I have no idea what their coverage or data speeds are like, but that sounds like a deal. If the service is good, it will save you a bit of money.
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Anyone here planning on getting the iPhone on Virgin Mobile?
- Thread starter AppleScruff1
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I'm on an AT&T family plan with grandfathered Unlimited Data plan, or else i may have considered it.
Yea, your plan would be tough to give up. I'm sure the brain trusts at Verizon and AT&T are working over time to figure out how to force people off of the unlimited plans.
I've had Virgin Mobile since switching from Verizon April 2011. I had no issue with VZW besides the price. I had an unlisted minute plan (like 350), 5000 text (also unlisted), and unlimited data and it was still like $85/month for my Droid Eris.
Tried out the LG Optimus V when my contract ran out and been with VM ever since. It's amazing. $42.40 a month including taxes for 1200 minutes and unlimited text/data. They don't block or charge for Android tethering so wondering how they'll try and block it for the iPhone - I'd bet anything they won't do half as much as AT&T to stop jailbroken phones from getting around it.
I also used it as my primary internet device w/ the phone and tethering for a month when I moved apartments and had no issue with throttling - couldn't really notice.
Not sure if I'll get an iPhone on VM. I rooted my LG and the performance has been fine. I kind of wish VM got a marquee Windows Phone - I'd rather try that out to be honest.
Tried out the LG Optimus V when my contract ran out and been with VM ever since. It's amazing. $42.40 a month including taxes for 1200 minutes and unlimited text/data. They don't block or charge for Android tethering so wondering how they'll try and block it for the iPhone - I'd bet anything they won't do half as much as AT&T to stop jailbroken phones from getting around it.
I also used it as my primary internet device w/ the phone and tethering for a month when I moved apartments and had no issue with throttling - couldn't really notice.
Not sure if I'll get an iPhone on VM. I rooted my LG and the performance has been fine. I kind of wish VM got a marquee Windows Phone - I'd rather try that out to be honest.
I am sure they are.
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What has AT&T done to stop jailbroken phones? I used to do it and they didn't do anything. Last time I did it was a little less than a year ago.
Not right now since I'm under contract with AT&T, but I'll look at the possibility seriously next year when my contract is up.
Here's hoping for a better battery.I meant jailbroken tethering, since as far as I know tethering isn't possible unless you jailbreak, and if you do it, AT&T (and TMobile of late for their Android phones) have locked down on that illegal free tethering. Not just jailbroken phones in general.
Could be mistaken, but do know that neither let you tether for absolutely free/no hassle like I can with my Optimus V on VM.
That is what I meant. I used to tether, through a jailbreak. How exactly do they know to lock down on it?
Tethering is possible with AT&T, I would just have to pay more and give up my unlimited data.
How are the data speeds compared to Verizon? And have you heard anything about 4G LTE on any pre-pay carrier?
I'd say for the most part it's about the same, but a little bit slower - not terribly though. I lived in Chicago for the most part, but recently moved back to the Detroit Metro area. Works more than fine for what I need.
I believe Boost has just starting pushing "4G" offerings, but not sure what their actual speeds are and whose network they piggyback off of. VM uses Sprint - but actually VM if they haven't already, they are going to offer some WiMax Android phones. Not LTE speed, but better than 3G. I remember reading an Engadget article about that probably a month ago.
This is going to be an interesting test to see how consumers will react. Will they pay the higher upfront price for the phone but save hundreds over the course of two years compared to a contract phone? Or will worries of network reliability and speed hold people back? Perhaps the prepaid carriers won't get the newest iPhone until it's closer to the time for the next release, ie, they may always be about a model behind.
Unless people have awesome grandfathered plans or corporate discounts, the choice is clear - if you're in an area where service isn't an issue, pay as you go is the way to be.
Virgin Mobile:
iPhone 4S (16 GB), $649
1200 minutes, unlimited data and text, $40/month
Monthly cost: $40
Year 1 cost: $1,129
Year 2 cost: $480
2 Year Total: $1,609
AT&T:
iPhone 4S (16 GB), $199
Nation Plan - 450 minutes, $39.99/month
Data Pro 300MB for iPhone 4S, $20.00/month
Messaging Unlimited with Mobile to Any Mobile, $20/month
Monthly cost: $79.99/month
Year 1 cost: $1,195.87* (*Including $36 Activation Fee)
Year 2 cost: $959.88
2 Year Total: $2,115.75
Some notes:
- Picked the Nation 450 since it seemed like a suitable choice. VM doesn't include nights/weekends, so picking an unlimited AT&T voice plan didn't seem fair. However, if you push out a lot of minutes, the comparison isn't in your favor ($10 more for VM unlimited vs. $20 more for 900 or $30 for Unlimited on AT&T)
- Picked cheapest data option if you wanted to use the "Wifi wifi!" excuse. Not even close with another $10-30 a month if you go 3GB or 5GB/hotspot
- Messaging is still too prevalent as is to use the Wifi/iMessage argument in my opinion
To me, the tradeoff is clear - the savings is worth using only 3G instead of 3.5G/LTE.
Virgin Mobile:
iPhone 4S (16 GB), $649
1200 minutes, unlimited data and text, $40/month
Monthly cost: $40
Year 1 cost: $1,129
Year 2 cost: $480
2 Year Total: $1,609
AT&T:
iPhone 4S (16 GB), $199
Nation Plan - 450 minutes, $39.99/month
Data Pro 300MB for iPhone 4S, $20.00/month
Messaging Unlimited with Mobile to Any Mobile, $20/month
Monthly cost: $79.99/month
Year 1 cost: $1,195.87* (*Including $36 Activation Fee)
Year 2 cost: $959.88
2 Year Total: $2,115.75
Some notes:
- Picked the Nation 450 since it seemed like a suitable choice. VM doesn't include nights/weekends, so picking an unlimited AT&T voice plan didn't seem fair. However, if you push out a lot of minutes, the comparison isn't in your favor ($10 more for VM unlimited vs. $20 more for 900 or $30 for Unlimited on AT&T)
- Picked cheapest data option if you wanted to use the "Wifi wifi!" excuse. Not even close with another $10-30 a month if you go 3GB or 5GB/hotspot
- Messaging is still too prevalent as is to use the Wifi/iMessage argument in my opinion
To me, the tradeoff is clear - the savings is worth using only 3G instead of 3.5G/LTE.