google selling galaxy nexus direct...more to come?

[zsdersw]

199 on contract for a Galaxy Nexus is a ripoff? LOL

Yes it is.

 

[vshah]

i have a tmobile no contract plan, and i save more than enough to pay for an extra (no contract) mifi while still undercutting verizon plans.

unlocked gsm phone - check
no contract - check
great tmobile service in major metros - check
verizon network for when I'm traveling - check

 

[GTaudiophile]

My GF has a Nexus One, so my guess we will switch to a family plan on T-Mobile. Neither us is/will be on contract.

We will probably go with the 1000 Minutes + Unlimited Text + "Unlimited" Data plan for $120/month.

I currently pay around $55/month and she around $105/month, so this family plan would represent some savings.

Comments?

 

[Strk]

So does this work with that $30 tmobile/walmart plan? If so, that would be awesome.

 

[ponyo]

What cable are you using to do that?

Micro USB to USB OTG Host Cable This one is $1.43 shipped. You can find it cheap as $1 shipped. I have one but bought it from Amazon seller for couple bucks and it works great. By default you can only use FAT32 formatted drives but if you use app like USB Mass Storage Watcher OTG, you can even mount NFTS drives. How about 2TB NTFS external hard drive to mounted to your phone or tablet. Enough storage for you? Pair this with Micro USB to HDMI MHL adapter and you can carry your entire media collection with you and play it on any TV with HDMI.

 

[ponyo]

My GF has a Nexus One, so my guess we will switch to a family plan on T-Mobile. Neither us is/will be on contract.

We will probably go with the 1000 Minutes + Unlimited Text + "Unlimited" Data plan for $120/month.

I currently pay around $55/month and she around $105/month, so this family plan would represent some savings.

Comments?

Straight Talk for $45 a month is cheaper. You just won't get unlimited data with Straight Talk. But if you use 2gb or less a month, Straight Talk is a better deal.

So does this work with that $30 tmobile/walmart plan? If so, that would be awesome.

Yes. This phone has every GSM band. It will work on AT&T or T-Mobile without any problem.

 

[Dulanic]

Straight Talk for $45 a month is cheaper. You just won't get unlimited data with Straight Talk. But if you use 2gb or less a month, Straight Talk is a better deal.

I've even been tempted to do the $30 Tmobile data plan /w groove IP as Tmobiles data speeds are pretty good and I heard people have had good luck with that.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I've even been tempted to do the $30 Tmobile data plan /w groove IP as Tmobiles data speeds are pretty good and I heard people have had good luck with that.

T-Mobiles's 3G speeds have been great for me. Their "4G" speeds have been disappointing for me though. I only get about 3Mbps with the Galaxy Nexus on HSPA+ with 4 bars here in Phoenix, though I hear others get better results in other places.

 

[Ravynmagi]

So does this work with that $30 tmobile/walmart plan? If so, that would be awesome.

Yeah, just make sure you buy the Pre-paid SIM activation kit from T-Mobile.com.
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit

If you get impatient, like I did, and try to buy it in a T-Mobile retail store, they'll screw it up, activate it, and then you won't be able to use it for the $30 5GB plan anymore.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

do they sell the verizon version for that price too?

 

[Dulanic]

do they sell the verizon version for that price too?

No, and a verizon phone can only be used on verizon really even "unlocked" so what would be the point?

 

[apac]

399 unlocked + straight talk would save a ton of money over a $49 on contract purchase.

My post was in response to dguy6789 laughing at $199 on contract being a ripoff. Compared to $49 on contract, $199 on contract IS a ripoff.

Agreed that $399 on prepaid is the best deal, but some people (me included) don't want to deal with StraightTalk.

 

[Xenon]

I think I'm going to jump on this. How can I keep the same phone number switching from verizon to the t-mobile/walmart prepaid plan?

 

[ImDonly1]

I think I'm going to jump on this. How can I keep the same phone number switching from verizon to the t-mobile/walmart prepaid plan?

When activating click port number instead of new number on their website. Super easy and they usually take care of the rest. Verizon will cancel your service once the get the request.

And the guy above, you dont have to use straight talk there are other prepaid providers. Straight talk is the most popular because it's cheaper by a small amount.

 

[gorcorps]

It boggles me that people still think chaining yourself to a contract and paying hundreds more a year is a good deal nowadays.

I've never understood this argument... how are you paying more? You need the plan anyway, so that isn't it. You need data anyway, so that isn't it. The only downside to it is you're stuck on that carrier. I'm not one to switch carriers often though, so I might as well get a discounted phone if I'm getting the exact same thing either way. Right?

 

[cronos]

Argh this is very tempting.

 

[cronos]

I've never understood this argument... how are you paying more? You need the plan anyway, so that isn't it. You need data anyway, so that isn't it. The only downside to it is you're stuck on that carrier. I'm not one to switch carriers often though, so I might as well get a discounted phone if I'm getting the exact same thing either way. Right?

This argument keeps coming up, but if you read the thread completely then you'll understand.

The key point that you're missing is the implication that you would *not* get the same plan you would have gotten if you were in contract. You now have the option to switch to the prepaid side, or try out one of the many MVNOs out there who are offering something closer to what you actually need and use every month (amount of minutes/txt/data) with much less amount of money. This is how you save.

 

[bearxor]

I've never understood this argument... how are you paying more? You need the plan anyway, so that isn't it. You need data anyway, so that isn't it. The only downside to it is you're stuck on that carrier. I'm not one to switch carriers often though, so I might as well get a discounted phone if I'm getting the exact same thing either way. Right?

You can save money by buying a phone outright and going prepaid

Monthly Service * 24 (two year contract) + phone price / 24 = Monthly amount over two years

AT&T - 89.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 98.28 a month
Sprint - 69.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 78.28 a month
T-Mobile - 79.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 88.28 a month
Verizon - 89.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 98.28 a month
Straight Talk - 50 * 24 + 400 / 24 = 61.67 a month

My main problem with Straight Talk is their super ambiguous data policy. A lot of months I use under 2GB. But some months I go over. WAY over. I don't want to lose the phone number I've had for 10 years.

 

[Dulanic]

You can save money by buying a phone outright and going prepaid

Monthly Service * 24 (two year contract) + phone price / 24 = Monthly amount over two years

AT&T - 89.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 98.28 a month
Sprint - 69.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 78.28 a month
T-Mobile - 79.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 88.28 a month
Verizon - 89.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 98.28 a month
Straight Talk - 50 * 24 + 400 / 24 = 61.67 a month

My main problem with Straight Talk is their super ambiguous data policy. A lot of months I use under 2GB. But some months I go over. WAY over. I don't want to lose the phone number I've had for 10 years.

Thats why I'm gonna port to Google voice. Worst case IF they cut you go to tmobile prepaid phone for a little bit more.

 

[soccerballtux]

Straight Talk is 42/month if you buy 3 months at a time or a year at a time like I did.

 

[ponyo]

Google has already posted the factory image for the Google direct Nexus. It's called "takju" and ships with the latest 4.0.4 (IMM76I) and Google Wallet. It's the only image that says with Google Wallet. Sprint GNex factory image is still not on the site yet.

https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

 

[AstroManLuca]

Thats why I'm gonna port to Google voice. Worst case IF they cut you go to tmobile prepaid phone for a little bit more.

You can also go T-Mobile no contract postpaid (called "value" ) on their website). $50 a month, 500 minutes, 2GB of data before throttling, unlimited texts, and 100MB of data roaming per month. It's still no contract, and the rates are lower than contact plans, but you get the benefits of roaming and free night and weekend minutes. That $30 prepaid plan is a great deal but with only 100 minutes and no free minutes you could easily go over.

I'm thinking of doing that myself actually. At first I wanted straight talk on AT&T because I was concerned about coverage around my in laws house, but I go there infrequently enough and use little data while there so T-Mobile's no contract value plan should work for me.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

This is a great case, I have one:

http://www.amazon.com/Diztronic-Flex.../dp/B0065PGWQ0

I also have 3 of these in various colors, which are also excellent:

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Androidi...ef=pd_cp_cps_1

Just bought that case. Dropped my phone for the second time since I got it today. For some reason the bezel is very prone to nicks so might as well...

 

[ImDonly1]

You can save money by buying a phone outright and going prepaid

Monthly Service * 24 (two year contract) + phone price / 24 = Monthly amount over two years

AT&T - 89.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 98.28 a month
Sprint - 69.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 78.28 a month
T-Mobile - 79.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 88.28 a month
Verizon - 89.99 * 24 + 199 / 24 = 98.28 a month
Straight Talk - 50 * 24 + 400 / 24 = 61.67 a month

My main problem with Straight Talk is their super ambiguous data policy. A lot of months I use under 2GB. But some months I go over. WAY over. I don't want to lose the phone number I've had for 10 years.

St is 42 if you get the 3 month refills. Also sprint is 69 + 10 data fee. You also forgot all of the taxes on postpaid plans. So there are even more savings.

 

[Kanalua]

Mine just shipped!