Is there a Republic Wireless-type company that allows iPhones?

[NewStachian]

I've been doing some research into Republic Wireless and like their model. But, I'd rather use my current iPhone. Is there another company out there like Republic Wireless that allows for iPhone use with similar prices?

Thanks in advance.

[snuggler]

Yes, Ting allows certain iPhone models and has similar (in many cases even cheaper) prices.

You do need a Sprint iPhone, but if you buy and sell the same model iPhone on Glyde (Ting's partner), Ting will reimburse any money you lost in that transaction to make it an equal trade. See https://ting.com/swap?utm_source=Ting+Production&utm_campaign=ff05f072b2-Ting_newsletter_July_20147_21_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4d8c9dacd7-ff05f072b2-75315813

[nordlead]

No, and I doubt there ever will be due to iOS being a very restricted OS compared to Android that RW is free to modify.

If you want an iPhone with a cheap plan look at Ting or other MVNO's. I have Ting, so I know they support the iPhone (4-5, no 5s). From there, you can use Google Voice to place/receive calls and SMS messages and there are plenty of ways to place VoIP calls over Wifi.

That is what I do with my Android Nexus 5 on Ting. Yes, I left out a lot of steps, but it gives you a place to start looking.

This thread by I.P. Daley has good information - http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-son-of-the-superguide!/

[mpg350]

Cricket Wireless

[Daley]

Thanks for the linkage, Nordlead. You're also quite correct in how trivially easy it is to reproduce the Republic experience... but you're incorrect in assuming it can't be done with iOS. It's quite possible, and I detailed out how to do it starting at $2/month.

So, VarsityFinances? Yes, it's very possible to reproduce the Republic experience using your iPhone, but it involves rolling your own service. Don't fret though, we're talking about one extra prepaid provider and setting up conditional call forwarding once. It's trivially easy to implement and the link above breaks it down for you.

[nordlead]

You and I agree, I.P. Daley. I said he can do this on his own, but what I doubt is a company ever selling the same service republic wireless sells directly (essentially seamless VoIP/Cell integration) for iOS, which is what he asked.

[NewStachian]

You guys are awesome. My plan expires next month, so I'll be tracking down all the leads you provided.

Thanks!

[norabird]

There is also Kitty wireless (if it's a verizon phone) and Straight Talk (if ATT). It's not as cheap as republic, but cheaper than the postpaid major networks and equivalent service. Very easy to switch.

[Daley]

There is also Kitty wireless (if it's a verizon phone) and Straight Talk (if ATT). It's not as cheap as republic, but cheaper than the postpaid major networks and equivalent service. Very easy to switch.

Kitty Wireless is just a master dealer for Page Plus, they are not an MVNO. There's also several cheaper and far better providers on AT&T than Straight Talk already covered in the guide.

[MooseOutFront]

I know Daley hates straight talk, but my wife has been on it since January with no issues.  She texts a bunch, streams Pandora all day at work and we need ATT towers.  Plus we needed to use her ATT iphone 4S.  With 2.5 GB "unlimited" data, straight talk has been a better deal in the unlimited talk/text/data category than other ATT MVNOs I have found.  Though it's month to month so I'm open to alternatives.  Caveat being that I cannot change my wife's phone usage behavior.  I have to have something that limits her none, just like her old $100 a month ATT plan.  We now pay $50.38 a month.

EDIT: she wants an iphone 5S and straight talk works with those so I've been looking for one on ebay.

EDIT II: I see from Daley's guide that cricketwireless is the only ATT or Verizon MVNO that may be less expensive than straight talk in the unlimited talk/text/data category so I'm looking into them now.  Every other one was more expensive than straight talk.

https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans

[alsoknownasDean]

No, and I doubt there ever will be due to iOS being a very restricted OS compared to Android that RW is free to modify.

If you want an iPhone with a cheap plan look at Ting or other MVNO's. I have Ting, so I know they support the iPhone (4-5, no 5s). From there, you can use Google Voice to place/receive calls and SMS messages and there are plenty of ways to place VoIP calls over Wifi.

That is what I do with my Android Nexus 5 on Ting. Yes, I left out a lot of steps, but it gives you a place to start looking.

This thread by I.P. Daley has good information - http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-son-of-the-superguide!/

Which is better than buying a Republic phone and being locked in to only using it on Republic Wireless. Of course it's much better to have an unlocked phone and be able to use any provider's SIM in it (provided the device supports it of course).

If Republic changes their pricing or there's even better deals for your use (or you move to an area where their network doesn't work), you're SOL unless you buy a new device. Can you even use Republic phones on another carrier?

[DarinC]

RW phones tend to hold their value fairly well because there's not a whole lot of choice. People will usually pay ~80% of the cost of a new device if it's something recent.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cell-Phones-Smartphones-/9355/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=moto+g+republic&_sop=15

Personally, the data roaming on RW was something I really liked versus other MVNOs, which don't have much in the way of data roaming. Now that they've curtailed that, they aren't as appealing.

[cheapdad]

Check out sprint.  They just re worked all of their plans.  They have some awesome deals going right now that were cheaper for us to go with than ting wireless. And we are even getting an iphone 6 with the plan.  May not be worth it for you but it was definitely the best option for us.

[AshStash]

I send all of my friends links to Daley's guide, so of course my first suggestion is to listen to Daley's suggestions :)

That said, I'm using my iPhone on Airvoice with no issues. I can use all the iPhone features like FaceTime, Messages, etc. I only use my phone in the US for about 5 weeks a year and I don't know that I'd use Airvoice full time but so far I've been happy with it.

[arebelspy]

I just got an iPhone 6 on Sprint, so my wife took my old iPhone 4S and put it on FreedomPop.

1GB data (you also get 200 texts/minutes, but she uses 0 of these, as all her calls and texts go through data), $0/month.  Works great.