Wireless phone providers/plans

[fan-of-fans]

I'm thinking about changing my wireless plan or provider and wondering if anyone has any ideas/experiences. Right now I have AT&T and I pay $80 monthly which I think is too much. I do have unlimited talk text but I don't use it enough for that to matter. I'm not sure what my data plan is but I've never gone over. At home I use wifi.

I've heard good things about Straight Talk and Cricket. I also heard Sprint is coming with a $15 per month plan if you sign up soon. I don't really want Sprint though because they don't have as good reception in my area, at least they didn't in the past.

I did think about switching to AT&T's prepaid plans.

The other issue is I need a new phone. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 which is fine for my needs, but it's time to replace it I think. It's getting slow and gives a lot of issues online, locking up, etc. Plus it needs a new battery anyway. And the case is broken and I can't even find a new case for it because it's old. lol

So does anyone have suggestions for a plan and a new phone? I had this phone on 3 year contract originally but I don't really want to go contract again. I don't even think they give phones with contracts any more.

 

[philcobendixduo]

I Have AT&T Wireless...

.....and I just changed my OLD (grandfathered) UNLIMITED DATA plan to a 1Gb data/unlimited text/talk plan.
I did this because I was notified that AT&T was going to raise the monthly fee for my old plan by $5 which would have made it $106 per month with all taxes and fees.
I have NEVER used even 1Gb of data in one month BUT I kept that old UNLIMITED data plan "just in case".
We'll see what my monthly bill is after 2 months....

NO - AT&T no longer subsidizes phones - just monthly payment plans for the full purchase price.
I considered switching to Consumer Cellular but, after reading all the bad reviews, decided against it.
SO, I will stick with AT&T despite the cost.

 

[yogitunes]

I suggest giving ConsumerCellular.com a try....

I have had them for about 7+ years now.....there is no contract ever, no overage fees, and you only buy what you need....

they are somewhat based on AT&T tower, but will switch to others for the best signal.....

I have aluminum siding and a tin roof on my house, Verizon could not even get me a signal inside, let alone my basement...not an issue with these guys....

first and foremost, this is probably the only company that will give you a 30 trial....if you don't like it, send it all back, no cost to you....

if you do sign up, give them my name, they will take 20.00 off YOUR bill, and mine....same goes for anyone who gives your name....my first bill was 17.00

3 smartphones, Samsung Galaxy3, cost me 77.00 a month....1/3rd of what I paid for Verizon and Nextel/Sprint with a flip phone....

I prefer buying the phones through them, mainly the warranty....2.00 a month per phone....no questions asked replacements....

give them a looksee.....what do you got to lose...

my only gripe with cell phones.....your contact list....do yourself a favor and make a hard copy of them....recently lost my list in the cloud during the transfer...

http://https//www.consumercellular.com/

 

[vacerator]

I've heard good things

about Consumer Cellular. I know a couple of seniors who like it a lot.
Myself being fairly new to a smart phone, because I laundered my nice newer LG flip in my jeans am no expert.
I got a Samsung J7v. It's $10 per month to buy for 2 years. Same as my flip was. So far I like it. I don't use much data, so I share it and plan with my spouse. we're not with one of the lower priced carriers, but never have a call drop issue, and great clarity.
At home, our phones connect to our secure wye fi vpn.
The battery is strong. I only charge it once or twice weekly.
The camera is very good, even though the screen is not HD. It's an entry level smart phone. I still have it in easy mode. Icons are large, as is keyboard for my big finger to text. Screen is only a bit smaller than on an S7
It does what I need it to do so far. I don't need a phone for work.
I do wish it had an alert beacon for messages. If I don't hear it chime when I get one, I don't know until I turn it on.

 

[yogitunes]

your choice.....but I would return that Samsung J7 and just buy one outright....

CC and Target's normal price is 150.00....in fact right now its on sale for 99.99...

5.00 or 10.00 I wouldn't sweat over....but 140.00 is a great savings

just a thought

http://https//www.target.com/p/total-wireless-samsung-galaxy-j7-sky-pro/-/A-52900793

 

[mattl]

Mint has some very good pricing, and currently Sprint has a $15 everything plan.

 

[joeekaitis]

Our experience with Cricket

 

Aside from the activation kerfuffle, pleased as punch.   Details in the link.

Oh, and, no Wi-Fi calling on iOS with Mint.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?75517

 

[passatdoc]

Several relatives have the Samsung Galaxy J series and are pleased with them. If you go to an ATT-owned store (not a partner store), and switch to pre-paid, you should be able to get the price down to $45/month.

 

[vacerator]

Thank's Martin, and Jim; Yoigitunes, Passat Doc!

I'd consider that if I were on my own plan. I'm not paying over $45 per month now with unlimited talk/text.
That includes buying the phone. We've been with the V__z since the 90's.
We were able to combine to one account with data.
Hopefully no ones web browsing, streaming, or other media gets hiked in cost, or slowed down because of the end of Net neutrality.
Everyone pays plenty.
Those other trade points pending change also, I hope do not cause declines if they are implemented.
Our economy has adjusted to the global economies of scale. Reversing policies could throw us back into reverse. I hope the experts take action to stop it if need be.
The Hawley Smoot tariff act of 1930 greatly made the great depression worse.

 

[vacerator]

I'm sure we dealt

with a company owned store. It took then a while to consolidate our plans, as the sales person had difficulty with corporate access, so had to call it in.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Thanks for the info I will definitely look into the suggestions. The AT&T here isn't a company owned store but an authorized reseller. I've never dealt with them, when I got my phone I did it through Radio Shack, which I don't believe was a very good idea, but they had the most selection at the time.

 

[cuffs054]

I've used PagePlus for yrs. But I use my cell maybe 3 times a month. Still love my home based OOma.

 

[askolover]

I've been with AT&T for 18 years.  The name started out as Suncom, changed to Cingular, then back to ATT but I've been with the same one all this time.  $75/month for our 2 phones unlimited talk and text and data too but we don't have smart phones (on purpose).  Plus I get 25% discount for being a Vanderbilt employee.