AT&T $50 plan, seriously people?

[benjamin.kelley]

Why are you guys wasting all this time on this. Lets do the pros and cons.

AT&T $50 Plan.
-Smaller non roaming prepaid coverage
-seperate data package for smart phones
-if you get data included to work with a smartphone, it will probably get turned off sooner or later with AT&T adding more devices and IMEI's to block these foreign devices..T-Mobile and unlocked devices.

Its is a waste of time and money playing in limbo with this plan and smartphones.

Now straight talks BYOD $45 plan

-Bring any AT&T phone, smartphone, including iPhone.
-full postpaid coverage network including roaming
-data included with the talk and text
-no guessing and money wasting testing seeing what phones work and don't.
-cheaper than AT&TS offerings

I don't see why people waste their time with this game. Logically it makes no sense and your more and likely, after data packages, are going to come out spending more than A postpaid account when you think your saving money

Sent from my SGH-I997 using HowardForums

[MaxBurn]

Counterpoints or just a continuation of the list

AT&T Go Phone
-Has lower cost plans that can save money over ST if you are a light user.
-A known fixed data usage that you can monitor on their site.
-A sorted history of changing service plans without informing anyone, including retail staff or operators.
-Does allow iPhone also.
-I don't see anyone that complains about being terminated and losing their phone number.

ST BYOD plan
-Unlimited not truly unlimited and LOTS of speculation on what the limits or what things you can and can't use are.
-Unknown data usage amount terminates your SIM and loses your phone number.
-No way to monitor your data usage on their site.
-Can order a T-Mobile network SIM.


Personally I'm moving to ST and if the next iPhone has T-Mobile bands I'm heading over there.

[spekkio]

Until recently you could pay per minute and pay per text + have a data plan on AT&T GoPhone service. For people who talk and text little but wanted a nice smartphone with a little data, it was by far the cheapest way to go. Of course AT&T ruined it by now requiring a minimum monthly talk plan to have smartphone data on GoPhone, so yea there would be little reason for anyone now to be on GoPhone with a smartphone instead of ST.

Even the $45 monthly for unlimited on ST is still overkill for many users. I kinda fall into that category being I talk 100 min and use 100 texts per month, but alas it is still better than anything else out there that would work for me coverage wise.

[efparri]

Why are you guys wasting all this time on this. Lets do the pros and cons.

AT&T $50 Plan.
-Smaller non roaming prepaid coverage
-seperate data package for smart phones
-if you get data included to work with a smartphone, it will probably get turned off sooner or later with AT&T adding more devices and IMEI's to block these foreign devices..T-Mobile and unlocked devices.

Its is a waste of time and money playing in limbo with this plan and smartphones.

Now straight talks BYOD $45 plan

-Bring any AT&T phone, smartphone, including iPhone.
-full postpaid coverage network including roaming
-data included with the talk and text
-no guessing and money wasting testing seeing what phones work and don't.
-cheaper than AT&TS offerings

I don't see why people waste their time with this game. Logically it makes no sense and your more and likely, after data packages, are going to come out spending more than A postpaid account when you think your saving money

Sent from my SGH-I997 using HowardForums

Didn't Straight Talk kick you to the curb last month?

[billm261]

Why are you guys wasting all this time on this. Lets do the pros and cons.

Not everyone owns a smartphone as much as that's hard to imagine.

For 45 a month (with PIN discounts) it's still not a bad deal for feature phones.

[benjamin.kelley]

Counterpoints or just a continuation of the list

AT&T Go Phone
-Has lower cost plans that can save money over ST if you are a light user.
-A known fixed data usage that you can monitor on their site.
-A sorted history of changing service plans without informing anyone, including retail staff or operators.
-Does allow iPhone also.
-I don't see anyone that complains about being terminated and losing their phone number.

ST BYOD plan
-Unlimited not truly unlimited and LOTS of speculation on what the limits or what things you can and can't use are.
-Unknown data usage amount terminates your SIM and loses your phone number.
-No way to monitor your data usage on their site.
-Can order a T-Mobile network SIM.


Personally I'm moving to ST and if the next iPhone has T-Mobile bands I'm heading over there.

Well my main point was the people who waste money testing phones ans upset with the $50 plan trying to get past the system. I used 3G watchdog on my phone. More detailed data usage minuter that. Any online one provided by any carrier. And the only people who get their account terminated are the people who abuse the data, tether as if its their home ISP and
Ignore the warnings to stop.

Even if its not truely unlimited, its still at least 1 GB included. How much would that cost with a.smartphone data plan with gophone? Exactly. Probably almost as much as the calling plan itself.

Sent from my SGH-I997 using HowardForums

[benjamin.kelley]

Not everyone owns a smartphone as much as that's hard to imagine.

For 45 a month (with PIN discounts) it's still not a bad deal for feature phones.

This is not about smartphones. Its a general statement that AT&T are robbing you blind for the same plus more offerings straight talk offers. If you don't use AT&Ts $50 plan, it is not for you.

Sent from my SGH-I997 using HowardForums

[benjamin.kelley]

Didn't Straight Talk kick you to the curb last month?

Actually, I wanted a new number, so I ordered a new byproduct similar, which is required anyways for a number transfer. So, no. I didn't get "kicked" to the curb. I'm still with straight talk.

Sent from my SGH-I997 using HowardForums

[billm261]

This is not about smartphones. Its a general statement that AT&T are robbing you blind for the same plus more offerings straight talk offers. If you don't use AT&Ts $50 plan, it is not for you.

Of course it's about smartphones, and in that case ST is a better deal as is Jolt and Red Pocket.

I use a Samsung Rugby 2 on AT&T's Go-Phone plan. Unlimited everything for 45 a month plus the web and MMS work perfect.
When I had to call CS, I actually got someone who knew what he was doing!

What advantage would I get by putting that phone on ST?

[CeluGeek]

Given that I have been with both Go Phone and Straight Talk:

With Go Phone:
* I get to talk to CS reps I can actually understand and who can understand me.
* I can buy refill cards from a lot of places, some of them offering coupon codes and/or no sales tax. I paid $45 for my latest $50 refill card while Straight Talk's $45 refills always ended up costing me $48.30.
* I get call details on AT&T's Go Phone OLAM.
* I can check my data usage balance at any time on the website or even on the phone by dialing *777*3#
* I can use all of my 1GB of data in two or three days and AT&T won't complain.
* I can roll any leftover data I didn't use so I have more data in the next month.
* I don't get text spam and very limited email spam.
* I use my phone worry-free.

With Straight Talk
* I had to talk through CS via Facebook because their phone reps couldn't understand me and I could hardly understand them.
* I could only buy refills from Wal Mart or Straight Talk websites. A $45 refill always cost $48.30.
* No call details on their website.
* I had a non-disclosed monthly data limit.
* I also had a non-disclosed DAILY data limit. Use more than 100 MB for two or three days in a row and Straight Talk will call you complaining and threatening to terminate your service.
* There is no data rollover. Straight Talk will complain if you use more than 100 MB two or three days in a row, even if you had not used ANY data in the rest of the month.
* I got spam text messages and still get spam emails from Straight Talk.
* I always lived in fear of losing my phone number thanks to Straight Talk's vindictive business practices.

It's obvious which service is a waste of money. **Spoiler alert** It isn't Go Phone.

[teyong]

Given that I have been with both Go Phone and Straight Talk:

With Go Phone:
* I get to talk to CS reps I can actually understand and who can understand me.
* I can buy refill cards from a lot of places, some of them offering coupon codes and/or no sales tax. I paid $45 for my latest $50 refill card while Straight Talk's $45 refills always ended up costing me $48.30.
* I get call details on AT&T's Go Phone OLAM.
* I can check my data usage balance at any time on the website or even on the phone by dialing *777*3#
* I can use all of my 1GB of data in two or three days and AT&T won't complain.
* I can roll any leftover data I didn't use so I have more data in the next month.
* I don't get text spam and very limited email spam.
* I use my phone worry-free.

With Straight Talk
* I had to talk through CS via Facebook because their phone reps couldn't understand me and I could hardly understand them.
* I could only buy refills from Wal Mart or Straight Talk websites. A $45 refill always cost $48.30.
* No call details on their website.
* I had a non-disclosed monthly data limit.
* I also had a non-disclosed DAILY data limit. Use more than 100 MB for two or three days in a row and Straight Talk will call you complaining and threatening to terminate your service.
* There is no data rollover. Straight Talk will complain if you use more than 100 MB two or three days in a row, even if you had not used ANY data in the rest of the month.
* I got spam text messages and still get spam emails from Straight Talk.
* I always lived in fear of losing my phone number thanks to Straight Talk's vindictive business practices.

It's obvious which service is a waste of money. **Spoiler alert** It isn't Go Phone.

well-explained

add one more

With Go Phone:
My mom can go to AT&T Retail Stores and ask for help...

With Straight Talk:
My mom can go Walmart and become frustrated...

[billm261]

It's obvious which service is a waste of money. **Spoiler alert** It isn't Go Phone.

Nice post.

Way too many people confuse cost vs value.

[Pabster]

"Value" is all in the eyes of the beholder. One person is perfectly happy paying much more for a reliable name and service, even if the same could be had (mostly) with a service at less cost.

GoPhone is a terrible value in my book now. They were OK before the data changes. That said, GoPhone does provide a few things which Straight Talk does not - including English speaking customer service that comes right up. One feature I did like with GoPhone was the ability to see all calls and texts in a log, you don't have this with Straight Talk. For a kids line, for example, this is a big deal for a lot of folks.

Straight Talk is the best deal - the best price/performance ratio if you will - but not necessarily the best value, depending on your situation and needs. It is most definitely not the be-all end-all of cellular service.

[graveboss]

Actually I believe that AT&T GoPhone is still a good value despite the fact that AT&T treats GoPhone customers as second class citizens. Yeah I know, its a little weird, but bare with me. Now I speak from experience considering both my father and I have GoPhone currently. Of course I was affected by AT&T's recent decision to kill data packages on non-monthly Smartphone users and not happy about it, and that's were the second class citizen comes from.

Good:
- Coverage: Here in the United States, only Verizon Wireless has better coverage than AT&T from my experience. T-Mobile and Sprint are fair behind.
- 10 cents per minute in my case is good for a light voice user.
- Text Message feature packages are a good deal.
- AT&T Hot Spots are good in several locations. I use Wifi when I'm out and about when I can.
- $100 refill card is a time and money saver at least for me.

Bad:
- 20 cents per text is 10 cents too much at least.
- No data what so ever for Smartphones suck.
- $10 refill card for 90 days (T-Mobile) instead of 30 days (AT&T) would be better. Yes T-Mobile is good in that area.

Of course this is from my experience, but it is worth noting that if T-Mobile's coverage gets better in 2013, I will jump to them when I have the money to buy an unlocked Android Smartphone and $100 refill card.

[Pabster]

It's fine for a dumb phone, spare, etc. It's just off the table in my book for my uses at this point in time. And actually 20 cents per text is about 20 cents too much but that's another argument