We have been with Verizon for many years but have found the prices to go up and up. No Free Incoming Calls, Texts etc.

My Parents and I have decided to switch to MetroPCS and get the Samsung Freeform 3. The $35 per line($5 off the $40 plan) with unlimited incoming, outgoing calls, texts and Mobile Web).

I was wondering if any of you like MetroPCS for travel. We also get Unlimited Long Distance plus coverage in the USA. Do we need the TravelTalk plan for travel as it seems like we are covered in most parts of the USA.

I will be keeping my Escapade Phone(unlocked) for overseas travel as its GSM so it can work abroad using the SIM Card.

How do you find the Metro Web? Can Flyertalk work on WAP browsers? If I tether my phone to my laptop using the Dial Up Networking using it as a modem can I get my Youtube Videos and other websites using Java?

How do I use mobile boarding passes from Southwest Airlines/Alaska etc? Will I be able to have it sent to my phone with no issues?

Other tips about MetroPCS? They seem to have good coverage like Verizon and offer better rates.

Thanks for your tips

I've found that with cell phone service you get what you pay for.

That said, if you live in a US Cellular coverage area, they are supposed to be really good and rather cheap - at least in Chicago. I don't know where you're located.

I've never heard anything good about MetroPCS, but take that with a grain of salt.

Don't expect much in the way of reception off of the well beaten path. If you want decent coverage pretty much anywhere you almost have to stick with ATT or VZW.

For a discount carrier, you might check out Straight Talk or Tracphone. They piggyback the major networks but cost less, albeit with much simpler phones. Again, you get what you pay for.

My brother has had good experience with NTelos, including nationwide usage. IIRC, they roam on Sprint. NTelos is a regional company, though, in Virginia, WV, KY, and OH.

MetroPCS sucks, really. If anything get Virgin Mobile its $45/month and better than metro piece of ..... I used to have MPS.

Man, I'd get at least a handful of dropped calls on a weekly basis, at my house, I had no service unless I put the phone by the window (I had one of their "smart phones"!!), and their coverage map sucks for travel...

Their internet... slow as hell. Their phones, even highest tier, suck.

Virgin is just a bit better... their phones are a bit better than MetroPCS and the internet actually works. I only use the phone mostly for Calls/Texting, and tether internet to my iPod, because I can't stand Android on slow phones. Sucks you can't get the iPhone on there, that's my only gripe or Virgin would be perfect.

I can tether wirelessly to my laptop and internet works fine. I haven't had signal issues or dropped calls.

Used to work for Metro.. was a tight job but their service is definitely subpar.

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I have friends that have had MPCS and have gone for other options. Outside of a larger city the signal is not great. Virgin seems a bit better and Boost a bit better than that. I have a tMobile month-month plan. I got a phone, Android smart phone, and put in a tMobile sim. For $50 a month, $54.44 with tax, I get 30 days of unlimited calls, texts and "unlimited web". The web is 100mb at up to 4g speeds and the rest at metered rates. I always seem to get 3g or 2g speeds when I've gone over the 100mb. The service isn't as good at ATT when I visit friends that live out in the country but it works better than when I had Sprint.

MetroPCS sucks for travel, hands down. All their other negatives that I know of are covered above. They are the Southwest of cell phone carriers.

MetroPCS sucks terrible horrible customer service.

For over a week I argued, begged and pleaded at every level, 6 store reps, 6 online reps. In my opinion all of them incompetent and many rude. Autopay account deleted and recreate at least 4 times. Everyone keeps saying the same thing just go in and update to account info. The account was even verified by a Corporate Center supervisor. Phone service has been shut off twice. Even after the store manager at the corporate Center assured me that it ad been restored.

Then I found the emails for coroprate HQ. Two emails to three execs and the problem was fixed in two hours. You do the math. Corporate email, fax number, phone number and my complaint letter is at http://SwensonStudio.com/MetroPCS.htm

After three months I gav-up and switched to Virgin. Their phone HTC EVO V 4g way better than Metros LG Esteem and its $80 less. As far as I can tell 4g coverage is better. Their 3g is faster than metros 2.5 and the coverage map is way better. I have the $35 plan, which is $15 dollars cheaper than Metros. Granted it only has 300 minutes, but I never come close to that. Virgins $45 plan has 1200 minute and it's still cheaper. Virgin/Sprint customer service is light years ahead of Metros. So, after two years the $15 month more than pays for the $300 phone. In the end I have a better phone, faster data rates, better coverage, and better customer service for less money. Well, that was an easy decision

As others have noted, probably not the best choice for traveling. That said my daughter has Metro PCS and it works just fine for her. As for being the Southwest of cell carriers is that supposed to be a bad thing?