Current Sprint customer, worried about the switch to ST

[dsutton01]

I have a decent sprint plan: 2000 minutes (i go over a lot, so i need more), unlimited 7pm n&w, free unlimited 3g data, free picture mail and a cool old feature called "first incoming minute free" (saves me a few hundred mins a month). I pay $40 a month, plus $8 more for unlimited SMS. Total is just over $50 after tax. I am not in a contract.

I love the idea of ST, and having unlimited, much faster-than-sprint data, and a cool new smartphone of my choice (that I can change whenever I want). I also love that I can buy refill cards for under $35 each.

I am afraid, however, of one thing: I travel to canada once a year and for $2.99, i can use my sprint phone to make calls for $.20/min, plus unlimited texting at no charge while roaming there. Granted, it's only once a year, and I don't really *need* my phone when i'm there. ST won't let me do that.

Overall, i'm just thinking that maybe sprint is better, given my cheap-ish plan, since it's a postpaid service with no serious restrictions, aside from a limit on the mins. I"m happy with my phone on sprint, so I don't need a new one.

Just having second thoughts after buying my E71 , and wondering if I should send it back before the 30 days expire.

I know this is a decision i have to make, just looking for some alternate perspectives.

Thanks everyone.

[jebr]

Is the coverage decent with Sprint for you? What about AT&T?

With that Sprint plan, are you able to use an Android? iPhone? Would you want to use either?

With that information, I could help with my recommendation.

[dsutton01]

coverage is perfect. No issues, but data is slow.

I believe I can use an android phone - just need to upgrade, but was waiting to see if I would switch to ST. Not interested in iPhone.

thanks.

[jebr]

Switching to Straight Talk may not be a bad idea, but it'd only save you about $15/month (Sprint charges $10/month for Android devices.) For when you go to Canada, if you don't need the same number, you could simply buy a prepaid plan from a Canadian provider.

With Sprint, although the data is slow, it's unlimited (versus the soft-ish 2GB cap with Straight Talk.)

[rockey]

I recently swithced from Sprint to ST as my Sprint service had degraded over the 2 years that i used them, loved them up until that point. i've been on ST for about 2 months and so far and love the data speed compared to Sprint using my HTC Evo, i have had no dropped calls or anything like that as it uses ATT towers around here for me. I'm currently using an Iphone 4 but may switch to a Samsung Galaxy S as i think i like Android a little better than the Apple operating system.

[Endeavor]

Switch to Straight Talk using an AT&T-based SIM (Nokia or the new straighttalksim.com), and then buy a prepaid Telus or Fido SIM card to use once a year while you're in Canada. The total cost will be lower, plus you'll have a Canadian number that the people in Canada can call you on while you're there.

[mcd320]

I am sort of in the same boat - I am on Sprint Sero Premium ($40 + taxes = $45). However, every now and then, I like to switch phones. To switch phones on Sprint SERO, I have to call in and do an ESN swap.

I bought the $49 E71, and enough $99 refill + Samsung phones (I sold the phones on Ebay). This has brought my monthly ST cost down to about $25/month for up to 1 year. It will cover my break-contract fee.

Sprint has been good to me but I love the freedom that GSM allows when switching phones !!!

I have downgraded my SERO to $30 + taxes/month and I manage my Sprint # through Google Voice. This allows me to use my ST # with my Sprint/GV #. This gives me the freedom to swap phones at will.

Its hard to cut the chord though, but I know that new smart phones on Sprint SERO Premium will now be $50 + taxes/ month. So maybe it is time to go.