SIGforum
Alternative mobile phone companies
October 22, 2023, 04:53 PM
hudrAlternative mobile phone companies
I need to do something. I've been on AT&T since 2000. My bill has slowly crept up every year. It’s nearly $90/ month now for just me.
Sure, I get HBO MAX, but I just really don’t feel like I’m getting my full value.
What is the consensus on other providers? The big ones all seem kind of the same to me. As in, expensive.
But what about Mint, Patriot, etc. ?
October 22, 2023, 04:58 PM
TomVBeen with
Visible for about a year with no issues. They are part of Verizon, flat $25 a month.
October 22, 2023, 05:00 PM
TexasScrubI've been on Mint Mobile for about 5 years. $240 a year, minus $10 a month since I've recruited 2 people, so basically almost nothing for 15gbs of 5g service.
The only drawbacks are they don't support Apple Watch (which I don't have) or serious use of the hotspot.
I figure for about $12 a month, I'm doing pretty good. New members get an iPhone 15 for about $77 a month total.
___________________________
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October 22, 2023, 05:04 PM
bryanZ06quote:
Originally posted by TomV:
Been with
Visible for about a year with no issues. They are part of Verizon, flat $25 a month.
Another vote for Visible.
We've had them for about three years now. Zero issues with coverage and $25 a month for unlimited everything.
October 22, 2023, 05:04 PM
Johnny 3eaglesWe jumped from over 20 years on AT&T to T-mobile. Excellent service and outstanding pricing.
If you're goin' through hell, keep on going.
Don't slow down. If you're scared don't show it.
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there.
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October 22, 2023, 05:16 PM
YooperSigsConsumer Cellular has been pretty good so far.
End of Earth: 2 Miles
Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
October 22, 2023, 05:39 PM
CoolRich59quote:
Originally posted by TomV:
Been with
Visible for about a year with no issues. They are part of Verizon, flat $25 a month.
Just switched to Visible 2 months ago. No issues at all. Like TomV, I pay $25/mo all in.
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“One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them.” – Thomas Sowell
October 22, 2023, 06:14 PM
V-TailIf you have home internet service from Comcast or Spectrum, you are eligible for an excellent cell phone service plan, using Verizon towers, at very low cost.
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים October 22, 2023, 07:23 PM
DaBigBRWith limited exception for more regional carriers (such as US Cellular), if it's not AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, you are paying for one of those companies just under a different name. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) can offer a great value but it will often be at the expense of customer service, prioritization on the network, and roaming capabilities. For a lot of people, this will not be an issue. For others, it may be a real challenge. The nice thing about the existence of number portability is that you can generally give it a shot for a few months and switch again if it isn't for you.
The biggest suggestion I would have for somebody looking at an MVNO is to try to pick one who uses the network (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or a regional) that works best where you intend to use the phone.
October 22, 2023, 07:34 PM
tigereye313We love Mint. Transparent transition from T-Mobile, third the price.
October 22, 2023, 07:34 PM
bryan11Zero issues with US Mobile MVNO on the Verizon network in Iowa. Excellent customer service getting three lines set up with new phones, especially when Verizon messed things up in about every way possible.
October 22, 2023, 07:46 PM
1967GoatI've had Verizon pre-paid for several years. It's $35 per month with auto-pay for 15 GB of data, then it gets lowered by $5 after 3 months, then another $5 after 6 more months. My bill is $25 per month.
I use most of my data at home, so I just connect to my home wifi automatically. I use cellular when not at home.
Verizon Pre-Paid plansOctober 22, 2023, 08:04 PM
h2oysWe switched from att to cricket a few years ago. They use the same att towers. For 4 phones with unlimited everything and 1 hot spot we pay $110/mo.
Under att our bill was +$300.
Would do it again.
October 22, 2023, 09:28 PM
reflex/deflex 64quote:
Originally posted by DaBigBR:
With limited exception for more regional carriers (such as US Cellular), if it's not AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, you are paying for one of those companies just under a different name. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) can offer a great value but it will often be at the expense of customer service, prioritization on the network, and roaming capabilities. For a lot of people, this will not be an issue. For others, it may be a real challenge. The nice thing about the existence of number portability is that you can generally give it a shot for a few months and switch again if it isn't for you.
The biggest suggestion I would have for somebody looking at an MVNO is to try to pick one who uses the network (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or a regional) that works best where you intend to use the phone.
This right here
I’ve watched dozens of people rave about the low cost awesomeness of their cell provider. Great let’s leave the metro and we will see. SW Wisconsin dead vast expanses of the Dakotas dead. If there is a place I want my phone to work it’s away from the couch.
----------The weather is here I wish you were beautiful----------
October 23, 2023, 01:11 PM
h2oys^^^ All I can say to this is we have had ZERO issues with Cricket. Granted we live in a major metro area but we do regularly travel from St Louis to DC via car.
Our daughter travels way more than we do and never has issues as well.
Perhaps what both of you are describing pertains to exceptionally remote areas of the US?
October 23, 2023, 02:27 PM
rduckworGoogle "MVNO" for a listing of the alternates and the networks they ride upon.
RMD
TL Davis: “The Second Amendment is special, not because it protects guns, but because its violation signals a government with the intention to oppress its people…”
Remember: After the first one, the rest are free.
October 23, 2023, 02:35 PM
M'headSigWe’ve had Xfinity Mobile for a couple of years with zero complaints. Xfinity uses Verizon towers so signal strength has been excellent. Two unlimited calling and texting lines with 3 gig data shared costs about $60 monthly.
October 23, 2023, 03:15 PM
lkdr1989If you're wanting to stay with ATT, you could look at ATT Prepaid, they have a 12-month prepaid plan that is $300 ($25/month) before taxes and includes unlimited talk/text & "Unlimited data" plus 10GB for Hotspot data.
...let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one. Luke 22:35-36 NAV
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 NASV October 23, 2023, 04:19 PM
radiomanquote:
Originally posted by hudr:
I need to do something. I've been on AT&T since 2000. My bill has slowly crept up every year. It’s nearly $90/ month now for just me.
Sure, I get HBO MAX, but I just really don’t feel like I’m getting my full value.
What is the consensus on other providers? The big ones all seem kind of the same to me. As in, expensive.
But what about Mint, Patriot, etc. ?
Do you travel outside of the USA at all? If so, then that changes which carrier you may want to go with.
I stick with AT&T because I sometimes find myself in foreign countries.
plus during busy times, most of the 5G high bandwidth availability goes to real AT&T customers and not an MVNO customer. MVNO's are sometimes throttled back.
.
October 23, 2023, 04:26 PM
SigSentryquote:
Originally posted by lkdr1989:
If you're wanting to stay with ATT, you could look at ATT Prepaid, they have a 12-month prepaid plan that is $300 ($25/month) before taxes and includes unlimited talk/text & "Unlimited data" plus 10GB for Hotspot data.
Really? That phone call is on the list this week then thanks.
