T-Mobile: Idea about Service

[bsannes]

I am currently on Verizon and my wife and I are thinking about going to T-moble for a cheaper bill. I know the coverage will not be the same but I was wondering if anyone could chime in about the service. I live in Michigan around Adrian/Tecumseh/Clinton area . I'm not to worried about data but I have to have to be able to make calls and texts. I have wifi at work and home and rarely use data on the road.

So anyone have any knowledge about T-moble in this area?

 

[April920]

Re: Idea about Service

I live in NYC service is great. I would tell u to get a cheap phone and test the service in your area. I love it.

Sent from my T-Mobile HTC One

 

[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

Would the Verizon $45 plan work for you? It has unlimited talk and text and 250mb data. If you need 2 lines, then it would be $90 for both lines.

TMobile simple share would be $80 for 2 lines but keep in mind that tmobile doesn't include subsidized phones so Verizon would be cheaper over 2 years.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[yfan]

Re: Idea about Service

Does the $45 plan work for subsidized phones?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Almeuit]

Re: Idea about Service

I thought the 45 dollar plan is for dumb phones and not smart phones? I haven't been able to find that when going to the share everything plan on Verizon's site.. Could maybe be going to the wrong section?

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: Idea about Service

Ah wait found it.. It's under "single line plans" and looks like you have to visit a Verizon store to do this.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

Does the $45 plan work for subsidized phones?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Yes it does.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

Ah wait found it.. It's under "single line plans" and looks like you have to visit a Verizon store to do this.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

Looks like you can call in. More info can be found here


https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...ns/single-line-data-plans.html&token=jXGMx_Hk

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[yfan]

Re: Idea about Service

Yes it does.

Good. Then the only remaining issue is that it comes with 250 MB of data, but if you go over it, you get hit with overages at a ridiculous rate of $15 for each 250 MB over (no, it won't be prorated, and there is no option to simply stop data for the rest of the billing period). If you use 251 MB, you will be paying $60 for the plan. With T-mobile's 500 MB plan, it will just slow you down instead of charging overages. So the $45 plan on Verizon may well end up costing subscribers dearly (and direly).

Given how hard it is for most anyone with a smartphone to stay under 250 MB (even if they have WiFi most of the time), the $45 plan, to me, seems like a scam to get people in the door, have them sign a contract, and make them pay much higher than the advertised $45.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: Idea about Service

Good. Then the only remaining issue is that it comes with 250 MB of data, but if you go over it, you get hit with overages at a ridiculous rate of $15 for each 250 MB over (no, it won't be prorated, and there is no option to simply stop data for the rest of the billing period). If you use 251 MB, you will be paying $60 for the plan. With T-mobile's 500 MB plan, it will just slow you down instead of charging overages. So the $45 plan on Verizon may well end up costing subscribers dearly (and direly).

Given how hard it is for most anyone with a smartphone to stay under 250 MB (even if they have WiFi most of the time), the $45 plan, to me, seems like a scam to get people in the door, have them sign a contract, and make them pay much higher than the advertised $45.

I see what you mean. It is great for people who aren't heavy data users or who use a lot of wifi. If someone has a few things going though like auto syncs .. it can eat up data. There are ways to manage it though via Android so you can have syncs and other things only happen on WiFi.

I have my parents on a 1 GB plan with Sprint but I am pretty sure they could survive on 250 MB. I would prefer 400/500 MB for breathing room but I have their iPhones set to only sync to iCloud and things via wifi .. and they just simply don't use their phone for much... and when they do they are usually at my house or their house where I have their phone automatically connect to WiFi.

Below is my Dad's usage / Mom's usage. They have 15 days left in their Billing Cycle.... So all in all it depends on the person. Most smartphone users will need more than 250 MB though... but I believe the 250 MB on Verizon is really meant for a tad bit of data and mainly for people who use talk / text alot.


Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

Good. Then the only remaining issue is that it comes with 250 MB of data, but if you go over it, you get hit with overages at a ridiculous rate of $15 for each 250 MB over (no, it won't be prorated, and there is no option to simply stop data for the rest of the billing period). If you use 251 MB, you will be paying $60 for the plan. With T-mobile's 500 MB plan, it will just slow you down instead of charging overages. So the $45 plan on Verizon may well end up costing subscribers dearly (and direly).

Given how hard it is for most anyone with a smartphone to stay under 250 MB (even if they have WiFi most of the time), the $45 plan, to me, seems like a scam to get people in the door, have them sign a contract, and make them pay much higher than the advertised $45.

This plan certainly isn't for everyone. However I do know a few people who have been on the 200-300mb plan on att and Verizon for years and never went over. So for these people, then this plan can work for them. You would have to get (36) 250mb overage charges on Verizon over 2 years to equal the cost of tmobile $50 plan over 2 years assuming iPhone purchase. Though at that point, you are better off getting the Verizon $60 loyalty plan with unlimited talk and text and 2gb data.


T-Mobile $50 simple choice plan with unlimited talk and text, 500mb high speed, 2G after that
$1,200($50 x 24 months)
$650Unsubsidized iPhone cost
$1,850Total cost for T-mobile over 2 years*


Verizon $45 250mb plan with unlimited talk and text
$1,080($45 x 24 months)
$200subsidized iphone cost
$30upgrade fee
$1,310Total cost for Verizon over 2 years*


Verizon loyalty $60 2gb plan with unlimited talk and text
$1,440($60 x 24 months)
$200subsidized iphone cost
$30upgrade fee
$1,670Total cost for Verizon over 2 years*

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[eve6er69]

Re: Idea about Service

The attraction to most people that are looking at Tmobile is the no overage fees for data and unlimited everything else. Add free wifi calling (not on a Nexus or iPhone) and free international data roaming for 100 countries. The features and contractless plans entice people.

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[yfan]

Re: Idea about Service

This plan certainly isn't for everyone. However I do know a few people who have been on the 200-300mb plan on att and Verizon for years and never went over. So for these people, then this plan can work for them. You would have to get (36) 250mb overage charges on Verizon over 2 years to equal the cost of tmobile $50 plan over 2 years assuming iPhone purchase. Though at that point, you are better off getting the Verizon $60 loyalty plan with unlimited talk and text and 2gb data.

The $60 loyalty plan is only available to existing Verizon Wireless customers, and then only in certain circumstances. This is a customer retention deal not universally available even to existing customers, and can't fairly be compared with plans available to everyone. The $60 plan from Verizon that *can* be compared is the individual line plan that has a 1 GB data cap.

Now, yes, there are people who have a smartphone and can do with less than 250 MB of data. I'll grant you that. And yes, were the OP looking only for a single line plan and able to keep their data consumption under 250 MB a month, they would indeed have no reason to leave Verizon. But the OP is looking at 2 lines, and T-Mobile there is most definitely cheaper. Even if each of the lines were to never use more than 250 MB each, the plan would still cost them $120 a month (2 smartphones, 500 MB of shared data). A comparable plan on T-Mobile would cost $80 ($50 for first line, $30 for second), and they would save money even after making a payment for a device and be able to use twice as much high-speed data.

But so long as we are doing single-line hypotheticals unrelated to the OP's needs, I'll propose my own: since the $45 plan is the lowest-cost offering from Verizon only suitable for a few, I would argue that the T-Mobile prepaid $30 plan that includes 100 minutes but 5GB of full speed data suits even more people with a smart phone (note: not that it suits even more people, but in the universe of people who use smartphones, I could comfortably bet that there are at least as many people with a smartphone that can do with 100 minutes as can with 250 MB of data. So that would be the plan to compare. We also do not have to assume that the person looking for the cheapest smartphone plan will have to end up with one of the most expensive smartphones on the market (the iPhone). A much more reasonable price point for comparison would be the Nexus 5's $350 tag (which of course isn't available on Verizon). So I'll take the Moto X instead.

Verizon's $45 single-line plan with unlimited talk and text, 250 MB of data, with overages clocking at $15/250 MB.
$1,080 ($45 x 24 months)
$50 subsidized Moto X cost.
$30 upgrade fee
$1160 total cost for Verizon's cheapest smartphone plan over 2 years.

T-Mobile's $30 prepaid plan with unlimited text, 5GB full-speed data, and 100 minutes, with overages at $0.10 per minute.
$730 (The $30 is every 30 days, not exact months, so basically, $1 a day).
$350 full price for Nexus 5.
$1080 Total cost for T-Mobile's cheapest smartphone plan over 2 years.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

Many people even customers who are still within the return period has reported success with getting the $60 loyalty plan. Yes, it is a ymmv, but you can always move to either the $45 or $60 plan with 250mb or 1gb, respectively. Or if Verizon won't give you the plan you want, simply port the number to tmobile. It would be much cheaper that way.

http://m.slickdeals.net/f/6317812-2...tract-required-for-new-and-current-customers?


I wouldn't suggest a share everything plan but two individual plans at $45 a piece or $90 total, which is cheaper than T-Mobile over 2 years.

The reason why I use apple in comparison is because it is the most popular manufacturer in the usa by market share. Yes, you can get lower priced phones. But I know several people on prepaid, all are using iPhones or Galaxy devices. Sure there are those who will use lower prices devices and for them, perhaps Verizon isn't the best fit.

At the end of the day, each person should do an analysis of the plans and phones available and do their own assessment.


The reason why I suggested the $45 plan here is because the op said he didn't care about data but voice is important. Now if voice is important to someone then I personally would not recommend a plan with only 100 minutes. Yes the tmobile $30 5gb plan is a good deal but based on what the op said, it doesn't seem like a good fit. It probably doesn't matter to the op if another plan may be better for more people, the question the op is probably more interested in is what is best for him. And imo, the Verizon $45 plan is best, based on the information provided. If the op provides further detail about his needs then I may revise my recommendation.

The $60 loyalty plan is only available to existing Verizon Wireless customers, and then only in certain circumstances. This is a customer retention deal not universally available even to existing customers, and can't fairly be compared with plans available to everyone. The $60 plan from Verizon that *can* be compared is the individual line plan that has a 1 GB data cap.

Now, yes, there are people who have a smartphone and can do with less than 250 MB of data. I'll grant you that. And yes, were the OP looking only for a single line plan and able to keep their data consumption under 250 MB a month, they would indeed have no reason to leave Verizon. But the OP is looking at 2 lines, and T-Mobile there is most definitely cheaper. Even if each of the lines were to never use more than 250 MB each, the plan would still cost them $120 a month (2 smartphones, 500 MB of shared data). A comparable plan on T-Mobile would cost $80 ($50 for first line, $30 for second), and they would save money even after making a payment for a device and be able to use twice as much high-speed data.

But so long as we are doing single-line hypotheticals unrelated to the OP's needs, I'll propose my own: since the $45 plan is the lowest-cost offering from Verizon only suitable for a few, I would argue that the T-Mobile prepaid $30 plan that includes 100 minutes but 5GB of full speed data suits even more people with a smart phone (note: not that it suits even more people, but in the universe of people who use smartphones, I could comfortably bet that there are at least as many people with a smartphone that can do with 100 minutes as can with 250 MB of data. So that would be the plan to compare. We also do not have to assume that the person looking for the cheapest smartphone plan will have to end up with one of the most expensive smartphones on the market (the iPhone). A much more reasonable price point for comparison would be the Nexus 5's $350 tag (which of course isn't available on Verizon). So I'll take the Moto X instead.

Verizon's $45 single-line plan with unlimited talk and text, 250 MB of data, with overages clocking at $15/250 MB.
$1,080 ($45 x 24 months)
$50 subsidized Moto X cost.
$30 upgrade fee
$1160 total cost for Verizon's cheapest smartphone plan over 2 years.

T-Mobile's $30 prepaid plan with unlimited text, 5GB full-speed data, and 100 minutes, with overages at $0.10 per minute.
$730 (The $30 is every 30 days, not exact months, so basically, $1 a day).
$350 full price for Nexus 5.
$1080 Total cost for T-Mobile's cheapest smartphone plan over 2 years.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[bsannes]

Re: Idea about Service

Thanks for all the replies. The 250mb wouldn't work for us. My wife is on the 150mb now and burns through it in one you tube video. I prolly should have clarified, I wouldn't use data while driving but if I'm at a restaurant that doesn't have wifi I will want to use data.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

Thanks for all the replies. The 250mb wouldn't work for us. My wife is on the 150mb now and burns through it in one you tube video. I prolly should have clarified, I wouldn't use data while driving but if I'm at a restaurant that doesn't have wifi I will want to use data.

Posted via Android Central App

How much data do you need a month? And how many minutes?

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[yfan]

Re: Idea about Service

The reason why I use apple in comparison is because it is the most popular manufacturer in the usa by market share. Yes, you can get lower priced phones. But I know several people on prepaid, all are using iPhones or Galaxy devices. Sure there are those who will use lower prices devices and for them, perhaps Verizon isn't the best fit.

My point exactly. If you want to reduce cost, Verizon is probably not for you. Apple is the most popular manufacturer by market share in the US, sure, but I doubt iPhones are the most popular phones among those who are looking to save money (which is the reason in the first place to look into the $45 single-line plan). Sure, a lot of people on Prepaid are on iPhones and Galaxy S XYZ, but then again, a lot of them are probably not on the latest models of the phones.

At the end of the day, each person should do an analysis of the plans and phones available and do their own assessment.

Agreed.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

My point exactly. If you want to reduce cost, Verizon is probably not for you. Apple is the most popular manufacturer by market share in the US, sure, but I doubt iPhones are the most popular phones among those who are looking to save money (which is the reason in the first place to look into the $45 single-line plan). Sure, a lot of people on Prepaid are on iPhones and Galaxy S XYZ, but then again, a lot of them are probably not on the latest models of the phones.

I know several people using prepaid who buy the latest generation Note (some have the note 2, but they bought it before the Note 3 came out). I also know of a few people who bought the current generation iPhone (at the time of purchase).




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[yfan]

Re: Idea about Service

I know several people using prepaid who buy the latest generation Note (some have the note 2, but they bought it before the Note 3 came out). I also know of a few people who bought the current generation iPhone (at the time of purchase).




Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

Again, my point isn't that no one does that, but that most people looking to save money don't. You can always find single use cases as anecdotes, but that doesn't make it the common case, nor does it make sense to take that case to do a general comparison. The universe here isn't just people on prepaid plans, but people looking to save money.


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[dpham00]

Re: Idea about Service

Again, my point isn't that no one does that, but that most people looking to save money don't. You can always find single use cases as anecdotes, but that doesn't make it the common case, nor does it make sense to take that case to do a general comparison. The universe here isn't just people on prepaid plans, but people looking to save money.


Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

The comparison is for similar service and device. Now if someone wanted a low end phone then I would be glad to help do a comparison of needed.


With regards to your last sentence, most of the people I know on prepaid don't care that Verizon can be cheaper, they refuse to sign a contract Even though I prove to them that Verizon is cheaper for their needs. This isn't just for wireless either. I explain how they can save money and most people I talk to prefer to take things the easy way rather than spend more effort to save money.

But I also understand that many people buy prepaid to save money.

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