[Nexus 4 General] Lttlwing16:
Updated 7/4/13

US Prepaid Options

This thread is intended to give people a “one stop shop “ for GSM prepaid carriers to use with the Nexus 4 and to serve as a general discussion thread about prepaid services here in the US. I don’t know all the answers, but I will try to update the OP as new info comes in.

Prepaid services will be divided into two categories. Those operating on the AT&T spectrum and those operating on the T-mobile spectrum.

Listed are some of the most popular Prepaid Services and a short bio of each.

Here is a complete list of MVNO network operators in the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators

Talk: Phone calls Text: SMS & MMS Data: HSPA(+) speeds depending on area or otherwise noted

AT&T spectrum:

AT&T Go Phone Prepaid Wireless

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/prepaidplans.html#planlist-ptip_sku6610500

Best Deal: $60 Unlim Talk&Text 2gb DATA @ LTE speeds (if applicable)

And it is not confirmed that you will get HSPA+ data speeds with this plan. (Let me know if you do and I will update)

Simcard : Free. In store only (?)

Throttle: Unknown, unlikely due to data cap.

Customer Service: In store/ phone/ email *Good

Pros: Great coverage , better support, preferred network use. Only prepaid offering LTE speeds. Cons: Too expensive for unlimited talk&text.

Straight Talk Wireless AT&T

https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans

Best Deal : $45 + tax/ Unlim Talk, Text, Data*

Sim card: Microsim around 14.99/Free shipping

Throttled Data: YES. AT&T throttles users of Straight Talk if use is above normal, which is defined as 2.5 GB/mos. There are ill defined lines of what qualifies someone for throttling, but it does occur if use is excessive, and in some cases not. Some have had success by calling/opening a ticket on FB and having them “reprovisioning” their account.

Customer Service: Phone/ Email/ Social Media (Fb) *Fair

(Tip: Try this phone number first: 1-888-251-8164)

Pros: Cheapest AT&T prepaid service, Good Coverage on AT&T Network. Best deal if you can use wifi frequently.

Cons: Aggressive throttling for some users, Poor Customer Support

Black Wireless/H20

http://blackwireless.com/Plans.aspx

https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=plans&category=W

Best Deal: $60+tax Unlimited Talk/Text/2gb Data* (promo codes have been seen)

Sim Card: Micro 2.00 charge/free shipping

Throttled Data: YES. Throttled after 500mb/mos.

Customer Support: Phone/Chat/Email *Good

Pros: Clear Defined Data terms. 500mb/mos at HSPA speed, Edge speeds after, up to 2gb. Better Customer Support. $5 for international use. 100 International Texts included @ 60 price.

Cons: $15 dollars/mos higher than Straight Talk. 500mb/mos is a small amount of data before throttle.

There are many other prepaid services on AT&T network, most offering Unlim Talk/Text and 1-2gb HSPA data for $50-60/mos. See below for complete list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators

T-Mobile Network : (Generally poorer coverage/reliability, but may offer faster Data speeds in some areas)

T-moblie Prepaid

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/

Best Deal: $30 100minutes/Unlimited Text/ Unlimited Data [MENTION=3318867]hspa[/MENTION](+) speed (ONLINE DEAL ONLY)

Sim Card: Micro, Free online/in store

Throttling: Yes and No. Depends on plan. Clear definitions of throttling are given.

Customer Service: In Store/Phone/Email *Good

Pros: Cheapest Plan you can get with truly unlimited Data. Well defined throttling limits.

Cons: T-mobile coverage, 100 minutes is too few for most.

Straight Talk Wireless T-mobile

https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans

Best Deal : $45 + tax/ Unlim Talk, Text, Data*

Sim card: Standard SIM* around 14.99/Free shipping

Throttled Data: YES. Tmobile is less aggressive than AT&T, but throttling is still noted to occur.

Customer Service: Phone/ Email/ Social Media (Fb) *Fair

(Tip: Try this phone number first: 1-888-251-8164)

Pros: Cheap everything plan for the regular user. Best if used with wifi frequently.

Cons: Poorly defined throttle terms. Poor Customer Support. Some must cut Standard Sim to Micro to get Tmo ST service.

Simple Mobile

http://www.mysimplemobile.com/Simple-Mobile-Plan.aspx

Best Deal: $50 Unlimited Talk, Text & 2.5 GB data*

Sim: Micro SIm; 12.99; free shipping

Throttling: YES. A sister company to Straight Talk, the throttling is similar. Simple Mobile will throttle after allotted data.

Customer Service: Phone/Email *Fair

Pros: Good price for everything. Clear data terms. Easy International add-on. Unlimited international SMS. 5$ in free international credit/mos.

Cons: NO ROAMING for voice & text. Out of Tmo service area = no service. Poor Customer Service.

Solavei

http://www.solavei.com/mobile-service/plan-details

Best Deal: $49 Unlimited Talk/Text/Data*

Sim: Microsim 9.00/free shipping (* 49.00 membership fee*)

*Tip use this IMEI number to register: 353022055115650

Throttling: YES. After 4gb/mos the data will be throttled. Clearly Defined

Customer Service: Phone/Email *Unknown

NOTE: Solavei is a service that offers incentives if you get others to sign up for their service. This is not mandatory to have their phone service, but is an optional incentive.

Pros: Clear Data limits/throttling terms. Incentive program

Cons: High cost of startup ($108 for first months). Some may see marketing scheme as annoying. Must trick IMEI @ registering as nexus 4 is not registered in their system to date.

Go Smart Mobile

https://www.gosmartmobile.com/compare-prepaid-cell-phone-plans

Best Deal: $45 Unlim Talk/Text/5gb 3G Data*

Sim: Micro 8.00 /free shipping

Throttling: Yes, after 5gb Data.

NOTE: Data speeds are Never HSPA(+) but 3G at best (1mbps/down). Throttling takes you down to 2g/Edge speeds.

Customer Service: Phone/FAQ *Unknown

Pros: Cheap plan with clear data conditions.

Cons: Max speeds are 3G

Platinum Tel

http://platinumtel.com/plans

Best Deal: $50 Unlimited Talk/Text/2gb Data@ HSPA(+)

Sim: Micro 4.99 online. Free shipping.

Throttling: First 2gb at HSPA(+) speeds. Throttled afterwards.

Customer Service: Phone/Email *Unknown Quality

Pros: Clear Defined Throttle limits. Competitive rates.

Cons: Throttling after 2gb.

Family Mobile by WalMart

http://www.walmart.com/cp/Family-Mobile/1076544

Best Deal : $40 unlimited T&T 1gb @ 3G speeds.

Sim: ? Some charges apply for "Starter kit"

Throttling: Yes. 1gb@3g then 2g after that.

Customer Service: In store or over phone *good/fair

Pros: Cheapest plan with unlimited talk and text. Well defined limits and throttling policy.

Cons: 3g speeds at best. You have to deal with WalMart...:-\

Once again, there are many other T-mobile prepaid carriers besides those listed. See below for complete list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators