MMS and Data Rates for Sam S425 and S390 higher than the rest of Tracfone

**annepani** · 07-04-2012, 09:11 AM

Is everyone experiencing higher MMS and data rates for the Sam S425 and S390 vs the rest of Tracfone?

The S425 charges about 8 units to message a picture via MMS. The identical picture costs 1.5 units to message on an LG 800 which is the correct charge. It is the data portion, not the 1.0 connect charge that accounts for the difference.

Similar higher charges have been reported for the S390.

I called Exec Res about this happening on the S425 and the phone got reset to the correct charge for exactly one MMS. Now it seems to have flipped itself back to the higher charges. Is everyone experiencing this? On both phone models?

If Tracfone doesn't correct this I am returning both phones and dropping back to my Sam T404g. Also, maybe a complaint to the BBB.

And don't yammer on about wifi. WiFi doesn't come into play on MMS. MMS is data only, no WiFi. With MMS, you play, you pay.

**IsLand_BoY** · 07-04-2012, 09:14 AM

You already know this, but same here. It's a toss up though because browsing is cheaper this way if you're going to light mobile sites (I can use 0.8 units over a couple minutes rather than 1.5-2.0 units on older TracFones), but MMS is just insanely expensive.

**annepani** · 07-04-2012, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by IsLand_BoY

You already know this, but same here.

Are you talking just the S425 or S390 or both?

**thebigjp** · 07-04-2012, 10:12 AM

similar results to yours. s390.
i can handle the web rates. esp. for 3g. but 8 units for an MMS thats tough to swallow.

**IsLand_BoY** · 07-04-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by annepani

Are you talking just the S425 or S390 or both?

S425g.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using HowardForums

**episodic** · 07-05-2012, 12:40 PM

I was just wondering if anyone had anything else to chime in with this on. I've been googling all over the internet for information on these phones, and there isn't anything. 8 units for an MMS would indeed make me not want to get one.

If you get the net10 version of the s425g, I wonder if it deducts at a higher rate on the 750 minute monthly plan (25$ plan?).

So many questions.

Anyone know if the s390g will come to net10?

**annepani** · 07-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by episodic

If you get the net10 version of the s425g, I wonder if it deducts at a higher rate on the 750 minute monthly plan (25$ plan?). So many questions.

Anyone know if the s390g will come to net10?

Have you checked the Net10 Activate Phones page or the Tutorials page? If it is on Activate Phones page, then there is a really good chace that it is coming. The Tutorials page is less of a guarantee.

**pattyrn** · 07-05-2012, 10:33 PM

My s390g charge 1 unit to activate it and then an additional 6.12 to retrieve it. For a total of 7.12 units for. Tiny picture.

**IsLand_BoY** · 07-09-2012, 05:30 AM

Any updates? Just curious what everyone is planning on doing. I think TracFone is moving in the right direction, charging for actual data used, but if a 500kb picture costs upwards of 9 units, their data rates are pretty high. I'm sure they're factoring in TMFL but that's still a bit excessive.

Example:
$20 card = 180 units with TMFL = $0.11/min
9 unit MMS = $0.99 for an MMS

Reminds me of back in the day when TracFone first went digital and SMS cost 1 unit per message incoming/outgoing. It's the start of a good thing, but initially the rates are higher than what everyone else is charging. Back in the day I was just happy TracFone intro'd caller ID, voicemail, and SMS.. my how things have changed

**ST Dog** · 07-09-2012, 11:22 PM

70kB picture via MMS charger 2.07 units instead of the 1.50 units my LG500G was charged.

Same file (copied form phone to phone). Sitting in the same spot, same signal strength, sent within a minute of each other. LG500G showed EDGE while the S390G showed 3G.

Trying the tracfone forum. But the idiot misquoted at first, then apologized when I copied the rates from the website. Sent IMEI numbers. We'll see if they fix anything.

Comparing the parameters on my LG500G and one of the active S390Gs:

LG500G	S390G
Param106
BW=T R=0.50	BW=ACT R= 1.50
Param 125
tfdevice.home	m.tracfone.com
Param 144
MBW=ON DBW=ON PC=S	MBW=ON DBW=ON
Param 149
04800009 0	0A800009 0
Param 198
	att2.tracfone.com:80
Param 205
	1686851770 1172256955
Param 206
	AT: 1097.2200 BW Scale: 100

Param 205 and 206 are not on the LG500G at all.

**episodic** · 07-10-2012, 10:12 AM

Been following this for a week - trying to decide if these phones are cool to get or not. Has noone just called up executive support and said 'what gives?' - and get a straight answer? Just curious if anyone out there has had this resolved or even acknowledged?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by ST Dog

70kB picture via MMS charger 2.07 units instead of the 1.50 units my LG500G was charged.

Same file (copied form phone to phone). Sitting in the same spot, same signal strength, sent within a minute of each other. LG500G showed EDGE while the S390G showed 3G.

Trying the tracfone forum. But the idiot misquoted at first, then apologized when I copied the rates from the website. Sent IMEI numbers. We'll see if they fix anything.

Comparing the parameters on my LG500G and one of the active S390Gs:

LG500G	S390G
Param106
BW=T R=0.50	BW=ACT R= 1.50
Param 125
tfdevice.home	m.tracfone.com
Param 144
MBW=ON DBW=ON PC=S	MBW=ON DBW=ON
Param 149
04800009 0	0A800009 0
Param 198
	att2.tracfone.com:80
Param 205
	1686851770 1172256955
Param 206
	AT: 1097.2200 BW Scale: 100

Param 205 and 206 are not on the LG500G at all.

**annepani** · 07-10-2012, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by episodic

Been following this for a week - trying to decide if these phones are cool to get or not. Has noone just called up executive support and said 'what gives?' - and get a straight answer? Just curious if anyone out there has had this resolved or even acknowledged? Thanks!

Yes, I have callled exec res/corporate 4 separate times, 4 separate days. They don't have a clue.

I have both the S425 and S390 and I m about to send them both back and drop back to my T404.

**episodic** · 07-10-2012, 10:35 AM

It seems like as many of these as has been sold, etc - there would be some larger volume of complaints out there. Sad, as I really am interested in one.

**ST Dog** · 07-11-2012, 10:02 AM

episodic, you'd think so.

But, the reps on the forum and FB don't have a clue.

I'm going to try ER today.

**ST Dog** · 07-11-2012, 04:54 PM

Well I don't know that it will amount to much, but I called ER in Miami.

First here English skills weren't great, but she said she was in Miami.

So she has me check Parameter 4. Well I'm pretty sure that's the rate for local calls (look at 5-8 which are long distance, international, incoming, and SMS rates).

Claims to have sent some updates and it should be fixed.
So I talk her through as I start the browser, load a webpage (att.yahoo.com), then exit the browser.
Obviously it was less than a minute, and she agrees. Then I tell her I was charged 23 units, which per the documentation would be 46 minutes online.

She suggests getting a replacement form HSN, and I point out all the 3G phones have the problem.
Not just mine.

Promises to send the issue to engineering and management. We'll see.

She did replace 200 minutes, which was my estimate of what I burned trying to figure out what the phone was charging.