[Pepsi109]

I need a recommendation. I'm currently on ATT and paying WAY too much. I want to switch to a different carrier, but not sure which plan would suite my family best.

I need two lines, one for me and one for my mom. I do care about network coverage. I live in Buffalo, NY.

Me:
Around 200-300 mins a month
Smartphone user
Talk, data, text
Don't really care about 4G

Mom:
Talk only
Around 700 mins a month

Sprint offers a good family plan but doesn't allow me to add a smartphone to it. Verzion seems too expensive. T-Mobile is all right. I'm not sure about the smaller providers because of their coverage. What do you suggest?

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› See More: Recommendation for Provider/Plan?

[camstuf]

What about the area of coverage you will need?
IE: Do you travel?
Also, What phones will you try to port to new network? Are they unlocked?

[Pepsi109]

What about the area of coverage you will need?
IE: Do you travel?
Also, What phones will you try to port to new network? Are they unlocked?

I don't travel outside of the general Western NY area.

I would buy a new smartphone within the plan and my mom wants to buy a new, old model RAZR off ebay, so it would be unlocked.

[Hildretech]

There are many different options.

I'm going to start out by recommending the prepaid route. It is usually cheaper than contract plans and should fits your needs.

For yourself, you can look into Virgin Mobile, which is $35 per month for 300 minutes, unlimited messaging, and unlimited data. This plan is available with an Android smartphone. You can't bring your own device, so you'd need to use one of their devices. Virgin Mobile uses Sprint's network, without roaming. If Sprint is good in your area, then Virgin Mobile should work for you.

If for some reason you don't want to go with Virgin Mobile, another option would be Straight Talk. For $45 per month ($10 more than Virgin Mobile), you can get unlimited talk, text, and data. You can use one of their phones, or your own device by purchasing one of their SIM cards. If you choose to use your own device, I would recommend the AT&T SIM card since you already have their service and know it works for you.

For your mother, I would recommend Net10 Wireless. They offer a $25 per month plan with 750 minutes. This would be on T-Mobile's network.

If you choose Straight Talk and Net10 Wireless, your total would be $70 per month, which is most likely cheaper than what you'd pay elsewhere.

I'm going to send you a private message with some additional information.

If you have any questions, just ask.

[Kawaii_Nai]

Glad I found this thread. I would like the same help.

I am in the market for a new smartphone & possibly a new service provider. I am currently with AT&T Wireless. Have been with them since Cellular One. I am on a grandfathered plan with unlimited data & text and 450 anytime minutes with rollover. That is costing me ~$90 a month. I am considering an iPhone but want a plan that offers unlimited data and text for a reasonable price. I also plan to take my phone number if I change providers.

What do you suggest?

[Hildretech]

Glad I found this thread. I would like the same help.

I am in the market for a new smartphone & possibly a new service provider. I am currently with AT&T Wireless. Have been with them since Cellular One. I am on a grandfathered plan with unlimited data & text and 450 anytime minutes with rollover. That is costing me ~$90 a month. I am considering an iPhone but want a plan that offers unlimited data and text for a reasonable price. I also plan to take my phone number if I change providers.

What do you suggest?

From what you've said, I would suggest Straight Talk. It would cost $45 per month, and you'd get unlimited talk, messaging, and data. I'll message you with some additional information.

[stuart-b]

Just to add my two cents.

Tracfone now lets you bring an AT&T, T-Mobile or unlocked GSM phone to Net 10, just like Straight Talk. And I don't know if it is for good, but their unlimited plan is now $45.00/mo. if paid automatically with a credit card. So the first poster could do that and manage both phones together. And they seem to be getting less restrictive as far as their network in that they used to show only GSM phones for my location but now show CDMA ones too.

And Cricket is the only no-contract carrier I've seen that has something like a family plan. They have offered $5.00 off each line if you have two lines with them.

[rayvan]

From what you've said, I would suggest Straight Talk. It would cost $45 per month, and you'd get unlimited talk, messaging, and data. I'll message you with some additional information.

Straight Talk Terms Of Service:
"Straight Talk may discontinue providing Service to you, discontinue your account, or discontinue providing connections to particular telephone numbers or types of Services used or called by you, that, in the sole judgment of Straight Talk: (1) appear likely to generate abnormally high call volumes or Mobile Web Access and data usage and/or abnormally long average call lengths or Mobile Web Access and data usage as compared to the usage of other Straight Talk customers; (2) may be harmful, disruptive, or interfere with the Carrier’s network or the Carrier’s ability to provide service to other customers"

It is is similar for Net 10, Cricket, Virgin etc... All of the so called super discount providers claim to be offering unlimited data, but in reality they either cut your data off or make it useless after you hit whatever they feel is too much data. In some TOS they even say data 3/4g for first 250 mb then reduced to 2G (which makes it useless). Read customer reviews before you try any of the mickey mouse brands.

Cheers,

Ray Van

[stuart-b]

I hadn't really known about those restrictions--basically because I remembered AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have restrictions and I assumed the no-contract ones would have similar. Are you sure Lightyear doesn't do the same? It uses Sprint's network so I'd be surprised if it is less restricted than Sprint or Virgin Mobile service.