Cell Phone Plans

[Jedimasta]

Well my Sprint 2 year contract is about to be up so I started my shopping for a new phone and service. I've already looked into the whole iPhone package and I can do about $65 a month with unlimited data, 450 rollover minutes, and 200 text messages. I'm also looking at Motorola's new Droid phone but I'm making any final decisions till I see what it can do in it's finished form. I'd love to hear people's experiences with other service providers and any deals they've heard of that may not be publicly known.

[bechyni]

Well my Sprint 2 year contract is about to be up so I started my shopping for a new phone and service. I've already looked into the whole iPhone package and I can do about $65 a month with unlimited data, 450 rollover minutes, and 200 text messages. I'm also looking at Motorola's new Droid phone but I'm making any final decisions till I see what it can do in it's finished form. I'd love to hear people's experiences with other service providers and any deals they've heard of that may not be publicly known.

I've been with Sprint for about 4 years now and I have the unlimited everything plan for 80$ so I can't really offer to much of a diverse opinion. I was with version for about 2 years before Sprint but my g/f has them and says they are decent ($60 month unlimited text not sure how many minutes though + my circle)

[Velgadess]

been with Verizon since '03. network/cel reception good to great where I live. dealing with customer service. spotty. long wait times, accent issues, minor things. I've had to deal with them during my 6+ yrs about 1-3 times a yr. I also use Verizon since about 85% of my friends/family use Verizon as well so I save on minutes.

On a family share plan with other friends. 4 of us. on avg. each of us pay about 50$-60$ a month for nationwide, unlimited data/txt/pix and we each get 600 mins a month. weekends/holidays/ verizon to verzion free plus ur top 10 that you choose. meaning you pick 10 numbers cel or landline you can call whenever that doesnt use your minutes. dont matter what carrier they are on. or when you call

[Senoska]

I was with Verizon but switched to Sprint. I have Simply Everything (Unlimited mobile-to-mobile calls on any service, 2200 minutes for land-lines, unlimited texts, unlimited data) with two blackberries on my plan and I pay $120 a month. I have two phones though, It's about 70ish otherwise(?)

AT&T nickle and dimes the shit out of you. When I went to the store, I have every intention of buying an iPhone. I sat down with the bitch and she was like "Well, the data plan is $30 per phone, texting is $20 per phone, minutes are _____," etc. It ended up with just having two phones with a reasonable amount of minutes and some texting was $180. Fuck that noise.

[ClassicRed]

Tmobile G1 + Unlimited Loyalty Plan(49.99 nation wide unlimited mins anytime/where) + Unlimited Data/Txt(34.99) = 89$/month or so~

Can knock off $10 if you dont want unlimited txt. The only thing I hate about TMobile is they dont do roll over mins(for those plans with limited talk time). But they do have several 'fav' plans where 5/10 ppl you call is completely free any time day/night.

Also love their customer service and coverage isnt bad ~ I live in boonies and I can still take advantage of their 3G network if I want.

[fishstix]

Also love their customer service

Really? The times I've had to work with customer service to fix some billing issues, it was obviously sent to India talking with Bob and Joe with long drawn out repetitive sentences. Trying to give out my cc# over the phone was long and painful and they declined 3 working cc#s since I'm sure they screwed up entering the data.

A friend of mine back in the day with Sprint, would call them and threaten to cancel and switch carriers. Usually they'd give him free stuff like extra minutes, a month free or something. idk if it'd still work now

[jmc]

Tmobile G1 + Unlimited Loyalty Plan(49.99 nation wide unlimited mins anytime/where) + Unlimited Data/Txt(34.99) = 89$/month or so~

Can knock off $10 if you dont want unlimited txt. The only thing I hate about TMobile is they dont do roll over mins(for those plans with limited talk time). But they do have several 'fav' plans where 5/10 ppl you call is completely free any time day/night.

Also love their customer service and coverage isnt bad ~ I live in boonies and I can still take advantage of their 3G network if I want.

My brother has t-mobile for about 7 months now.... and they told him he cannot switch to the loyalty plan until he has had un-interupted service for a year or longer.

I have a family "everything data" play on Sprint 1 Palm Pre, 2 Blackberries and I pay $160 before fees. 1500 landline minutes, and you get unlimited calling to any cell phone no matter what provider simply because you have a everything data plan. Not to mention unlimted texts etc....

With sprint I also purchased their "Airwave" which is a mini-cell tower you hook up directly to a cable modem so I get full service in/around my house for only $5 extra a month.



*edit*

I switched to sprint after having a iPhone for about a year. My bills would range from $160-$210 a month for unknown reasons (Had 3 iphones total on my plan), I ended up switching after AT&T decided to remove my employment discount because I was on family plan.

[Jedimasta]

Alright I looked into Sprint a little more and it looks like I should be able to get a $60 SERO account and get a HTC Hero. Any thoughts on the phone? The only downside for me seems to be it's not Mac compatible so I'd need to find a buddy with a PC to get OS updates.

[Rhinox]

One thing T-mobile is great at is costumer service. To bad the coverage sucks

[Fen]

Was your account always kept up to date etc? If so, pick a plan/feature/phone that you like from another company, then give Sprint a call and threaten to quit by telling them to port your number.

Phone companies keep better plans and phone discounts set aside to keep good customers. I've worked inbound customer service for three companies (MCI, T-Mobile and Nextel before the merger to sprint) and all of them would have us throw promos at you if you say you want to quit/port out your number.

EDIT - If you like I'll go for a walk and talk to the Sprint telemarketers tomorrow night to see what the good deals are.

[Seanr]

ugh... Text messaging is the biggest ripoff with the biggest markup ever.
I have the Pre on Sprint though... <3 Homebrew

[jmc]

I have the Pre on Sprint though... <3 Homebrew

This

HTC Hero is probably the same way with homebrew apps.


(HTC Hero, is also know as the myTouch on t-mobile....right?)

[Seanr]

This

HTC Hero is probably the same way with homebrew apps.


(HTC Hero, is also know as the myTouch on t-mobile....right?)

Hero just has the same OS which is Android, just like the G-1, and a number of other phones...

[nicholai]

Tmobile just released new rates today and they are pretty solid. I've had my G1 since it was released and really enjoy it but am now waiting for a droid with the snapdragon processor to come out hopefully on tmo but if not i'll deal with whomever for the better processor.

Copy pasted from a website info on the new plans:

Today, the mobile carrier took another step to help win over mobile phone customers.
The Even More and Even More rate plans were announced today.
Lets start with the Even More packages. These require a two-year service agreement and include a discounted phone. The unlimited individual prices begin at $59 per month and go up to $99 if you want unlimited messaging and web access as well.
With the Even More Plus plans, you don’t get any equipment discount and unlimited plans start at $49 per month for voice and are only $79/month for unlimited everything (messaging and web access).
So, basically, if you already have a handset or don’t mind paying full price for one – the Even More Plus is a better deal in terms of monthly service charges.

not the full plans but you get the idea, you can go to the website for full info, also apparently if your with tmo and under 365 days left on your contract you can change to any of these plans for a $35 migration fee which could be worth it pretty quickly.

[Taera]

I just did my iPhone upgrade through AT&T and I'm paying 103 a month roughly after fees and everything for unlimited everything and the most basic minutes plan. If I wanted to swith service, what's the cost of cancelling a contract?

[Senoska]

Usually around $200.

[Seanr]

I just did my iPhone upgrade through AT&T and I'm paying 103 a month roughly after fees and everything for unlimited everything and the most basic minutes plan. If I wanted to swith service, what's the cost of cancelling a contract?

Or this How to Get Out of a Cell Contract Without Paying an ETF in Many Not-So-Easy Steps

[Jedimasta]

EDIT - If you like I'll go for a walk and talk to the Sprint telemarketers tomorrow night to see what the good deals are.

Yeah I'm about to hit my 2 year mark December 20th and haven't missed a payment yet. That would be awesome if you could look around although I'm not sure it can get much better than the SERO 500 minute, unlimited messaging and data plan and insurance for about $77 a month. If you can find better though, please let me know.

[ClassicRed]

Really? The times I've had to work with customer service to fix some billing issues, it was obviously sent to India talking with Bob and Joe with long drawn out repetitive sentences. Trying to give out my cc# over the phone was long and painful and they declined 3 working cc#s since I'm sure they screwed up entering the data.

A friend of mine back in the day with Sprint, would call them and threaten to cancel and switch carriers. Usually they'd give him free stuff like extra minutes, a month free or something. idk if it'd still work now

I did that with TMobile when they said my account wasnt due for an upgrade. Told them I could switch to ATT new IPhone for cheaper than they wanted to charge me for the G1 ~ 30s later Im talking to a 'manager' and I get what I want ~

My brother has t-mobile for about 7 months now.... and they told him he cannot switch to the loyalty plan until he has had un-interupted service for a year or longer.

I have a family "everything data" play on Sprint 1 Palm Pre, 2 Blackberries and I pay $160 before fees. 1500 landline minutes, and you get unlimited calling to any cell phone no matter what provider simply because you have a everything data plan. Not to mention unlimted texts etc....

With sprint I also purchased their "Airwave" which is a mini-cell tower you hook up directly to a cable modem so I get full service in/around my house for only $5 extra a month.

*edit*

I switched to sprint after having a iPhone for about a year. My bills would range from $160-$210 a month for unknown reasons (Had 3 iphones total on my plan), I ended up switching after AT&T decided to remove my employment discount because I was on family plan.

I have been with TMobile(kinda) for over 10 years now. (Used to be SunCom before TMobile bought them out).