Non-contract/major carrier cellphone plans

[CZroe]

I'm still on AT&T but the secret $30 T-Mobile plan with 100 minutes, 5GB, and unlim text is the way to go as soon as their network supports non-AWS unlocked phones in my area.

 

[mjrpes3]

I would have loved loved loved to go with ting.com but they are Sprint only and I wanted the Nexus 4.

I am currently testing out T-Mobile $30 (100min,5GB data) with my new Nexus 4 to see if I can live with the voice/data coverage. So far not too bad (not excellent, but I was not expecting that). If T-Mobile sucks I'll stick with AT&T on my parent's family plan.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I got a Nexus 4, no need for a data plan that way. I just have a really basic voice/text plan. Of course I could have gotten any other phone, but did not really want to pay 600 bucks+ for a phone, while $400 was easier to justify. My plan is around $25/mo.

 

[phucheneh]

If you don't like large, dry, abrasive objects forcibly inserted into your rectum, then pay as you go is probably the best way for you.

Fixed.

I use Virgin. 1200 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text. $49 a month (including tax/fees). Paid $50 for a Kyocera Rise (1Ghz single core Android 4.0 phone with a slide-out keyboard; at the normal $80-100 it's a pretty good deal, at 50 it's retarded cheap). $150 gets you a pretty damn good dual core phone.

OP may be referring to a thread someone made recently about acquiring an iPhone from his carrier and then selling it and reverting to something else. I attempted to do the math and show him that he would get more and pay less with pre-paid. I used VM as my example but have no problem recommending any of the major pre-paid carriers mentioned in the thread (straight talk, VM, boost, et al).

1) Customer service will probably be terrible.
2) Data will probably not be fast.
3) If you're like me, you won't give a shit since you're not paying $30-50 a month for a base plan, plus 20 for messaging, plus 30 for data, plus an extra 10 bucks in fees.

 

[AmdEmAll]

Virgin Mobile FTW

And get the Samsung Reverb.. phone kicks ass

 

[Pardus]

comment removed

 

[7window]

I have an at&t landline that I pay $35 /mo. unlimited talk but no internet. Is there a plan out there that can beat this? I would like to ditch at&t My wife ineeds to talk to her friends for 2hr/day everyday so I need unlimited.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Virgin Mobile FTW

And get the Samsung Reverb.. phone kicks ass

I got rid of the Reverb for the HTC EVO V 4G, way better phone and right now its on sale for $140.

 

[phucheneh]

I have an at&t landline that I pay $35 /mo. unlimited talk but no internet. Is there a plan out there that can beat this? I would like to ditch at&t My wife ineeds to talk to her friends for 2hr/day everyday so I need unlimited.

For the most part, the good pre-paid plans are talk-limited. As in, you can get a $35 plan with unlimited data/text, but not very much talk time.

I am not aware of anyone offering the opposite (unlimited minutes but limited data/text). However the 'unlimited everything' plans are pretty affordable at 50-60 a month.

It you only care about voice, there may be some companies worth looking into...eh...I'll just say it: the 'geezer carriers.' I don't have any experience, but I see them advertised as simple, low-priced talk plans without any new-finagled hoo-hah added in. And you get a phone with gigantic buttons. :awe:

edit: For VM phones, I can't see not going for the Evo V 4G for $140. The Samsung is the same price and just not as good. Past that, you have the higher end Samsung that is twice the price of the Evo V for almost the same damn specs. And the $120 HTC One, which is basically just a nicer version of the Rise.

The Evo really hits the sweet spot, and IMO, the Rise is the only cheapie (smartphone) worth looking at. But I'd try and catch another half-price sale on that one, if you want it. For 80 vs 140, I think the Evo is worth it; however, I would miss my keyboard. You will get my QWERTY when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

 

[holden j caufield]

I think tmobile has $100 for 1000? minutes that are good for a year.

 

[AmdEmAll]

I got rid of the Reverb for the HTC EVO V 4G, way better phone and right now its on sale for $140.

Well I went from a Triumph to a galaxy reverb and its miles ahead of it. Ive used a friends HTC EVO V 4G and it was slow as shit and its bulky. No thanks.

Btw I paid $99 for my reverb and sold my triumph for the same haha.

 

[gothamhunter]

uprepaid plans (Off of USC network):
http://www.uprepaid.net

Normal Plans
$40/mo
Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web

$30/mo (The one the wife and I will choose)
1500 Minutes & Unlimited Text

$2/day
Unlimited Talk, Text, and 50MB Data

$1/day
Unlimited Nights, Weekends & Text

Smartphone Plans
$50/mo
Unlimited Talk, Text, and 2GB Data

$2/day
Unlimited Talk, Text, and 50MB Data

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Well I went from a Triumph to a galaxy reverb and its miles ahead of it. Ive used a friends HTC EVO V 4G and it was slow as shit and its bulky. No thanks.

Btw I paid $99 for my reverb and sold my triumph for the same haha.

I had random reboot issues with the Reverb. I also went from 3G to 4G with the EVO, I am not a huge data user, but the Wimax is a big boost over 3G. There were things I liked about the Reverb, but there is just so much more for the EVO in terms of accessories and development. Bought a 3000mah battery for $23, so it has some bulk now that's for sure. At $140 right now, its just a steal.

 

[vailr]

PagePlus offers a voice only: $10/4 months or 100 minutes plan. That's only 25 minutes/month, but is sufficient for my needs. The Verizon Palm Pixi Plus that I'm using was bought brand new for under $30. Allows free WiFi for email, web browsing, etc.
Or get some other Verizon compatible phone if you need a bigger screen or want an Android device, for example.

 

[Anonemous]

Fixed.

I use Virgin. 1200 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text. $49 a month (including tax/fees).

Huh, I thought Virgin's pay as you go plans had tax included. I have a 35/mo plan and it's just 35 straight up.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Huh, I thought Virgin's pay as you go plans had tax included. I have a 35/mo plan and it's just 35 straight up.

I also pay $35 right on the nose.

 

[TwiceOver]

Juct changed the wife and I from pageplus over to straight talk unlimited. $36.65/mo each no issues so far using at&t sim cards. She has a galaxy s2 and I have a nexus 4. Our bill went up $22/mo total from page plus, but worth it for the data and much better phones.

 

[phucheneh]

Huh, I thought Virgin's pay as you go plans had tax included. I have a 35/mo plan and it's just 35 straight up.

:\

Went to look up bill...

$45.00 Monthly Plan Charge
$0.53 e911
$4.16 Sales Tax
$49.69 Deducted from [somewhere]

What the eff? Maybe it's a state to state thing.

Still better than $100/month on Verizon/ATT and then paying buttrape fees AND tax.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I setup my payment on VM's site, so no sales tax for me there. They auto deduct it monthly.

 

[Anonemous]

I setup my payment on VM's site, so no sales tax for me there. They auto deduct it monthly.

This. You can also buy time cards from Walmart.com or some other sites and you don't get taxed.

 

[phucheneh]

...my payment is through VM's site and auto-deducted monthly.

It has always had state sales tax. IIRC e911 fee came later.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Weird, I live in California, we pay sales tax almost always, so this is a blessing.

 

[WiseUp216]

I've been on Virgin Mobile so long that I'm grandfather'd in on the $25/month plan. 300 minutes, unlimited texts, 2GB before throttling, I think.

It works for me because I text much more than talk and only need a basic Android phone. Just not interested in the latest and greatest phones.

 

[phucheneh]

You got lucky. I was using the $25 plan, too (...or 27, just for me, apparently...), but you lose your grandfathered plan if you upgrade to a smartphone...or you're supposed to. Some really early (for VM) Android stuff is in the group of included devices.

 

[PinmasterJay]

I just got T-Mobile's $30/mo prepaid plan for 100 minutes / unlimited text / unlimited data (5G at 4G speeds). T-Mobile's network is pretty sketchy around my area but its so much cheaper its still worth it to me. We are still paying 90/mo with 20% discount for Verizon.