Data packages only avalable with monthly plans starting 4/18!!

[PL1]

That's good to know. They really should update their website.

[taker888]

One thing to keep in mind is that T-Mobile pre-paid phone plans don't work with Google Voice mail services... So don't expect to use Google Voice to manage your calls/voice mail using unported T-Mobile number (or use only your Google Voice number: glad I ported my old AT&T number to GV, years ago, as now all the phone numbers I get from the disposable carriers are never given out to friends, etc, but only used for forwarding GV calls).

I dont know if this is related to what u were saying but T-Mobile pre-paid does work with google voice mail. ATT also. When I was on their $30 unl data, talk & 100 min plan, what i did, to make sure Google Voice was my main number for everything, I called CS to disable my T-Mobile Voicemail. That way when you connect ur GV # with ur Tmo #, and ppl call you, they will reach ur gv voicemail at all times, even if you press reject. By doing this step ur gv rings and goes to vm as normal. Now if ur contacts knows ur tmo # and they call it, it will just ring and ring forever, that is y gv would be ur main #. Now im with Att on the $25 plan and have the same set up. Just disable the carrier VM, and you set to go.

[Feefer]

But, with TMO, I can simply switch to the $2/day unlimited and go back to the PAYG.

If I use 10MB one day with Airvoice, it is $3.30, while TMO is $2.00. If I use 100MB with Airvoice in one day, it is $33. If I use 100MB on TMO, it is $2.00.

No brainer I guess to stick with TMO.

So, the question remains whether I can tolerate 2G on my phone or if I have to get a new one.

Ahhhh, I think I see what you're suggesting: get TWO T-Mo SIMs, one activated and pre-configured for the $2/day unlimited voice and data plan for when you need data, and the other used as a pure PAYG for voice for days when you don't want/need data.

And actually, now that I think of it, the whole having AT&T 3G as a fallback to my Sprint 3g/4g mobile router plan has not been necessary, as by the time I get fed up with Sprint and turn off wi-fi router, disable wi-fi on my phone, the Sprint modem is usually back up.

Thanks, as I think I see my "Farewell to AT&T" strategy quite clearly now.

[Feefer]

Gotchya. I don't use GV, but if I WAS going to port to GV, wouldn't all calls and texts just be forwarded to TMO?

If you port that TMO # to GV, then YES, GV can handle call management, including VM.

Also, suppose I was to port to GV, do all originating (sending) calls and text messages show the disposable carrier's cell number? Or do you spoof that?

For the record, GV refers to the "disposable carriers cell #" as one of your "forwarding phones". I like the more accurate first name, myself.

On your GV page, under 'settings', 'calls', the 'Caller ID (outgoing)' section determines the behavior you have for texts:

* When I text a Google Voice number from one of my forwarding phones:

1) Don't change anything

OR

2) Display my Google Voice number


It also adds this note: "this setting currently only applies to text messages; calls will be included soon."

However, it's shown that same message for a few years now, I think....

[silentjudge]

You can even switch between the $2/$3/day plan to the PAYG and back anytime you want on the T-Mobile web site. It doesn't cost anything.

[Feefer]

I dont know if this is related to what u were saying but T-Mobile pre-paid does work with google voice mail. ATT also.

AT&T works for sure with GV VM, but I haven't had any luck with TMo. I disabled TMo's VM a few days ago, as nothing torques me off more than having to pay for the prior line's callers/bill collectors leaving messages on MY NEW #, and then having to pay airtime to also retrieve THEIR messages! GV allows you to block callers who leave VM on your GV line (and you can retrieve messages over the web from a laptop/desktop, so no airtime charges), so in the future they will hear the familiar, "this number is no longer in service" recording.)

When I was on their $30 unl data, talk & 100 min plan, what i did, to make sure Google Voice was my main number for everything, I called CS to disable my T-Mobile Voicemail. That way when you connect ur GV # with ur Tmo #, and ppl call you, they will reach ur gv voicemail at all times, even if you press reject. By doing this step ur gv rings and goes to vm as normal. Now if ur contacts knows ur tmo # and they call it, it will just ring and ring forever, that is y gv would be ur main #. Now im with Att on the $25 plan and have the same set up. Just disable the carrier VM, and you set to go.

Well, there's the answer: you were on one of their 4g monthly plans, and GV works with those, but not with the PAYG and PBTD plans. When I try on my PAYG plan, I get a series of "setting activation failed" error messages.

[Feefer]

You can even switch between the $2/$3/day plan to the PAYG and back anytime you want on the T-Mobile web site. It doesn't cost anything.

Really? Does it work well (as in, no lag in activation)? Gotta admit that one SIM is nicer, as knowing me, I'd forget to swap them back out.

I HATE having to think about this stuff, including setting reminders for expiration of airtime and data plans (and I suppose that's what AT&T is banking on: users who just want their phone to work as it always has, and damned the costs)....

[silentjudge]

Really? Does it work well (as in, no lag in activation)? Gotta admit that one SIM is nicer, as knowing me, I'd forget to swap them back out.

No lag in the change

[PL1]

If you port that TMO # to GV, then YES, GV can handle call management, including VM. For the record, GV refers to the "disposable carriers cell #" as one of your "forwarding phones". I like the more accurate first name, myself.

On your GV page, under 'settings', 'calls', the 'Caller ID (outgoing)' section determines the behavior you have for texts:

* When I text a Google Voice number from one of my forwarding phones:

1) Don't change anything

OR

2) Display my Google Voice number


It also adds this note: "this setting currently only applies to text messages; calls will be included soon."

However, it's shown that same message for a few years now, I think....

Great, thanks for that. I was always concerned that the person I was texting or calling would start seeing two numbers from me, so, that answers that question.

I do the same thing with Pobox.com. It simply forwards all email to whatever account I'm currently on.

[PL1]

Ahhhh, I think I see what you're suggesting: get TWO T-Mo SIMs, one activated and pre-configured for the $2/day unlimited voice and data plan for when you need data, and the other used as a pure PAYG for voice for days when you don't want/need data.

Actually, that is an option I also considered, but not what I was suggesting. What I meant was you can have the Pay As You Go .10/min plan, and on the days you want to have data, you can (with the same SIM) change over to the $2/day plan during the day, incur a $2 charge, and before midnight, switch back to the PAYG .10/min plan.

Now, I am ALSO thinking of doing just what you thought I said. I was thinking of setting up a second SIM for the $2/day plan and since it would be a new number, it would most likely not get any calls or texts, and slip in that SIM on the days I want data.

But, then I got to thinking, that I'd have to manage two account balances, and not know how much I would need in each to keep them active, it seemed easier to just switch to the data plan with one SIM when needed.

[tmodlou]

You can even switch between the $2/$3/day plan to the PAYG and back anytime you want on the T-Mobile web site. It doesn't cost anything.

Really? Does it work well (as in, no lag in activation)? Gotta admit that one SIM is nicer, as knowing me, I'd forget to swap them back out.

You can even do it from the phone. Access to their "walled garden" of data is free and account management is part of it.

[newcronos]

Think about it, if we really have the need for any unlimited thing (any of voice/text/data or even all of them), we won't be using GoPhone pay2go in the first place!

I disagree - prepaid/pay2go offers the best values in both limited and "unlimited" services. Why pay more?

First of all, if you read my statement carefully, I was specifically talking about AT&T GoPhone pay2go. Not AT&T GoPhone $25 or $50/month plan. Not any other carrier's pay2go or prepaid monthly plan.

Having said that, I stand by my statement. If you need any kind of 'unlimited' feature, AT&T GoPhone pay2go (10c/min, 20c/txt, used to be able to add data package with various rates, now no longer) is NOT a good deal at all.

[Jairzinho]

I find it hard to believe that there is no major backlash from customers, or the media, from AT&T eliminating pre-paid data from the PAYG plans with only 2 weeks notice. I wonder if there are still tons of people who don't know? Or if no one was using pre-paid data anyway? And, if that is the case, that no one was using it, why not leave it as an option. It really confuses me that there isn't the kind of outrage I expected.

(I reply here so we don't clutter the GoPhone forum with more threads about the same topic).

Only one out of my four (one of them temporal)GoPhone PAYG accounts received the text from at&t, despite the fact that three of them were using data packages with iPhones (3GS and 4S). If we were to extrapolate from this, we could probably say that only 1/4th of data package users might have got the notice and only two weeks in advanced, thus the silence. I'm sure the vast majority of PAYG data users are still for a rude awaking in the coming days when they try to renew their data packages and realize that the terms were suddenly changed. Remember that the at&t press release was only made public the very same day this thing took effect and only blogs, industry-related or specialized outlets picked the story, sites that the vast majority of users never check.

When at&t has really (and nicely) wanted to promote services it had resorted to sending not only (properly spelled) SMSs but even personalized letters thru regular mail to the registered addresses, I still once in a while receive those encouraging me to buy text packages for the accounts that don't have it. This was a completely price increase and they are trying to spin it as if it was an improvement of service and the few sites covering it completely bought it, forgetting about the hundred of thousands (if not more) of PAYG users that are being negatively impacted.

[smsgator]

(I reply here so we don't clutter the GoPhone forum with more threads about the same topic).When at&t has really (and nicely) wanted to promote services it had resorted to sending not only (properly spelled) SMSs but even personalized letters thru regular mail to the registered addresses,...

Do they even have a registered address for GoPhone users? I have five prepaid phones on Page Plus and one on T-Mobile, and I'm pretty sure I never provided my address to either company.

[Bob859]

Do they even have a registered address for GoPhone users? I have five prepaid phones on Page Plus and one on T-Mobile, and I'm pretty sure I never provided my address to either company.

My name and address are on the "Account Summary" page of the online account info, but it is by my choice, not a requirement. I could delete the info or change it.