They allow you to choose. If your phone is locked to ATT, you choose a ATT SIM, same with TMO. If your phone is unlocked, you can select the SIM that offers the best coverage or performance (ie TMO 4G) for your location or where you travel most. If you're not sure, you select an unlocked SIM and they use your zip code to figure out which network (ATT or TMO) gives you the best local coverage.

For example, I have an (now) unlocked iPhone 3GS - only ATT gives me 3G speed with that phone, so I chose the ATT SIM. If I sell the phone and get a Google Nexus/Samsung Android, then I can ask for the TMO SIM and swap, while keeping the same number, and use the TMO network and 4G.

Ah, didn't realize you had to choose either AT&T or T-mobile's network. Seems like it would be better if there were just one ST SIM and seamlessly chose whichever network had the stronger signal in your current location.

Still, for the money, who's complaining?

I don't think that's possible because they have different MVNO agreements with each carrier and probably can't combine network access - that would in effect make them a "merger" or ATT and TMO.

I'm OK with the service so far. Data speeds seem a little slower than native ATT (my phone says 3G so I'm getting the right signal), but my TMO friend who joined with his 4G TMO phone is getting faster data on the TMO network out west. I guess I'll need to test access in different locations before drawing a conclusion - ATT data wasn't exactly screaming fast down here before I switched.

Since ST supports locked phones from each MVNO partner and is basically offering the same identical service for $40-80 less per month, I'm just wondering what is going through the minds of ATT and TMO management as they see so many people leaving for ST (confirmed by both the ST rep I spoke with and the ATT rep who tried to talk me out of leaving).

I've been playing the "How can I save Money with my Wireless Plan" for almost as long as I've had one.

I've tried Verizon, Sprint, ATT and T-Mobile. I've tried the Pre-pay guys, Boost, and Virgin (both on Sprint's network), and GoPhone (ATT).
Some were good deals on the surface.
Boost had an old deal of $1.00 a day unlimited push to talk, and unlimited night and weekend calls. They also had an old $5.00 unlimited international calling plan that was hard to beat. They still have it, but it's way more limited. The old plan included China, and many other countries UNLIMITED for $5.00 a month.

Virgin had a $25 a month, 300 anytime minutes, and unlimited Android plan that I'm still on (grandfathered into). This is my backup phone. Virgin recently raised this to $35 a month, but still not a bad deal. For $25 a month, I will stay with this as a backup. Since it's CDMA, it's a good alternative to my GSM full service plan.

The problem I find with discount pre-pay plans is that you get what you pay for no matter what. If you are an international traveler, forget it. You have to put in a foreign sim if you CAN to use it. It's got to be unlocked. Most CMDA phones have no Sim slots so you are stuck when traveling. Your phone will be useless in Canada, the UK, France, etc. With carriers like Boost you can only originate call from the U.S., period. Also, you are married to your carrier network only. NO ROAMING. You can't use a Boost phone (using Sprint) on a Verizon Network as a roam call.

I admit I pay quite a bit more for my T-Mobile service, but I can use it anywhere there is GSM service in the world. As a bonus, I've got UMA calling so I can call from anywhere there is WiFi coverage, and take calls via WiFi using my T-Mo cell number at no extra charge. Pretty handy. But again, I PAY for this by a large monthly plan! But to be able to just use your phone in Paris to call New York? That's convenient. And to have people call your number from the U.S. and get you in Paris? That's even more convenient. There is no roaming charge on UMA with T-Mobile.

So I always waffle on this issue. Should I just bite the bullet, and save a load of cash every month and go with someone like Straight Talk, or stay with my full service carrier?
Convenience VS economy. UGH! A decision I always wonder about.

I guess if I never traveled outside the U.S., I may be enticed to go with Straight Talk. I like that I could use my T-Mo phones.

I went through this analysis myself, as I travel to Canada frequently and also to Taiwan and Japan (with those trips probably becoming more frequent and longer stays). I came to the conclusion that giving ATT $75/m (and that was after a huge corp discount and bonus minutes) PLUS paying for voice and data roaming was not going to cut it.

I had a second phone I was using in Canada with Fido prepaid that I had setup to cost me nothing more than $2 a day (unlimited incoming calls, so I had my regular lines forward to home VOIP then forwarded to my Fido number), so I was already in a 'foreign SIM' situation.

I decided Straight Talk's $35/m savings was well worth it - I now have an unlocked iPhone I can use with Fido's $2/day plan and $10/60mb/week, and also use it for unlimited wifi calls using Talkatone. When I'm in Taiwan, I can use a local SIM or just do what I have been doing, and rely on Talkatone with wifi - and enjoy the fact I can't be constantly pestered with calls in the middle of the night.

I can use Google Voice to call abroad (which I was doing previously with ATT), and even though I lost int'l text and domestic MMS, everyone I text is already using Whatsapp, so I will just keep that option. In short, very little has changed and the only real downside is not being able to receive or make an emergency call while abroad - but I can work around that as needed.

Good points, Bocastephen.
We're on the same page.

Another issue is, it looks like Blackberry is a "No-Go" on Straight Talk. This is not a deal-breaker for me now as it would have been six months ago before I really started using my Virgin Mobile Android for backup. I'm used to Android now, and can function with it. Before, it was BlackBerry only.

Every month that I pay my T-Mo Bill (and it's significantly higher than what you were paying) I say 'That's Enough! Time will tell.

Interesting that most of my European friends think we're NUTS having a Post-pay CONTRACTED plan. Most of them have pay-as-you-go only.

Does anyone know if there's a way to get hold of these SIM cards and set them up outside the US? I'll be travelling there in June and this seems like a good fit for what I'll need. Of course, since I'll be visiting I can't get a SIM mailed to me, previously I've gotten goPhone SIMs off eBay for a few dollars, so I'd have it with me, activated and ready to go when I stepped off the plane.

Previously I've gotten AT&T goPhone SIM cards, but the cost of data packs on them is pretty steep, this seems much better value.

Any suggestions for how I can do this?

First step is making sure your phone is compatible with one of the US networks and selecting your SIM based on which network - TMO and ATT have different frequencies for data, which will affect your experience. Also, make sure your phone is unlocked.

When you're ready to order the SIM, use your first hotel as the address, select (and pay) overnight shipping and let the hotel know to expect and hold a package for you. The only hitch is the billing address/credit card - so I would call Straight Talk, ask to speak with a billing supervisor and make sure you can use your offshore credit card for payment before doing any of this.

The phone number will be lost when your plan runs out, so if you want a permanent US number, setup a Google Voice account when you arrive, add the ST phone number as the primary forward and give out the GV number to people instead of the ST number - so next time you visit, and get a new ST number, your "real" phone number won't change.

AT&T does offer native coverage in Puerto Rico.

Most Europeans can't cope with the fact that we pay for incoming calls which changes a lot of things. Inbound calls are highly profitable for the carriers and allows them to subsidize a lot more including the taxes on the phone. Asa European visitor, I love their PAYG model, but I also like forwarding my landline to my mobile which would be cost prohibitive.

There. Is no way that a service could work in most European countries without charging an arm and a leg. I also think it would be harder to ditch the landline.

There are advantages to most models, but you really need to know them well to fairly compare them. Where they have us beat is intra-European roaming.

Indeed, so I would say the ST phone will work without roaming or issues as long as it's on a ATT (or TMO) network or a domestic roaming partner of those two companies (ie regional wireless company that offers service to ATT or TMO).

The problem with the European "Free incoming" calls is the they are not free for whoever calls you , in fact that call to your mobile might cost 10 cents a minute or more from a landline in the same country , and more if its from another country ,
Some people will not even call back mobile numbers because of the cost !

The phone company gets its money one way or the other !

SR

I mentioned this earlier, but as a "Backup" phone I use Virgin Mobile.

They have a $35 a month plan (I happen to be lucky enough to be grandfathered at $25) that is unlimited Android data, with 300 anytime minutes.

If you are in 3g or WiFi, you can use the Skype app to make free calls and not chew your 300 minutes. Works great.

I have to stick with T-Mo because of my travels, but if I was US only, in areas that Sprint (the provider for Virgin) covered, I'd save the bucks and go with Virgin Mobile full time.

Consider Porting to Google Voice
 

I happen to have a grandfathered Sprint SERO plan, so I'm not going anywhere.

However, if I was going to use Straight Talk or any of these other discount pre-pay services, I would first port my number to Google Voice. I would then have my Google Voice number forward to the prepaid phone, and I would make outgoing calls through GV as well so the GV number would show in caller ID.

Incoming and outgoing SMS would also be through Google Voice. Yes, it does not do outgoing international SMS nor MMS.

For traveling abroad, I would have GV forward to a US forwarding number that would forward to my foreign SIM.

Given the lack of customer service on these prepaid services, keeping the number with GV would be an added layer of protection if something went wrong with the prepaid account. Also, I like the GV voicemail.

are there services that provide this?