Choosing a Carrier for New Nexus 4

[adt2]

Hiya - I recently dropped my iPhone in the lake and had to make a snap decision on a new phone. After playing with my Nexus 7 since Christmas, I decided to make the leap from iOS to Android and ordered a Nexus 4. Google website said it would ship by 3/29 - imagine my surprise when I got a shipping notification the day after ordering, and a UPS alert that it's being delivered today. Sweet.

Now: what should I do re: service? I was able to recover the iPhone, so I have that micro-SIM available - and since my AT&T contract isn't up until mid-May, I'm wondering if I ought to just use that SIM in the new phone for a while to avoid having to pay to cancel the contract early. I'd like to switch to a pre-paid plan with somebody like T-Mobile, Straight Talk, Solavei, etc., but I don't want to get crappy service.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jaysus]

Keep the AT&T micro SIM and your current contract, pick up a free micro SIM from T-Mobiles website and sign up for one of their day-to day plans (or even the $30 monthly plan) to test out T-Mobile coverage in your area.

If it is no good, you can stick with your AT&T contract until you find an AT&T MVNO with a suitable plan for your usage needs.

 

[Tall Mike 2145]

You can put the same (as far as I am aware) micro SIM in your Nexus 4, and it should just work. What I would suggest is, for the time being at least, go that route because you at least know what to expect for wireless coverage in your area. Long term, however, I would suggest you see how good T-Mobile's coverage is, and if you find it to be suitable for your needs, consider switching due to it being far cheaper.

If you want to go with Straight Talk (there are pros and cons) you will need to find somewhere that still has the AT&T-using SIMs, if you want to continue to benefit from AT&T's network. Otherwise, at this point, the only broadly-available ST SIM cards are for the T-Mobile network. However, if you're willing to pop for their service, or T-Mo's $30 web plan, you can test how good the T-Mo service is in your area.

You're quite right about not wanting to make a poor decision. These are ways to avoid making one. Good luck!

 

[zkSharks]

Hiya - I recently dropped my iPhone in the lake and had to make a snap decision on a new phone. After playing with my Nexus 7 since Christmas, I decided to make the leap from iOS to Android and ordered a Nexus 4. Google website said it would ship by 3/29 - imagine my surprise when I got a shipping notification the day after ordering, and a UPS alert that it's being delivered today. Sweet.

Now: what should I do re: service? I was able to recover the iPhone, so I have that micro-SIM available - and since my AT&T contract isn't up until mid-May, I'm wondering if I ought to just use that SIM in the new phone for a while to avoid having to pay to cancel the contract early. I'd like to switch to a pre-paid plan with somebody like T-Mobile, Straight Talk, Solavei, etc., but I don't want to get crappy service.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I have my Nexus 4 on the T-Mobile $70/month unlimited prepaid plan. T-Mobile's service footprint is definitely smaller, but so far I have yet to get inadequate service. It's been great in fact, especially for the value.

I'd say try out a couple months of the prepaid plan and if it doesn't work out, jump to another carrier. As for continuing the last bit of the AT&T contract on it, that's up to you.

 

[greydarrah]

I've had nothing but trouble from ST (daily throttling). Check Tmo's coverage map. I've found it to be very accurate. If you're showing decent coverage, tmo smokes att's H+ speeds (by 2 to 3 times). Tmo direct as well as Solavie seem the best bet. I've been pretty impressed with tmo's coverage, even driving through areas in the rural south. Just don't commit to more than the one month of service from anyone (don't sign up for auto pay yet). The great thing about this phone is being able to easily jump from one carrier to another. You can even get a Google voice number and then you have no issues with new phone numbers for every SIM you try. On a side note, are you at all concerned about putting a potentially water damaged SIM in the phone?

 

[Jnorton2724]

I switched from my GS3 to the Nexus 4 and I'm currently using it under my at&t contract which has awhile to go. Their service is a lot more reliable then T-Mobile but its not as fast for data speeds. I'm in San Diego which both carriers have marked as excellent for service. Once I am done with this contract we are switching to T-Mobile because we no longer want to deal with contracts and the service is spotty but still good. I'd just stick with at&t and after contract ends decide from their.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[adt2]

On a side note, are you at all concerned about putting a potentially water damaged SIM in the phone?

Hadn't thought about it; the iPhone is actually still working, but the area around a crack in the screen no longer receives touch input (which I'm guessing is water damage).

On another note - I ordered my free TMO SIM card, although I couldn't locate the $30/month plan. Had to settle for $45/mo plan instead, but since it's no-contract, I figured it wasn't a big deal. Am I looking in the wrong place?

 

[yfan]

On another note - I ordered my free TMO SIM card, although I couldn't locate the $30/month plan. Had to settle for $45/mo plan instead, but since it's no-contract, I figured it wasn't a big deal. Am I looking in the wrong place?

The $30 plan is only available online. And it can only be activated on a new plan, i.e. you can't switch to it from another plan. Get a new SIM and activate the $30 plan online.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[adt2]

The $30 plan is only available online...Get a new SIM and activate the $30 plan online.

I can't find it on their website, but it's not a big deal. 100 minutes won't last me from today until Friday. I'll have to go with the more expensive option anyway. I'm going to stop by a TMO store on the way home and pick up a SIM card.

 

[greydarrah]

I can't find it on their website, but it's not a big deal. 100 minutes won't last me from today until Friday. I'll have to go with the more expensive option anyway. I'm going to stop by a TMO store on the way home and pick up a SIM card.

If you do a lot of talking, your best bet is Solavei or the Tmp $60 deal that gives you unlimited text/talk/data with the first 2gb at 4g speeds. You're the only one that would know if that's enough data. I think that Solavei offers unlimited text/talk/data with the first 4gb at 4g speeds for $49, which is probably the best value. Since you can't just go pick up a Solavei SIM, like you can a Tmo one, you might try out Tmo direct first, and if the service is good after a week or so, you could order a Solavei SIM.

 

[runtmms]

If you do a lot of talking, your best bet is Solavei or the Tmp $60 deal that gives you unlimited text/talk/data with the first 2gb at 4g speeds. You're the only one that would know if that's enough data. I think that Solavei offers unlimited text/talk/data with the first 4gb at 4g speeds for $49, which is probably the best value. Since you can't just go pick up a Solavei SIM, like you can a Tmo one, you might try out Tmo direct first, and if the service is good after a week or so, you could order a Solavei SIM.

This is very good advice. Some people are thrilled with T-Mobile's coverage (like me) and some people hate it. The great part with prepaid is you can test it out.

Another thing to keep in mind is T-Mobile is about to make a big announcement about new plans - I think it's scheduled for the 26th. They might offer something that's a better fit for you.

I've been using Solavei since January and have been very happy with them.

Sent from my Nexus 4 on Solavei

 

[adt2]

Okay, slight update here. I popped the SIM out of my iPhone 4S when I got home and put it in the Nexus (which I really like so far). I can make phone calls, and I can send texts. I cannot, however, receive texts. All incoming texts are going to my iPhone (which has no SIM but is connected to home WiFi network.

I've tried entering the AT&T APN settings, but no change in results. What am I missing here?

 

[PWC Realtor]

Okay, slight update here. I popped the SIM out of my iPhone 4S when I got home and put it in the Nexus (which I really like so far). I can make phone calls, and I can send texts. I cannot, however, receive texts. All incoming texts are going to my iPhone (which has no SIM but is connected to home WiFi network.

I've tried entering the AT&T APN settings, but no change in results. What am I missing here?

Are the texts coming from people using Apple devices? When someone sends a text from an iPhone it will try to send it to your I message account which why your iPhone is receiving the texts even though it's on WiFi with no SIM.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[adt2]

Yes, my test subject uses an iPhone. If I put the old iPhone into Airplane mode and quit Messages on my Mac, I'm still not getting replies (the reply actually opens and displays Messages on my Mac, which surprised me.) Surely there's a way to disable that.

 

[PWC Realtor]

Try putting your SIM back in the iPhone then turning off iMessage on that device. Here's a thread about this exact issue

http://forums.androidcentral.com/ge...ge-issues-after-switching-iphone-android.html

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[anon(5719825)]

And be careful with that $30 plan. 100 minutes can go by very quickly. I used half of my minutes on one call yesterday and I didn't think I was talking very long. I can't handle that plan, it's not enough minutes for me. I call friends and friends call me so my minutes will be gone in another day. I need unlimited.

 

[greydarrah]

Okay, slight update here. I popped the SIM out of my iPhone 4S when I got home and put it in the Nexus (which I really like so far). I can make phone calls, and I can send texts. I cannot, however, receive texts. All incoming texts are going to my iPhone (which has no SIM but is connected to home WiFi network.

I've tried entering the AT&T APN settings, but no change in results. What am I missing here?

This may be more related to your iphone/imessage issue someone else was describing, but anytime you change your APN, make sure to reboot the phone.

 

[runtmms]

And be careful with that $30 plan. 100 minutes can go by very quickly. I used half of my minutes on one call yesterday and I didn't think I was talking very long. I can't handle that plan, it's not enough minutes for me. I call friends and friends call me so my minutes will be gone in another day. I need unlimited.

I hear you there. 100 minutes doesn't cover my brother calling me... I think that 100 minute plan is a clever way T-Mobile gets people to try their service - then some, probably large, percentage decide they need to upgrade to more minutes.

Sent from my Nexus 4 on Solavei

 

[adt2]

Signing out of Messages on my Mac and putting my iPhone into Airplane mode seems to have fixed it. I can now send and receive. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

Are the texts coming from people using Apple devices? When someone sends a text from an iPhone it will try to send it to your I message account which why your iPhone is receiving the texts even though it's on WiFi with no SIM.

Good point. If it's not SMS, but an instant message that uses a different network, it's not going to follow the phone number.