cordelli

Twenty dollars per month unlimited data? Don't hold your breath on that one.

nkedel

The question is, can they make money doing so? My guess is the costs will be closer to what the MVNOs area already charging ($40-$50/mo), and they can basically throw voice and text in for free with that.

Also note that the two carriers who still offer unlimited plans directly rather than through MVNOs will not do so on data-only devices.

owflyer

My BB data plan is $20 unlimited 4G and my Android data plan is $20 for 5GB @ 4G and unlimited throttle after that.

nkedel

Is that data-only, or on top of a voice plan? Voice plans seem to be subsidizing data these days.

nmenaker

I think this is the legacy BB plan, I'm not sure one can still get it today, but owflyer will probably respond.

drbobguy

The T-mobile prepaid plan I use (the "Walmart" plan) is 100 minutes, unlimited texts, and unlimited data (5GB at 4G speed) for just $30/month, and that includes taxes!

Works well for me. But I'm the kind of person that hates long calls on cell phones. I make my long family+friend calls from home.

owflyer

It is on top of a voice plan.

Xyzzy

Given the new plans, if I already have a spare handset can I add an extra (5th) line to my account for $10/month for only the months I need it (when friends from overseas come)? In the past I was told I'd have to have such a line for two years -- even if I did nt take them up on their oh so kind offer of a discounted handset.

dtsm

The new plans 'might' cannibalize some of their prepaid business, for exactly the reasons you give for getting your extra line. My son lands in a week or so to visit from overseas. Normally we'd get a prepaid for him; now we'll add a line for $10, he can use as much as he wants and when he leaves, we shut it down!

Xyzzy

That's what it seems like to me ... I called and asked and was told that to switch without a fee all of the phones in one's account need to have been at least 18 months into their 24 month contracts. As I've got about 10 months to go on two of the phones, they want $350 to move to the new plans so I'll wait. They say it will save me abut $35/month to make the move. The real question, that I forgot to ask, is what happens if I need to replace a handset on my current (old style) account before that 10 month period is up...

kebosabi

I think this is exactly what I'm looking for! ^

Same here, I could care less about voice calls; I currently have 500 min and rarely even use them anyway. Even going to 100 min is more than I need.

3 questions:

1. Do they allow you to move from a contract to a prepaid plan like you have?
2. Does prepaid allow international roaming (I travel abroad a lot so just in case, would like some access if some emergency arises)
3. Does prepaid allow you to have WiFi calling?

nkedel

Have they gotten rid of activation fees? In the past, on non-prepaid, if you didn't want your contract date to move up (if you did, these would usually be waived/rebated) you'd also pay about $35 to activate the line, and probably $10 for the SIM.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Straight Talk Prepaid (acting as an MVNO on T-Mobile's network), not the T-Mobile prepaid (which is pricier), but in either case I'm pretty sure the answer is "if you're out of contract, it's the same as porting your number to another carrier," and "if you're in-contract, you'll pay an ETF."

Don't know for either, but it may also vary between T-Mobile's own offering, and their offering through Straight Talk as an MVNO.

I have an extra T-mobile prepaid SIM (I got it for a month to "test drive" the network before switching, and they recently offered me a "come back" free month of prepaid, that I've been using for tethering), and can check on the Wifi calling tonight.

dtsm

I'm going to TMO store this weekend and will report back....

Boraxo

These are useless to me if I can't hook up my iPhone.

In general I could care less about contract term, I just want the lowest price for a small nationwide FAMILY data plan. Unfortunately that only leaves Virgin, and i would have to buy a new phone.

glennaa11

Sprint is actually adding 4G LTE now. There is some coverage in the DC area but it isn't officially part of the map yet. They're just leaving the cell sites up and running after testing. My problem is that my office must be in a zone that's just barely close enough to an antenna at the moment because the data coverage can be a bit spotty throughout the day and is only ever 3G. But when I am waiting for the Metro train which is not far away I get 4G which is much better.