Howdy, friends! Mrs. Frugal is in need of a replacement cell phone. I see that OP is offering 8K miles for a one (1) year hitch with T-Mobile and its "Get More" plan. Mrs. Frugal has not heard good things about T-Mobile service and is concerned. We are in Sonoma County. Majority of calling will be in this area. Some regular calls to just outside of Reno as well. Can anyone give an opinion on this offer and this service?

Thanks!

I've found the offer to be rather poor, as you have to buy the handset and service plan via the OnePass mall link. When I was in the market for a new phone, Amazon was offering a far better deal. I ended up going through Amazon (though I chose a different carrier-- Sprint PCS).

- handset was $100 lower than other places
- Amazon offered same $50 rebate as Sprint store
- additionally, Amazon offered its own $100 rebate
- used milepoint.com for 5% gift certificate savings (saved an extra $20)
- used coupon code from Deal Catcher for an extra discount (it was $35, I think)
- free shipping at Amazon (they tell you its economy, but it seems to always be upgraded-- in this case to two-day FedEx)
- received around 5,000 UAL Mileage Plus miles from Sprint PCS (America West Flight Fund, Alaska Mileage Plan, and US Airways Dividend Miles are also partners)

Had I purchased a T-Mobile handset & plan from Amazon, the savings differential would have been similar.

[This message has been edited by TransWorldOne (edited 07-12-2003).]

Just a reminder that, in case she wants to keep her present cell number, the FCC's telephone number portability regulation is scheduled to go into effect on 24 November 2003.

Very nice, TWO, but could you please give me a brief remedial road map of how, and in what sequence, these various stages unfolded.

Thanks, N-NR. I reminded her of this upcoming fact, but she is having equipment issues and her contract is up in two (2) weeks.



[This message has been edited by afrugal1 (edited 07-12-2003).]

I've got T-Mobile and am fairly happy with the service. Don't get me wrong, they suck -- but all providers do. It just depends on exactly where you are. Make sure to pick a provider that doesn't have lousy service at a place you spend a lot of time in. I think they have a 3-day return policy.

On the whole I've foudn their service to be as good or better than I had with AT&T -- and I can do international roaming with my own phone and my own phone number almost anywhere in the world.

T-Mobile will also, on request, give you the SIM unlock code for the phone after you've been with them a month or so. That way you can buy prepaid GSM SIM cards in other countries and use your phone internationally a LOT cheaper.

I agree with the above -- you can do better than the Onepass mall prices. You'll be spending a lot of money with whichever provider you choose. 8000 miles is not IMHO a reason to choose one provider over another.

All providers have coverage weaknesses which result in dropped calls in certain pockets.

T-mobile is the only provider I've ever seen with chronic fundamental problems (calls getting crossed, voicemail not picking up, network busy messages, etc.).

T-mobile also doesn't maintain their own netwok, so they're second-tier to any carrier they buy from. They also seem to have more capacity issues than most carriers.

Sorry, but it looks like I'm helping to validate Mrs. Frugal's concerns.

Vindicated by channa's comments, and with fist held defiantly high in the air, Mrs. Frugal demands nothing less than Nextel or AT&T!!

I've had two ATT phones and traded them in for a T-Mobile about 8 months ago. T-Mobile is the only way to go if you travel internationally. They are one of the few if not the only US company that will unlock your phone so you can use local SIM cards or use the International Worldclass Service (much less expensive than other US competitors and better coverage).

In Seattle the coverage I've found is on par or better than ATT. No dropped calls or the trouble that channa mentions. I would try out T-Mobile and see how you like it..you can always return it and get something else. If you don't travel internationally ATT or Nextel would be fine I'm sure. Good luck.

I believe that T-Mobile *does* own a significant portion of its network. They bought Voicestream (formerly Omnipoint) and partner with Cingular. All carriers (with the probable exception of Sprint & Nextel) partner. There's nothing wrong with that IMHO.

2 months ago I took the 8000 mile offer and went with T*Mobile. I pay 39.95 for 1000 anytime minutes. Nobody else around here has a plan this generous. Coverage is as good as was my Nextel and almost as good as Mrs. Let's Go ATT phone. Most calls originate in northern NJ.

Back in February, I also took advantage of the online offer with T-Mobile...but at that time, they had a better offer: a larger national plan with a cheaper rate, and more bonus miles (they increased the bonus miles due to elite status.) After looking at the offer today, I'd have to say it's not as good as the ones they offered previously.

The portable phone numbers kick in this fall, so perhaps that would be a good time to switch. And when that happens, there will probably be huge rate drops as everyone competes to win the other's business (I hope.)

But as far as T-Mobile goes, I love them and their technology. The places that I frequent (including the volcano @ the Big Island of Hawaii) get a strong signal comparable to or better than what I had with previous carriers (Cingular ...and before that, Verizon.) The only problem in my U.S. travels I've had with T-Mobile is on the southwest coast of Florida (Ft. Meyers south to Naples) where I had zero signal. But in terms of signal strength, features, and cost, T-Mobile is best for me.

We are on the SE side of Florida and I can say this: We purchased a T-mobile phone pkg. about two months ago. We could not get a signal at all in the area where we reside. Thankfully, they give you a 30 day money back guarantee. I returned the phone within 48 hrs. Maybe they'll improve their service to Florida in the near future but for now I wouldn't consider T-mobile to be a celluar provider for this area!

I switched to T-mobile 9 months ago and have not had issue with it in my travels. Like many GSM networks, it's not always great in the "boondocks" but it works excellent in metro areas, along highways, etc. -- basically, everywhere I go.

The fact that it just simply "works" all over the world (except Japan) is very cool. The phone just rings and you have your call! (costs vary from $.99 to $2.49 per minute depending on country -- so it's not cheap, but OTOH, for a quick 3 minute call to assure your wife you've gotten to SIN okay and are heading home, it's worth it).

BTW, T-Mobile bought Voicestream and owns their GSM network. Cingular currently licenses THEIR GSM access from T-Mobile in many areas.

With the free roaming domestically, my phone works on the T-Mobile, Cingular, and AT&T GSM networks here in the US.

Steve

I've had T-Mobile since October 2001 (back when it was VoiceStream) and have been extremely happy with the service. My cheap $50 (after discounts and rebates) Nokia handset has been indestructable and works flawlessly despite being dropped numerous times, and once being not only dropped on a marble floor but kicked across the same floor by my foot as it hit the floor. The service has been great. I very rarely have a bad connection and only when in Alaska have I been someplace without coverage. There was a small hole in the service in rural southeast Texas on the way up to where my family lives but that has been filled in now. I think 600 anytime minutes, unlimited weekend minutes, free long distance and free roaming are a great deal for just $39.95. And, when I have had need to call T-Mobile's customer service, they've been great. I just wish CO had this offer when I first signed up because I have been so pleased with the service. I'm not saying my experience is typical, although several close friends here in Houston have T-Mobile and have been pleased as well. I certainly haven't had the problems that some people here I know who have Sprint and AT&T have had.

I have both T-Mobile and AT&T. I travel to all 50 states evry year. I also travel to many countries. Very simple answer:
IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU PLAN TO USE THE PHONE. If you don't travel outside your home city. Fine get T-Mobile. If you want to talk outside the USA... T-Mobile is great (It is my overseas phone). But, the real truth is your can't get a T-mobile signal in about 85% of the USA. It just stinks. I mean really stinks. Let me be clear... USLESS.
Now, my AT&T phone is works EVERYWHERE domestic. Middle of nowhere...it works. But, completely uselss overseas*
*(except works in Hong Kong)