3G, yes you read that correctly. I've been a 10+ year Sprint customer and the more and more smart devices they get, the slower the network becomes.
I think it might be time to jump ship!
So, my buddy just had the same issues as me, slow 3G. He flashed a Verizon PRL file to his phone and well, lets just say got out of his contract without paying an ETF.
He just picked up the Skyrocket and could NOT be happier. He came over to show the phone to me the other night and and his data speed was amazing! Unfortunately, we have no 4G where I live so I'm stuck on 3G but both his LTE and 3G were blazing.
He has a 3GB a month LTE packages that is metered for the LTE but he claims the 3G is unlimited. Now, pretty much everyone in my office but myself has an AT&T iPhone and they are all saying they do NOT have anything unlimited and that my friend is mistaken. I'm trying to figure out which is correct because I'm thinking about picking up a Skyrocket this week. Is it different between say an iPHone and an Android?
Thanks!

They throttle you after 5 gb if you are on a grandfathered unlimited plan. If you are on a tiered plan you dont get throttled and if you go over your limit they add another whatever gb you had to your bill. So if you had 3gb for $30 and you go over it, they give you another 3gb and charge you another $30

xcrazydx said:
They throttle you after 5 gb if you are on a grandfathered unlimited plan. If you are on a tiered plan you dont get throttled and if you go over your limit they add another whatever gb you had to your bill. So if you had 3gb for $30 and you go over it, they give you another 3gb and charge you another $30
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That's true or you can get 1GB for $10...

So then my friend is full of sh__... He is a brand new AT&T customer as of about two weeks ago and he is very insistent on the fact that the only metered data is the LTE, the 3G is unlimited.
He seems very sure that when his LTE is out, he can just jump on 3G and use that at no additional cost until his cycle resets.
I thought that sounded wrong.

kdoggy said:
So then my friend is full of sh__... He is a brand new AT&T customer as of about two weeks ago and he is very insistent on the fact that the only metered data is the LTE, the 3G is unlimited.
He seems very sure that when his LTE is out, he can just jump on 3G and use that at no additional cost until his cycle resets.
I thought that sounded wrong.
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It doesn't matter what he's on when data runs over 5gb hes done and back to 1995 dial up speeds

xcrazydx said:
It doesn't matter what he's on when data runs over 5gb hes done and back to 1995 dial up speeds
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If he's a NEW customer then he should not have ANYTHING unlimited. Which means he will be most surprised when he get's his phone bill and has overage charges, because they won't throttle the limited plans. He will still get 4G once he exceeds his data limit, AT&T will just start charging overage charges.

Hawkeye9723 said:
If he's a NEW customer then he should not have ANYTHING unlimited. Which means he will be most surprised when he get's his phone bill and has overage charges, because they won't throttle the limited plans. He will still get 4G once he exceeds his data limit, AT&T will just start charging overage charges.
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Right
xcrazydx said:
They throttle you after 5 gb if you are on a grandfathered unlimited plan. If you are on a tiered plan you dont get throttled and if you go over your limit they add another whatever gb you had to your bill. So if you had 3gb for $30 and you go over it, they give you another 3gb and charge you another $30
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[Q] Vzw GNex to Nexus 5 - Carrier Help/Suggestions

I am still using my Vzw Galaxy Nexus on a grandfathered unlimited data plan. I have been seriously thinking of getting a new phone for a while now, and the Nexus 5 is my preference...but with the news of Verizon not supporting it (and my contract expiring in early 2014), I am strongly considering leaving Big Red. My main question is where to go next. I am currently focusing on either Sprint or T-Mobile as they do have unlimited plans available.
I have always been with Verizon as part of a family plan, so I lack firsthand experience with either. T-Mobile has the better plans, but the local coverage is not particularly good. For those who have firsthand experience with T-Mobile and Sprint, what should I be aware of? Does anyone have any specific suggestions/warnings? Any other carriers I should consider (I am located in east Tennessee)?
Since I have not yet ordered the N5, I have a little bit of time, but would like to make a decision fairly soon. Any input is greatly appreciated.
As this is not entirely a Nexus 5 question, my apologies if it should be in another forum.

I'm in the same boat as you. Download Sensorly from the play store and it will tell you who has the best coverage for your area/commute.
I'm leaning toward T Mobile for speed and good price plans for prepaid.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

do you really need 5gb of data every month? if not dont worry about the unlimited data and find what has the best coverage in your area

sheryip said:
do you really need 5gb of data every month? if not dont worry about the unlimited data and find what has the best coverage in your area
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Rarely, but in some months, yes. I'm concerned more with the other members of that plan - the other one who still has unlimited averages more than that. Of course if I don't bring the rest of that group with me, it becomes a moot point.

etmccreary said:
Rarely, but in some months, yes. I'm concerned more with the other members of that plan - the other one who still has unlimited averages more than that. Of course if I don't bring the rest of that group with me, it becomes a moot point.
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I am a VZW subscriber, and switched to TMO for the $70 a month unlimited plan. I get a corporate discount on TMO. I use my cell for work, so I needed voice minutes. I also looked at AIO Wireless for their $70 7GB plan, but I heard that ATT will be rolling them into their Leap wireless service, and pricing would be up in the air at the point. I was a long time Sprint user before VZW and their LTE rollout has been hit or miss (mostly miss in suburbs).
Will report back my findings.

bigbrown said:
I am a VZW subscriber, and switched to TMO for the $70 a month unlimited plan. I get a corporate discount on TMO. I use my cell for work, so I needed voice minutes. I also looked at AIO Wireless for their $70 7GB plan, but I heard that ATT will be rolling them into their Leap wireless service, and pricing would be up in the air at the point. I was a long time Sprint user before VZW and their LTE rollout has been hit or miss (mostly miss in suburbs).
Will report back my findings.
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This will be me.
Dropping VZW for T-Mo with this plan once my N5 comes in. $70 gets you unlimited data with no cap after Xgigs of usage.

I wish there were a lot more of us in this boat so verizon would actually notice the amount of people that are going to bail. Then maybe they'd stop raping us.
Btw, J.Guido85, thanks for the Sensorly app info. That will help me figure out true TMO coverage in my area.

Enjoy being out of contract and get Straight Talk. $45/mo unlimited* everything and you can choose service thru either at&t or T-Mobile.

MaxRabbit said:
Enjoy being out of contract and get Straight Talk. $45/mo unlimited* everything and you can choose service thru either at&t or T-Mobile.
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Straight talk only gives you 2.5gb of data per month at high speed.

donatom3 said:
Straight talk only gives you 2.5gb of data per month at high speed.
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Yes, that's why I said unlimited*. It's still a great deal.

Good article comparing the prepaid services:
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/11/04/best-prepaid-wireless-plans/

Cheapest service options for the Nexus 5?

So I am getting a LG G2 paid for by my work on Verizon. I won't have unlimited talk & text but pretty much will (along with 2gb of data). I want to keep my nexus 5 and personal phone number (didn't want to port over my number).
Anyways I want to drop the service down to a cheaper plan that my current straight talk one. I was thinking maybe h20 wireless with the unlimited talk/text w/ 500mb of data for $27 with autopay. Or maybe the tmobile $30 plan.
What do you guys think? Any cheap plans suggestions?

It completely depends on your usage and what networks get decent coverage near you.
For AT&T's network, I don't think H2O gives you anywhere close to 4G speeds, but that may be old information. Aio is $35 a month with 500MB at 8Mbps and unlimited at 128kbps.
On T-Mobile's network, the $30 a month plan is good if you don't need a lot of talk.

I'm on the $30 a month t mobile plan currently, it is a great plan since I don't talk on the phone.
Sadly I live in an area where T mobile service just doesn't cut it. I get full LTE out doors but as soon as I step inside I am down to 1 bar of 'e' or '3g'.
I will be moving to Straight talk (AT&T) for $45 a month in a couple of weeks to compare, definitely worried about ST throttling my data though as I have read they do quite often.

My husband is on the $30 tmo plan. Don't think you can really beat that currently for service...as long as you don't need the minutes.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

As long as the area you live in has good T-Mobile coverage, I'd say go with them. I'm paying $80 a month with them, which includes unlimited everything (LTE data as well) and insurance. If you can settle with slower data the $30 plan cannot be beat.