Wasn't sure where to put this, but I've now heard of three cell phone companies that are offering unlimited texting and calling for under or around $50.

Today I heard of a company called Cricket which has an unlimited talk and text plan, contract free, plan for $30 a month! What is the downside to that?? How is the coverage in NJ? NJ is one of the most heavily populated states so I would assume that there would be decent coverage?

Next is Metro PCS which offers a similar plan. A coworker of mine was considering the switch. He also said that you can get your current phone (from another carrier) flashed to work on their service. Sweet!

Last I heard of was Boost unlimited. This plan is $20 more but seems to do the same exact thing as the first two. Possibly with the addition of unlimited web access? Not sure. Though Boost is iDen whereas I believe the first two are CDMA. Correct me if I'm wrong. Do any of the 3 offer free roaming? Because if it's CDMA with free roaming, we could get Verizon/Sprint service at half the price .

If not, I'm probably just going to get a Blackberry on Verizon. Though I'm toying with these great deals! I want unlimited data, unlimited pics/flix messaging, and unlimited talk and text. On Verizon I have paid an arm and leg for all this. If I can get my Blackberry Tour running (unlimited!) for half the price of Verizon, that's one heck of a deal!

Look for the blue writing in the text. I've answered your questions IN the quote.

Originally Posted by mixtape86

Wasn't sure where to put this, but I've now heard of three cell phone companies that are offering unlimited texting and calling for under or around $50.

This is true; however, the quality of service suffers greatly.

Today I heard of a company called Cricket which has an unlimited talk and text plan, contract free, plan for $30 a month! What is the downside to that?? How is the coverage in NJ? NJ is one of the most heavily populated states so I would assume that there would be decent coverage?

CriKet is one of the smaller unlimited carriers. They're very similar to Metro PCS. They do not offer service hardly at all in California (where I'm at)...In New Jersey, the coverage is limited. They have much of it marked as "future coverage" while some of it says "Premium Extended Coverage" which is roaming but you can use things such as text messaging. You can go here to enter your specific city: Cricket Wireless | Cell Phone Coverage Maps

CriKet nor Metro PCS goes by where is populated the most. They go by where they can get coverage and how fast they can get it. Usually, they will do the larger cities, but the size of the state and/or population of the general state makes no difference to them. Like in California, they [CriKet] offers coverage in Sacramento/surrounding areas and then has "Premium Extended Coverage" throughout most of northern california. Most wireless carriers (including CriKet) will not activate a phone for someone who lives in a roaming area. This is because it is more expensive for the carrier to pay another carrier to offer service for you.

Next is Metro PCS which offers a similar plan. A coworker of mine was considering the switch. He also said that you can get your current phone (from another carrier) flashed to work on their service. Sweet!

You can take another carriers phone and get it flashed. They do charge you $20-$30 to do it and they can't flash every phone...BUT you still gotta pay the $20-$30 for them to even try. Phones they cannot flash include: Push to talk, Blackberry/PDAs, or "enhanced devices". Enhanced devices include things with the ability to send/receive picture/video and sometimes with special TV capabilities.

Last I heard of was Boost unlimited. This plan is $20 more but seems to do the same exact thing as the first two. Possibly with the addition of unlimited web access? Not sure. Though Boost is iDen whereas I believe the first two are CDMA. Correct me if I'm wrong. Do any of the 3 offer free roaming? Because if it's CDMA with free roaming, we could get Verizon/Sprint service at half the price .

CriKet does things weird. Their plans (some of them) give you a specific number of roaming minutes. For example, on their $50 per month unlimited plan, you get 30 minutes of roaming. For $60 per month they'll give you 200 per month. None of the other plans offer any roaming. Also, you're mistaken. Just because Verizon and Sprint are CDMA does not mean you will have access to their network wherever CriKet (or metro or whoever else) doesn't have coverage but Verizon/Sprint may. Verizon or Sprint designates a few areas that these carriers can use. For example, CriKet doesn't roam on Verizon or Sprint, instead they use U.S. Cellular.

Metro PCS offers roaming...not for free though. You must give them a certain amount of money per month which is placed in your "my metro" account. Whenever you're roaming, money is deducted from that balance in the account. Since you're not on a contract, everything must be paid for up front prior to using it.

Boost Mobile iDEN does not offer any roaming.


If not, I'm probably just going to get a Blackberry on Verizon. Though I'm toying with these great deals! I want unlimited data, unlimited pics/flix messaging, and unlimited talk and text. On Verizon I have paid an arm and leg for all this. If I can get my Blackberry Tour running (unlimited!) for half the price of Verizon, that's one heck of a deal!

mmm id say the iphone, blackberry's break too easily..then again depends on use,,,

Thank you so much ! I am not a big fan of roaming so I'll be staying with Verizon.. or at least until coverage gets better with these others. I don't think I've ever roamed with Verizon. Well, besides from overseas .

moved this to the general service provider forum

Hi, this is Rachel from Boost Mobile. I wanted to give you a little information about Boost Mobile. We offer a monthly unlimited plan for $50 a month on a nationwide network with no roaming powered by Nextel. Our network covers 17,500 cities; Cricket and Metro PCS only cover 4,600 cities.... combined.

Our Monthly Unlimited offer provides unlimited talk, text, Web and walkie talkie. There are never any hidden fees (telecom taxes, replenishment fees, etc.), credit checks or contracts to sign.

You should know that if you sign up for a $45 plan with Cricket or MetroPCS what you are really paying per month with all the extra fees and taxes can easily become $60-$65 per month, or more depending on your use (i.e. roaming charges when traveling outside your home calling area). And, Cricket customers experience over 4x more dropped calls than Boost, and Metro PCS has twice as many dropped calls.

iDEN networks are known for their reliability, where their network is available. I can tell you that Boost Mobile HAS NO room for expansion. They will not be able to thrive in the future. I'm waiting for the day when the FCC says good-bye to iDEN. It won't become bigger or better than it already is, sadly.

Metro PCS and CriKet both have room for expansion, due to their CDMA networks which can expand quickly at will...the Nextel network is no longer being upgraded.

Originally Posted by BoostMobile

Hi, this is Rachel from Boost Mobile. I wanted to give you a little information about Boost Mobile. We offer a monthly unlimited plan for $50 a month on a nationwide network with no roaming powered by Nextel. Our network covers 17,500 cities; Cricket and Metro PCS only cover 4,600 cities.... combined.

Our Monthly Unlimited offer provides unlimited talk, text, Web and walkie talkie. There are never any hidden fees (telecom taxes, replenishment fees, etc.), credit checks or contracts to sign.

You should know that if you sign up for a $45 plan with Cricket or MetroPCS what you are really paying per month with all the extra fees and taxes can easily become $60-$65 per month, or more depending on your use (i.e. roaming charges when traveling outside your home calling area). And, Cricket customers experience over 4x more dropped calls than Boost, and Metro PCS has twice as many dropped calls.

While I have to aggree with Nick, until Metro and Cricket (Metro in my neck of the woods) have expanded to a little better coverage, I think Boost is a great thing.

I used to have Nextel, about 5 years ago, and my Parents still have them. They work very well around here for them and the recently went to NY, DC, and WI and had virtually no issues where they were at.

Now, I have been in the "Crowd" of wanting the best, newest and such, but its getting real expensive, and I am starting to miss the old days of just a phone with just a phone plan...

I have T-Mobile and when my contracts are up, I am going to try out Boost or Metro.. or maybe both... because I just want to save a little money and not have such a high phone bill all the time.

Originally Posted by nicknrm

iDEN networks are known for their reliability, where their network is available. I can tell you that Boost Mobile HAS NO room for expansion. They will not be able to thrive in the future. I'm waiting for the day when the FCC says good-bye to iDEN. It won't become bigger or better than it already is, sadly.

Metro PCS and CriKet both have room for expansion, due to their CDMA networks which can expand quickly at will...the Nextel network is no longer being upgraded.

Boost Mobile has phones that operate on the CDMA network like the Blackberry Curve 8330 in which I own. This phone works great. I have no problems. Texting works great also. I've gone to Cali, Texas, Florida, Vegas, the Carolinas, Virginia, Detroit, and I didn't miss a beat. Boost offer other phones that works on the CDMA network. Metro PCS, garbage. I've heard horror stories about them from friends who swithched to Boost. Cricket, I cannot speak on.

Out of all of them Cricket seems to have the best phones. I wonder if I could get a Cricket phone flashed to Boost?