For cable users, Motorola typically makes a decent modem with the SB5101U immediately coming to mind. Also keep in mind that unless your cable ISP demands you use a DOCSIS 3.0 compatible device, you don't actually need one for the speeds you'll be using, so save that money and buy a cheaper DOCSIS 2.0 model instead.
I would say here that people should likely NOT skimp on the cost of a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. While DOCSIS 2.0 has had IPv6 support added as part of the spec. that is largely dependent upon hardware manufacturer support and it is flaky. IPv6 may seem far off to people, but IPv4 space has been completely allocated to the RIR's now and we will likely be completely out of IPv4 space in the next year and a half and forced into IPv6. This is a situation where I would say it makes more sense to future proof and spend a little extra money.
It's a fair point you've made regarding the whole DOCSIS 2.0/IPv6 transition (especially with cable modems), which is one of the reasons for the Moto Surfboard SB5101U recommendation. But it is fair to be cautious about other cheap, off-brand (or older) DOCSIS 2.0 modems as they may not survive the transition smoothly. And with that, I would be remiss to urge frugality over spending a bit extra for DOCSIS 3.0 support if one is truly concerned about the transition. That said, I've also been hearing the call of, "All IPv4 space is allocated, we'll be out of addresses in under XX months!" for what's felt like years now. IPv6 will be an ugly transition when it happens (and it will eventually happen), but just when you think it's going to get pressed into service earlier than later, the deadline keeps getting miraculously pushed back.
People have certainly been preaching doom and gloom for awhile but a lot of large providers are on board now after the success of World IPv6 Day. Here is a good presentation that happened at NANOG 54 last month about it:
http://www.nanog.org/meetings/nanog54/presentations/Wednesday/Daigle.pdf
AT&T, Cox, Comcast, TW Cable, Google, Netflix, and a lot more big eyeball and content networks are on board and while they've only committed to 1% of traffic using IPv6 that's a huge amount of traffic when you talk about the scale these providers are working at.
/disclaimer I work for a service provider scrambling to prepare for a large IPv6 deployment so it's always fresh in my mind.
Wow, there's a lot here to read, and I'll get back to it, but I wanted to post a reply about the assumption that 3mbps is plenty of speed for your internet connection. You are generally correct, assuming you are actually receiving the speed you pay for. When I had 6mbps through my cable provider I could not watch HD netflix streams without pauses to buffer every 15 minutes. This really ruins the mood when you're in the middle of a movie. In practice I was receiving about 768k in download speeds because apparently I'm in a pretty wired up neighborhood.
Once I switched to AT&T DSL 6mbps I actually received .... wait for it..... 6mbps!
At that point I could be watching a full HD stream from netflix while browsing the web and downloading whatever I wanted. So I guess the point it, make sure you get what you are paying for.
Now back to reading this novel ;)
Wow I am impressed with your guide. Lots of good infor. I do take issue this statement on pageplus
"Their banned provider and model list is comically long, so you're literally better off just buying one of their phones."
I would never buy one of their devices. They are old over priced phones. All you need to know is no Verizon prepaid phones and no blackberries. Other than that pretty much any Verizon phone will work. Technically they say no but I have never had any problems. The down side is no tech support but that's what forums are for.
Wow I am impressed with your guide. Lots of good infor. I do take issue this statement on pageplus
"Their banned provider and model list is comically long, so you're literally better off just buying one of their phones."
I would never buy one of their devices. They are old over priced phones. All you need to know is no Verizon prepaid phones and no blackberries. Other than that pretty much any Verizon phone will work. Technically they say no but I have never had any problems. The down side is no tech support but that's what forums are for.
That's only partially true, as the smartphone list is longer than just Blackberries and no Verizon prepaid, and doesn't even touch on an issue that doesn't get brought up much. There's an oddball random ~2% BYOD device ban that's been going on for years on their network that nobody's been able to get to the bottom of (read HowardForums long enough, you'll see the threads). I agree that their phones are old and overpriced (at least from a used market and new with contract price standpoint), but given the full restrictions it means the used phone you have must not be one of the potentially bannable smartphone models, is a Verizon standard phone model out of contract and with a clean ESN and not a refurb model, not a competing CDMA or CDMA MVNO service provider handset, and you're comfortable taking a gamble on that 1 in 50 shot of eventually having your handset banned anyway. As such, the ban list is comical and restrictive for a BYOD provider, and for the average user might not be worth going through the effort of hunting down a handset that escapes those restrictions and still meets the smartphone with WiFi requirements needed for maximum cost savings offered by this guide.
You can technically BYOD to PlatinumTel as well, but you're hit with an even more restrictive list, and to me, BYOD means just that: Bring Your Own Device. As an example, H2O is just that. They don't care if you're bringing over a T-Mobile phone or an O2 phone from the UK or some off-the-wall Chinese handset bought off DealExtreme. If it's GSM and network unlocked (or AT&T network locked), (excluding network data configuration if needed) it will just work. That is true BYOD.
This is one of the many reasons why PagePlus is not one of my more favorite providers unless you're willing to truly put the effort into supporting yourself. Too many gotchas... but they're still a superior option to America Movil's offerings by both price and support, and more BYOD friendly than most other prepaid CDMA carriers. So they're worth mentioning for those reasons.
I'm very happy and relieved to know that you have been able to do it yourself and haven't hit any problems, but I stand by my claim.
I guess you and I agree to disagree. Although I do fully admit their customer service sucks and you very much have to go it alone, its really pretty easy. I do read Hofo and I have no idea what you are talking about when you say some phones are randomly banned. If you read hofo you should realize that you can make any phone work (even a iPhone thought they are technically banned or a sprint phone which takes lots of work). I have personally switched over 4 smart phones (they were all used verizon phones) with out any problems.
I'm definitely interested in this OpenELEC thing. Do you really thing you could run it on one of those Raspberry Pi devices though? I saw a bunch of news about them today and I think the specs were 700mhz 256mb ram?
Home Telephone Service (VoIP providers)
VOIPo - http://www.voipo.com/
A feature rich VoIP provider that although is relatively expensive for month-to-month payment, has had bundled offers that have dropped the price of service as low as $5.30/month for 5,000 minutes or less so long as you pay in yearly chunks. Many of the convenience factors of Google Voice like number blocking are available with this service, as is e911 at no additional cost. They also provide a free ATA bridge for use with their service so long as your account is active, though they'll soak you if you return the device after your service expires or is canceled. Officially they also state they don't support third party devices, but their official support forums have an entire section devoted to community supported third party devices.
Pros: Good call quality. Reasonably good customer support. One of the cheapest total package VoIP providers. e911 included as part of basic service. Thriving support forums for DIY users. Supports SIP-to-SIP calling to any SIP provider. Similar features to Google Voice. Free number porting. US and Canada treated as the same calling area. Softphone access (use with your WiFi enabled Android). 30 day trial with full refund if canceled.
Cons: Good pricing only in one year/two year chunks, canceling service gets used months billed at full $15/month price before refund. "Free" leased ATA has expensive return costs if returned outside of active service dates.
Thank you! I'm totally checking out VoIPo. I currently have Vonage Lite, which after taxes and fees is $17.09/month (and it just went up to that from $14.51). With VoIPo, and I only saw one plan for residential and it was unlimited calling at $149 for 2 years (with taxes and fees it's $185), that comes out to be $7.71/month....nearly a $10/month savings! And I can take my number with me!!!
I've been happy with Vonage (whom I ran to as a refugee from Verizon FiOS phone bundled with my internet and TV....what am f-ing racket!!), but I like that I can get essentially the same service, but cheaper. Thanks for the post!!
Finally, the jump going from your cable internet provider to AT&T highlights how different providers can impact quality of service from certain websites and ties into the mentioned topic regarding oversubscribing bandwidth (which can happen on the local, regional and national levels) and network neutrality. In the case of Netflix, some ISPs are going to have better peering agreements with Level3 (Netflix's backbone provider) than others... Comcast is a great example of this situation, because I don't think there's a person on Earth who uses Comcast who has absolutely glowing things to say about the Netflix streaming experience during peak traffic hours.
Thanks for the guide. It is quite helpful, and I had spent hours trying to find this info separately before coming here.
This is actually a very interesting point (and slightly wrong) in light of the Level(3) vs. Comcast blow up that happened as a result of Netflix at the end of 2010:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20024571-266.html
Netflix uses different CDN's (Content Distribution Networks) to deliver their streaming content. Limelight and Akamai previously provided their CDN services and then Level(3) got into the CDN game with Netflix at the end of 2010. Comcast was purchasing transit from Level(3) at the time but Level(3)'s move into the CDN space radically flipped the ratio of traffic sent vs. received with Comcast. Level(3) made some outrageous demands to Comcast to provide additional capacity in a very short time frame as a result of this. When Comcast realized they were now being forced to pay for additional bandwidth to Level(3) to deliver content to their customers that was being delivered via settlement free peering agreements previously things blew up.
Level(3) accused Comcast of hating net neutrality (or something like that...) and Comcast put out the facts and negotiated a new deal with Level(3) that probably involved a much reduced cost for transit or (possibly) a settlement free peering arrangement.
The reason this is important is Netflix currently streams from 3 different content networks. Akamai, who deploys servers on different service provider networks and caches streams for local users, Limelight Networks, who runs their own content distribution network and arranges peering agreements directly with different service providers, and now Level(3), who is abusing their position as one of the largest global internet backbone providers to provide CDN services and force their existing customers to pay for their CDN content (double dipping) when, in cases like Netflix, many people were getting it free from previous peering arrangements.
The silver lining in this cloud for everyone is that Netflix is deploying their own content caching solution on service provider networks that will put the content closer to users and drive down transit costs which should (but may not) result in cheaper and better service to the end user.
One thing that I have been on the look out for is an unlimited LTE plan for a mobile hotspot device that I'd be able to use as my ISP, but there does not appear to be an option in San Diego yet. One day...
I wish I had a suggestion for you on this front. After LightSquared got shot down by the FCC for disrupting GPS services, the odds of cost effective unlimited LTE kind of evaporated. I sincerely doubt the mobile operators will ever let truly unlimited data service exist as a permanent option as it makes too much money for them to meter it. Sprint has come the closest, but even they put restrictions in place and have backed down on certain offerings.
I just don't see it happening in this country, sad to say.
I'm currently on a Verizon plan with my wife, brother, and mother. We've got about 1 year left on this contract. Is it possible to switch to PagePlus now, or are we stuck for a year? Thanks!
Unfortunately I don't think, 'unlimited data,' services will exist in this country in any form before much longer.
Thank you so SO MUCH for the primer. I've been looking for a way to save on my cell phone, but had no clue what MVNOs had to offer. I thought paying $80 for my husband and I on Verizon was as good as it got. If you don't mind, I would love to read your thoughts on Google Voice. I've seen ref to it here and there, but unfortunately I.still.just.don't.get.it. Like, what exactly does it do and how can I use it to save money? I asked a friend, and she said that it basically just routes all calls to whatever phone you happen to be at. I know MMM has said that it's a great tool to help him save on phone costs, but I'm not sure how to apply this strategy in my own life.
One thing to mention is E911. While Google Voice is free and that's great, what happens if there is an emergency in your house? That's why I'd rather pay for VOIP service. I'm currently using VOIPMyWay and they offer unlimited calling and E911 for $95 per year.
If I had it to do over again, I'd probably go with Ooma. It's like $5 per month but a bit more upfront. I was worried I wouldn't like VOIP and didn't wanted minimum upfront costs. However, I ended up pretty close to Ooma upfront cost when I had to buy a router to go with my Obihai.
For plain old voice cellphone service, it's very difficult to beat Tracphone. My wife has this service and she pays around $8 per month with all the double minute for life coupons they offer.
For cell I'm using TMobile on my Android. I pay $.10 per minute and $2 a day if I need data. $3 if I need fast data. It looks like I'll be paying around $12 per month at current rates.
200mb for 1 yr at 100/yr = $8/mo. Meh.
I'd totally do the free if you buy the equipment (and even throw in ads!) if it was longer than a year, but not worth it for a year's access, for myself at least.
Might be for some people though.
I agree, from that perspective it's not the greatest ROI and it's not something I'd personally do myself. Where this option really benefits is for people who only need a bit of relatively secure data access a handful of times a year while out traveling. In that usage scenario, it's still cheaper than keeping around a full fledged wireless plan going with a data package and tethering option to cover those situations when a simple $10-15 a month prepaid package covers you for 48 weeks of the year but still hits you for 10-40¢ a MB.
T-Mobile's PayAsYouGo plan is pretty sweet. If I need data when I travel, I just pay for 24 hours of data. 200MB at 4G and unlimited 2G or unlimited 2G.
$25 a month is a good budget to consider as a cut-off with any pay as you go package, because if you're spending more than that a month, you might do better with the resources of a prepaid monthly plan
Wow, there's a lot here to read, and I'll get back to it, but I wanted to post a reply about the assumption that 3mbps is plenty of speed for your internet connection. You are generally correct, assuming you are actually receiving the speed you pay for. When I had 6mbps through my cable provider I could not watch HD netflix streams without pauses to buffer every 15 minutes. This really ruins the mood when you're in the middle of a movie. In practice I was receiving about 768k in download speeds because apparently I'm in a pretty wired up neighborhood.
Once I switched to AT&T DSL 6mbps I actually received .... wait for it..... 6mbps!
At that point I could be watching a full HD stream from netflix while browsing the web and downloading whatever I wanted. So I guess the point it, make sure you get what you are paying for.
Now back to reading this novel ;)
Internet Service Providers (what you do and don't need)
Others like AT&T refuse to give third party DSL providers access to dry-loop installations forcing you to have a local only land line phone turned on with them for $20+ a month before you can subscribe to DSLExtreme where you can save $15 a month on their DSL service over AT&T's for the same price, making AT&T's dry-loop DSL the only and cheapest DSL option for your area at $40+taxes and regulatory fees.
Internet Service Providers (what you do and don't need)
Others like AT&T refuse to give third party DSL providers access to dry-loop installations forcing you to have a local only land line phone turned on with them for $20+ a month before you can subscribe to DSLExtreme where you can save $15 a month on their DSL service over AT&T's for the same price, making AT&T's dry-loop DSL the only and cheapest DSL option for your area at $40+taxes and regulatory fees.
AT&T metered rate local is only $15 (they make it very hard to find, but its there)
+ Sonic.net DSL at $14.95 (no additional taxes or fees)
=$30 total
$30 is cheaper than AT&T dryloop of $40+
Bonus: slightly less of my money goes to AT&T
It requires a landline phone line - $15/mo for basic metered phone from AT&T (or $5 if you are low-income)
Good gravy. You have to love the irregularity AT&T has in pricing basic phone service from region to region. What costs you $15/month costs others around $25+ after taxes and regulatory fees in other parts of the country for the exact same service. I'd looked into doing the same thing before just completely blackballing AT&T last year, and it was going to cost us just as much per month for anything between 768kbps-3Mbps via DSL Exteme (or Sonic.net for that matter), as we were getting billed for AT&T's 3Mbps dry loop and our Future-Nine VoIP service combined, and AT&T was only going to provide measured rate local calling for that price instead of unlimited incoming and 250 minutes/month out to US/Canada, 1¢/min after (which didn't matter as we use Google Voice). Then of course, low income phone service from AT&T in this state runs nearly $10/month after taxes, too if memory serves.
Funny you should says that.... I was reading the guide, finding lots of great info, and then I read the part about "only" needing 3mbps and it made me laugh!
Really, 3mbps?
Good news! Just ran a half hour show thru Hulu plus and it worked just fine! Checked my speedtest utility and Charter did cut me to 3.1 MB download and 0.39 MB upload. But everything is working GREAT and I am feeling pretty good about my decision to downgrade to save $23 a month. Thanks again! Regarding moving my wife to a cheaper plan - I'd have to find an offering with a cheap android, and I am concerned at the price of PTel data plan, since androids can sneakily use a lot of MBs even if not streaming audio or video. Thanks again, IP!
Also,I just ordered a cheap phone and $10 card from PlatinumTel, so I'll be saving about $23 a month on my cell phone cost.
Well today I ported over my Virgin Mobile android ($26.72 per month) to a dumb Sanyo flip phone thru PlatinumTel ($3.33 per month) for a savings of $23.39 per month. I can feel the savings pour in already, although I am not so glued to my phone looking for email updates etc. Last week I changed to 3MBS economy service thru Charter for $24.99 per month versus the $47.99 I was paying Charter for 15MBS service. 3MBS seems quite acceptable and streaming Hulu is OK. I've dumped Netflix and Hulu Plus ($8 a month apiece) but watch Hulu by connecting my laptop via HDMI to my TV. I'm sticking with a $26.72 a month Virgin Mobile android for my dear wife because she can work it and find and call contacts easily versus a flip phone type of arrangement. My final frontier comes up when my 2 year Phone Power VOIP expires on August 17. Unless they offer a renewal bargain, instead of what I paid last time ($272 for 2 years, including $72 of FCC fees etc), I'm thinking hard about getting an OBI100 for $46 one time and connecting it to Google Voice which is free at least thru 2012. Two issues - one is getting a new number (having to inform friends/family/businesses) and the other is lack of 911 service. I understand that my phone outlets might be "live" to call 911 thru Century Link (former POTS provider) but I'm hesitant to test this out. Maybe I'll put a dumb phone on one of the wall outlets and see if there is still a dial tone. If this doesn't work, our two cell phones will have to suffice if we need to call 911.
I.P. thanks again for your service, all of this stuff came about because you got me to think of alternatives..
Thanks IP for your thoughts on OBI100 and Google Voice. I must admit Amazon reviews are stellar five star average for OBI100, and I've read a lot of them and didn't see one complaint about missed calls or can't hear as you have reported. Your comments make me a little hesitant to pull the trigger. My Phone Power also over the past two years has had situations where they couldn't hear me but I could hear them etc. i've found the solution is to power off reset the modem, router and ATA. I might try the OBI100 anyway, if I don't like it I'd be out $46 and could go back to Phone Power..
Free phone service through Google Voice is kinda like someone advertising all you can drink free beer where 9 out of 10 times, it's a can of PBR, and the other 10% is split 50/50 between Miller High Life and Natty Lite... and all the cans are open. Usually they're fresh and full, sometimes they're warm and flat, sometimes they're half full and there's lipstick or a cigarette butt in there, but it's free. Some people are okay with this even when they can pay the bar $8 and get an unlimited supply of cold High Life in unopened bottles. It might not be the greatest beer and you might get a warm bottle on occasion, but it's better than running any chance of getting a half-drunk can of Natty Lite with someone's Marlboro floating in it... and even if you do? You get to complain to the bartender.
-And granted, I've never used it with an OBi, so some of the above problems might be minimized given how the OBi connects with GV... I don't know.
I have and there were times when it was okay, and there were others when it was unusable. I also live on the east coast and I think that is also causing the extra lag I experience. I switched over to a pay VOIP service. It was either that or go back to paying for the landline.
One thing that's not totally clear to me (and it's probably just my own ignorance) is your use of Google Voice. On the one hand, you mention it in your original post and indicate you have two Google Voice numbers. But later, you talk quite a bit about the call quality problems you've noticed with it. Can you be more specific about how exactly you're using it? That is to say, are you giving our primarily your GV number to everyone and using it to ring your home phone (and cell when needed) so you can take calls? Or, are you working to get away from it and using similar features by way of, say, Voipo?
The way you were talking about it, I was almost getting the impression that you could avoid the GV problems by using the number only for incoming calls, but making outgoing calls some other way. However, I don't see how that would avoid the call quality problems whenever you're taking incoming calls.
you might want to include ting.com on your MVNO list. $6/month per device+tiered pricing for minutes/texts/data, allows hotspot/tethering for data. decent selection of Android phones. not the absolute cheapest, but a good option for people who aren't total cell phone ascetics.
On the personal end, we're using FutureNine's Bare Essentials w/e911 package as our primary home line and have 250 outgoing minutes a month.
As for the remaining purposes, they've been invaluable and even after we finish transitioning away from using GV for the long distance by switching to VOIPo after we move in a couple months and hopefully to TextFreek/chompSMS/crunchSMS (http://textfreek.com/) for texting*
the automatic adjustment of the pricing tiers is nice too. no need to overestimate your usage for the occasional heavy month, or get blasted with exorbitant overage charges.you might want to include ting.com on your MVNO list. $6/month per device+tiered pricing for minutes/texts/data, allows hotspot/tethering for data. decent selection of Android phones. not the absolute cheapest, but a good option for people who aren't total cell phone ascetics.
Thanks for bringing them to my attention, Napalminator! I was wondering why I hadn't heard of them until I realized Tucows launched the service publicly just a couple months ago. You're right, it's not the greatest deal across the board, but there are some usage saving scenarios there that I'm sure a fair number of people would find of value. Definitely a few perks, too, like free voice roaming outside of the Sprint coverage zone, roaming to Canada, fixed numbers on minute usage so you don't get burned by actually taking advantage of "unlimited" calls (I love Platinumtel's service, but I would never use one of their unlimited plans if I genuinely needed the meter ripped off the phone), and pooled resources across handsets. The handsets are prohibitively expensive and there's absolutely ZERO BYOD options, so that cost needs to be factored into switching as well, but overall it holds promise.
I'll do a bit more research and add them to the list next major update here in the next week or so (which will include a huge revamp on the android application and setting recommendations due to my own recently forced migration over from Blackberry and due to comments left by a poster in another thread).
the automatic adjustment of the pricing tiers is nice too. no need to overestimate your usage for the occasional heavy month, or get blasted with exorbitant overage charges.
Are you using FutureNine or VOIPo? Both services seem great, and I just noticed my VOIP provider has drastically increased the cost of our service ($60 per year up to $149) so I'll be in the market when my year is up.
I think AirVoice's new $10/month plan also deserves a spot on the list. They're an AT&T MVNO that has much better customer service than H2O. I ported my wife's iPhone to this plan last week.
I found this to be a really useful resource for learning about prepaid MVNOs:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1759158-The-Prepaid-Wireless-Frequently-Asked-Questions-(%E2%80%9CFAQ%E2%80%9D)-(updated-3-20-2012)
Just wanted to reply and say thanks for the guide here, a lot of super helpful information that motivated me to stop paying $80 a month for cell service.
I was a t-mobile customer, so I was looking around for GSM based prepaid/mvno options and really wanted to keep my existing phone. My phone (a Windows phone / HTC HD7) is carrier locked to T-mo and I really didn't want to hassle with unlocking it.
What I ended up doing was converting my current plan over to T-mobile Prepaid. $30 a month for 1500 combined minutes/txts. Thats more then I use, and if for some reason I get close to hitting the cap I will start supplementing with google voice. And I don't *need* data on my phone, so i just shut that off. The plan comes with 30mb of data, so if there was truly a GPS/email emergency I could flip on the data and use it, but know I won't need to.
Its not as cheap as it possibly could be, but its a LOT less then what I was paying before.
Just wanted to reply and say thanks for the guide here, a lot of super helpful information that motivated me to stop paying $80 a month for cell service.
I was a t-mobile customer, so I was looking around for GSM based prepaid/mvno options and really wanted to keep my existing phone. My phone (a Windows phone / HTC HD7) is carrier locked to T-mo and I really didn't want to hassle with unlocking it.
What I ended up doing was converting my current plan over to T-mobile Prepaid. $30 a month for 1500 combined minutes/txts. Thats more then I use, and if for some reason I get close to hitting the cap I will start supplementing with google voice. And I don't *need* data on my phone, so i just shut that off. The plan comes with 30mb of data, so if there was truly a GPS/email emergency I could flip on the data and use it, but know I won't need to.
Its not as cheap as it possibly could be, but its a LOT less then what I was paying before.
Glad to have helped there, Keith!
Something I should add in and mention (sorry for not mentioning this already) is that with both AT&T and T-Mobile, if your phone is out of contract, they will unlock it for you for free, and the process isn't that difficult. You just have to call customer support and ask (less than five minutes on the phone). 24 hours later, they'll e-mail you the IMEI unlock code and the instructions. Sometimes, you don't even need to be out of contract. I think 12 months in on a handset, AT&T will unlock it if you just tell them you're going out of country on a brief trip and want to take your phone with you (they even used to do it with their GoPhones). The process is really and truly trivial and the physical unlocking process is a 90 second job, if that. MSL codes on CDMA phones are almost as equally easy to obtain when you own the phone outright as well.
Unfortunately, most prepaid providers aren't quite as generous in that regard. (Interesting side-note with P'tel on the Android activation: they gave us the MSL code as part of the registration process.) I know you're viewing it as a "hassle" to do so, but given your history with TMo and the current conversion, head down to a store and see if they can still get the phone unlocked for you anyway. The added freedom and potential future savings/increased resale value will be well worth the effort, even if you don't use it now.
Ah ok thanks. I honestly didn't know that you could get it unlocked that easily. I will keep this in mind for the future.
This may be helpful for others as well, so maybe you can add a brief unlocking section to the rest of the guide when you have time...
One caveat is that without a data plan, Google Voice can't dial phones, but the few times I need to make phone calls away from a wifi connection, I just call from my phone's phone number, which confuses people, but works fine.
I've used Google Voice to make calls on multiple android phones without a data connection. http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/faster-dialing-with-google-voice-on.html
Perhaps we're talking about different use cases...
Ah, interesting. So I usually make calls when connected to wifi. That works fine. But apparently it's only the numbers I haven't dialed before that won't work without a wifi or data connection. That is very cool.
I want to spend less, naturally. So I've been following this thread with interest and after reading ladymaier's post mentioning VoipO today, I checked out their website. Looks easy enough, and cheap but I guess what I don't understand is how I can change while still having everything come into the house on Verizon's wires. This is probably a really stupid question, but if I signed up (for example) with VoipO, how does Verizon know to stop billing me the $52 per month? Does VoipO let them know? Is there a general procedure for switching providers?
And if there's a problem with the line (like the annoying hum I get to listen to now every time we have heavy rain), who would I call since Verizon owns the wires, but they'd no longer provide my landline service?
I also see that Ting has been mentioned as a wireless provider. I'm currently using them so I'll give my 2 cents. If their model works for you I would absolutely recommend them. Based on my interactions with them they do appear to genuinely care that you are happy with them. I've called them for some unusual requests as well, dealing with spoofing the ESN of an ex-Sprint smartphone on their network, and they were more than happy to spend over 40 minutes on the phone to get me the information I needed. NO ONE else would even consider helping you out with a request like that, hell they'd probably cancel your account on the spot. The no hold wait is a nice touch, although I don't know how well that will continue as the number of subscribers grow.
And in case anyone is considering buying a simple phone, they are currently offering $50 off of a new purchase and activation (code VTIMR33). I paid $70 bucks for my phone, but the service fits my needs perfectly and I consider it well worth the initial cost. At 20 bucks I wouldn't hesitate.
My ATT contract is up this month. I'm trying to figure out a cheaper solution. My problem is I want to use my iphone. I'm on wifi almost everywhere I use the phone. Are there any solutions that would let me do pay as you go and use my iphone without getting a data plan? I dont need the data part, I never use the data on my phone without being on wifi.
I could just get a cheap pay as you go phone and keep the iphone as an "ipod" basically to use on wifi but I'd rather not have to carry around 2 phones!
I'm actually only paying 44.79 a month for att... unlimited data plan(Grandfathered), 200 txts a month and 550 minute family plan add on.
Edit: Does anyone know if I can use H2OWireless with an iphone on the pay as you go plan and not use the data? Their site says you need a monthly plan for iphone to work so I dont think this will...
You shouldn't need to jailbreak the iPhone like Ig suggested anymore, just have AT&T unlock the device under their new policy (http://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/06/att-will-unlock-off-contract-iphones-starting-sunday-april-8/).
PureTalkUSA can be a bit of a ripoff under most usage situations for AT&T network GSM prepaid, as cheaper service can be had elsewhere. Currently Airvoice Wireless (http://www.airvoicewireless.com/) is king of the frugal GSM prepaids with their $10/month 250 minute plan. Otherwise, H2O has the most flexible package options with the next most competitive pricing.
Fair enough. In my usage, it's infinite, since I never use 100 minutes/month, and they roll over the minutes, so I didn't think beyond my scenario.
I want to spend less, naturally. So I've been following this thread with interest and after reading ladymaier's post mentioning VoipO today, I checked out their website. Looks easy enough, and cheap but I guess what I don't understand is how I can change while still having everything come into the house on Verizon's wires. This is probably a really stupid question, but if I signed up (for example) with VoipO, how does Verizon know to stop billing me the $52 per month? Does VoipO let them know? Is there a general procedure for switching providers?
And if there's a problem with the line (like the annoying hum I get to listen to now every time we have heavy rain), who would I call since Verizon owns the wires, but they'd no longer provide my landline service?
Clear as mud?
Actually, yes...that helps a lot. And you're right, I'm on the old copper wires, no FIOS. A few years ago my folks, who live a couple miles from here, were having a lot of trouble with noise on their line, being able to hear other people's conversations, etc. and one of the repair guys said that a lot of the phone wires in this area were first installed in the 1930's (!) and really need to be replaced. I see a Verizon truck out here and at the end of the road, working on equipment pretty frequently but the line noise continues (although I no longer can hear somebody's fax machine dialing in as often as I used to).
Anyway, thanks for your help. I will be checking all this stuff out.
My ATT contract is up this month. I'm trying to figure out a cheaper solution. My problem is I want to use my iphone. I'm on wifi almost everywhere I use the phone. Are there any solutions that would let me do pay as you go and use my iphone without getting a data plan? I dont need the data part, I never use the data on my phone without being on wifi.
I could just get a cheap pay as you go phone and keep the iphone as an "ipod" basically to use on wifi but I'd rather not have to carry around 2 phones!
I'm actually only paying 44.79 a month for att... unlimited data plan(Grandfathered), 200 txts a month and 550 minute family plan add on.
Edit: Does anyone know if I can use H2OWireless with an iphone on the pay as you go plan and not use the data? Their site says you need a monthly plan for iphone to work so I dont think this will...
You shouldn't need to jailbreak the iPhone like Ig suggested anymore, just have AT&T unlock the device under their new policy (http://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/06/att-will-unlock-off-contract-iphones-starting-sunday-april-8/). Just takes a call to customer service. Going to an AT&T based MVNO means not even having to worry about unlocking an AT&T based phone for basic calling and SMS usage, but unlocking has its advantages as it allows you access to wireless network gateway settings and other non-AT&T GSM network sim card usage. Get the device unlocked before leaving AT&T as it'll make the phone more valuable and flexible with your providers without potentially compromising security or worrying about iOS upgrades, even if you have no intention of configuring or enabling data on the device.
As for usage on H2O wireless, I have not seen any such pre-requisite for iPhones to be on a monthly plan, just that if you want to use their data, it will require reconfiguration (https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=IPhoneData), which makes sense. Pay as you go means just that, pay as you go. If you use data or have a plan with data access, you'll be billed data no matter what phone you use, and if there's no data plan, they won't let you on the internet even if the phone's configured properly. Same with voice and SMS services, they're not actually dependent on a specific plan for a device to work. The only time where you might have troubles with using data services on a smartphone with a prepaid would be with Blackberry and needing a BIS provider as a go-between. So yes, you can use any prepaid plan you want and either opt to use data or not. That goes for H2O, Airvoice, etc.
PureTalkUSA can be a bit of a ripoff under most usage situations for AT&T network GSM prepaid, as cheaper service can be had elsewhere. Currently Airvoice Wireless (http://www.airvoicewireless.com/) is king of the frugal GSM prepaids with their $10/month 250 minute plan. Otherwise, H2O has the most flexible package options with the next most competitive pricing.
From the h2owireless site:
https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=IPhoneData
"You MUST have an H2O® Wireless account registered under any H2O® Wireless MONTH plans or DATA features will not work.
Please check you plan now. " Now that sounds like it will just not work with data on the iphone if I went with a pay as you go plan but I wasn't sure if it would do just voice/text. I guess I'll call them and find out when I'm ready to switch.
You shouldn't need to jailbreak the iPhone like Ig suggested anymore, just have AT&T unlock the device under their new policy (http://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/06/att-will-unlock-off-contract-iphones-starting-sunday-april-8/).
Ah, nice. I have now updated my knowledge. Thanks.PureTalkUSA can be a bit of a ripoff under most usage situations for AT&T network GSM prepaid, as cheaper service can be had elsewhere. Currently Airvoice Wireless (http://www.airvoicewireless.com/) is king of the frugal GSM prepaids with their $10/month 250 minute plan. Otherwise, H2O has the most flexible package options with the next most competitive pricing.
Fair enough. In my usage, it's infinite, since I never use 100 minutes/month, and they roll over the minutes, so I didn't think beyond my scenario.
IP, thanks for the amazing breakdown! I had to set up a profile just to thank you for your effort on this. Very helpful. Great work!
Have you done any regular checks with Speedtest.net (http://www.speedtest.net/) and Pingtest.net (http://www.pingtest.net/) to confirm service quality? If you do have as many analog line troubles as you seem to be implying, I'm a wee bit hesitant about suggesting a VoIP transition as analog phone service is far more resilient to line noise than digital would be. Best suggestion would be to perhaps try out an Obi110 with Google Voice or take advantage of the 30 day trial with VOIPo before porting your number to see how it performs under average conditions (you can port it after you establish service). Perhaps look into internet service via the cable company, too, if they aren't on your crap list and they actually exist as an alternative in your region.
(a whole bunch of stuff)
One question would be if I really need the 10Mbps service. Would "up to" 3 suffice for streaming movies and shows?
Have I missed anything here? Thoughts?
So:
10 Mbps cable internet with TWC for $30 (almost 7 times faster for $5 less/month)
VOIPo for phone (saving $45/month)
Cancel cable TV completely (saving $18/month)
Keep existing cell phone with Verizon ($36/month for 1/2 of bill; saving $0)
Total savings: $68/month
2) You don't necessarily need DOCSIS 3.0. There's technical reasons that you might want to err on the side of caution with it for better future IPv6 support, but overall with the right modem, that's not an issue IMHO. This was actually discussed at length at the beginning of this thread by Somnambulist and myself (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2882/#msg2882) as well as in the guide itself (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2718/#msg2718) regarding modems and routers.
3) You don't need a modem with a built in WiFi router, in fact, I'd advise against it. Thoughts why are in this post of the guide (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2716/#msg2716). This way, you're just technically dealing with the modem cost, which with a Motorola SB5101U would break you even at about 20 months of rental, and you could use something like the Asus RT-N12 with it, or back with Verizon, or with any other broadband provider's modem you may have in the future. The router becomes a personal network infrastructure investment versus an ISP investment.
4) As for going with TWC directly, look into what options might be offered through Earthlink (http://www.earthlink.net/access/cable.faces) as well. No arguing for smaller packages, no arguing over cable TV service, no arguments about bundling services, it's just internet over the exact same bleeding wire.
5) Finally, as for the speed? I should probably correct you briefly, you appear to be mentioning download speeds, not upload speeds. Upload speeds are the speeds you get for loading things from your computer onto a remote server, not the speeds from the server to your system. For most people, download speeds are the more important of the two.
Most people can easily get by on 3Mbps down. (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2717/#msg2717) I'm able to do remote desktop support, server administration and web development along with streaming video and phone service on 3Mbps... uploads can be painful on larger projects for me, but it's definitely doable. Other people have successfully run at that speed (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg5943/#msg5943) or slower (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg5949/#msg5949). Don't pay for the extra bandwidth unless you can soundly justify it or the price difference between service tiers is trivial.
New guy here. First of all, props to MMM for the site and forum.
Second, while alot of people seem to be saving big bucks in this thread, I think alot are doing it in the wrong way. It looks like several on here have switched to a lower tier plan to save money, which unless you are in a contract isn't the best way to do it. You need to threaten to cancel (and be prepared to do so if they call your bluff). Let me give you a personal example:
I have my internet through clear. They have a 1.5mbps plan at $34.99/mo and an unlimited plan (up to 6mbps) for 49.99/mo. The 1.5mbps doesn't cut it for me (hold your laughter, please), but the unlimited is out of line for high speed pricing. Queue phone call...
CSR: Hi thanks for calling clear, blah blah blah....
Me: Not happy with service, costs too much, would like to cancel.
CSR: Blah blah blah, we can switch you to the $34.99 plan to save you some money.
Me: No that wont work, too much for too little, tranfer me to cancellations.
Cancellations CSR: Blah blah blah, why aren't you happy with us?
Me: (restate above reasons)
Cancellations CSR: Blah blah blah, several reasons why their service is a good deal.
Me: Reiterate that the service isn't the issue, but the price.
Cancellations CSR: Blah blah blah....
Cancellations CSR: Well, before we cancel you plan, there is one thing we could do (offers unlimited plan for $24.99/mo).
Me: Yes, I think that will work.
All in all about a 15 minute phone call. I get a nice discount and the cancellations agent gets one 'saved' account on their record. A win-win for both.
Really, in just about any semi-major area, there should be a competitor with a nice intro offer that you can pitch against your existing provider. And this isn't just for internet companies either. Lots of them will give you some sort of discount, either a lower rate or some term of free service if you are ready to cancel. There is no need to be dishonest. Tell them you need to cut your bills down and cant afford their service or that there is a better deal around or whatever reason you have. You'd be surprised how well this works.
One question would be if I really need the 10Mbps service. Would "up to" 3 suffice for streaming movies and shows?
Have I missed anything here? Thoughts?
As I was researching VoipO further, to see if I wanted to switch from Vonage, I found out that the fantastic offer of $129 ($165 when you add taxes & fees) for 24 months of service is only promotional!!! After that initial 24 months, it's $149/year ($175 w/ taxes & fees), which basically brings it to what I pay now monthly for Vonage.
I'm trying to decide if it's worth the hassle to switch to VoipO for 2 years to get the savings, then back to vonage. At the same time I'll research other options. If the $129/24 months was ongoing, then I'd say "HELLZ YEAH!", but since it's only introductory, I think I might want to look elsewhere.
Just a heads up to anyone else who might not have seen that in the fine print.
Ok I feel stupid...Let's say I use one of the BYOD plans for my cell - how exactly does it work with my Sprint EVO 4G specifically? Do I get a new number? Am I replacing a SIM card? What exactly am I doing?
Sorry for the dumb questions!
Just went to the Virgin Mobile website to relook at the HTC Evo 4G, and, lo and behold!
Their banner ad says iPhone 4s coming soon! Wow!
Quick question:
I couldn't find a definitive answer to this with some Google searches or tooling around the Virgin Mobile website - do you get charged minutes on inbound calls? It looks like the answer is yes, but I'm trying to confirm.
I got the Intercept with PTel a few days ago, and I'm looking into the google voice/wifi route on it. I don't need it for myself (I'd use less than half the 3.33/mo. if it were a dumb phone) but if my wife were to go this route her 700+ minutes and 200+ texts per month would benefit greatly. (Also, her primary motivation for switching is that we get really lousy reception in our current apartment, so wifi VOIP would be a big improvement.)
So far outbound calls seem to work great, but to get inbound calls on the wifi requires that the phone have wifi on all the time - and that drains the battery in less than 24 hours. I need to look into my wife's usage in more detail to see how much is inbound/outbound now.
I won't recommend to you that you root the device, but I will recommend you at least look over some of the changes and choices I've made with our Intercepts that have helped improve battery life. First post (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg8101/#msg8101) on the topic, and the follow-up (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg12679/#msg12679).
The biggest changes without rooting will likely be Easy Battery Saver and Zeam Launcher, but don't expect miracles. Crappy Kernel unfortunately seems to be the secret sauce on major battery life improvement, but you know how I feel about recommending rooting.
That said, though... if you're just going to be using a Google Voice/WiFi/VoIP solution for home calls, why not just go all in and buy an OBi110 or some other dedicated VoIP ATA and just have a "home line" again? She can still text on the Intercept using Google Voice and the WiFi connection, still has a cell phone for out and about, and still gets the benefit of cheap calls at home with phones designed to be actual phones instead of a cheap computer designed to do everything in great mediocrity. Yes, it's spending more money, but it's a right tool for the job sort of thing. Why use your smart phone for a WiFi VoIP handset unless you absolutely have to? It's a terrible form factor for it's primary function that usually requires a headset to make it sufferable for any lengthy calls and still gets below average battery life for talk time when compared to standard POTS wireless handsets.
So I can use my current "Wireless DSL Gateway" along with the cable modem? Probably getting ahead of myself here, but if I can, then I'm guessing the cable modem gets connected to the wireless gateway with an ethernet cable instead of ethernet directly from the cable modem to the computer?
I'll have to look into the dedicated VOIP handset - even though it's higher hardware costs, if the monthly cost is nil-to-low and it lets my wife switch to a ptel cell then it will be a big net win.
Ladymaier, I'm actually familiar enough with NetTalk to know some of its hard limitations. Sometimes it's usable, sometimes it's insufferable. There's also known issues with a pile of routers because of this. (http://faq.nettalk.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=255&nav=0,4) If you're cool with that, go for it. I know a lot of people who love MagicJack despite my considering it terrible, so YMMV. Best to set expectations, though.
I just signed up for 2 years with VOIPo, and it's $129 + $36 or $165, every two years, and that's the deal. So there's no increase from $129 to $149 after two years. All in cost is $165 / 24 or $6.88 per month, including e911 service.
Those of you using a paid home VOIP, do they offer the "one number for all phones" kind of thing that google voice does? Ie if I signed up for VOIPo, could I arrange it so that a single number rings both the home phone and my cell?
I would assume that it could be done by using both VOIPo and google voice, but then I would expect to lose the call quality advantage of the VOIP provider.
Yes I gave up on Google Voice, mentioned that in a prior reply here. Sometimes great voice quality, sometimes big delay, words missing, dropped calls etc. We use our home phone enough that it was not tolerable. So I switched back to Phone Power box, which costs $11.33/mo all in, but it is coming off the two year contract at the end of this month, so I decided to save money and switch to VOIPo at $6.88/mo all in.
Total communications costs now (voice, TV and internet):
Charter 3MBS internet $24.99
VOIPo home phone $6.88
Virgin Mobile 300 min wife's android phone $26.72
PlatinumTel dumb flip phone $3.33
Total is $61.92 a month.
That's one of the very specific reasons why I'd singled out VOIPo as a primary option and why we're planning to specifically switch to them, as they're one of the few VoIP providers that have global call hunt (they call it "Simultaneous Ring") and most of the other Google Voice calling features available as part of the basic service bundle. http://www.voipo.com/voip-features.php
Sweet! That will make it much easier to convince my wife.
This thread is approaching 5000 page views, and contains 135 posts
This thread is approaching 5000 page views, and contains 135 posts
I think about 100 of those views are just me. My contract is up soon and I've been spending a lot of time rereading this thread and researching the various options.
I'm a pretty typical smartphone user, only about 200 minutes most months and something like 2gb of data, mostly on streaming pandora or podcasts.
At first I was excited about Platinumtel, since their rates for talk and texts would be crazy low and I thought I could dramatically reduce my data usage using Doggcatcher to preload daily podcasts while my phone is on wifi at night, using my phone as as mp3 player instead of always streaming Pandora, and using Onavo Count to keep tabs on the usage. The killer for me was Ptel's phone selection, which is pretty abysmal. Their only android phones are so far out of date as to be kind of ridiculous. I don't need the newest stuff, but within three generations would have been nice.
So unless I can figure out how to get a better device through ACRS's BYOD program, it looks like I'm going to end up on Virgin Mobile's unlimited data plan for $35/mo. The LG Optimus Elite and the Motorola Triumph are both decent android handsets, only about two years behind the curve, and more than adequate for my needs. Even this compromise would save me about a thousand dollars over the course of a normal two year phone lifetime.
Thanks for all of your hard work on this. I've certainly found it useful.
No, thank YOU I.P. for your hard work and expertise. Your expertise is invaluable on this subject.
VOIPo Services
Service Type Phone Number Billing Cycle Next Renewal Standard Rate*
Residential Service Biennially 2014-06-15 $165.00
I just signed up for 2 years with VOIPo, and it's $129 + $36 or $165, every two years, and that's the deal. So there's no increase from $129 to $149 after two years. All in cost is $165 / 24 or $6.88 per month, including e911 service.
I don't believe that to be the case, and here's why:
From the Terms of Service page on Voipo:
-snip-
Promotional pricing is only available for new customers unless explicitly stated as being available for existing customers in an offer.(Emphasis mine.)
I took advantage of the last two specials and am good through 2015 as well - decided that going to 2017 was pushing it so I passed this time.
My ATT contract is up this month. I'm trying to figure out a cheaper solution. My problem is I want to use my iphone. I'm on wifi almost everywhere I use the phone. Are there any solutions that would let me do pay as you go and use my iphone without getting a data plan? I dont need the data part, I never use the data on my phone without being on wifi.
I could just get a cheap pay as you go phone and keep the iphone as an "ipod" basically to use on wifi but I'd rather not have to carry around 2 phones!
I'm actually only paying 44.79 a month for att... unlimited data plan(Grandfathered), 200 txts a month and 550 minute family plan add on.
Edit: Does anyone know if I can use H2OWireless with an iphone on the pay as you go plan and not use the data? Their site says you need a monthly plan for iphone to work so I dont think this will...
You shouldn't need to jailbreak the iPhone like Ig suggested anymore, just have AT&T unlock the device under their new policy (http://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/06/att-will-unlock-off-contract-iphones-starting-sunday-april-8/). Just takes a call to customer service. Going to an AT&T based MVNO means not even having to worry about unlocking an AT&T based phone for basic calling and SMS usage, but unlocking has its advantages as it allows you access to wireless network gateway settings and other non-AT&T GSM network sim card usage. Get the device unlocked before leaving AT&T as it'll make the phone more valuable and flexible with your providers without potentially compromising security or worrying about iOS upgrades, even if you have no intention of configuring or enabling data on the device.
As for usage on H2O wireless, I have not seen any such pre-requisite for iPhones to be on a monthly plan, just that if you want to use their data, it will require reconfiguration (https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=IPhoneData), which makes sense. Pay as you go means just that, pay as you go. If you use data or have a plan with data access, you'll be billed data no matter what phone you use, and if there's no data plan, they won't let you on the internet even if the phone's configured properly. Same with voice and SMS services, they're not actually dependent on a specific plan for a device to work. The only time where you might have troubles with using data services on a smartphone with a prepaid would be with Blackberry and needing a BIS provider as a go-between. So yes, you can use any prepaid plan you want and either opt to use data or not. That goes for H2O, Airvoice, etc.
PureTalkUSA can be a bit of a ripoff under most usage situations for AT&T network GSM prepaid, as cheaper service can be had elsewhere. Currently Airvoice Wireless (http://www.airvoicewireless.com/) is king of the frugal GSM prepaids with their $10/month 250 minute plan. Otherwise, H2O has the most flexible package options with the next most competitive pricing.
Follow up question to this... I just got my ATT iphone 4 unlocked and went on the airvoice wireless page to setup an account/order a sim card. They only offer a regular size sim and the iphone 4 takes a micro sim. I've seen a few sites that say you can cut a regular one down to micro sim size. Is this what I'll have to do to get it to work?
Follow up question to this... I just got my ATT iphone 4 unlocked and went on the airvoice wireless page to setup an account/order a sim card. They only offer a regular size sim and the iphone 4 takes a micro sim. I've seen a few sites that say you can cut a regular one down to micro sim size. Is this what I'll have to do to get it to work?
Follow up question to this... I just got my ATT iphone 4 unlocked and went on the airvoice wireless page to setup an account/order a sim card. They only offer a regular size sim and the iphone 4 takes a micro sim. I've seen a few sites that say you can cut a regular one down to micro sim size. Is this what I'll have to do to get it to work?
I got a second gen Noosy (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EMS1YG/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=edhelo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005EMS1YG) for this purpose and was able to cut 2 Airvoice SIMs into microSIMs easily.
Follow up question to this... I just got my ATT iphone 4 unlocked and went on the airvoice wireless page to setup an account/order a sim card. They only offer a regular size sim and the iphone 4 takes a micro sim. I've seen a few sites that say you can cut a regular one down to micro sim size. Is this what I'll have to do to get it to work?
I got a second gen Noosy (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EMS1YG/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=edhelo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005EMS1YG) for this purpose and was able to cut 2 Airvoice SIMs into microSIMs easily.
I ordered a cheaper version of this off amazon yesterday and the airvoice SIM card. Hopefully it works well.
I realized that I should do a better job of explaining how I set up my iPhone on Airvoice Wireless for inexpensive prepaid service. So far it's costing me about $20/month for service. This is only useful for people who are fairly light users and rely on WiFi for almost all of their data usage.
-snip-
You’re all set. Enjoy the savings!
You can also stack $10 credits. For instance if you add 2 $10 credits then your expiration date becomes 60 days later.
Account Balance:
All calls will be automatically deducted from your account balance. Balances are not transferable or refundable. Airtime cannot be moved from one phone number to another phone number. You should take reasonable efforts to safeguard your phone and replenishment airtime cards. Airtime expires “X” amount of days after card is added to your account whether you use your phone or not. If additional airtime is added before the current expiration date, our airtime will be forfeited on your expiration date. After the account reaches a zero balance or goes into an expired status, your phone number will stay active for 30 days. If there is still no balance or goes into an expired status, your phone number will stay active for 30 days. If there is still no refill within the 30 days, the phone number will be cancelled. The SIM Card cannot be reactivated once it is cancelled.
Airtime Expiration Dates:
When adding a new refill PIN to your account, the expiration period extends from the date you are adding airtime on, and not to your current expiration date. When adding multiple cards on at once, your airtime expiration dates do not add together. If your current expiration date exceeds the number of airtime days of your new card, your expiration date will not change.
1) Buying a $10 Noosy is unnecessary. All micro SIM punchers have their quirks and faults, including the second gen Noosy. What's more important with any SIM punch is that you double check the alignment and press slowly and firmly more than the brand name stamped on the cheap Chinese pot metal. I find it interesting that from a standpoint of user reviews of the Noosy compared to any other SIM punch, it has the exact same troubles sited on the bad reviews as any other cheap punch, and has roughly the exact same success-to-failure ratio (if not a bit lower) as the punches half the price. You're obviously not just buying a micro SIM puncher with the Noosy, you're buying a name. (Parallels could be drawn with people who buy Apple hardware as well, OS aside.)
2) The website linked is still technically utilizing a loophole and exploit to install your new wireless APN information. A properly unlocked iPhone is worth far more, and configuring your own APN manually or installing the APN directly from the carrier is far more secure. These are common sense things. Don't use hacks to do what your carrier will let you do for free if you just plan ahead.
You can also stack $10 credits. For instance if you add 2 $10 credits then your expiration date becomes 60 days later.
This info is rather surprising to read given the terms of service posted on Airvoice's website runs contrary to what you say. I also cannot find anyone else on the internet confirming this practice with a cursory Google search or anywhere on HoFo.
I won't comment on what appears to be referral links in your addresses beyond pointing them out to other readers, and further mention that I have not once used referral links for any product I've directly linked on the MMM forums.
Sanitized links for those who care, though:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DMWOUY/ <-Noosy
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EMS1YG/ <-Airvoice Card
http://www.callingmart.com/products/wireless/ProductDetail.aspx?ID=152 <-Airvoice Refill Card
I'm recommending the product that I personally used that worked. I'm sure that some here would argue that such a single-use product is silly when you already own a perfectly good knife.
Airvoice customer service actually walks people through the same APN procedure over the phone.
You can also stack $10 credits. For instance if you add 2 $10 credits then your expiration date becomes 60 days later.
This info is rather surprising to read given the terms of service posted on Airvoice's website runs contrary to what you say. I also cannot find anyone else on the internet confirming this practice with a cursory Google search or anywhere on HoFo.
I was impressed when the expiration stacking worked for just the reasons you outlined.
Airvoice customer service actually walks people through the same APN procedure over the phone.
Interesting statement, especially when Airvoice specifically says they won't support iPhones (http://www.airvoicewireless.com/PhoneSupport.aspx#iPhone) and don't supply the link you recommend anywhere, a link I might add you suggested back in February when you were still with AT&T. Doesn't mean it can't be a valuable tool, but it's not a tool that should be labeled as inherently safe or not using exploits or Airvoice support approved. Unsafe security practices are unsafe security practices and should be prefaced as such.
You can also stack $10 credits. For instance if you add 2 $10 credits then your expiration date becomes 60 days later.
This info is rather surprising to read given the terms of service posted on Airvoice's website runs contrary to what you say. I also cannot find anyone else on the internet confirming this practice with a cursory Google search or anywhere on HoFo.
I was impressed when the expiration stacking worked for just the reasons you outlined.
Citation needed. I want hard evidence from someone who's selling referral links to Airvoice SIM cards and Airvoice airtime cards and making promises contrary to what Airvoice's stated policies are that have no corroborating proof elsewhere in the world to back them up when they're making what appears to be unrealistic promises to make an MVNO appear to be far more awesome than reality dictates.
I'm not following the security argument. iOS shows you what settings are getting changed by a profile file before you install it.
Here you go: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1756667-Air-Voice-Wireless-New-10-monthly-plan?p=14799916#post14799916 (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1756667-Air-Voice-Wireless-New-10-monthly-plan?p=14799916#post14799916)
I must have missed the "no referrals" rule back when I signed up. MMM promotes his own so much that I thought the conversation was only about your personal view of them in this thread, IP.
I was interested in helping others, but your combative tone has really spoiled this thread for me. It really comes across as a lack of trust on your part of people who want to solve these problems using a different set of tools. I personally have a bunch of tools made by (gasp) Apple.
I don't think it's about a lack of trust of those using other tools, but a skepticism (often justified) when people tout things in a way that will make them money.
That's why we would prefer information without the referral links. It creates an automatic conflict of interest.
We'd rather Mustachians share information freely, rather than profit off each other. Especially when it's not done up front, but hidden.
Do you see how that may have elicited a response like I.P.'s?
I hope you stick around and realize it wasn't personal.
I personally have a bunch of tools made by (gasp) Apple.
Once my ATT sim no longer worked, I popped in the AVW sim and it worked great. No messing with APNs like stated above.(I had ATT unlock my phone)
...
Not too bad of a process, we'll see how many minutes I actually use. I haven't tried to setup the data on my phone yet but don’t plan on using it unless absolutely needed. $55 a month more in my savings! Thanks again for the great guide!
Just an update. Got my airvoicewireless(will refer to as AVW from now on) sim card and the "cheap" sim card cutter in the mail yesterday. The cutter worked great first try. Definitely glad I bought that instead of trying to do it by hand.
I then purchased an AVW $10 prepaid and filled out the form to port my number to them. It took 2-3 hours for it to go through. Once my ATT sim no longer worked, I popped in the AVW sim and it worked great. No messing with APNs like stated above.(I had ATT unlock my phone) Spent about 4 mins setting up my voicemail(I'm going to miss visual voicemail). It's nice that every time I make a call it tells me how much I used on my prepaid and how much is left.
I also called ATT to cancel my service. Previously my wife and I were on a family plan (she is still under contract so still with ATT), my portion of the bill was $45 a month. Apparently with the porting process AVW cancelled my line for me! It was nice to not have to go thru that. Anyway, while on the phone with ATT they informed me I would need to switch from a family plan to a single plan since it was only one line now. Saved me another $10 a month by doing so!
Not too bad of a process, we'll see how many minutes I actually use. I haven't tried to setup the data on my phone yet but don’t plan on using it unless absolutely needed. $55 a month more in my savings! Thanks again for the great guide!
Didnt get the APN to work. I tried the unlock website method posted above and it does not work.
-snip-
Edit: I Just downloaded the iphone config utility from apple to make my own apn and it still didnt work. Further digging let me to the Air Voice Wireless page where it says to contact customer service to get data enabled on the $10 plan. I just emailed them, hopefully that fixes it.
Awesome post! I'm a bit of a phone newbie at this point because I've always been on my parent's AT&T family plan for $10/month. That's unlimited calls/texts, but it's not a smartphone...
According to this guide, I could get a smartphone (+upfront cost) for like $5/month if I wanted to? Count me in!
So.. I have a couple questions.
Edit: Google sorted it out. Still going through the post, thanks for the info.
Double Edit: After considering what a smartphone would actually do for me, I've realized I don't really need one. It's pretty cool that I someone could get the price so low though if they did want one.
Awesome post! I'm a bit of a phone newbie at this point because I've always been on my parent's AT&T family plan for $10/month. That's unlimited calls/texts, but it's not a smartphone...
According to this guide, I could get a smartphone (+upfront cost) for like $5/month if I wanted to? Count me in!
So.. I have a couple questions.
Edit: Google sorted it out. Still going through the post, thanks for the info.
Double Edit: After considering what a smartphone would actually do for me, I've realized I don't really need one. It's pretty cool that I someone could get the price so low though if they did want one.
If you can get unlimited talk and text for $10/month, that's what you should do. Smartphones are overrated. Most of what they provide can be gotten with a little planning and forethought.
I have rooted my phone and changed the loader, as well as using easy battery saver and onavo count (I might end up taking onavo off since it doesn't seem entirely necessary). Recently my phone has had some slowing and occasionally freezing issues, but nothing too serious.
Whew! I've been trying to absorb all of this info. I think at this point, in terms of maximum cost effectiveness, I have basically two options:
1. Get a $40/month plan from Cox for 3mb internet, plus my $10/month family plan dumbphone.. OR
2. Get a smartphone with limited call minutes and no texting, but with unlimited data plan, then use google voice for texts, and tether the device at my apartment for internet use.
#2 sounds good, but I have some questions... first of all, does unlimited data even exist anymore? How much is it? If it's $40 just for the data plan plus like $20/month for the rest of the smartphone package, then I may as well go with option #1.
I am also curious about using the phone for my internet. I'm okay with it being slow, but from what I understand I may have to pay more to use it as a mobile hotspot, or do it illegally and risk getting billed for more..
As I understand, I.P., you don't recommend using your phone for your home internet, right? Why is that?
Thanks for any help!! :)
Oh - I get it. It's "unlimited" but after 2.5gb of usage, you then get capped to 256k. And 2.5gb isn't that much... yuck!
Oh - I get it. It's "unlimited" but after 2.5gb of usage, you then get capped to 256k. And 2.5gb isn't that much... yuck!
I'm on that plan, and it's working out great for me.
And WTF are you doing that 2.5gb data isn't that much? Do you watch netflix on your phone over the cell connection? You know wifi doesn't count towards your data limit, right?
Oh - I get it. It's "unlimited" but after 2.5gb of usage, you then get capped to 256k. And 2.5gb isn't that much... yuck!
I'm on that plan, and it's working out great for me.
And WTF are you doing that 2.5gb data isn't that much? Do you watch netflix on your phone over the cell connection? You know wifi doesn't count towards your data limit, right?
With what Fred is looking to do, the phone connection would be providing be wifi. There would be no other Internet connection for wifi. So all usage goes through it.
With that in mind, 2.5 gb isn't that much.
Still though, it would be pretty cool to pay officially 100% of all my own bills. Not cool enough to warrant the hassle of paying more money for less service though! :P Maybe in due time though. Or perhaps when I no longer need my phone for work. I could just stop texting so much and go fully prepaid, and pay probably way less than $10/month.
Actually, I only use perhaps 5-10 minutes a week for work purposes, so who am I fooling. It's mainly the texting.. it's pretty darn useful to me. I'm not so ready to do without it yet! I was quite surprised when I just looked at my phone and realized I'd sent/received like 300 texts in the past week. Jeez.
We're currently with F9 and our plans are to stay with F9 until around July-ish, and switch to VOIPo with the first major bargain package at under $8/month after tax offered during that time-frame. That said, I would be remiss to let you think we're switching to VOIPo because of the price, because we aren't.I skimmed through the rest of your posts looking to see if you had switched yet, but didn't see mention of it.
Don't get me wrong, I adore the quality of service Nitzan over at F9 provides and love that it's a smaller mom-and-pop style provider that kicks ass and competes with the 800lb gorillas in the industry like VOIPo with aplomb. I also understand that he's gotta make money somewhere to keep the doors open, and I will miss doing regular business with him... but given our desire to get away from Google Voice, there's just some calling features we've found invaluable and want to keep that he has yet to provide for unknown reasons despite being on the feature roadmap (http://www.future-nine.com/features.html) for years (specifically global call hunt), and I've given up on ever seeing it implemented. Otherwise we'd just stay put out of loyalty and would have already switched to his America Free package despite the higher price and lower minute count than his competitors.
Even after the planned switch though, we're not entirely dropping F9. We're planning to go over to a strictly outgoing only pay-as-you-go account with no DID and using them as our "international long distance" provider as they have some of the best international rates available period. That should answer your question with plenty of extra color.
This may be an philosophic aside better suited for another thread if you're interested in the discussion but... are terms of service that are clearly not enforced actually important to abide by? (To illustrate my point see: many, many laws on the books that are antiquated and not enforced, so everyone ignores them.)
Thanks for the breakdown I.P.!
And yes, I would be using the phone as my only internet connection.. so 2.5gb isn't a whole lot. I've blasted through that in a day before (though not as much lately).
We're currently with F9 and our plans are to stay with F9 until around July-ish, and switch to VOIPo with the first major bargain package at under $8/month after tax offered during that time-frame. That said, I would be remiss to let you think we're switching to VOIPo because of the price, because we aren't.I skimmed through the rest of your posts looking to see if you had switched yet, but didn't see mention of it.
Don't get me wrong, I adore the quality of service Nitzan over at F9 provides and love that it's a smaller mom-and-pop style provider that kicks ass and competes with the 800lb gorillas in the industry like VOIPo with aplomb. I also understand that he's gotta make money somewhere to keep the doors open, and I will miss doing regular business with him... but given our desire to get away from Google Voice, there's just some calling features we've found invaluable and want to keep that he has yet to provide for unknown reasons despite being on the feature roadmap (http://www.future-nine.com/features.html) for years (specifically global call hunt), and I've given up on ever seeing it implemented. Otherwise we'd just stay put out of loyalty and would have already switched to his America Free package despite the higher price and lower minute count than his competitors.
Even after the planned switch though, we're not entirely dropping F9. We're planning to go over to a strictly outgoing only pay-as-you-go account with no DID and using them as our "international long distance" provider as they have some of the best international rates available period. That should answer your question with plenty of extra color.
For you (and anyone else watching this thread), VOIPo is running a special until midnight tonight Central time, for 2 years at $129 (came to $165 with taxes), which works out to $6.88/month including taxes.
I also have a few questions regarding cell service:
How do you suggest going about finding the service with the best coverage for your area? I'm currently piggybacking off of a Sprint family plan with an original Evo. That ends next month, at which time I need to have alternative options lined up. The problem is I get terrible service at my house. I get nothing when on Sprint itself, and when I force roaming (on Verizon, I'm assuming), I get 1 bar which allows me to make calls in a few very specific areas of the house. This is probably due to the construction of our condo (we're smack in the center of a 5-unit building), so I'm not sure if ATT or T-Mo would be any better. As we've had people over I've tried to use them to gauge service, but they're all on Verizon or Sprint.
As well, my Evo is pretty much shot and I'll require a new phone with my new service. The screen is kinda finicky, the power button has to be pressed three or four times to get it to turn the screen on (from standby, not powered-off), and the power port is completely shot (only one specific cord, inserted at one specific angle, is capable of getting it to charge). I'm pretty sure that this is due to my time working at Dominos, where my phone came in contact with copious amounts of cornmeal and grease. I'm wanting to replace it with a Galaxy Nexus, as it's virtually guaranteed to be always up-to-date either officially by Google or unofficially by custom roms, due to the carrier-agnostic nature of the phone. I know they have both GSM and CDMA versions of the phone, but I remember hearing grumblings about the Verizon/CDMA version, and Google dropped the CDMA version from their own store. Do you know of any particular reasons to stay away from this phone?
I'd also like your opinion on services. My current usage (on a 12 month average, taken from Sprint's usage tracker) is:
Minutes: 800/mnth
Texts: 650/mnth (12 month avg, it's actually down to 500 at a 6-month avg, ever since I started being conscious about my texting habits)
Monthly Data: 600MB per month.
With the addition of VOIPo home service and the fact that the majority of my cell calls happen at home anyway, I think I can conservatively estimate my monthly minutes at 400. Of that 400, at least 200 will be in the presence of wifi, which (I believe) I can use my VOIPo account via a SIP client on my phone, and about 50-100 minutes I can knock off unnecessary chit chat by saying I'm low on minutes. I think 500 texts per month is probably about the lowest I can estimate, with approx. 70% of those being incoming texts. As for data, that has already dropped to ~500 in recent months, and I think I can get that down to 300MB with little trouble. If I stay conscientious about my usage (by disabling data and only turning it on when truly necessary), I think I can drop it down to 100MB per month. So my lowest ideal usage would be 100 min/500 txt/100MB. The caveat being that my usage tends more towards cyclical rather than a monthly constant, due to being a student and frequent traveling to family (some without wifi, some with 10+ hour drives). I'm currently leaning towards Ting with a spoofed ESN for a Nexus. Using Ting would result in a typical monthly cost of $17 (100 min/1000 txt/100MB), and a "peak" monthly cost of $33 (1000 min/1000 txt/500MB) during months that involve extended visits to family.
Do you think there are any better options for me?
For you (and anyone else watching this thread), VOIPo is running a special until midnight tonight Central time, for 2 years at $129 (came to $165 with taxes), which works out to $6.88/month including taxes.
This may be an philosophic aside better suited for another thread if you're interested in the discussion but... are terms of service that are clearly not enforced actually important to abide by? (To illustrate my point see: many, many laws on the books that are antiquated and not enforced, so everyone ignores them.)
It's an interesting and fascinating topic that I'd love to debate with you and others as well as share my thoughts on, but I'm equally hesitant to do so in this thread. If you'll humor me with some time and a possible venue shift, I've got a couple bigger things I need to square away next few weeks before ramping up my side-project to the superguide (dedicated wiki), and I think I'd like to do a dedicated post on the topic to the accompanying blog if you're down with possibly having the discussion there instead.
As for checking coverage for your area, all you can do is check the coverage maps from the major carriers and test reception yourself, and you're likely right that your location is lending interference and reduced signal quality, especially depending on tower location. Unfortunately, femtocells as a fallback aren't really an option with MVNOs... though, I doubt you'd want to waste your home bandwidth uncompensated for other people's cell calls either. There's also wireless extenders like the zBoost (http://www.wi-ex.com/index.aspx), but I'd hardly call spending $300+ to improve cell reception somewhere where one would/should normally be using the cheaper per minute VoIP home phone instead a wise investment.Oh, that call forwarding looks nice. Reception in my house is such that moving around will bring in enough of a signal to get SMS, and I'm already used to that being spotty anyway. Plus, spotty SMS will probably entice me to just pick up the house phone and call them back. xD
As for carrier given your usage patterns, Ting really does sound like the better option outside of your problematic Sprint/Verizon CDMA coverage at home. Fortunately, Ting does provide call forwarding (https://help.ting.com/entries/20827447-call-forwarding) (including conditional), so you can just have calls to your cell fall over to your VOIPo number. Doesn't do much for SMS messaging in dead zones, but scabbing that in using Google Voice for your SMS number might be a decent compromise.
As for thoughts on the Nexus? Other than being too bloody big to be a phone IMHO (and the price), not really. Samsung makes decent hardware. You'd probably want to go with a GSM carrier, though, just for simplicity sake.I completely agree with you there, however I use my phone less as a phone and more as a computer replacement. I make extensive use of Google Calendar because my daily schedule is very erratic, I use Evernote to keep my lists (lists keep me focused and productive), I use Google Maps as a GPS replacement, I use Spotify (in offline mode) as a music player, and I use the email client to monitor and respond to 3 email addresses for work without having to drag my computer out. So I see it a small computer that I occasionally have to put to my face and awkwardly use as a phone. That's actually the main reason for the Nexus: It's like buying a computer via Microsoft that's guaranteed to get the latest version of Windows, vs. going with a computer from Dell that's going to be outdated, unusable, and abandoned in 6 months to a year.
Kind of a sticky situation as a GSM carrier would be ideal for your phone preference and possibly for reception, but a CDMA carrier (Ting specifically) would probably be your best carrier choice based on your usage habits. Honestly, reducing costs in your communications bills requires compromise and a certain degree of service sacrifice in the end to make it work... as for suggesting what to do in your situation specifically, I don't know what's most important to you. I know what I'd do in your position, but my choice probably wouldn't be right for you.What would make a GSM carrier ideal? Due to the easeness of sim cards, or another reason?
Oh, that call forwarding looks nice. Reception in my house is such that moving around will bring in enough of a signal to get SMS, and I'm already used to that being spotty anyway. Plus, spotty SMS will probably entice me to just pick up the house phone and call them back. xD
I completely agree with you there, however I use my phone less as a phone and more as a computer replacement. I make extensive use of Google Calendar because my daily schedule is very erratic, I use Evernote to keep my lists (lists keep me focused and productive), I use Google Maps as a GPS replacement, I use Spotify (in offline mode) as a music player, and I use the email client to monitor and respond to 3 email addresses for work without having to drag my computer out. So I see it a small computer that I occasionally have to put to my face and awkwardly use as a phone. That's actually the main reason for the Nexus: It's like buying a computer via Microsoft that's guaranteed to get the latest version of Windows, vs. going with a computer from Dell that's going to be outdated, unusable, and abandoned in 6 months to a year.
What would make a GSM carrier ideal? Due to the easeness of sim cards, or another reason?
Ah, thanks for catching that. I missed that little tidbit.Oh, that call forwarding looks nice. Reception in my house is such that moving around will bring in enough of a signal to get SMS, and I'm already used to that being spotty anyway. Plus, spotty SMS will probably entice me to just pick up the house phone and call them back. xD
Keep in mind that you will get billed for minutes used by Ting during call forwarding from the cell phone to your VOIP account, but otherwise, should be fine.
Oh, that call forwarding looks nice. Reception in my house is such that moving around will bring in enough of a signal to get SMS, and I'm already used to that being spotty anyway. Plus, spotty SMS will probably entice me to just pick up the house phone and call them back. xD
Keep in mind that you will get billed for minutes used by Ting during call forwarding from the cell phone to your VOIP account, but otherwise, should be fine.GSM would be an ideal carrier network (excluding the slim possibility of better reception) because of the desire to use a Nexus and/or specifically have a computer replacement device. You don't have to hunt down a CDMA model of the Galaxy Nexus or hack at the thing and spoof an ESN to get it working on whatever CDMA MVNO you choose to go with and deal with any potential baseband funkiness. You just drop in the GSM card, configure your APN and you're done. Unfortunately, prepaid GSM MVNO options (especially where data is required) can be expensive due to the necessity of dealing with the Devil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Att_wireless). That said, the Galaxy SII (https://ting.com/devices/Samsung-Galaxy-SII-Epic-4G-Touch-White) is getting an ICS update (http://www.androidpit.com/sprint-galaxy-s-2-update), but that might not be quite as appealing an idea due to your desire to get guaranteed OS upgrades for a while with a flagship Google device. However, even those devices will eventually stop getting official upgrades (http://www.phonearena.com/news/Google-Nexus-One-not-getting-ICS-but-Nexus-S-will-in-a-few-weeks_id23273).I hadn't even thought of it from that perspective. After reading this post (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014), I assumed it was purely from the ease-of-use of SIM cards.
Unfortunately as you can now likely see, affordable low-end prepaid (Sprint-based CDMA MVNOs) and high-end handsets (typically GSM) tend to be pretty mutually exclusive things. CDMA handset portability in this nation is a fuggin' nightmare and we're one of the last remaining handset locked CDMA markets in the world, so the phone manufacturers don't really give a crap about making decent CDMA handsets. The only handset alternative gives us a network duopoly with AT&T running roughshod on setting access pricing.
Cosmie? Meet your two new friends: rock and hard place. Sorry, chum.
I actually took a look at the SII, and it's potentially what I'll go with. It just frustrates me, because, while it's going to get ICS soon, the Galaxy Nexus is already receiving Jelly Bean. And the gap will just continue to grow. As for Google devices even being dropped sooner or later, that's true; but by being a vanilla device, it means that it's going to unofficially get updates quickly and with little trouble, even after Google stops providing them.
And the Sprint version of the phone can actually be had on Amazon for a hefty sum, from Sam's Club for roughly the same price as the SII from Ting, and on eBay refurbished or new for even cheaper. The eBay option seems the most lucrative, since I'm going to have to also buy a donor phone from Ting. Although their main donor phone is no longer being sold, so I may have to go with the SII anyway and this is moot.
As for spoofing the Nexus, it's apparently fairly straightforward (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1696621). Although necessitating the spoofing in the first place is really frustrating, and is something that should not be necessary.QuoteCosmie? Meet your two new friends: rock and hard place. Sorry, chum.:D
Google Fiber (http://techreport.com/discussions.x/23322) is launching in Kansas City. Of most interest to Mustachians will be the $300 installation fee for at least 7 years of guaranteed free 5Mbps service. At most, you'll be paying $3.57 a month for plenty of speed (well, if you don't move, that is).
I do hope this catches on and spreads my way...
Finally in this list, there's Republic Wireless... the little provider that could. Their gimmick is $20 a month unlimited usage with WiFi and Sprint network coverage. Theoretically, it's a great idea. A pre-configured Android phone that defaults to WiFi for calling and seamlessly integrates cell service and VoIP? Fantastic! Unfortunately, execution's left a lot to be desired. Long term, I want to see these guys succeed, but until then I recommend sticking with more worn paths.
QuoteFinally in this list, there's Republic Wireless... the little provider that could. Their gimmick is $20 a month unlimited usage with WiFi and Sprint network coverage. Theoretically, it's a great idea. A pre-configured Android phone that defaults to WiFi for calling and seamlessly integrates cell service and VoIP? Fantastic! Unfortunately, execution's left a lot to be desired. Long term, I want to see these guys succeed, but until then I recommend sticking with more worn paths.
I've been working my way through the blog posts and got to the cell phone post. http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/08/22/eliminate-ridiculous-text-messaging-fees-with-google-voice/
RW was mentioned there, so I came to the forums to see if there was anything here. Not much outside of this post. Anything change since then, or are things still kind of sketchy with Republic's execution?
There's an fantastic amount of detail on this thread, excellent and up to date advice. A forum newbie's thoughts:
- Apps such as Groove IP can eliminate the need to pay for a separate SIP service. If wifi is widely available, it's definitely worth considering whether a carrier is needed at all (emergency calls are always supported). A fair amount of services are available offline as well, gps navigation for instance.
I use sipdroid/PBXes myself because of speex support, and absolutely agree that call quality on pcma/pcmu (used by google voice/groove IP) can suffer due to packet loss. The only drawback with PBXes is a 1 hour per call limit and 2000 minutes/month. Other options like groove IP lite, talkatone, etc are free options that work "out of the box" - it's much easier to download an app onto a friend's phone than to explain trunking. suum cuique :)
I don't want to start another, "What cell phone plan should I use" thread so I'm posting here...
I am planning to make the switch from ATT gophone (pay per minute) to an MVNO as everyone recommends. I use about 400 minutes / month and about 400 texts max. My wife uses about 5-600 per month of voice and about 600 texts. We don't do data on our phones as of yet and don't really want to get hooked on that.
I'm deciding between Ting and H20:
Ting: Seems like a better option cost wise - they offer a monthly plan of 2000 minutes and 2000 texts, no data. for two phones, that's $49! Which is pretty nice. We'd have to buy new phones but they'd pay for themselves very quickly. My only concern is that they are relatively new and on their forum several people complain about bad signals. Does anyone here have experience with Ting?
H20: I'm looking at the H20 $25 per month plan for me (basically about 500 texts, 500 minutes) and the $40/ month unlimited for my wife, making $65/mo for the household. I'm hoping in the future I can wean her onto the $25 plan but we'll see... :) We'd be saving about $35/mo (or $50/mo if we both end up on the cheaper plan), and we have ATT phones so should be able to use them.
So I think we'll go with Ting, but I wanted to know if you have any thoughts. If this works out we'll be saving $600/year which is just awesome! Thanks for this great thread of advice.
I'd still recommend alternative messaging like Kik and e-mail to SMS to keep costs lower, but that requires data and phones that support it. I'd also recommend a VoIP home phone line and restricting most of your calls to when you're home, that'll eliminate a lot as well.
Yes, we don't use data and don't particularly feel like getting hooked on it, although part of me wants to at least have the option for it in the future, especially for my hope business purposes.
I didn't think of Airvoice because I missed that they were an ATT MVNO. That would put us at $60, versus $49 for Ting. So $11 per month; for Ting I was looking at old-school blackberry-style Kyocera Brio https://ting.com/devices/Kyocera-Brio for $70. But we'd rather keep our phones, which are nothing special but probably won't be worse than the Brio, and who knows, in a year we may want to upgrade to a smartphone (or two).QuoteI'd still recommend alternative messaging like Kik and e-mail to SMS to keep costs lower, but that requires data and phones that support it. I'd also recommend a VoIP home phone line and restricting most of your calls to when you're home, that'll eliminate a lot as well.
Yes, these are definitely on my to-do list, but lower down - right now, saving an extra $40-50 / month from our current plan is the main priority. I really appreciate all your advice in this thread, and I see future savings on the horizon as I tackle each thing.
Straight talk also offers a BYOD plan that would fit your needs. 1000 minutes, 1000 texts, 30mb, $30/month.
Straight talk also offers a BYOD plan that would fit your needs. 1000 minutes, 1000 texts, 30mb, $30/month.
No offense, Z, but as a former América Móvil customer? There's a reason why I downplay their services. I've already highlighted questionable practices, lousy support and their own craptastic terms and conditions, but I've never really wanted to come right out and say what I'm about to in this thread...
Frankly, I would rather poke my own eyes out than seriously recommend NET10, Tracfone, or Straighttalk to anyone here. I'm here to try and help people, not make them hostile enemies that curse and spit on the ground I walk on.
I try to walk the line and err towards frugal with this guide, not cheap. $5 extra a month for English speaking support (and to avoid a company with dubious ethical business practices and billing habits) is a small price to pay.
I've never had a problem personally. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad you've never had any real problems with them, but I'd probably call you lucky more than anything. I would be comfortable stating that they're probably one of the highest profile companies that helped perpetuate the stigma of prepaid wireless as nothing more than burner phones in this country for the past decade, and there's good reason for it.
terrible phones
terrible phones
You said that, not me.
There's also Net10/TracPhone/StraightTalk (America Movil) which isn't the cheapest, and support can be a nightmare unless si tu habla español. Additionally, they have terrible phones,
Have to disagree, but back at the start of this thread (third post, I think) you wroteQuoteThere's also Net10/TracPhone/StraightTalk (America Movil) which isn't the cheapest, and support can be a nightmare unless si tu habla español. Additionally, they have terrible phones,
I admit I'm pretty ignorant about the whole cell phone thing, and in fact wouldn't even have one if the phone company hadn't raised the price of my land line from $20 to over $30/month.
My apologies, then. I'd forgotten that I'd made commentary on their phone quality lo those months ago. My memory might not always be on point, but aren't you glad I'm consistent with my advice unless I have good reason to change my opinion?
That's why a stable internet connection and a VoIP account are worth their weight in gold. :)
Yep. But I like understanding the whys of it.
I've never really understood the whole VoIP thing. Sure, if you have friends/family in other countries, and make regularly scheduled calls, it'd be worth it, but for POTS? To make a call when I'm not working, I'd first have to boot up my system. And what if someone wants to call me when I'm not working? Which, believe it or not, is the majority of the day.
I would be comfortable stating that they're probably one of the highest profile companies that helped perpetuate the stigma of prepaid wireless as nothing more than burner phones in this country for the past decade, and there's good reason for it.
especially for their lack of standard GSM firmware making them pretty worthless for use outside of their respective sub-providers
To clarify, both Net10 and Straight talk allow you to bring your own gsm phone.
That's a very recent occurrence, and it doesn't change the crap factor on the handsets being sold or the company itself.
That's a very recent occurrence, and it doesn't change the crap factor on the handsets being sold or the company itself.
Kind of a moot point to have a discussion about the merits of phones sold by said companies if you can bring your own :)
it's still problematic from a general electronic waste standpoint
Phones are but a small problem in a sea of overpriced ugly.
That's a very recent occurrence, and it doesn't change the crap factor on the handsets being sold or the company itself.
it's still problematic from a general electronic waste standpoint
ok......
In the specific scenario prior in the thread that prompted your commentary, straight talk was the cheaper option.
I try to walk the line and err towards frugal with this guide, not cheap. $5 extra a month for English speaking support (and to avoid a company with dubious ethical business practices and billing habits) is a small price to pay.
I'm still curious as to why you think the phones are crap, and what distinguishes crappy from non-crappy. I've had this one for a while (maybe a year?), toss it in the backpack or saddlebag (don't know why, as there's no reception in the places we usually ride), occasionally take a picture with the camera. Hasn't broken yet. And if I'm not mistaken, it was a "recycled" unit, meaning I kept a bit of stuff out of that electronic waste stream.
it's still problematic from a general electronic waste standpoint
ok......
Garbage phones with a short usage life cycle and a complete inability to be utilized outside of the selling provider with anyone else, or even used with the same provider without achieving the herculean task of getting someone in Columbia who doesn't speak English to mail you a replacement SIM card (technically this just applies to Tracfone now) or paying another $15 for a replacement SIM for service from a lousy company just to use the phone is not only un-mustachian but environmentally damaging and irresponsible. Bigger picture, dude. At least you can resell a Platinumtel phone for use with another P'tel user, a Sprint customer or even other non-Sprint owned Sprint MVNOs, and can even be used with other CDMA providers with an ESN reprogram.In the specific scenario prior in the thread that prompted your commentary, straight talk was the cheaper option.
"I have determined with my money saving algorithm that it is five dollars cheaper, therefore it is five dollars superior! If I say it enough times, maybe Daley will just understand!"I try to walk the line and err towards frugal with this guide, not cheap. $5 extra a month for English speaking support (and to avoid a company with dubious ethical business practices and billing habits) is a small price to pay.
I will never ever recommend América Móvil MVNOs because I know too much about them. You can keep recommending them all you want here, but I'm going to unapologetically keep pointing out their very real problems when you do and suggest competitively priced better alternatives.
If you're perfectly happy and willing to do business with these people despite the practices and prices, more power to you. I'll respect your choice to do so, but in exchange I expect you to respect my decision to warn people off because of very real problems. You want to argue for the cheapest MVNO plans possible no matter what with no consideration for quality and care? Take it to Howard Forums.
I'm going to clarify something here for those who haven't caught on yet. I care about the quality of advice I provide here and the service received for the money exchanged, and there are lines I will not cross with my recommendations for very principled reasons. This will serve as a reference guide to the outfits I will not recommend from this point forward short of a miraculous change in their business practices:I've already detailed reasons why on AT&T's front as well as the remaining except Comcast, and anyone who's ever had an account with Comcast doesn't need clarification as to why that's there. I'm sad to say that H2O Wireless might be joining those ranks here shortly, too. Shame that, they have some reasonably priced mid-range packages.
- AT&T
- Comcast
- Tracfone
- NET10
- StraightTalk
- Simple Mobile
Not interested in starting a flame war. I, and I'm sure many others, appreciate the detailed and useful guide you've created. But dismissing whole segments of the market largely because of negative personal experiences....it just doesn't feel right, don't you think? My intent is not to recommend options because of positive experiences. Rather, there are a subset of users for whom straight talk could be the best option, and it often does the conversation a disservice to dogmatically throw entire companies offerings out the window for everyone.
The day you've owned any classic Nokia candybar phone let alone a Nokia 6110 that's been thrown against a brick wall repeatedly and used to reliably make and receive calls a couple minutes later every time for about four years even with a cracked screen... you'll get it.
There's no truly outstanding feature phones on the market today...
Combine general cheap crap GSM phones they can afford to sell at a loss with poor UI design, cheap parts, too many crammed in features, and half-baked firmware with their bolt-on software that you can't unlock and use with any other GSM provider?
I'm sorry that this somehow makes you feel defensive enough that you need to try justifying your usage of it.
Also I have a question. I love smartphones for their address book, which I think is stored on Google Contacts. If I get a smart phone without a data plan, does anyone know if when I have a wifi connection, the address book is updated from Google Contacts and stored on my phone, so that when I am out and about, I can find my contacts?
I've had Voipo for about 2 months now for my home VOIP landline. It replaced my former service with Phone Power. Price is abut $7/mo for Voipo, $11.50 for Phone Power.
I will say that Phone Power had consistently good voice quality. Voipo has some issues now and then, garbled sound mostly, occasionally they can hear me but I can't hear them etc. Enough so that I'm thinking of going back to Phone Power, definitely at the end of my 2 year contract, and maybe before then (bite the bullet on the decision cost).
Just giving the board some feedback on Voipo versus Phone Power.
Also I have a question. I love smartphones for their address book, which I think is stored on Google Contacts. If I get a smart phone without a data plan, does anyone know if when I have a wifi connection, the address book is updated from Google Contacts and stored on my phone, so that when I am out and about, I can find my contacts?
Is there a little cell phone post icon now? Whoa, man.
LadyMaier- Interesting! Definitely keep us posted going forward. I'm still a little nervous about call quality and the price given what I know about telecom pricing, but I may have to research them a bit closer now... if you'll humor me, I might even have to get you on the horn so I can get a good thumb on call quality myself. lol
Frugalman- Given the info you laid out, I have a feeling it's your shiny new router interfering with call quality. Check your inbox.
LadyMaier- Interesting! Definitely keep us posted going forward. I'm still a little nervous about call quality and the price given what I know about telecom pricing, but I may have to research them a bit closer now... if you'll humor me, I might even have to get you on the horn so I can get a good thumb on call quality myself. lol
Officially back from my trip to my parents', have much to report in the coming weeks as time allows. There was a transition to Airvoice Wireless (awesome customer support - love is officially over for H2O), a transition from T-Mobile for wireless internet access to *shudder* AT&T (I feel dirty just reporting that news - more on why the switch later), the introduction of a wireless network with said AT&T internet utilizing a $25 Sierra USBConnect 308 and a $35 TP-Link TL-MR3020 (http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?categoryid=218&model=TL-MR3020) (again, more on why later), and a system migration from OSX to Ubuntu. It should prove entertaining if nothing else.
My Verizon contract has ended and I'm switching to PlatinumTel this week. I asked IP Daley to refer me via PM but no response yet - any other PlatinumTel customer out there that wants to message me their referral number?
Thanks again - this is one of the most useful threads I've ever seen on the internet.
Stop teasing us and tell us more.
You bet, I.P.! Anytime!
Unfortunately, AT&T GSM MVNOs are just more expensive than CDMA based ones, especially for data.
Unfortunately, AT&T GSM MVNOs are just more expensive than CDMA based ones, especially for data.
T-Mobile MVNO might be an exception if Ultramobile goes live next month as expected:
http://ultra.me/
A sparse website right now, but at .049/mb it would be the most cost effective prepaid data (gsm or cdma) available.
Of course, being a T-Mo MVNO, you're still going to be dealing with the effed up data bands and needing T-Mo phones for anything but EDGE service until they rejigger their data services next year to be better compatible with AT&T's GSM spectrum.
AT&T is just plain STUPID EXPENSIVE with wireless data on their network.
Of course, being a T-Mo MVNO, you're still going to be dealing with the effed up data bands and needing T-Mo phones for anything but EDGE service until they rejigger their data services next year to be better compatible with AT&T's GSM spectrum.
Pentaband as well - the galaxy nexus for instance.
AT&T is just plain STUPID EXPENSIVE with wireless data on their network.
Agreed. However, there are potential signs of improvement in recent news. For instance, despite the excessive cost of a new high end kindle fire, it's notable that the data plan provides 250mb a month for $50 a year on AT&T.
Of course, being a T-Mo MVNO, you're still going to be dealing with the effed up data bands and needing T-Mo phones for anything but EDGE service until they rejigger their data services next year to be better compatible with AT&T's GSM spectrum.
Pentaband as well - the galaxy nexus for instance.
A $350 pentaband GSM phone that's for sale outside of the T-Mobile marketplace does not make for a plethora of devices that eases or accommodates most GSM MVNO converts. The system is fragmented and broken, and frankly, spending $350 on a phone that won't even work with T-Mo's upcoming LTE rollout after the pending transition is a bit foolish if you're spending that much money and focusing that hard on data services to begin with. This is about affordable and plentiful communications technologies to save money and not indulge our technolust, remember?AT&T is just plain STUPID EXPENSIVE with wireless data on their network.
Agreed. However, there are potential signs of improvement in recent news. For instance, despite the excessive cost of a new high end kindle fire, it's notable that the data plan provides 250mb a month for $50 a year on AT&T.
...and Barnes & Noble and Amazon both used to allow free unlimited 3G internet access on AT&T through their e-readers with past Nook and Kindle models. This is nothing new, and it's called subsidizing. They make a crapload of money off most people through datamining, advertisements and content sales with these devices by providing free or cheap ever-present data service. If anything, the fact that they're now charging and capping goes against the very thing you claim about their prices going down because customers are now having to pay for something that used to be free with these devices and their accompanying privacy colonoscopy.
I've finally put my finger on why the posts in this thread have bothered me so much the past couple days, I've been put in a position having to demonstrate and prove a negative about a carrier well beyond reasonable means that the internet has more than enough existing information on to back the reasonable concerns. One of the goals of this guide has always been to focus on what's good out there and provide positive, solid information.
My apologies to the community at large for the increasingly negative tone this has taken the past couple days. I would request that we re-focus on the original purpose and cease with any further dwelling on the negative aspects of less desirable carriers that have a negligible impact on the MVNO landscape as viable options, especially when framed within the purpose of this guide. I've made a genuine effort to provide balanced, reasonable advice here... if I warn off a carrier, research for yourself why or ask in a PM. I want to be held accountable and kept honest, but not at the cost of having to be an internet jerkwad. Please respect that if you feel the information has been good so far, there might be a reason why.
Thank you.
Being incendiary about AT&T charging for data access on said table does not warrant a response on my part.
.....
I had hopes we were going to try and be positive going forward. My initial impression of this forum was that of a venue to share thoughts and useful tips on a variety of communication platforms in the context of MMM. Yes, personal preferences matter in any conversation. But it seems this is rapidly becoming (or has always been) one persons view of the world.
keeping ownership of a consolidated repository of information I authored and curate.
Let it go, Z.
If you don't agree with IP, feel free to start your own thread with your own opinions. Or by all means, post in here, but don't get upset if IP doesn't agree.. This clearly is a thread of his information and opinions.
I'd be happy to read a thread with your thoughts, but for now this doesn't seem to be productive for either of you.
Just my thoughts, feel free to ignore me. Hoping one of you will be the bigger man though. ;)
Airvoice Wireless - http://www.airvoicewireless.com/
Currently the king of cheap pay as you go AT&T MVNO providers at 4¢ a minute, 2¢ a text, and 33¢ MB data with 30 day refills. Although one of the most expensive per MB of data, Airvoice is technically now cheaper per minute than even Platinumtel, and their customer service is superior to Locus' H2O Wireless, and is technically one of the older GSM MVNOs in the nation. Trivially easy to BYOD as they're a GSM carrier so long as you have either an AT&T based or unlocked GSM phone. They've recently gone into the "Unlimited" talk and text trap as so many other providers have with bigger packages, but before they did, the same priced packages in question offered up to 5000 minutes and 10,000 text messages. One would hope that Airvoice's soft usage cap would still fall roughly in line with those usage numbers, but the change (as of mid-August) is still recent enough that that has yet to be reliably determined. SIM cards cost $5 and can be ordered through them directly or from them directly through Amazon. Parents will be on Airvoice as of end of August.
Pros: BYOD support, especially easy with AT&T phones. Perfect for the AT&T refugee as it's just a new SIM card in your old phone and off you go. Decent customer support. AT&T GSM network coverage. Free number porting. Rollover for unused balance.
Cons: AT&T GSM network only! No roaming off network. AT&T GSM network coverage. Expensive data rates. Short airtime credit, forcing a minimum budget of $10/month. Online or Western Union purchasing of refill cards only. No device tethering.
I.P.!!! You Magnificent Mustachian!!
I'm making the move from AT&T GoPhone (@ $25/month for 250 mins talk & unlimited text) over to AIRVOICE WIRELESS (@ $10/month for 250 mins talk & 500 texts)!!! We have 2 cell phones, so that's a $30/month savings ($360/year, $3600/10 years)!!!
Thanks again for all of your great info. Your latest post describing their customer service prompted me to look through the original guide again to see if I could do any better than AT&T, and sure enough! You rock.
Keep in mind that's 250 minutes OR 500 SMS messages, not both. Otherwise, glad to have helped. I just point the info out, I'm not setting the prices. ;)
I might also suggest just to be on the safe side... you probably don't have to worry, but it never hurts to unlock your GSM phones anyway. Have a guide on how to do with with AT&T prepaid (http://www.tech-faq.com/how-to-unlock-a-gophone.html) before you bail.
Actually, you can re-up with another $10 plan recharge any time. If you burn through the balance in three weeks, you just pay for your next $10 a week early. It restarts the clock at 30 days, you still get rollover if it goes unused before the next refill, yadda yadda. View it like a traditional pay as you go plan with rollover, but with only $10 refill cards and 30 days of air time: minutes stack, airtime never exceeds 30 days. My mother's going on a trip shortly, and wanted to make sure she had plenty of minutes, so she'll be applying two $10 Talk & Text cards to the account before leaving. Airvoice is cool like that. Also, they give you a system message with your remaining balance at the end of each call, which is awesome.
I'm not a great fan of the idea given you seem to have perfectly good phones you're happy with already... but if you were willing to switch to a CDMA carrier (Sprint network with Verizon fallback) and replace your handsets (feature phones are under $80), Ting (https://ting.com/) would give you two handsets and a bucket of 500 minutes and 1000 texts to use between them for $26 a month. It'd mean replacing handsets, e-waste, learning new devices and other minor inconveniences, but the ROI on the two new entry-level handsets versus the savings per month over what you're currently spending would be less than seven months. Nice thing with Ting is that they're flexible, if you use less than the tier you sign up for, you get billed for the lower tier. Works the same way with overages, you just get kicked up a tier for the month on the overage. Also, friendly Canuckistanis from Toronto man the phones. Might be worth looking into.
Once of these days, we'll find the perfect plan for you and your husband, Ladymaier!
IP, thank you for your quick and extensive reply.
My bad: I forgot to say that I am paying a total of about $135 a month for bundled 'Net, cells and landline. So it looks like $50 for the landline when I do the math.
Another question about the security aspect. I use the landline for "sensitive" issues such as anything where I'd have to give a social security number or a credit card number. Will the VOiP be as secure as a landline? For e.g., my uncle has his phone through his cable company. He still believes that he has a "landline" but in truth, it's all digital (and I feel, not secure). What are your thoughts on this?
Actually, you can re-up with another $10 plan recharge any time. If you burn through the balance in three weeks, you just pay for your next $10 a week early. It restarts the clock at 30 days, you still get rollover if it goes unused before the next refill, yadda yadda. View it like a traditional pay as you go plan with rollover, but with only $10 refill cards and 30 days of air time: minutes stack, airtime never exceeds 30 days. My mother's going on a trip shortly, and wanted to make sure she had plenty of minutes, so she'll be applying two $10 Talk & Text cards to the account before leaving. Airvoice is cool like that. Also, they give you a system message with your remaining balance at the end of each call, which is awesome.
I'm not a great fan of the idea given you seem to have perfectly good phones you're happy with already... but if you were willing to switch to a CDMA carrier (Sprint network with Verizon fallback) and replace your handsets (feature phones are under $80), Ting (https://ting.com/) would give you two handsets and a bucket of 500 minutes and 1000 texts to use between them for $26 a month. It'd mean replacing handsets, e-waste, learning new devices and other minor inconveniences, but the ROI on the two new entry-level handsets versus the savings per month over what you're currently spending would be less than seven months. Nice thing with Ting is that they're flexible, if you use less than the tier you sign up for, you get billed for the lower tier. Works the same way with overages, you just get kicked up a tier for the month on the overage. Also, friendly Canuckistanis from Toronto man the phones. Might be worth looking into.
Once of these days, we'll find the perfect plan for you and your husband, Ladymaier!
A savings of $163.50/month, $1962/year, and $19,620 over ten years.
Thanks for schooling me I.P., and for all the help and clarification. You rock!
I have to admit, this string gives my non-tech savvy brain a headache. That being said, I've got a question that hopefully someone will be able to answer since our phone bill is astronomical. We've been keeping AT&T because I have an email address that, if we cut off AT&T, will be disabled. It's the email address I've been using for forever. Is there anyway around this issue or do I just have to suck it up and change my email address?
Any thoughts on FreedomPop's new free 4G now that it has gone live?
http://gigaom.com/mobile/freedompops-freemium-4g-data-service-goes-live/
The customer that poses a problem initially is the one that uses his entire cap each month without exceeding it, Miller said.
Small celebration for me! The husband has green lighted cutting the cable! My Internet/phone/cable bundle always comes out to around $200 a month! I tried negotiating and got no where. My contract is almost up, so the fee to break will be $30.00. Just cutting cable and keeping the phone and Internet would be $105 a month. Cutting phone and keeping the Internet alone will be $65 a month. THEY WANT $40 for my bare-bones, dial tone only phone? They can get bent.
.....
Thank you IP Daley and thank you Hockey lockout for making this a possibility. I'll be back later to find out how the heck to watch the Bruins without NESN and Versus. I'll let you know how it goes over. So far, the idea hasn't been met with enthusiasm from my tenant/ sister in law, who requested a couple weeks notice before I cut the cable! I guess free cable must be pretty sweet. (I've been sharing it as a loving sister, not as an included utility). I'm setting the date for Oct 10th.
Thanks again! I'm cutting off Cox!
Update! I just got off the phone with Ladymaier and her NetTalk provided VoIP service. (Thank you so much for calling and helping us all out, Ladymaier!)
NetTalk Duo:
The verdict? Not terrible. It was pretty close to what I expected, but NetTalk is serviceable and the overall call quality is certainly better than MagicJack (not that this particular benchmark is difficult to clear).
I must admit that reading this thread is a lot like listening in on a conversation between people speaking a different language than mine. Every once in a while, I think I understand the gist of it :)
.....
back to the thread appreciation: I do think that I want a VOIP so that I can have longer conversations with my sister and friends, but will have to go try to read the thread again to figure out how to do that. Im also unclear on if I need to get google voice. If I have an iphone with airvoice wireless, what are ways to maximize its use, like Ive heard mention of using gvoice to get rid of text fees? I just am not a native tech speaker!
Actually, you can re-up with another $10 plan recharge any time. If you burn through the balance in three weeks, you just pay for your next $10 a week early. It restarts the clock at 30 days, you still get rollover if it goes unused before the next refill, yadda yadda. View it like a traditional pay as you go plan with rollover, but with only $10 refill cards and 30 days of air time: minutes stack, airtime never exceeds 30 days. My mother's going on a trip shortly, and wanted to make sure she had plenty of minutes, so she'll be applying two $10 Talk & Text cards to the account before leaving. Airvoice is cool like that. Also, they give you a system message with your remaining balance at the end of each call, which is awesome.
I.P. - Just writing for clarification. When you say "rollover", you mean if say I bought 2 $10 cards to cover myself for a month, but actually only end up using 1 of the $10 cards, the 2nd $10 card will then become active ("rollover") for the next month? I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to lose that 2nd $10 card. I believe that's what you've said above, but I just wanted to confirm it. And the airvoice wireless site doesn't really talk about this in detail. Thanks!
I.P. - Just writing for clarification. When you say "rollover", you mean if say I bought 2 $10 cards to cover myself for a month, but actually only end up using 1 of the $10 cards, the 2nd $10 card will then become active ("rollover") for the next month? I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to lose that 2nd $10 card. I believe that's what you've said above, but I just wanted to confirm it. And the airvoice wireless site doesn't really talk about this in detail. Thanks!
I just talked with my mother last night about this very topic, and I want to apologize for the news I'm about to share. The good news is, technically speaking, Airvoice is still the cheapest per-minute GSM MVNO with their $10 a month 250 minute plan. The bad news is that they appear to have recently redone their terms of service and have discontinued any form of stacking and rollover on this plan, and as such you can never have greater than a 250 minute balance. This means if you add a card early, you'll lose any remaining balance from the previous card when you activate it. This appears to be a relatively recent change given what little I've dug up on the subject from around the various wireless communities.
ALSO - If you buy a $10 talk/text card on say 9/25, and your expiration for that card is 10/24....and if you USE UP YOUR MINUTES BEFORE 10/24, and apply another $10 card....that NEW $10 card will still expire on 10/24 (your original expiration date)....the clock does not restart from the point of purchase of the new $10. That stinks even more. According to customer service, you can buy a new card within a day of your rate plan expiring, and at that point the new date will begin. Annoying.
.....
If nothing else, the beauty of pre-paid is the ability to be a nomad among mobile phone providers.
It should also make MMM's upcoming mobile post a curious read, because I suspect they went Airvoice themselves from what little he's dropped so far (though I may be wrong).
It should also make MMM's upcoming mobile post a curious read, because I suspect they went Airvoice themselves from what little he's dropped so far (though I may be wrong).
He should have you comment on the post before it goes live for the technical stuff (with him doing the nuts and bolts of how it's working for him in the real world).
and how will anyone ever recognize us!?
So if we have a phone question that's not iPhone related, or another network question that's not about phones, does it still go here? Or do we post elsewhere?
(That one's not just theoretical; I'm weighing a switch. Hmmm...)
| Service | Usage | Cost |
| Voice | 88 min | $3 |
| Text | 1 msg | $3 |
| Data | 64 MB | $3 |
| Service Base | $6 | |
| Service Taxes | $1.96 | |
| Total Cost | $16.96 |
I wanted to provide an update:
...
Next up is my Comcast bill: I was on a 6 month promo that gave me their Blast Plus service (Blast internet with Digital Economy cable) for a grand total of $42/month, including the cable modem rental. That ran out this month and now it's $80/month, so I'm going to can the cable and drop down to the Performance internet, which has a current customer-special of only $20/month.
I'll also probably return the modem and purchase my own, as rental went up from $5/month to $7/month. At that rate, a Solid Docsis 3 modem (http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SB6121-Official-Manufacturer-Environmentally/dp/B00768SBAU/ref=pd_cp_e_0) will pay for itself in 11 months. Daley, should I go ahead and get that SB6121 or are there any cheaper but solid options? An 11-month break-even doesn't seem too bad on the SB6121. My current rented modem is an Arris WBM760.
Hey, fantastic news Cosmie! Great to hear stuff's been working out so well on the phone front. Have you by chance called and talked with Ting about the SMS charge for the CMAS alert yet? That might be a bug in the system that needs to be addressed.I didn't, because I already paid the bill in question and I've been so busy lately that it wasn't worth it for me. However, I really should report that to them (added to to-do list for the week).
As for the cable modem situation, so long as the SB6121 is on Comcast's supported model list (which it should be), that's probably going to be your best bang for buck DOCSIS 3.0 modem on the market short of buying the thing used/refurbished. DOCSIS 2.0 modems will always be cheaper, and Motorola's SB5xxx series modems still on the market have good IPv6 support, but if they want you on DOCSIS 3.0, at least the modem prices have dropped sufficiently now to make it worth the money. Until I hear a relative consensus otherwise though, you'll likely never see me recommend anything but Motorola Surfboard modems. They've been the gold standard for cable modems going back to the late 90's, and you really can't go wrong with them if you take care of the things (well grounded cable line, quality UPS power source, well ventilated, keep the cat from sleeping on it, etc.).
Thanks, I knew they *used* to be the defacto standard, but didn't know if that still held true. As for the DOCSIS 3, that was one thing Comcast told me I needed, even if I downgrade to the Performance package. Whether that's true or not, I dunno; but the price difference is only ~$15 from a DOCSIS 2 modem.
...and cancel the landline (we do want to keep our number)?
...and cancel the landline (we do want to keep our number)?
Might want to think about that. One of the unanticipated, but very much appreciated, benefits of replacing the landline with a cheap cell phone is that I seem to have - for the time being, anyway - dodged most of the marketing (despite being on the do not call list) & political robocalls, and no longer have a relationship with Jennifer from Cardholder Services...
...and cancel the landline (we do want to keep our number)?
Might want to think about that. One of the unanticipated, but very much appreciated, benefits of replacing the landline with a cheap cell phone is that I seem to have - for the time being, anyway - dodged most of the marketing (despite being on the do not call list) & political robocalls, and no longer have a relationship with Jennifer from Cardholder Services...
I've been a Vonage customer for years. I use it for my home line and my business line. It's been reliable and good in every way.
I'm now switching to voip.ms. The monthly charge is $1 or $5. Inbound (yes inbound) and outbound calling is about $0.01 per minute. This should save a lot of money. You can use this with a soft phone, but I bought a nice Obihai 100 telephone adapter. It connects to my home network, and I plug a phone into it. Actually, I plug the house wiring into it, and several phones are connected to the house wiring.
With this setup, I can even call in remotely from another phone and use my outbound calling plan.
To be honest, voip.ms is mostly a wholesaler. If you're not technically oriented, it's pretty confusing to set it up.
I finally understand why people hate Comcast.
You'll note one of the VoIP providers I recommend is Future Nine, which is primarily a BYOD provider themselves, and VOIPo unofficially supports BYOD as well. I tend to encourage folks to learn to use the tools recommended for added flexibility in usage, and voip.ms is definitely in that same spirit. :)
Earthlink was a no go for my area (other than dial up).I finally understand why people hate Comcast.
It's not just terrible...
It's Comcastic!
Be warned though, as your alternative is AT&T. Those are introductory offers and once the period is over, you'll likely never see those prices again, and they'll want similar price points (or worse). I feel for people like you as I've been in the same boat, but I've finally gotten to the point that if I ever have to pick between a giant douche and a turd sandwich again, I'll do without.
Good luck with the Death Star, Cosmie!
Edit: Look into Earthlink (http://www.earthlink.net/access/cable.faces), you might get lucky. And remember, if I can do systems administration, web development, stream videos and do VoIP telephony on a 3Mbps connection, so can you. ;)
However, my fiance kindly reminded me that she isn't on the Comcast account, and therefore we don't necessarily need to turn to ATT. So after they disconnect it (if they don't call back and attempt to keep me as a customer, which I'm doubting at this point), I can see what "new customer" deal she can take advantage of. I'll probably go with the Economy Plus package (3mb down, 768mb up), which is $20/month for 6 months then $40/month after (yes, cheaper than the $50 the retention agent quoted me as full price).
ALSO - If you buy a $10 talk/text card on say 9/25, and your expiration for that card is 10/24....and if you USE UP YOUR MINUTES BEFORE 10/24, and apply another $10 card....that NEW $10 card will still expire on 10/24 (your original expiration date)....the clock does not restart from the point of purchase of the new $10. That stinks even more. According to customer service, you can buy a new card within a day of your rate plan expiring, and at that point the new date will begin. Annoying.
.....
If nothing else, the beauty of pre-paid is the ability to be a nomad among mobile phone providers.
It won't even reset your expiry date leading to even more lost minutes? Oh, that is UGLY news. Thanks for that additional bit of reconnaissance and info. I've lost a whole lot of love for Airvoice in a matter of hours over this info. Unfortunately, this is the flip side to prepaid MVNOs and their terms of service, things can turn on you in a matter of days. Thankfully, as you pointed out, it does make pulling up your tent stakes easier.
I want to blame Airvoice directly for this nonsense, but one fact I can't seem to escape is the fact that they're reselling AT&T services... and I don't need to remind people how charming and considerate AT&T is with any of their customers, from the smallest consumer to the biggest corporate account. I can't help but suspect there's been a change at the reseller level that's caused this. It's looking more and more like the soundest long-term advice will be recommending people bite the bullet and just make the Sprint/CDMA switch unless T-Mobile pulls out some major Hail Mary play with their own services next year after their spectrum rejigger and LTE rollout. I suspect a few iPhone users here are not going to like this news...
It should also make MMM's upcoming mobile post a curious read, because I suspect they went Airvoice themselves from what little he's dropped so far (though I may be wrong).
I’m still guarded in my joy….I want to give it one more day past my expiration date before I start planning a parade. I’ll get back to you.
I was also wondering if anyone else might have renewed and noticed something similar…anybody?
That I do not know, Magnuminator. The folks that I know directly on Airvoice are a little gunshy to try again after what happened a few weeks ago and I can't convince them to give it a shot, and I'm on Platinumtel.
We'll have to see if anyone here is willing to try it again. Ladymaier? Anyone?
At the very least, I'll give them a call and find out before I burn $10. I'll report back soon. :)
No more unlocking
In 2006 and 2010, the Librarian of Congress had permitted users to unlock their phones to take them to a new carrier. Now that's coming to an end. While the new rules do contain a provision allowing phone unlocking, it comes with a crippling caveat: the phone must have been "originally acquired from the operator of a wireless telecommunications network or retailer no later than ninety days after the effective date of this exemption."
In other words, phones you already have, as well as those purchased between now and next January, can be unlocked. But phones purchased after January 2013 can only be unlocked with the carrier's permission.
Why the change? The Librarian cited two key factors. One is a 2010 ruling that held that when you purchase software, you don't actually own it. Rather, you merely license it according to the terms of the End User License Agreement. The Librarian argued that this undermined the claim that unlocking your own phone was fair use.
Also, the Librarian found that there are more unlocked phones on the market than there were three years ago, and that most wireless carriers have liberal policies for unlocking their handsets. As a result, the Librarian of Congress decided that it should no longer be legal to unlock your cell phone without the carrier's permission.
Wait, what!? They're not offering or allowing you access to standard regular monthly rates that other customers are getting for the same packages? If they're publicly offering a regular monthly rate of $40 a month without promotions for the Economy Plus package and they're refusing to honor that deal and won't charge less than $50, document that and file a complaint with your state's consumer protection offices, utility commission (if they handle it), Attorney's General office, the Federal Trade Commission and talk with a lawyer. It's $10 a month, but it's the principle. If you've been given an opportunity like this...I called back and asked. Apparently, the $50/month is the full, regional rate for that package. The "perpetual $40 after first year" price quoted with the initial 6 month special is set by corporate for that particular package, and doesn't necessarily reflect the market rate.
http://www.usa.gov/directory/stateconsumer/index.shtml
...if you're leaving over this crap and you have a legit case, you've got nothing to lose. Do it for the betterment of your fellow man being bent over by them.
Quote from: Ars TechnicaNo more unlocking
Also, the Librarian found that there are more unlocked phones on the market than there were three years ago, and that most wireless carriers have liberal policies for unlocking their handsets. As a result, the Librarian of Congress decided that it should no longer be legal to unlock your cell phone without the carrier's permission.
The Future of VOIPo
As we announced earlier this year, we plan to move away from the heavily discounted prepaid plans for both new customers and renewal and focus on monthly and premium plans. While we love offering huge discounts, our goal is to provide the highest quality service with the most unique features and the best support rather than just providing cheap phone service. Shifting away from the large discounts and focusing more on business and premium service in the new year will allow us to do that. Of course, for those of you that take advantage of the renewal offer this weekend, you'll lock in the current discounted renewal price which is over 50% off our standard monthly price. The additional 2 years of service will be added to the end of your current plan so you won't lose any time you've already paid for.
In July, we launched the newly redesigned vPanel BETA, SMS text messaging on VOIPo numbers, portable international calling, and more. We're very excited that we were able to bring you premium features like SMS and we are hard at work with more new features in development. We're very excited about these new features and upgrades and have more on the way.
Lock in the discounted VOIPo rate now and get premium VOIPo service for years to come at the discounted price. Once this promotion ends this weekend, discouned renewal pricing will no longer be available. We have a LIMITED number of renewals available at this price at https://account.voipo.com/renew and we reserve the right to end this promotion early at any time.
VOIPO Users:
You probably received the same email as I did, but just in case not, I'll post part of it here:QuoteThe Future of VOIPo
As we announced earlier this year, we plan to move away from the heavily discounted prepaid plans for both new customers and renewal and focus on monthly and premium plans. While we love offering huge discounts, our goal is to provide the highest quality service with the most unique features and the best support rather than just providing cheap phone service. Shifting away from the large discounts and focusing more on business and premium service in the new year will allow us to do that. Of course, for those of you that take advantage of the renewal offer this weekend, you'll lock in the current discounted renewal price which is over 50% off our standard monthly price. The additional 2 years of service will be added to the end of your current plan so you won't lose any time you've already paid for.
In July, we launched the newly redesigned vPanel BETA, SMS text messaging on VOIPo numbers, portable international calling, and more. We're very excited that we were able to bring you premium features like SMS and we are hard at work with more new features in development. We're very excited about these new features and upgrades and have more on the way.
Lock in the discounted VOIPo rate now and get premium VOIPo service for years to come at the discounted price. Once this promotion ends this weekend, discouned renewal pricing will no longer be available. We have a LIMITED number of renewals available at this price at https://account.voipo.com/renew and we reserve the right to end this promotion early at any time.
tl;dr: Supposedly the last 2-year promo package VOIPo will run. With taxes tacked on, it comes to $185 ($7.71/month) total. If you want to take advantage of it, do so by Sunday evening.
I called Airvoicewireless a couple of days ago to port my number to the $10 plan. I received a call back a few minutes later they can't port numbers from the Chicago area, in my case the 773 area code. So I'm stuck with at&t for the moment. Even google voice says it can't port my number. Looks like I'll have to get a new number and try to find all the sites where I have my current number registered.
Any suggestions of a lightweight wifi calling app for android? I was trying Groove IP but my Samsung Intercept couldn't handle it.
No love for Canadians :'( It's impossible to get ANYTHING under 40$/mo here when you need the most minimal amount of data (200~500mb). My phone has only 100 minutes, nights and week-end, text messages and 500mb of data and it's around 45$/mo. It pisses me off so much.
President's Choice Mobile? What the flying fuck? So many carriers I had never heard about! Thanks for the link.
I keep sending e-mails every couple months to Wind and Mobilicity asking them if they'll ever expand to Montreal but it doesn't seem to be in their plan at all.
Another thing that I hate : I'm a geek and a huuuge Google user (android, gmail, drive, chrome) and they won't release voice in Canada. Voice is the most perfect thing in the world and I can't have it. I would kill to have Google Voice!
I found out more about the Platinumtel BYOD program. It looks like they're adding GSM servince via T-Mobile, and that they're also going to bring the Real Pay Go plans over. The only potential difference that I've seen is that a $10 card will only last 60 days instead of 90.
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2012/11/platinumtels-bring-your-own-phone-plan.html (http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2012/11/platinumtels-bring-your-own-phone-plan.html)
There is yet another great MVNO that has managed to escape your list. ;) I recently became a Solavei Social Member. They are a new cell phone provider that relies on Social Members instead of expensive advertising and passes the savings on to their Social members. Here's an overview http://vimeopro.com/solaveitv/what-is-solavei/video/50030783
@destron
I also started with AT&T/iPhone 4s unlimited data plan.
My lifestyle has me at home or at the office 95% of the time. Since I am on wifi 95% of the time I can use Google Voice for texting/talking over the internet (Talkatone app). If you aren't out and about all the time checking your email, it's not a far cry to eliminate almost all of your cellular usage (i've used <$1 of my prepaid talk/text/data in 3 weeks (AirVoice).
I have texts/talk routed through GV (talkatone) and I've only turned on cellular data a couple times.
How does the new Ptel 35/mo plan compare to virgin mobile's 35/mo plan? They look pretty much equivalent to me.
IIRC, you went Virgin for the data and bandwidth because you didn't really use minutes. If you're on their $35 plan, stay put.
Hoyahoyasaxa-
1) Only if you buy out your contract and pay the ETF fees. When you do that, your phone's ESN becomes "clean" and you can resell the device on Ebay/Craigslist/etc. for as much as you can possible get for the thing as anyone else can re-activate the device on Verizon.
Thanks, I.P! One other question- if I paid to get out of my contract early, and decided to go with PagePlus, would I be able to keep my current phone number?
Can't say enough good things about Ooma.
Now, I am looking to save on cheap pre-paid service. Currently using Net10, but I have decreased my cell usage dramatically since starting my current job (no cell phones allowed in the office), and don't need the amount of minutes I once did. I probably need 100 minutes or less per month.
When I bought the Ooma 4 years ago, it was the best proven option at the time, none of that other stuff was around, and if it was it was a less than complete, optimal solution. I'm on the Ooma Hub (not the Telo), also have a Scout but I don't need or use it. If another system works for you, then go for it.
As for me, I have paid two things for phone service since I plugged in the Ooma 4 years ago: jack, and $Hl+. It works 100% of the time. So yes, I still like it better than any alternative.
Any recommendations?
You're telling me almost too late, but my investment so far is low, so I'll consider your recommendation strongly. I haven't read this whole thread, of course, so what are the main points against net10?
OK, thanks.
Airvoice has a $55/month plan that includes 1 GB of data. That's $5 more than net10's $50 plan that has unlimited data. Show me where Airvoice's rates are lower. I must be overlooking something.
OK, thanks.
Airvoice has a $55/month plan that includes 1 GB of data. That's $5 more than net10's $50 plan that has unlimited data. Show me where Airvoice's rates are lower. I must be overlooking something.
NET10 UNLIMITED PLAN INTENDED USE
The NET10 Unlimited Plan may ONLY be used with a NET10 Phone for the following purposes: (i) Person to Person Voice Calls (ii) Text and Picture Messaging (iii) Internet browsing through the NET10 Mobile Web Portal and (iv) Authorized Content Downloads from the NET10 Mobile Web Store. The NET10 Unlimited Plan MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous mobile to mobile or mobile to landline voice calls; (ii) automated text or picture messaging to another mobile device or e-mail address; (iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (iv) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (“P2P”) file sharing; or (v) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A customer engaged in prohibited uses may have his/her Service terminated without notice or a refund.
I want to stick to the AT&T network. At this point, you can guess why I'm inflexible about that.
For what its worth, I've been running a test this last week (since the 3rd) to see about how much data I really need/use.
Walmart says it will offer $25-per-month financing for the phone itself if customers use a Walmart credit card.
If I were to switch to a T-Mobile MVNA, what would I notice? I'm interested in the pluses and minuses. I was a happy T-Mobile customer some time ago, though coverage wasn't the high point, to put it mildly. It doesn't work in my home whatsoever.
As for your data usage, a lot of that background data can actually be nipped in the bud if you know what to look for. I did the same with my Intercept when I first got it. The key is to turn off the following items:
-Disable auto-sync with Google
-Disable Google Play Store updates over 3G
-Disabled and replace the built-in email client with K9 Mail
-Disabled maps auto-updating
If I were to port my prepaid $30/month 100 minute unlimited data/text plan to Google Voice, what would happen?
I'd like to keep the same sim and account and just draw a random number or something. What would be the best approach for this?
Also, what's the best way to keep transparency for my iMessage? Set it up without the phone number, or just with the google number?
Thanks for the info!
The sim itself costs $1.05 after tax, then it's just the amount for the plan you want to activate on. The sim actually comes with $3 and change so it'd potentially be a cost saver there. Then all I'd need to do is port out my number near the refill point on the old card (when the balance is $0) and then throw money on the new sim. I think there's a cost ($20) to port to GV though, so there's that. What brought this on was seeing a deal on a ptel (I know it's non-GSM) and recognizing that from time to time there are going to be deals that I may want to take advantage of and want to be able to comfortably hop around on sim cards without dealing with porting issues.
I suppose the last loose end I haven't addressed is what would happen to my T-mobile $30 plan/account if I went to another carrier temporarily and wanted to put more money on it. Would the $30 account still be available, or would I have to get yet another sim card, and run the risk of that plan not being available?
Thanks for the info!
The sim itself costs $1.05 after tax, then it's just the amount for the plan you want to activate on. The sim actually comes with $3 and change so it'd potentially be a cost saver there. Then all I'd need to do is port out my number near the refill point on the old card (when the balance is $0) and then throw money on the new sim. I think there's a cost ($20) to port to GV though, so there's that. What brought this on was seeing a deal on a ptel (I know it's non-GSM) and recognizing that from time to time there are going to be deals that I may want to take advantage of and want to be able to comfortably hop around on sim cards without dealing with porting issues.
I suppose the last loose end I haven't addressed is what would happen to my T-mobile $30 plan/account if I went to another carrier temporarily and wanted to put more money on it. Would the $30 account still be available, or would I have to get yet another sim card, and run the risk of that plan not being available?
Actually, P'tel is GSM now... they're a T-Mobile MVNO as of last month in fact.
Yes, there is a cost to port the number to Google, and there's also a price taken in call quality as well. Some days its fine, others it's a nightmare. SMS delivery can be unreliable at times as well. You should also factor in time on number porting. Frequently, it can be as quick as minutes or hours, but sometimes it can take upwards of three weeks. If you let your account lapse before the port goes through, you'll lose the number.
As for the hypothetical account jockeying? SIM cards with all carriers are pretty much one shot. You kill the account and go back to the carrier later, you're getting a new SIM. If you want to keep using the same SIM and phone number with the carrier, you'd either have to reactivate during the grace period (though you'd lose any remaining balance after that lapse), or start fresh. You will lose your package deal on the account if you try to suspend it or let payment lapse, and suspension will cost money to keep active. Read their Terms and Conditions (http://www.t-mobile.com/Templates/Popup.aspx?PAsset=Ftr_Ftr_TermsAndConditions&print=true) for more details. Bottom line, it's not worth jockeying on short term deal whims. Better to understand what you need and just pick the best deal for that up front.
My question is where do you look for phones that will work? They need to be unlocked GSM. petro can offers some but non that she likes (she's thinking something like an galaxy S2) I see a fair number of used but don't know enough about phones to know if I'm getting screwed or not with them.
she's looking at android smartphones because I won't pay for an iphone, and she wants to run credit card payments directly through it. I haven't seen anything not a win8/andriod/iphone that can run one of those apps. but as just a phone yeah smart phones are dumb.
Quick check-in, can I port from T-mobile prepaid to T-mobile postpaid?
Thanks!
We’ve set aside $100,000 to pay off Ting switchers’ early termination fees (ETFs) over the entire month of February.
On Feb 1, the Ting $100,000 ETF payoff page will go live (we’ll update this post with the link). Continuing through the end of the month, Ting will be paying off the early termination fees (ETF) up to $350 per line for anyone that’s ready to ditch their mobile contract and come over to Ting.
Wouldn't be surprised if some unethical people take advantage of that by signing up for a new plan with the top of the line phone model (subsidized, of course, by having a two year plan), then Ting their way out of it. I'm assuming they'd be locked into Ting then for two years, or have to pay a large ETF though?
Wouldn't be surprised if some unethical people take advantage of that by signing up for a new plan with the top of the line phone model (subsidized, of course, by having a two year plan), then Ting their way out of it. I'm assuming they'd be locked into Ting then for two years, or have to pay a large ETF though?
-We are looking at PlatinumTel but aren't sure if T Mobile coverage is good or not in our area (zip 85257, South Scottsdale AZ). T Mobile's map looks pretty good but I'm unsure if they're counting 'subcontractors' or partner's coverage.
-Are we better off buying one of PlatinumTel's phones (e.g. - refurbed Iphone 3) or buying an unlocked phone (or perhaps even a used phone that is on T Mobile's network) via craigslist/ebay?
-Are there some good Android phones you'd recommend buying used? The choices are overwhelming.
-I think I can figure out how to make outgoing calls using WiFi only, via an app like GoogleVoice (I don't have experience doing this, as I've never had a smartphone, but I assume it's similar to how GV works on my laptop). But how would you receive calls via Wifi? Do you just leave that app open all the time?
Hey I.P. I see you have mentioned the Obi100. How does that compare to the Linksys PAP2T? I just ordered a PAP2T I am planing on giving a VOIP.ms as try. Should I have bought a Obi100 instead?
-We are looking at PlatinumTel but aren't sure if T Mobile coverage is good or not in our area (zip 85257, South Scottsdale AZ). T Mobile's map looks pretty good but I'm unsure if they're counting 'subcontractors' or partner's coverage.
Looks like there's good native T-Mo coverage all over the sprawling Phoenix region, so you should be fine. When in doubt with coverage until someone can convince them to use the right map, use another T-Mo MVNO's map, like GoSmart Mobile's (https://www.gosmartmobile.com/coverage-check). Otherwise, the only part you should be ignoring is the yellow crosshatched areas.-Are we better off buying one of PlatinumTel's phones (e.g. - refurbed Iphone 3) or buying an unlocked phone (or perhaps even a used phone that is on T Mobile's network) via craigslist/ebay?
-Are there some good Android phones you'd recommend buying used? The choices are overwhelming.
Are you happy with your current AT&T handsets? If you are, get AT&T to carrier unlock your handsets before you leave, then you can keep using the same phones after swapping the SIM cards out. The only advantage of buying a smartphone from P'tel or a T-Mo handset is going to be for HSPA+ speeds on data. If you're not planning on using much data, don't bother.
As for smartphone recommendations... start here with my latest post on the subject of iPhones and smartphones in general: Are iPhones worth it? (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/01/are-iphones-worth-it/)
If you still want an Android handset recommendation after that... if you're technically inclined? Any handset officially supported by the CyanogenMod team (http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/index.php?title=Devices). A good low-end starter on that list is the LG P500 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_Optimus_One) (Optimus One). Otherwise, you'll want something that can officially run and has had firmware upgrades to ICS (http://www.android.com/about/ice-cream-sandwich/) to ensure security and enough hardware beefiness to handle VoIP calls without you needing to know what you're doing. You can narrow the list using this tool (http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3).-I think I can figure out how to make outgoing calls using WiFi only, via an app like GoogleVoice (I don't have experience doing this, as I've never had a smartphone, but I assume it's similar to how GV works on my laptop). But how would you receive calls via Wifi? Do you just leave that app open all the time?
Are you planning on only making VoIP/GV calls while at home on your WiFi connection? Is this the only reason why you're considering upgrading your handsets from what you already have? If it is, I've got a cheaper, better solution in the form of the Obi100 ATA (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LO098O). Just configure, plug in your old landline phones and go. Beyond that, if you're still looking to do the smartphone WiFi calling thing, it's territory I've covered on the blog as well: About Google Voice and Viber (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2012/11/ask-daley-about-google-voice-and-viber/).
As to the question of receiving VoIP calls over WiFi... yes, to receive via that mehod, you've gotta leave the app running and the phone connected, which'll drain your battery.
Thanks for all that information!
To answer your question, my wife and I will mostly be taking calls in two places: at home or on campus (she's a grad student and spends maybe 8-10 hours a day there). The rub with a wired ob100 is that it won't work for my wife on campus, but she does get free wifi there...we're both likely in wifi range for maybe 90% of our time.
Our current AT&T handsets aren't smartphones, but there's nothing really wrong with them. That said, they wouldn't be able to make calls using wifi, so it may work out better to pony up the cash for a one time purchase of a basic smartphone.
I'm intrigued by the CyanogenMod idea, but just as with Linux, my curiosity is matched by my technical ignorance. I'm fairly adept with technology but I am also lazy...it seems that it's worth the effort though. I have some learning to do.
I'm guessing you'd suggest to buy a used, unlocked phone from Ebay or something like that, install the CM firmware, and then get to a MNVO like Ptel?
Thanks a million, Daley. So the LG Optimus One seems like a good, basic Android phone that would work just fine for us. If we bought an LG Optimus One and installed Cyanogen, would the native VoiP app allow us to make "free" calls to each other over Wifi in a relatively secure manner? (Or does installing Cyanogen remove the native Voip app?) From your article, it seems Kik would also allow this? Or would the call quality be so bad that it's not even worth "free"?
Mainly, I just want to be able to call my wife who's a few miles away (or have her call me) without using minutes. We talk to each other a lot during the day.
Hey I.P. I see you have mentioned the Obi100. How does that compare to the Linksys PAP2T? I just ordered a PAP2T I am planing on giving a VOIP.ms as try. Should I have bought a Obi100 instead?
My wife insists on keeping that POTS line, so it will be good for inbound and 911 calls. (God forbid we should need 911, but it's there.)
Dang I just got a PAP2T that I order form ebay yesterday. It was only $20 so i guess if I decide I want to try the OBI I can just resell it. I'm pretty excited to try out VOIP.ms I just need to get a phone.
I did read somewhere the OBI is really close to the PAP2T but more update technology inside.
One question if I am reading VOIP.ms correctly can I get a INum number and my father get an INum number and we wont have to pay anything to talk to each other? Anyone have any experience with this?
Predicting the next power outage is now impossible, so it's impossible to know what we need. It's just guesswork.
Daley, with an obihai (obi) device at each end, you can call for free. And they're cheap. No need for any VOIP account.
Technically, the Obi has its own hard-wired user network for doing the same thing.and
just use Obi hardware at both ends... you get the idea.
Hey no yelling at each other on account of me.
I'm still extremely happy with my obi devices, even though I know I could have spent less. Daley, what are some of your favorites?
Don't expect to be impressed with the hardware quality. Everyone wants to save money, especially the consumer, so the market responds to that. Of course, it includes a wall-wart, which are annoying. One of these days, I might install right-sized power supplies for my DC appliances and cable them all to the power supply. I might even do something crazy like running 12 VDC through the house for this.
I guess I should start a forum thread on that idea...
I saw that, and then I showed it to someone who knows stuff about that stuff. He said the recommended components are crap. Stuff made to be reliable and durable costs a lot more.
There's cheap, and then there's cheap.
As many of you have heard unlocking cell phones is now illegal. If you disagree with this interpretation I urge you to sign this petition at we the people.
http://wh.gov/yA9n
I have an iphone 4 on Straight Talk Wireless. I used a service for a few bucks to unlock it when I got it on Christmas. How can I check to be sure it was unlocked? I'm thinking about switching to Airvoice Wireless $10 plan, as I'm finding that I'm in wifi most of the time. Also can anyone tell me if using imessage in wifi will use my minutes? Anything else I should know?
I have an iphone 4 on Straight Talk Wireless. I used a service for a few bucks to unlock it when I got it on Christmas. How can I check to be sure it was unlocked? I'm thinking about switching to Airvoice Wireless $10 plan, as I'm finding that I'm in wifi most of the time. Also can anyone tell me if using imessage in wifi will use my minutes? Anything else I should know?
Is that iPhone4 an AT&T GSM model that you bought a Straight Talk SIM card for? Just checking, as they have a hideously locked down and overpriced CDMA model for sale through Walmart now.
As for checking to ensure it was unlocked, the only real way to test is to put in a T-Mobile based SIM card... like something from Platinumtel. Doesn't have to be an active SIM, just has to be a SIM not from AT&T or an AT&T MVNO. Though, if the Straight Talk SIM is working fine, you'd probably not have any problem going to Airvoice as they're AT&T as well.
iMessage should be data only, so long as you restrict its usage to WiFi, you should be fine.
Other than iPhones are designed to be money pits, not really... but that's a redundant statement from me. Just be sure to keep 3G data off unless you need it, otherwise that $10 Airvoice credit'll disappear faster than ice cream in the Mojave.
It would just start you on another 30 days with $10.I was talking about the $10 cash card to extend the minutes not the $10 plan.
It is an AT&T GSM (I bought it from a friend who upgraded to the iphone 5). I purchased the sim from ST & I also got a T-Mobile card which I used when setting it up. That's the first I heard the ST was selling iphones. I know that you aren't a fan of iphones but I was an android user & it was so buggy I had it for 2 years & I had lots of problems with it. So far this phone has not given me any issues at all.
Another question, seems obvious but with the $10 AV plan you can mix & match how you use the $10 correct? If I were to run out of minutes, but still have days left on the plan, I can then fuel it up with more $?
I have made the break from AT&T! =D Well, I'm not all the way over the fence yet. My phone is a second one on someone else's plan. Was one. We shut it off today! Unfortunately, the early termination fee won't get paid until the next statement. (We tried, but no go.) So, I can't get unlocked until then. Is it the case that since it was AT&T and I'm moving to AirVoice that I might be able to go ahead anyway? I have my new SIM card for my iPhone, (haven't put it in yet) and have my $10 plan purchased and the phone backed up to my iTunes. Do you know if I can sign up with a new temporary number and then port over my old number later and replace it? Or do I have to wait until AT&T really lets me go to port the number? :) I have a plasticky cheapo go phone that will get me through a month or two for emergencies, so no huge hurry. I just want my iPhone back in action. Because I lurve it.
Also, I would love to know more about Google Voice. Do I have another phone number and use that over wifi? I keep reading about how people have it forward to their phone, but doesn't that use minutes then? I need a "Google Voice and Why I Should Consider it 101" lesson. :)
All in all, I will be at around $70 total per month for Internet, iPhone and Netflix. I'll have cable TV for 6 months with that as a new customer, (switching to internet in my name) which I will cancel before I get charged.
Kulshan, how do you figure out what early termination fee will be with ATT? I would be breaking 2 contracts. Been with them 13 years but I sure don't get any deals from it LOL.
I am very very confused about how this all works. With your new situation will you be able to text? I can live without it but my 2 teens can't as they text for fun, school, and work etc.. We are in the boonies and not enough wifi anywhere to count on that. Only Mcdonalds offers it and I live miles away from them.
I think I need a guide for rural areas :D
Well, we didn't really terminate service, just had one phone (mine) removed, all friendly like. We've been on the phone with them and as soon as the early termination fee is paid and his account is updated, we should be able to use the online unlock form without a problem. That's what they said on the phone, I think. I don't get the impression that it was a big deal or a problem. He is still in good standing with AT&T. I'm not sure I understand how they could port my number if it was alreaty in use by AT&T. No biggie though, I can just get a new number. :)
This seems to be a different order than IP Daily suggested. If you can get them to unlock your phone before canceling service or paying the ETF I think you are better off.
Airvoice no longer ports phone numbers from the Chicagoland area. I unlocked my Samsung phone which is off contract thru AT & T, purchased my SIM cards from Airvoice and when it came time to port my phone number Airvoice informed me of this porting issue, but offered me a new phone number (which is not possible due my phone number being tied to my business). Any suggestions?
Airvoice no longer ports phone numbers from the Chicagoland area. I unlocked my Samsung phone which is off contract thru AT & T, purchased my SIM cards from Airvoice and when it came time to port my phone number Airvoice informed me of this porting issue, but offered me a new phone number (which is not possible due my phone number being tied to my business). Any suggestions?
That's a curious development. You can try the GV option, but as I've said before, sometimes the service is twitchy. For example, someone just tried calling me on my GV account a few minutes ago and it never rang on my end and went straight to voicemail.
If you were specifically looking at the $10/month package from Airvoice and if T-Mobile GSM coverage will work for your area (it should), try contacting Platinumtel (https://www.platinumtel.com/support/contact) and find out if your number can be ported to them. Per minute charges are a penny higher on their Real PayGo service, but data charges are 23¢ lower per MB. You shouldn't have any trouble using them if your phone's carrier unlocked, either. Data speeds might be slower than you're used to, though.
My greatest concern is that Airvoice can't port your number... if Airvoice can't, I'm a bit worried that others might not either, including Google and Platinumtel. Just for curiosity sake, who's your current provider?
Thanks for the info I.P! My current provider is AT & T. Airvoice told me that they stopped porting Chicagoland area codes in the past year and did not foresee the possibility of porting them in the future. I was also looking into PTel, but for some reason service on the Sprint network can be a little wonky where I live even though their coverage map says otherwise. I haven't ruled out PTel completely yet and I will check to see if they can port Chicagoland numbers.
Thanks for the info I.P! My current provider is AT & T. Airvoice told me that they stopped porting Chicagoland area codes in the past year and did not foresee the possibility of porting them in the future. I was also looking into PTel, but for some reason service on the Sprint network can be a little wonky where I live even though their coverage map says otherwise. I haven't ruled out PTel completely yet and I will check to see if they can port Chicagoland numbers.
Actually, P'tel is a T-Mobile GSM MVNO as of this last December, which is specifically why I'd mentioned them as an alternative. Good Great Lakes region coverage, and you could still use the phone you've got so long as it's carrier unlocked.
It almost sounds like AT&T's dinking with fees. Check with P'tel, if they can't do it either, you can always try Google, but I wouldn't hold much hope at that point. If you do hit that sort of wall where nobody can port your number, file a complaint with the FCC (http://www.fcc.gov/guides/portability-keeping-your-phone-number-when-changing-service-providers).
I've decided to go with Ting for cell provider. I've also decided to go for a smart phone this time. My requirements are simple: the phone has to be global, which means it has to have both gsm and cdma and it has to run Android. also asked Ting if there was any restriction on the kind of phones I could bring in, and they said that it has to be a Sprint phone with a clean ESN. I don't really understand why that is, I'm pretty new at this stuff.
I talked to PTel just now and they said they can port my area code with no problem from AT & T. So, PTel looks like a much better option than going the GV route and forwarding. Thanks for the info and posting quickly, much appreciated! Also, I agree that AT & T has somehow made things difficult for Airvoice to port for some reason.
This is due to Sprint network carrier restrictions. The phone's ESN has to be in Sprint's network pool to work, which means it also needs to be a device that hasn't been reported as stolen or still under contract with Sprint. As for the restriction on it being already out of service at point of activation rings to some sort of limitation in Sprint's provisioning services and the need for clean activation and deactivation of handsets on their network when activating through their MVNO partners. I'm afraid I can't get much more technical than that.
Sprint Android World Phones are a tall order, I've tried looking, and it looks like you found the only models that are technically available. Depending on your usage habits since you're starting fresh with hardware, it might just be easier to go with a GSM carrier for your area, either Airvoice, Platinumtel or GoSmart. It really depends on your usage habits, though.
Thanks for the explanation. I was pretty horrified at how the cell phone market works here, when I learned about how things work in the rest of the world: buy a phone that works for you at full price, choose your carrier, buy SIM card, done. MVNOs are definitely a step forward and I can only hope more innovations will come from them. We need them.
We mostly call one another, which doesn't use up minutes; the most text messages I ever used was ~250 in October, when I was on a business trip with co-workers who all text; and I don't need even 2 GB of data.
It's looking more and more like I need PagePlus's $29.95 plan, while the husband will probably be best served by the $12.00 plan. I'm going to do some tinkering with the WiFi settings on my phone while it's still covered under the Verizon plan, to see if I can get it to work on my home's WiFi network for the apps I use around here.
Plus I like the option of adding more features when they are needed.
Hooray! (I'm going to stop adding to this massive thread now. :)
Work offers two public networks and one private network. I'm not sure what the security settings are like on the public networks, but one of them is the one that reaches about ten blocks from campus, so it's huge.
Here's a follow-up to the carrier unlocking issue and subsequent petition:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/white-house-calls-for-cell-phone-unlocking-ban-to-be-overturned/
Positive words, but words don't mean squat until the decision is reversed and the law taken off the books. We shall see what happens.
Reporting in to say that I just got my unlock approval from AT&T! Of all the derping and face-planting I've done along the way, I'm going to be an AirVoice user but soon! :D
Now I just need to decide on porting over my seemingly "clean" ie, not recycled temporary AT&T GoPhone number (which is a catchy, easy to remember number but indicates that I am county folk on a landline on caller ID) or let Airvoice give me a new number. I have had NO wrong numbers or any calls at all from other than friends on this number, so I kind of like it. But I'm not in the town it says I'm in. Thoughts?
Anyhoo, if AirVoice is just going to slap me another (podunk farmtown name deleted) prefix on my new phone, I'd just as soon keep my unholy devil number and call it good. Maybe I could call and ask if they can check on the bank of numbers available?
What do people use for making calls over wifi w/ android? I use Google Voice along with GrooveIP and Talkatone and people are having problems hearing my voice, although I can hear them fine. Most of the calls I'm making are to 1-800 numbers (customer service), if that makes a difference.
Quick question: I'm looking into getting out of my wife and my AT&T iPhone plans and getting PlatinumTel's $40/mo. unlimited plan. My concern is regarding data speed. The website says the first 250MB of data is "high speed"; do you know what that means and what the speed is after you go over that initial 250MB?
I'm considering using the PlatinumTel plan for a while before making a further jump down to Airvoice $10/mo. plan + FreedomPop.
Thanks!
Thanks for your quick response Daley! Is Airvoice's web speed the same? Or is it high speed considering that it uses AT&T's network?
Thank you
I'm headed down to Sao Paulo, Brazil for 6mo. Any thoughts on a cheap smartphone + data solution? Ideally, something my number in the US could forward to.
Unfortunately, my current phones don't have a SIM card slot (PCS).
Here's a follow-up to the carrier unlocking issue and subsequent petition:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/white-house-calls-for-cell-phone-unlocking-ban-to-be-overturned/
Positive words, but words don't mean squat until the decision is reversed and the law taken off the books. We shall see what happens.
The White House position, however, may be inconsistent with the U.S. proposal in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and existing obligations in the Korea U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) and other free trade agreements to which the United States is a party. This demonstrates the danger of including in international agreements rigid provisions that do not accommodate technological development.
KORUS obligates the United States and Korea to adopt provisions concerning the technological protection measures based on section 1201 of the DMCA. Furthermore, KORUS mandates that the parties "confine exceptions and limitations" to the circumvention prohibition to a specific list of exceptions that matches the specific exceptions in the DMCA. Cell phone unlocking, of course, is not on that list. KORUS does allow for administrative procedures like the DMCA's rule-making to adopt temporary exemptions, but not permanent ones. The challenge before Congress is to devise a permanent exception for cell phone unlocking that does not breach the obligations under KORUS and other similar free trade agreements.
The draft text for TPP is secret, but the U.S. proposal for the IP chapter was leaked two years ago. The leaked proposal contained KORUS's closed list of exceptions. Because TPP is currently under negotiation, there still is time to make sure that the TPP does not prevent national governments, including the United States, from amending their laws to permit the unlocking of cell phones and other wireless devices.
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask (or if it should fall in Ask a M'ian)... but diving in anyway.
I scanned the bigger of your (I.P.'s) posts and also searched for instances of "rural"... without a lot of hits.
What do you suggest for rural internet?
Background:
* a bit of a techie (unix weenie since late 80s).
* tendency to not be an early adopter
* currently our primary internet is Verizon 3G (dongle plugged into a router). We're paying about $63 a month.
* current usage is about 6G a month, which is right on the edge of our cap. If we had better throughput, we'd use more. (We can't do streaming video at all.)
* current bandwidth is about 800k down (and that's on a good day. It varies a lot.)
* cable not available
* DSL not available (even though there is what appears to be a DSLAM about 1000 ft away from us)
* I've tried getting a dry pair to "a place where there is lots of free bandwidth" to do the "roll your own DSL". I could never find anyone at Southwestern Bell that I could get to understand what I was asking for. (And... unfortunately my connection to "the place of free bandwidth" has sort of dried up.)
* satellite fair use policies make my flesh crawl
* looking on coverage maps, I seem to be right on the edge of 4g coverage with Verizon. And, knowing the terrain, I suspect I am just far enough behind a hill to be SOL.
* there is one WISP that I *think* I could hit, but it would be $70 (plus TTL) for not much more bandwidth than I already have.
Suggestions? Am I missing a clever solution (or even an obvious one?)
Sorry if this has been covered - I read through this post and have tried searching (both on here and Google), but has anyone had luck with using a Sprint iPhone 4 on Airvoice or other MNVO? I've read conflicting things about if and how they unlock phones. My contract is up soon with Sprint so I'm looking for cheaper alternatives.
iPhones are expensive
If anyone is looking for a sim card cutter, I thought I'd try to start an exchange, since it's a single-use (or at least infrequent-use) item.
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/mustachian-marketplace/sim-cutter-exchange/
Yes, you can use scissors, but the internet suggested that a cutter was a bit easier. Mine worked pretty well (full details if you decide to request mine).
iPhones are expensive
Not if you don't get any service with it!
I got an iPhone!!!!
I been a "feature" phone luddite all these years - what do I need a computer in my pocket for? But I found a 3G in one of my hauling runs (where my customers pay me to take away their old junk and find new homes for as much as possible), so I unlocked it and jailbroke it and filled it with my music collection, my favorite youtube videos, a bunch of free ebooks and how to PDFs, got the GPS working (mostly), and set it to sync with my calendar and email and text messages via wifi, downloaded a bunch of free apps, and (to my surprise), unlike most of my random projects, I'm still using the dang thing every single day a couple weeks later!
Totally free (well, no, I spent $1 on one app)
I still use my old (shock resistant, waterproof) flip phone for phone calls, with PagePlus $12 a month plan
Edit to add: I did have significant problems with iOS 6 at first though, the WiFi on the phone was totally messed up after that upgrade. I ended up having to send in the phone to Apple, and it ultimately got replaced under warranty. I'd probably get that upgrade done and check the WiFi before you sign up for AirVoice, in case you need to send in the phone like I did. No sense starting the $10 plan if you are without the phone.
For ages now, Amazon Instant Video has worked with Android devices supporting Flash and, more importantly to many people (and me) it seems, through an unofficial XBMC plugin. It seemed like Amazon was happily using RTMPE to prevent casual stream interception, at least for content funded by others. But with the release of their new pilots, they enabled "Flash Access," Adobe's DRM that (for now) is actually effective.
This effectively kills access for everyone using GNU/Linux, even with the (officially unsupported) Adobe Flash plugin! The Adobe plugin relies on HAL for some DRM magic, but HAL is unmaintained, deprecated, and was removed from most major distros ages ago. You can't even install it by hand thanks to udev removing a few features HAL relied upon. Naturally, the Adobe Flash plugin is equally unmaintained so there is little hope even for people willing to install a piece of unmaintained software with a history of remotely exploitable security holes, instability, and poor performance.
But it seems the loss of access from XBMC is more widely felt: RMS cultists and pragmatic Windows users alike now suffer equally. And the folks who aren't GNU/Hippies with an anti-cloud-chip-on-their-shoulder might even be suffering more: they've lost access to shows and movies that they purchased.
There are a dozen pages on the XBMC forum of people pretty pissed, hundreds of angry posts on their Facebook wall, lengthy threads on Amazon's official forums. But so far the response from Amazon has simply been: it was never supposed to work, and we've fixed it.
IP,
Please help! I just got back from Afghanistan and I'm getting the run around from everyone, please pressure from family/friends to get a callable number.
I went into a cell store (primarily Boost) that sold Virgin phones and plans and she told me she couldn't activate another carrier's phone to Virgin. I have a Sprint EVO 4G. Sprint also gave me the run around on cancelling service when I called.
I just want an easy answer...Where can I take my EVO 4G? Am I better off just cutting the cord to it, trying to hawk it on eBay, and getting another low cost phone?
Thanks
IP,
I went with Ting and things are working great. I set everything up around mid-day one day, pushed software/firmware/PRL updates to my phone, then woke up in the morning and everything was working. I can see why people still pay so much for cell service - they first have to think the major companies charge too much, then they have to find out what else is out there (and they probably only know about Boost/Cricket/Virgin), and if they find something like Ting they have to do some light technical stuff (not really, but imagine an old grandpa/grandma having to push a PRL update to a phone). Lots of steps.
Totally worth it, though. My plan should cost me somewhere in the $30s/month, but they say they'll bump you up or credit you, as needed. Have people found this to be the case?
IP,
I went with Ting and things are working great. I set everything up around mid-day one day, pushed software/firmware/PRL updates to my phone, then woke up in the morning and everything was working. I can see why people still pay so much for cell service - they first have to think the major companies charge too much, then they have to find out what else is out there (and they probably only know about Boost/Cricket/Virgin), and if they find something like Ting they have to do some light technical stuff (not really, but imagine an old grandpa/grandma having to push a PRL update to a phone). Lots of steps.
Totally worth it, though. My plan should cost me somewhere in the $30s/month, but they say they'll bump you up or credit you, as needed. Have people found this to be the case?
I switched to Ting back in February as part of their ETF payout promotion. At first, I picked specific "plans", but I found the billing to be confusing, so what I do now is my "plans" are all the XS ($0) ones and then they adjust the bill later, so it actually pretty closely resembles postpaid, without the contract.
I'm actually finding that I'm spending much less than I thought I would and I don't use data at all, so my bill this month will be $20+fees. $3 for 100 MB isn't bad though and I'll do that occasionally, e.g. when traveling domestically.
IP,
I went with Ting and things are working great. I set everything up around mid-day one day, pushed software/firmware/PRL updates to my phone, then woke up in the morning and everything was working. I can see why people still pay so much for cell service - they first have to think the major companies charge too much, then they have to find out what else is out there (and they probably only know about Boost/Cricket/Virgin), and if they find something like Ting they have to do some light technical stuff (not really, but imagine an old grandpa/grandma having to push a PRL update to a phone). Lots of steps.
Totally worth it, though. My plan should cost me somewhere in the $30s/month, but they say they'll bump you up or credit you, as needed. Have people found this to be the case?
I switched to Ting back in February as part of their ETF payout promotion. At first, I picked specific "plans", but I found the billing to be confusing, so what I do now is my "plans" are all the XS ($0) ones and then they adjust the bill later, so it actually pretty closely resembles postpaid, without the contract.
I'm actually finding that I'm spending much less than I thought I would and I don't use data at all, so my bill this month will be $20+fees. $3 for 100 MB isn't bad though and I'll do that occasionally, e.g. when traveling domestically.
Thanks for the tips! I noticed that my usage is way lower than I thought and...Check this out...When the resources (mins/texts/MBs) aren't unlimited, I work much harder to conserve them. I make sure I'm on wifi when I'm home, I email when on wifi rather than texting, and I use Skype/Facetime when available instead of calling. I think I'll end up on the "S" "plan" pretty regularly as I'm not a data hog.
Thanks for getting call me maybe (only in my head it's "VoIP me maybe") stuck in my head early in the morning. This will be a fun day. ;)
I am starting to miss my Galaxy Nexus. The device itself if not so much the data. I have been reminded of why I wanted to upgrade from the Droid2 in the first place on a somewhat constant basis.
I thought I could just root it and put cyanogenmod on it, but apparently its a little more difficult after I upgraded on the last OTA update to Android 2.3.4.
:(
New root method for stock 2.3.4 (621/622) found (Droid2, R2D2)
7/25/2012 - Thanks to beh for putting together an EzSBF cd for this! Just burn, boot from CD and follow the directions. It can flash to the stock 621 update for those that want the stock Gingerbread image, then gives you the option to root if you like.
It's still about thirty times better than "Friday" and "My Jeans".
Do you think I'll get enough of a performance boost simply rooting and installing a vanilla Gingerbread? I thought they might have a more recent version of android for the Droid2, but its still just gingerbread, which I already have.
That said, I'll admit, this is one of the reasons why I'm not rip-roaring about FreedomPop. Between them currently using Clearwire's WiMAX service and their support quality reports being pretty iffy... there's not a whole lot there to love, but I'm also a "free" service skeptic. I know a lot of folks here love it though, YMMV. *shrug*
hear.
Thanks.. this makes perfect sense and you are of course right. My wife and I reflected, and its time to ditch the iPhones!
Internet Service Providers (what you do and don't need)
Others like AT&T refuse to give third party DSL providers access to dry-loop installations forcing you to have a local only land line phone turned on with them for $20+ a month before you can subscribe to DSLExtreme where you can save $15 a month on their DSL service over AT&T's for the same price, making AT&T's dry-loop DSL the only and cheapest DSL option for your area at $40+taxes and regulatory fees.
AT&T metered rate local is only $15 (they make it very hard to find, but its there)
+ Sonic.net DSL at $14.95 (no additional taxes or fees)
=$30 total
$30 is cheaper than AT&T dryloop of $40+
Bonus: slightly less of my money goes to AT&T
Hey I.P.,
I also checked out your post questioning if iphones are worth it. I think they are if you buy and use correctly and would like to layout my case for consideration. i have also had positive experience with pageplus as "The Dude" (who I assume abides) stated. Case for the iphone aside, what used feature phones do you recommend if you have any? The nokia N95 and sony ericsson c905 look nice, but range from affordable to still pricey on ebay.
-snip-
Thats about it. I just wanted to make a small case for the iphone under specific conditions, which turned out to be rather long. Using this method of purchase and use, a feature phone appears to be a similar price point considering the utility and resale value the phone. I considered an iOS device ipod or ipad paired with feature phones but it would be about the same or even more expensive base on my first guestimations.
Sonic.net charges a $6.50/mo modem lease fee that is mandatory
In irvine, the AT&T metered rate local is $18 AND you forgot the various fees that the FCC makes you pay.
Your "$30 total" now looks more like "$30 + $15 total" and for $40/mo I get 15Mbps Cox cable with free Docsis 3 router
I am not pickigng up on you, but I have been spending a lot of time on finding an affordable plan (I have not found anything cheaper than $30/mo so far and I am still looking) and wanted to set the facts straight.
Do you think its worth it to get VOIPo over using Magic Jack, is my sum-up question.
Thank you!
I should add that preMMM our cell bill was 120$ a month and my children routinely used 2-4 GB amonth on streaming on my iphone.
At first I thought there was no way I could live w/o data. But since I turned it off and use wifi and have to manually turn data back on, Ive been surprised at how little I do really use it. Major changes. ALso, my kids have survived without netflix or youtube in the car. LOL
Where will you be reading all this work email? At home or work you should have WiFi connectivity. If it's on your commute, unless you're taking the bus or carpooling I think we'd all prefer you drive safely and not read email while driving or biking.
If you have a legitimate need to get work email from some other location check out FreedomPop, it should work in a big city like Dallas.
@I.P. Daley: To be honest, I would feel like an old fogey showing up to my first professional job out of college with a Nokia phone. I honestly believe a phone is becoming part of one's professional wardrobe, so it should at least be something modern. On the other hand, I agree that these smart phones are often toys and time wasters, but I have found myself using them to enhance my productivity by editing Google Docs, using the GPS, checking and responding to email (personal for now), and by using the calculator, timers, alarm clock, etc. Perhaps I need a face punch, but I do want to at least fit in and look the part of a young professional, and I believe it could potentially benefit me career-wise.
-snip-
Current thoughts: I'm thinking that maybe I should buy a Nexus 4 8gb ($299) and use the PayGo plan from PTel for talk/text. Pair that with a FreedomPop device for data and I should have a good solution, right?
The reality is, your true situation mostly comes down to personal discipline in the fact that you keep forgetting your camera if you have one already and want to take it with you. What makes you remember to grab your wallet or phone before going out? Why should your camera be any different? No offense intended, but these are basically first world problems. Your solution is to just try keeping the items you want to leave the house with together instead of throwing money at the problem... and remember the irony in the fact that the very tool you're seeking to utilize to remember these special and eventful moments of your daughter's life growing up are the very same tools that are eroding your own brain's capacity for memory and creativity that hundreds of thousands of preceding generations solely had available to capture those moments as parents themselves. Memorize the faces of your loved ones, remember the important details of events, and learn to tell stories.
The reality is, your true situation mostly comes down to personal discipline in the fact that you keep forgetting your camera if you have one already and want to take it with you. What makes you remember to grab your wallet or phone before going out? Why should your camera be any different? No offense intended, but these are basically first world problems. Your solution is to just try keeping the items you want to leave the house with together instead of throwing money at the problem... and remember the irony in the fact that the very tool you're seeking to utilize to remember these special and eventful moments of your daughter's life growing up are the very same tools that are eroding your own brain's capacity for memory and creativity that hundreds of thousands of preceding generations solely had available to capture those moments as parents themselves. Memorize the faces of your loved ones, remember the important details of events, and learn to tell stories.
Ouch ... but then i've been having this very debate with myself in my head. So that perhaps settles it - camera's a non-issue. I'm still rocking my Sony Ericsson TM506 from '08 so it's not like I'm used to much of the gravy, as you say. I notice a few pages back you have a Nokia e5 (interested b/c my wife hates touchscreens but loved her old job-issued blackberry; she has a lousy samsung feature phone the last few years that will need to be traded in as well). Can't get that on Ting I don't think, but then that has more than what we need. Maybe we'll just keep to the feature phones.
Hopefully I can pop in with a potentially needed break from the iPhone debate, despite the fact I'm asking for advice on my iPhone...
I just got the email that Freedompop is available in my area due to the acquisition. I have been extremely interested in piecing together a plan for using a cheap PAYG talk/text plan on my iPhone and the FreedomPop for data. I'm on net10 right now and have comfortably stayed under 500mb during that time. My ideal plan would be to keep it on and charged when possible but am not sure if the savings would be worth the hassle. I don't talk a lot, but I do text/mms quite a deal. iMessage picks up that most of the time but occasionally not. On most days I use about 2-5mb of data as I'm on Wifi most of the time but occasionally it'll pop up if I want to stream Pandora while sitting by the pond or something. Perhaps even a combination of supremely low data-plan and firing up the FreedomPop when goign to use more serious data?
Does anyone (Daley, I'm looking at you) have any creative uses for this arrangement?
Speaking of Pandora, I just did a test because I got my FreedomPop working this morning (speaking of Freedompop!). I started streaming a song and because the wifi hotspot has a running counter of data usage over time I looked at what 60 seconds worth of streaming would cost me in terms of data. The answer in this case was 2.54MB. About 4 minutes of 'connected time' (not necessarily streaming time, but I did stream more than 60 seconds of music), cost me 7.2MB. Considering my current plan has 10MB of data, its a little shocking to see exactly how quickly you could burn through that.
Non Smartphone question:
I gave my little old aunt my dad's cell phone when he passed away and told her that she could use it until the contract ended. It ended. What's a good MVNO for someone who talks less than 100 minutes a month and gets less than 50 texts/month from her great grandkids? The verizon network would work best.
Similarly, I want to move our phones over as well. We use a lot more talk minutes and do some texting. Non smartphones. We need the AT&T network for our rural area.
THANKS!
Wife:
~700 minutes
~1500 SMS (with some MMS)
~ 100 MB
Me:
~500 minutes
~1500 SMS (with very few MMS)
~800 MB (which I could cut down a lot to get a cheaper plan)
I stumbled across Lycamobile recently and they seem to have ridiculously low PAYGO rates: $0.02/min, $0.04/SMS, and $0.06/mb (at 4G). Any experience with them?
Do you know if any MVNOs work with US Cellular phones?
América Móvil recently announced (http://www.phonenews.com/america-movil-to-buy-page-plus-cellular-parent-start-wireless-group-22952/) the acquisition of Start Wireless, the parent company of Page Plus, which was one of the recommended (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2714/#msg2714) (with caveats (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg3108/#msg3108)) CDMA MVNO's. I use the past-tense because many folks around here do not take kindly to América Móvil (Tracfone, Net10, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile), and will likely now write-off Page Plus for good.
NICE!, that's just a femtocell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femtocell). It's for extending coverage into areas where there may be none for your cellular provider. You're still going to get charged minutes and data costs on your cell phone, IIRC.
Also, check and edit your link.
América Móvil recently announced (http://www.phonenews.com/america-movil-to-buy-page-plus-cellular-parent-start-wireless-group-22952/) the acquisition of Start Wireless, the parent company of Page Plus, which was one of the recommended (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2714/#msg2714) (with caveats (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg3108/#msg3108)) CDMA MVNO's. I use the past-tense because many folks around here do not take kindly to América Móvil (Tracfone, Net10, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile), and will likely now write-off Page Plus for good.
América Móvil recently announced (http://www.phonenews.com/america-movil-to-buy-page-plus-cellular-parent-start-wireless-group-22952/) the acquisition of Start Wireless, the parent company of Page Plus, which was one of the recommended (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2714/#msg2714) (with caveats (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg3108/#msg3108)) CDMA MVNO's. I use the past-tense because many folks around here do not take kindly to América Móvil (Tracfone, Net10, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile), and will likely now write-off Page Plus for good.
I've been ignoring this thread randomly decided to take a look today and now I am depressed. That really sucks. I wonder when and what will change.
Did you read the first page of the guide (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2715/#msg2715)? There's a bit on Ooma, and it's not good.
Did you read the first page of the guide (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2715/#msg2715)? There's a bit on Ooma, and it's not good.
Did you read the first page of the guide (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2715/#msg2715)? There's a bit on Ooma, and it's not good.
Advice please. . . I recently dug out my old Droid Global and activated it with PagePlus. It works great ($12 plan). Now I'm ready to port the number everyone knows from Verizon to Google Voice (then I'll add the PP # I got to the GV account). BUT I'm wondering how long the porting is likely to take? Today, a friend forwarded my resume along to a really great job opportunity and I am hesitant to port my number for the next week or so because I'd hate for the prospective employer to call it and get dead air or worse a "disconnected" recording.
Thoughts?
One thing to remember is if you're wanting to port your numbers away from AT&T, DO NOT CANCEL YOUR SERVICE WITH THEM IN ADVANCE. The act of porting your numbers out with another carrier will terminate your service for you. If you cancel your service before you switch carriers, you will lose your numbers.
How long will it take for my number to be ported?
Your number should be ported in 5 business days or more, depending on the carrier from which you are porting to Google Voice.
Any thoughts or experiences with this?
Hi, I have an IPhone 4S with verizon still has 7 month contract to go. Has anyone had the experience of moving a still under contract Verizon iPhone transferred to page plus or othe per paid service with the number ported?
I like my current phone with some data service.
lycamobile
What would be the best MVNO to take a Google Nexus 4 to?
...
Platinumtel? Airvoice? Those are both GSM, right?
Finally in this list, there's Republic Wireless... the little provider that could. Their gimmick is $20 a month unlimited usage with WiFi and Sprint network coverage. Theoretically, it's a great idea. A pre-configured Android phone that defaults to WiFi for calling and seamlessly integrates cell service and VoIP? Fantastic! Unfortunately, execution's left a lot to be desired. You can replicate it on your own likely for less using any cheap carrier, Android phone, Google Voice and Talkatone. (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg21151/#msg21151) Don't even consider it if you're looking at their $30 rate. As a final thought, RW users always cite, "The service will get better once they roll out the next, better phones." If the solution to making your service be able to replicate what a commodity $20 dumbphone can do reliably involves throwing more technology and money at the situation just to make your service suck less? I'll let you meditate on that one.
The airvoice $10 would probably work.
Does airvoice let me add cash on top of the $10 plan to cover overages? Pageplus lets me do that right now.
edit: If I read it correctly I can do the $10 plan and then add a $10 pay as you go card when needed. The Pageplus $12 plan seems to offer slightly better value, but then I can't use the Nexus 4.
Madage, actually, Airvice is doing stacking/rollover on the $10 plan again. :)
Madage, actually, Airvice is doing stacking/rollover on the $10 plan again. :)
Adam, here's the rule of thumb with choosing an AT&T vs. T-Mo GSM provider: What is more important? Data costs, voice costs, or coverage? If general coverage or voice costs, go Airvoice. If data costs, P'tel.
I'm going to say coverage is the most important factor in this decision. I don't talk or text or use data so much, but when I do, I want to have the signal to do so. And really, if the Nexus 4 is compatible with both services, I can try out one or the other for a month (likely Airvoice first) and if I don't like it, I can just switch. They both offer free # porting right? So I'd just need a new SIM, and that isn't much.
First, a huge Thank You to IP and all the others who have contributed to this massive thread. I've received quite the crash course plowing through it over the last few days. One MVNO I have not seen mentioned here, however, is Talk For Good. Has anyone had experience with this company? I'm looking for a MVNO on the Verizon network, which has the strongest coverage in our area. I'm hesitant to go with PagePlus since they were acquired by America Movil, so I'm hopeful that someone here has input on Talk For Good. Thanks!
First, a huge Thank You to IP and all the others who have contributed to this massive thread. I've received quite the crash course plowing through it over the last few days. One MVNO I have not seen mentioned here, however, is Talk For Good. Has anyone had experience with this company? I'm looking for a MVNO on the Verizon network, which has the strongest coverage in our area. I'm hesitant to go with PagePlus since they were acquired by America Movil, so I'm hopeful that someone here has input on Talk For Good. Thanks!
TFG has been around since 2010 doing VoIP service, but only recently entered the Verizon MVNO market (November '12). As such, I consider them incredibly green and untried as the market's rather cutthroat. If you want a good HoFo thread on the discussion of the company, this is as good a place to start as any (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1779778-New-Verizon-MVNO-Talk-For-Good). Long terms of service, but somewhat necessary given the price structuring and the charity aspect. Similar guidelines on BYOD as PP, maybe a bit more relaxed. It's been a mixed bag, there's been billing issues as happens with most new providers, as is with disorganization, but the support's earnest. There's number porting issues, especially getting back out. There's a $6/month handset fee, but prices are reasonable and there's a good assortment of plans with an approach that I myself considered before reality reminded me that starting another MVNO would be financial suicide. They seem nice enough, but nice doesn't mean they'll survive.
I'll put it this way: when/if the America Movil buyout with Start/PP goes through, TFG would likely go from unlisted/unmentioned to becoming my first choice for Verizon MVNO in this guide... but with a HUGE but. I like to only steer people towards financially stable and tried companies that have a track record. These guys don't have that, but they'd also be the only sane Verizon MVNO left. It'd be a pure caveat emptor situation, not that I don't offer the advice on a whole that way anyway, but I personally wouldn't recommend going into service with them with long term customer expectations or with a phone number you really want to keep as young failed MVNOs usually fold and disappear with nary a whisper.
I'll keep this short and sweet as I plan on expanding on the thoughts further later on when I have the opportunity, but I'd like to share a few things I learned yesterday afternoon/evening during the latest outbreak of tornadoes and flash floods (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-counts-dead-wounded-from-friday-tornadoes-flash-floods/article/3840967) (I was far closer to the mayhem than I'd like to acknowledge). Keep these observations within the construct of my previous thoughts on cell phone service and the minimalism on that front.
- The cellular phone infrastructure in this nation quite simply is insufficient to handle emergency service volumes.
- The POTS wired phone infrastructure is equally insufficient to handle emergency service volumes.
- The first thing to fail on wireless networks is data, second is voice, third and final is SMS.
- Because of point three, VoIP and any other data-centric communications pathways with your cellphone service have no place in these situations. If you go with a homebrew solution with a traditional MVNO, you'll be fine as you have fallbacks. If you use something like Republic Wireless or try to only use Google Voice with a data plan for urgent/emergency communications? You're f***ed.
- Again, because of point three, LEARN HOW TO READ A PAPER MAP and LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE YOUR CITY. Data dependent GPS will strand you in a bad spot, and if you're dealing with wicked weather, any GPS (including offline models) will fail you.
- We're a wired, communicating society. I know during crisis, people want to make sure you're safe. Use traditional SMS, and STAY OFF THE VOICE AND DATA SERVICES.
- When you think you need it most, you will lose network-based two-way communications. If you need information, stay off the wireless data and listen to terrestrial FM radio.
- Because of point seven, if you're on the road a lot and want true emergency communications devices... don't count on a cellphone. Buy a CB radio and learn how to use it politely and effectively (http://cbradiomagazine.com/March%202007/Radio%20Courtesy.htm).
- Smartphone battery life stinks, and they're more likely to make you one of the bozos who help flood cell towers in crisis situations. Use a feature phone, your battery is less likely to fail you in the middle of and aftermath to a crisis, and they'll keep you from doing stupid things in an emergency like not PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
- In the aftermath of a destructive emergency, data services (including your ISP) will most likely be restored after voice. Phone numbers make for a good means to communicate, Facebook and email does not.
I advocate minimal cellphone usage already, and focusing on primarily using it as a high priority to emergency communicator for when people are out of a house. This experience just drives even stronger spikes into the railroad tracks I've been laying this past year and change. If you can justify spending money on one at all, be smart about it. You can easily be frugal, but don't be cheap. Make sure you're set up to do core services, and have enough credits to cover a small burst of heavy communication. Further, it emphasizes how important it is under real SHTF scenarios to know how to function without your tiny little pocket computer/communicator.
My concerns: America Movil's pending acquisition of PP; the call quality over GV/Talkatone; and submitting more of our life to the Googleplex. But it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make (at least for now) to save $30-$40 every month.
So here's what I'm thinking: Freedom Pop for data (since they are currently discounting their devices) plus Airvoice. Does this make sense?
When I mentioned to the wife that I wanted to buy the Nexus 4 she didn't think it was as good an idea as I did :(
She said something to the effect of, the phone is not important right now, paying off stuff is. And she's right. Damnnit.
I'm taking the plunge and I'm terrified. After all these years of having the importance of a POTS from Verizon or MaBell fed to me; I just signed up for VIOPo based on this thread.
What did it for me was that because I have auto-billing set up for both my local and long distance; I didn't realize that they've been slowly increasing the costs of the services over the years. My budget spreadsheet still had $25/mo in it from when I went to auto-bill but after looking at this thread at checking my accounts, costs have risen to over $60/mo...sigh.
Anyway, I've sent in the number porting paperwork and we'll see how this goes. reducing my monthly costs by almost tenfold is going to feel good, I think.
Don't know if I'm going to bother switching over my cell phones, I have a "family plan" and have 5 lines on it. With that many, the costs isn't too much higher than setting everyone up on an PAYG plan. However, I'm still new to this mustache thing, so check back in a few months.
Follow-up to this post for those of you interested: May 31st in Oklahoma City – Friday Night in the Big Town (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/06/may-31-in-oklahoma-city/)
It's a basic expansion on the observations made last week, a few new things to consider (like how a cellphone is actually important to have in an emergency, especially if you use VoIP - even the ISP provided VoIP like with Cox, FIOS and Uverse), and a scathing condemnation of streaming media apps during crisis along with yet another perspective as to why ditching a smartphone is smart.
Your story gave me flashbacks. I was out driving in one 20+ years ago -- and even dumber: I didn't know I was doing it. I just was thinking "boy, this weather is awful". I had the radio off because the rain/wind was so loud that it was drowning it out and I was at that stage where I needed my full attention just to drive. This was pre cell days (at least I didn't have one) and even the wireline didn't work. I could hear there was a connection (I could hear my voice looping back) but there was no dial tone. Long story short: things don't change much over time.
You married a wise woman. Also, have you tried flashing to Cyanogen like I suggested yet?
I started to but then I realized the last unstable release for my touchpad had been a tad too... unstable. So I went and changed that back to a different version and forgot about the phone. I was just thinking about it last night though. Too bad I need to go out of town this weekend.
I really wish Ting would be able to use iPhones. I don't want to sell our Iphone 4s. We both love them and have them configured to be streamlined.
Having the iPhones on Sprint seems to be very limiting.
I have a few questions regarding RW. I know you don't seem to like it, but I ran our current #'s through PlatinumTel and we could possibly pay more than what we are doing now, assuming the same usage (I understand that this isn't the case since we'd be using VOIP most likely through Google).
OK IP, was hoping for some of your insight.
Also, who'd you get the iPhone 5 handsets through? Something about the math there's not jiving.
The only requirements for using an ATT iPhone 5 on Ptel is unlocked and jailbroken?
The only requirements for using an ATT iPhone 5 on Ptel is unlocked and jailbroken?
Current plan: both switch to Airvoice
+I replace my Blackberry with a new-to-me dumbphone (best to wait until after switching??) and use $10 plan
+Spouse replaces his Blackberry before leaving AT&T with a new-to-him (neither top of line or newest) Android (through AT&T??) and use $10 plan. Any suggestion for 'it runs apps and is dependable but not too spendy' models welcome. Pay the no-contract price or get a contract price and pay the ETF (when I ran numbers a couple months ago it varied by model which made more sense).
aside-if I unlock my Blackberry before porting, then it looks like I could use it for international calls when overseas with (for example, open to suggestions) a SIM card from Piranha?You should be able to use any carrier-unlocked GSM phone that supports the right frequencies (most of the world uses 900/1800 MHz (http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html)) internationally. Having AT&T unlock your Blackberries makes sense to me, especially considering unlocked phones are more valuable when selling.
I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful information here.
Long story short: we both have nine-year-old dumb phones on AT&T. They were on contract when new, but needless to say, that's no longer an issue. Both are likely too old to transfer to another service, have the old, larger SIM cards. Currently we pay $72 a month for both, including taxes.
I'm trying out Skype for home and work, since I have wifi at both ends.
Oh, and we get virtually no signal at home or on my commute with AT&T. The only towers that are reliable in this area are Verizon.
So, is there an ultra-cheap prepaid or limited voice option that uses Verizon towers? Is there a good deal out there on voice/data for a smartphone on Verizon towers, and is there a tough phone for that voice/data service?
TFG has been around since 2010 doing VoIP service, but only recently entered the Verizon MVNO market (November '12). As such, I consider them incredibly green and untried as the market's rather cutthroat. If you want a good HoFo thread on the discussion of the company, this is as good a place to start as any (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1779778-New-Verizon-MVNO-Talk-For-Good). Long terms of service, but somewhat necessary given the price structuring and the charity aspect. Similar guidelines on BYOD as PP, maybe a bit more relaxed. It's been a mixed bag, there's been billing issues as happens with most new providers, as is with disorganization, but the support's earnest. There's number porting issues, especially getting back out. There's a $6/month handset fee, but prices are reasonable and there's a good assortment of plans with an approach that I myself considered before reality reminded me that starting another MVNO would be financial suicide. They seem nice enough, but nice doesn't mean they'll survive.
I'll put it this way: when/if the America Movil buyout with Start/PP goes through, TFG would likely go from unlisted/unmentioned to becoming my first choice for Verizon MVNO in this guide... but with a HUGE but. I like to only steer people towards financially stable and tried companies that have a track record. These guys don't have that, but they'd also be the only sane Verizon MVNO left. It'd be a pure caveat emptor situation, not that I don't offer the advice on a whole that way anyway, but I personally wouldn't recommend going into service with them with long term customer expectations or with a phone number you really want to keep as young failed MVNOs usually fold and disappear with nary a whisper.
Thanks so much! Looking more carefully (I checked coverage maps for PagePlus, Talk4Good, and then, finally, Verizon), and... well, he needs Verizon. I won't have coverage on my commute on Verizon, either. I'll explore the other carriers and see if anybody has signal there; I don't need cellular at home or work.
The plans on PagePlus and Talk4Good cost more than the StraightTalk plan for unlimited. There is a StraightTalk phone on Verizon (the Samsung S390G): http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PlanList.do?action=view&phoneFilterOptionExtensionId=10320237&productVariantExtensionId=16833540 (http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PlanList.do?action=view&phoneFilterOptionExtensionId=10320237&productVariantExtensionId=16833540)
I have read here that StraightTalk is a problem, but it sounds like the other two are, as well?
Meanwhile, my ignorant question for the day: I thought Skype was VOIP? What's the difference? At the moment, I've sunk $5 into calling phones from Skype, so I'll at least be using that up. :)
Thanks so much! Looking more carefully (I checked coverage maps for PagePlus, Talk4Good, and then, finally, Verizon), and... well, he needs Verizon. I won't have coverage on my commute on Verizon, either. I'll explore the other carriers and see if anybody has signal there; I don't need cellular at home or work.QuoteKeep researching. I don't know where you live, but you might be best-served, perhaps at a higher cost, by a regional carrier if one exists.
Sadly, no regional carrier, either. Looks like AT&T is going to be the best. They show limited service, and I have sometimes made a call successfully. None of the others of the big four show any coverage at all.QuoteThe plans on PagePlus and Talk4Good cost more than the StraightTalk plan for unlimited. There is a StraightTalk phone on Verizon (the Samsung S390G): http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PlanList.do?action=view&phoneFilterOptionExtensionId=10320237&productVariantExtensionId=16833540 (http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PlanList.do?action=view&phoneFilterOptionExtensionId=10320237&productVariantExtensionId=16833540)QuoteDo you need "unlimited" service? That's usually not the most cost-effective choice.
I have read here that StraightTalk is a problem, but it sounds like the other two are, as well?
StraightTalk is another America Movil outfit. The Superguide recommendation is to avoid America Movil. I had my wife on their BYOD service for about a year. It was okay, though customer service was frustrating when she had problems with her data connection. I also used to use Tracfone, which is also an America Movil company. Also very frustrating to work with. I gave up 600 credits when I switched away from them because I couldn't stand it anymore. It was worth it.
Page Plus is still the Verizon MVNO recommendation, but that might change to Talk for Good if the America Movil acquisition happens.
Meanwhile, my ignorant question for the day: I thought Skype was VOIP? What's the difference? At the moment, I've sunk $5 into calling phones from Skype, so I'll at least be using that up. :)
Yes, Skype is uses VOIP technology for calls. I was referring to solutions that do not require a computer and use "regular" telephones. You can read more on I.P. Daley's personal site (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/04/voip-and-the-return-of-the-home-phone/).
Sadly, no regional carrier, either. Looks like AT&T is going to be the best. They show limited service, and I have sometimes made a call successfully. None of the others of the big four show any coverage at all.
I don't need unlimited, but looking at our records, he uses >2000 minutes a month in voice. He doesn't spend money on much else; I think we should accommodate that.
Meanwhile, my ignorant question for the day: I thought Skype was VOIP? What's the difference? At the moment, I've sunk $5 into calling phones from Skype, so I'll at least be using that up. :)
So what would be the actual impacts to the end user if America Movil purchases Pageplus? This is for someone with two BYOD phones on their service using very minimal plans. I guess my biggest concern would be if they would somehow kick us off for using BYOD and/or steal our existing phone numbers. I don't really have to deal with support any more as I fill minutes/plans online and I've already worked the kinks out as far as activating our handsets.
So what would be the actual impacts to the end user if America Movil purchases Pageplus? This is for someone with two BYOD phones on their service using very minimal plans. I guess my biggest concern would be if they would somehow kick us off for using BYOD and/or steal our existing phone numbers. I don't really have to deal with support any more as I fill minutes/plans online and I've already worked the kinks out as far as activating our handsets.
I'm not sure. America Movil took over Simple Mobile last year, which now only offers "unlimited" plans. I recall Simple Mobile used to offer actual pay-as-you-go pricing, but I can't say for sure if they offered that up to the America Movil takeover or if their pricing changed prior to that. It wouldn't surprise me, though, if the non-"unlimited" options Page Plus currently offers disappear when America Movil takes over. I.P. Daley might know some more about what to expect. He's pretty busy with relief efforts for those affected by the Oklahoma tornados (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/attention-mustachians!-(oklahoma-tornado-relief)/msg86236/#msg86236), but he tries to check in once a week or so.
Thanks so much! Looking more carefully (I checked coverage maps for PagePlus, Talk4Good, and then, finally, Verizon), and... well, he needs Verizon. I won't have coverage on my commute on Verizon, either. I'll explore the other carriers and see if anybody has signal there; I don't need cellular at home or work.
The plans on PagePlus and Talk4Good cost more than the StraightTalk plan for unlimited. There is a StraightTalk phone on Verizon (the Samsung S390G): http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PlanList.do?action=view&phoneFilterOptionExtensionId=10320237&productVariantExtensionId=16833540 (http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PlanList.do?action=view&phoneFilterOptionExtensionId=10320237&productVariantExtensionId=16833540)
I have read here that StraightTalk is a problem, but it sounds like the other two are, as well?
Meanwhile, my ignorant question for the day: I thought Skype was VOIP? What's the difference? At the moment, I've sunk $5 into calling phones from Skype, so I'll at least be using that up. :)
Thanks, I.P. my thinking on his cell phone talking is that we're likely to come off cheaper with unlimited cellular than a home phone. To add a home phone will run us $30 a month (we only have one option), and he'd still need a cell ("need"), but he wants me to be able to reach him if I run into trouble on that commute.
Is there a portable VOIP that you like better than Skype? I don't actually care, just want to be able to use it at work and home, and occasionally on the road, maybe.
Soooo, I need your help. I feel like I am totally overlooking something. I am getting my mom set up on Airvoice (she'll be switching from AT&T post paid and saving about $40-50/month), and was perusing their website to purchase her sim card and plan, but am not finding where you can actually purchase a monthly plan. I did find where you can purchase the sim card and also refills, but I'm not seeing how you get your initial service plan. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!
Yeah, I'm really tempted by that plan + iPhone, DirtBoy. The throttling after 5gb is annoying, but perhaps not prohibitively so.
Thanks for the tip madage!
I'll probably wait until the next iPhone (5S? 6?) is out, as I have a Sprint iPhone (4S) right now, and would have to switch anyways, might as well wait a bit longer (and then probably just get the 5 anyways so I can get it used and cheaper).
Great thread y'all.
My wife and I have iPhone 4Ss from Sprint. We want to switch to (likely) an MVNO to save money. I have learned way more about the cell industry than I ever thought existed in researching, but I still don't know what to do:
We pay around 150/mo for service, but actually have terrible Sprint coverage in our home in a place where it should be great (downtown Dallas). BUT they sent us an airave (coverage booster) for out home, so we have great coverage, BUT if we went to Boost or Ting, the service would likely be the same, minus one Airave. Spring MVNOs seem out of the picture unless I did a VoIP setup while on Wifi. Suggestions? I am very open to Airvoice (ATT have good coverage in my home), or others.
In the midst of researching, I realized iPhones give very few options for network switching, etc., and now think it might be a good idea to use this opportunity to trade them in to Sprint (and have our early cancellation paid for) and get a (android?) phone that can go to any network, but not the newest thing since this whole endeavor is for the sake of saving money! What's the best phone to get that balances options, general awesomeness, and not-too-expensiveness (Galaxy SIII?)?
I also feel like there are a lot of things that are on the near horizon, so is there a stopgap measure you would recommend until freedompop comes out, republic wireless gets newer phones, ting/PagePlus allows for iPhones, etc.?
AND can an iPhone 4s from Sprint be used on the T-Mobile network?
The throttling after 5gb is annoying, but perhaps not prohibitively so.
I've found that Csipsimple is a much better SIP client than Sipdroid on Android (many codecs, configuration options, and free of course). Also QoS setup and selecting the most efficient codec that your provider can support was key in getting good VOIP service. Another awesome tidbit is that T-Mobile doesn't do anything nasty to VOIP traffic (at least it hasn't happened to me yet).
I thought it was odd that I didn't see more mustachians referencing this T-mobile plan:
http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2013/06/t-mobiles-30-unlimited-data-plan-is-for-new-and-existing-customers.html
We pay around 150/mo for service, but actually have terrible Sprint coverage in our home in a place where it should be great (downtown Dallas). BUT they sent us an airave (coverage booster) for out home, so we have great coverage, BUT if we went to Boost or Ting, the service would likely be the same, minus one Airave. Sprint MVNOs seem out of the picture unless I did a VoIP setup while on Wifi. Suggestions? I am very open to Airvoice (ATT have good coverage in my home), or others.
Madage covered a lot of your questions well, but I would like to point out that Ting does Airave (https://ting.com/devices/buy/Sprint-Airave) now. If the device is yours and you don't have to return it to Sprint after you leave, they might be able to let you bring it over. Also, if you get a home VoIP phone line and your MVNO allows you to do call forwarding when you have no reception? Just forward your cellphone to your home phone. Boom. Problem solved.
Unless I am misunderstanding, this doesn't really solve the iPhone problem. I might be ok in my house, but if I leave my house I still have no network (well, if I'm within the range of the Airave I'm fine). Unless I can bring the Airave where ever I go and use it there - but that doesn't help if I am out and about ;)
Longer, more hacky answer:
A Sprint iPhone 4s can be unlocked for use on domestic GSM carriers, but it's a hack requiring the installation of a custom profile (possible security issue) and the use of a replacement sim tray. I'm definitely not recommending this.
I just initiated the switch from AT&T to DSL extreme for our ISP. It should save us about $240/year on internet bills. Thanks, I.P. Daley! Once it is activated I will run the tests to see if VOIP will work, and then I plan on dropping our landline (also through AT&T) and switching to VOIPo. Also we want to get rid of our Virgin mobile dumbphones (cheap flip phones) and switch to a better service because reception and coverage has worsened lately. We are not big cell phone users. In June I used 26 minutes talk and someone sent me 1 text. No data. Occasionally I have a crazy month and use about 100 minutes of talk. Looking at Technical Meshugana resources, Platinumtel is my favorite, with their Real Paygo plan. However, we will have to buy new phones.
Here are my questions:
1. Our concern with getting rid of the landline is extended power outages. Hurricane season is here and the last one knocked out our power for 2 weeks. The landline sure came in handy. I am looking into getting a USP, but what would be the best one for this situation? Mr. BZB has used several USPs at his work, where they get frequent brownouts and occasional blackouts. He said the USPs don't last - they break down after a few months to a few years.
It’s also worth bringing up the Achilles heel of VoIP while we’re on the subject: electricity. Without electricity in your home, your VoIP provided home phone will cease to work. To ensure your system remains up for at least as long as your ISP’s network is up in a power outage, you need an uninterruptable power supply (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply), or UPS, and you need to connect your broadband modem, your router, your ATA and any phone(s)/wireless phone basestation(s) that require power to the UPS to ensure continued operation (see Ask Daley: cable modems and routers (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/03/ask-daley-cable-modems-and-routers/)). In a crisis situation with extended blackouts, figure the POTS landlines, data connections through DSL or cable, and cell phone towers to have about 24-48 hours of battery reserves themselves. The higher the VA (volt-amp) rating of your UPS, the longer it’ll last, but it’ll beep at you when there’s no electricity (unless you modify it). Another benefit to be noted is that you can turn it off and ration power for the devices if you need to ensure operation later, or you just can’t stand the beeping anymore. That said, the most important benefit of using a UPS in your setup is the added lifespan of the electronics you’ll be using as they’ll be protected from damage by both brownouts and line surges, and they’re good to hook a desktop computer up to for the same reasons.Link (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/04/voip-and-the-return-of-the-home-phone/2/)
As an example, I have my desktop, networking and telephone equipment all tied into a CyberPower CP1200AVR (http://amzn.com/B000ARCEFM/?tag=techmeshugana-20) (Amazon referral link), a 1200VA/720W UPS with AVR (auto voltage regulation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_Regulators)) and user replaceable lead acid batteries… it’s beefy, and it runs over $120 new these days (picked up on a brick and mortar clearance for $65). To preserve power, I have the computer start shutdown if an outage exceeds 90 seconds, and then I have nearly the entire battery reserve for the UPS available to keep making calls and theoretically get online with a smartphone or laptop if necessary. I’ve never actually crunched numbers, but the UPS has provided at least 10-12 hours with the phone and network equipment in the past when left on. Still, it’s something you should factor in with your decision making with equipment. If 911 services are a concern and you don’t want to put all your eggs in the cellphone basket, consider a UPS.
2. Before we switch cellphone service, Mr. BZB wants to download the photos he has stored on his Virginmobile Arc flip phone (has our kid's first steps) and many other kid photos. We found the cord that came with the phone and should do it - it plugs into a USB port but our computer cannot recognize the hardware. Virginmobile tech support wants us to send the photos as messages for 25 cents each, and they won't tell us another way to download the photos. They told him to take out the sim card - but this phone doesn't have a sim card! Any suggestions?
I just initiated the switch from AT&T to DSL extreme for our ISP. It should save us about $240/year on internet bills. Thanks, I.P. Daley! Once it is activated I will run the tests to see if VOIP will work, and then I plan on dropping our landline (also through AT&T) and switching to VOIPo. Also we want to get rid of our Virgin mobile dumbphones (cheap flip phones) and switch to a better service because reception and coverage has worsened lately. We are not big cell phone users. In June I used 26 minutes talk and someone sent me 1 text. No data. Occasionally I have a crazy month and use about 100 minutes of talk. Looking at Technical Meshugana resources, Platinumtel is my favorite, with their Real Paygo plan. However, we will have to buy new phones.
Internet Service Providers (what you do and don't need)
....
Pothole #3 - service bundling. Some ISPs like to force you into bundling services together. Comcast is a great example of this as they hate giving people only internet access and actually had a history of charging more per month to internet only users than internet users who also ordered the basic channel TV package. Others like AT&T refuse to give third party DSL providers access to dry-loop installations forcing you to have a local only land line phone turned on with them for $20+ a month before you can subscribe to DSLExtreme where you can save $15 a month on their DSL service over AT&T's for the same price, making AT&T's dry-loop DSL the only and cheapest DSL option for your area at $40+taxes and regulatory fees. Be aware of what sort of price and service restrictions you're getting into with your ISP.
Here are my questions:
1. Our concern with getting rid of the landline is extended power outages. Hurricane season is here and the last one knocked out our power for 2 weeks. The landline sure came in handy. I am looking into getting a USP, but what would be the best one for this situation? Mr. BZB has used several USPs at his work, where they get frequent brownouts and occasional blackouts. He said the USPs don't last - they break down after a few months to a few years.
2. Before we switch cellphone service, Mr. BZB wants to download the photos he has stored on his Virginmobile Arc flip phone (has our kid's first steps) and many other kid photos. We found the cord that came with the phone and should do it - it plugs into a USB port but our computer cannot recognize the hardware. Virginmobile tech support wants us to send the photos as messages for 25 cents each, and they won't tell us another way to download the photos. They told him to take out the sim card - but this phone doesn't have a sim card! Any suggestions?
Checking in after my port to Voipo.
Things have gone swimmingly and I called ATT (LD) and Verizon (local) to cancel service. They both said that the act of porting our number over canceled the service. However, it was still fun to say those words: "I'd like to cancel my service".
One issue I'm now facing. We have an older alarm system in our house. It doesn't like our new phone service. It can somehow tell that it's no longer on a POTS line and was beeping constantly until I shut it off.
DH is going to insist that I turn it back on, so I'll post anything interesting I find. My first research seems to say that we will have to upgrade the unit. *sigh* Hoping that doesn't wipe out the savings I've just realized.
AT&T will not provide dry loop service to third party DSL providers. With your current plan, the instant you port out your home phone number to VOIPo, AT&T will terminate your DSLExtreme connection as well. When that DSLExtreme connection is terminated, you'll be in breach of contract and will owe a pile of money. This means that if you follow through with your plan, things are about to get very expensive, and you'll be left with nothing to use for communications at home. You need to put the brakes on your order with DSLExtreme IMMEDIATELY.
Ouch - Thanks for catching this for me! I'm getting on the phone with DSL extreme right now....
AT&T will not provide dry loop service to third party DSL providers. With your current plan, the instant you port out your home phone number to VOIPo, AT&T will terminate your DSLExtreme connection as well. When that DSLExtreme connection is terminated, you'll be in breach of contract and will owe a pile of money. This means that if you follow through with your plan, things are about to get very expensive, and you'll be left with nothing to use for communications at home. You need to put the brakes on your order with DSLExtreme IMMEDIATELY.
Ouch - Thanks for catching this for me! I'm getting on the phone with DSL extreme right now....
OK, now I have to ask a probably dumb (or naive) question: How do you figure out who "owns" the copper lines in your house? Since I have AT&T landline and DSL internet does that mean they own them or is there any way out of this? I feel trapped with AT&T and their customer service sucks. DSL extreme was a DREAM compared to AT&T, they never tried to upsell, and they were nice even when I called back to cancel the order. BTW, I rent this house, so I don't know who originally laid the wires.
You're with AT&T right now, which means AT&T owns the line. No dry loop DSL for you except through AT&T proper.OK, that makes sense. Thank you!
It's not a matter of who owns the copper in the house... that belongs to the homeowner. What matters is who owns the DSLAM and the copper running from there to your house. You're with AT&T right now, which means AT&T owns the line. No dry loop DSL for you except through AT&T proper.
It's not a matter of who owns the copper in the house... that belongs to the homeowner. What matters is who owns the DSLAM and the copper running from there to your house. You're with AT&T right now, which means AT&T owns the line. No dry loop DSL for you except through AT&T proper.
When I read this, I heard in my head "No loop for you" in the voice of the Soup Nazi.
Question: How do you purchase a used phone that you are certain was not stolen?
I know this is covered somewhere in this thread, perhaps someone could answer again or direct me to the right spot.
What is the easiest way to direct calls over WIFI when I am home?
Is there any way to make this automatic?
I have a ~$45 iphone plan, and I'm looking at either dropping the plan and moving to Airvoice (keep my iPhone) or dropping both and moving to Ting.
Related questions:
-How much data do most GPS apps use? I'm not a data-hog by any means, but I am concerned about this. If I am going to use a lot of data, I'll likely be swayed toward Ting.
You'd have to utilize some sort of VoIP configuration in the setup. If you're home and you don't want to chew up cell minutes, just use a VoIP based home phone service instead. YMMV, but I don't find the iPhone form factor to be an ideal physical device for making telephone calls with. Why subject yourself to holding a radiating slab against your head if you don't need to?
If you've got a dedicated GPS, an Android handset with Google Maps (it supports offline mode), Sygic GPS Navigation for iOS (http://www.sygic.com/en/gps-navigation), or you learn to navigate your city and reacquaint yourself with a paper atlas (http://www.randmcnally.com/product/road-atlas), there is zero data use.
You'd have to utilize some sort of VoIP configuration in the setup. If you're home and you don't want to chew up cell minutes, just use a VoIP based home phone service instead. YMMV, but I don't find the iPhone form factor to be an ideal physical device for making telephone calls with. Why subject yourself to holding a radiating slab against your head if you don't need to?
I don't use the phone often, so I'd rather just use my cell phone and google voice or something similar. Seems like a VoIP phone is just one more thing to buy and clutter my house, as well as a separate number/voicemail system to manage.
If you've got a dedicated GPS, an Android handset with Google Maps (it supports offline mode), Sygic GPS Navigation for iOS (http://www.sygic.com/en/gps-navigation), or you learn to navigate your city and reacquaint yourself with a paper atlas (http://www.randmcnally.com/product/road-atlas), there is zero data use.
Thanks. Paper maps are great, but they aren't easy to search for the best gas prices, real-time traffic/accidents/cops, local restaruants, or tell me how far I've run/biked (arguably not terribly important, but I like it). I like the Android offline option for those times I could use strictly navigation though.
Hi all,
First post here.
I’m glad the subject of forwarding has come up, as I am still not sure how to configure the forwarding on my planned phone system. Because, you see, I am an imbecile. Here are the basics.
I currently have an iPhone on Verizon. My contract expires in October, so if I bail now, I will pay a $140 ETF. I did the math and decided this may be worth it in the long run. I average 200-300 voice minutes/texts/MB data on my present plan.
I ordered a used Nokia E5 and a refurbished E71, which should arrive by end of week. I plan to try both and sell the one I like less.
I signed up for accounts with P’Tel (Real Paygo) and VOIPo (2 year plan with 30-day return policy) and am waiting for my adapter, SIM card, etc., which should arrive by early next week.
I have a Google Voice account already configured to make calls on my Wifi iPad via Talkatone.
My Internet is through CenturyLink (aka AT&T?), running through an ASUS RTN-56U. I plan to stay with them for now, since I’m paying $17.95 for 7MB. I have had my ActionTec modem for a few years, and it seems to be dropping the connection more frequently, requiring a reset.
I really, really want to keep my old number, so my question is, where do I port it?
Options I see include:
Port it to Google Voice and forward to VOIP, and from there to P’tel, will the calls still forward to my cell if I am away and my home Internet is down?
Am I compromising my privacy, or is this a non-issue, since it’s always forwarding to the same number?
Port to Google Voice > P’tel > VOIP, will I have to constantly call people back when I’m home and want to use the VOIP?
Leave Google Voice out of the mix altogether and simple port my number to VOIP, and forward to Ptel from there?
Is there any way to make calls on a Nokia E series using a public WiFi connection such as Starbucks? I know this is possible on the iPhone via GV and Talkatone, but I don’t know if Symbion offers the same apps.
How can I send SMS texts via the VOIP when I’m home and don’t want to pay P’tel?
Is Google Voice my best option there?
Thanks in advance for any help. This forum rocks!
We should address the home data connection first as we're talking VoIP services at home. You need to determine if the connection drops are due to the modem, or the lines with CenturyLink, or the ISP directly. Narrow this down and get it resolved. If it's the DSL modem? Replace it (http://astore.amazon.com/techmeshugana-20/detail/B001IYCUM8). If it's the phone lines? Get CenturyLink to fix it. If it's CenturyLink specifically? It's doubtful it would be this, but try another provider (http://www.toast.net/services/dsl/centurylink.asp) if it is.
I really, really want to keep my old number, so my question is, where do I port it?
Good question. I think a really good question to potentially answer that question might be: Do you want to continue using that number for SMS text messaging, or do you just want to keep the number?If I can keep texting painlessly with the same number, I would prefer that.
You mentioned you're making the switch over to a Nokia e71 or e5... I think the fact that there's a J2ME based Google Voice app should work into this decision making as well. Does it work on the Nokias? Yes, but it cannot access the phone's address book, it's a battery hog, and it doesn't run nicely in the background for updates. You kind of lumped voice, text and data usage into the same numbers, so I'm unsure if that's a conglomerated total for all three services added together per month or if that's on average what's used for each type of service. I will tell you up front that I really don't bother much with the Google Voice app on my Nokia, I'd rather pay the 2¢ per SMS through P'tel, and I'm only sending about 50 or so messages a month these days for anything time-sensitive. I've nearly all but abandoned Google Voice for SMS messaging these days and either use Jabber/XMPP or straight SMS. Something to mull on.
Port to Google Voice > P’tel > VOIP, will I have to constantly call people back when I’m home and want to use the VOIP?
Depends. Are you answering on the VOIPo line or your cellphone? Technically, incoming calls via Google Voice can be switched to other lines using (*) on the numpad of your phone (https://support.google.com/voice/answer/115080?hl=en).
Leave Google Voice out of the mix altogether and simple port my number to VOIP, and forward to Ptel from there?
This too, can work.
Is there any way to make calls on a Nokia E series using a public WiFi connection such as Starbucks? I know this is possible on the iPhone via GV and Talkatone, but I don’t know if Symbion offers the same apps.
Actually, Symbian S60/Anna/Belle has native support for SIP based VoIP services. You'll have to contact VOIPo to unlock the ability (which'll drop your monthly minute allowance from 5,000 to 3,000 - gasp!) and get the credentials, but then you can just set the phone up to handle it and as long as you have a wireless data connection, you can make calls out for "free".
How can I send SMS texts via the VOIP when I’m home and don’t want to pay P’tel?
Is Google Voice my best option there?
Thanks in advance for any help. This forum rocks!
We should address the home data connection first as we're talking VoIP services at home. You need to determine if the connection drops are due to the modem, or the lines with CenturyLink, or the ISP directly. Narrow this down and get it resolved. If it's the DSL modem? Replace it (http://astore.amazon.com/techmeshugana-20/detail/B001IYCUM8). If it's the phone lines? Get CenturyLink to fix it. If it's CenturyLink specifically? It's doubtful it would be this, but try another provider (http://www.toast.net/services/dsl/centurylink.asp) if it is.
Any tips on narrowing it down, other than calling up CenturyLink? I did that several months ago, and they did some line tests and concluded it was probably the modem. They suggested a hard reset, which seemed to help for a while. Unplugging the modem for a minute or so always brings everything back up. Based on that, is it safe to conclude that the modem is the culprit? And if it is, will any ActionTec modem labeled CenturyLink work? I presently have a M1000 and can get another one off the 'Bay--but have they come up with better, more stable devices since circa 2009?
Does anyone here have experience with any of the cellphone carriers (platinumtel, Airvoice Wireless) in Wyoming?
I'm seriously thinking about switching from AT&T, but I visit family in Wyoming regularly, and I know that some operators (T Mobile for example), do not have Internet access everywhere, coverage is very spotty, etc; As far as I understand Airvoice resells AT&T services, however, I would like to be 100% sure it will work (voice & data) before I go ahead and make the change.
Thanks!
I read through all the posts on pages 1-7 and didn't see any question similar to mine so I'm laying it out here.
I still use a knuckle buster for credit cards at shows. So far we've never had a problem. I enter the details online when I get home.
Many of the other merchants use a Square or Intuit or Jack for swiping the cards and have folks sign the screen. It seems to be the accepted way these days.
So I start hunting around and it's at least $80/mo for a Galaxy SII or a Galaxy Note. Yeegods.
I have no interest in texting or using it as a cell phone. I don't do those things now and all I want to do is be able to run credit cards, so I need a data plan.
Any suggestions?
If you can get past my voice (which sounds like it should be best matched with a felt hand puppet), my nervous laughing, and stammering like a 14 year old boy asking a girl out... you can listen to it here (http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/episode4/).
If you can get past my voice (which sounds like it should be best matched with a felt hand puppet), my nervous laughing, and stammering like a 14 year old boy asking a girl out... you can listen to it here (http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/episode4/).
If you can get past my voice (which sounds like it should be best matched with a felt hand puppet), my nervous laughing, and stammering like a 14 year old boy asking a girl out... you can listen to it here (http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/episode4/).
Sounds like a descendant of Dr. Demento (whom I would listen to for HOURS!).
Massive news for Airvoice users!
AT&T has recently dropped their data prices to their MVNOs. The website has not updated yet, but data on the $10 Plan, Pay As You Go and any overages to the other plans is now billed at 6¢/MB, which now makes them not only the cheapest prepaid AT&T MVNO, but one of the cheapest GSM MVNOs in the country period. Expect some major changes on this front from them, H2O Wireless, PureTalk USA, et al moving forward. Who knows, this might even help make Consumer Cellular competitively priced!
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2013/07/airvoice-wireless-data-lowers-data.html
Looks like we're in for an eventful week on the MVNO news front.
What does a "$10 cash add" do or give you?
I'm still looking for an enterprise solution in oct when my contract with AT&T is up. Obviously, having Airvoice cut my data service when I run out is an unacceptable enterprise solution for me if I understood you correctly.
Also, why shouldn't I be able to use an MVNO for a work solution. Maybe "enterprise" wasn't quite the right word, but a corporate solution for myself - i.e. my work texts, minutes and email which generally runs me about 1.6GB of data per month.
Is airvoice wireless not set up to allow you to pay for more than 1GB per month?
If I'm doing the math correctly, 6 cents per MB means 500MB would cost you $30? Pageplus now has the $29 plan offering 1200 minutes, 3000 texts, and 500MB of data. (which is why I picked 500MB to compare).
Funny that this should come up now. My old Droid 2 has been doing some really funky stuff lately. It got a little wet over the 4th of July and now it seems like the slightest bit of moisture causes the touchscreen to go nuts. It is unusable when this happens. I don't want to get a new phone, but if I did, I wanted to go for the google Nexus 4, but that means I'd have to leave pageplus and go to airvoice or something. That's why I was re-reading up on their plans today.
I don't really know what other 3G CDMA handset I would want, and as far as I know iPhones are still not supported. So now I'm just counting down the days until this Droid dies and I have nothing to replace it with :(
Also, regarding the FreedomPop. I'm on 3G only coverage and it does not cost me any money. I don't know if I'm an exception or what.
You can use an iphone on page plus, if you aren't already aware. Its not officially allowed, but tons of people are doing it.
If you have to have an iphone 5 on page plus, you can get the straight talk iphone 5 which has the lte radio disabled and will work on verizon 3g without reprogramming. However at $600 its a pretty stupid buy for most people.
I don't deny for a second that people have iPhones on Page Plus... but I've yet to see anything from official channels say they're anything but verboten on the network, which is why the things have to be reprogrammed by third parties for Page Plus support before usage.
On another note about about page plus they doubled the data on the 29.99 plan. Its now 1200min 3000texts and 500mb. Not a bad value plan inmho.
From your linked post:I don't deny for a second that people have iPhones on Page Plus... but I've yet to see anything from official channels say they're anything but verboten on the network, which is why the things have to be reprogrammed by third parties for Page Plus support before usage.
Were you implying that iphones need to be reprogrammed for page plus? Maybe I'm taking the statement out of context but there is nothing about the cdma iphone 4 or iphone 4s that requires any reprogramming for page plus. Beigephone is known for taking 4g phones and disabling the lte radios and setting them up for 3g only. Which the iphone 4/4s already is.
The iphone 4 is pretty old and Verizon has moved on to the iphone 5. They could have dropped the banhammer on iphone 4 esn's a long time ago but they never did. I don't know that I agree that it is a risk. If there is a risk, then it is pretty minor. I'm sure that Page Plus would let you port out or register a different phone.
Tacit approval through apathy in enforcement should never be construed as explicit permission. It does not change the fact that you are violating a legal contract you voluntarily agreed to, and it doesn't mean that you can't ever lose service, have the ESN blackballed, or worse... by violating that agreement, they retain the right to do so at any time. It is a risk with some form of legal involvement. If you want to take that risk and feel the reward outweighs that risk, that's your choice to make and nobody else's. Ignorance of those risks doesn't make you immune to them, it just means you sleep better at night when those risks are taken without experienced repercussion.
My concern is that through a seemingly innocent suggestion of just "breaking the rules" because they're "not visibly enforced" to get the phone you really want on a network where it shouldn't be, people who don't know the risks are just going to latch onto what they want and potentially get in way over their heads in some potentially risky waters they wouldn't normally choose to be in. Now guess what? If they have the misfortune to run afoul and get in trouble because of your suggestion to just "break the rules", they blame you. I don't have problems with rule benders or breakers so long as any damage and responsibility is assumed solely by those individuals. My concerns are rooted in rule benders and breakers who either through ignorance or an assumed judgment call on others behalves not to disclose that their suggested actions are risks and waive those concerns from others away as nothing. People are investing money in a tool and service that they feel is important enough to dedicate resources to, and these are risks that can impact those decisions if encountered.
My advice here will always skew Lawful Good. People can do with it what they want, I just care that they're well informed before they make their decision. :)
nobody has been busted for it yet.
nobody has been busted for it yet.
Busted! Lol.
I'm not a mod, otherwise I'd have merged them myself.
Rebel? It may be time to finally sticky the Superguide. ;)
Thread will probably be moved to the FAQ section of the boards (from Share Your Badassity) once the FAQs are written and split into separate topics and get their own subforum. That may be awhile yet though.FAQs? Do tell!
Thread will probably be moved to the FAQ section of the boards (from Share Your Badassity) once the FAQs are written and split into separate topics and get their own subforum. That may be awhile yet though.FAQs? Do tell!
I'm not a mod, otherwise I'd have merged them myself.
Rebel? It may be time to finally sticky the Superguide. ;)
Merged and stickied (sorry for the delay; was out of town.)
Thread will probably be moved to the FAQ section of the boards (from Share Your Badassity) once the FAQs are written and split into separate topics and get their own subforum. That may be awhile yet though.
Rockin'.
Though if I may request for the sake of not breaking links throughout the forum and elsewhere, we leave this thread in the badassity category. It's almost getting too long at this point (despite the bulk of the really useful bits being listed in the first seven posts), and I've been toying with starting a Superguide II: Electric Boogaloo (only a working title) when the opportunity was right. Perhaps I shall do that when the time comes with the FAQ board instead. Then we can just leave this one locked and stickied and move discussion over at that point.
Just keep me in the loop on schedule for this stuff.
Great advice on many levels, followed a few already with Airvoice, and now I'm trying out Futurenine but there is trouble there. I'm 8 days into putting down $15 with service activation but I can't seem to get a assigned phone # out of them, and the last message wasn't reassuring -here's the text from their Futurenine support
" Typically new phone numbers only take a day or two to setup, but due to
the specific rate center you are in it is taking longer. Porting in this area will take 3-4 weeks. If you'd like you can submit the port documentation now and I will put it on hold until you decide to go ahead with it. (so it is faster when you give us the green light to proceed) I sent another request to the carrier to expedite.[/i]"
I'm hopeful these guys (guy?) will figure it out, but I'm wondering if it's just not-going-to-happen what the alternatives are. Being a obedient reader I purchased a Cisco SPA112 configured it with a hodgepodge of info from other hardware configuration and now i'm ready to head out into the great big world of VOIP. You said you weren't familiar with Voip.ms , they seem to be a pay as you go setup (although there is no real info on there site that gives you a clear example of their billing structure without "signing up first"), does this sound better than Voipo? Which actually charges $149 + $36 tax for 2years of service or $15 month. Or do I continue to wait for Futurenine? Or maybe you (who have Futurenine) can instill confidence in the company one more time.
Do let us (I.P. Daley, in particular) know how Page Plus works after the America Movil acquisition (http://www.phonenews.com/america-movil-to-buy-page-plus-cellular-parent-start-wireless-group-22952/) closes. America Movil is not an owner/provider preferred by the Superguide (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/), though there really doesn't seem to be a better option for repurposed Verizon phones right now (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg115466/?topicseen#msg115466).
Actually, a bit of news slid under the radar from back in late June in regard to this (which just goes to show that I really should keep up with the FCC website more). The streamlined approval process for this acquisition has been suspended pending full review by the Executive, specifically the DoJ, FBI, and DHS:
http://www.fcc.gov/document/streamlining-removal-domestic-transfer-assets-pageplus-tracfone
I have not heard any new information since, but it appears the government may have finally sat up and noticed that the fourth largest telecommunications company in the world, which has a significant problem with antitrust issues in Latin America, has been slowly buying up and eliminating MVNO competition in this country.
I have no faith that the acquisition will actually be struck down, but it's nice to know they're at least considering a bit of extra scrutiny and delaying the process.
Meanwhile, yes... TalkForGood is dead dead dead. There's still Next G Mobile and Selectel (not that I'm necessarily recommending any of these)... but they're all very young (yes, Selectel's been around for a while as a PPC reseller, but the direct sale of services is new), and Verizon MVNOs appear to have the hardest time establishing on the market for a variety of reasons. There's a couple others as well, but I'm not going out on limbs anymore with new MVNOs. I got lucky with Ting and burned with TFG. The statistics might be good for baseball, but this 'aint baseball... it's my recommending options with other people's money and phone numbers.
Anyway, yourself any any other PagePlus customers... when the time does come and the buyout does go through and AM takes over on the support end, do please keep me in the loop.
I am considering switching down from my Page Plus Cellular $29.95 plan to the $12 plan. I need those extra minutes however, my mom spends hours on the phone with me. (Really, mom?) I have been reading this thread and googling, and I am a bit confused about Google Voice. I want to keep my phone number with Page Plus, but when I am at home and on my WiFi, I would like to be able to call mom on my cell and not use my cellular minutes. 90% of my time on the phone is at home. I know I could do it sitting at my computer, but when you are on the phone with your mom for an hour, you need to move around and accomplish other things. Can I do this with Groove IP? I do not have a landline for any forwarding, etc. I feel like this has been discussed, but I am not grasping it yet, my apologies.
Has anyone used a nokia lumia 1020(or any other nokia lumia that is locked to ATT) with Air voice wireless yet? Any problems? I'm currently using an iphone 4 and eyeballing the 1020(for the camera) but don't want to buy it and find out it doesn't work on Airvoice.
I live in a rural area with Verizon (cdma) as my only cell option. Not only that, but half of my state is Roaming on Verizon, so Page Plus is much less desirable (they charge $.29/minute for roaming).
Here is what I did and it works great so far (this is week #2). Ported my main number to Google Voice. Bought Obi100 and cordless telephones, and use the Obi through Google Voice - now I have free calls to/from home.
I then activated my Droid2 on Selectel (no roaming charges) and purchased their $75 yearly card (2000 minutes, 1500 texts) and then purchased (2) $10 flex cards ($.05/MB).
So - for $95 I have 2000 minutes, 1500 texts, and 400 MB. Those 400MB are good for 50 emails/day, 25 web pages a day, and 50 short sessions total with Google Maps. With a few tweaks to my phone (turning off background data and updating only when on WIFI) and being more thoughtful about my usage, I think this will cover my yearly cell phone usage (considering everything I do at home (text, calls, and of course internet) is free over my internet connection).
It is still early, but so far, so good. Voice quality seems same as cell phone and I am thrilled to have the power of a smartphone with me at such a good price.
Daley's too humble to say it, so I will: he's a freaking fantastic forum contributor that's done this community a lot of good and saved it a lot of money! If you're not familiar with the entire Tech Meshugana network, I summarized all the great work he does in this post (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/mustachianism-around-the-web/the-mmm-readers'-blogroll/msg122772/#msg122772).
Thanks for all your hard work, IP!
I live in a rural area with Verizon (cdma) as my only cell option. Not only that, but half of my state is Roaming on Verizon, so Page Plus is much less desirable (they charge $.29/minute for roaming).
Here is what I did and it works great so far (this is week #2). Ported my main number to Google Voice. Bought Obi100 and cordless telephones, and use the Obi through Google Voice - now I have free calls to/from home.
I then activated my Droid2 on Selectel (no roaming charges) and purchased their $75 yearly card (2000 minutes, 1500 texts) and then purchased (2) $10 flex cards ($.05/MB).
So - for $95 I have 2000 minutes, 1500 texts, and 400 MB. Those 400MB are good for 50 emails/day, 25 web pages a day, and 50 short sessions total with Google Maps. With a few tweaks to my phone (turning off background data and updating only when on WIFI) and being more thoughtful about my usage, I think this will cover my yearly cell phone usage (considering everything I do at home (text, calls, and of course internet) is free over my internet connection).
It is still early, but so far, so good. Voice quality seems same as cell phone and I am thrilled to have the power of a smartphone with me at such a good price.
A couple things:
1) It's good that you ported your number over to Google Voice in this carrier scenario, and I'm glad that this setup is working for you.
2) Keep a very close eye on Selectel's overall general health and how cheap/desperate some of the offers become around December 2013-February 2014 to give you an idea on whether you need to potentially move on.
I want to see a viable alternative to Page Plus rise up on the Verizon MVNO end, but that 9 month, 5k subscriber hurdle that Verizon has is a hard bar to clear (just ask TalkForGood). Selectel started reselling service in May of this year IIRC, so you can understand why I'm citing the time-frame that I am. I'm happy that you're supporting them, and I'd like to see them survive, but I'm also torn because I want to recommend people only to stable providers. I'm in a bit of a catch-22 in that regard. I hope your gamble pays off for all of us, though.
Finally, if your Droid2 can take a domestic SIM card and is carrier unlocked... if it comes to it with roaming and you find yourself going over to Page Plus or another newer Verizon MVNO come next year, keep in mind that an Airvoice or P'tel SIM card might help with some of that roaming coverage. Just turn off roaming in settings and have GV forward to both cellular phone numbers and toggle between CDMA/GSM as you need.
On Tuesday, the American mobile phone market took one step closer to looking a bit more like the European or Asian markets: free incoming calls, inexpensive outgoing calls, and a focus on data.
A Canadian startup, TextNow, just launched a new mobile service in the United States. For $18.99 per month, you get 500MB of data, 750 rollover minutes, and unlimited texting and incoming calls. In the US, it’s the norm for both the sending and receiving parties to be charged for a call. But nearly everywhere else in the world, only the person who originated the call actually pays.
“Incoming calls don’t really cost us that much,” Derek Ting, the company’s CEO, told Ars. “Carriers charge you anyway because they can get away with it.”
So what’s the catch? You have to buy one of their older-model Android phones: either a Samsung Nexus S for $89.99 or a Samsung Galaxy S II for $119.99. (Another catch: after the first day of business, the company says it’s sold out.)
TextNow states “everything goes over the Internet (for both texts and calls). It uses your Wi-Fi connection when it is available. When there is no Wi-Fi connection, it uses Sprint's nationwide 3G and 4G network.” (The company is a mobile virtual network operator [MVNO], which means it buys spectrum and tower access from larger mobile carriers.)
“We are moving to a model where in-network calling is completely free and unlimited,” Ting said. “Right now as it currently stands, Wi-Fi to data network handoff does not work, so the call will drop and also vice versa.”
Unfortunately, those of us (like yours truly) who have an unlocked GSM smartphone and would like to try out TextNow can’t do so.
“We do realize there is a huge demand for GSM [bring your own device], but there are no immediate plans [to expand beyond our current offerings],” Ting added. “Despite Sprint being CDMA, they have been the most cooperative for an MVNO in the States.”
Has this made the news anywhere else yet?
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/08/mobile-startup-offers-unprecedented-plan-500mb-of-data-free-incoming-calls/
-snip-
Sounds a little like republic wireless with the calling over wifi deal, but its good to see someone else trying I guess.
I've been a happy PlatinumTel customer for almost a year now. Unfortunately, things are going terribly with the service right now.
PlatinumTel is currently transitioning from CDMA to GSM. We received instructions on how to do this, which was, basically, ordering new phones and SIM cards (free/heavily discounted). While we had no problems activating our original phones, we have had nothing but trouble activating our new phones. Their customer service seems to be completely swamped, so we haven't yet successfully talked to anyone who can help. After following the activation instructions through their website, we received an email that my wife's new phone had been activated. Unfortunately, all that happened was her old CDMA phone stopped working, and her new GSM phone doesn't work either. My old phone is still working, so I guess my new phone wasn't even attempted to be activated at all.
Has anyone else been caught up in this situation? I've gone from a happy Ptel customer to an extremely frustrated customer in the span of a few short weeks, all due to this switch to GSM being handled so poorly.
While I appreciate the information, I don't appreciate being told I'm "just as much at fault for this last minute transition crush."
I was notified by text message about this transition about one month ago, and prior to that, knew absolutely nothing about the difference between CDMA and GSM (not a smart phone user here, just the basics). I wasn't notified 9 months ago to make this transition. In the mean time, I've followed the instructions provided by Ptel, and have ended up in a position where I'm not receiving the service that I've paid for.
As for the sarcastic apologies and "I told ya so's," I just don't get it.
First, I'm genuinely sorry that you apparently slid through the cracks and missed any of the prior notifications before last month that went out to customers. Furthermore, I'm sorry that I didn't post weekly a countdown timer for all the remaining P'tel CDMA customers in these forums over the past six months reminding people to switch sooner than later... you'll have to forgive me on that count, however, because I kind of had my hands full with some more pressing matters the past few months. Finally, I'm also sorry that you feel the way you do, but a lack of personal situational awareness doesn't make it purely Platinumtel's fault that you aren't currently receiving the service that you paid for. Apparently I'm in the wrong for pointing this out, however, given how upset you've become for my stating as much.
I've got a few texts over the last month serving as notification and subsequent reminders about the transition. Once those were received, I used their website, to find further information. What other methods of communication did Ptel employ, which I subsequently missed, resulting in you being so genuinely shocked?
I searched, but havent found anything....
What does everyone think of Yuilop?
http://yuilop.com/us/
Its wording is a little vague... but as I understand it, it turns data into Phone calls and Texts? This combined with a cheap data plan would allow for a seamless transition between network data and WiFi?
Continuing to prepare for when my contract expires in October.
As I've stated before, I use this phone as my professional tether. I use a fair amount of Wifi for data / email so my GB / month hover around 1.6GB.
That said, I'm currently paying about $95 / month with AT&T with 450 anytime minutes, free nights and weekends, mobile to mobile (any carrier), unlimited text messages and umlimited data (grandfathered in).
Why wouldn't Virgin Mobile be a great option for me? Their unlimited plan is $55 / month and it looks like you get a $70 credit if you sign up for a new plan. Also, it doesn't appear they have any tricked up minute plans so if i went to the $45 plan (1200 anytime minutes) meaning it appears 1200 is 1200. Not any free additional minutes after 9pm, etc.
A couple of questions:
1) How would this compare with other options based on my data and text needs?
2) is 1200 anytime only 1200 total? I can't see anything about nights and weekends or mobile to mobile being "free" on their site
3) ive never used it but being in the dallas fort worth area, it seems the coverage is pretty good
4) when i use wifi, that doesn't count against my data use, correct?
Well I guess I should have been watching this thread lately...we were on Talk for Good until today when our coverage was shut off. What is the best recommendation for a MVNO running on Verizon. We have our own phones. Is Page Plus the best bet right now with the caveat to keep our eye on it?
BTW...I loved Talk for Good. I am so sad that they cut us off without any notice.
Continuing to prepare for when my contract expires in October.
As I've stated before, I use this phone as my professional tether. I use a fair amount of Wifi for data / email so my GB / month hover around 1.6GB.
Are we talking usage as a WiFi hotspot here for other devices? After all this time, I'm still having difficulty understanding how corporate email can eat up 1-1.6GB of mobile wireless data a month, even and especially using available WiFi at home and work whenever possible. I've got a fully untamed inbox that hasn't been weeded in nearly a decade, and its entire content fits in less hard drive space uncompressed than you seem to be saying you use for e-mail in one month. You usually don't get those sorts of data numbers on mobile devices without streaming media habits. I'm not trying to be harsh here, I'm just trying to be realistic and understand what's going on. It's hard to help when you provide such vague details about what your actual usage habits are. These are critical questions to know the answers to if you're wanting to find the right solution. Spitballing and vague generalities can be fun, but we're talking about trying to find the right prepaid cellular plan for your needs here.QuoteThat said, I'm currently paying about $95 / month with AT&T with 450 anytime minutes, free nights and weekends, mobile to mobile (any carrier), unlimited text messages and umlimited data (grandfathered in).
Why wouldn't Virgin Mobile be a great option for me? Their unlimited plan is $55 / month and it looks like you get a $70 credit if you sign up for a new plan. Also, it doesn't appear they have any tricked up minute plans so if i went to the $45 plan (1200 anytime minutes) meaning it appears 1200 is 1200. Not any free additional minutes after 9pm, etc.
Why would Virgin Mobile be a great option for you? Yes, their wholly "unlimited" plan is $55/month, but nobody needs unlimited anything. Instead of just immediately throwing a marketing buzzword at a problem for your solution, you need to know what you actually need first... otherwise, you're probably just wasting money. How many actual minutes do you use per month in total? Where are most of those minutes used - at work, at home, on the road? How many texts do you send? How much data do you actually need for critical functionality versus convenience/boredom usage? How much of those minutes and that data can be supplemented with separate home VoIP and internet usage? Are you tethering to your phone for data with a tablet or laptop and if so, is it necessary? Have you checked network coverage for your area of usage with all four providers to make sure you'll actually get reception with these MVNOs?
Telling me about your current plan only tells me that you've got the AT&T 450 anytime minute plan on a smartphone, it doesn't tell me what your actual usage is. Prepaid works best with hard facts, so you need to work with some hard numbers when shopping for service because there's no "in network" or "off peak" minutes. You get exactly what you pay for with the exclusion of "unlimited" service, which is vague and nebulous terminology used to exploit people's greediness and is usually couched with data throttling and undisclosed soft usage caps that they can use to terminate your service with. Looking solely at the bottom line in money spent per month for supposedly unmetered service isn't going to do you any favors.QuoteA couple of questions:
1) How would this compare with other options based on my data and text needs?
2) is 1200 anytime only 1200 total? I can't see anything about nights and weekends or mobile to mobile being "free" on their site
3) ive never used it but being in the dallas fort worth area, it seems the coverage is pretty good
4) when i use wifi, that doesn't count against my data use, correct?
1) You provide some solid info on what those needs actually are, then some comparisons can be made to alternate options.
2) Yes.
3) Given you're in DFW, you've probably got decent coverage from all four carriers in the metroplex, which is good... but usually there's only a couple of those four that provides better than average service. Wireless providers get specific reputations in each metro area. If you've had good AT&T service over the years without a lot of network roaming or dropped calls, they're probably one of the better networks in the area. Keep that in mind. If Sprint has a bad local reputation, it might not be the best choice to go with a Sprint MVNO that doesn't allow for Verizon roaming.
4) That question reads vague as there's no quantifier of what is using the WiFi and from where, especially in context of your claimed data requirements. If your phone is using your home internet connection through WiFi, then no... it does not count against your data usage. If you're talking about using your phone as a WiFi hotspot for other devices, then yes... it does count against your data usage.
All this said, are you aware of the Airvoice pricing changes recently? $40 gets you "unlimited" talk and text with 1GB of data now. Pretty clean swap on your iPhone once you get it unlocked, excuse the network configuration changes.
I do NOT use my phone as a hot spot so any data is for personal and work. I'm not doing 1.6GB per month of mail but I do a fair amount of email. 1.6 is simply total usage on average per month.How much of that usage could you trim, though, is the question. How much of it is work, and how much is kitten videos? Do you turn on the wifi when you're at home/work/starbucks?
How much of it is work, and how much is kitten videos?
I do NOT use my phone as a hot spot so any data is for personal and work. I'm not doing 1.6GB per month of mail but I do a fair amount of email. 1.6 is simply total usage on average per month.How much of that usage could you trim, though, is the question. How much of it is work, and how much is kitten videos? Do you turn on the wifi when you're at home/work/starbucks?
I do NOT use my phone as a hot spot so any data is for personal and work. I'm not doing 1.6GB per month of mail but I do a fair amount of email. 1.6 is simply total usage on average per month.How much of that usage could you trim, though, is the question. How much of it is work, and how much is kitten videos? Do you turn on the wifi when you're at home/work/starbucks?
I'm sure I could trim some but to what end?
I live in Northern California. Today my daughter and I went to our local police open house - they said that even if I do not have an active landline - if I have a phone plugged in I can call 911 anytime - and that they preferred this to my cell phone. Has anyone else heard this? If so, I'm buying a corded now....
I currently have an iPhone 4 (which is showing its age). I use it for music, web browsing, email, and occasional texting. I use about 100 minutes of voice time per month. I'm considering switching to Ting with an Android device.
Another possibility is replacing it with Google Voice, a (fairly limited) Tracfone with wifi, and an iPod Touch. Has anyone gone this route?
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take another look at Airvoice. I currently have Straight Talk service for the iPhone, so I'm familiar with the customer service horror stories, although I haven't yet had a bad experience. The iPod + crappy phone option appeals to me because it offers the potential to use the same functions I currently use on my iPhone (contact/calendar/bookmark sync, cached Slacker streaming in the car, same apps, etc.) without needing an iPhone at all. On the other hand, carrying around two devices would be inconvenient.
Tracfone's text messaging rates seem to be lower than Airvoice (0.3 credit vs. $0.10 per text), and that's something I use fairly frequently. Several of the MVNOs, such as Virgin Mobile, are not available in my area, and anything that uses Tmobile service isn't a good option either.
Question regarding Airvoice and data (for when I go off contract in a few months). I use very little text/talk, but generally somewhere between 100 and 200meg of cellular data per month - I was hoping the $10 plan plus a cash card for the data could work.
I may be a little dense, but I'm not sure that works, plus it looks like from their website (https://www.airvoicewireless.com/PlansC.aspx) that the data rates on the $10 plan are still .33/meg rather than the .06 I saw upthread. Have they still not changed it on their website?
The $40 plan would still save me $25/month though, and I wouldn't have to smack my husband's hand every time he reaches for my phone...
Question regarding Airvoice and data (for when I go off contract in a few months). I use very little text/talk, but generally somewhere between 100 and 200meg of cellular data per month - I was hoping the $10 plan plus a cash card for the data could work.
I may be a little dense, but I'm not sure that works, plus it looks like from their website (https://www.airvoicewireless.com/PlansC.aspx) that the data rates on the $10 plan are still .33/meg rather than the .06 I saw upthread. Have they still not changed it on their website?
The $40 plan would still save me $25/month though, and I wouldn't have to smack my husband's hand every time he reaches for my phone...
Rates on the website aren't updated yet, but users are currently only being billed 6¢/MB. I don't believe you can actually use the $10 cash card with the $10 plan, it's for the Unlimited Talk & Text plans with fixed data availability.
Two questions: 1) Is there any way to make a dent in that data usage by using WiFi or eliminating some services or tweaking data access settings on your device? (If you're running Android, things like auto-updates from the Play Store for apps can eat a lot of data if you don't restrict it to WiFi downloads only, for example.) 2) Is there a specific reason you're going Airvoice? If T-Mobile coverage will work, P'tel has data for 10¢/MB, which isn't terrible (it isn't great either, but again... wireless data is expensive)... that'd run you between $10-20 a month-ish.
I've been on AT&T for years and I know it works where I need it, so I wanted to stick with an AT&T vendor. I use wifi all the time at home, but end up using up to 200meg/month when I'm out (when we travel, I've gone over). To get under 100meg/month, I'd have to hide my iPhone from DH when I'm driving and when we're out. There's always something he wants to look up. :: smack ::
So what does the cash card work with?
I checked the maps and T-Mobile's coverage won't work for us. AT&T is everywhere around here, and all the places I can think of that we visit.
I already pulled my mom's and my husband's old flip phones off the family share plan over to Airvoice's PAYG (they're VERY lightly used). They've had no complaints, so I'm hopeful I won't either.
Airvoice's $10/month plan, though, is data still .33/meg? If you run out, you can just pay another $10 and continue on? Hard to know these things when their website isn't up to date. I wish I could figure things out from their website without having to bug you for interpretation!
If Virgin's off the table due to no Sprint coverage, that takes Ting off the list as well.
If Virgin's off the table due to no Sprint coverage, that takes Ting off the list as well.
There is a decent amount of Sprint coverage (it looks better if you include their roaming partners--as I understand it, Ting will allow you to roam for voice and texting but not data), but Virgin Mobile doesn't offer service in my area. Oh, well. Tmobile is 2G only in my area, while AT&T is 3G. Thanks for the suggestion--I'm leaning toward the Airvoice $10 monthly plan, assuming the new, lower data rate actually sticks.
I live in Northern California. Today my daughter and I went to our local police open house - they said that even if I do not have an active landline - if I have a phone plugged in I can call 911 anytime - and that they preferred this to my cell phone. Has anyone else heard this? If so, I'm buying a corded now....
Yes I have, but it's not universal and it's not consistent, and its actual availability can depend on everything from the telco to the laws of the state/municipality to the building type being serviced. What they speak of is called a warm dial-tone, and it's the sort of thing where the phone company only switches off pay use phone service for fast reconnects. If you plug a phone into a jack and you get a dial-tone but know you don't have phone service, then you'll be able to dial 911. The PSAP should receive a physical address in these situations where it's provided (just as calls over cell service on most modern cellphones should relay GPS coordinates accurate to between 160-500' via the same e911 service extension that sends that address for both soft connected landlines and for VoIP customers), but they will not be able to call back in the case of disconnection, the same with cell phones that have no active service.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/05/update-about-911-and-disconnected-landlines/index.htm
Just keep in mind that running these call centers isn't cheap, and the 911 emergency service fees you pay goes towards their operation.
iPhone 4S on go smart? Do I have to jailbreak the phoneorreplace a sim?
How is T mobile in DFW? I've generally heard it sucks.
They have a hot chick in their commercials though.
Airvoice website has undergone major changes.
Here's a link to their new unlimited plans page https://www.airvoicewireless.com/PlansA.aspx
As for the whole 2G/3G thing... EDGE data speeds are plenty fine for email and text communications, and the slower data speed might actually help save some unnecessary data usage as well leading to lower costs.I don't mind the slower data speeds most of the time, but judging from my experience on Straight Talk, in my area, latency is bad with 3G, but it's even worse on EDGE. On the other hand, my phone consistently shows 1-2 bars more signal when running on EDGE. There is also a theoretical improvement in battery runtime by turning off 3G. I don't really notice a difference, and it's generally not a big deal, because I'm near a charger most of the time.
The wife went through $15 on pageplus' paygo plan in 16 days! She had a business trip for 3 days with a lot of mobile usage, but damn. I was expecting $15 to last her two months.
just heard about this phone plan but I've been using their android app and I do like it
https://www.textnow.com/
Thanks, Cromacster, that looks like a great deal. The Nexus 4 already had good reviews at $300 for 8GB version.
What MVNO's work best with this phone? Airvoice? Ptel? others?
I am a 500 text, 300 min, light data google voice user now on a $30/month 1200 min/ 3000 text/ 500 mb: PagePlus/CDMA plan.
I love page plus from old verizon plan. I prefer the idea of going to GSM for a new phone.
This thread helped cut my monthly bill in half. Thanks, I.P. Daley.
Thanks
For anyone interested Google just dropped the price of the Nexus 4. $199 off contract (249 for the 16gb)
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb&hl=en (https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb&hl=en)
Thanks, Cromacster, that looks like a great deal. The Nexus 4 already had good reviews at $300 for 8GB version.
What MVNO's work best with this phone? Airvoice? Ptel? others?
I am a 500 text, 300 min, light data google voice user now on a $30/month 1200 min/ 3000 text/ 500 mb: PagePlus/CDMA plan.
I love page plus from old verizon plan. I prefer the idea of going to GSM for a new phone.
This thread helped cut my monthly bill in half. Thanks, I.P. Daley.
Thanks
For anyone interested Google just dropped the price of the Nexus 4. $199 off contract (249 for the 16gb)
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb&hl=en (https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb&hl=en)
For anyone interested Google just dropped the price of the Nexus 4. $199 off contract (249 for the 16gb)
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb&hl=en (https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb&hl=en)
That's an incredible price, especially if you're comparing it to the off contract price of the HTC One, Galaxy S4, or Moto X. I really wanted the Galaxy S4, but it seems like the Nexus has 90% of the features for less than half the price. The glass back seems to be prone to damage, so you may want to pick up a cover or case. I'm also considering upgrading my iPhone 4 to an Android, so this is very timely.
Its the one I've been fighting myself over for the last 4 months, and I think google finally won.
Plus, if history is any guide, you probably won't be able to get one without a contract for several months.
Its the one I've been fighting myself over for the last 4 months, and I think google finally won.
Ditto. I'm waiting for Apple's official announcement on September 10, but if the rumors are correct and they don't introduce something with a larger screen, I don't think they'll be in the running for me. Plus, if history is any guide, you probably won't be able to get one without a contract for several months.
Apple doesn't even matter for me any more, nobody can touch the price of the Nexus 4 with any 'new', decently rated smartphone without a subsidised contract price.
Is there a how to in this big ole thread for putting Airvoice Wireless onto your smartphone?
I have a Galaxy S3 that was through US Cellular. Is there anything special I need to do to get it to work?
In fact, I'll go so far as to say that even despite my bending over backwards to try to explain to you why this is a bad idea, this simply isn't the thread, board or community you should be asking this question of in the first place.
It's ridiculously complicated and requires plenty of hacking, rooting, and unlocking, and you couldn't be bothered to do as much as click the search button at the top of the page. In context (rather than out of context as you've presented it) I think the sentence is suggesting that the kind of person capable of the amount of software work required to "[put] Airvoice Wireless" on an S3 is the kind of person who would at least know the first of the four or five steps required (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/search/) to look for the answer.
If I had to guess, I'd say that's where the snark came from.
In fact, I'll go so far as to say that even despite my bending over backwards to try to explain to you why this is a bad idea, this simply isn't the thread, board or community you should be asking this question of in the first place.
Do you mind if I ask you why you gave me kind of a snarky answer about this?
I just don't understand what the heck the big deal is. If you don't want to answer my questions, then don't answer them.
You should consider that I didn't realize that you had to reprogram the phone and that I, in my ignorance, thought you could use air voice with any phone.
it doesn't change the reality spoken that this is neither the thread, board, or community you should consult in regards to trying to physically reprogram a CDMA-LTE cellphone for possible GSM network usage. Those places would be Android Dev forums like XDA Devs, SDX Devs, and their ilk. It's a highly technical and involved process at best to perform if it's even physically possible
I just don't understand what the heck the big deal is. If you don't want to answer my questions, then don't answer them. I can find the answer somewhere else. I came to you because you seem to know what you're talking about and because of the size of this thread, I assumed you enjoy talking about and answering people's questions about it. Sheesh.
so i bought the nexus 4 after sleeping on it for a day. Trouble is, now I have buyers remorse and cannot cancel the order lol. I'll have to just refuse the package when it gets here. I think the longer I wait to upgrade, the cheaper and better they will be when that time comes.
Thanks, Cromacster, that looks like a great deal. The Nexus 4 already had good reviews at $300 for 8GB version.
What MVNO's work best with this phone? Airvoice? Ptel? others?
I am a 500 text, 300 min, light data google voice user now on a $30/month 1200 min/ 3000 text/ 500 mb: PagePlus/CDMA plan.
I love page plus from old verizon plan. I prefer the idea of going to GSM for a new phone.
This thread helped cut my monthly bill in half. Thanks, I.P. Daley.
Thanks
I ordered a Nexus 4 yesterday and I am going to make the jump from Verizon to Ptel. Good timing too, my old phone just got ran over by a few cars.
Thanks to this thread I learned about other options outside of VZW/ATT etc...
In the end i went with a higher end phone with better voice hardware, a $2.99 Skype monthly plan plus tmobile and a ~$6 permanent skype number for a ~$40/mo cadillac plan. The unlimited minutes were important to me so I can ditch my employer's phone and get a stipend of around $24 per month to use my own.
My plan was to use VOIP to have 5GB of LTE and unlimited calling minutes. Unfortunately the N4 has very crappy call hardware for VOIP. I had very bad echos on GrooveIP, Viber, Spare Phone, etc. Skype and Line2 worked reasonably well. Both cost the same for LTE calling.
Despite what others say, VOIP calling is fine in an LTE area with low ping. I'm in the Bay Area and see pings of 30-50ms with t-mobilSkype had the best call quality by far but the worst interface. Line2 has great features and interface but their voice codec doesn't sound as good.
I'm from Canada and I'll visiting the Vegas area for 2 weeks. I'm looking for cheap way to keep members of my group in touch (text and voice). A few of us have nexus 4 devices, but our roaming rates to the US are stupid ($2/min, $0.75/text) ... So i'm looking for local options.
So far I've seen a $30 sim + (text/voice) deal at walmart and many places seem to sell a disposable phones with minutes and some text for around the same price.
Any better ideas?
Any recommendation?
Awesome info! I think option #2 is will be our ticket (the data will be useful too).
Thanks for making this thread
Sorry TurboLT, I'm going to use you as a case study on how not to do cell phone service.
See, I find this sort of thinking absolutely crackers. You drag VoIP into the mix and use data for "unlimited" minutes per month to call, you suffer the faults and shortcomings of using VoIP on a wireless network, you expose yourself to even higher radiation levels, you shell out even more money to a proprietary VoIP provider like Skype to try and make it tolerable, and you spend even more money to do so just so you can what, exactly? Binge on ridiculous amounts of streaming media so you're not bored outside of the house?
Just popping in to say, thank you Mr. Daley!
I donno about the specifics of the plan in question, but I would personally rather pay $X/mo for unlimited data and 0 minutes of phone usage (and have to use voip and its shortcomings) than the same $X/mo and have unlimited voice/text but very little data (say 1GB or less).
It really depends on one's use scenario, and data is far more valuable to me than voice.
I get where you're going with this, Rebel... but you're talking about something that simply doesn't exist at this price point or even in the MVNO sphere, and likely will never exist at any price point in general that would be significantly cheaper than having voice and text services already bolted onto the package at the MNO level. MVNOs will always have to deal with finite usage numbers with customers even when they promise "unlimited" in their marketing pamphlets, and as such will never be able to truly provide "unlimited" data like Sprint and T-Mobile postpaid claims to do and they'll drop customers for abuse. Data is the wireless industry's cash cow, and so long as it's treated as such, such a plan will never exist.
That's unfortunate. My wife has solely been using Google Voice/Talkatone since January though her FreedomPop device and has been happy with it. If there was a cheap way to get unlimited data through a hotspot, I'd be all over it. Even 5GB might be enough.
Voice just isn't that useful to a lot of us compared to data, so using a voip service for the odd few hundred minutes/mo. (at most) is no big deal.
Ting update (https://ting.com/) for folks:
Ting has now introduced a new permanent ETF relief deal (https://ting.com/etf), where they'll credit your account 25% of your ETF costs with your current carrier up to $75 to switch to them.
Wow that's awesome. That's been my main reason for procrastinating - my ROI was in the negative (p.s. thanks for that calculator - it's so much simpler than me doing the math myself! ha) I gotta re-run the numbers with this new factor. Love the ting buckets concept and all the pretty graphs!
I gotta get better at roping-in my data usage. I was really considering the RepublicWireless deal, but now I'm looking at ting. Problem is my insane amounts of data I use. I know I could do better-but I'm used to unlimited! (shame on me!)
All that said, the Republic deal is no real deal if you know how it works (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg21151/#msg21151).Yes I have read through your 8 step theoretical plan a few times. I'ts a little complicated/intimidating for a total noob. Also I have some hesitations about pulling the trigger and jumping to a new carrier (I know I'm not signing contracts, but I'm having a hard time deciding which carrier to go with (coverage, pricing - which then would dictate which phones I could buy.) I also don't know how much I will actually pare down my usage - with ting my monthly bill will be around 44-63 according to a reduction in my current usage - so that's why the easy no-configure 19/month looks attractive to me.
Even if you'd rather still roll the Republic way, follow Mr. Everyday Dollar's setup instead (http://mreverydaydollar.com/a-review-of-ting-disrupting-the-mobile-phone-market/) as it's way simpler.- Will look into his particular set up more
What you need to do is become serious about your data usage, learn how it's impacting your budget, and rethink your relationship with it. Let's do so with statistically common usage generalities and math!Spot on. My data mostly comes from
...the price difference between the 3GB and 500MB packages is $47, and even the difference between 500MB and 1GB is still $11.Is ________ worth $47/month? or $11/month? <--- I have to explore my tipping point. Short answer for 47/m - NO!
you're probably thinking about where you indulge that habit...Music - home (wifi!), work (wifi!). -I use my car's FM radio! :)
Next is just making sure you're on WiFi whenever possible, forcing unnecessary data hungry apps and background services to do their thing on WiFi only, using offline GPS services...Wifi when possible - check (home last week, work today)
offline GPS service - ?? Didn't know about this option or how to do it.
When I get home I'm going to download opera mini or dolphin - I've heard they're better on data.
So thinking outside the Ting box. ptel and Airvoice also look good. There are many factors to consider. Seems to me that GSM is the better (more flexible) option? Carrier network & coverage in my area, price, BYOD support vs handset costs.... I'm starting from scratch!
The $20/20% Rule = If your average costs come within $20 or 20% of an availabe *overkill* package for your needs (whichever is lower), be willing to spend the extra so you know you genuinely have the right plan for the money.
.....
The secret numbers to keep in mind while shopping for MVNOs are (as of Fall 2013)
High End:
$25 Budget
600 Minutes
900 SMS Messages
65MB of Data
.....
On the high end, if your average usage exceeds *any* of those numbers and you have no means to cut them significantly through habit modification (self-discipline) or alternate technologies (home VoIP usage, SMS replacement apps, WiFi at home/work), consider a $30+ monthly plan over any PAYG options. Once you pass this threshold, the more data you genuinely *need*, the less viable MVNOs become.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP I.P.! I want to mail you a Christmas present this year! haha
That's okay, you don't need to... we do Hanukkah around our house these days. But if you still feel inclined to generosity, don't forget about the website (http://www.techmeshugana.com/). ;)
Oh I shouldn't have assumed your holiday of preference!
Just for a point of reference regarding data use - I moved from Verizon to Selectel last month and since I pay $.05/MB, I am now paying attention to my data (coming from an unlimited plan) and it is really amazing how little data I NEED to use.
I have used around 30mb this month - I do all the email I want, I web browse plenty (but only useful things - not because I am bored), and I even have briefly checked google maps around half a dozen times (for real-time traffic data while travelling). That is $1.50 for data this past month - amazing value!
you probably know this Daley but for people that don't yet
Sipgate is closing at the end of October. There's a few good free sip companies but I've liked sipgate for about a year now.
I'll be traveling to the U.S. for 2 weeks starting next week. At home in Canada I'm using Virgin Mobile tablet data plan on my phone and use VOIP only. If I switch to the Virgin Canada + U.S. Tablet data plan it's 45$/mo. for 500mb. I could then switch my plan to my cheaper canada only data plan when I get back but I was wondering if I could get a data-only sim card activated in the U.S. that would cost less than ~45$ for under 1gb of data for two weeks. I looked online for sim cards for traveling people and they end up costing about the same (10~20$ for the sim card itself, then 30~40$ for the data plan). Any recommendations? I only want a small amount of data.
edit: Bought a 16GB. Looks like I'm switching to airvoice or platinumtel next month. I still haven't decided on that.
edit: Bought a 16GB. Looks like I'm switching to airvoice or platinumtel next month. I still haven't decided on that.
I'm enjoying my Nexus 4. Much faster than my old iPhone 4, and it works well with my existing Straight Talk plan. I'll be switching over to Airvoice when my Straight Talk plan expires in October. I also got a cheap rubber case off of eBay, which I'm not entirely happy with, as it stretches a little more than I'd prefer, to the point that I'm afraid the phone could fall out of it. One caveat: Slacker Radio doesn't seem to work as well on Android as it did on iOS.
Wow, it's amazing what money buys you in terms of hardware these days... I thought GPSes and accelerometers only came with the $600 handsets.
Oh dear, I went a little overboard with this Sony bad boy (http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_l-5363.php), $240 on newegg. Really couldn't see myself with a physical keypad, haha.
Thanks for the info, Daley. Stellar advice, as always. :)
I've heard that Republic Wireless has some drawbacks, but I just read that they are going to be introducing the Moto X as their new flagship phone and will be changing their pricing structure: http://www.republicwireless.com/moto-x (http://www.republicwireless.com/moto-x).
I have two phones on Verizon with unlimited data and 1400 shared minutes, but our bill is running us about $180 a month. I tried switching to a 700 shared minutes plan to save us $40 a month, but we went over our minutes. Switching to a new Verizon plan with unlimited minutes and shared data won't save us much either. So, I've been looking at other options that would provide the ability to make calls seemlessly. I want to provide my wife with a phone that would allow her to easily make calls so she doesn't get frustrated. Republic Wireless looked like a good option until I read about some of the drawbacks (such as calls not automatically transferring between WiFi and cellular). However, with offering the Moto X and $40 a month for unlimited 4G data its looking like a pretty good option.
Hey I.P., it's been a long time. :) Anyways, I'm currently on Platinumtel with the T-mobile sparq, and I had been eyeing the Google Nexus 4 especially since the recent price drop to $200. My wife and I have the same phone and are both topping up with about $20/person each month. I've mostly been eyeing the Nexus because I miss paying extremely low rates for texting.
So today I got an email announcing a price drop (down to $100) for the Motorola Defy XT from Republic, along with more pricing options. Specifically I like the $10 unlimited calling and texting, with no data. The only thing we ever really used data for was cheaper texting, so with unlimited at $10 I'm just fine using wifi only. I'm not sure if you haven't seen these new updates or if there's something I'm not considering here. What's your take on a $200 Nexus 4 on Platinumtel for $10/month as compared to Republic wireless $100 Defy for $10/month?
Hey I.P., it's been a long time. :) Anyways, I'm currently on Platinumtel with the T-mobile sparq, and I had been eyeing the Google Nexus 4 especially since the recent price drop to $200. My wife and I have the same phone and are both topping up with about $20/person each month. I've mostly been eyeing the Nexus because I miss paying extremely low rates for texting.
So today I got an email announcing a price drop (down to $100) for the Motorola Defy XT from Republic, along with more pricing options. Specifically I like the $10 unlimited calling and texting, with no data. The only thing we ever really used data for was cheaper texting, so with unlimited at $10 I'm just fine using wifi only. I'm not sure if you haven't seen these new updates or if there's something I'm not considering here. What's your take on a $200 Nexus 4 on Platinumtel for $10/month as compared to Republic wireless $100 Defy for $10/month?
When can I order the Moto X?
The Moto X will be available for purchase in the Republic store beginning in November 2013. Sign up now to be notified when our Moto X is available.
What are Republic’s new pricing plans?
In November, there will be four new plan options to choose from.
Will I be able to switch between plans?
Yes! When you purchase a new Moto X phone, you’ll be able to choose whatever plan you like—and you can also switch plans up to twice per month as your needs change. For example, if you know you’ll be taking a vacation and might require more cell data one week, you can switch to a cell data plan right from your phone and then switch back to a Wi-Fi “friendlier” plan once you return home.
Thanks for taking the time to fill me in on the cons of Republic Wireless. I do love Platinumtel, and home voip is definitely worth looking into. Thankfully although the month we used Solavei was a total waste of money (My first experience with MLM), the Sparq is the phone we got for that service. We do use Google Talk through Gmail for calls at home when the call quality isn't super important.
I'm not too worried about the lack of availability of the Nexus 4 currently, since it's been out of stock ever since right after it first came out with short, sporadic periods of availability ever since. I'm thinking it will be a great improvement since I've never actually had what I consider to be a good quality phone. Either way, I have a bit of time to research our best choice while waiting for it to come back in stock.
I have to admit I love how I already have much cheaper phone service than everyone else I know, and yet I'm looking to bring costs down even further. :)
I guess I am thinking out loud here, trying to justify it to myself....
Thanks so much, Daley. Will definitely consider your response. I appreciate it.
Just think, Motorola is spending 500 million dollars just in advertising the Moto X phone.
Really, think about that! A half a billion just to advertise it. That does not include development costs, research, etc. Just advertising for this phone.
They would not do that if the thing was a turd, would they?
Out of curiosity, would I be able to port my U.S. Cellular number to Airvoice? Or does that only work with GSM carriers?
You're the man, Daley! As a thank-you, I've ordered two XT560s (one for me and one for my girlfriend) through your shopping hut. :)
I've switched both my mom's and my husband's ancient dumb phones away from ATT to airvoice, thanks to this forum (and my smart phone will join them in a couple of months).
The problem now is that my mom's phone is starting to fail (the 5 key is hard to press and today she couldn't get it to turn off). She doesn't deal well with change, so is there anything to look out for if I want to buy a duplicate off ebay? IMEI? It's an old LG CE110, and there are tons on ebay (all used, like this one (http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-CE110-USED-AT-T-Cell-Phone-Bundle-Black-NO-SIM-/261290751903?pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item3cd624779f), or this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-CE110-cell-phone-at-t-Filp-/221274566725?pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item3384fdf045) more expensive one that has the IMEI shown).
I'm a little confused right now. When I put the Airvoice SIM card in my new XT560, it asks me for an unlock code. Will I get one as part of the activation process with Airvoice, or is this "unlocked" (http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-XT560-Android-Touchscreen-Unlocked/dp/B00CFS79K4/ref=cm_rdp_product) phone actually locked? If it's locked I don't even know what carrier it's locked to - I can't find any branding on the phone or in the software.
I seriously tried, but failed to read through this entire thread. It's soooo much information. I apologize for that in advance because I'm certain the info I'm looking for is in this thread.
With that out of the way -- I could *really* use your guys' help (especially IP Daley!)
I just cancelled our Verizon iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy SIII plans (and had to pay $420 in cancellation fees). We barely used our phones at all. We only need one cell phone (essentially for emergencies only). What would be the best provider/phone for us? Could we utilize one of our now cancelled phones?
Thanks so much for any replies!
-mdjd
Thanks IP! Really appreciate your quick response. Will sell both asap. I think Target buys these, right? And we shop there when not at Costco. Is there a better place to sell them?
We live in San Ramon, CA (east bay sf). I need a phone very sporadically just to briefly tell my wife when me & the kids will be back home. I also haul them around during the week to various cool kids places, like parks, museums, etc. The ability to use Google Maps when needed would be great (but I'm really trying to wean myself off of this by planning ahead using google maps offline). And for emergencies. So, for voice, maybe 5 minutes/month at most.
Thanks again for your help!
Sorry TurboLT, I'm going to use you as a case study on how not to do cell phone service.
EDIT:
Ok after re-reading the post again (so sick of this mobile thing but the ends should justify it) I'm waffling between $40/mo for Airvoice with 1GB or $50/mo for Solavei with like 4GBs. I'm betting I could slide under 1GB with freedom pop at my desk at work. I'll check back in a few weeks when I can either unlock my current phone or trade it for an unlocked phone and let you know how it ends up.
An Android handset just beefy enough with a GPS chip to do offline Google Maps downloads seems like overkill, though it'd be an option as well.Would my Samsung Galaxy SIII work for this, if I decided not to sell it?
An Android handset just beefy enough with a GPS chip to do offline Google Maps downloads seems like overkill, though it'd be an option as well.Would my Samsung Galaxy SIII work for this, if I decided not to sell it?
As for the existing phones, the iPhone 4 is technically not permitted on Page Plus, and the Galaxy SIII is an LTE device which cannot be activated on PagePlus without firmware flashing and disabling the LTE radio... you might as well start from scratch and sell both after doing factory resets.
I know it's been talked about, but freedompop phone is out now. I'm going to signup for it and try it at end of October. I currently use sprint so the coverage will be the same. I'm hoping it isn't too bad, but for $100 for phone then 0$/month (for what I need), I should be set to recover money in 4 months.
Why Solavei? ...
Why do you need to have live-updating Google Maps?
Why do you think you need so much data for browsing the web?
Why Solavei? ...
Why do you need to have live-updating Google Maps?
Why do you think you need so much data for browsing the web?
All great points. Solavei because it's only $10/mo per month for a ton of data vs. Airvoice's 1GB limit. Now i'm VERY curious about how much data I'll use, especially if I keep wifi at work. The music and youtube are the most extravagant consumers, and youtube can be cut easily enough. Music is a little harder but I can probably swing that anyway.
Am I on the right track with the Airvoice 1GB plan then you think? GFE doesn't use much data but I have to reserve the ability to download a legal document or presentation in an inconvenient place. I don't like or want to do that, but it's part of my job. Doesn't happen very often though...
Geez... are Republic's ad monkeys astroturfing this thread now?
Even with the new plans, the math doesn't hold up, and the caveats are too many for the money. I'm glad that there's people out there who don't think they've been ripped off with the service and getting what they've paid for, but there's better deals with far fewer issues.
Also, handset costs should always be factored in on ROI, no matter the carrier. Leaving it out falsely skews operational costs... especially with a provider who effectively doesn't allow handsets to be resold, reactivated, or taken to a competitor.
Geez... are Republic's ad monkeys astroturfing this thread now?
Even with the new plans, the math doesn't hold up, and the caveats are too many for the money. I'm glad that there's people out there who don't think they've been ripped off with the service and getting what they've paid for, but there's better deals with far fewer issues.
Also, handset costs should always be factored in on ROI, no matter the carrier. Leaving it out falsely skews operational costs... especially with a provider who effectively doesn't allow handsets to be resold, reactivated, or taken to a competitor.
With all due respect:
- I included the handset cost
- I have no issues
- You have no right to call me anyone's monkey. Especially with no provocation.
Hey all-
Been lurking round these boards a few months as I try to whittle away at those annoying monthly bills so I can knock off my grad school loans. Our family cell bill is the major remaining target- $130/month for 2 iPhones. I know, I know... My phone will be off contract in November (Yay! and also face-punch for paying these stupid rates this long). I am itching to get off ATT right away but it makes more sense to wait the month out vs paying the ETF. Hubby is on contract for another year.
I can see the iPhone is not so popular around these here parts and I am a little fed up with the Apple world myself. I would be happy to jump ship and sell my 4S to get another model. However, the Mr is pretty dang attached to his iPhone5, uses texting and email extensively for work on it, and is also skeptical about changing plans. My thought is if I switch for a month and show him that he can still do all the things he wants on an MNVO, then we can pay the ETF on his phone and he can keep it while I switch.
My usage is really pretty low: average 300 min talk, 25-50 texts, 100 MB data each month over last 6 months. I am on wifi for ~80% of my voice calls so I think I could get that number down significantly by off loading most calls to wifi. For clarification: do people find this easier with a separate VOIP or using an app like Talkatone?
Hubby averages 350 voice, 200 texts, 350 MB data. He says he can cut his data way down as it is usually "bored surfing" on the bus or just because he doesn't bother signing into work wifi. We don't really ever stream anything unless at home.
I am looking at the Airvoice plans since they use ATT networks but also Ptel. It seems the $10 Airvoice plans would work well if we can offload some of the voice calls and get data use down. Do I have that right?
Also, if I do switch phones from iPhone4, any suggestions for me? I have 2 little kids and my mom loves the frequent pics I send from my phone so I would like one with an ok camera. Also, we use YNAB for budgeting and find the app super helpful. I know it's not strictly necessary, but I would probably prefer an Android phone that could run this.
Thanks for managing this awesome resource thread IP Daley. I will definitely go through your web storefront if I need to buy any equipment.
Get the iPhone carrier unlocked and stick with it. If it's already set up and working for you with all the features you need and want, and you're looking at staying in the smartphone camp anyway... it's paid for (or will be shortly). I'm not going to bother recommending an alternative unless you're just absolutely sick of the thing to the point of frustration, want to give Apple the double deuce, and are looking for something different in the Android camp. Even then, I'm going to encourage you to try and make do with the resources you already have.
Daley, I'm in need of your guru guidance.
and you're squeaking in on the small data bucket which will be improved by ditching Talkatone/GV data usage for your SMS usage, and likely reduced further using a web browser like Dolphin where you can turn off image downloads while browsing on 3G, and using offline maps (if you're using GPS at all). Other tricks that might reduce data usage is ensuring apps are downloaded and updated over WiFi only and only download headers/text on email (leave attachments on the server) with whatever mail client you're using. You can also cap out your maximum data usage at 100MB and just do without until the end of the usage cycle from the Ting control panel if it's close enough but you just want to make sure you never exceed it. The M/M/S setup ($6 handset, $9 voice, $5 SMS, $3 data) should cap out at $23+tax/month... that should be your realistic average monthly baseline with the numbers you provided.
That just leaves the $9 potential price bump in voice service, and where you need to figure out how often that might happen, if your truly mobile monthly usage is above or below 100 minutes (minutes not used at home), and if the price difference between those points are worth bringing a VoIP provider into the picture. Just remember, just because your max usage has the potential of spiking your bill up to around $37, that doesn't mean its the norm.
Ultimately, there's ways to save and potentially cut back using stuff like VoIP and SMS replacement apps, but the best advice I can give is to ensure you need what you're paying for, you pay for what you actually need, and don't sweat the occasional spike because it's probably not as horrible as it seems when you average it out.
Thanks for your thoughts! I was thinking along the same lines, but wanted a consult before going through the process of porting my number.
<celebration>
I SWITCHED TO TING AND GAVE VERIZON THE BOOT.
FUCK YES.
And when I brag about my shiny htc EVO 4G LTE and predicted $35 phone bill everyone GAWKS! HAHA YES. "But how much did you spend on the phone? What if you have to buy a new phone? Is that REALLY how much your bill will be? What about surcharges?"
I WIN
</celebration>
ATT seems to think I use a LOT more data than my iPhone 4s does. This becomes noticeable every couple months (when they text me that I've "used 65% of my 200MB data allowance"), but may happen more frequently than I notice.Your phone counts the data it sends and receives; your carrier does the same. Sometimes the two aren't the same (http://www.phonearena.com/news/Your-carrier-probably-miscalculates-data-usage-study-shows_id34492), particularly in low reception areas. As well, phones don't always account for the traffic overhead accurately, as you mentioned. But your big issue is most likely session rounding, where the carrier rounds up to the nearest unit of data at the end of a session. For ATT, it used to be (http://cellphonemiscellanea.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-much-does-at-charge-to-use-internet_15.html) to the nearest MB for postpaid customers, and nearest KB for prepaid. Dunno if it's the same as it was when that article was posted, but I'm sure they still do session rounding to some extent.
Before I leave the house, I reset my phone the morning of the 14th, the day my bill drops. Currently, my phone says I've used 82.4MB of data, and ATT claims 114 (which isn't all that close to 65%, but I digress). I've read that ATT counts headers and whatnot, but really - over 30% more?
In a couple months I'm switching to Airvoice - will they pad the bill as well?
Hey, I've been trying to figure out a final system before making the jump to the world of MVNOs. I have an iPhone 5 (I know, but I actually need it for work) with AT&T. My average usage over the past 12 months:
276 mins
53 texts
113 MB
I have a pretty minimal plan on contract: $39.99 for 450 mins, $15 for 200 MB and $5 for 200 texts. I'm grandfathered into the $15 data and $5 text plans. I'm a bit worried that by leaving, if I ever wanted to go back I'd have to get the minimum $20 for data. And the new minimum text plan is $20?! That's insane. I'd use the pay-as-you-go text plan at $0.20/text, but that'd be about $11 compared to my $5 plan. My plan is obviously never to go back if I can make this work.
With my grandfathered plans (and 15% off the voice portion from a work perk), my bill is $63.42, which is still way more than what I'm using.
With this usage, I'd be paying right around $20 on Airvoice, using their $10 plan. That's still a nice savings, even with my ETF of $195, but I'd like to keep it at $10/mo. I'm having trouble figuring out a good way to make that work, where I have a single phone number (my current cell #).
I was thinking of porting my number to GV and using Talkatone/GV. At home, incoming/outgoing calls and texts would be free, so that'd cut down my usage by a lot. But I want to keep data disabled, and only enable it when I really "need" it. When I go out, if I keep data enabled to be able to get incoming calls/texts, it'll drain my data usage. But if it's disabled, I can't get incoming/outgoing calls on Talkatone/GV.
What I really want is to use something for free calls/texts when on WiFi, and use Airvoice minutes/texts when not on WiFi, but all using the same phone number. Is that doable?
What about this: port my number to GV. Get an Obi100. Use the GV app but not Talkatone. Have GV forward calls only to GChat. For incoming calls, it'll ring home phone and iPhone's GV app. Use Obi100 + handset when home for free incoming/outgoing calls, and use iPhone's GV app for calls which will use Airvoice minutes. Texts via the GV app will always use Airvoice, but I'm fine with the $1/mo for that if need be. And I could also give out my Airvoice number to a couple people that I text most with and also have iPhones, so those texts would be free.
But will that work? If I forward GV to GChat and I have Obi100 and the iPhone GV app, will it ring both at the same time? I thought I'd read that you can really only be logged into GChat in one place at a time.
Another option would be to use e.g. VOIPo at home, but then that'd be $6-7/mo and I'd have two phone numbers. So it doesn't seem like VoIP will help?
Thanks!
Hi I.P. and Mustachians everywhere,
I'm new to the Mr. Money Mustache blog, this forum and this thread. I'm a little behind on the communications & tech curve when it comes to lingo and such; however, like many people here, I'm trying to cut my ridiculous cell phone bill.
Currently, my wife and I are chained to AT&T. We are grandfathered into their unlimited everything deal, which is part of the reason we have hesitated in making a move. The bill weighs in at $175 per month. She has an iPhone 4 that is "upgrade eligible" and no longer under contract. I have an iPhone 4s that is also "upgrade eligible", but is still under contract until January 28, 2014. Should I elect to terminate my contact at the end of this month, I will be hit with a $125 fee (or $115 at end of November or $105 at the end of December). The wife's phone is starting to crap the bed and she is anxious to get another. She likes the iPhone, but would be just as happy with a working 4 or 4s as she would with a 5. My phone is still cranking along for now. I too like the iPhone, but do not need the latest and greatest and would be willing to ditch for another device.
Average usage for the last 6 months:
Talk: 418 minutes (wife); 402 minutes (me)
Text: 188 (wife); 388 (me)
Data: 920 MBs (wife); 429 MBs (me)
Not sure how the iMessage function impacts these numbers, but I would imagine it would be very minimal impact on data, as opposed to a hard number for text usage. From what I've deciphered from this thread, it seems that Airvoice might be a good option for us, but only if we can drastically reduce our data usage. Would SmartTalk be a good alternative? Others?
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
If the reality of this is that this is strictly a mobile personal communications tool, you need to determine the value of that tool in your life. It appears that you've placed a value of $10/month on that service attached to a $600+ handset. Mobile phone service costs more than fixed access phone service, and your usage levels are going to force you to make a tough decision on what you value more. Is it mobility, is it communications, is it service quality, or is it your money? At a personally placed value of $10 a month paired with a hedonic adaptation machine designed for the primary purpose of extracting money from your wallet, you're going to need to compromise somewhere.
You're concerned about the possibility of having multiple phone numbers, yet your proposed solution relies on using multiple phone numbers. PAY FOR WHAT YOU NEED.
What I really want is to use something for free calls/texts when on WiFi, and use Airvoice minutes/texts when not on WiFi, but all using the same phone number. Is that doable?
What about this: port my number to GV. Get an Obi100. Use the GV app but not Talkatone. Have GV forward calls only to GChat. For incoming calls, it'll ring home phone and iPhone's GV app. Use Obi100 + handset when home for free incoming/outgoing calls, and use iPhone's GV app for calls which will use Airvoice minutes. Texts via the GV app will always use Airvoice, but I'm fine with the $1/mo for that if need be. And I could also give out my Airvoice number to a couple people that I text most with and also have iPhones, so those texts would be free.
But will that work? If I forward GV to GChat and I have Obi100 and the iPhone GV app, will it ring both at the same time? I thought I'd read that you can really only be logged into GChat in one place at a time.
There are VoIP providers that can let you set the outbound Caller ID, let you pay for outbound service only, and there are SIP based softphones available for iPhone.
VOIP.ms (http://www.voip.ms/) is one of these mentioned VoIP providers that charges 1.25¢ a minute (http://wiki.voip.ms/article/Value_vs_Premium) outbound to the contiguous United States for premium routing or 1.05¢ a minute for value (http://www.voip.ms/rates.php), they do outbound only accounts, and you can set your outbound Caller ID (http://wiki.voip.ms/article/Caller_ID) information. They also support a great number of softphones for iOS and Android (http://wiki.voip.ms/article/Softphones) both.
Hi I.P. and Mustachians everywhere,
I'm new to the Mr. Money Mustache blog, this forum and this thread. I'm a little behind on the communications & tech curve when it comes to lingo and such; however, like many people here, I'm trying to cut my ridiculous cell phone bill.
Currently, my wife and I are chained to AT&T. We are grandfathered into their unlimited everything deal, which is part of the reason we have hesitated in making a move. The bill weighs in at $175 per month. She has an iPhone 4 that is "upgrade eligible" and no longer under contract. I have an iPhone 4s that is also "upgrade eligible", but is still under contract until January 28, 2014. Should I elect to terminate my contact at the end of this month, I will be hit with a $125 fee (or $115 at end of November or $105 at the end of December). The wife's phone is starting to crap the bed and she is anxious to get another. She likes the iPhone, but would be just as happy with a working 4 or 4s as she would with a 5. My phone is still cranking along for now. I too like the iPhone, but do not need the latest and greatest and would be willing to ditch for another device.
Average usage for the last 6 months:
Talk: 418 minutes (wife); 402 minutes (me)
Text: 188 (wife); 388 (me)
Data: 920 MBs (wife); 429 MBs (me)
Not sure how the iMessage function impacts these numbers, but I would imagine it would be very minimal impact on data, as opposed to a hard number for text usage. From what I've deciphered from this thread, it seems that Airvoice might be a good option for us, but only if we can drastically reduce our data usage. Would SmartTalk be a good alternative? Others?
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
StraightTalk will never be a good alternative in my books. Better and cheaper elsewhere.
Moving on, if you change nothing in your usage, the Airvoice 1GB Unlimited plans for both will save you over $90 a month alone. If you want to find out if breaking contract is worth it? Run the numbers (http://www.techmeshugana.com/tools/wirelessroi.html).
As to your wife's phone? Even if she wants to keep an iPhone, buying a refurb carrier unlocked outright will still put you ahead with these cost numbers. That said, is having an iPhone really worth it? (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/01/are-iphones-worth-it/)
As to your usage numbers, the only way you can really gut costs will be to nearly eliminate data use, use SMS alternatives between one another (which presents a problem with data use on an iPhone, see previous post), and potentially drag a VoIP solution into the house for non-mobile minute use. PAY FOR WHAT YOU NEED.
If you abandon the data usage without modifying any other usage numbers, you could get both mobile service squared for under $60 a month total, and more realistically under $50 if you can jump to a T-Mobile MVNO. If you can slice your mobile usage in half using SMS alternatives (for the non-iPhone friends/family) and VoIP service at home, you could even theoretically break the $30/month barrier for everything.
You can save nearly $100 a month right now without doing anything but switching carriers. No optimizing, no self discipline, no effort but ordering the SIM cards, carrier unlocking your handsets, paying your ETF, and and filling out the number port form. You can always optimize further, but you're already in a position where you're throwing money away if you do nothing at all.
If a factory reset and/or downgrade to iOS6 doesn't fix your wife's phone stability, look into replacing it... but ask yourself if the price premium is necessary to buy another Apple product first. Everything else should be downhill.
Thanks for the thoughtful response I.P...
I think the 1G Airvoice plan is the way to go for us, at least temporarily, as we experiment with weaning off the data teat. As you said, this will save us nearly $100 (take us from $175 to $80) by simply making the switch--overnight. Even with the ETF of $125, it makes sense to do it this month rather than waste more money getting gouged by our current carrier.
With regard to the iPhone, I have decided that my 4s will be my last iPhone. The wife will need some convincing. We are looking into a factory reset for her 4.... In any event, could you suggest some high-quality smartphone alternatives to the iPhone? The wife would be looking for something that is user friendly and, if possible, most similar to the iPhone (trying to make the conversion easy on her). Obviously, pricing will be an important factor. Looking around there are so many options; it's like paralysis by analysis..
Thanks again!
If this works, then I'll have one phone number (my current cell # ported to GV). What I'm not sure of is this:
When someone calls that GV number, will it ring both my home handset hooked up to Obi100/GV and my GV app (not Talkatone) on my iPhone at the same time? If so, then I can pick it up on the handset for free at home, and pick it up on my iPhone and use Airvoice minutes when out. Do you know if that's possible?
Doubling up on the $10 Airvoice plan every month might appear to be a functional option to meet your usage needs if you pay in full and stay 100% mobile, but it's still not the best approach for an assortment of reasons. If the paid VOIP.ms solution doesn't work for you at home or you'd rather just leave VoIP out of the mix entirely (I know I would consider it if I were in your shoes, but I'm not you), if I'm already in for $20 a month, an extra five to give me plenty of breathing room without running out mid-month would be worth it to me. Again, if you've got good T-Mo coverage in your area, perhaps also consider Spot Mobile's $24 500min/500sms/50mb plan (https://www.spotmobile.com/plans/rateplan/monthly-savings) or the P'tel Real PayGo plan (https://www.ptel.com/plans) instead so you can keep a balance up front and put the monthly re-ups on autopilot. If an AT&T MVNO is absolutely needed, I know I'm not a fan of their support anymore, but again... if I were in your shoes, I'd probably opt for the H2O Wireless $25 Little Bit of Everything PAYG plan (https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=planMin) over doubling up with Airvoice's $10/month plan, or just bite the bullet and drop $30/month if I really wanted to stick with Airvoice and had to work with those numbers.
Why isn't doubling up on Airvoice's $10 plan not the best approach? You mentioned running out mid-month - Airvoice tells you your balance after each call/text and (I believe) also reminds you when you're running low. I know you can refill online or by phone - but are you suggesting that's a pain to do? I can see that getting annoying, but it might not be bad if they make it a quick, automated, painless phone call to refill. Is there anything else that makes this not a great idea?
....
So why would you choose H2O's $25 PAYG plan over doubling up with Airvoice's $10/mo plan?
Hello, I'm looking into replacing my current phone with Verizon, and have some things I'm not entirely sure about. I'm currently piggybacking off my parents, but want to be ready to use my own provider when the time comes.
Will Verizon allow me to purchase a device without their branding and bring it to their store for activation? Would that require me to give something else up in the process?
From what I've seen while skimming this thread, it seems like CDMA is very fickle. Would buying my phone outright alleviate this, or just cause more problems?
I'm looking into doing some minor travelling (less than 3 weeks next year). Would it make sense to get a "world phone"? What search terms would I use to find one compatible with all the GSM and CDMA networks, if such a thing exists?
And finally, as a basic dumb-phone user (1st gen Kindle w/ Cyanogen does everything "smart" for me), what would be the best handsets to look at? I've seen a plug for Nokia, but I'm not sure if that applied to both the smart and dumb kind.
Thanks for helping all the people before me, and apologies if I come off as a little ignorant. There's so much info here I can't seem to keep it all straight. :-)
Hello, I'm looking into replacing my current phone with Verizon, and have some things I'm not entirely sure about. I'm currently piggybacking off my parents, but want to be ready to use my own provider when the time comes.
Will Verizon allow me to purchase a device without their branding and bring it to their store for activation? Would that require me to give something else up in the process?
From what I've seen while skimming this thread, it seems like CDMA is very fickle. Would buying my phone outright alleviate this, or just cause more problems?
I'm looking into doing some minor travelling (less than 3 weeks next year). Would it make sense to get a "world phone"? What search terms would I use to find one compatible with all the GSM and CDMA networks, if such a thing exists?
And finally, as a basic dumb-phone user (1st gen Kindle w/ Cyanogen does everything "smart" for me), what would be the best handsets to look at? I've seen a plug for Nokia, but I'm not sure if that applied to both the smart and dumb kind.
Thanks for helping all the people before me, and apologies if I come off as a little ignorant. There's so much info here I can't seem to keep it all straight. :-)
For the sake of simplicity and argument, the only CDMA handsets you can activate with Verizon are Verizon branded handsets. CDMA isn't like GSM in that regard where the handset is independent of the carrier. You can pay insane full price for new and take to a carrier like Page Plus, but why do that when cheap used and refurbs without contract are all over Ebay?
If you've got good GSM coverage in your area through AT&T or T-Mobile, it would make more sense to go GSM instead of CDMA. Far more flexibility in handsets versus carrier and MVNO selection. If you want to take a Verizon handset to an MVNO, Page Plus is pretty well your only option, and only if the ESN (serial number) is clean and there's no outstanding unpaid contract on it. Outside of Blackberry handsets, there's maybe a half dozen Android CDMA/GSM world phones on Verizon that will just work... so again, why go Verizon unless it's the only carrier in your area with decent coverage?
Nokia only makes dumbphones for the GSM end of the market, so again... if you're wanting a basic Nokia handset, go GSM and an MVNO like P'tel, Airvoice or Spot Mobile over Verizon CDMA. Their midrange handsets are usually built quite well.
Hopefully that clears a few things up. Ask if you need anything else.
I wish I had read this post before buying the iPhone 4s through Sprint :(
I wish I had read this post before buying the iPhone 4s through Sprint :(
That's why I posted this (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg79034/#msg79034) and linked to it in the core guide (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg2719/#msg2719).
I'm sorry that the info's gotten a little lost in the sea of information.
As to the Airvoice $10 double-up plan, it's due to how its handled. IIRC, the unused credits rollover when you refill at the end of the month, but not before. Adding an extra $10 credit mid-month also doesn't reset the 30 day billing cycle window. As such, you cannot stack credits up front. You can somewhat automate the credit replenishment system on your end buying PINs from a reseller in advance and just activating it every time you run low, but it's still inconvenient and you run the risk of losing small chunks of airtime credit unless you run your balance to zero every time you refill mid-month (*888* + [pin number] + # saved as a phone number in your address book, then just select and press send at time of refill). You also run the risk of running out and having to take the extra time to add credit at the worst possible moment just to keep talking. This is always how I've understood the latest Airvoice policies to operate on the plan, and familial experiences echo those conclusions. If any other Airvoice users here know that I'm inaccurate in this assessment, please speak up and correct me. Basically, it's not that it can't be done, it's just a hassle compared to their automated monthly renewal option.
I called Airvoice with a few questions, and from what she said it works differently than what you and others have said here. I said say halfway through the month I have $2 remaining of my $10 balance. If I then refill another $10, will I lose that $2, and my new balance will be $10? She said no, you keep your balance and your new balance will be $12. The only way for you to lose anything from your balance is if you don't refill at least $10 per month (at which point I think they cancel your account).
I'm in the research phase right now, and I'm looking at other MVNO cell carriers. We're on Verizon right now, and 3 of us have Droid Razr M phones. According to GSM Arena (http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_razr_m-4973.php), they are GSM phones, no? Can we use these phones on non-Verizon MVNOs? I was looking at the Ting website and it seemed like they wouldn't accept anything other than a Sprint phone.
I'm in the research phase right now, and I'm looking at other MVNO cell carriers. We're on Verizon right now, and 3 of us have Droid Razr M phones. According to GSM Arena (http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_razr_m-4973.php), they are GSM phones, no? Can we use these phones on non-Verizon MVNOs? I was looking at the Ting website and it seemed like they wouldn't accept anything other than a Sprint phone.
Correct on the Ting/Sprint front. Page Plus takes Verizon phones, but 4G LTE handsets normally cannot be ported and activated on PP without some programming and deactivation of the LTE radio first.
As to the Droid Razr M, technically due to the FCC requirement that Verizon's bound to regarding their deal during the 700MHz spectrum purchase, all GSM capable Verizon LTE handsets should be sold global carrier unlocked. Unfortunately, they haven't entirely held true to that over the past couple years. I know the iPhone 5 will do what you're wanting, and the Razr M should be carrier unlocked as stipulated by law, but you won't know until you try. Borrow a friend's GSM SIM card and try popping it in. If it works, you're golden. If it doesn't, you're going to have to call Verizon tech support and drop some legal science on 'em to get the handsets unlocked.
Relevant bit:
Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 - Telecommunication.
CHAPTER I - FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED).
SUBCHAPTER B - COMMON CARRIER SERVICES.
PART 27 - MISCELLANEOUS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
Subpart B - Applications and Licenses.
§ 27.16Network access requirements for Block C in the 746-757 and 776-787 MHz bands.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/27.16
OK, thanks!
Is it possible to turn SMS off, or on these MVNO's to not get it? We go through an extraordinary amount of texting, and I'm looking at the alternatives (in addition to curbing the amount of use).
Just a quick breakdown of our outrageous bill, which will be increasing due to losing a corporate discount.
RazrM 1 - 507 mins, 2035 texts, 1GB+ Data (can't get accurate data usage off of bill)
RazrM 2 - 563 mins, 1389 texts, 1GB Data
RazrM 3 - 171 mins, 1214 texts, 1GB Data
Samsung QWERTY slide dumbphone - 38 mins, 889 texts
LG flip phone - 173 mins, <1 text
This is an average over 4 months, with a $250/mo bill. It will increase to about a $275 bill.
The Samsung dumbphone just recently broke and needs replacing.
No idea what our ETF's will be yet, although 2 of the RazrM's are from around Feb/March so I suspect they'll be pretty high.
OK, thanks!
Is it possible to turn SMS off, or on these MVNO's to not get it? We go through an extraordinary amount of texting, and I'm looking at the alternatives (in addition to curbing the amount of use).
Just a quick breakdown of our outrageous bill, which will be increasing due to losing a corporate discount.
RazrM 1 - 507 mins, 2035 texts, 1GB+ Data (can't get accurate data usage off of bill)
RazrM 2 - 563 mins, 1389 texts, 1GB Data
RazrM 3 - 171 mins, 1214 texts, 1GB Data
Samsung QWERTY slide dumbphone - 38 mins, 889 texts
LG flip phone - 173 mins, <1 text
This is an average over 4 months, with a $250/mo bill. It will increase to about a $275 bill.
The Samsung dumbphone just recently broke and needs replacing.
No idea what our ETF's will be yet, although 2 of the RazrM's are from around Feb/March so I suspect they'll be pretty high.
You can deliberately request SMS services be disabled if desired, but without a major data diet, there's not much point if you're aiming for the GSM end of the MVNO spectrum. Airvoice (AT&T MVNO) does 1GB data with "unlimited" talk and SMS for $40/month/line.
You should consider dragging a home VoIP line or two into the home. Given you've got multiple lines already, PhonePower might be a good fit for the home phone service to cut minute usage as they do a two line setup with their ATAs and service by default, so you can have two conversations going at the same time.
Data based SMS alternatives should help with the texting needs to immediately get a couple of those lines easily into cheap PAYG territory... the rest will just need alternatives and discipline or big honkin' "unlimited" packages.
The big four MVNO brands to shop for price comparison will be Airvoice (AT&T network), P'tel (T-Mo), Spot Mobile (T-Mo), and GoSmart (T-Mo). There's also H2O Wireless (AT&T) if you don't give a toss about customer support quality.
That should hopefully get you started. Good luck!
Sorry for the delayed reply, but thank you very much for getting me going in the right direction!
First Thank you I.P. Daley for this post!
Second i have a question, or need conformation on what to do based on all that I have read in this thread. I think I spent most of my weekend doing research on what my options are.
Before reading this thread, I got my 69 year old Mom a Virgin Mobile iPhone 4. (She has an iPad and I figured it would be easy for her to use this phone since iPad and iPhone are quite similar). I have her on the $35 a month plan, but she needs to be on a Pay as you go plan because she will only use the phone a few times a month and doesn't need any data (it's her first cellphone and only needs it to call me or my sister to pick her up from knitting class or hair dresser when she is all done. She doesn't like asking other people to use their phone to call us).
Can I call Virgin and ask them to switch us to non monthly billing or is there a better option that doesn't involve buying other phone? I have until 11/7/13 to return phone if I need to.
For me, my 2 year contract is up with Verizon on 11/3/13 and I have iPhone 4S. I'm going to break the law and go with P+ however I do get $250 from my job for a new phone. Should I buy a iPhone 4S GSM to give me more Prepaid options?
Thank you!
First Thank you I.P. Daley for this post!
Second i have a question, or need conformation on what to do based on all that I have read in this thread. I think I spent most of my weekend doing research on what my options are.
Before reading this thread, I got my 69 year old Mom a Virgin Mobile iPhone 4. (She has an iPad and I figured it would be easy for her to use this phone since iPad and iPhone are quite similar). I have her on the $35 a month plan, but she needs to be on a Pay as you go plan because she will only use the phone a few times a month and doesn't need any data (it's her first cellphone and only needs it to call me or my sister to pick her up from knitting class or hair dresser when she is all done. She doesn't like asking other people to use their phone to call us).
Can I call Virgin and ask them to switch us to non monthly billing or is there a better option that doesn't involve buying other phone? I have until 11/7/13 to return phone if I need to.
For me, my 2 year contract is up with Verizon on 11/3/13 and I have iPhone 4S. I'm going to break the law and go with P+ however I do get $250 from my job for a new phone. Should I buy a iPhone 4S GSM to give me more Prepaid options?
Thank you!
Take the Virgin Mobile phone back IMMEDIATELY! There is A) not any cheap enough per minute prepaid plans on Virgin Mobile worth using in the first place, let alone small enough for your mother's use, and B) they won't let you take a smartphone to a per minute plan anyway. If you wanted an easy to use cellphone for an elderly woman who's never had one before, buying an iPhone (even if it's only $200) is not the option! Something with big numeric buttons and a loud speaker is all you need, and it doesn't sound like anyone should be spending more than $5 a month on service. Airvoice (AT&T) and Spot Mobile (T-Mobile) will probably be able to let you each come in under $5 a month using their PAYG plans. You should be able to pick up a carrier unlocked GSM phone with big buttons off Amazon or Ebay for around $50. Look for carrier unlocked Just5 or Snapfon handsets, or just do a search for "GSM senior phone". Here's just a couple links off Amazon:
Safe Talk Senior Mobile Phone (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00914R6YO/) (referral link (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00914R6YO/?tag=techmeshugana-20))
YEZZ Z1 YZ800 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0RPZUI/) (referral link (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0RPZUI/?tag=techmeshugana-20))
(Note, I'm not recommending these specifically, they're just the two cheapest options that came up for carrier unlocked GSM senior phone off Ebay that hit under the $50 price point. Research research research!)
There's no shortage to find once you know about 'em.
As for your own iPhone situation, if PagePlus has a package that suits your needs at the right price, you want to stick with the whole iPhone thing, your Verizon coverage has been fine already, and you don't care about breaking ToS and are willing to take the consequences of doing so if they pull the plug on you, then there's no sense buying more stuff. New phones generate more electronic waste. Just because you're being given money to buy a phone doesn't mean you need to spend it.
That said, the carrier unlocked GSM 4S model would have far more carrier options.
Thanks so much!! I'm going to let her pick a more senior type phone from Amazon among all of those choices! I had no idea they had phones for seniors with those big buttons!
And I agree with you, just because my job is offering the money doesn't mean I need to use it! If only they would offer to pay the monthly bill like they do for the more senior folks!
Thanks again and I'm so happy to be free from my cell phone contract in 13 days!!!
IP - Just wanted to thank you for the VOIPo recommendation. I went with them and just put the order in as we were satisfied enough to transition over from our current cable provider's triple play. We've had some choppiness, but I think that's when we've been streaming content as well as I'm working (doing website security assessments + citrix desktop to another client). Next is getting the Motorola surfboard cable modem, dropping to the two bundle (internet and TV) and returning the equipment (might include a second box on that as well).
Overall savings: $40-$50 a month when it is all said and done.
Still have to make that cell phone decision.
Great to hear! The only recommendation I can make to improve call quality under heavy load is to do proper QoS packet shaping at the router, ensuring the VoIP packets get top priority over the Citrix and streaming media. Pretty easy to do with most routers and their settings.
Great to hear! The only recommendation I can make to improve call quality under heavy load is to do proper QoS packet shaping at the router, ensuring the VoIP packets get top priority over the Citrix and streaming media. Pretty easy to do with most routers and their settings.
Hi IP - is this "QoS packet shaping" something that can be done with the Google Voice/Obi 100 setup? I did a search and didn't find anything, but figured if anyone would know, it would be you...
Is there anything else I'm missing?
Great to hear! The only recommendation I can make to improve call quality under heavy load is to do proper QoS packet shaping at the router, ensuring the VoIP packets get top priority over the Citrix and streaming media. Pretty easy to do with most routers and their settings.
Hi IP - is this "QoS packet shaping" something that can be done with the Google Voice/Obi 100 setup? I did a search and didn't find anything, but figured if anyone would know, it would be you...
You could do that with your router, but it's not going to improve call quality with that sort of setup. GV just stinks for call quality.
Most of my texting is via iMessage, and I don't know how Airvoice will handle that when I switch over in December. Would they charge each iMessage as a chunk of data? (1MB, or 7 cents) or does it stay "connected" and a dozen back and forth texts would use that 1MB? I can't turn off cellular data for iMessage and keep it available for other stuff (although it's just a couple clicks to turn it back on if need be).
Can anyone advise?
So I bought a Nexus 5 yesterday.
-snip-
So finally, my question is this: given all that, which MVNO should I pick going forward? I'm not sure I'd be allowed to switch phones and keep my VM plan...
i want to cut our monthly cell phone bill. i read the first few pages of the thread, but i'm still confused. we have sprint, 2 phones with just voice/text, no data. would not mind upgrading to a data plan but not sure its necessary. we use about 1400 mins and 300 texts per month, between the 2 phones.
is ting my best option? my phone will transfer but dh's is so old it wont, so he will need a new phone. i read MMM article on on Republic Wireless and he seemed to like it. is it improved since the original post? it looks like Ting could cut my bill from 95 to 55 per month but that still is more then i want to pay.
what would you recommend?
(home internet is Socket, flat rate of 42 per month. no home phone needed).
Any suggestions?
My total bill was $23 + $3.63 in surcharges and fees (this is unavoidable by any/all carriers and I believe varies by state/locale)For the record, Airvoice Wireless doesn't add surcharges, fees, or other stuff. The price you see is all you pay.
Would the operator would be fine with very, very sparse usage, or would they somehow retire the SIM or the account it is associated with? Losing the number is fine as long as a new one can be obtained easily (without having to reorder a SIM and wait for it in the mail, basically), since I'm the only person calling that number.
So what now? Any ideas? Please use simple terms as I'm not as savvy at this tech stuff as many of you here. Thanks so much!!!
So what now? Any ideas? Please use simple terms as I'm not as savvy at this tech stuff as many of you here. Thanks so much!!!
Let me guess, iOS7? *grumble* Bane of my existence these days, apologies if it's not going to be wholly simple. You can thank Apple and AT&T both for this. Read:
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2013/09/did-ios7-update-break-your-at-mvno.html
Thanks this is helpful. I had actually noticed this issue before my phone updated to ios 7 but I was not aware of the SIM card switch method. Now to find a non-ATT MVNO SIM card to use for the workaround...
Nutshell? Google's dumping XMPP interoperability. They're abandoning the open standards that let GV users use the service with the Obihai ATA devices without paying for a third party VoIP provider. It'll be interesting to see how this news impacts Talkatone-based GV users as well, which I'm sure it will.
Thanks this is helpful. I had actually noticed this issue before my phone updated to ios 7 but I was not aware of the SIM card switch method. Now to find a non-ATT MVNO SIM card to use for the workaround...
Any suggestions?
If you want to keep the number, and keep it as cost efficient as possible, port it over to VOIP.ms (http://www.voip.ms/) instead and then use it with an iOS based softphone (http://wiki.voip.ms/article/Softphones). $10 to port, $1-1.50 a month to maintain the number, 1-1.5¢ a minute incoming or outgoing.
I'm not too technically savvy in this arena so I've been trying to read up on softphones and VoIP and all that and have another question, if you don't mind... would I be able to do as you suggested and still send and receive text messages?
Thanks for guide IP Daley.
A few questions:
-Has anyone successfully BYOD? It says "This plan is only available for devices purchased from
Wal-Mart or devices activated on T-Mobile.com." Was wondering how they enforce this, if at all.
-If I do use a non T-Mobile device and switch the SIM card, will I still get the same data speeds?
-Any suggestions on good phones I could use on this plan that take advantage of the 4G network and have a decent camera? I currently have an iPHone 4 (not S) with Sprint, which if I understand that means I can't use it with other networks.
If you have suggestions for other plans that might be good for my type of usage, I'd love to read up on those as well. Thanks again for all the advice.
This thread has been so useful...I am wondering if anyone has any advice? I stupidly upgraded my iPhone 4 to ios7.4 and I cannot get MMS/cell data working with Airvoice.
-snip-
I am half tempted to just buy a non iPhone and sell this one but almost everyone I text uses an iPhone so most of my texts come over iMessage which drops my usage heavily.
SpotMobile was my original choice for their $12 plan but I ordered a pre-cut sim from ebay and their customer service rep couldn't figure out how to activate it.
My main usage is data with very little talk so I was thinking of going with the T-Mobile $30/month plan with 100 minutes of talk and unlimited data. I particularly like that it is up to 5GB of 4G speeds. I realize it is somewhat excessive to use a couple gigs of data a month but that is one area I'm willing to splurge on. I use it for keeping up with blog and personal business activities, streaming Pandora (I know, excessive), and it helps keep me sane when I am sitting in my little cubicle hell.
A few questions:
-Has anyone successfully BYOD? It says "This plan is only available for devices purchased from Wal-Mart or devices activated on T-Mobile.com." Was wondering how they enforce this, if at all.
My $90 contract with Verizon is up, and I've made the move to Airvoice.When you were on the $10 plan, did your mobile data work? I just got an airvoice SIM with the $10 plan, and talking/texting work fine, but it doesn't give me mobile data. When I put my GoSmart SIM in, mobile data works just fine, but my T-mo reception is atrocious at my house.
Went ahead and bought a refurbished Samsung Google Nexus S, before had a Verizon Iphone 4s. I chose Airvoice because of the cheap plans and cheap data rates, and the fact it was on AT&T. When shopping for an MVNO, I knew that I only wanted to be on Verizon or AT&T, no other networks.
Initially signed up for the $10 plan because I'm not a big talker or texter, personally. That said, after a few days on Airvoice, I'm wondering how I'll make $10 last a whole month.
If I can't get mobile data working, I'll either have to go to a more expensive plan, or plead for IP to give me some guidance :-).
Thanks!If I can't get mobile data working, I'll either have to go to a more expensive plan, or plead for IP to give me some guidance :-).
You typically need to call Airvoice to get mobile data enabled on the $10 plan.
Verizon to Airvoice
So, I'm looking at paying the contract penalties to switch to Airvoice wireless. It will save me $85/mo ($100/mo if I had all 5 phones), so the payoff is pretty quick. Will I have to get the iPhones unlocked to switch them over? (Will ATT do this after we pay penalty?) The youngest wants to find a used iPhone, since she has lost her iPod. It would be used only on Wi-Fi. Any advice on what we should look for? What other considerations are there with this plan? Thanks for any advice!!!
You asked for advice on this next bit, but my answer might ruffle your feathers. Your daughter has already lost a $200+ electronic device, she gets nothing unless she pays for it herself. My advice to her? "Buy something you can afford, and take care of it. You don't 'need' an Apple device or even a fancy smartphone. They're just overpriced, consumerist status symbols. People who value you for what you possess are shallow idiots who aren't your real friends." You are doing your children no favors spoiling them with gadgets and phone service. If they're old enough to "need" a phone, they're old enough to pay for the device and the service themselves. Again, you asked.
You make a good point about ios7. I don't have it on my phone, but my oldest does. Maybe we should sell her phone and get her something else. Is there another from airvoice you would recommend?
Is there a referral thread for Airvoice? Or a way I can get Daley a kick-back by going through a link? Thanks!
So 3Mbps internet has gotten 50% more expensive in the last two years ($20 to $30) and 15Mbps internet has dropped from $50 to $35/month with TWC, who we're getting shitty-ish service from. I feel like going to their virtual operator, Earthlink, probably won't change anything, and the prices are worse after the first six months here; AT&Ts prices are horrible even during the promotional period. Is it worth upgrading within TWC or switching to Earthlink, or should we just continue calling and complaining every time we can't stream Netflix as the only internet user in the house?
IP, do you know of any reason why they are trying to keep people on the 15mbps versus the 3mbps?
If you've got a Sprint iPhone4, Ting has recently started a beta program for 4/4S activations through them (https://help.ting.com/entries/28085933-iPhone-FAQ). Your data habit will be expensive assuming minimal voice and text usage, but it is an option that wouldn't require you to buy another phone and keep the coverage you're already used to.
Daley, I have an app that i put on my iPhone called Onavo Extend. It is supposed to save data usage through the use of a VPN. I am curious if you are familiar with it and whether you think it is actually saving on usage or if it is just BS? Seems like a good idea to keep my usage lower just not sure if it is really effective. Thanks!
I ended up deciding to give Ting a shot, and it will be worth it so long as I can keep my data under 500 MB, which I should be able to given that they have a handy alert system that will notify me when I hit limits that I set.
For cell needs, they have mentioned they would like mapping ability. Does anyone have recommendations for an easy to use feature phone that could do mapping? I was looking at Ting for cell service as it seems easy to use and most months they would be in the lowest buckets. The downside is that limits the phone to CDMA. Ptel PAYG plan might be the biggest cost savings but they would have to remember to add time. Any suggestions?
For cell needs, they have mentioned they would like mapping ability. Does anyone have recommendations for an easy to use feature phone that could do mapping? I was looking at Ting for cell service as it seems easy to use and most months they would be in the lowest buckets. The downside is that limits the phone to CDMA. Ptel PAYG plan might be the biggest cost savings but they would have to remember to add time. Any suggestions?In urban areas with a higher concentration of cell towers and WiFi, we just take along our WiFi-only iPad2. It worked great in metro Houston, and it was a lot easier to mess with the pan/zoom than with a smartphone.
How do I handle incoming calls? Can I automatically call forward my regular cell number to my GV number? Can i somehow link GV to my cell phone to make this seamlessly integrated so that I don't have to give out multiple phone numbers or worry about switching to airplane mode?
Is there an easier way to do this that I'm missing? (I know RW might be the answer, but I love Ting and having cell phone options, and would prefer to stay.)
Would AT&T's upfront fee, contract and (supposedly) terrible customer service be enough to justify a more reasonable-sounding option?
Would AT&T's upfront fee, contract and (supposedly) terrible customer service be enough to justify a more reasonable-sounding option?
Probably not. I'd go Charter. It's cheaper up front, it's cheaper longer term (don't forget the regulatory fees AT&T is going to sock you on top of your bill that Charter doesn't), and they're more likely to be honest about the actual bandwidth used with those data caps. I'd rather have a 100GB data cap with Cox (my current provider) than a 150GB cap with AT&T as they're known to hyperinflate their usage numbers. That said, Charter's 30Mbps package is their Plus package, which has a 250GB data cap.
One other thing to remember is that neither provider is actually promising the speed they're selling. AT&T's 3Mbps DSL is still only "up to" 3Mbps. AT&T also frequently moves in lockstep as a monopoly/duopoly provider with raising rates on service, so don't expect otherwise. When one mega-ISP raises rates, they all do.
Truth is, you're gonna get bent over either way. I already made my position about AT&T clear early on in the guide, so I'm a bit biased... but all things being equally terrible on the service quality and customer service fronts, Charter appears to be less terrible for what you'd pay for.
Thanks for the info, I.P. And thanks for sticking up for the consumer.
Attention Smartphone Addicts:
The Motorola Moto G (http://www.motorola.com/us/shop-all-mobile-phones-1/Moto-G/moto-g-pdp.html) is shipping December 2nd, without a contract and carrier unlocked, $180 for the 8GB model, $200 for the 16GB. US models are pentaband for T-Mobile data support. The specs and price make it attractive for those who don't want to bother with purchasing used, though the new price point should drive used handset prices lower.
http://www.motorola.com/us/consumers/moto-g/Moto-G/moto-g-pdp-ways-to-buy.html
Long story short, you can't save on incoming cellular minutes with VoIP unless the calls are coming in over VoIP in the first place.
I was just coming on to post about the Moto G to let people know it's an option now...I just received my Nexus 5 in the mail today, but after discovering the Moto G may opt for that instead. I am confused about one thing...what does "pentaband for T-Mobile data support" mean?
I was going to use Airvoice...since it's an ATT MNVO would it not work with the Moto G?
Also, Moto G is 3g only...I am under the impression Airvoice is also 3g only...is that correct?
But wait a sec....can you still save by using Google Voice + Talkatone app over wifi for outgoing calls (paired with Ting service)?
My incoming call minutes are negligible. My outgoing calls account for 90% of all my voice minutes. So this would still work for me, no? Thanks for any clarification!
Only until next May. Google is dropping XMPP support (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/11/oh-hi-obihai/), which means Talkatone isn't going to work anymore.
What does this mean for other apps like GV Connect? Same fate?
Hi IPDaley
I registered to this forum just to say thanq. I appreciate ur knowledge sharing. I was under att contract for 2 years, was waiting for switching to airvoice. Jus did successfully. I am sure I will b saving some money. Keep up ur good work.
My question is, what does this mean for contracts? Does it mean TMobile was ahead of the game when they got rid of theirs? Because who in their right mind is going to sign a 2 year contract without a subsidized phone? Would they still have ETFs?
Judging from the new breed of cellphone ads on TV with their "zero down!" gimmicks, this is rather odd talk from them.
My question is, what does this mean for contracts? Does it mean TMobile was ahead of the game when they got rid of theirs? Because who in their right mind is going to sign a 2 year contract without a subsidized phone? Would they still have ETFs?
It means people are sick of contracts and "expensive" monthly bills, but not sick of financing/debt and the carriers have caught on and figured out a way to psychologically game people. As much as T-Mobile ballyhoos the claims that they did away with their contracts, I beg to differ. Any program that offers a phone for a discounted price up front and for monthly payments so long as you stay with them, and you have to pay off in full if you want to take your business elsewhere is effectively the exact same service contracts people were already dealing with. That is exactly what programs like T-Mo's Jump, AT&T's Next and Verizon's Edge programs are: the same pig in lipstick, but with a different colored wig.
Basically, the MNOs realized that they could actually get people to pay even more by marginally reducing their monthly service package prices and separating out the phone costs as a separate fee. Unfortunately, customers suck at math. By creating two bills instead of one, people see their "necessary" cell phone bill as being smaller (which puts them in a mentally frugal happy spot which puts on their rose-colored glasses) along with a secondary "small" monthly bill as well (which looks very reasonable for this shiny new slab of electronics which only costs $10-20 a month to have along with the promise to swap for an even nicer shiny every year), and since the first bill is smaller, the second bill which is cheaper still just gets ignored... yet you add those two bills together, you discover you're paying just as much as before, at best, if not more.
The cell phone providers look like heroes for "abolishing" contracts and "lowering" their monthly service plans by introducing these "optional" programs (which is becoming necessary anyway to keep the customers given the massive growth of the prepaid market), the customers don't feel like they're being screwed as hard anymore, yet nothing has changed. Your handsets are still carrier locked, people who can't budget or afford to buy these new phones outright still have to participate in the game to have anything but a beat up used dumbphone (in their minds, anyway), and you're stuck with the carrier and the plans they'll permit you to use with your handset until you pay the phone off.
It's a giant shell game. Nothing has changed except the words.Judging from the new breed of cellphone ads on TV with their "zero down!" gimmicks, this is rather odd talk from them.
QFT.
So you think its going to be business as usual? I saw some people thinking (hoping?) that this might cause cell manufacturers to start building more affordable smart phone options (like that Moto G or the Nexus4/5) if customers are forced to buy them outright. But I know what you're getting at, most people still won't do the math and things will probably stay the same. I was just kinda hoping the MNOs would drop their plan prices more than $15 for those of us who BYOD. $15 is a moot point when you have to pay about that much in taxes and fees with the major providers.
I currently have a Verizon iPhone5 and pay $99 per month for voice and data.
-snip-
I also have a challenge coming up in April.
If my constraints are to keep my iPhone, unlimited text and minutes and at most 3gb of data (I can maybe do below 2 but that cuts it close some months and I never go over 3), what's the best and cheapest provider for me?
Also, on an mvno do iPhones still get to message other iPhones with iMessage?
So for now it's an iTouch with phone and texting capability, until/unless I can get cellular data to work. I do have a T mobile sim, but haven't gotten the sim swap to work. Bad time of year to deal with hardware foibles, but wifi is available almost everywhere I go. I'd really rather have it working though!
If my constraints are to keep my iPhone, unlimited text and minutes and at most 3gb of data (I can maybe do below 2 but that cuts it close some months and I never go over 3), what's the best and cheapest provider for me?
Also, on an mvno do iPhones still get to message other iPhones with iMessage?
I'll answer your last question first: Yes.
Now, your cheapest options aren't going to open up until you wrangle in your data habits. I've repeatedly asked you over the months to explain what your data habits are being used for, and in that time you've only identified email as the source of your extravagant usage, which I'm not buying. Meanwhile, your data usage appears to have nearly doubled from what you've claimed as well and you're still champing at the bit wanting to reduce your phone bill. Every time I've asked you about your data usage, you've gone silent, given excuses, defended its usage without explaining how, or asked questions like, "to what end?" TO THE END OF SAVING THE MONEY YOU CLEARLY WANT TO SAVE! Data usage is a low-hanging fruit to address, and until you nip it in the bud, you're never going to see any real savings.
You want real help? Honest help? Start by being honest about what you're actually blowing that data on. Post that information along with your real average minute and SMS numbers and where the majority of those occur (home, work, on the road, etc.)... then and only then are you going to get some meaningful guidance towards a good provider that fits your needs and saves you money.
Fact of the matter is, mobile data is expensive. If you think your mobile bill is too expensive, then something has to budge and you have to compromise to lower that cost. If your data habit at the level it is is a no-compromise situation that's genuinely necessary for work as you've tried to indicate in the past then either your employer needs to be paying your financially hemorrhaging cell phone bill or you need to just take your lumps and the tax deduction.
You've been floundering on this issue in your budget since at least June, IIRC... you can't seem to work it out on your own, and I've repeatedly offered to help guide you. This is your last chance with me. If you don't want to be public about it, send me a PM or something (http://www.techmeshugana.com/about/contact/). I will work with you, but only to the extent that you're willing to work with me and be willing to compromise. You aren't going to be able to save any money if you're not willing to compromise.
You want to keep the iPhone? Fine, but be aware that you might run into some data configuration issues if you're on iOS7. You want to buy into the idea that you need "unlimited" talk and text? Fine. You want to stick with an AT&T provider given your trepidation to going over to T-Mobile? Fine. Understand that the only way you're going to get any significant savings from this point is to take a well-deserved machete to your data usage, and it's not going to get any lower than around $35 a month unless you're willing to further sacrifice customer support. I can and will help you with that, but I need to know what that data's being used on since you appear to think the general advice I've repeatedly given most people on how to gut their data habit doesn't apply to you.
My average data usage the last 12 months has been about 1.6gb. I've never gone over 2.5gb. Could I squeeze it down a bit, sure. If I put effort in there and it saved me $10 it may not be worth it to me. Certainly some of that data usage is discretionary though.
-snip-
What else can I answer?
You want real help? Honest help? Start by being honest about what you're actually blowing that data on. Post that information along with your real average minute and SMS numbers and where the majority of those occur (home, work, on the road, etc.)... then and only then are you going to get some meaningful guidance towards a good provider that fits your needs and saves you money.
Fact of the matter is, mobile data is expensive. If you think your mobile bill is too expensive, then something has to budge and you have to compromise to lower that cost. If your data habit at the level it is is a no-compromise situation that's genuinely necessary for work as you've tried to indicate in the past then either your employer needs to be paying your financially hemorrhaging cell phone bill or you need to just take your lumps and the tax deduction.
You've been floundering on this issue in your budget since at least June, IIRC... you can't seem to work it out on your own, and I've repeatedly offered to help guide you. This is your last chance with me. If you don't want to be public about it, send me a PM or something. I will work with you, but only to the extent that you're willing to work with me and be willing to compromise. You aren't going to be able to save any money if you're not willing to compromise.
You want to keep the iPhone? Fine, but be aware that you might run into some data configuration issues if you're on iOS7. You want to buy into the idea that you need "unlimited" talk and text? Fine. You want to stick with an AT&T provider given your trepidation to going over to T-Mobile? Fine. Understand that the only way you're going to get any significant savings from this point is to take a well-deserved machete to your data usage, and it's not going to get any lower than around $35 a month unless you're willing to further sacrifice customer support. I can and will help you with that, but I need to know what that data's being used on since you appear to think the general advice I've repeatedly given most people on how to gut their data habit doesn't apply to you.
Is 1.6gb/mo. that excessive? What would be considered a normal amount of mobile data use?
Is 1.6gb/mo. that excessive? What would be considered a normal amount of mobile data use?
Is 1.6gb/mo. that excessive? What would be considered a normal amount of mobile data use?
I dont think it is but it seems most mvno's draw the line at the super cheap
Plans around 500MB to 1 GB. I pay about $80 now with AT&T and looking at what may be an easy transition without being miserly with my usage.
Is 1.6gb/mo. that excessive? What would be considered a normal amount of mobile data use?
The last time I saw some accurate study numbers, the national average for mobile smartphone data was running around 1.2GB in 2012, and the average mobile data usage was around 450MB. That said, a very small percentage of users heavily skews those numbers upward for everyone. I'm still waiting for some more solid 2013 numbers to surface as the usual sources don't seem to have the goods. Have a few nuggets from the past three years:
Is 1.6gb/mo. that excessive? What would be considered a normal amount of mobile data use?
Baylor thinks he's being grossly overcharged for his cell phone service, and wants a significantly cheaper plan. He has expressed as much for over half a year. Throughout this time, several things have been made clear by him as supposed zero compromise issues. He wants to keep his iPhone. He doesn't trust the reception of T-Mobile in the DFW area and apparently needs to stay on the AT&T network for business-related communications reliability. He uses a reasonably large chunk of minutes and texts that he's apparently able to trim through the usage of VoIP and SMS alternatives, but doesn't state to what extent. He's thus far refused to disclose what he's actually using so much data for so much as just stated what he uses and repeatedly questions the value of even trying to scale data usage back, yet admits that there may be a fair chunk of personal convenience usage. Yet again and again, he clearly wants to save money yet he can't figure out how more than a couple bucks here and there total not making the change worth it. Where does this leave us?Is 1.6gb/mo. that excessive? What would be considered a normal amount of mobile data use?
I dont think it is but it seems most mvno's draw the line at the super cheap
Plans around 500MB to 1 GB. I pay about $80 now with AT&T and looking at what may be an easy transition without being miserly with my usage.
I guess that seals it, and it appears he's made his decision. He values 1-2GB of convenience data over saving $480 a year. His money, his choice.
I now have the information I need to know what my viable options may be and for that I thank you.
So, what's my best bet?
E-mailing, web browsing with the images turned off, the SMS text replacements… they don’t really use much of any data at all. After all, nearly 7,500 SMS text messages can be sent in a single megabyte of data, and there’s 1024MB to 1GB. For a little extra perspective, the entirety of Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick is only a 1.2MB text file, and that’s uncompressed! Compressed file formats get that tome down to around 500kB! Printed out in dead-tree format, my physical hardcover of this book clocks in at 593 densely printed pages. Further, the entirety of the King James Bible is only 4.2MB uncompressed. There’s a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but using the CTIA’s math where they set the average smartphone photo size at 8MB and working off of the statistics of the KJV, one photo stored is actually worth closer to 1.5 million words. I know it’s easy to get jaded about the cheapness of data in an era of terabyte data storage, but are you starting to appreciate the true value and power of just one megabyte of data yet?
Just a heads up, I'm sure it's probably been covered before, but here goes: I had to call Airvoice to have them enable my voicemail and data on the $10 plan. Other than that, no hitches at all. My number got ported Saturday night, about 36 hours after I submitted the port request.
**Thanks IP Daley for sharing so much time & insight - when my blackberry finally dies I'll get a robust replacement on your site, like this one http://astore.amazon.com/techmeshugana-20/detail/B00CFS79K4 (http://astore.amazon.com/techmeshugana-20/detail/B00CFS79K4)if my device gives out any time soon. **
Unbelievable! What kind of crap is this that they only give you half your monthly data allowance at a time, and that you must call them and waste 10 minutes waiting for customer service to add the second half of your allowance?!
Unbelievable! What kind of crap is this that they only give you half your monthly data allowance at a time, and that you must call them and waste 10 minutes waiting for customer service to add the second half of your allowance?!
P.S. this still does not excuse AirVoice for the unbelievably poor customer service of making you call and beg them to put on the last half of your data allowance every month..
P.P.S. we are going to retire in a couple of years to a remote spot in Wisconsin, where AT&T has the best voice quality by far (tried Verizon, fair to poor quality, Sprint and T Mobile don't work at all). We're going to port our present home phone number landline VOIP (VOIPO) to my wife's cell phone, and probably switch her to the $30/mo AirVoice 100MB plan, because it has unlimited minutes. We'll be using CenturyLink for home internet. It's only 1.5 MBS, but they have improved over the last 3 months or so to an actual of about 1.4MBS, versus 0.4MBS we were getting before. Still, I'm not sure we'd be happy with VOIP, as the ping is frequently in the 100 to 200 millisecond range..
I do have a T-mobile sim, and can try that swap trick, but aren't there settings I'm supposed to change? On this (http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2013/09/did-ios7-update-break-your-at-mvno.html) site, they say "Enter your MVNO's recommended settings" and maybe I'm being dense, but I can't find anything like that on the airvoice site.
Nevermind. I called Airvoice and she said it hadn't been properly configured. DONE!
She did recommend keeping cellular data off so it won't use data in the background, which seemed odd.
I'm looking at going with Airvoice Wireless. A couple of questions:
1) In reading the TOS after someone made a similar post, am I reading correctly that if I go with the 1GB plan, I have to call them each month when I exceed 500MB?
1a) If the answer to 1 is YES, what happens when I get to 500MB? DOes it just stop working? If i was in the middle of a GoogleVoice call, would it simply cut the call off?
2) Their TOS also suggest turning off 3g/4g data access everytime you're expecting to be using WiFi. Have any of y'all found you need to remember to do that? I suppose it's not too much of a pain, but not a particularly good customer experience if it's manual and have to do it every night when getting home.
3) Do any of y'all use the $40 plan? When all is said and done, after taxes, fees, etc, what is your final bill running you?
She did recommend keeping cellular data off so it won't use data in the background, which seemed odd.
Would FaceTime on the iPhone work on air voice wireless?
Would FaceTime on the iPhone work on air voice wireless?
If you've got a plan with "unlimited" minutes, why do you need FaceTime support over mobile data even if you're doing it for voice only? (It's the same argument as with GV/Talkatone/Hangouts mVoIP over mobile data earlier.) If you're genuinely trying to work against a mobile data budget, you certainly couldn't afford to do video conferencing.
https://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9227964/FaceTime_via_cellular_Will_it_work_and_can_you_afford_it_
Would FaceTime on the iPhone work on air voice wireless?
If you've got a plan with "unlimited" minutes, why do you need FaceTime support over mobile data even if you're doing it for voice only? (It's the same argument as with GV/Talkatone/Hangouts mVoIP over mobile data earlier.) If you're genuinely trying to work against a mobile data budget, you certainly couldn't afford to do video conferencing.
https://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9227964/FaceTime_via_cellular_Will_it_work_and_can_you_afford_it_
It's a family request for people to see their kids and grandparents to see their grandkids.
It's almost exclusively used on wifi at home to see people far away. In that instance if assumed it will still work with an mvno
chock up another strike against Apple not letting you use equipment you bought on your terms)
chock up another strike against Apple not letting you use equipment you bought on your terms)
Didn't you buy it on their terms?
;)
Do any of y'all use the $40 plan? When all is said and done, after taxes, fees, etc, what is your final bill running you?
So, opinions on H20 vs Airvoice?
Recall I will be using an iPhone. Is there something I'm missing herewith H2O?
Does H2O have the same reset you have to call in to do when you've used half your GB allotment?
So, opinions on H20 vs Airvoice?
The thing to understand about the very early days of the Superguide and my recommendation of H2O Wireless back then was Airvoice at the time had a far heavier price premium for the services provided than it does now on the AT&T end (like Tracfone without the discounts type pricing). At the time, the trade-off for the price of the services provided versus the quality of customer service was worth it. Since then, Airvoice has grown more competitive and they've ran parity for the better part of a year and a half now on pricing with H2O, excuse Airvoice's killer $10/month deal. As that pricing has leveled out, I've chosen customer service quality over data prices on big ticket packages, and Airvoice gets the nod. It's not that H2O's phone service is horrible, it's that their customer service quality is uneven and frequently challenging, and time has only accentuated those qualities further. I've even had a couple personal experiences I'd classify with them as "the pits", and there's a reason why I moved my own mother from H2O to Airvoice. I've still recommended them on rare occasion with oddball situations where people didn't give a toss about CS quality, but not much otherwise. Take this for what it's worth to you, but research over at HoFo (http://www.howardforums.com/forum.php) as well.
As for the remaining differences between those two plans? The H2O Wireless "unlimited" data plan is actually a 3GB high speed plan with throttled 2G data access after that threshold. Since it's a soft cap (unlike Airvoice's hard cap), tethering is against the terms and conditions (https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=Tc). Airvoice is a hard cap of 3GB at the $60 price point, as is all their data... and if you look closely at their terms of service (https://www.airvoicewireless.com/TermsOfService.aspx), there's no express tethering restrictions. This is one of the problems with "unlimited" data plans, carriers will either forbid you from tethering (and potentially terminate service on you for doing so) or sock you for a tethering fee. You mentioned tethering, be aware of this.
I sympathize with you regarding your situation, but the big question I'm left asking is why you might need to immediately sync all your data on your phone with your desktop on demand all the time when you're out of the house. You can't be in two places at once, and when you're not home, you're on your phone. Why can't auto-syncing between phone and desktop just wait until you're home on WiFi? If I misunderstood what you said, please forgive me... but I suspect this might help put a dent in your data usage, just like the offline GPS will.
Thanks for the info and suggestions. I'll take a look at what things are automatically updating/syncing and which ones are really necessary.Also, Anna, I think part of what Daley was implying is that most (all?) of the notifications and other features you mention being critical don't need a data connection to work. They only need a data connection when they update/sync new information. Standard reminders and calendar notifications should still fire when you are
So a question. If I turn data services off for mobile, does that mean that I won't get Google "hangout" notifications until I'm back in Wifi? My husband has been using that rather than SMS lately and I worry I'll miss something from him while I'm out. Also, will that interfere with the location-based reminders that I'm using?
So I just downloaded a free app called Onavo Count, which should help me track better what data I'm using where. By next month, I should have a much better idea of my usage. Yay!
Question for Daley: If I port her # to airvoice and can't get her Iphone configured, can I port it back to ATT?
She is slowly coming around to the idea of giving up the Iphone in favor of a Nexus 4 android. Although, she has around $50 worth of medical apps that she uses at work on a regular basis.
Obviously, I'm not a heavy user, but (sorry IP) I'd rather have the iPhone, even if I crippled it to an itouch and carried an old flip phone, than any other smart phone.
Now, the rest of the problem: my wife's Iphone. Airvoice rep told me that they are no longer recommending Iphones on their service. No big deal, my wife's new job is offering her a 24% discount with ATT. I called ATT to verify that we were no longer on family talk and make a few changes to her plan. DW wants to keep her unlimited text and her grandfathered unlimited data. After setting everything up, her line is still going to cost $75! after a 24% discount!
So, I'd like to bring her Iphone to airvoice. She is running IOS 6 on an Iphone 4. I may give it a try.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to port my wife's Iphone over in the next few days. Screw the unlimited data.
Cross your fingers that all goes well and thank you again for the guide.
Question. I am close to being out of contract with Directv. I am interested in dropping it completely. We love the dvr set up. A friend of mine has ROKU and loves it. I already have Netflix and just got Amazon prime free for a month. My main concern is sports, especially football (college & pro), what are my options? I do not have an antenna. Basically I want to be Directv free and cut that cable bill!
The OS: I'm still on iOS6, because I know apple software rollouts are annoying as fuck. I am given to understand that this makes it easier to setup on Airvoice?
-snip-
I guess my questions are this: will future iOS upgrade paths on my 5 be denied to me by being on Airvoice? Would it be wise to, before making the jump, spend a month carefully auditing my data usage? If so, does anyone have any good recommendations on how to do that (preferably using my phone)? How will my coverage be affected (I see in the initial post here that most of the MNVOs don't allow roaming on other networks, but airvoice's coverage map looks to be pretty extensive)?
Question. I am close to being out of contract with Directv. I am interested in dropping it completely. We love the dvr set up. A friend of mine has ROKU and loves it. I already have Netflix and just got Amazon prime free for a month. My main concern is sports, especially football (college & pro), what are my options? I do not have an antenna. Basically I want to be Directv free and cut that cable bill!
Okay, here's how the football schedule works--sorry if you already know all of this, but it's how games are assigned between the two major football channels:
The NFL is divided into two conferences: the AFC and NFC. Every year, each team plays 12 games within its own conference, and four games with a team in the opposite conference. Two of those non-conference games are played at home, and two are played as a visitor.
The Sunday afternoon games (1:00 and 4:00 on the East Coast) are split between CBS and FOX. CBS has the rights to all games where the visiting team is in the AFC, and FOX has the rights to all games where the visiting team is in the NFC. Since each team hosts two non-conference opponents during the season, each team will play up to 14 of its games on one channel, and up to 2 on the other. The Patriots are in the AFC, so they would play the vast majority of their games on CBS--so if that "up to 1 channel" you could receive via antenna is CBS, you're in luck. Each local CBS/FOX affiliate will pick a game to play in each time slot. Since you live near Boston, your local CBS/FOX affiliate (whoever has the rights to the game in question) will almost undoubtedly pick the Patriots every time.
Of course, one game a week is also played on Thursday night, Sunday night, and Monday night, regardless of the visiting team's conference rule. Sunday night games belong to NBC, who gladly streams their game for free online every week on NBC.com. Easy. The other two games are broadcast on ESPN (Monday) and NFL Network (Thursday), so they are only available on cable/satellite. I am currently unaware of any legal streaming possibilities there, so whenever the Patriots play on these networks, your husband will need to find a bar/friend's house to watch at. This of course will require a fee (beers at the bar and drinks/snacks/travel time at his friend's house). Unfortunately (I guess) since the Patriots are consistently good and wildly popular, their games appear more frequently in the primetime slots, so it's a little more cumbersome being a Patriots fan than a Jags fan.
So:
- You get Sunday night games from NBC online
- Monday night and Thursday night games are cable/satellite only, so find a communal TV
- The Sunday afternoon Patriot games will be mostly on CBS, so you need to focus on getting this channel
Hopefully that one channel you can get is CBS. If not, I've heard some fans buy a slingbox and ask one of their friends to stream them the game (I'm not familiar with the product so I can't endorse it). Similarly, my parents (who have glorious Sunday Ticket) used a webcam pointed at the TV to stream a game to my brother when he was in college. My dad also used to tape his team's game and send them to a man in England (they met on a fan forum). Your husband likely knows people in Boston (or at least in better antenna-reception areas) who he could arrange something like this with. Even if he has to offer payment for the service, it's still cheaper than subscribing to cable.
[...]
I'll point out for anyone who happens to live out of their NFL team's market that the local CBS/FOX affiliates may show your team depending on your team's popularity and strength (and if their game doesn't conflict with the local team), but you'll likely miss a majority of your team's games without extra help. The official NFL viewing package is not done through the league like other major sports leagues, but exclusively through DirecTV. Since most of us aren't signing up for satellite service, I hear you can purchase the product, Sunday Ticket, for your computer "if you can't get satellite where you live"--I've heard cases that DirecTV doesn't verify this, but I've never tried myself--but the cost is extraordinary...$350-400 for a season. DirecTV's contract ends after the 2014 season, and there are whispers that they may not renew the exclusivity portion of the contract. In the worst case, competition may start and lower the price, but still require expensive TV service to get the product. In the best case, Google or similar acquires it (they're interested) and sells it independent of television subscriptions. So, we might see a lot more access to football in the next few years, and if an internet company acquires the rights, maybe even a push for a la carte programming across the board. Stay tuned.
IP, do you know if there's any plan to change how iOS locks out the MMS settings if the MVNO underlying carrier is AT&T?
You can get MMS with Airvoice on an iPhone running ios6 or ios7. These directions are for ios7:
http://youtu.be/gmRSDDJbOUQ
You do need a T mobile sim, which are like $1 on amazon or eBay. You have to follow the directions exactly, but it does work. I have done it twice, including once about 10 days ago.
Good luck
Does it need to be a T mobile sim card? There are ultra mobile sims on ebay for $1, and the T mobile is $3.
Does it need to be a T mobile sim card? There are ultra mobile sims on ebay for $1, and the T mobile is $3.
An Ultra Mobile sim should work. The sim just needs to be from a non-AT&T MVNO.
Suggestions?
Go Dolphin. Opera only compresses and resizes images, but Dolphin can turn off image use entirely. With the very rare exception (like a website showing a weather radar image) you'd be surprised how little you'll miss images loaded on the websites that you're reading, especially on a small screen.I am still working my way through this thread before asking my own questions, but I did want to add that this is no longer true (if it was true at the time). You can turn off images in Opera's mobile browser.
You have a Nexus 4, why do you need to listen to streaming music? You have both fixed and expandable storage space.I believe this is wrong also (unless you are referring to something other than an sd card for exandable storage). No sd card slot in the N4.
I am still working my way through this thread before asking my own questions, but I did want to add that this is no longer true (if it was true at the time). You can turn off images in Opera's mobile browser.
I believe this is wrong also (unless you are referring to something other than an sd card for exandable storage). No sd card slot in the N4.
So my big concern with the PagePlus would be texting but as you can see he's drastically reduced it recently and I think most of those texts are to/from me. He has a Samsung Galaxy mp3 player, is there an app where he can text from that if he has wifi?
As for his current phone failing it's not falling apart, the big issue is his contacts are very glitchy (it refuses to save my number, names won't pop up when some other saved contacts calls or texts him...) so I think he can hold out until the contract is up.
The other question would be can he test out the phone/service for say a month and then port his number over? I was able to do that with my Republic phone (I know but it's great for me and I got the old cheaper phone) to give it a test drive before I committed
I appreciate the feedback, but it's nitpicking.My apologies. it was not my intention to nitpick, but rather to contribute to the information in the thread. I agreed with your general points and was hoping to add something to them. I'll be more careful in my wording next time. I really have enjoyed reading this thread, especially what you have written. I'll be likely be seeking some advice myself as soon as I'm done reading it (I'm on page 20 now).
His contract end date is just over 2 months away (3/5) so I think we'll just stick with Verizon until then, playing with the Android texting and then switching him to PagePlus. Thanks so much for your help!
My apologies. it was not my intention to nitpick, but rather to contribute to the information in the thread. I agreed with your general points and was hoping to add something to them. I'll be more careful in my wording next time. I really have enjoyed reading this thread, especially what you have written. I'll be likely be seeking some advice myself as soon as I'm done reading it (I'm on page 20 now).
My 4s is almost 4 years old so I'll be needing a new soonish regardless.
Switching to Airvoice is just like AT&T native coverage, only without partner roaming.
My 4s is almost 4 years old so I'll be needing a new soonish regardless.
It only seems like that. The 4s only came out just over 2 years ago. ;)
OK, I think I'm ready.
What does it mean to be "without partner roaming"? Does that mean if I travel, I might have no phone service?
I did confirm on h2o that you can add another phone. Thy give you $10 off each additional phone plan and the plan details are tied to each specific phone. No sharing of data etc.
I'm probably going to go with republic.
OK, I think I'm ready.
Okay... given you're already on Ring Plus and your numbers are tied to Google Voice, truthfully? Going PAYG isn't really going to get you much cheaper than $5/month anyway (P'tel being the cheapest per minute PAYG offering available for your handset at 5¢ with a minimum monthly cost of $5, Airvoice and Spot can get you down into the $2.50-3.50 range, but run 10¢/minute and can include additional monthly costs. If you're getting under that threshold (or think the RP $6 Harrison plan is viable), you might want to re-evaluate the value of keeping the devices in your life at all. If you'd rather keep them around and given your current setup, you might as well ride out the RP gravy train for as long as it lasts or fits your needs. The only compelling reason to switch up services at this point is to switch for the sake of stability and customer support, and those changes may lead you to spending more than you are currently. I believe in quality over quantity and paying for what you need, and if you're on board with that, I'll be happy to help optimize accordingly; otherwise you've already taken things about as far as you can.
The VOIP.ms+CSipSimple idea is very viable, and if KakaoTalk is working for you, go for it. The Kik, Nimbuzz and XMS recommendations are primarily based on a measure between terms of service, privacy policy, platform availability, and overall data compression/usage on messaging. They're the least offensive and software stable click-and-install messaging apps I've found short of configuring your own using XMPP.
As to the Korea situation, so long as you have proper SIP account credentials, you can roll it and VOIP.ms into a singular device by using an ATA that supports two SIP accounts on one FXS port, like the OBi100. Then you can just set up dial plans to route the Korea calls through the one carrier and the remaining through the other. More specific advice would require knowing who the current VoIP provider is. You can PM me if you'd rather keep things a bit more private on this point.
Glad to be of help, and hope this gives you a bit extra direction.What does it mean to be "without partner roaming"? Does that mean if I travel, I might have no phone service?
It means that on AT&T postpaid, you typically get free roaming onto T-Mobile/Plateautel/Cellular One/Cincinatti Bell/i wireless/[insert other obscure regional carrier here] GSM towers if there are no AT&T GSM towers available. On prepaid MVNOs like Airvoice, you can only make calls on AT&T towers. With major metropolitan areas and interstates, this typically isn't a problem as there's consistent coverage... and being on an AT&T MVNO, you're going to have a far larger coverage map (even in the sticks) than any T-Mobile MVNO, and honestly there aren't many places there's a T-Mo tower where there isn't an AT&T one. The only minor exception to this rule is some of those regional players I mentioned above who have a bit of a spectrum lock in parts of some states (mostly in more rural areas), like Plateautel (New Mexico, Texas panhandle), i wireless (Iowa), Cellular One (Illinois), Cinty Bell (Indiana, Ohio); you go into one of these areas, you're not likely to find many AT&T towers for making calls with on your prepaid plan far off the well beaten path.
Now, don't let this scare you off! As long as you have map coverage (https://www.airvoicewireless.com/CoverageMap.aspx) for all the areas you'll typically find yourself, you'll most likely be fine. And even for the times you don't have AT&T coverage and you need to make an emergency call to 911? The nearest GSM tower, no matter who owns it, has to take, route and connect your call to the nearest PSAP (http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/services/911-services/enhanced911/psapregistry.html) for your reception area. You might not be able to call a tow truck or kindly old Aunt Harriet to let her know you'll be late, but if the engine is on fire or you broke a limb, you'll be able to call emergency services. Make sense?I did confirm on h2o that you can add another phone. Thy give you $10 off each additional phone plan and the plan details are tied to each specific phone. No sharing of data etc.
Clarification for others: $40+ plans only, and it's been available since April. The deal is underwhelming at best. There's better family plan options on the GSM spectrum than H2O... interestingly enough, is's Consumer Cellular since the AT&T MVNO price restructuring.I'm probably going to go with republic.
You made your choice, good for you. Stick with it and get on with your life and stop debating further, as you've already wasted several hundred dollars in opportunity cost since June as is. I hope it works out for you, and you don't get burned by their terms of service with your data usage.
Be well.
What do you mean from a terms of service perspective?
Okay... given you're already on Ring Plus and your numbers are tied to Google Voice, truthfully? Going PAYG isn't really going to get you much cheaper than $5/month anyway (P'tel being the cheapest per minute PAYG offering available for your handset at 5¢ with a minimum monthly cost of $5, Airvoice and Spot can get you down into the $2.50-3.50 range, but run 10¢/minute and can include additional monthly costs.After looking at Airvoice, I think you might be right. I understand that they charge a $1 monthly fee, but I expect I will be using more than 30MB, and at that range, it still makes it cheaper than Ptel. I don't know much about Airvoice's reputation though, so if you have reservations about them I would like to hear it.
If you're getting under that threshold (or think the RP $6 Harrison plan is viable), you might want to re-evaluate the value of keeping the devices in your life at all. If you'd rather keep them around and given your current setup, you might as well ride out the RP gravy train for as long as it lasts or fits your needs.I do still need a mobile communications device. I am the sole means of transportation for my family, which means I am often dropping off and picking up my wife and/or children and will need to stay in contact with them because of this. Of course, a Nexus 5 is overkill for this task, but I make extensive use of its other functions (while doing my best to avoid excessive use of mobile data) and so it is a luxury I am prepared to pay for.
The only compelling reason to switch up services at this point is to switch for the sake of stability and customer support, and those changes may lead you to spending more than you are currently. I believe in quality over quantity and paying for what you need, and if you're on board with that, I'll be happy to help optimize accordingly; otherwise you've already taken things about as far as you can.I would be interested in any ideas you have, of course.
The VOIP.ms+CSipSimple idea is very viable, and if KakaoTalk is working for you, go for it. The Kik, Nimbuzz and XMS recommendations are primarily based on a measure between terms of service, privacy policy, platform availability, and overall data compression/usage on messaging. They're the least offensive and software stable click-and-install messaging apps I've found short of configuring your own using XMPP.It isn't exactly that KakaoTalk is working for me (in fact, it proved to be quite an irritant recently), but that I do not wish to multiply communications apps and thus introduce further complexity into the situation, as this would be a disincentive for my wife, who is not as enthusiastic about reducing communications expenditures as I am. I think I will go with KakaoTalk for the time being, but will keep in mind your suggestions as well. I had considered Google Hangout since that is pre-installed on the Nexus, but I noticed that for it to operate properly, I needed to authorize background mobile data on Google Play services as well, and this would negate some of the savings gained by using an IM app.
As to the Korea situation, so long as you have proper SIP account credentials, you can roll it and VOIP.ms into a singular device by using an ATA that supports two SIP accounts on one FXS port, like the OBi100. Then you can just set up dial plans to route the Korea calls through the one carrier and the remaining through the other. More specific advice would require knowing who the current VoIP provider is. You can PM me if you'd rather keep things a bit more private on this point.I would be interested in doing something like that. Unfortunately, the service is provided by myLG070 (http://www.mylg070.com), and my Korean isn't good enough to battle my way through that website. I'll see if I can enlist the assistance of my (admittedly non-technical) wife to work out the settings. If I can get the SIP settings worked out, would your solution work for incoming calls as well?
Glad to be of help, and hope this gives you a bit extra direction.Thanks again for the assistance.
lots of stuff
The more I learn about your setup and read into the situation, I'm inclined to agree that VOIP.ms will likely be your best option for a home VoIP carrier. I did a little research on the whole Lucky Goldstar Uplus Samsung Galaxy Player 070 WiFi phone setup. Basically, it looks like an open Android handset (http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/06/29/internet.phone.incroporates.android.and.its.apps/) without a GSM/CDMA radio (an Android MP3 player with WiFi). As such, I doubt you'll be able to yank SIP credentials to use in another device as the service is provided through a dedicated app, but it doesn't mean we can't work it to our advantage. Since it sounds like the LG UPlus and KakaoTalk ideas are inherited infrastructure to keep communications cheap going across the Pacific and the investment has already been made, let's work with what we've already got and bring the mountain to Mohammed so to speak.Sadly, I have the older version of Mohammed:
Sadly, I have the older version of Mohammed
Do you still recommend the OBI100 given the more limited circumstances of its usage?
I could only find $30 plans with Airvoice but that has data and she isn't currently doing any data. She thought Ting looked great but is Sprint based and that's useless to her. Suggestions for a carrier that would be cheaper than AT&T for her with her current phone, with decent rates for when she switches to a smartphone?
Aye, or you can use the Nexus(es - or would that be Nexii?) as well.I think I'll give it a test run on my own phone (maybe try out Airvoice too) and go from there based on the experience. Thanks for the help. BTW, what is your opinion of RingPlus. I'll probably be leaving my wife with them at least until I get things figured out better.
I could only find $30 plans with Airvoice but that has data and she isn't currently doing any data. She thought Ting looked great but is Sprint based and that's useless to her. Suggestions for a carrier that would be cheaper than AT&T for her with her current phone, with decent rates for when she switches to a smartphone?
Depends on usage levels. Airvoice is one of the best and most reasonably priced AT&T based MVNOs at the low end, and competitive with data prices at the MVNO high end. If she's already on GoPhone's $25 monthly plan for 250 minutes and "unlimited" messaging (which is the only AT&T $25 feature phone plan I know of)... short of perhaps reducing her minute usage and putting a massive dent in texting numbers to not make the plan worth keeping and be able to make Airvoice's $10/month plan work, there's not really anywhere cheaper to go. Consumer Cellular might be an option, but they're postpaid, and you still need hard numbers to see if it's worth it. Hard to make any recommendations without numbers, and my provider list is kept pretty short per carrier (with a focus on a balance between good price and good quality) to make decisions easier. There's not many places left to go with a focus on quality if the usual suspects don't fit the bill.
Tha problem is - I don't see the $10 a month plan. Do you have a link? The lowest I even see is $30. She doesn't need unlimited. She just needs cheap.
What does it mean to be "without partner roaming"? Does that mean if I travel, I might have no phone service?
It means that on AT&T postpaid, you typically get free roaming onto T-Mobile/Plateautel/Cellular One/Cincinatti Bell/i wireless/[insert other obscure regional carrier here] GSM towers if there are no AT&T GSM towers available. On prepaid MVNOs like Airvoice, you can only make calls on AT&T towers. With major metropolitan areas and interstates, this typically isn't a problem as there's consistent coverage... and being on an AT&T MVNO, you're going to have a far larger coverage map (even in the sticks) than any T-Mobile MVNO, and honestly there aren't many places there's a T-Mo tower where there isn't an AT&T one. The only minor exception to this rule is some of those regional players I mentioned above who have a bit of a spectrum lock in parts of some states (mostly in more rural areas), like Plateautel (New Mexico, Texas panhandle), i wireless (Iowa), Cellular One (Illinois), Cinty Bell (Indiana, Ohio); you go into one of these areas, you're not likely to find many AT&T towers for making calls with on your prepaid plan far off the well beaten path.
Now, don't let this scare you off! As long as you have map coverage (https://www.airvoicewireless.com/CoverageMap.aspx) for all the areas you'll typically find yourself, you'll most likely be fine. And even for the times you don't have AT&T coverage and you need to make an emergency call to 911? The nearest GSM tower, no matter who owns it, has to take, route and connect your call to the nearest PSAP (http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/services/911-services/enhanced911/psapregistry.html) for your reception area. You might not be able to call a tow truck or kindly old Aunt Harriet to let her know you'll be late, but if the engine is on fire or you broke a limb, you'll be able to call emergency services. Make sense?
For republic wireless and this moto x that I'm looking at buying, do I have to buy it from Republic? The phone they offer only has 16GB and I've been looking at either getting a used one with 16 or getting a 32GB which I currently have with my iPhone.You have to buy it from them if you're going to use it on their network. Their phones have a special set up.
There's is $299 so I'm also looking to see if I can make a more cost effective purchase.
Sadly, I have the older version of Mohammed:
(http://images.tmcnet.com/tmc/misc/article-images/Image/990240218_dca7ed16_wpu_7700_software.jpg)
Re: Airvoice $10 plan rollover?
Any recent experiences with Freedompop for phone service?
I'm thinking about snagging a spring evo 4g or an epic touch off ebay/craigslist and doing the "bring your own device" option at freedompop. It looks like I can get a phone this way for $50-100 and free service on a monthly basis.
I have basic phone at home (I have Centurylink internet and basic phone for $50/mo). If I change my cell phone plan from ATT, I would like to be able to make long distance calls from home. Would getting a prepaid card be the best? Or do you have a better suggestion?
Now the good news:
It was all my fault anyway. If I had kept the Droid2 on Pageplus I woud have only spent $1095 (or, ~$91/mo). But even with paying an exorbitant ETF AND buying a shiny new(ish) smartphone I still ended up paying just under what I would have paid if I never changed a thing.
I have basic phone at home (I have Centurylink internet and basic phone for $50/mo). If I change my cell phone plan from ATT, I would like to be able to make long distance calls from home. Would getting a prepaid card be the best? Or do you have a better suggestion?
Same suggestion as I give everyone else. Axe the Centurylink phone plan and go with a VoIP provider like VOIPo (http://www.voipo.com/) ($185/two years after tax or $7.71/month - no risk 30 day trial). That'll take care of you calling needs with plenty to spare, and likely even cost less per month than keeping the "discounted" bundled phone plan you already have. Added benefit? You can now drastically scale back your cell phone usage for even more savings. An affordable broadband connection is the core to the success of the superguide, and VoIP is the linchpin to reducing your total communications costs.
The bundled internet and phone was necessary to get the deal from Centurylink. It works out to $40 for internet and $10 for basic phone. Any other ideas while keeping basic phone?
Just wondering if anyone has used www.swappa.com to buy a slightly used phone? They claim to be more legit than craigslist and ebay when it comes to buying a phone with a clean esn. Are there any better options for buying used, unlocked phones?
Just wanted to post that I finally bought a modem to replace the one I was renting from my ISP. I found a deal through slickdeals that allowed me to pick up a Motorola SB6121 for $42.49 shipped, which means the savings from renting will pay for it in 8 months. Feels good to get that out of the way.
My wife and I (ok, mostly me) are looking for ways to lower our internet bill ($32 for 15 Mbps) and I was just wondering, is there any device that supports many video formats (codecs), has a usb port (NTFS support would be nice), and can hook up directly to a tv without the need of internet? I'm assuming a HTPC would fit the bill as long as it has a video card with HDMI support but I was wondering if there was anything with a smaller form factor or maybe an alternative altogether. Thanks in advance.
I'm on Ting so I want to watch my bill closely. I am wondering if/how I can use my wifi at home when making phone calls. (no land line). I've never had to worry about this in the past with unlimited plans but now I need to learn some stuff to keep saving money. Is this possible to do with my cell phone and if so how do I set it up?You could try something like voip.ms. To get a number through them, it will cost you $0.50 plus $0.99 a month plus $0.01 a minute calling in the U.S. You can then use a Sip app (I use CSipSimple) and configure for the VoIP you are using. CSipSimple is a fairly nice soft phone app that allows you to configure when it makes calls and when you use a cellular signal.
I'm on Ting so I want to watch my bill closely. I am wondering if/how I can use my wifi at home when making phone calls. (no land line). I've never had to worry about this in the past with unlimited plans but now I need to learn some stuff to keep saving money. Is this possible to do with my cell phone and if so how do I set it up?You could try something like voip.ms. To get a number through them, it will cost you $0.50 plus $0.99 a month plus $0.01 a minute calling in the U.S. You can then use a Sip app (I use CSipSimple) and configure for the VoIP you are using. CSipSimple is a fairly nice soft phone app that allows you to configure when it makes calls and when you use a cellular signal.
I'm currently on Verizon with an iPhone5. I called Airvoice customer service to ask about number portability and they told me the Verizon iphone5 is CDMA and cannot be used on the Airvoice GSM network. Is this correct? If it is, is there another MVNO option to move my service to?
So it's safe to go ahead and pay my Verizon ETF, install the Airvoice nano SIM and activate/port # to Airvoice?
What does LTE data provide that I would no longer have?
Thanks!
So it's safe to go ahead and pay my Verizon ETF, install the Airvoice nano SIM and activate/port # to Airvoice?
What does LTE data provide that I would no longer have?
Thanks!
I just activated Airvoice using a different # than y Verizon #. Voice and text are working fine but data is not. When trying to check email I get the error "Could not activate cellular data network". Is there an iPhone setting I need to change to be able to use data?
I purchased a new Airvoice nano SIM card for my iPhone off Amazon. Is there a different SIM that I need?
Butting in here, but I didn't have to do a sim swap to get data to work. It just required a call to Airvoice to get it turned on, which shouldn't be required for the $30/month plan, but I did for my $10/month plan. Twice, because it didn't "take" the first time.
AFAIK, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but the sim swap allows for photo/video texts outside of iMessage.
I installed Line (VoIP I Think?) from Google Play store and went to use it. Does the person I am calling have to be on VoIP as well because it did not seem to want to work. I was at home on wifi when I tried this out.Are you subscribed to a VoIP provider and entered their configuration into the app? The other party does not need to be using a VoIP line in order for you to reach them.
Regarding this SIM swap...
I have a a Droid Razr M on Verizon. Where we just moved to has very poor signal. I believe AT&T is better in this area. I've been looking at Airvoice. A few pages back IP posted in a reply to me about swapping SIMs with someone to see if my phone was unlocked or not.
What exactly am I looking for when I put my buddy's SIM in my phone?
OK, thanks.Regarding this SIM swap...
I have a a Droid Razr M on Verizon. Where we just moved to has very poor signal. I believe AT&T is better in this area. I've been looking at Airvoice. A few pages back IP posted in a reply to me about swapping SIMs with someone to see if my phone was unlocked or not.
What exactly am I looking for when I put my buddy's SIM in my phone?
If you can get a signal with an AT&T sim, the sim slot is unlocked. From what I've read elsewhere, although the sim slot is unlocked on the Razr M, US GSM networks are blocked (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc). There's apparently a way around that. Google it if you're interested.
AT&T said my unlock could take up to five days. It's been five days with no love. At what point should I be navigating their super fun phone tree support again?
Once you get past my mad-crazy Excel skills you'll notice that I'm only using a fraction of my plan. I have a had time swallowing the fact that had I been on PlatinumTel's pay as you go plan, I would have just paid $58 for all my usage, whereas I showered T-Mobile with $90 dollars. And while I have no way to track it I'm positive that the bulk of those calls were made from my home, so I need to do some more math and figure out if I should just go with PTel, or PTel and VOIP.
I installed Line (VoIP I Think?) from Google Play store and went to use it. Does the person I am calling have to be on VoIP as well because it did not seem to want to work. I was at home on wifi when I tried this out.
Comments on where we can make improvements?
Finally got my unlock processed with AT&T. Did the unlock.nz trick and data works, but not MMS. Every method I see on howard forums for activating MMS requires a third sim card (non-AT&T, non-AT&TMVNO), which I don't have. Is there no (other) workaround? iOS6, iphone 5, now on airvoice.
Question about switching plans. I'm currently on the T-Mobile $30 a month plan but let my plan lapse a couple of days ago (didn't refill). Can I still port my number if I go with Airvoice or does my T-Mobile plan have to have minutes on it for me to do it? Thanks.
Question about switching plans. I'm currently on the T-Mobile $30 a month plan but let my plan lapse a couple of days ago (didn't refill). Can I still port my number if I go with Airvoice or does my T-Mobile plan have to have minutes on it for me to do it? Thanks.
The account typically has to be active and in good standing to be able to port your number out.
My wife and I (ok, mostly me) are looking for ways to lower our internet bill ($32 for 15 Mbps) and I was just wondering, is there any device that supports many video formats (codecs), has a usb port (NTFS support would be nice), and can hook up directly to a tv without the need of internet? I'm assuming a HTPC would fit the bill as long as it has a video card with HDMI support but I was wondering if there was anything with a smaller form factor or maybe an alternative altogether. Thanks in advance.
Finally got my unlock processed with AT&T. Did the unlock.nz trick and data works, but not MMS. Every method I see on howard forums for activating MMS requires a third sim card (non-AT&T, non-AT&TMVNO), which I don't have. Is there no (other) workaround? iOS6, iphone 5, now on airvoice.
Any help would be appreciated.
Any help would be appreciated.
Go Airvoice, use their $10/month plan. There's plenty of GSM Android handsets ranging from the Moto G to Galaxy S Relay and a whole mess in and around. I've got a few decent selections over at the Shopping Hut (http://astore.amazon.com/techmeshugana-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2) (it is a referral program, but you don't have to buy direct, just search Ebay or Amazon directly for the make/model if you like). It's getting a little dated again in its selection and availability, but the devices listed are still pretty solid.
I know you don't have a home phone, but bring one into the mix instead of trying to do the VoIP on Android thing, it'll actually be a bit simpler and more reliable. That'll help reduce minute usage, provide reliable home phone service, and take care of anything else. You don't seem to need too many minutes at home from what you posted, so VOIP.ms might be the cheaper solution, but you'll need to buy your own ATA and use their Wiki to configure it. Here's a crash course on how to do that. (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/04/voip-and-the-return-of-the-home-phone/) Theoretically, between the three lines, you should be able to squeak in under $25 a month.
If you really want to save on data, also consider alternate chat clients like XMS and Kik, which should use a fair bit less data than Google or Facebook's protocols.
I reckon that should get you sorted.
THANK YOU!!! That helps a lot! I really appreciate it!
Looking for ideas..thanks in advance!
Looking for ideas..thanks in advance!
A Verizon iPhone5 should have a carrier unlocked SIM card slot, so you can go to any AT&T or T-Mobile based MVNO.
As to VoIP services, I would recommend giving the VoIP section (in the beginning) of the Superguide a read. There's better options than Skype for the money. The important thing is to pay for what you use with any of this. Also, no Talkatone support, but Google Hangouts will still let you text and call via Google Voice.
am I missing anything?
This is probably a stupid question, but can we still use our iphones if we terminate service with att?
am I missing anything?
Nope.This is probably a stupid question, but can we still use our iphones if we terminate service with att?
http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/05/how-to-save-money-with-an-iphone/
FYI.. In the course of my research I stumbled across the new Sprint "family" group plan for smartphones...unlimited talk and text and 1Gb per line of data for as low as $25 per month if you can co-op 7 or more lines into your group and they claim to offer individual billing by line so no single person has to manage billing..this is getting close to rendering the mvno plans less useful..what do you think?
They do have voicemail (https://www.airvoicewireless.com/SupportHowToUseMyFeatures.aspx). Some phones (like my iPhone) don't get notification of a new voicemail message, but I do get a missed call notice.
Sim sizes (http://www.simsmartprepaid.com/blog/2013/09/whats-the-difference-between-a-standard-sim-micro-sim-and-nano-sim/)
If you've got any input, I appreciate it!
I noticed that Freedom Pop is expanding its options to cell coverage, although my concern is that they're currently extremely limited to metro areas--handy for my neck of the woods, but not if I travel at all (and I spend several weeks a year back with my family in extreme rural-land).
Just remember the iron triangle - Easy, Good, Cheap: Pick Two.
Just remember the iron triangle - Easy, Good, Cheap: Pick Two.
Thanks! I really appreciate your feedback. I'll look into the home phone VoIP option--I'm comfortable using straight-up over-internet skype but haven't considered it for phoning otherwise. Otherwise the GSM mvnos look interesting. I appreciate your help!
Tracy
I don't think IP approves, but I've been happy making straight-up calls to telephones from Skype. I believe it's $30 a year for this (US only).
The concern, if I recall correctly, is privacy, but I don't trust the cellular networks in that regard either, so for me personally, that's a wash. YMMV.
I had no idea these were MMM principles, just the way we do things. It's nice to find other people who don't think I'm weird or cheap for finding the best fit for our use at the absolute lowest cost.
Am I missing something. It's the last thing I need to get working before I can Verizon and cancel!
Thanks IP Daley for all you do!
So that's my problem - I didn't wait for the full moon! Seriously, I haven't gotten MMS to work, but only one person ever sends me a text (vs. iMessage) and really? I don't personally need it.Am I missing something. It's the last thing I need to get working before I can Verizon and cancel!
You've got the right settings for Airvoice, but are you using these directions (http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2013/09/did-ios7-update-break-your-at-mvno.html) when you make the changes? It's hideously convoluted trying to get iOS7 to take the changes, unfortunately. If you don't cut the chicken's head off right at 3am during the full moon, the ghost of Steve Jobs won't let you do it. :p
So, I'm also thinking that an upgrade is in order? I have the wireless router in my basement attached to the floor joist. This is where my POA is for my cable into the house. I don't get great wireless coverage to my cellphone within the house. I don't know much about these things - is the signal power output from the DIR-615 low relative to other routers? If I go the upgrade route is there something recommended that has a higher power rating?
So, I'm also thinking that an upgrade is in order? I have the wireless router in my basement attached to the floor joist. This is where my POA is for my cable into the house. I don't get great wireless coverage to my cellphone within the house. I don't know much about these things - is the signal power output from the DIR-615 low relative to other routers? If I go the upgrade route is there something recommended that has a higher power rating?
I can't find the specs on the DIR-615's broadcast wattage strength, but I can pretty much guarantee that as the device is a consumer grade router, its maximum wattage falls well short of the FCC and CRTC's maximum cap of 1W (1000mW) on the 2.4GHz bands (which is actually crazy powerful). Most consumer grade WiFi APs are only set up to do somewhere around 50-75mW, which is plenty powerful for most usage situations. Third party firmware like DD-WRT will let you set the wattage higher, but not substantially, and not without overheating the WiFi chipset thus shortening the lifespan further. There's also the additional issue of the broadcast strength of your devices. A 1W broadcaster is pretty worthless if the responding device can't communicate back. An easy alternative hack to improve WiFi reception is to use higher gain and directional antennas, but that requires a router that has detachable antennas.
Anyway, it sounds like it has a power short either in the adapter cable or the power jack. If you're handy, it might be worth trying to repair. Otherwise, it might be best to buy a new router. Something from Asus or Buffalo might fit the bill (the Buffalo units come with DD-WRT installed from the manufacturer, and you can monkey with broadcast strength - a feature typically missing from most standard firmwares) so long as you can potentially replace the antennas with a higher dB gain (5dB would probably be a good balance over the standard 2dB antennas), and you can also try something like the Windsurfer parabolic antenna (http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/) hack before trying to buy bigger antennas. Remember antenna placement/direction can impact reception as well. The strongest signal strength off a standard WiFi duckie antenna is going to be best described as a giant donut with the antenna itself poking through the center hole (http://support.data-alliance.net/omni-directional-antennas-dipole/). If your AP is in the basement, you'd want your antennas flat/parallel to the ground as opposed to being at a 90° angle.
The last thing to check for is band congestion as that can impact reception as well. The core channels with no spectrum overlap are channels 1, 6 and 11. Do a site survey of other wireless networks in your area and see what channels they're running on, and select the least congested band of the lot. Fortunately, most routers default to 6, and most ISP routers will default to 6 or 11, so most areas 1 is typically the least congested WiFi channel.
Sorry for the crash course on radio tech, but the info should help you decide quickly if it's worth repairing or replacing, and as you replace, what to look for in a replacement router and how you might improve overall reception in your house.
Thanks I.P. Daley!! Tonight I'll get out the multimeter and see if the power cord is good. I also may try flashing with DD-WRT..I see the suggestions here: http://reviews.cnet.com/routers/d-link-dir-615/4864-3319_7-32435592.html (http://reviews.cnet.com/routers/d-link-dir-615/4864-3319_7-32435592.html) that this will help (with some of the other issues I've had). There are some nice instructions here: http://www.dd-wrt.ca/wiki/index.php/D-Link_DIR-615_rev_E3 (http://www.dd-wrt.ca/wiki/index.php/D-Link_DIR-615_rev_E3)
I will also give consideration to the antenna position. I do not have them as you suggest. If this doesn't improve the situation...I could get some longer LAN cable to reposition the router to the 'mid level' of the house.
Thanks again...I will update in the next couple of days
Thanks again!
Has anyone switched over to Ting with a Sprint iPhone 4S?
I'm considering making the move as I'm currently paying ($50/month on a family plan). I'm also open to other recommendations. I talk on my phone about 500 min/month, text lightly (<100/month), and use data for e-mail and GPS.
Has anyone switched over to Ting with a Sprint iPhone 4S?
I'm considering making the move as I'm currently paying ($50/month on a family plan). I'm also open to other recommendations. I talk on my phone about 500 min/month, text lightly (<100/month), and use data for e-mail and GPS.
I'll tell you the same thing here as I told you in response to your question on my website a half hour ago (patience is a virtue, grasshopper):
If you’re wanting to keep your Sprint iPhone and switch to Ting, the first thing you need to do is stop wasting your data on GPS services by using Sygic’s offline GPS navigation software (http://www.sygic.com/en/gps-navigation) instead. Perhaps you should also read this post to help you get a better grasp on data usage: What is mobile media costing you? (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/12/what-is-mobile-media-costing-you/)
If you get your data under 100MB and your messages under 100, you should theoretically be able to get your bill down with Ting to $21 a month plus tax.
Any reason to worry about free webmail accounts? Should I switch to another free webmail provider (most of my friends use gmail) or is there a low price provider that does a fantastic job?
Any reason to worry about free webmail accounts? Should I switch to another free webmail provider (most of my friends use gmail) or is there a low price provider that does a fantastic job?
Account hijacking with a potential of zero recovery is the biggest concern with free webmail, followed closely by datamining and privacy concerns. Two-factor authentication can be of use to help minimize the risk, but not guarantee it. Security is only as tight with these companies as the minimum wage jockeys helping to do lost password resets.
As for a couple paid hosted mail server providers, there's PolarisMail (https://www.polarismail.com/) and Pobox (https://www.polarismail.com/). Spam filtration is good, as are the privacy policies.
As for a couple paid hosted mail server providers, there's PolarisMail (https://www.polarismail.com/) and Pobox (https://www.polarismail.com/). Spam filtration is good, as are the privacy policies.
Is there anything special to do to ensure none of the three numbers is lost in the process, like perhaps first porting those other than that of the family plan's account holder? Or should we convert our family plan into three individual plans first at AT&T then each request our own porting at Airvoice?
Also wondering what happens on AT&T's side after the porting, do they just cancel and bill on a prorata basis?
Also wondering what happens on AT&T's side after the porting, do they just cancel and bill on a prorata basis?I got a check from AT&T for $2.92 shortly after porting out the last number, so yes.
Wonder if one of us could try Airvoice before porting all three numbers and if it works well could we then port the numbers even using the SIM card that was activated for trial hence with a generic phone number?
[snip]
We assume this doesn't mean there is some special webpage to got to to logout (as some hotels have with in-room WiFi). Perhaps this applies to "dumb" phones, not sure it has any effect re iPhones...
Also saw "Please dial *777*1# then press SEND from your handset at anytime to receive a text message stating the remaining amount of MB on your account" and "Please dial *777# then press SEND from your handset at anytime to receive a text message stating your balance and expiration date": are those free calls/SMS?
Some time ago, there was a brief discussion here about blocking images in browsers. Opera was named. Wanted to add that on iPhone and perhaps on Android, the Mercury browser not only allows blocking images but also allows compression (though have no idea how this is implemented in practice) and downloading whole web pages as PDF in the browser itself. Once this is done on WiFi, you can browse the PDF offline while on Cellular or airplane mode.
In Mercury, am not sure there is a third party to funnel web data through. There just is an option under Settings > Advanced to Enable Compression yet there is no explanation of how this is done. Maybe their website has more.
In Airvoice's ToS we saw under Mobile web Data: "You are responsible for ending each data session. If you fail to end a session, the internet will still be considered connected on your device, and will be counted as part of your 500MB, 1GB, or 3GB (depending on your plan). Failure to log off of the internet will result in depletion of your internet usage time, and will NOT be credited back to you by Airvoice Wireless for any reason." We assume this doesn't mean there is some special webpage to got to to logout (as some hotels have with in-room WiFi). Perhaps this applies to "dumb" phones, not sure it has any effect re iPhones...
Also saw "Please dial *777*1# then press SEND from your handset at anytime to receive a text message stating the remaining amount of MB on your account" and "Please dial *777# then press SEND from your handset at anytime to receive a text message stating your balance and expiration date": are those free calls/SMS?
Case Study: Help me Optimize my Comm & Tech
Another question I have is when you query them by text at *777*1# to check how much data is used, iPhone displays "Invalid Request.": is that what I should expect?
When I asked them whether MMS needed to be activated on the $10 plan, I was told MMS may not work on iPhone: I guess/hope I was just misunderstood. Does anyone have MMS working on a 4S (or other iPhone) on the $10 monthly plan?
Thank you I.P. Daley.
On the $30 plan, *777# shows "Your account will expire on <data>." and *777*1# shows "You have x MB data." where x is the amount of MB left (out of the first 250 MB so far).
On the $10 plan, *777# shows "Your account balance is x USD and will expire on <date>." and *777*1# shows "Invalid Request.".
So both commands work, and work differently based on the plan you have with Airvoice.
Also when I go to turn off Cellular Data on the $10 plan, a dialog (with a "Dismiss" button) shows up that reads "The last transaction cost $ x. Your account balance is $ y.". What's "strange" is that the $ y amount is always less than what *777# shows even when I do not do anything between sending *777# and turning Cellular Data off...
Anyway, I guess one can hardly control how much data iPhone uses but it sure would be nice to get MMS going.Although I find the data controls pretty helpful on iOS7, no dice here getting MMS. Every time I try I lose stored passwords, so I haven't cared enough to make another attempt.
Do you have a $10 and a $30 plan too?Thank you I.P. Daley.
On the $30 plan, *777# shows "Your account will expire on <data>." and *777*1# shows "You have x MB data." where x is the amount of MB left (out of the first 250 MB so far).
On the $10 plan, *777# shows "Your account balance is x USD and will expire on <date>." and *777*1# shows "Invalid Request.".
So both commands work, and work differently based on the plan you have with Airvoice.
I can see why *777*1# doesn't work for the $10 plan because voice/text/data comes out of the same bucket - you don't have a separate data amount to report like with the $30/month plan (unlimited voice/text, limited data). Odd that you have to use two commands to get expire and data usage info for the $30 plan.
On which plan?QuoteAlso when I go to turn off Cellular Data on the $10 plan, a dialog (with a "Dismiss" button) shows up that reads "The last transaction cost $ x. Your account balance is $ y.". What's "strange" is that the $ y amount is always less than what *777# shows even when I do not do anything between sending *777# and turning Cellular Data off...
I just tried it and got the same amount either way with mine.
So you are unable to get MMS going under iOS 7 on the $10 plan? I'm trying to figure out if the behavior differs for the $10 and the $30 plans.QuoteAnyway, I guess one can hardly control how much data iPhone uses but it sure would be nice to get MMS going.Although I find the data controls pretty helpful on iOS7, no dice here getting MMS. Every time I try I lose stored passwords, so I haven't cared enough to make another attempt.
I did not get MMS working on the $30 plan at first but at second try so yes, flimsy but it worked. On the $10 plan, so far no luck, and I have not found instructions dedicated to iOS 5, just trying my best with what is available for iOS 7. Will update the list if I find a way.
Do you have the link handy detailing how to port my iPhone 4S?
I did not get MMS working on the $30 plan at first but at second try so yes, flimsy but it worked. On the $10 plan, so far no luck, and I have not found instructions dedicated to iOS 5, just trying my best with what is available for iOS 7. Will update the list if I find a way.
Just for a larf, have you tried switching SIM cards between the two iPhones? Curiosity is getting the better of me.Do you have the link handy detailing how to port my iPhone 4S?
Now matter how many more times you try, I told you I'm done giving you advice (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-isps-voip-cell/msg184399/#msg184399)... but I am going to provide you with one more bit despite my better judgment given your question: Learn how to use a search engine yourself instead of impeding on other people to answer your incredibly simple questions for you using the same technology. (http://websearch.about.com/od/internetresearch/a/genericsearch.htm)
Best of luck dealing with AT&T, and have a good life.
No, just the $10 plan. I was just pointing out how they're different, not trying to confuse.Do you have a $10 and a $30 plan too?Thank you I.P. Daley.
On the $30 plan, *777# shows "Your account will expire on <data>." and *777*1# shows "You have x MB data." where x is the amount of MB left (out of the first 250 MB so far).
On the $10 plan, *777# shows "Your account balance is x USD and will expire on <date>." and *777*1# shows "Invalid Request.".
So both commands work, and work differently based on the plan you have with Airvoice.
I can see why *777*1# doesn't work for the $10 plan because voice/text/data comes out of the same bucket - you don't have a separate data amount to report like with the $30/month plan (unlimited voice/text, limited data). Odd that you have to use two commands to get expire and data usage info for the $30 plan.
$10/month plan.Quote from: [quote author=geekette link=topic=231.msg215944#msg215944 date=1391965507On which plan?QuoteAlso when I go to turn off Cellular Data on the $10 plan, a dialog (with a "Dismiss" button) shows up that reads "The last transaction cost $ x. Your account balance is $ y.". What's "strange" is that the $ y amount is always less than what *777# shows even when I do not do anything between sending *777# and turning Cellular Data off...
I just tried it and got the same amount either way with mine.
I tried once or twice, and things didn't go as expected (as shown) in the video, plus the first thing they do, IIRC, deletes stored passwords (a pain). Me, the phone, the plan, I don't know. I just thought back to how many MMS texts I've ever gotten (big fat zero) and bailed. I can see how it would be important if you did a lot of MMS texting outside of iMessage, though.So you are unable to get MMS going under iOS 7 on the $10 plan? I'm trying to figure out if the behavior differs for the $10 and the $30 plans.QuoteAnyway, I guess one can hardly control how much data iPhone uses but it sure would be nice to get MMS going.Although I find the data controls pretty helpful on iOS7, no dice here getting MMS. Every time I try I lose stored passwords, so I haven't cared enough to make another attempt.
Haven't tried that and not sure I want to. Reason is when I unlocked the iPhones following AT&T directions I did a "Backup" then a "Restore Backup" and was then able to use any non-AT&T SIM no problem. Having this issue with MMS with my $10 plan, some Googling showed that perhaps our iPhones were not fully unlocked. It appears when AT&T instructs to do a Restore, they do mean to do a full Restore to factory settings. Only when I did that on one of the two iPhones did I get the "Congratulations your Iphone has been unlocked" screen thingie in iTunes. Doing so however upgraded iOS 5.1 to 7.0.4, which I expected. So now I have two "different" iPhone iOS. We use the $30 plan a lot more than the $10 and do need to have MMS on the former, so I do not want to mess it up since it works perfectly (I recall some being able to have MMS on 7.0.4 and I woud think they were using the $30 plan or up, based on my experience).I did not get MMS working on the $30 plan at first but at second try so yes, flimsy but it worked. On the $10 plan, so far no luck, and I have not found instructions dedicated to iOS 5, just trying my best with what is available for iOS 7. Will update the list if I find a way.
Just for a larf, have you tried switching SIM cards between the two iPhones? Curiosity is getting the better of me.
I don't store passwords
I don't do banking on the iPhone either and I thought that's what you meant by "passwords". Yes I do lose WiFi passwords everytime but I only have one so no big deal. I read some, like me, never got the "Congratulations" screen in iTunes after unlocking their iPhone yet the device was unlocked and did work on US MVNOs or abroad. It seems like we do not need to worry about this. I am not sure we would be able to use Airvoice if our iPhones were not unlocked.I don't store passwords
Really? While I don't do any banking on the phone, my wifi needs a password, and I have them stored for many of the usual places I go that allow me on their wifi (family, several shops). That was a pain getting them all back in.
Interesting that you mention getting a "Congratulations, your phone is now unlocked". I never did. Wonder if that means anything for possible international travel (no plans, just wondering).
Wow - thanks! SO much easier than other videos (actually, I didn't watch the video, just used your instructions).You're welcome. Happy to share!!!
My sticking point, and I remember this from before, is that if I leave the T-Mobile sim in there for more than, oh, 30 seconds, it insists that I activate the phone. It won't allow me to do anything else.I used a $0.99 T-Mobile SIM card I ordered direct from their website. I do not leave it long enough to be requested to activate or anything like that. I take it off as soon as I have access to Cellular Data Network.
But I had gotten to the screen that allowed me to change the APN settings before it took over, so once I stuck the Airvoice sim back in the slot, that screen was still up. I changed things and I think it "stuck".Yes it stucks, perhaps due to turning 3G off and having roaming on, I don't know. My Airvoice MMS settings also survived rebooting the phone, which is very good!
Now I just have to find someone who doesn't have an iPhone to see if it'll work.I hope it does: keep us posted!
I think the simplified instructions should beI think at step 2) you simply turn 3G (or 4G if it shows that) off. And yes, at step 3), there is no need to go to the Note app or anything like that, which is indeed easier than anything else I had seen.
1) insert T-mobile SIM
2) go to settings -> turn cellular data off, roaming on, go to Cellular Data Network
3) WITHOUT HITTING THE HOME BUTTON swap back the Airvoice SIM
4) enter settings from http://airvoicewireless.com/SupportIphone.aspx
Home and done.Yes and yes. Let's hope this remains the same whenever iOS 7.1 arrives!
Still won't allow me to set up a hotspot, though.In my various attempts, I sometimes saw that with the T-Mobile SIM card in, options for Tethering appeared. With that said, I haven't seen Airvoice providing instructions for this, and I definitely would not try to set tethering up if Airvoice doesn't officially support it. I guess you would need that up and going to set up a hot stop, yet I am not sure at all, and have no plan trying to set it up.
Lol. Thought you had a link on your blog I had intended to use. Will very happily patronize someone else's though as you request.
Since October, Comcast has been sharply dropping the average speed for all Netflix users. As you can see in the first link, it is now at about 1.63mbps.
So the moral of the story is apparently that you can pay Comcast for as much speed as you like, but it doesn't matter if they strangle the pipes from the provider.
The 1.2mbps avg they show for AT&T DSL was enough for me to stream in HD, probably because when I had them for internet there were a lot less customers.
Since October, Comcast has been sharply dropping the average speed for all Netflix users. As you can see in the first link, it is now at about 1.63mbps.
So the moral of the story is apparently that you can pay Comcast for as much speed as you like, but it doesn't matter if they strangle the pipes from the provider.
Yeah, our current lack of sufficient net neutrality laws is disheartening, to say the least.The 1.2mbps avg they show for AT&T DSL was enough for me to stream in HD, probably because when I had them for internet there were a lot less customers.
Number of customers there doesn't matter. On cable you share a pipe with your neighbors, so your neighbor torrenting can affect your speeds. On DSL you don't, the pipe goes straight to you.
Alright! Rock on, IP!
Wow! That thing is awesome. Much easier to link to and utilize than a 26 page thread. Very cool. :D
Since October, Comcast has been sharply dropping the average speed for all Netflix users. As you can see in the first link, it is now at about 1.63mbps.
So the moral of the story is apparently that you can pay Comcast for as much speed as you like, but it doesn't matter if they strangle the pipes from the provider.
The 1.2mbps avg they show for AT&T DSL was enough for me to stream in HD, probably because when I had them for internet there were a lot less customers.
Woohoo! Nice CSS work right there too. Not that there was anything wrong with the previous theme.
Since October, Comcast has been sharply dropping the average speed for all Netflix users. As you can see in the first link, it is now at about 1.63mbps.
So the moral of the story is apparently that you can pay Comcast for as much speed as you like, but it doesn't matter if they strangle the pipes from the provider.
Yeah, our current lack of sufficient net neutrality laws is disheartening, to say the least.
Since October, Comcast has been sharply dropping the average speed for all Netflix users. As you can see in the first link, it is now at about 1.63mbps.
So the moral of the story is apparently that you can pay Comcast for as much speed as you like, but it doesn't matter if they strangle the pipes from the provider.
Yeah, our current lack of sufficient net neutrality laws is disheartening, to say the least.
I doubt that is what is happening. Or, to be more clear, I doubt they are intentionally strangling the pipe to Netflix. I'd suspect they actually do the opposite and have peering to Netflix to provide more bandwidth.
ISPs have a continual struggle to try to keep the b/w to Netflix up to date. It is a huge pipe that is continually growing and is leaps and bounds more than the next bandwidth hog.
...and: I might add... Peering is non-network neutral, as is pretty much anything that you do to make your network work better. Net Neutrality has serious downsides, too. (Fighting viruses, fighting spam, Peering, using QoS to make video/audio work better: all these are NOT network neutral and are vital to keeping things running.)
...but maybe I spoke too soon: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2327327/net-neutrality-battle-begins-as-verizon-appears-to-throttle-netflix
This is Verizon (and I am assuming Verizon Wireless... though it doesn't say that), not Comcast... and they actually might have valid reasons to limit Netflix* ... but it still surprises me.
*Netflix app normally switches down seamlessly in quality as bandwidth goes down. Since VZ devices are primarily small screened hand helds, and tower bandwidth is tight... It might make sense to slow down video to small screens where it won't really be noticed.
My home network hands off of a VZ wireless connection... and they've been doing odd throttling for a really long time. It seems to be time and session based. Often (in my case at least) it is counter productive. If I am trying to copy a large file, I'll get 80% done and they'll reset the connection and I'll have to chunk it up into pieces and resend it.
...but maybe I spoke too soon
My question is ... Tango uses our wi-fi ... but does it also use up the minutes on his phone? I know it shouldn't be using data (I think ) but last month we were charged $10 for going over data ... I am confused.
...but maybe I spoke too soon
Aye, Spork, you did: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/02/netflix-performance-on-verizon-and-comcast-has-been-dropping-for-months/
480p is more than plenty - seeing the hair growing out of Bob DeNiro's mole doesn't make Heat a more enjoyable film.
No Net Neutrality translates into monopolistic properties. I just don't get how they can let net neutrality die.
http://davesblog.com/blog/2014/02/05/verizon-using-recent-net-neutrality-victory-to-wage-war-against-netflix/ (http://davesblog.com/blog/2014/02/05/verizon-using-recent-net-neutrality-victory-to-wage-war-against-netflix/)
Just remember, Adam....I know what you're saying, but I'm not getting 480p. I'm getting like 240i. Its almost unwatchable. And in the grand scheme of things, I'm trying to cancel my DirectTV, so the $8/mo Netflix subscription (along with a digital to analog converter and an HD antenna I haven't bought yet) was to convince the wife that we'd still have plenty of opportunity for 'entertainment', and it would save me $75/mo. Our Netflix re-subscription is a relatively new thing, we had done without it for the last two years (because of the satellite), but then I got a Chromecast and 3 free months, and then the decision to cut the sat, well we decided to keep the netflix.480p is more than plenty - seeing the hair growing out of Bob DeNiro's mole doesn't make Heat a more enjoyable film.
Eventually though, you're going to have to ask yourself a difficult question: "What matters more, my money or my entertainment?" There's a reason why I advocate what I do and don't bother recommending one blow a lot of money on a very fast connection. Now that network neutrality is fully dead (which I honestly expected to happen), things are changing for the worse, and the major ISPs are starting to leverage power back to ratchet prices up and assert power over residential cord cutters. Fortunately, phone services don't need much bandwidth. The only real way to combat this is to pay for and go under contract with a business connection... until they start doing the same thing there, too.
This is why the guide is designed the way it is, and why I advocate paying for services you actually need as opposed to going the "freemium" or proprietary routes, and not paying for stuff you don't (entertainment firmly being in that camp). It's actually a dissertation on technological minimalism. The current prices the average American family spends monthly on this stuff already has reached financial extortion levels for services none of us much need, and the guide is designed to help reclaim some financial freedom in the process of scaling back your usages to only what you need and to become less reliant on the services in your day to day life in general. As even these services grow more expensive, you'll already be in a need-versus-want mindset, and far less apt to be self-extorted into wasting money on frivolities instead of falsely believing that you need this stuff in your life in the first place.
Take a step back from this situation and look at the reality of it. At the heart of the matter is the fact that you're spending hours of your life dealing with and complaining about a softer quality video stream from an instant gratification, on-demand entertainment catalogue that at least ten bucks a month is being set aside for specifically for this purpose. I dislike putting it like this to you brother, but both Comcast and Netflix have you exactly where they want you - by the short hairs. You're wasting time, energy and money over an SD versus HD video quality debate on a service that ultimately destroys imagination and lateral thinking. Does it stink out loud what they're doing? Absolutely. Can you actually do anything about it? Yes, but it's not the course of action you think it is.
Money talks, and taking your business elsewhere to a "lesser evil" is still participating in the evil. You should view this as an opportunity to tell 'em both to take a flying leap and stop spending money on the faster bandwidth that won't actually be provided and an entertainment subscription you don't actually need. If you still need your entertainment fix, there's cheaper and better methods out there... your local library, OTA television, the occasional Redbox splurge, books, music, live theater, family nights... you don't need to play Hollywood's game their way to have a good time.
... And in the grand scheme of things, I'm trying to cancel my DirectTV, so the $8/mo Netflix subscription (along with a digital to analog converter and an HD antenna I haven't bought yet) was to convince the wife that we'd still have plenty of opportunity for 'entertainment', and it would save me $75/mo.
The TV is from 2006, of course. ;)... And in the grand scheme of things, I'm trying to cancel my DirectTV, so the $8/mo Netflix subscription (along with a digital to analog converter and an HD antenna I haven't bought yet) was to convince the wife that we'd still have plenty of opportunity for 'entertainment', and it would save me $75/mo.
Do you actually need a digital to analog converter? All TVs sold since March 1, 2007 are required to have a built-in ATSC DTV tuner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC_tuner#United_States_government_mandates). Also, an antenna is an antenna. The one I'm using looks like it's from the 70s (it might actually be, it was left in the attic by a previous owner), but it picks up HD broadcast signals just fine.
Does anyone know anything about Blu cell phones?
Does anyone know anything about Blu cell phones?
Blu is a newer company, mostly focusing on the Latin American market. Usually a company's lower-end handsets can reflect their higher-end model quality. They're not terrible, but they're not great either... maybe a notch or two above something no-name off of DealExtreme. Think low-end boutique phones. I want to like them, but they need to improve their support, documentation, and quality control a bit more first.
I.P., I recall reading from you that you recommended Kik or perhaps Gliph for texting as the size of the messages is lower than that of apps like iMessage or Facebook. How did you come to this conclusion? Is there a link you could provide to a survey of message sizes across text apps?
Anyone know if there's any forums dedicated to Future9? Posts are a little sparse on DSLReports (most seem to be from 2009) and I'm not entirely sure how this works. Links to website discussing Future9 in more depth would be appreciated as well.
How I understand though is, I set up an account with them and get a number, buy one of those ATA things, set it up, and then I'm good to go?
Also, is there potential for savings outside of just making/receiving calls from home?
So I upgraded my phone on Republic to the MotoX....and less than 24 hours after activating it (played with it unactivated for a few days) managed to completely destroy the screen after dropping it 3 feet.
Also, I had logged into personal accounts (including my bank) from the MotoX before I broke it, and by destroyed I mean no part of the screen works at all so I have no way to reset to factory (as far as I know....), what's the best way to get rid of it safely?
- With the phone powered off, press the VOL DOWN KEY for 2-3 seconds then POWER key then release.
- The device will display different BOOT OPTIONS.
- Use the VOL DOWN Key to SCROLL to Recovery and VOL UP Key to select Tip: If the device reboots, you may have waited to long to make a selection, you will need to begin the process again.
- The device will display the Motorola logo and then the Android in distress ( logo with Exclamation mark).
- Press and hold the VOL UP key for 10-15 seconds. While still holding the VOL UP key tap and release the POWER key. Tip: You can try this step, holding the phone in landscape. If you are stuck on step 6, try a force reboot by pressing the Power key and Vol Down key, and start the process again.
- The device will display additional menu options (Text will appear in BLUE)
- Use the VOL DOWN Key to scroll to Wipe data / factory reset and the POWER Key to select this option.
- Use the VOL DOWN key again to select YES – delete all user data and press the POWER key to CONFIRM.
- Once the Formatting is complete, press the POWER key to confirm a REBOOT.
- The device will reboot and start the normal power up sequence.
Do smart phones generally have to option to turn off cellular data? Is that something I need to be careful of while I'm shopping?
My question is ... Tango uses our wi-fi ... but does it also use up the minutes on his phone? I know it shouldn't be using data (I think ) but last month we were charged $10 for going over data ... I am confused.
Tango can potentially use mobile data if you don't turn mobile data off while on WiFi, and it might not hurt to make sure it's not running in the background eating up data while out of the house. Best bet would be to simply restrict data access of the Tango app to WiFi only if you have the option.
Is there a easier way to get or sort version of current comparable frugal plans?
Is there a easier way to get or sort version of current comparable frugal plans? This thread is ginormous and is years old since its start and it is a bit overwhelming.It's nowhere near the level of detail of IP's guide, but this page at prepaidphonenews.com (http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011/02/best-prepaid-voice-plans.html) has table for comparing plans (and pay-as-you-go) of all the major MVNOs at a glance.
Is there a easier way to get or sort version of current comparable frugal plans? This thread is ginormous and is years old since its start and it is a bit overwhelming.It's nowhere near the level of detail of IP's guide, but this page at prepaidphonenews.com (http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011/02/best-prepaid-voice-plans.html) has table for comparing plans (and pay-as-you-go) of all the major MVNOs at a glance.