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  1. #1
    Longitech
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    Having used a flip phone for the past 6 years, I'm ready to buy my first smartphone. I'm deadset on getting the Galaxy S4 when it releases and going with an unlimited plan to compliment it, but I'm stuck in a rut on what carrier to go with. Maybe you guys can help me out?


    AT&T/Verizon are totally off the table for options since they have only strict contract plans and terrible prepaid plans.

    Voyager Mobile: They're an MVNO of Sprint. They allow BYOD and have an unlimited plan for $40/month+tax and they have LTE where I live. Sadly, it's still a CDMA network, which means less flexibility compared to GSM, especially if I don't like their service and want to switch. Also, they don't allow roaming.

    T-Mobile: They have great prepaid/no contract plans for $70/month and they're a GSM service, however, I checked the coverage map and they have 2G/3G where I live. I contacted a sales associate and he said there were LTE towers in my area so I should get close to LTE speed.


    So ultimately I guess it comes down either paying $20 more per month for possible slower speed, but using a GSM network that has roaming. Or, I pay $20 less per month with possible faster speeds and better coverage, but I'm stuck with less flexible CDMA and no roaming.


    Any thoughts as to what I should go with? I'll only add that I'm getting the Snapdragon600 version of the Galaxy S4 which supports LTE, hence, LTE service is pretty important to me.


    See More: Having trouble choosing carrier




  2. #2
    motoro
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Choose Life!



  3. #3
    tavenger5
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    I've always heard of T-mobile getting better coverage than Sprint, but I can't verify that for your area. At this point Sprint has very few LTE towers. People seem to like the T-mobile pre-paid plan, but I can't speak from personal experience.
    John

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  4. #4
    Longitech
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Hmm...thanks for the feedback. Do you know if T Mobile at least has a grace period where you can try prepaid service and cancel shortly after before being billed?



  5. #5
    DearMe
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Okay so here is my take and you can take it or leave it.

    Sprint: Only has 4G in major metropolitan areas like Chicago, LA and New York. That doesn't stop them from charging you an extra $10 a month service fee if you own a 4G capable phone though. 3G service is really sketchy and dropped calls are common.

    AT&T: Service areas stink, prices are high

    T-Mobile: Prices are cheap but service sucks and customer service is non-existent.

    Verizon: I have been with them for over 10 years(was Alltell then merged). Yes, they are more expensive than other plans but they have wonderful customer service. I always get a call center in the US and they always resolve my problem quickly. They have great call quality and a huge service area. They do literally have the largest 4G network. I would recommend them out of all the choices you put forth because I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for. Sometimes paying extra isn't a bad thing if it gets you a better value.



  6. #6
    Clint Haynes
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Solavei: this company is a MVNO of T-mobile and you can get all the major new phones at GSM nation . They were the first to carry iPhone 5 with no contract and they are also the only company that offers you the opportunity to have free mobile service! There is no extra cost to be able to resell $49.00 per month unlimited . Galaxy line is also available. Let me know what you think?



  7. #7
    jamjr74
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    T-Mobile has a 14 day buyers remorse period where u can return phone as long as its damage free. If u port ur number over however u have to pay full months bill. Solavei uses tmobiles towers so they are pretty much the same. Id try T-Mobile. If service is good u can always transition to Solavei and expect same coverage.

    Sent from my Galaxy S3



  8. #8
    DTown
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    I have never heard of Solavei. I do know that Verizon is worth paying the little bit extra. I have tried the other carriers and had no luck. T-Mobile cancelled my service without warning because I "used too much roaming"! I never even left my home area. Sprint didn't work inside my house.



  9. #9
    Clint Haynes
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Yeah absolutely comes down to a good service ,so if Tmobile doesn't work
    well where you are Solavei will not. If you happy with the way you get service with
    Tmobile then Solavei is an option. Solavei is an MVNO of Tmobile so it is a separate company and they do not charge any roaming. I also like the free and reseller aspect of Solavei $49.00 a month no contract, but you're stuck with the phone if you decide to switch to CDMA which Verizon is expensive. It comes down to being happy with service and being happy with price of your service!



  10. #10
    Longitech
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Wow, thanks for all the replies. Alright, so going over all this:

    Verizon: I know they have the best coverage and probably the best speed. However, I've done the data calculations. In order for Verizon to match my average data consumption (not even counting all the data I would consume at high points), I would have to pay them over $100/month. That is way beyond my price range I'd pay for service, great or not.

    Solavei: Reading the fine print, I found this:

    Data speeds will reduce 2G/Edge when the amount of data used exceeds 4GB in a billing cycle.
    So just like Straight Talk/Boost mobile, they throttle you once you go over a certain limit. I will easily exceed 4GB per month usage, and I don't want to be stuck on 2G.


    It's good to know T Mobile allows a grace period to try their service. Though, does that apply with online purchase, or just store purchases? I'm doing all of this completely online.



  11. #11
    tavenger5
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Hrm, how do you know you'll be going over 4gb if you've never used a smart phone before? How much data use will be on wi-fi? If you are sure you're going to be using that much data you'll also want to be sure that you are getting data coverage .

    A note on Solavei - they are reseller program, so there are little guys all over the place (like the guy above) trying to sell you their service. All MVNO's that connect to the same towers are going to be very similar service wise. The only difference is customer service.
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    John

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  12. #12
    Clint Haynes
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    All unlimited plans reduce after a certain amount of data 4gb is about average some are a little more some
    Are a little less and some are a lot less . So just ask with whoever you go with.
    Good luck !



  13. #13
    Longitech
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Every carrier has a data calculator you can use to anticipate how much data you will consume. I'll be streaming 4G video a lot, streaming Netflix, using GPS navigation, downloading apps, downloading e-books, web browsing a lot, playing games, etc. I have limited access to wi-fi, and when I do use it I'm sharing it with 5-6 other people and there's about 9-10 devices on it at once, so I get very little in the way of speed.

    Again, from everything I've checked, I'll be using around 15GB a month of data, without factoring in tethering. Not every carrier throttles speed either. The two I listed in the first post have both said they don't throttle speeds; unlimited data actually means unlimited data.



  14. #14
    Clint Haynes
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    Wow! Just going by your original post? Sounds like you did not
    need our help? Good Luck! P.S. and you also said the $100 price was not in
    your budget please post if there is a carrier that allows 15gb for cheap . Thanks
    Last edited by Clint Haynes; 04-21-2013 at 02:14 PM.



  15. #15
    Clint Haynes
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    Re: Having trouble choosing carrier

    P.P.S I'm referring to no contract phone service!



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