Reply With QuoteThat's what I was thinking, this was another reason I switched my mom from her LG Esteem to an iPhone 4S as I found $70 a bit too much to pay for unlimited everything with a regional carrier.Originally Posted by allmanallpimp
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Phone Collector
Oh dang that sucks :/ MetroFLASH was one of the things that made MetroPCS STAND OUT from the crowd. It somewhat brought the sim card transferability of GSM phones to CDMA as it allowed users to bring as described, their own phone, as long as it was compatible with MetroPCS's frequencies. At least I got mine flashed, MetroPCS is still one of the best plans you can get on a smartphone. $25 a month for unlimited talk, text, and 3G data is unbeatable.
Verizon iPhone 5 32GB black unlocked
PagePlus iPhone 5 16GB black unlocked
T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 2 16GB Titanium
T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 2 16GB Titanium (2nd)
T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3 white (cracked)
AT&T iPhone 4S 16GB white (cracked)
PagePlus iPhone 4 16GB
MetroPCS iPhone 4 16GB (cracked, non-usable)
AT&T iPad 3 16GB LTE (somewhere in the house)
iPad mini 32GB white
iPod touch 5 32GB blue
iPod touch 4 8GB white (missing display, non-usable)
Blackberry Bold 9700 AT&T
Phone Collector
That's what I was thinking, this was another reason I switched my mom from her LG Esteem to an iPhone 4S as I found $70 a bit too much to pay for unlimited everything with a regional carrier.
I Research My Answers
Your mom may not need the $70 "unlimited everything" plan. I don't. On my LG Esteem, I use the $50 plan with "first 2.5GB data per month at LTE speeds" and never come close to using that much data over the MetroPCS network. I've got a data meter app which tells me how much data I use on mobile or wi-fi. I've got wi-fi at home and work which takes up more of the data load than the mobile network.
I seriously doubt especially your mom uses 2.5GB per month, even if ALL her data were transmitted via MetroPCS. YOU might, but your mom?MOST people don't need the $70 unlimited plan and can save money by going to the $50 plan. And that's $50, total, including all taxes and fees.
Answer this.... After switching her to the iPhone 4S, how much is she paying per month? More than $50? -- or even more than $70?Yes, she (or you) are paying MORE.
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http://www.metropcs.com/metro/detail...+4GLTE/4GALL50
Unlimited talk, text and data. First 2.5GB data at blazing-fast 4GLTE speeds.
Once reached, data speeds will be reduced for the rest of the plan billing cycle
Even if that caveat were true, the world is going to smartphones where "data" is necessary. I check email via my email app, check Howard Forums app, Facebook app, Dropbox app... No one wants "simple" phones anymore. If a flashed smartphone can't do data, it's a crippled smartphone -- just "hand candy" to show off but not actually use for what it can do. Like a movie prop.
___________________
In response to odman13's rant:
Thank you, for2njr.
odman13,
Whenyou talk about "sources" in a news article, I have to laugh. I know more about the news/information business in my little finger than you would EVER know. Trust me on that.
Many stories written by the news industry have to use unstated sources who won't go on the record to have their names published because they are not authorized to speak for their company and would get fired. Yet, they are legitimate sources and are verified by managing editors (at legitimate news operations). It's just their names are not used. If you only could use "official" named sources, you would never get inside information.
The company where I work -- a quite large, international media corporation -- we have been told specifically we can NEVER, NEVER speak for our company or about company plans without prior written approval by management. We have to refer all media requests to authorized spokespeople or company officers (VPs, etc). Even our use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is restricted, per terms of our employment. We cannot give our opinions on politics, religion, as that might reflect on the company... That's one reason I never state the name of the company that employs me. Any media interviews which do have written approval (usually for industry publications) are also witnessed by our company PR people present during the interview. This is all due to our company wishing to protect their public image. Fairly standard in the corporate world; Apple is a company that takes this attitude to the very extreme.
Therefore, if a regular employee from our company felt compelled to share information with a reporter from a news outlet, they would be fired immediately if found out. Do you understand that? Clearly? OK, then, therefore it's quite stupid of you to expect named "sources" in a story like this which is inherently negative in nature. It shows you have NO clue how the corporate business world actually works.
When MetroPCS or other companies roll out new products, there's LOTS of fanfare, lots of press releases. They alert the media! That's positive news. When companies like MetroPCS END those products, they tend not to announce that publicly for the record. Stuff like that gets told only via internal memos. Companies want to talk about what they are doing, not what they are "not" doing (unless they could spin it in a positive way). They want only positive action news publicized for their stock price. (Also why MetroPCS refuses to comment PUBLICLY/officially about the failed Sprint merger earlier this year. Even the Sprint board members who VOTED no and talked to the Wall St Journal refused to allow their names to be used.) THAT's how the news business works, that's how corporate business works.
So, somebody in the MetroPCS information chain spilled the beans. Good. But don't expect named sources, as this is nothing Metro wishes to publicize. MetroFLASH® will end quietly with a whimper, not a flash bang.
You attacking me for pointing out WHY Metro is doing this does not stop Metro from doing this. It's like a temper tantrum from a little child. Plus it shows you actually have no reading comprehension, as I clearly stated this would probably be a gradual process. Go back and read again, maybe you need to sound the words out loud slowly?
Just because Metro has made the decision to end the Metro Flash program doesn't mean it will be abruptly stopped, at the exact minute and second they made the decision. Again, it shows you have no clue how the corporate business world actually works. There's timelines to wind these things down. Licenses won't be renewed, stuff like that. It's like getting a divorce... Someone makes a decision to get a divorce after being married for a few years, but the actual end to the marriage is usually months or even a year away due to all the legal and financial stuff that needs to be done first.
Many people who should know have said this is true, that this is happening. I do not control Metro's website and I really have no control over their operational competence. If it bothers you that it's still listed on their website, I suggest you send an email to their webmaster.
However, as discussed prior, it just makes SO MUCH BUSINESS SENSE to end this. The world is going to smartphones, which for MetroPCS means betting on LTE. CDMA is eventually going away (at least in-market). IF Metro is going to stop selling CDMA-only phones, why in the world would they continue to IMPORT CDMA-only phones into their system by flashing them from other carriers? I know your reading comprehension skills are low, so to clarify I am NOT saying MetroPCS does not sell CDMA-only phones -- I am saying they wish to stop selling CDMA-only phones so they can turn off their CDMA transmitters and go LTE only. That is their business plan for the future and flashing CDMA-only phone directly interferes with that plan.
Metro can't flash current Verizon/Sprint LTE + CDMA phones and have them work on Metro's LTE network. Current Verizon/Sprint LTE + CDMA phones can only work on Metro's CDMA network, and then only in those markets that do not use AWS frequencies. Even though all the carriers are going to LTE, the frequencies are fragmented. MetroPCS themselves run LTE are several frequencies and their phones has to have chipsets that can handle ALL those frequencies. Saves MetroPCS a lot of headache if you have a MetroPCS phone that has those chipsets built in.
Last edited by ChazzMatt; 07-06-2012 at 07:17 AM.
Your creed may be interesting, but your deeds are much more convincing.
Phone Collector
Actually I'm only paying $45 a month for a much better phone experience. Unlimited talk, text, and (not really unlimited, but purportedly 5GB) data from Straight Talk. I still love MetroPCS though, they've just gotten out of control with their 4G plans that's all. I still have an iPhone on MetroPCS with them on thier excellent $25 a month unlimited everything plan.Your mom may not need the $70 "unlimited everything" plan. I don't. On my LG Esteem, I use the $50 plan with "first 2.5GB data per month at LTE speeds" and never come close to using that much data over the MetroPCS network. I've got a data meter app which tells me how much data I use on mobile or wi-fi. I've got wi-fi at home and work which takes up more of the data load than the mobile network.
I seriously doubt especially your mom uses 2.5GB per month, even if ALL her data were transmitted via MetroPCS. YOU might, but your mom?
Answer this.... After switching her to the iPhone 4S, how much is she paying per month? More than $50? -- or even more than $70?
_________________
Even if that caveat were true, the world is going to smartphones where "data" is necessary. I check email via my email app, check Howard Forums app, Facebook app, Dropbox app... No one wants "simple" phones anymore. If a flashed smartphone can't do data, it's a crippled smartphone -- just "hand candy" to show off but not actually use for what it can do. Like a movie prop.
___________________
In response to odman13's rant:
Thank you, for2njr.
odman13,
When[ B]you[/B] talk about "sources" in a news article, I have to laugh hysterically. I know more about the news/information business in my little finger than you would EVER know. Trust me on that.
Many stories written by the news industry have to use unstated sources who won't go on the record to have their names published because they are not authorized to speak for their company and would get fired. Yet, they are legitimate sources and are verified by managing editors (at legitimate news operations). If you only could use "official" named sources, you would never get inside information.
The company where I work -- a quite large, international media corporation -- we have been told specifically we can NEVER, NEVER speak for our company or about company plans without prior written approval. We have to refer all media requests to authorized spokespeople or company officers (VPs, etc). Even our use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is restricted, per terms of our employment. We cannot give our opinions on politics, religion, as that might reflect on the company... That's one reason I never state the name of the company that employs me. Any media interviews which do have written approval (usually for industry publications) are also witnessed by our company PR people present during the interview. This is all due to our company wishing to protect their public image. Fairly standard in the corporate world; Apple is a company that takes this attitude to the very extreme.
Therefore, If a regular employee from our company felt compelled to share information with a reporter from a news outlet, they would be fired immediately if found out. Do you understand that? Clearly? OK, then, therefore it's quite stupid of you to expect named "sources" in a story like this which is inherently negative in nature. It shows you have NO clue how the corporate business world actually works.
When MetroPCS or other companies roll out new products, there's LOTS of fanfare, lots of press releases. They alert the media! That's positive news. When companies like MetroPCS END those products, they tend not to announce that publicly for the record. Stuff like that gets told only via internal memos. Companies want to talk about what they are doing, not what they are "not" doing (unless they could spin it in a positive way). They want only positive action news publicized for their stock price. (Also why MetroPCS refuses to comment PUBLICLY/officially about the failed Sprint merger earlier this year. Even the Sprint board members who VOTED no and talked to the Wall St Journal refused to allow their names to be used.) THAT's how the news business works, that's how corporate business works.
So, somebody in the MetroPCS information chain spilled the beans. Good. But don't expect named sources, as this is nothing Metro wishes to publicize. MetroFLASH® will end quietly with a whimper, not a flash bang.
You attacking me for pointing out WHY Metro is doing this does not stop Metro from doing this. It's like a temper tantrum from a little child. Plus it shows you actually have no reading comprehension, as I clearly stated this would probably be a gradual process. Go back and read again, maybe you need to sound the words out loud slowly?
Just because Metro has made the decision to end the Metro Flash program doesn't mean it will be abruptly stopped, at the exact minute and second they made the decision. Again, it shows you have no clue how the corporate business world actually works. There's timelines to wind these things down. Licenses won't be renewed, stuff like that. It's like getting a divorce... Someone makes a decision to get a divorce after being married for a few years, but the actual end to the marriage is usually months or even a year away due to all the legal and financial stuff that needs to be done first.
Many people who should know have said this is true, that this is happening. I do not control Metro's website and I really have no control over their operational competence. If it bothers you that it's still listed on their website, I suggest you send an email to their webmaster.
And to answer your question, yes my mom does use about or more than 5GB of data as she uses her phone to tether internet at her office. Even then, $60 is an outrageous price to be asking for a regional carrier where I won't have service nationwide, and the unlmited $70 is too close to post-paid carrier's pricing and too far from prepaid carrier's pricing. And the other thing is, their 4G LTE speeds only range at about 4-6Mbps, whereas 3G/4G HSPA+ speeds from GSM cariers range at 4-10Mbps (depending on the carrier, T-Mobile has faster 3G/4G)
The only reason this saddens me is because Metroflash is one of the reasons I liked MetroPCS, I could use my own phone (that I actually like) and use it with them, like my iPhone 4.
Phone Collector
By the way that's about $25 in savings every month which is A LOT lol. MetroPCS is a regional carrier and they need to re-think their strategy with their next generation 4G phone plans. It's not that $60 is bad, it's just a bit too expensive WHEN I have to both, buy the phone at full price (which will also have a much lower resale value compared to it's GSM counterparts since it will always be locked into MetroPCS) and pay in advance for each month.
In other countries, usually, when you buy a phone at full price, you buy it at full price because you know the pre-paid deals are much better than the post-paid counterparts, even with the subsidy discount. This habbit which is also spreading in the US, is one of the reasons I picked MetroPCS.
Phone Collector
I think we can all just agree it is sad to see Metroflash leaving soon. It's so much fun flashing phones to MetroPCS.
I Research My Answers
Well, then you did make a good decision.
I thought you had probably gone to Sprint for iPhone 4S -- as they are less expensive than AT&T or Verizon and you said cost was the issue -- but even Sprint's cheapest iPhone 4S unlimited plans are $80 (plus tax and fees) and up to $110 (plus tax and fees). (Verizon and AT&T are much higher.)
Straight Talk BYOD, huh?
What did you do, buy a used iPhone 4S somewhere for your mom?
Were you able to port your numbers over easily to Straight Talk?
Curious if you've done speed tests and what average speeds you or your mom are getting?
My parents have Straight Talk (with cheap Wal-Mart "feature" phones running on AT&T network), but I've not really researched them. If I could get two Android phones as good as or better than my LG Esteem for me and my wife and decent speeds (2mbp - 4mbps) I would be interested in that BYOD....
__________
$45 per month for unlimited talk/text/data (OK, even 5GB) is a great deal, especially if you are on AT&T network (no worries about roaming, get data everywhere) and get decent speeds.
This person is getting over 5mbps on his iPhone 4S with Straight Talk (AT&T sim):
I am intrigued.
I could buy an unlocked Jelly Bean Galaxy Nexus (dual core, 4.65 AMOLED screen) and have it run with HSPA+ speeds for $45 per month, with Straight Talk...with True nationwide coverage. No "1x" data roaming.
I need to look at this further.
Last edited by ChazzMatt; 07-06-2012 at 08:36 PM.
Phone Collector
They're excellent, just don't fall for the "unlimited" everything marketting as it really isn't unlimited, but it is a lot, especailly for $45, in some areas you can only use up to 2GB but in most they let you use up to 5GB. It really depends (and that's the sucky part about it) but you can look up forum posts to see at what point people get throttled in your area.Well, then you did make a good decision.
I thought you had probably gone to Sprint for iPhone 4S -- as they are less expensive than AT&T or Verizon and you said cost was the issue -- but even Sprint's cheapest iPhone 4S unlimited plans are $80 (plus tax and fees) and up to $110 (plus tax and fees). (Verizon and AT&T are much higher.)
Straight Talk BYOD, huh?
What did you do, buy a used iPhone 4S somewhere for your mom?
Were you able to port your numbers over easily to Straight Talk?
Curious if you've done speed tests and what average speeds you or your mom are getting?
My parents have Straight Talk (with cheap Wal-Mart "feature" phones running on AT&T network), but I've not really researched them. If I could get two Android phones as good as or better than my LG Esteem for me and my wife and decent speeds (2mbp - 4mbps) I would be interested in that BYOD....
__________
$45 per month for unlimited talk/text/data (OK, even 5GB) is a great deal, especially if you are on AT&T network (no worries about roaming, get data everywhere) and get decent speeds.
This person is getting over 5mbps on his iPhone 4S with Straight Talk (AT&T sim):
I am intrigued.
I could buy an unlocked Jelly Bean Galaxy Nexus (dual core, 4.65 AMOLED screen) and have it run with HSPA+ speeds for $45 per month, with Straight Talk...
I need to look at this further.
And yes, I did actually, iPhone 4S is only going for $350-$400 (16GB model) in the used market, sometimes even in like new condition with everything. You can also get the Galaxy Nexus directly from Google for only $399! They're great deals no doubt
This is one of the cavaets of many CDMA carriers, which was not being able to BYOD, MetroPCS was one of the few who were able to allow that on their CDMA network. It's sad to see it end
Why yes, that is a bag phone
Actually Houdini is still currently active, and so flashing is as well. some markets have stopped there stores from offering houdini flashes but it will be awhile before all markets stop. Northern Cali for example is still actively flashing.
Even if Houdini stops, advanced flashers like myself will still be flashing to metro. We have our ways of getting esn's into the inventory. And as long as I can offer the choice of a Galaxy S3 Fully Flashed with 3G web for $40 per month over the LG Connect with 4G web for $55 per month I guarantee you the majority will choose the flash.
Better phone, cheaper per month, and web speeds are bearable. And now that Cricket is opening stores in Metro Markets, that just adds oil to the fire. If Metro really wants to go strictly 4G LTE it will be the end of them. People want the best phones, and are willing to pay for them, and they want them on a pre paid unlimited carrier. I sold just under 300 Galaxy S2's last month fully flashed to metro. Average price, $340 per phone, close to the same price as the Metro Connect. NOT ONE DEALER IN MY AREA SOLD MORE THAN 80 CONNECTS LAST MONTH. (that includes the #1 dealer in Sacramento who is located in the WALMART Shopping center). Goes to show you... If Metro Locks out flashed phones, the majority of people who have flashed phones will jump carriers. CRICKET WILL KILL.
Last edited by Reemo4580; 07-22-2012 at 06:25 AM. Reason: spelling errors
METRO MAFIA!
Code Name: Reemo
Status: Sac Town Metro Mafia!
Quote: C:/DOS - C:/DOS RUN - RUN DOS RUN
Past exploits: Alot to list...
Future Exploits: Currently working on an easier way to modify VIA Chipsets. So far have only been succesful with 2.
-----------------------------------------
Have an STD and single? Check out www.stopswithus.com %100 Free Dating Site!
I Research My Answers
Interesting, your S3 sales.
I agree with you that there is a segment of the pre-paid market (and even post-paid customers) who are willing to pay for a very good phone as long as they are not molested in monthly charges and fees.
I am one of those. That's why after a dozen years with Metro I switched to Straight Talk to get 4.1 Jelly Bean Nexus with 4.65" screen and very good speeds. With Straight Talk, both AT&T & T-Mobile HSPA+ speeds are as good as or faster than Metro's LTE speeds.
I bought TWO brand new Galaxy Nexus for me and my wife, popped in the Straight Talk sims, and we have coverage on BOTH AT&T network as well as T-Mobile network.
I chose the ST "AT&T" sim. Sure the upload speed could be better, but look at the download speeds.As good as or better than Metro LTE.
Plus, I get to "roam" when needed on the T-Mobile network. And my T-Mobile speeds will match or exceed my "AT&T" speeds, if I ever need T-Mobile towers, because the Galaxy Nexus is a pentaband phone which can access HSPA+ speeds on both networks.
The U.S. LTE+CDMA Galaxy S III cannot do that, but international GSM Galaxy S III can -- plus the international S III has quad core CPU. But the Galaxy Nexus is only $349 + tax and s&hfrom Google and is arguably the 2nd best phone on the market right now, a very close 2nd -- while the Galaxy S III unlocked, GSM will run you almost an extra $300. 2nd is good enough for me.
And I'm paying about $47 per month (inlcluding all taxes), plus there's ways to get it down to just even $45 by giving a non-tax state zip code like Oregon.
My point is the same as yours -- better phone, cheaper price, but I don't have to settle for "bearable" "3G" web speeds. I totally agree with you -- "People want the best phones, and are willing to pay for them, and they want them on a pre paid unlimited carrier. ".
The drawback to Straight Talk of course is while they claim to be unlimited in many areas they have a 2GB cap , where you will be throttled and warned. So, for people who use their phone as their only internet connection, then no. But for me having a better phone now and not having to deal with Metro's frustrations (1x speed roaming with Sprint out of market, no signal at all at the ATL airport, etc) made me jump ship.
________
You mentioned Cricket. They are having financial problems. Rumors are they may declare bankruptcy. Two major people have left recently, jumping ship or fired.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...86F0O920120716
However, they are TRYING:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/...lan/2012-07-16
They are still expanding their LTE, but this is not an LTE plan. It's to target other pre-paids like Virgin Mobile and MetroPCS.
NEW 3G PLANS
Leap also launched a new, low-end $30 plan with 2 GB of data (previously it offered 2.5 GB for $45) and is offering a $45 plan with 4 GB of data (previously $50 for 5 GB).
Leap says 3G mobile broadband customers can expect speeds of around 1.4 Mbps. (they have full speed 3G EVDO unlike Metro's capped EVDO.)
Last edited by ChazzMatt; 07-23-2012 at 06:56 AM.
Where's the dialtone?
You give me hope for Metro sir.
Give me back my RAZR!
You can find out which stores still Metroflash on the MetroPCS website. I wish people wouldn't make things up to fill in for their lack of knowledge. I just had a phone Metroflashed last month in San Jose at a MetroPCS corporate store. They only charge about $20.00 to flash the phone into their system. My Evo 3D is working great with text/3Gdata and MMS. I had to install a couple of non-root apps to get the native voicemail notification, and MMS working. If Metro had a way to manually enter the ESN into their database, then you could just flash the phone yourself. Flashing isn't really that hard to do yourself. You can flash a phone to Cricket, or PagePlus without entering the ESN into a database. Unfortunately, Metro relies on the Houdini software to not only flash the phone, but to enter the ESN into their inventory at the same time. The only way to work around this is to flash your phone with an ESN from a phone that's already in the MetroPCS inventory database. You can just find a crappy old MetroPCS phone that's ready for the trash, and use it's ESN in the flashed phone. You really should destroy the phone that you got the ESN from. Cloning ESNs is a federal crime, so you don't want two phones around with the same ESN. I think it's better to pay the $20.00, so that you can retain the phone's original ESN.
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