I think I'm paying too much for one phone

[sze5003]

Never been a nexus fan but it's worth it checking out now. Only bad thing is it does not have expandable memory it's either 16gb or 32 available. I could actually buy one now if I wanted.

 

[paperwastage]

Never been a nexus fan but it's worth it checking out now. Only bad thing is it does not have expandable memory it's either 16gb or 32 available. I could actually buy one now if I wanted.

but won't work on verizon...

I believe that HTC Droid DNA is GSM sim unlocked, dunno about 3G/4G/LTE-compatibility... if you don't mind, buy a StraightTalk sim / t-mobile prepaid sim, test out the service for a month or so (will cost you $30-$45)

 

[soccerballtux]

So say I go with the tmobile pre paid plan for $30 bucks. I already have Google voice number that is forwarded to my current phone number. If I port my number to tmobile and then set my company forwarding to the Google voice number will it still go through t mobile voice calls?

yes but better you need to port the current phone number to google voice, and then have that forwarded to a new tmobile number they give you. then work forward to google voice #, and enable the skype thing or whatever.

 

[sze5003]

but won't work on verizon...

I believe that HTC Droid DNA is GSM sim unlocked, dunno about 3G/4G/LTE-compatibility... if you don't mind, buy a StraightTalk sim / t-mobile prepaid sim, test out the service for a month or so (will cost you $30-$45)

Yea I should do that. I wonder if it will mess up my Verizon service if I pop in a straight talk SIM. My DNA is unlocked too.

 

[Cruisin1]

I have the exact same plan, & while I feel like I pay alot, too, I use LOTS of data. If I was to go with t-mobile, I would still pay almost 80 per month for the same plan(but unlimited talk on TM).
Not going to leave my unlimited awesome coverage lte.

If you went to T-mobile you'd pay 70 flat... or you If I was the original poster I'd go with 60 plan. This is what I did two months ago. I switched from verizon with unlimited data and went to Tmobile. Let me tell you tmobile data is faster than my verizon data was (probably because verizon was so oversubscribed).

 

[Chocu1a]

If you went to T-mobile you'd pay 70 flat... or you If I was the original poster I'd go with 60 plan. This is what I did two months ago. I switched from verizon with unlimited data and went to Tmobile. Let me tell you tmobile data is faster than my verizon data was (probably because verizon was so oversubscribed).

Tried T-mobile in my area. Horrible. Constant switching from 2g/hspa/lte.
Also, once inside my work, I have absolutely no signal. I would rather pay the extra 15 per month & know I have a signal.
Also, When I travel to any area outside my city, I had no signal on T-Mobile, but always had a signal with Verizon. Even out on the middle of a lake in the boonies.

 

[sze5003]

That depends on your area. My gf had t mobile years ago. She had to leave her house to make a call. But now it should be better I think. They merged with metro pcs and my sister has that, she is happy with it. The 60 dollar plan limits you to 2.5gb of data, so if you buy a phone out right and include taxes I think it would come close to $70/month.

I may just buy a Verizon galaxy s4 from craigslist, since they too are unlocked. But first I could go buy a straight talk SIM card and try it out for a month going to work and back to see how it performs.

My biggest concern I guess is getting my bill lower. It's not only that I want a new phone. I could buy any phone full price on eBay or craigslist, that's how I got my last two phones.

And yes I notice that with Verizon I always have signal except for the main campus buildings of my company. They are built with crazy security and nothing gets through those walls.

 

[rh71]

OP has unlimited data on verizon. He can't get a subsidized phone if he keeps unlimited data.

If he has to buy a full priced phone on this plan, then buying a full priced phone that works on t-mobile, and get a cheaper plan on T-mobile might be worth it

what I'm saying is if he stays on VZW (and keep paying $80/mo.) he doesn't need to pay $600 for a new phone switching to TMobile. Can't use that DNA on TMobile. So by committing himself to pay for a new phone with TMobile $25 x 24 months (their way of subsidizing the phone), he's not saving anything until after 2 years. And by then the phone isn't even the latest the greatest. Even the very common and "not exactly new" Galaxy S4 is $600 right now.

 

[sze5003]

what I'm saying is if he stays on VZW (and keep paying $80/mo.) he doesn't need to pay $600 for a new phone switching to TMobile. Can't use that DNA on TMobile. So by committing himself to pay for a new phone with TMobile $25 x 24 months (their way of subsidizing the phone), he's not saving anything until after 2 years. And by then the phone isn't even the latest the greatest. Even the very common and "not exactly new" Galaxy S4 is $600 right now.

The DNA is unlocked and uses a SIM. I could use it in tmobile if I set the proper apn settings. All the newer Verizon phones are unlocked out the box including the DNA. I'm pretty sure the s4 and DNA are global phones out of the box.

What may not be unlocked are the bootloaders but mine is since it's rooted.

If I were to take this phone to tmobile it won't have lte, probably only edge or whatever their second rate data structure uses. Or if the 1900 mhz band is active in certain areas I would be using hspa.

 

[rh71]

^ oh, well I guess that would still be true for people like me then since I have the VZW GNex.

 

[sze5003]

Looks like Verizon will be selling some of it's spectrum bands to Tmobile.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/12/ve...ly-being-finalized/?utm_source=mobilerepublic

 

[Trombe]

IMO the suggestions that you go on T-Mobile postpaid aren't worth it; you're not saving much for the potential downgrade in service, and I say this as a T-Mobile user.

If you want to save more than a few bucks a month your options come down to:

1) Go to an ATT-based MVNO like StraightTalk.
2) Get the T-Mobile $30 prepaid plan since you don't seem to use a lot of minutes.
3) Take your sister's MetroPCS plan and convert it into a two line family plan. MetroPCS now allows you to bring unlocked GSM phones (including your Droid DNA) to use T-Mobile's network.

Check the user-submitted coverage map for T-Mobile 1900MHz here: http://airportal.de/
If you don't live in one of the major cities that's marked on the map you're either going to have to eliminate options 2 and 3 above or buy a new phone for more reliable HSPA/LTE data. ATT MVNOs should do pretty well with the Droid DNA's available bands.

 

[sze5003]

That's weird because when I was on metro's website I typed in HTC DNA and it didn't find it as a compatible phone although it is unlocked and uses SIM cards. It also runs a global Rom and I can choose weather to change from gsm to cdma and so on.

I checked that map and the city I live in is covered alright, just not so much where I work.

I believe att has much better coverage both at work and where I live. I think they are close to Verizon at this point.

I'm thinking of buying a Verizon galaxy s4, rooting it if it's not already, and then keep my DNA connected to Verizon while I try out Straight Talk on the gs4. What I wonder is the s4 will have a new number for a month but if I want to switch to ST for good, if I will be able to port my current number even after the s4 has been active on ST.

Seems like ST also is now selling 4g LTE att compatible simcards for those who want to bring a gsm phone on board.

I was reading a thread on xda where people with Verizon s4's use straight talk with the att SIM cards they bought from ST, set up the proper apn configurations and were able to get 4g LTE speeds or hspa+ and the speeds seemed pretty good.

 

[aShufflinZombie]

I don't know whereabouts you live in Philly but near where I live(around Philly International Airport), building penetration with T-Mobile is terrible. Verizon seems to be the best in the area, followed closely by ATT.

BTW, I'm on ATT.

 

[sze5003]

I don't know whereabouts you live in Philly but near where I live(around Philly International Airport), building penetration with T-Mobile is terrible. Verizon seems to be the best in the area, followed closely by ATT.

BTW, I'm on ATT.

I used to live in that area but now I'm in the far northeast. Most people at work also have either att or Verizon so my best bet is to find an s4 and try ST for a month. I would try it with my current phone but I don't want to loose my number.

 

[s44]

I was reading a thread on xda where people with Verizon s4's use straight talk with the att SIM cards they bought from ST, set up the proper apn configurations and were able to get 4g LTE speeds or hspa+ and the speeds seemed pretty good.

The Verizon S4 will get LTE on T-Mobile but not AT&T's BS Band 17. It will get HSPA+ on AT&T though.

Get a MDK version if you can.

 

[sze5003]

The Verizon S4 will get LTE on T-Mobile but not AT&T's BS Band 17. It will get HSPA+ on AT&T though.

Get a MDK version if you can.

Yea the developer editions are harder to find. I think with the new ST SIM cards, I should be able to get good speeds. Straight talk would let you choose which SIM to use, tmobile or att. But now if you go online and select get a card, they ask if you have an unlocked or gsm phone and if so, they only offer to sell you the new att compatible 4g LTE SIM cards..standard or micro.

 

[boomhower]

I'd stay on Verizon. We are using more and more data, that is not going to change. Unlimited Verizon LTE is going to be like gold going down the road. I'll keep mine until they take it away. My contract ran out in October and I'll gladly pay retail/buy used.

 

[sze5003]

I'd stay on Verizon. We are using more and more data, that is not going to change. Unlimited Verizon LTE is going to be like gold going down the road. I'll keep mine until they take it away. My contract ran out in October and I'll gladly pay retail/buy used.

Yeah I know what you mean. What I plan on doing is getting an s4, Verizon edition, get a straight talk SIM, try out straight talk for a month. I will keep my droid DNA active on Verizon. If I like straight talk, I may port my number over, if it sucks, I'll pop my SIM from the DNA into the S4 and keep Verizon.

 

[alangrift]

Unlimited data is the best way to go. I pay £81 a month for unlimited calls and texts in Europe and Zone A countries. I get 3gb data in the UK and 1gb data in Europe and Zone A countries.

£81=$130

 

[sze5003]

I may just get the htc one instead of the galaxy s4. Although it would feel weird going from my DNA to that since the one is a bit smaller.

 

[desura]

if you go with Tmobile...some windows phones on Tmobile, I know the NOkia 520 has it, have a feature called "wifi calling". Exactly like it sounds. Should solve the problem of poor indoor reception.

 

[Genx87]

Moved to T-Mobile from Verizon last week. Our combined family plan for 2 was 170\month. We bought our phones for 240\each and our plan cost is now 80. These android phones for T-Mobile have the ability to make calls over WiFi. Which is really nice!

 

[s44]

I may just get the htc one instead of the galaxy s4. Although it would feel weird going from my DNA to that since the one is a bit smaller.

Pretty sure the VZ One doesn't have AWS.

if you go with Tmobile...some windows phones on Tmobile, I know the NOkia 520 has it, have a feature called "wifi calling". Exactly like it sounds.

LOL, this ain't a WP feature. It's not only on every T-Mo Android, it's on every T-Mo ROM for Android, including some you can flash to VZ devices.

 

[sze5003]

Pretty sure the VZ One doesn't have AWS.LOL, this ain't a WP feature. It's not only on every T-Mo Android, it's on every T-Mo ROM for Android, including some you can flash to VZ devices.

I don't think it does either. But I'm not a big fan of touch wiz. I played with an s4 in the store and compared to the htc one, the S4 is a little slower. Not something you notice right away but it's the bloatware I bet.

I'm used to sense anyway, I figure if I don't like how the one performs on straight talk I'll keep it on Verizon once the month is up.