Best mobIle data plans?

[AfisBoy]

I'm current a clearwire user but my hot spot went through the washing machine. Hot spot is dead, and getting a new one is proving to be difficult due to wimax being on its way out. I'm figuring I might as well go LTE. What are you guys using? What are you paying?

[the86d]

With T-Mobile, 4 lines, and 3 OWNED phones I am paying right @ $136.84, but $17 of that is paying off the lady's phone ($85 left, in payments), AND 7.99 protection plan for her device too...

T-Mobile might still have this deal @2.5GB/phone (not really a cap, but they say it slows to 3G when you hit it, however see below), but 1/2016 they become 1GB/phone plans by default.

They SAY that once 2.5GB is reached on a phone, it gets throttled to 3g for the rest of the month, but I have yet to see that happen, and neither have my friends that have been with T-Mobile for many years... but I rarely hit 1GB, my son hits it all the time...

WiFi in the home, and @ work helps keep data-usage low.

T-Mobile has tethering included with their plans... and my lady's mom's phone with AT&T doesn't(, and she has a new S series) on a default plan.

Just did a speedtest on T-Mobile's "4G" (non-LTE) and got 69ms ping time, 15.13Mbps down, and for some reason 2.97Mbps up (usually get about 5-8Mbps up) which I normally don't saturate anyways.
A second test resulted in 61ms ping, 19.69Mbps down, and 2.98Mbps up.

I actually got the 4th line for future use, and mainly just use it for tethering, and it actually lowered my bill ~$15/month, but I have an owned phone to use so I only got the card when signing-up for the 4th.

[vliberatore]

Why not stick with the 2.5GHz spectrum and get a 2x20 capable hot spot from Sprint?

[the86d]

Does Sprint's data still randomly screech to a shuffle for no apparent reason these days too, or has that been fixed in the last few years?

(A reboot, or Airplane-mode on, then off used to start her up again, but it was BAD when I tried them a few years ago.)

[vliberatore]

Does Sprint's data still randomly screech to a shuffle for no apparent reason these days too, or has that been fixed in the last few years?

(A reboot, or Airplane-mode on, then off used to start her up again, but it was BAD when I tried them a few years ago.)

Not that I've heard of, but since networks are moving to being IP-based I'd guess that it doesn't happen.

[deviusdragger]

T-mobile's unlimited data plans give you 5gb of tethering at no extra charge. Depending on where you live, this might be your best option.

[spyde12]

Does Sprint's data still randomly screech to a shuffle for no apparent reason these days too, or has that been fixed in the last few years?

(A reboot, or Airplane-mode on, then off used to start her up again, but it was BAD when I tried them a few years ago.)

I was on sprint since 2010 (HTC Evo 4G). I switched to T-mobile because it offered the best plan for 5 lines and my friends and co-workers have nothing, but good things to say when it comes to coverage. Unlimited data plan is useless when the broadband speed is abysmal. T-mobile is currently offering 2.5 GB at the price of 1 GB of data. For the most part, we're going to be on WiFi, so the 1GB is enough.

Edit:
I forgot to mention, I upgraded my phone free and clear from the Evo 4G to the S3 and Internet speed in the tri valley was still horrible.

[den888]

We use T Mobile 4G LTE also, and pretty happy.

[the86d]

I was on sprint since 2010 (HTC Evo 4G). I switched to T-mobile because it offered the best plan for 5 lines and my friends and co-workers have nothing, but good things to say when it comes to coverage. Unlimited data plan is useless when the broadband speed is abysmal. T-mobile is currently offering 2.5 GB at the price of 1 GB of data. For the most part, we're going to be on WiFi, so the 1GB is enough.

Edit:
I forgot to mention, I upgraded my phone free and clear from the Evo 4G to the S3 and Internet speed in the tri valley was still horrible.

FYI: 1/1/2016 the 2.5gb/line plans roll to 1gb plans, last I checked.

I wonder what they will be offering then, or if we are to be raped at this time?

[Frisco3Gun]

That Republic Wireless looks nice. I am partial to T-Mobile myself. Used to have 4 lines (most iPhones) @ ~$270 after taxes and shtuff. Now down to $150 after taxes (and shtuff!) on T-Mobile. Plus I still prefer the use of a Sim versus a CDMA setup.

My .02.

[spyde12]

FYI: 1/1/2016 the 2.5gb/line plans roll to 1gb plans, last I checked.

I wonder what they will be offering then, or if we are to be raped at this time?

Yeah, I'm hoping they offer another plan and I'll switch to it by that time. Otherwise, I'll check how much each line uses (with WiFi utilization) in order to determine if more data is necessary.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[AE102]

Switched to TMobile after being on Verizon for over 10 years. Best thing I ever did. $100 for 2 lines unlimited everything including 4g LTE. Calls are way clearer than Verizon too.

[ambiguous216]

$100 for two lines? How much is extra are you paying for your phones?

Switched to TMobile after being on Verizon for over 10 years. Best thing I ever did. $100 for 2 lines unlimited everything including 4g LTE. Calls are way clearer than Verizon too.

[-hanko]

$100 for two lines? How much is extra are you paying for your phones?

First thing to verify is good coverage...rate plans, phone prices, subsidized phone or not are all secondary.

With T-Mobile, you currently buy the phone at full price. With decent credit, you can do zero-down and the remainder spread over 2 years with no interest charges.

With a subsidized phone, you agree to a 2 year contract with the carrier. To CYA the carrier, monthly rate plans are more than with a non-subsidized phone.

Wife and I have 2 phones on an older non-sub plan...unlimited talk, text, and 2gB data...all we need. About $75 a month. Perfect plan as neither of us needs a new phone the second one hit's the market.

If you feel inferior with an older phone, see Verizon or ATT...but you'll definitely pay more per month.

[ambiguous216]

All in all all major carriers have like pricing. T-Mobile just does a good job separating what customers pay monthly for service and devices.

good old marketing 101

First thing to verify is good coverage...rate plans, phone prices, subsidized phone or not are all secondary.

With T-Mobile, you currently buy the phone at full price. With decent credit, you can do zero-down and the remainder spread over 2 years with no interest charges.

With a subsidized phone, you agree to a 2 year contract with the carrier. To CYA the carrier, monthly rate plans are more than with a non-subsidized phone.

Wife and I have 2 phones on an older non-sub plan...unlimited talk, text, and 2gB data...all we need. About $75 a month. Perfect plan as neither of us needs a new phone the second one hit's the market.

If you feel inferior with an older phone, see Verizon or ATT...but you'll definitely pay more per month.