Any reason to stay with Virgin Mobile instead of switching to Metro pcs?

**life4eva** · 01-29-2012, 08:22 AM

I've had my Triumph since release, and honestly I have had service everywhere as opposed to Metro Pcs which gave me some blackout spots.

Outside of Metro having 4g speeds is it worth it? I mean my Virgin Mobile gets me service everywhere I go, even in hospitals where when I had Metro I had a lot of areas where I had no service. Now that Metro has 4g do they have better service now?

Or should I just stay with Virgin Mobiles slower 3g speeds but reliable service?

Thanks

**digi7al ph0enix** · 01-29-2012, 10:43 AM

From what I've read Metro has actually improved somewhat since I left them a couple years ago. It sounds like they are deploying 3G in nearly all markets now (whether its via a roaming deal or their own tech I'm not sure) and the 4G coverage has also improved in terms of areas covered. As far as I know the speed is still sub-standard for 4G LTE. The highest speed test I've seen posted was in the 7Mb/s range with fairly high ping, and I get over that on my faux 4G with T-mobile. You could probably make a case that they have a better phone lineup these days than VM but most of their phones are far from high end, supposedly some better stuff is coming soon for them.

As for my personal opinion, I'd never go back to them just because of all the BS. You have to pay $3 to pay your bill, then its $5 for this and $10 for that, stuff that is free on other carriers like phone swaps. I also don't see them improving the quality of their network to compete with other carriers any time soon and for me that's a deal breaker. I need my data to work reliably and at high speeds everywhere I go and I just don't get that from Metro.

**life4eva** · 01-29-2012, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by digi7al ph0enix

From what I've read Metro has actually improved somewhat since I left them a couple years ago. It sounds like they are deploying 3G in nearly all markets now (whether its via a roaming deal or their own tech I'm not sure) and the 4G coverage has also improved in terms of areas covered. As far as I know the speed is still sub-standard for 4G LTE. The highest speed test I've seen posted was in the 7Mb/s range with fairly high ping, and I get over that on my faux 4G with T-mobile. You could probably make a case that they have a better phone lineup these days than VM but most of their phones are far from high end, supposedly some better stuff is coming soon for them.

As for my personal opinion, I'd never go back to them just because of all the BS. You have to pay $3 to pay your bill, then its $5 for this and $10 for that, stuff that is free on other carriers like phone swaps. I also don't see them improving the quality of their network to compete with other carriers any time soon and for me that's a deal breaker. I need my data to work reliably and at high speeds everywhere I go and I just don't get that from Metro.

On my current prepaid Virgin Mobile Phone (Triumph) I get about 500kbps upload and download and I pay about $58 a month. I'm wondering if there is better service out there? How much is t-mobile prepaid and do they have 4g speeds?

thanks

**billm261** · 01-29-2012, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by life4eva

On my current prepaid Virgin Mobile Phone (Triumph) I get about 500kbps upload and download and I pay about $58 a month. I'm wondering if there is better service out there? How much is t-mobile prepaid and do they have 4g speeds?

thanks

T-Mobiles website would answer all of your questions.

You must be on the unlimited plan of which a comparable plan on T-Mobile would be about the same using online refill discounts.

If your happy why leave?

**sfot** · 01-29-2012, 03:52 PM

I've been watching the developments at StraightTalk lately. I may switch from VMU to them. They are releasing a couple of new Androids, Optimus 2X and Optimus Black. Rumors are that they will be GSM units on Tmo's network, which has very good coverage in my area. I would rather stay with VMU if they would hurry up and offer some similar higher end devices(currently have the OV). That way I could keep my Grandfathered $25 BT plan, since ST's plans are higher priced. I'm kind of waiting to see what the prices are on the ST devices.

**Leslieann** · 01-29-2012, 04:36 PM

If I remember right, Straight Talk has a very low "unlimited data" cap (.5 or 1gig).

**life4eva** · 01-29-2012, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by billm261

T-Mobiles website would answer all of your questions.

You must be on the unlimited plan of which a comparable plan on T-Mobile would be about the same using online refill discounts.

If your happy why leave?

3 reasons why

1) Paying close to $60 a month for unlimited talking when MetroPcs is $10 less

2) 3G speeds are very slow compared to MetroPcs 4GLte

3) This damn Motorola Triumph phone has the worst battery I've ever owned in any phone. It can be fully charge and then just randomly drains, it's not just my phone either as the same thing happens with my wife's.

**arp734** · 01-30-2012, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by life4eva

I've had my Triumph since release, and honestly I have had service everywhere as opposed to Metro Pcs which gave me some blackout spots.

Outside of Metro having 4g speeds is it worth it? I mean my Virgin Mobile gets me service everywhere I go, even in hospitals where when I had Metro I had a lot of areas where I had no service. Now that Metro has 4g do they have better service now?

Or should I just stay with Virgin Mobiles slower 3g speeds but reliable service?

Thanks

MetroPOS is a regional service provider. Virgin is a national service provider. Plus it seems like you already answered your own question.

Sent from my VM670 using HowardForums

**DakotaDAllen** · 01-30-2012, 11:32 PM

T-Mobile isn't a very good solution due to the fact that they throttle (which Virgin now does; also with the failed AT&T merger, T-Mobile is a sinking ship anyway) data. MetroPCS, well to be quite honest, I'm waiting for someone (likely Verizon, but possibly Sprint) to just acquire them altogether since it's a CDMA 3G network. Sprint has excellent plans for it's network which would carry over to Virgin Mobile, so I'd say your best bet would be to stay put.

**stevenjb0** · 01-31-2012, 02:00 AM

StraightTalk TOS item 6(iii)

6. STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED TALK, TEXT AND MOBILE WEB ACCESS PLAN INTENDED USE: Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plans may ONLY be used with a Straight Talk handset for the following purposes: (i) Person to Person Voice Calls (ii) Text and Picture Messaging (iii) Internet browsing through the Straight Talk Mobile Web Service and (iv) Authorized Content Downloads from the Straight Talk Mobile Web Store.

The Straight Talk Unlimited Plans MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following:

6(iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games;

Youtube ?
Pandora ?

**bendee** · 01-31-2012, 11:45 AM

Have you looked at Boost? The ZTE Warp is $179 NIB through eBay and has good reviews. The plan is the same price as VM, but the price goes down every 6 months. No throttle yet at Boost, but I bet that will change soon enough.

**arp734** · 01-31-2012, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by stevenjb0

StraightTalk TOS item 6(iii)

6. STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED TALK, TEXT AND MOBILE WEB ACCESS PLAN INTENDED USE: Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plans may ONLY be used with a Straight Talk handset for the following purposes: (i) Person to Person Voice Calls (ii) Text and Picture Messaging (iii) Internet browsing through the Straight Talk Mobile Web Service and (iv) Authorized Content Downloads from the Straight Talk Mobile Web Store.

The Straight Talk Unlimited Plans MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following:

6(iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games;

Youtube ?
Pandora ?

Try using any built in App that uses data on a straight talk smartphone and you'll get your data cut off and a harrassing phone call. Guaranteed everytime. Check the straight talk forum for that.

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**primetechv2** · 01-31-2012, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by arp734

Try using any built in App that uses data on a straight talk smartphone and you'll get your data cut off and a harrassing phone call. Guaranteed everytime. Check the straight talk forum for that.

Sent from my VM670 using HowardForums

And I thought Virgin Mobile's terms were restrictive... Those things sound like they were written for featurephones!

Sent from my LG-VM701 using Tapatalk

**gypsysoul** · 02-01-2012, 10:48 PM

TMobile offers a prepaid "unlimited" everything plan for $50. The data usage is limited to 200mb/day then service slows down for the rest of the month. They have a very decent 4G phone, the Dart, for $119. I bought it when I lost my Galaxy and, in a lot of ways, I like it better.

**gypsysoul** · 02-01-2012, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by stevenjb0

StraightTalk TOS item 6(iii)

6. STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED TALK, TEXT AND MOBILE WEB ACCESS PLAN INTENDED USE: Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plans may ONLY be used with a Straight Talk handset for the following purposes: (i) Person to Person Voice Calls (ii) Text and Picture Messaging (iii) Internet browsing through the Straight Talk Mobile Web Service and (iv) Authorized Content Downloads from the Straight Talk Mobile Web Store.

The Straight Talk Unlimited Plans MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following:

6(iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games;

Youtube ?
Pandora ?

Regarding " Straight Talk" I have no idea what this person is talking about. But there were only 2 models of phones in the WalMart when I picked up my Dart 4G Smartphone. The other was not a Smart phone.