Wat?! Where are you people getting this idea that you have to buy a new phone every year on T-Mobile?! Or that TMO phones are pricier?!
Your costs depends on what phone you bring to the T-Mobile network and how often you buy a new phone. If you spend $400 on a Nexus or Galaxy S2, of COURSE the upfront cost is going to be high. But it's still cheaper than the postpaid route. No one's forcing you to buy the most expensive phone. There are plenty of T-Mobile smartphones out there whose costs are comparable to Virgin Mobile smartphones. You guys seem to somehow believe Virgin Mobile phones are somehow cheaper. If anything they are--but only because they're extremely outdated and you're comparing outdated phones to newer phones!
Yea, the reason I'm on prepaid is because I care more about the monthly price of my phone bill as opposed to not being able to postpaid. The view on the cost of phones is why some customers sign contracts that might end up costing them more in the long run if they don't take full advantage of the plan they are on. And anyways, Tmobile prepaid phones are similar in price to Virgin Mobile phones like the Samsung Exhibit II 4G going for $200 dollars.
And like you said, obviously phones like the Galaxy Nexus are going to be expensive, since they are premium top of the line phones. And I'm guessing many people on prepaid would be willing to pay $300-$400 dollars if premium phones were available to use on Vmobile, since people were willing to spend $300 on the Triumph until reviews starting coming out. Even the crappy Intercept was like $200 when it first came out, and people were excited to finally get to use something like that on prepaid until the Optimus V was released.
Whether you stay or go is dependent on your usage. Vmobile has the best combination of data and minutes while Tmobile has greater access to phone and faster speeds, but with significantly lower minutes.
To state the obvious, given that you can tolerate the slow data, it certainly sounds like you are better off sticking with VM.
Some days, I can tolerate the slow-as-molasses data...and other days, I just want to toss the BLEEPIN' thing out of a moving vehicle. The problem is, there's no clear-cut alternative to VM in my particular area. Even US Cellular (who has a good reputation for being economical) is charging $60/month for pre-paid Android service here. I'd almost rather take my chances with an AT&T GoPhone than pay that much.
I can see why so many people are ditching VM for other carriers with more reliable/less frustrating data services. I just wish Sprint/VM would get its act together. Even though $25/month is a steal for what they're offering in terms of "supposed" functionality, they're pushing the boundaries of what is tolerable in terms of what's actually being delivered.
Over a year later, the company is still suffering from the same problems and giving no meaningful explanations.
To state the obvious, given that you can tolerate the slow data, it certainly sounds like you are better off sticking with VM.
Some days, I can...here.
I'd almost rather take my chances with an AT&T GoPhone than pay that much.
I can see why so many people are ditching VM for other carriers with more reliable/less frustrating data services.
...explanations.
Actually, Sprint's prepaid division reports very little attrition and has reported a decrease in their churn rate. The facts seem to contradict your assumption that many VM subscribers are moving to other prepaid providers.
Last edited by vmobi; 05-01-2012 at 11:13 PM.
CON-Tracts??? We don't need no stinking contracts!
I' ll pay for a Nexus type phone, My plan was to get Walmart s Tmobile 30 dollar plan , their 200 dollar android phone. Try it for a bout a month, then if I like it, port my number over from Virgin Mobile. If I don't like phone sell it on Ebay and get Galaxy Nexus
Some days, I can tolerate the slow-as-molasses data...and other days, I just want to toss the BLEEPIN' thing out of a moving vehicle.
kinda how I feel on some days - really not a heavy cell phone user - I enjoy using it on my commute and in my vehicle (streaming via bluetooth) and thats about it. $25/mo is so incredibly cheap given the marketplace. I was thinking of going to TMobile but after reading about wimax a bit - I'm in the boston area so looking at the clear.com coverage map if that is indeed accurate - I should have decent 4G coverage. The phones that I have seen look good enough - if they come in under $250 - I may pay the extra $10/mo. Its a gamble but a 4G phone for $35/mo not a bad deal considering I don't have to screw around with VOIP apps to get more than 100 minutes out of the plan.
I will be dropping my VM $25/mo plan for tmobile once it runs out (unfortunately I just paid for 2 months right before the new device & plan txt). I use Google Voice, so during work hours & at home can take/make calls through VoIP on wifi or another telephone.
There's no reason to stay with VM if can't get the $25/mo plan considering how crappy the data is, I was only staying on it because of the value. Cheap TMobile GSM phones can be found on ebay too, most promising right now is Samsung Exhibit II 4G for $200 new.
There's nothing to speculate about. Poor marketing and misinformation on TM's part. I signed up for the plan online and activated it on a phone purchased on eBay.
I'm staying untill my OV starts to fall apart or dies or whatever , yea I'm running that baby to the ground
got $25/mo plan and not giving it up voluntarily
best deal around
I wouldn't trust TM coverage maps. In our small town which is on a major highway, T-Mobile's maps showed the very best signal strength. This convinced me to go ahead and purchase a new $200 phone on the $30 a month plan. When I got it out to my place I could only get ONE bar in a certain section of my backyard and no signal in the house. Luckily I was able to return the phone, but had to eat the $30 airtime.
Most people who I know that have had TM only stayed a short while due to the very poor coverage.
We still have the $25 a month phone for my wife, but I switched to the $45 BYOD Straight Talk for the additional coverage.
kinda how I feel on some days - really not a heavy cell phone user - I enjoy using it on my commute and in my vehicle (streaming via bluetooth) and thats about it. $25/mo is so incredibly cheap given the marketplace. I was thinking of going to TMobile but after reading about wimax a bit - I'm in the boston area so looking at the clear.com coverage map if that is indeed accurate - I should have decent 4G coverage. The phones that I have seen look good enough - if they come in under $250 - I may pay the extra $10/mo. Its a gamble but a 4G phone for $35/mo not a bad deal considering I don't have to screw around with VOIP apps to get more than 100 minutes out of the plan.
Boston has pretty good Clearwire coverage and if in fact it's the EVO 3D coming to VM, I think you'd be happy.
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Originally Posted by mch
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