Verizon contract is up this month, what say you?

[fixxor]

I am on the unlimited talk/text and 2gb data. $50 + $40 phone fee and im sick of that expense. Just dropped it down to 1GB for this last billing cycle. Looked at T-Mobile and PagePlus coverages and they both look good for my area. Flashing phone seems for a different carrier seems a little involved from what I was reading and I think I would need to do it every time I wanted to install a new rom? That would suck.... leaning towards just getting a new phone and not dealing with the hassle. But I dont know.

 

[notposting]

Verizon should have a loyalty plan available once you are off contract (heck you could try calling now) for unlimited talk/text, 2GB for $60. Plus it's post paid so you keep your subsidized upgrades.

PagePlus is a Verizon MVNO, as far as I know you can't or it will be a lot of work to get the most recent phones to work, and they will be limited to Verizon 3G speeds.

 

[ImDonly1]

There is a rumor on howardforums and droid-life that verizon is allowing it's own prepaid to use lte in middle of July. People are expecting the verizon mvno's like pageplus allow lte phones too as a result, but no one is sure when.

http://www.droid-life.com/2014/07/03/verizon-prepaid-is-finally-getting-4g-lte-likely-on-july-17/

 

[destrekor]

Considering I highly love my Moto X, and will likely be interested in the Moto X+1 off-contract (unless they go the $700 MSRP route - of which I highly doubt)... I too am a little interesting in the whole "what's next" route.

That said, I am currently holding onto my unlimited data plan, and am on a family share plan with my folks.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Is it really worth trying to unlock an old-as-sh1t GS3 with limited GSM/LTE bands, or just sell it to someone who actually wants to use it on Verizon and buy a modern unlocked phone with full GSM/LTE bands (and better hardware to boot).

There's nothing noble about using a 2+ year old phone if you don't have to.

GS3 is just in a tough place. The CM builds are terrible. The developers call it the "derp 2" for the d2lte codename for a reason. To get a stable experience, you need a touchWiz ROM, and even if you debloat it... well its TouchWiz.

 

[glenn1]

Step 1: Sell CDMA GS3, which is old and has extremely limited off-contract options
Step 2: Buy GSM Nexus 5, which has a wide variety of off-contract options

In the same boat as the OP with incumbent VZ GS3 phone contract up at end of July. Seems like the Nexus 5 has been out for a while now, any refresh or competitor on the immediate horizon?

 

[desura]

I currently have Republic Wireless. It's decently good. Costs me $13 bucks plus change a month for unlimited talk and text. Running a Moto X which cost $300. If I could do it again, I'd get the Moto G which is just as fast for stuff that I do on it...mainly reading webpages...and costs $150.

I've been meaning to try out FreedomPop but it does seem a little too good to be true and probably is unreliable with lots of hidden fees. But it is purportedly free, or close to it. And you can BYOB, even like an iphone 5.

 

[destrekor]

In the same boat as the OP with incumbent VZ GS3 phone contract up at end of July. Seems like the Nexus 5 has been out for a while now, any refresh or competitor on the immediate horizon?

New Moto X+1 might be released sometime in August or September. I wouldn't expect an MSRP for off-contract to be above $400 (for 16GB of storage, potentially 32GB).

The future of the Nexus program itself is unknown. There are strong rumors of a Nexus 8 or Nexus 9 from HTC (tablet), but ultimately, everything is speculation at this point.

It's a safe bet that the next Moto X will be launched before the end of September, so you can use that to help make decisions regarding other potential candidates that may be released in this summer season.

 

[Piano Man]

I suggest trying the T-Mobile Test Drive.

I just finished mine (I'm in Los Angeles), and I am very impressed. I'm sure it depends on where you live/work/commute, but you never know. For me it was outstanding. Speed tests at home were 45-65mbit down and 6-17mbit up. Work was 12-13mbit down and 1-2mbit up. I have a 1 hour commute which includes hills and tunnels. I did a single call without any drops, and on the way back, I streamed a 720p YT vid without a single buffering stop.


I've had VZ, and although their network service is pretty solid (i originally got it when I was in a rural area where its really the only option), I'm sick of being stuck without being able to upgrade through them just so I can keep my unlimited LTE. Plus CDMA prevents me from trying out some phones.

If you are ok with a 700 dollar hold on your CC while you do the test drive, I found the whole experience pretty painless.

 

[Geekbabe]

Vzw with the wife's 22% discount and $25 off each non contract line let's me have 4 lines with 10gb of data at $160'ish a month. Can't go without there network!

Disclaimer: I am a lifestyle blogger for Verizon , that said though VZW sends me devices for review but I pay my own phone bill. I recently added two extra lines, bumped my data plan up to 10GB. The two new lines coupled with phones I already have only cost me $15 a month each.

My primary line will be off contract in Sept & will decrease $25 a month in price. Coupled with my vzw discount from my job this makes staying with VZW my personal best choice. Our phones work everywhere and anytime I have a question or need some customer service they've been great. Something I can't say about the month to month carrier my other family members were using before.

 

[Unoid]

Is it really worth trying to unlock an old-as-sh1t GS3 with limited GSM/LTE bands, or just sell it to someone who actually wants to use it on Verizon and buy a modern unlocked phone with full GSM/LTE bands (and better hardware to boot).

There's nothing noble about using a 2+ year old phone if you don't have to.

I found it for you. I run a Verizon S3 also. It's still a good phone especially on custom CM11 based roms.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809314

Also I just loaded this rom today and it's smooth and rocking. I came from CleanROM which was starting to get laggy

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2569769

 

[s44]

I found it for you. I run a Verizon S3 also. It's still a good phone especially on custom CM11 based roms.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809314

Did you not forward to the part where you only get 3G on the 2100 band? That means no HSPA on AT&T or T-Mo, just international carriers abroad.

As I said above, the Verizon S4 is a great alternate-carrier phone, with 3G on every relevant band and LTE on AWS, which is T-Mo's primary and AT&T's secondary. The Verizon S3 was a dud though... too limited radio.

 

[gbeirn]

I like the Verizon network so I switched to PagePlus maybe 3 years ago. I have saved a ton of money. I mostly txt and make a few voice calls so I buy $80 pin cards to pay $0.04 a min and then add a $10.95 2000 txt plan to that. I might use a little bit of data here and there for e-mail but I am mostly always near wifi.

I just refilled another $80 pin yesterday and the last time I did it was March 16th of this year. Works out to average about $0.70 a day for my phone usage or about $250 a year.

They have some great plans with data too. I would keep your phone and switch to one of their plans. If the phone works great why not use it?

 

[Tom]

Selectel is the only service that's gonna give you the same voice coverage, including roaming, as real Verizon coverage you're used to.

 

[squarecut1]

I'm on 2 line contract with Verizon. Both phones S4s.$120 plus tax. Will I get any discounts after the contract expires? If so, approximately how much? Thanks

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I suggest trying the T-Mobile Test Drive.

I just finished mine (I'm in Los Angeles), and I am very impressed. I'm sure it depends on where you live/work/commute, but you never know. For me it was outstanding. Speed tests at home were 45-65mbit down and 6-17mbit up. Work was 12-13mbit down and 1-2mbit up. I have a 1 hour commute which includes hills and tunnels. I did a single call without any drops, and on the way back, I streamed a 720p YT vid without a single buffering stop.


I've had VZ, and although their network service is pretty solid (i originally got it when I was in a rural area where its really the only option), I'm sick of being stuck without being able to upgrade through them just so I can keep my unlimited LTE. Plus CDMA prevents me from trying out some phones.

If you are ok with a 700 dollar hold on your CC while you do the test drive, I found the whole experience pretty painless.

Craigslist the Verizon line with the unlimited before you switch. That's what I did and now I'm on T-Mobile unlimited. Its good enough. Only places I don't get reception is in the desert and old buildings.

 

[fixxor]

Probably go the PagePlus route since it seems to be the cheapest. Was looking at the Moto G and then the OnePlus One phone (very nice). But I just dont need to spend the money, my S3 works perfectly fine. Just flashed new firmware and mastamoon CM11 rom and its running nicely.

 

[Wingznut]

My Verizon contract is up in a few months, so I started shopping around. Perhaps I'm missing something, but there really isn't a better deal for me.

I pay $230/mo for four lines with 6gb of data. PagePlus would be $220/mo. And that's for 3g only, right?

 

[sze5003]

My Verizon contract is up in a few months, so I started shopping around. Perhaps I'm missing something, but there really isn't a better deal for me.

I pay $230/mo for four lines with 6gb of data. PagePlus would be $220/mo. And that's for 3g only, right?

Doesn't att have 4 lines with 6gb or something like that for $160 or $170 a month? I keep seeing commercials for it.

I pay $83 a month for one phone, unlimited data and text with 450 minutes on Verizon. Not on contract anymore and I buy my phone out right on eBay or swappa.

$230 or more is crazy.

 

[s44]

Doesn't att have 4 lines with 6gb or something like that for $160 or $170 a month? I keep seeing commercials for it.

10gb shared on four lines for $160... as long as no one buys a subsidized device.

 

[sze5003]

Well just get the phones elsewhere. I don't care much for the latest smart phone. My m7 is fine and I'll keep it for another year I suppose.

 

[Wingznut]

Doesn't att have 4 lines with 6gb or something like that for $160 or $170 a month? I keep seeing commercials for it.

I pay $83 a month for one phone, unlimited data and text with 450 minutes on Verizon. Not on contract anymore and I buy my phone out right on eBay or swappa.

$230 or more is crazy.

10gb shared on four lines for $160... as long as no one buys a subsidized device.

sze, take note that I pay $230 for four lines.

And I believe that Verizon also offers four lines and 10gb for $160 off contract.

 

[sze5003]

I still think that is a lot. If you buy your own phones in the future the $160 deal is better. I feel like $83 that I pay per month for one phone is too much but I don't feel like getting a new phone to use tmobile or att SIM cards.

 

[Wingznut]

If I were to buy four phones at $300 each, and extrapolate that over 24 months, that's equivalent to $210 per month.

Better but not by a lot. The question then becomes... Is the newest phone worth $5 per line per month, vs saving the $5 per line and using last year's offerings?

 

[sze5003]

Well it depends, you can get a used Phone that is somewhat recent for less than $300. I've only paid $300+ for a phone on swappa or eBay because it was only a couple of months old.