yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 4 General] Ztones:
T-Mobile has just announced new family plan. 4 lines with 10gb LTE each, plus unlimited talk and text for $120. That's $30 /each but with 10gb of 4g data ! I guess taxes and certain fees will apply that do not for prepaid, but other than that, that's a better deal for $30! Thoughts?
[Nexus 4 General] HTCMDA:
Solo plan. And have 3 different girlfriends. 1 for each line lol
[Nexus 4 General] zdrifter:
Just did it and it was far from smooth ... had to really keep after them calling the 'porting' contact (8777893106) to get it done in '24 hours' ... the time measure of the 24 hrs starts when they say it does, not when you think ... was pretty amazing watch a giant company with WAAAAY to many moving parts, many of whom don't talk with one another try to get this done ... am happy with the plan now that it is done, but a real PITA along the way.
[Nexus 4 General] Telemachus13:
It will charge you $0.10 per minute for the rest of the month, but only if you have enough money in your accout to pay for it. If you have less than $0.10 in your account you won't be able to make calls until you add more money.

Also, if you had $30.00 in your account, but you go over on minutes, so that you now have less than $30.00, then you will have to add more money before your month ends or the plan won't renew.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
[Nexus 4 General] Vanhoud:
Yeah so like what was said earlier they cut you off if you don't have extra money in the account.....
[Nexus 4 General] HTCMDA:
yes you can, I did.

Paid my ETF tho and said convert me to prepaid. However, I'm not sure what they would say if you are not on contract. But then again, all you need to do is speak to someone in customer loyalty. They'll do anything to keep you a t-mobile customer...on contract or prepaid.
[Nexus 4 General] Nayners:
You missed the point of my original comment. And yes, you do get throttled after 5gb. Fact.
[Nexus 4 General] jaybeeunix:
Given that the original question was "I assume it switches to like $.10/minute? Or does it get cut off?" answering it "it cuts you off" is misleading. Saying "it charges you $0.10/min immediately" was more accurate.
[Nexus 4 General] AKfortyseven:
Signed up for this yesterday.

liking it. I always did wonder if our coverage was the same as people who are on contract
[Nexus 4 General] kzoodroid:
Paying the ETF and activating a new account and porting your old number, which is what you did, is different than transfering an account. if you can't pay the ETF then you can't transfer the account. And as its a shared plan the poster was talking about I'm not sure how that would affect his sister on the account.
[Nexus 4 General] Lockeskidney:
Anyone having issues with mms?
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
I have a plan / porting number question. Sorry if it has been answered.

I am currently on sprint with a gnex, and the service is terrible, I get average 150kbs, embarrassing. I have 15 months left on my contract.

I ordered the n4 and I have an old sprint phone from years ago. So my plan is to activate my old phone and lower my plan to 29.99 and keep the line. Then I will activate the n4 on this plan.

Can I port my number to tmobile and get a new # on sprint? Also since it is sprint I can already use my # on the GV# without porting, so that is always an option.

Thanks for the help
[Nexus 4 General] runningwarrior08:
Sorry but I don't see the logic in this...

You plan on paying 30 extra a month to get out of a 250 termination fee.. You will pay 200 more in sprint fees.

To answer your question when you port your number it immediately cancels your other phone contract. The same number cannot be active on 2 separate phone, especially on 2 different providers.

Sprint most likely will not let you change the number but hey if you are going to keep paying them maybe they will.
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
Well the reasoning is this.

The etf is 350 on sprint. I'd rather not shell out 700 for a phone, can't justify that. 350+350.

Second my total monthly bill will be 59.99 as apposed to 79.99, so monthly I am still saving. Actually more than that when you add up the fees and taxes. So the way I see it (justifying the purchase) I am buying a new tech toy for 350 and my monthly cell phone bill is going down

Third I have not given up on sprint. I've had this contract for 10 years and I'd like to be grandfathered into it if anything changes. I'd like to have it as an option for future phones when their lte is ready.

Make sense?
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
Not really...you could save $100 by canceling the Sprint plan early, hawk the GNex on Swappa for a few hundred more, and go with TMO/N4 on this $30/mo plan and not hassle with the porting stuff...that's what I'd do. TMO's LTE will be rolling out at about the same time, so that's a wash, too.
[Nexus 4 General] runningwarrior08:
I understand where you are coming from but still think It would be better to cancel if you havent given up you can always go back since you are going prepaid...

Also since you have been a sprint customer for ten years you should be grandfathered into the 200$ etf at least i was when i canceled. And then you get ten off for every month you are into your current contract. But these things nay have changed.

I know it is your decision but if it was mine i would pay the etf if i could afford it. If not sell the g nex and then cancel it.
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
I called the etf is 100% 350 and I will be selling my gnex. Prolly get 175-200.

Not spending 700 on a phone, sorry.

29.99 and 30$ keeping both lines paying 30$ less a month
[Nexus 4 General] andy o:
I got this but I'd forgotten how I'd set up the thing in the first place. The user name and password are not the ones you use to log in to the site. They're in the "extensions" section.
[Nexus 4 General] gagdude:
Allow me to do the math.

You currently pay $80/month. In 15 months when your contract ends you will have paid $1200

Your plan is to switch to a dumbphone, bringing the contract price down to $30/month, while also paying for the $30/month TMO prepaid plan = $60/month. You will also buy the 16 GB N4 ($350+$30 shipping and taxes). You will sell your Gnex for $175-200.

Money spent on both phone bills after 15 months: $900

Money spend on N4: $380-200 (sold Gnex)=$180

900+180 = $1080

If you were to pay the cancellation fee and go all out TMO prepaid you would pay $30/month. $350 activation fee. Sell Gnex for $200.

$30/month after 15 months is $450

Add activation fee of $350 = $800

Buy Nexus 4 for $380 = $1180

Sold Gnex is -$200

And you pay $980

Can you justify paying $700 for a phone now? You end up saving more in the long run
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
With your generous tweak of the numbers I save 100$. Those are not the actual numbers. Again I love my solution
[Nexus 4 General] gagdude:
? :confused:

What tweaks? What's wrong with saving $100?

The numbers I used was what were given to me. Your financial matters do not concern me, however I am trying to help. Do you wave people off who try to help you and say they "tweaked" their numbers?

And my big question is, why WOULD I tweak the numbers?
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
The bill i pay now is not 80$ wish it was, after taxes fees and insurance its over 100. I am getting a new phone for 150$ and my bill is going down roughly 30$ per month. I understand that if I was to pay the 350 now I'd save 100 after 15 months.

Saving 100 after 15 months is not attractive enough to pay 800 for a new phone today. I will take the 30$ in savoa month and a new phone for 150

---------- Post added at 04:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:52 AM ----------

And on top of that 15 months I will most certainly have another phone. Maybe even on sprint, if you read that above. In which case add a reactivation fee onto your list of fees for canceling now.

---------- Post added at 05:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:56 AM ----------

I'll put the 650 I am saving today in my investment account and make much more than 100 after 15 months.. Come on.
[Nexus 4 General] AKfortyseven:
You could always roam like a mofo on vzw 3g in hopes that that they cancel your contract and you don't have to pay the EFT

also with 15 months left the EFT would be $300. Get $200 for the GNEX and you lose $100

http://support.sprint.com/support/a...termination_fee/case-sp061027-20110823-171256
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
Haha that's actually not a bad idea. Or I could just rip adownloader all day and night and wait for them to cancel me.
[Nexus 4 General] ay27aa:
This person is either trolling or is unable to afford putting up the initial cost.

But also, the savings are even greater than your calculations. I just did this very same thing with my Sprint phone.

Info: 15 months left on contract with a Sprint smartphone.

-ETF is $300 according to Sprint's website. It reduces by $20 every month from this point on until it reaches $100.

Scenario 1: Stay on contract

- $79.99 + 4.38 in fees = 84.37/month; 15 months * 84.37 = 1265.55

- + cost of new phone (N4 16GB = 349.99) ~ 390 with tax and shipping

- Total = $1650 roughly

Scenario 2: Switch to 29.99/month plan with old phone and begin 30/month T-Mobile prepaid plan with 16GB Nexus 4

- lesser Sprint plan of $29.99 + ~3 in fees = 33/month; 15 months * 33 = 495

- N4 16GB = 390

- T-Mobile prepaid plan of 30/month; 15 months * 30 = 450

- Sell GNex for $200

- Total = $1135 roughly

*Upfront cost is ($390 + 63) - 200 = $253

-63 comes from immediate service payments (very short-term liabilities)

Scenario 3: Pay ETF and switch to T-Mobile prepaid plan

- ETF = $300

- N4 16GB = 390

- T-Mobile prepaid plan of 30/month; 15 months * 30 = 450

- Sell GNex for $200

- Total = $940

*Upfront cost is ($300+390 +30) - 200 = $520

-30 from first month of service

***Conclusion, you will save almost $200 dollars by paying the ETF and getting out of contract early over the course of 15 months. The upfront costs for scenario 3 is a difference of about $275.

The only way it makes sense to go with scenario 2 is that you cannot afford the $275 difference, or if you believe that you can make $200 from $275 within 9 months (the time it will take for scenario 2 to have caught up to scenario 3 and have cost you more out of pocket)
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
My etf is 350 not 300 or 200 for the 10th time. So you typed all that to show a 50$ difference? And my current contract is definitely not 84.37 it comes to 105 after taxes fees and insurance.

I will be saving 650 today. And yes I can make 150 or 100 whatever your calculations come out to in 15 months. And everyone with calculations is ignoring the fact that keeping my sprint contract for possible use with a new phone is a plus.

---------- Post added at 07:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:54 AM ----------

I also love the 63$ you slipped in scenario 2 and not in scenario 3 that with the etf wrong amount by 50$ and wala you are at 100$ again.

Again not dropping 700+ today to save 100 over 15 months.

And my 10 years old sprint contract is worth more to me than 100 $ over 15 months. So when a new phone comes out that I want in 12 months, it's there.

Again add the Sprint activation fee onto scenario 3 and now you're at a 70$ savings over 15 months. Sick
[Nexus 4 General] gagdude:
If your current contract is $105, that's $35 above what you said earlier. Hence, we will add $35 to the $30 you say you will be paying for your dumbphone plan and you will be paying $65 for it, and $30 for the TMO plan.

Dude grammar Nazi time but wtf is "wala?" It's "voila" and it comes from the French language. Not some stupid american trying to sound out two syllables

Your 10 year Sprint contract doesn't matter. First, they have the slowest speeds in the US. Second, they are on CDMA and no way can that survive in a world of GSM.

You say in 15 months you will probably have another phone, even on Sprint, so add the activation fee? Well that applies to all 3 scenarios, so that doesn't make a difference.

Also, if you have enough money to buy a GNEX (9 months ago on contract) a N4 (now) and another phone within 15 months, you are buying 3 phones within 2 years. Get out. Seriously. "Omg I'm not dropping $700 to get a Nexus 4 but I can still afford a new phone every 8 months omg omg."

"And in 15 months by putting my $650 in an investment account it will magically grow by 15% omg omg"
[Nexus 4 General] raiderep:
I don't think you guys will get through to him as his mind seems made up on the matter. I'm a former sprint customer of five years as of two weeks ago and my wife and I are saving nearly 100 bucks a month while getting much faster data speeds on our two $30 T-Mobile prepaid plans. Leaving CDMA is important if you do your homework on the direction mobile phones are going. The two year contract is something that should be done away with in my opinion and this is our way of doing away with it. We also got out of our 700 dollar etf by standing firm with them and they agreed to waive them if we sent back our devices, a gs3 and a nexus s 4g which is a good deal if you ask me. Still have a gnex and a gs3 to sell and we are close to even on this deal. I'm not doing all the math but if you want to save it makes sense to start now not later. Simply put we spent around 800 bucks up front but when we sell the two remaining phones which have no use to us we will get most of that back...good times :p

So long to the binds of contact mobile and hello freedom! Sorry for the off topic battle cry...

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
Magically grow by 15%?? I can buy a stock that will grow by 15% over 15 months yes. Easily. And yes I do buy a phone around every 8 months that's about the one calculations you have right. I do well in love tech

---------- Post added at 08:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 AM ----------

Well that is a good tip.. What did you say to get them to waive the etf by returning the phone. Interesting idea.
[Nexus 4 General] raiderep:
I told them I was a 5 year customer that needs to save money now but if they let me leave with a good taste in my mouth I would come back when we are both done with school and can afford the service again. They tried like hell to keep us but I stood firm and even said they can charge me the etfs but that would guarantee us not returning ever. Its all in how you put it across to them. One CSR made the mistake of telling me it was impossible to waive etfs and I asked to speak with a supervisor. Be nice but be firm. And they offered the send back of devices, I never asked for it so let them make the offer. Good luck.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
And of you just want to talk facts, I haven't added 35 $ on to the bill.

69.99

11$ tep

10$ premium data

6$ taxes

4$ fees.

101.00

Sorry I said 105. I know you are the grammar police, sorry I sounded out the word voila for the sake of getting my point across, the same way it's used in person.

But tax goes by % so the less then original # the less the tax, you may not know that. I won't have insurance on my dumb phone and I won't have premium data. So NO.. You can't add 30 to make it 65.

Know what you're talking about please

Sorry typing on an N7, yes afforded that too.
[Nexus 4 General] Mynamestaken:
I decided to experiment with this plan and I really wanted it to work out, but the reception I have been getting is terrible. My N4 is constantly switching between edge, 3g and faux g. I have seen 22mbps down one second and .25 the next. I get good reception maybe 20% of the time. I don't get it. I have had tmo before with no issues. I sadly agree with those saying tmo somehow sets devices on these plans at the bottom priority of tower access. Frustrating to say the least.
[Nexus 4 General] oasis9389:
Thanks I'll give that a shot

---------- Post added at 08:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:14 AM ----------

how about this math; if your goal is buy another tech toy and recoup the cost from the purchase as soon as possible via 'savings' on month to month

My Idea:

N4: 388

Sell GNEX: 200

Cost: 188

Plan costs: 35(sprint)+30(tmobo) = 65

Old plan: 101

Savings: 36 a month

188 / 36 = 5.2 months you're even.

ETF Idea

N4: 388

Sell GNEX: 200

ETF: 350

Cost: 538

Plan costs: 30(tmobo)

Old plan: 101

Savings: 71 a month

538 / 71 = 7.6 months you're even.

after 8 months the trends start to turn to the positive towards the etf.. but in 8 months who knows what phone i will be using.
[Nexus 4 General] Jepod:
Ok so I have read this thread, searched other threads, and did a good-ol Google search for an answer to this...

Does the 100 minutes in this $30/month plan count both incoming and outgoing? I am assuming so because so many people are saying to not answer normal calls and call back on the Vonage app but I just want to be absolutely sure.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
[Nexus 4 General] acegolfer:
0815,

Yes.
[Nexus 4 General] lyricez:
How long did you wait for your sim card to arrive??

To those that ordered the micro sim online via t-mobile.com... how long did it take for your sim card to reach you? I ordered mine on 11/23 and it still hasn't arrived yet. They claimed it shipped on 11/26 and should of been here Friday (11/30). The website says it shipped via UPS, yet the tracking number is straight up invalid. It doesn't even have a "1Z" at the beginning of it.Customer service was also zero help, they pretty much see the same screen I see from the website. It's Sunday and I haven't gotten a UPS my choice alert, so I know it's not coming on Monday.

I've even tried to just buy a mirco sim card from an actual T-mobile store.. yet the rep claims she's not "allowed" to let me leave with an unactivated sim card and began to try to push the $50 Monthly 4g plan on me. She got an attitude when I told her I only want the $30 plan and claimed I could switch from the $50 plan to the $30 one at anytime. I told her this was not the case, it even says so on the website. She said she didn't care what the website says.

This has been such a hassle so far, I am starting to rethink going with T-mobile as a provider, even for pre-paid. I don't understand why the plan is only available online, it makes zero sense. Then there's the other various issues, like porting numbers that people are having. I want to see what t-mobile coverage/data is like in my area, but this may just push me to use straight talk instead.
[Nexus 4 General] acegolfer:
Lyric,

1. It took 10 days for my micro sim to arrive.

2. Google price discrimination for why the store doesn't sell $1 sim and $30 plan.
[Nexus 4 General] lyricez:
That's just unacceptable when they claim 2-4 day delivery. Looks like I will have to get a straight talk t-mobile sim and cut it. They are overnighting their sim cards.
[Nexus 4 General] acegolfer:
Correct. But it arrived faster than my n4 so it wasn't bad.
[Nexus 4 General] sambao21:
I ordered mine on Friday and it said it shipped but the tracking number is worthless a its not recognized by UPS. I'm scheduled to get my phone on Monday, I hope I don't have to wait 10 days before my Sim card shows up. BTW, is it a micro sim card? If not, will Tmobile be able to trim it down for me in their store?
[Nexus 4 General] zdrifter:
Some FYI info... I tried to order a sim from T-mob right after the 13th ... they were out of micro-sims so I got the 'regular' sim with the intention of cutting it ... it arrived in about 5 days and the phone arrived on the 20th, Cut the sim, did the online activation and it did not work (don't know why), so went to the nearby T-mob store ...

they were VERY helpful and tried to end run the polices T-mob has about the $30 plan ... even tho they tried and tried they could not get thru the red tape T-mob has around this plan ... the prepaid CSR's won't even talk to the store people, not even the store manager. In the meantime I went online and saw they had the micro sim back in stock so I ordered one. At the same time (day of activation) the store GAVE me a micro sim, so the BS the person you spoke with gave you is just that ... BS. (BTW I flipped them a $20 for some Starbuck's

after

they gave me the free sim, just 'cause they were so helpful) I did use the sim from the STORE and got the prepaid techs to change the activation record to that sim # and I was then OK.

The micro sim I ordered online came 11 days later. Seems T-mob really doesn't want to sell the $30 plan, sends the sims out really slowly and only does the plan perhaps because of the Wal-Mart tie in. There also may be a little 'market manipulation' on T-mob's part to take advantage of the N4 frenzy. Also my sims were shipped USPS and the 'tracking number' is crap. USPS number tell you nothing. I bet your's shipped USPS NOT UPS.
[Nexus 4 General] kzoodroid:
I ordered mine on Tuesday the 27th and recieved it Friday the 30th.
[Nexus 4 General] belair56:
2 days for me.

I ordered on on 11/28 8:04 pm EST received 11/30 1:25 pm

I would not too bad. good luck to all.
[Nexus 4 General] jaybeeunix:
I've only ever used the free shipping, which is USPS (the Post Office) First Class mail. If you type your tracking number into Google, it will take you to the correct tracking site. If I needed it quickly, T-Mobile website offered an expedited shipping option to me for $12.
[Nexus 4 General] marsdta:
Technically its not being sent through regular ups, but ups mail innovations. Think of as a collaborative with the post office. Usually in these scenarios its suppose to go through the ups back end and delivered via post office. Usually these get delivery times similar ground if not quicker, but depending on where you live it can be as little as two days

On some occasions usps handles all the shipping and the package can take longer
[Nexus 4 General] talhak91:
I don't know about using Vonage long term, but I guess if it's free for the time being, it's a decent place to start as any for most people.

My setup, however, is going to be with Skype. Just got my number ported from Virgin Mobile to T-Mobile (took 2.5 days and a call to their porting hotline but it came through with no issues), and I added money to my account using a refill I bought from callingmart.com. That came to around $28.50 and then I set up Skype, adding the unlimited USA & Canada subscription, for just $3. My caller ID will use my regular number (that's going to take about 24 hours to work through on Skype's end but I'm okay with that) and I just tried it over a terribly slow wifi connection that I have at home and it worked flawlessly. So, unlimited everything on this brand new Nexus 4 came out to exactly $31.50. Wow.

Advice for anyone thinking about Skype

- Set up Caller ID online

- On the Skype App, set it to sign out immediately. (or you can sign out manually when you remember, but setting it up this way means Skype won't be using battery life when you're not on it)

- All your phone contacts are available, just hit the button on the top of the dialer when you're trying to call someone and the entire list will be right there.
[Nexus 4 General] Richieboy67:
I am a little confused? You are paying for Skype and T-Mobile? How are you using b Skype? Do you just use Skype when on Wi-Fi?
[Nexus 4 General] acegolfer:
If you sign out, can you receive skype calls? If not, then how's skype any better than free vonage app?
[Nexus 4 General] rog0003:
I ditched a home phone a long time ago but have recently started working from home more often and needed something better than cellphone quality for conference calls. So a few months ago I bought an Obi110 and created another Google Voice account to use with it.

http://www.amazon.com/OBi110-Service-Bridge-Telephone-Adapter/dp/B0045RMEPI

Fast forward to when the Nexus 4 came out. I bought one for myself and wife and ditched our Verizon plans. Savings of $100 a month. Anyways, i ported my Verizon # to Google Voice and now use my cellphone for calls when out and about, an OBi hooked up to a normal phone at home, and forward calls to my desk when at work. Should make staying under 100 minutes a month much easier.

So far it has worked great (also love being able to send/receive texts while on my Nexus 10). OBi also has an Android App, but I haven't bothered trying to use it yet.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paad.hello#?t=W10.