Is ST worth it over Verizon?

**JGS** · 08-05-2012, 11:11 PM

Hello

I have been researching a lot about switching to ST from Verizon. I recently had a Galaxy Nexus with Verizon, but only kept it for 2 weeks and returned it and got my money back. The biggest reason I did this was because of the price jump per month. In my opinion, Verizon is way over priced for a data phone and they could easily make it much more affordable for customers. Quite frankly, paying just for talk/text on Verizon is way over priced and I got bare bones type of plan.

So, here I am wanting to know more about ST. My relative recently jumped on the ST bandwagon with the Galaxy Nexus and is convincing me to do the same. The plus side of it is I would be paying LESS for a data phone vs. my basic plan with Verizon.

My only problem I have concerns with is the lack of coverage and 100mb/daily limit. Does anyone typically doing general internet browsing/app downloading go over 100mb/day? Do anyone worry about going in rural area's that have lack of coverage? I live in North Dakota and Verizon is dominant up here and I can go anywhere outside of the city without service troubles. Although I don't go out of town much at all so I don't think I'd worry too much about that. To counter the 100mb/daily limit is using wifi at home/anywhere else that has wifi available to save on data.

Any other positive information would be great regarding ST. I'd like to order the Galaxy Nexus/SIMM this week if possible.

**1true3** · 08-05-2012, 11:52 PM

The Proclaim is the only android that ST has on the Verizon network and SIMs won't work on CDMA phones (at least in my area). If V is dominant in your area, you should make sure your phone will be piggybacked on their network.

**october262** · 08-06-2012, 01:08 AM

verizon's coverage on straight talk is native coverage only (no roaming)
you can't bring any outside verizon phone to straight talk.

**GTwannabe** · 08-06-2012, 01:12 AM

You should be fine:

http://straighttalksim.com/coverage.php

**jgrobe** · 08-06-2012, 01:44 AM

Which carriers have coverage in your city? AT&T or T-Mobile besides Verizon?

How many hours per day of non-wifi usage do you anticipate using the smartphone? Unless it is a very high number I wouldn't expect a problem for your usage. It is video usage which really increases the amount downloaded.

For your limited coverage in rural areas you could carry a second phone, perhaps a Page Plus Cellular (although that is $.29/minute for roaming) or a Tracfone.

Page Plus Cellular is an alternative--although they are $55/month and a 1 GB monthly limit--but you can bring about any Verizon phone you wish except Verizon prepaid.

**maestroteague** · 08-06-2012, 06:28 AM

I will echo what has already been posted - if you are coming from a non-smartphone, your data usage will probably be well under the 100MB per day. Just make sure you set the phone to only do updates on wifi so that it doesn't, do them automatically and use data that you're not aware of. If you do most of your app downloads and updates on wifi, then you wil have no problems as far as data goes. For coverage, you best bet is probably the AT&T sim with the nexus, although I do plead ignorance with tmobile's coverage in ND. Best thing you can do is talk to coworkers or friends and see if any are on AT&T or tmobile and see how their coverage is. Maps tell general coverage, but it's best to rely on first-hand information in a case like this. If any friends on postpaid AT&T have good coverage, then order your sim and phone and jump to prepaid! You'll be glad you did, and will enjoy having a smartphone at a smart price.

**Carole Wright** · 08-06-2012, 09:27 AM

I'm in Fargo, ND, not sure where OP lives? AT&T Straight Talk is working well for me, I used to have the Verizon flavor Straight Talk. Either carrier has very good coverage here with ATT having a slight edge at my home. The biggest thing I noticed was the dramatic increase in data speed! I've gotten close to 7 Mbps down in a few locations, and even pull 4-5 at my home late at night (neighbors call this little area "cell Hell" for ALL carriers).

As far as T Mobile, they are still 2G here, so I would definately go with AT&T sim or phone.

Sent from my phone using HowardForums

**steveg NC** · 08-06-2012, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by october262

verizon's coverage on straight talk is native coverage only (no roaming)
you can't bring any outside verizon phone to straight talk.

What does this mean "native coverage no roaming" ? You go up the road a state or two away you have no signal ? --- Even with the CDMA you get from WMT ?

**Brett Jackson** · 08-06-2012, 11:08 AM

Native coverage means you will only get service on towers that Verizon owns and operates. You do not benefit from their roaming agreements with other carriers. A verizon customer can get service off of other towers that VZW has agreements with. This is called roaming. If you use a ST phone on the verizon network, you don't get roaming. You only get service on Verizon's towers.

**deathcab** · 08-06-2012, 11:14 AM

Worth keeping in mind that vzw roams very little even on postpaid mostly due to a limited number of other carriers towers that work with non-gsm phones.

With that being said, they do have a few large areas in one or maybe two states that are only roaming due to compromises they made with the FCC to buy new towers / carriers / spectrum.

**alphamale-b** · 08-06-2012, 11:17 AM

it basically means you are on verizon prepaid network and that is the network you only get to use. but that covers most of America. as post #7 states both att verizon work well in your area.

what you need to wrap your head around is that straight talk is no sissy. you have access to good networks and can move around and still use the service when the carrier you select has service in that area. you have 4 carrier option with sub options like roaming in cases where zero signal exists for one of the gsm carriers you subscribe to.

so you need to research what works where you live and travel and make a choice.

**gate115** · 08-06-2012, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by jgrobe

Which carriers have coverage in your city? AT&T or T-Mobile besides Verizon?

How many hours per day of non-wifi usage do you anticipate using the smartphone? Unless it is a very high number I wouldn't expect a problem for your usage. It is video usage which really increases the amount downloaded.

For your limited coverage in rural areas you could carry a second phone, perhaps a Page Plus Cellular (although that is $.29/minute for roaming) or a Tracfone.

Page Plus Cellular is an alternative--although they are $55/month and a 1 GB monthly limit--but you can bring about any Verizon phone you wish except Verizon prepaid.

Page Plus has upped data to 2GB for their "The 55"plan.

**JGS** · 08-06-2012, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Carole Wright

I'm in Fargo, ND, not sure where OP lives? AT&T Straight Talk is working well for me, I used to have the Verizon flavor Straight Talk. Either carrier has very good coverage here with ATT having a slight edge at my home. The biggest thing I noticed was the dramatic increase in data speed! I've gotten close to 7 Mbps down in a few locations, and even pull 4-5 at my home late at night (neighbors call this little area "cell Hell" for ALL carriers).

As far as T Mobile, they are still 2G here, so I would definately go with AT&T sim or phone.

Sent from my phone using HowardForums

Grand Forks.

**JGS** · 08-06-2012, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by maestroteague

I will echo what has already been posted - if you are coming from a non-smartphone, your data usage will probably be well under the 100MB per day. Just make sure you set the phone to only do updates on wifi so that it doesn't, do them automatically and use data that you're not aware of. If you do most of your app downloads and updates on wifi, then you wil have no problems as far as data goes. For coverage, you best bet is probably the AT&T sim with the nexus, although I do plead ignorance with tmobile's coverage in ND. Best thing you can do is talk to coworkers or friends and see if any are on AT&T or tmobile and see how their coverage is. Maps tell general coverage, but it's best to rely on first-hand information in a case like this. If any friends on postpaid AT&T have good coverage, then order your sim and phone and jump to prepaid! You'll be glad you did, and will enjoy having a smartphone at a smart price.

Thanks for the information, especially regarding to updating the phone only on wifi. The AT&T sim would with the Nexus was my choice from the beginning.