So for well over a decade, I've been with a small local provider for my cell phone. Apparently they are stopping service to focus on internet. They're suggesting switching over to Verizon, but given my history with them through their eventual takeover of CellularOne, I'd really rather not. Does anyone know any good national carriers?
Pretty much they all suck. If Sprint's coverage is good in your area, I'd look up a company called ting.com. They use Sprint's network, but do their own customer service and have much lower rates.
Republic Wireless is the same with Tmobile's network. Good in town, somewhat lousy for data in the boonies.
I'm with T Mobile, and no problems. I've also heard good things about Cricket. Basically, see what they offer for a single person (data usage since most offer unlimited talk and text). Most have even dropped contracts.
I use Net10, and have been for 10 years. I get Unlimited Talk and Text, as well as 512 MB of 4G data. Now, once you go over that 512 MB, it drops down to 2G, but is otherwise unlimited. I pay $35 a month. There are bigger plans, but that one suits me best. I have excellent coverage, as they use AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon's networks. There's almost nowhere you can go and not get solid coverage.
Not that it matters for more than interest sake, but I've got unlimited nationwide plus something like 6hrs North American, along with continental texting with what used to be called mobilicity up here (been bought out twice since I joined). Costs me about $25/month. I don't internet on my phone enough to make it worth a data plan (besides, I've got the logins of half the cafes in my neighbourhood).
We've got a new service around here called Total Wireless. They offer unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data a month for $35. I'm happy with Net10, but for anyone who likes a little more room to maneuver with their data, that sounds like a solid deal. I expect that Net10 will boost their data plan to compete, which works out for me. Yeah, I don't internet much, either. Since I'm home 90% of the time, I use Wifi if I really need it, but if I need to use the internet, I have my sexy lovely desktop PC, which is far more efficient at it.
I'm bundled on my mom's plan - I think we have 5 or 6 of us on it now. I just pay her the $250 a year that my line costs.
My dad had a similar setup with my aunt, who had phone accounts for about 10 other people in the family. Unfortunately, she dropped his account last week, so I'm scrambling to get him a new phone and plan with the same people I have. He wants something with full access to the internet, and I don't really want him to have that, because my dad is bad with technology. I guarantee you he will find a way to use up his entire data allotment in a day.
Cricket resells bandwidth on the Verizon Network so you can get access to that network without paying Verizon's price premium. Metro PCS has a $30 unlimited 3G plan and a $60 unlimited 4G LTE plan with tethering. I am not sure if those are national carriers though. https://www.metropcs.com
Cricket's unlimited plan is $55 a month if you sign up with autopay. It gives you 8 gigs of LTE data then the rest is 3G but if you use more than 22 gigs they will throttle your speed. Metro PCS sounds like a better deal.
Jesus Christ guys. The US is still in the stone ages when it comes to wireless plans. Just looked a Verizon to make a clever comment here but came back shocked. 70 dollars for 8 gigabytes?! Wow. I'm paying 10 euro for 6 with unlimited calls and texts I mean, Austria is extremely cheap when it comes to cellular plans (9 million people, 20 million SIM cards, 23 providers... that market works here) but you'll probably get such a plan for 20-30 euros all over Europe.
We're still in the Dark Ages when it comes to a lot of things. All part of our "American Exceptionalism."
