ATT or Verizon...First SmartPhone user

[GS4Bob]

Newbie here....no cell phone!!!
I have ATT landline and DSL Pro internet. I want to get rid of the landline and keep the DSL Pro. I also want to move (port) my current landline # to the GS4.
So, I figure the best move for me is to go ATT to make sure when my number is ported I don't lose the DSL.
In my area, Verizon has the better coverage, but not significantly better, so ATT with the Samsung Galaxy S4 should be fine.....BUT it appears that Verizon has 4G LTE while ATT has 4G...not sure what the big diff. is however.

I am worried that if I go with Verizon, my DSL during # porting will get lost in the move somehow when landline is turned off....should I?

Anyone go thru this and have any advice on how to proceed? Big learning curve since this will be first smartphone.

As I understand..... In the DSL provisioning too, there is a specific option that should be used that converts line-share service (telephone and internet) to dry-loop service (internet only). If done properly, there will not be an issue. If ATT says they need to send a tech out to install then that is wrong.
So, if it is done correct as stated and the number is ported and then the dsl provisioning is set correct, I should be good?

 

[cgardnervt]

Newbie here....no cell phone!!!
I have ATT landline and DSL Pro internet. I want to get rid of the landline and keep the DSL Pro. I also want to move (port) my current landline # to the GS4.
So, I figure the best move for me is to go ATT to make sure when my number is ported I don't lose the DSL.
In my area, Verizon has the better coverage, but not significantly better, so ATT with the Samsung Galaxy S4 should be fine.....BUT it appears that Verizon has 4G LTE while ATT has 4G...not sure what the big diff. is however.

I am worried that if I go with Verizon, my DSL during # porting will get lost in the move somehow when landline is turned off....should I?

Anyone go thru this and have any advice on how to proceed? Big learning curve since this will be first smartphone.

As I understand..... In the DSL provisioning too, there is a specific option that should be used that converts line-share service (telephone and internet) to dry-loop service (internet only). If done properly, there will not be an issue. If ATT says they need to send a tech out to install then that is wrong.
So, if it is done correct as stated and the number is ported and then the dsl provisioning is set correct, I should be good?

First of all welcome to the forums! Secondly I would go with what works within your budget and coverage needs. I have att because I also have 4G (Really HSPA+). But att is about $30 cheaper than Verzion and they offer better single line plans. HSPA+ in my area is great! I average about 6-10megs down. Its plenty for me and I save some cash doing so.
If I was in your shoes I would ask around with people who do have smart phones. See if they like their coverage! Ask if you can play with the phone at your place if its an option. The stores can be miss leading. Most of them have personal towers on top of the buildings. Friends are your best ally on this. As far as CS goes att as treated me well over the past 9 months. Even after signing a contract. But I have heard some horror stories of their CS as well. SO take it with a grain of salt!
I don't know much about porting a landline number. But if you have any other questions I would be more than happy to answer them if I can. Good luck!

 

[GS4Bob]

Thanks for the reply.....
I was planning to go with the ATT Senior Nation 200 plan for voice....and 3gb/month data plan....that is about $60/month.
Q. If I don't have the message plan ($20/month) can I send a text message and be charge on a per message basis?
Won't be texting or using the voice much...mainly data/internet use.

Verizon is the same price....senior cell phone plan and 2Gb data for $60/month better coverage. Just worried about getting the number ported and line deleted without disrupting dsl as that should not change.

You say you avg. 6-8mb/down? Wow. My dsl is 3mb/down.
Q. Is there a way to use the cell (wireless) for my home PC? Then I could dump my dsl..
Well, second thought I use about 10 gb/month to my PC so the cost would get pretty high for that...so no good.

 

[cgardnervt]

Thanks for the reply.....
I was planning to go with the ATT Senior Nation 200 plan for voice....and 3gb/month data plan....that is about $60/month.
Q. If I don't have the message plan ($20/month) can I send a text message and be charge on a per message basis?
Won't be texting or using the voice much...mainly data/internet use.

Verizon is the same price....senior cell phone plan and 2Gb data for $60/month better coverage. Just worried about getting the number ported and line deleted without disrupting dsl as that should not change.

You say you avg. 6-8mb/down? Wow. My dsl is 3mb/down.
Q. Is there a way to use the cell (wireless) for my home PC? Then I could dump my dsl..
Well, second thought I use about 10 gb/month to my PC so the cost would get pretty high for that...so no good.

1) Yes you can send messages on a pay per send basis. I'm not 100% sure what the cost per message is. I know you can get a message plan of like 500 messages for $5 a month. You need to ask about it though.

2) If you wanna use a phone as a moble hot spot you can. It can connect VIA USB cable (Charging cable the phone comes with.) Or a WiFi hot spot. Checkout FoxFi. You also may want more data if you use a lot of data.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...pps/details?id=com.foxfi&hl=en&token=LucWRymF

Do you know what phone you want yet?

 

[GS4Bob]

I am interested in the Samsung Galaxy S4. I would like to setup the Home Hub media server; take the music off my PC and put it on the HH server and then use that for music over my Home Theater via my Denon receiver. The Denon currently sees my music on my PC via Windows Media Player server.
I guess that will work...but not sure.
Also wondering; I know I can access the HH server with the GS4 at home over the wireless network, but what about mobile over the cell wireless and internet to my PC somehow? I can put the music on a cloud I understand, but that duplicates locations for the music. I have a static IP address and would have to get a permission thru my Linksys wireless router firewall to get thru........... so anyway just thinking about that....have no idea.

 

[GS4Bob]

Since the GS4 comes with a micro SD slot, I can place music/photos on a micro sd card and use that in the GS4 for music/photos...right!
Q. Can I use the GS4 at home w/wireless net as a media server to stream to my Denon receiver? Is there an app for that?
Also will I be able to sync files between the misd card and PC files?

EDIT: Is there a "Newbie" forum where I should ask some basics Q like these?

 

[GS4Bob]

Appears to be no issue with having music files synced with PC and on the GS4. It will also stream as a media streamer to my home network as indicated here:
DLNA Certification Basics - What the DLNA Certification is and How It Makes Streaming Media Easy


"Digital Media Server (DMS) - stores a media library. It may be a computer, a network attached storage (NAS) drive, a smartphone, a DLNA certified networkable digital camera or camcorder, or a network media server device. A media server must have a hard drive or a memory card on which the media is saved. The media saved to the device can be called up by a digital media player. The media server makes the files available to stream media to the player so you can watch or listen to it."

My Denon is good with DLNA and so is the GS4.

Looks like I'm good to go with this part.

GS4Bob

 

[cgardnervt]

Bob I'm not 100% sure about the media server part. Are you getting the S4 for sure?

Sent From My Samsung Galaxy SIII

 

[GS4Bob]

Just cancelled my ATT DSL and now have Cable 15 mb Internet. That still leaves me with ATT landwire phone.
Once the SGS4 is out, I will be driving into the local Verizon store and setting up an account and cancelling the landwire from ATT.
At this time as a novice I see no reason to get anything else as the S4 should meet all my needs for some time. Seems like it is very capable!

Verizon has the best coverage and signal strength in my area and same pricing as ATT...seems like a no-brainer.

 

[cgardnervt]

Just cancelled my ATT DSL and now have Cable 15 mb Internet. That still leaves me with ATT landwire phone.
Once the SGS4 is out, I will be driving into the local Verizon store and setting up an account and cancelling the landwire from ATT.
At this time as a novice I see no reason to get anything else as the S4 should meet all my needs for some time. Seems like it is very capable!

Verizon has the best coverage and signal strength in my area and same pricing as ATT...seems like a no-brainer.

You are correct! I would go with what fits your needs the best. Let us know how it goes! Take care.

 

[CSI Guy]

Everything depends on the reception that you get in your area. Sometime ATT is better, sometime Verizon is better. You will just have to check your area and decide.