Cell phone plans- Massachusetts

[perc-o-prince]

Currently we have Verizon. Neither of us has texting or data, and it's about $70/mo + taxes et al for 700 anytime minutes. Calls to/from other Verizon Wireless users and our cell-to-home or home-to-cell calls do not count. We may use 350-400 minutes a month between the two of us for calls that count against the 700.

We're thinking about going with MetroPCS. The coverage around Boston and the outlying areas seems to be very good with maybe 95% of it being in the 4G range. For the most part, our only other usage would be up 95 to Maine 1-2x a year, the Amherst NH area, and, at least for me for a limited time, traveling to/from Princeton NJ. All are covered well. We can get unlimited talk, text and data for $25 each. The first 1GB of data each month would be at 4G LTE speed and the rest of the month would likely be slower.

My question is, has anyone had experience with them? I know Ron (kenmore58) just signed up with them, so it's too soon to tell for him. Any big red flags? How slow is it after the first GB?

Thanks,
Chuck

Oh, plus we can get smartphones for $49 by switching our current numbers to them.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Follow-up question

OS.

Windows Phone 8.1, Android 5.0 or 5.1 Lollipop, Android 4.4 KitKat?

 

[jamiel]

MetroPCS runs on the T-Mobile network so you have wider coverage than before. The coverage probably doesn't extend much beyond I-95 up into Maine (literally--they may well only have cell sites along the freeway/tollway) and almost certainly nothing past Bangor. Don't know where Amherst NH is but same caveat applies. Go with Lollipop for the longest phone life-span before obsolescence.

 

[wayupnorth]

Geeze, I dont know about the coverage area here for T-Mobile. I have a landline and a Trac-fone that works almost everywhere, mostly, in this state plus NH, VT. I think its because they get signal from any cell tower. Beware, get anywhere near Canada and you get an International roaming fee.

 

[gadgetgary]

Boost Mobile

I have had Boost Mobile for 4+ years...no problems....great coverage(Sprint based) ..Good customer service...Never lost service in Ptown this July
$35 month unlimited calls, texts...2.5 GB data...I would recommend

I actually had coverage in Ptown when my friend did not(AT&T)

 

[mattl]

Android 5.1 unless you are a die hard apple fan.  I'm not and enjoy the android system, almost dislike my Ipad.  I'm a pretty heavy user of data on my phone but never used much more that 500g, I use wifi whenever possible.  I use Pandora whenever I'm in the car for more than 15 minutes, use GPS frequently, check out Waze, (a better version of GPS on android, lets you know when approaching an accident, traffic jam or cops), and a number of other aps.

 

$25 is a good price.  Thinking of buying a new phone, I generally get 1 generation back, and might consider Metro.  Had an account with them many years ago, now on Ting that uses the Sprint network.

 

[perc-o-prince]

I did take a look at the Virgin Mobile/Sprint plans, and there are too many white spots (no coverage) where Rich may need them most in and around the Boston area. ATT has usually been spotty here as well. In this area, Verizon and T-Mobile seem to have the most complete coverage.

And I got a call from Ron about his- he's been on Straight Talk, not MetroPCS, and has loved it. His phone uses the Verizon network, so no wonder!

Looks like a trip to Walmart to check Straight Talk and MetroPCS.

 

[kb0nes]

Here in MN I have had an iPhone on Tmobile since we were able to bring our phones onto their network, coming up on 3 years now. I have been with Tmobile (previously Aerial then VoiceStream) since 1998 with old Nokia dumb phones.

Of course all providers are very regional so your area is likely different. Here in the Minneapolis area Tmobile is a very good choice. My plan is unlimited voice and texting and 1Gb data (throttles over the cap). I have only hit my data allotment twice, I am usually on WiFi at home or work etc. It is nice if you do throttle, you will still get emails, although slower, you aren't just shut off. One nice feature that Tmobile gives is that streaming via Pandora or Spotify doesn't count against the data plan.

Attached photo shows data speeds from my desk here at work, I turn OFF the WiFi and it improves!

My plan is $53 a month. It doesn't include any subsidies towards the device, I own my phone and don't give them money towards a "free" one. There are no contracts either, I could suspend service next month and pick it up the month after if I wish.

I own an Android tablet and my girlfriend used to have an Android phone, I'm very pleased to be away from that operating system for my phone. The Apple stuff has flaws too, but not like the many flavors of Android. Biggest advantage of iOS in my opinion is iMessaging, its just far and away better then simple SMS...

Ask lots of people in your area Chuck to get the right advice for you!

 

[jerrod6]

Android 5.1

This is what I use and I love it.  I bought my phone from the Google web site, so I have a Nexus.  The advantage is that when an update is released Google sends it directly to you within a day or two so you don't have to wait for your carrier to send it to you so you get any security fixes and new features immediately. Also you don't get any carrier or phone manufacturer apps to take up storage on your phone.

 

Some people had complained of lag on their Android phones and I think this is caused by carrier apps and interfaces...No lag on my Nexus..None.

 

The only thing is that you buy the phone and there is no contract.  Think about it.  You buy a phone from your carrier and you pay monthly for it.  You are paying the carrier for the service and installments on the cost of the phone. At the end of a two year period or your contract period you still pay the same amount to the carrier even though the phone is paid for.  I paid $350 for the phone two years ago. 

 

I am on AT&T prepaid but I understand that they don't have good service where you live.   I pay $60 a month for 4 Gig of data, unlimited talk and text.  I also have rollover data so whatever I don't use goes over to the next month.  I have no complaints with  Android 5.1 and am looking forward to the next version that will be released sometime in November. One feature I like is that I can set safe zones so that I don't have to use a lock screen.  My safe zone is home so when I am at home I don't have to enter a pin to unlock the phone.  Step away from home and I get asked for a pin.  

 

The other thing I like is Google now which will display screen cards at various times, among them are transportation cards so that if I am away from home I will get a card telling me how long it will take to get home and the suggested route, or if I have an appointment I will get a card telling me when to leave and giving me traffic maps or public transit routes and schedules. You have to opt into the features of Google Now so it will do as little or as much as you want.  This is important for people who are concerned about Google or some company knowing too much about them....You give them what you want to. 

 

Motorola also makes a good phones - the   Moto X and Moto G and they just released a new line last week. These phones are also updated very quickly...faster than a phone sold by Verizon who must make sure their apps work with the phone.  Motorola sells these phones on their web site and the new ones will work on any phone carrier.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thanks, guys! Another member private mailed me to remind me about Consumer Cellular. Their coverage is super, the cost is in line with, or a little less than, the ones we're looking at, but the smartphones are a little more expensive. The one thing I couldn't find out is what "speed" their network operates at. Is it the best speed for the carrier you're using at the time? Or maybe 3G tops? And, it seems as though the difference between 3G and 4G isn't all that big when you consider it's a matter of, what, a 2-3 second difference in response? Enlighten me please!

Chuck

p.s.- yes, buying a phone and not going into a contract are the first things we make sure of now!

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Hey Chuck, 

 

Look into pre-paid plans, there are numerous carriers out there with them.   Personally I'm with Virgin Mobile, 1200 minutes, unlimited text and data (or that's the BS they claim) and it's $40 a month.   I know you said Virgin/Sprint sucks for coverage in your area, but look into others.  Verizon has pre-paid plans, my co-worker was using them until he just switched over to a Google phone service.

 

Good luck!

Kevin

 

[perc-o-prince]

Looks like we've narrowed it down to MetroPCS and Consumer Cellular. Thanks all!

Chuck

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Hello all,

Just a friendly reminder that there are only 4 nationwide cell networks in the U.S.: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, & Sprint. EVERYBODY else is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) of one kind or another renting space on one of these 4.

Last I knew Straight Talk rents from AT&T and Verizon. Those 2 networks are not physically compatible so a potential Straight Talk customer who lives in an area where Verizon has poor service wants a Straight Talk phone that uses AT&T.

Consumer Cellular uses AT&T's networkbut has apparently begun using T-Mobile's as well. I've provided a link addressing that issue.

Roaming: That's when a cell phone from one network uses another physical network. For this to happen:
-your carrier must allow it
-your phone must be physically capable of using the other network
-that capability must be both turned on and properly set in your phone

"3G" vs "4G": I've put them in quotes because there's more than one kind of each. Asking which is better is sort of like asking, "Is a spray rinse better than a deep rinse?" I use my phone's internet service mostly for e-mail and to access on-line reading material. For that, I don't notice much of a difference in real life speeds. Pics and video do take longer on Verizon's 3G than on its 4G service.

Texting: I STRONGLY recommend that your phone and service allow you to send and receive text messages whenever you want, even if you never use it in everyday life. Why? Text messages require less signal strength to send/receive than voice calls or e-mails. Text messages take up less 'room' on a network (think a SmartCar vs. a tractor-trailer). Sent text messages line up and wait until the network can handle them. Voice calls and e-mail can't do that. That's why when there're service problems due to a storm or natural disaster one is urged to text family and friends.

Discounts: Many/most unions, professional organizations, municipalites, and large companies offer discounted cell service to their employees/members. Be sure to check that.

Btw, if you have a contract with Verizon and the contract finishes you are eligible for a $15/month discount that applies until you upgrade your phone. That's an additional $180/year I'm saving by not having the latest and greatest phone.

Typing on a screen sucks ... and not in a good way. The good news is that there are many, many different keyboards you can download and use. You are NOT stuck with the one your phone came with.

Babbling done,

Jim

http://bestmvno.com/consumer-cellular-sending-out-t-mobile-mvno-sims-unbeknownst-to-customers/

http://bestmvno.com/att-mvnos.html

http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2015/03/consumer-cellular-now-offers-service-on.html

http://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/which-network-is-behind-your-MVNO

http://bestmvno.com/consumer-cellular-sending-out-t-mobile-mvno-sims-unbeknownst-to-customers/

 

[mrb627]

Maine

Just got back from a Maine vacation. No sooner did we leave the Portland area and our T-Mobile phones went to roaming and unusable. Thank goodness we had wifi calling available at our resort. It was pretty funny when we headed back to the airport and all of us got back on the T-Mobile network. A weeks worth of text messages began flooding into our phones.

Malcolm

 

[countryguy]

When you are on vacation....why do you even need to use a phone? text?

 

[mrb627]

Textng...

Each other in the group as well as communication with people back home in Georgia and Florida.

Malcolm

 

[mattl]

My favorite keyboard app is Thick Buttons. It's predictive in that after you type the first letter it will enlarge the next possible letter you type. You can change the size of the letters, I use the largest setting. I and all who I've turned on to it love it and will never go back, I think it Android only...

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thanks, Jim (I say, scratching my head! LOL),

I haven't checked this thread because we've been busy with a couple other things, including a new job for me.

I thought with Consumer Cellular you switched providers based on whose signal was best in the area you're in? Maybe I got that wrong. According to their coverage map, it's darn near 100% coverage.

However, we've 99% decided to go with MetroPCS which uses the T-Mobile network. The coverage is nearly complete according to their map, and it'll cost us $50/mo for 2 phones instead of $62 for Consumer Cellular. With MetroPCS we'll have unlimited everything and not have to worry about a text saying we're nearing the limit and can opt to go to the next plan up, and there's a better choice of phones.

We're just debating on phones/operating systems now. I have sausage fingers, so I need something that will have a bigger kbd- though I could use a stylus. I also want to be sure the web browser is easy to use. Rich had a phone a few years back and returned it because the browser sucked.

And thanks for the info about the $15 discount. Funny- they never told me that when I called last week to see what the new plans might be like! I think I owe them a call!

Any advice on browsers/OS welcomed, and screenshots appreciated!

Thanks as always,
Chuck

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Malcom: Yeah, that's T-Mobile's biggest problem in NE: They're #1 in metro areas and along highways, but most of the rest has 2G or no coverage. What I find strange is that your phone said it was roaming, but there was no service? I'd follow up on that.

Perc-O-Prince: Sorry for the info overload. I'll try to keep it short & sweet. Opera Mini is my go-to browser; I've used it for years. 2nd choice is the 'old' Opera Mobile now called Opera Classic. I kind of stopped following them once they chose to dump their own (superior- according to many) technology to join forces with Google. Researching the latest Android browsers is on my ever growing to-do list.

Keyboards: I think Thick Buttons would be my favorite, except that the movement of the expanding keys throws my eyes off.

If you liked Blackberry's old SureType 2 letters per button keyboard, try QWERTY6, TipType, and TouchPal.

Otherwise: I bounce back and forth between ThumbKeyboard4 (35%) and MessageEase (65% of the time).

The buttons on ThumbKeyboard4 (large layout, split) look impossibly small, but I swear it works better than any other conventional keyboard. All I can say is that they must have some technology they're not telling anyone about.

MessageEase is truly designed for large fingers. It is not a regular qwerty keyboard. just google it and try it on whatever phone you get. Any explanation (includng the company's own) makes it sound way more complicated than it is. It's the ONLY keyboard that:
-I've really improved speed on
-I've actually developed muscle memory like on a typewriter
-Does not require my undivided attention to use
-Doesn't fight with me when I use a word the dictionary doesn't know
-Doesn't force me to slow down for anything beyond usual letters
-Makes feel like I could actually master it
-I can still type coherently when I'm tired.

As for phones, I'd check out either the LG G Stylo (with a stylus pen) or the Samsung galaxy Avant. A co-worker has the Avant and loves it. I've played with it and it seems nice enough. read reviews on both and play with both before you buy.

I'm sutting up now.

Jim