Cellphones eating budgets.

[AnonymouseUser]

ACtually, its quite easy to brick a droid phone as compared to an iPhone which is basically impossible to brick

I never said you couldn't brick an Android phone, just that it's almost impossible to permanently brick one. They can usually be un-bricked.

 

[palswim]

Prepaid plans will always cost less than post-paid for single users (and maybe two people), but do any prepaid plans exist for families, or do they all scale linearly?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Prepaid plans will always cost less than post-paid for single users (and maybe two people), but do any prepaid plans exist for families, or do they all scale linearly?

Are there any post-paid family plans that can beat the price of prepaid?

 

[palswim]

Are there any post-paid family plans that can beat the price of prepaid?

Touché

I guess if I shop vigilantly for prepaid plans and don't mind managing several different plans depending on each users' needs, I would probably always pay less with prepaid. I was thinking simplistically that at some point, the cost of adding lines to postpaid would cost less than individual prepaid contracts (e.g. $90 + 3*$10 costs less than $30*5). But I probably simplified too much in my mind.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Touché

I guess if I shop vigilantly for prepaid plans and don't mind managing several different plans depending on each users' needs, I would probably always pay less with prepaid. I was thinking simplistically that at some point, the cost of adding lines to postpaid would cost less than individual prepaid contracts (e.g. $90 + 3*$10 costs less than $30*5). But I probably simplified too much in my mind.

I did look at both Virgin Mobile and T-mobile after your question, and no, they don't have family prepaid plans. I also compared their post-paid family plan with their prepaid plans.

While you can eek out a small savings with the 5 phone post paid unlimited everything family plan ($265/month + ~16% tax = $307), that's because it competes with their $70/month prepaid plan ($350 + 0 tax = $350). Compared to the $60/month plan ($300) the prepaid wins (you can save another 3-5% with discounts from some retailers). But when compared to Virgin Mobile or Boost Mobile unlimited everything plan ($55/month), prepaid is the clear winner ($275). Boost Mobile even has the shrinking payments which drops the monthly cost to $40/month after 18 months.

Compared to AT&T unlimited everything family plan ($520/month + ~16% tax = $603/month LOL Wut?), well, uh, prepaid wins. AT&T post paid loses even compared to their own Go Phone unlimited everything + 5GB data prepaid plan ($100/month + 0 tax = $500/month LOL Wut?).

I understand wanting to pay it all at once, and I'm sure you can somehow with prepaid, but the premium for post paid plans are too steep even with the family plans to justify the convenience and contract.

 

[Doppel]

The cheapest Verizon single phone plan is $90 plus tax and fees for unlimited t&t and 1gb of data. The pageplus 55 plan is unlimited t&t with 2gb of data. Albeit only 3g but still Verizon coverage.

Yeah it's grotesque, prices keep seeming to go up. This is literally half a lease payment on a brand new car right now.

 

[IGBT]

superfluous use of technology. most people don't need cell phones. But if you insist on having one I hope they take you to the cleaners. Industry analysts have spoken and will soon ramp up cost of ownership in a further effort to purge more profit from their capital investment and your willingness to pay.

 

[shortylickens]

Are there any post-paid family plans that can beat the price of prepaid?

If you still have Sprint Sero, but nobody can get on that. If they drop it, its gone for good.

 

[marvdmartian]

And I'm spending less than 1/3 of what you are on Pagepluscellular's prepaid plan. I have a 12.1 mp ELPH in my pocket for pictures, don't play games, don't miss internet when away from the house. Don't miss it sometimes at the house!

Uh, go back and read my post. My $100 is per YEAR. You're probably paying that much every 3 months, or 4 times as much as me per year. Granted, I don't have anything other than phone & text capabilities, no camera and no apps, but I don't need any of that. In fact, sometimes I have a hard time using up $100 worth of value (10-cents a minute calls, and 20-cents per text, sent or received, unless I wanted $5/month unlimited text) in a year's time!

LOL I like that one!

 

[suse920]

I carry an AT&T iPhone 4s paid by work and a Verizon Galaxy S3 for my personal phone. I have the option to port my personal number to my work phone, but for now it's worth the price premium to keep work and personal activity separate.

I feel as though I'm getting a good value for the $3 a spend a day on my personal plan, but at the same time it's 2 tanks of gas, 2 weeks of lunches, etc etc

Now I'll me sit back as I let the hate flow through me.

 

[aldamon]

how's the evo v compared to my 1st gen galaxy s? assuming i've done all that without screwing it up.

Keep in mind, the EVO V is just a rebranded (or not even rebranded in my case) Sprint EVO 3D so it's over a year old already. I consider that a plus because the ROM and kernel scene is very advanced but some may object to buying such "old" hardware. The EVO V is a dual-core phone, with a larger screen and more storage space than your Galaxy, and the 3D camera/screen really is a nice parlor trick. Very effective and always impresses. I have mine running at 1512MHz with a 320MHz GPU. Those clock speeds along with Anthrax/Harmonia/Nova Launcher make it silky smooth. 4G is a nice perk as long as you're in a good WiMax/Clear area and the tower isn't overloaded. 3G speeds on Virgin are basically atrocious. Basically only good for E-mail and streaming audio.

 

[sixone]

Keep in mind, the EVO V is just a rebranded (or not even rebranded in my case) Sprint EVO 3D so it's over a year old already. I consider that a plus because the ROM and kernel scene is very advanced but some may object to buying such "old" hardware. The EVO V is a dual-core phone, with a larger screen and more storage space than your Galaxy, and the 3D camera/screen really is a nice parlor trick. Very effective and always impresses. I have mine running at 1512MHz with a 320MHz GPU. Those clock speeds along with Anthrax/Harmonia/Nova Launcher make it silky smooth. 4G is a nice perk as long as you're in a good WiMax/Clear area and the tower isn't overloaded. 3G speeds on Virgin are basically atrocious. Basically only good for E-mail and streaming audio.

Is the EVO V going to work on Sprint's new 4G network? They've got it up and running here, and I want to use it.

 

[crownjules]

Keep in mind, the EVO V is just a rebranded (or not even rebranded in my case) Sprint EVO 3D so it's over a year old already. I consider that a plus because the ROM and kernel scene is very advanced but some may object to buying such "old" hardware. The EVO V is a dual-core phone, with a larger screen and more storage space than your Galaxy, and the 3D camera/screen really is a nice parlor trick. Very effective and always impresses. I have mine running at 1512MHz with a 320MHz GPU. Those clock speeds along with Anthrax/Harmonia/Nova Launcher make it silky smooth. 4G is a nice perk as long as you're in a good WiMax/Clear area and the tower isn't overloaded. 3G speeds on Virgin are basically atrocious. Basically only good for E-mail and streaming audio.

I just flashed my Samsung Galaxy S1 (Vibrant) to Ice Cream Sandwich with a custom kernel and the thing runs butter smooth now. I was running the very old Eclair before and hand constant problems with lockups/freezing in apps. I now have no reason to upgrade the phone, so I'm hoping I can unlock it and get it on to one of the other GSM pre-paid networks. Tracfone is looking best right now becuase for $30/mo I get all the minutes I need and unlimited text and data.

 

[aldamon]

Is the EVO V going to work on Sprint's new 4G network? They've got it up and running here, and I want to use it.

The EVO V is not an LTE phone. The 4G available on the EVO V is the old battery sucking WiMax 4G over Clear's network. It's the same legacy 4G network the original EVO made famous with its commercials, which is why it's being thrown in with Virgin for no extra charge. We have excellent Clear WiMax coverage in downtown Durham but it's been spotty elsewhere. WiMax does not penetrate buildings or even windows very well.

I just flashed my Samsung Galaxy S1 (Vibrant) to Ice Cream Sandwich with a custom kernel and the thing runs butter smooth now. I was running the very old Eclair before and hand constant problems with lockups/freezing in apps. I now have no reason to upgrade the phone, so I'm hoping I can unlock it and get it on to one of the other GSM pre-paid networks. Tracfone is looking best right now becuase for $30/mo I get all the minutes I need and unlimited text and data.

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[sixone]

The EVO V is not an LTE phone. The 4G available on the EVO V is the old battery sucking WiMax 4G over Clear's network. It's the same legacy 4G network the original EVO made famous with its commercials. We have excellent Clear WiMax coverage in downtown Durham but it's been spotty elsewhere. WiMax does not penetrate buildings or even windows very well.

But is the WiMax better than 3G?

 

[SandEagle]

if you have AAA, TMo gives yoy a 14% discount off your monthly bill. i have 2 lines, 1 smart. 700m, 400 txt, unlimited data, free nghrs/wknds, and mble to mble. $85.

 

[Yreka]

I haven't paid for a cell phone in 13 years ( work provided BB), but thinking about getting a personal phone.

I have a friend that will give me an AT&T Iphone 3 + I am looking at the unlimited plan for $45:

http://www.straighttalk.com

So it looks like I pay $15 to buy a new SIM card, then $45 per month for unlimited talk text AND data. When I look at similar plans on new phones they are 80-90 per month with limited data (2-3GB)..

Is there a catch here, or is this so much less because you aren't getting a free ( or heavily subsidized) phone ?

 

[aldamon]

But is the WiMax better than 3G?

The 4G really burns through the battery when it's on but I have gotten 5-7Mbit down/1Mbit up with speed tests. If the 4G tower you are on is overloaded or if the signal is not penetrating the building you are in, the 4G could be slower than 3G and/or drop altogether. The former I experienced at a concert in Raleigh last week and the latter I experience every day at work. I can't use 4G at work it's 15 miles from home.

 

[sixone]

The 4G really burns through the battery when it's on but I have gotten 5-7Mbit down/1Mbit up with speed tests. If the 4G tower you are on is overloaded or if the signal is not penetrating the building you are in, the 4G could be slower than 3G and/or drop altogether. The former I experienced at a concert in Raleigh last week and the latter I experience every day at work. I can't use 4G at work it's 15 miles from home.

Sounds like I'll still be better off, enough to justify another $10/month.

Thanks!

 

[dank69]

Sounds like I'll still be better off, enough to justify another $10/month.

Thanks!

EVO V on sale this week at Best Buy for $249, I plan on picking one up.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

EVO V on sale this week at Best Buy for $249, I plan on picking one up.

It's $229 @ Radio Shack. Has been for a few weeks now. SO's daughter paid that in store though it says "Web-only Price". Free ship-to-store anyway.

 

[sixone]

EVO V on sale this week at Best Buy for $249, I plan on picking one up.

Virgin Mobile is advertising it online for $239 with free shipping, right now. I'm waiting until the end of the month, in any case.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

I see Mexicans at the gym who complain they can't afford supplements but they have iPhones in their hands