yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Topics] br0adband:
LTE, 2G, 3G, 4G, those are the nomenclature for the data connections, not voice calls hence you can "turn off" the data connection and you still can make and receive calls (and texts as well). So yes, since GV+GrooveIP/Talkatone make use of the data connection when it's available, the answer is obviously "yes."

Cellular data connection or Wi-Fi, doesn't matter, as long as it's an active Internet connection that's what the apps use to make calls using the apps and not use the T-Mobile minutes.
[General Topics] dagaetch:
gotcha - thanks!
[General Topics] adrman:
You can do it with Talker, but there's an app called GrooveForwarder that I use and it's fantastic. It will even switch forwarding based on specific Wi-Fi networks and mobile data connections. For example, I have it set to switch my GV forwarding to my Skype number when I'm on my home network or LTE/HSPA+. Anything below HSPA+ and it will switch forwarding to my T-Mobile number. I have emailed the developer and he seems to feel that this functionality will be maintained even after GV and Hangouts are integrated. (keeping fingers crossed )

I would encourage everyone to search out and read a thread by Codesplice over on the gnex general forum, called "Smartphone Service for just $30/month". There's a very good guide in the op and much more info in the thread.
[General Topics] FuMMoD:
Thank you both for the info and advice. I'm looking forward to setting up my tmobile plan asap.
[General Topics] parkson:
No MMS in Google Voice is the man reason I don't use the number as my main. Are their any workarounds I'm unaware of?
[General Topics] br0adband:
I'm not 100% sure but I though SMS/MMS were now possible because of Hangouts... seems like that was the biggest thing about it being added nowadays. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that aspect.

Edit:

Yep, it does, but the rollout of the SMS/MMS addition will take some time meaning it could take months:

http://phandroid.com/2013/10/31/new...google-voice-integration-will-take-some-time/
[General Topics] adrman:
Hangouts still doesn't interface with GV. I'm still using the GV app for sms (no mms).
[General Topics] br0adband:
It will when they finally get it all working "under the same roof" once and for all.
[General Topics] magecca:
Visual voicemail is available on prepaid plans. I'm on the plan that is the topic of this thread and I confirm the app works and doesn't expend talk time when listening to voicemails.

I may even assert, when your minutes are depleted, don't answer your phone, listen to the voicemail and call back using an alternate method (GrooveIP etc.) if needed and you should not be charged overage minutes at $.10/min.
[General Topics] aklyz:
Any thoughts on instead using the $3/day plan for unlimited talk/text/200mb/day 4g? works out to 5.85GB a month if you have a decent set of WiFi networks around you. I have xfinity and there is a pretty decent net of hot spots in my local area so this plan as worked out better for me.
[General Topics] bob60626:
Not true. I've used it on my TMO S2, my TMO Note 2, and downloaded it to two AT&T Notes; all on the prepaid $30 plan. It didn't work when I had my first T-Mobile phone (Galaxy Exhibit) even though it was on there, but it's worked for about a year now.
[General Topics] br0adband:
I'd say if you're going to bother with it then just get the $30/month plan and be done with it, period. Doing that by the day thing can be problematic in some respects: you have to put at least $10 into the account to do anything at all ($10 is the minimum you can add to T-Mobile accounts per refill) so that's 1/3rd of the way there already, and if you use it more than 10 days you're already falling into a hole by spending more than $30.

There's no logical reason to use the pay-per-day plan at all if you have intentions of really using the service.
[General Topics] notbrodie:
you don't need the hotspot. native tethering works just fine. i've tethered both my xoom and my laptop to my phone over T-Mobile
[General Topics] kayone73:
I went to one local store today, go denied trying to sign up for the $30 plan, will try again at another location
[General Topics] benjdm:
This plan isn't available in stores. You have to sign up online. I think.
[General Topics] wideasleep1:
Or activate a Sim on the phone. Prompts include this plan.
[General Topics] nrvate:
I'm using CSipSimple (you need a nightly build after Nov 2nd due to some KitKat changes) which is a SIP VOIP client based on the pjsip SIP library. I've been using this SIP client for over a year now with really good results. The Nexus 5 just makes it better, with improved speaker/mic setup compared to my last device. For SIP service, I am using voip.ms. They provide a number for 99¢/month and calls for 1¢/minute. They also provide a bunch of additional functionality, including voice mail, call forwarding, ring groups, interactive voice response menus (press 1 for.. press 2 for..) and some other toys, pretty much the full compliment of Asterisk PBX features -- Including the ability to create subaccounts for all your devices/computers/ip phones (on their own extensions and everything). They also have servers in a range of locations, so you can pick the one with the lowest ping time from your area. They also provide toll-free numbers, if you're doing any sort of business, for 99¢/month + 2.4¢/min -- If you like to hand out your card for extra $$ helping the less tech-savvy, 99¢ gets you an 800 number and PBX-style call routing/voicemail possibilities for cheap professional telephone presence.

VOIP over a good WiFi connection is very solid, and I've also had pretty good luck on mobile networks, as long as latency is <100ms and packet loss / jitter is low. Don't expect it to be great when you're driving, movement presents some significant challenges for mobile broadband, which digital voice networks (such as GSM/CDMA in voice mode) go to great technical lengths to address. However with good (not overloaded) 4G (HSPA+/LTE) service in a stationary state both T-mobile and AT&T's networks do better than I had expected.

One thing I found today is that T-mobile's network appears to have a fairly short UDP NAT timeout, somewhere in the order of 5-10 minutes. CSipSimple has a default SIP register timeout of 30 minutes, meaning it re-registers the connection with the server every 30 minutes or so. Changing this to 4 minutes was necessary to ensure incoming calls always came through, otherwise the NAT mapping would expire and incoming calls wouldn't come through as the SIP packets weren't making it back to the device.

Since I ended up giving out my Google Voice number as my primary contact number, I added my VOIP number as a forwarding phone and changed the outgoing caller ID to match my Google Voice number. If I'm at home, I'll pick up on the headset via gmail, on the go, via CSipSimple.

I can't speak for any of the free VOIP apps, I figured $1/month for full Asterisk PBX functionality and 1¢/min is more than fair -- Especially when with subaccounts I get service to all my devices at no additional cost..

I was hoping to do just that, but I guess their system was completely hosed when I tried -- Gave me an error on the clickthrough to activate, didn't even get started. Between that an the lack of numbers for my area code problem, I guess I picked the wrong day to activate.. Ah well, at least it's done. Still stoked at the quality of service for $30/month for 5gb.

Awesome! Glad to be of help :)
[General Topics] howardroark:
CSipSimple let's me place a call, but it force closes. If I don't hit the "okay" button on the force close dialog I can stay in the call. I am on the latest nightly. Is it working without FC for anyone else on a Nexus 5?
[General Topics] maamdroid:
Thanks nrvate for going into some good detail on your VOIP setup. I have been trying all the apps for voice calls with google voice. They work decently, but not as great as I would want.

I just signed up for voip.ms. I'm going to give that a try.
[General Topics] howardroark:
EDIT: I downloaded "latest trunk" but apparently it was an older version. Working like a charm with the real latest version.
[General Topics] nooktablet:
hello, this is the first time i get a phone, so please excuse me if i'm asking questions that has already been answered, but i really need help.

- i'm under 18 so i'm going to buy the micro sim card using my relative's credit card.

- when i get the sim card, what do i do? how do i activate the sim, how will i be able to choose my phone number? do i activate by going to some tmobile activation website or do i just put the sim in the nexus 5 , turn the phone on and it will give me a phone number?

- i'm under 18 so is there any problem with that when using tmobile service? the tmobile account that's going to be created is going to be my relative's account and contains his credit card infomation.

- is there such thing as "owner's name" of the phone, like should i use my name or my relative's name, any legal problem?

this is kinda confusing to me because this plan is only available online, so i can't go to a store and ask information or have them activate for me. (btw there's no walmart store here, and of course i live in the US, i'm an immigrant though that's why i know nothing about how the telephone system here works)

thanks
[General Topics] kerry_xu_cs:
Although it's $30 a month, I always get charged around $32, so there is tax.
[General Topics] wideasleep1:
By whom? Who is charging you $2?
[General Topics] KrazyAttack:
Do you need to edit/create an APN for this?

Or since it's TMO and through them do you just pop the activated sim in and go?
[General Topics] maamdroid:
I got hit with extra charges for tax as well on my first payment. Guessing that will be the same next month.
[General Topics] Kabbage:
Those of you using SIP, have you tried the built in VOIP? It's at the very bottom of Phone App>Settings>Call Settings.

Edit: You obviously still need a gateway. I used simonics.com with google voice before I got a Obi202.

Also the $2 in the $30 plan is sales tax. You can get around that by buying prepaid credit from an online reseller or ebay. I used to use callingmart.com, and used the option of instant charge to account. Got topped off within a minute.
[General Topics] br0adband:
There should NEVER be a tax on the $30 monthly charge - it's a service you're paying for, not a physical product. In just shy of 2 years of using this plan I've never seen it deduct anything but the $30 dead even amount (I refill my plan using a debit credit card directly into my T-Mobile account, I don't use refill cards, I don't do auto-pay either).

Services can't be taxed; products can. Somewhere someone is ripping you folks off - and yes in Nevada we do have a state sales tax (currently 8.1%) so it's not like they wouldn't charge me something if they could.

Even if you're buying physical refill cards from someplace like a convenience store you're still not technically buying a product (the card itself) - you're still buying a service (the minutes) and that can't be taxed legally here in the US. Some states might have some funky law in effect to rip you off, however; if that's the case, go get yourself a prepaid credit card sometime and dump cash on it (a large amount or else you'll get hammered even worse by the service fee - yes I know that seems ironic) you'd get charged to put money into the funding in the first place, then use that to put money into the T-Mobile account.

Just some suggestions...
[General Topics] parkson:
Soon to be first time GSM user here. My Nexus 5 isn't due for arrival until end of the month *fingers crossed*. I've been with big red all my life and am skeptical of mixed feedback about tmobiles network.

If I were to give the $30 no-contract deal a try for a month with a galaxy s4 my sister no longer uses, is it a hassle switching to the N5? Or just switch Sim into new phone and go?

I received the Sim activation pack from T-Mobile today and suppose I need the money refill card(?). I notice on the setup instructions there's a need to input phone imied. Will inputing the GS4 info affect use of the same Sim card in the N5? Thx
[General Topics] br0adband:
If you had your Nexus 5 and a T-Mobile microSIM card right now in your hands, you could have service with the $30/month plan in about 15 minutes or less by signing up online (to do the SIM activation and choose that $30/month plan). You would be assigned a new number by T-Mobile during the activation unless you decided to port your current number; that obviously would take longer but in reading people's stories over the years and the fact that T-Mobile is very serious about signing up people en mass, you'd probably have working service in 6 hours or less, sometimes a lot less, with the ported number and that SIM card once activated.

As it is a no contract prepaid in advance plan, you could keep it for a month and then see how it goes, and at the end of the month you're done, no harm, no foul. The number assigned to you (if you don't port) will stay active for roughly 180 days and then be re-assigned to a new customer when it lapses.

The reason the IMEI of the phone involved is needed is to activate the service in the first place - you're not tied to using only that device in the future, no. It's just so that when that device connects to T-Mobile's network with that particular SIM card in it, T-Mobile knows everything is "ok" based on the matched SIM serial number + the IMEI and then the activation is valid. After the SIM is activated, you can remove it when your Nexus 5 arrives, slide it in, power up the Nexus 5 and it'll work without issues at all ready to go.

Pretty simple stuff:

- activate the SIM

- put money into the T-Mobile account (and here's the bonus: those T-Mobile SIM activation kits typically come with some credit already on them, like $2.80 or something, I can't remember exactly how much it is but there is typically at least $2+ on the card already so your first month will only cost you like $26 and change so pay attention to that when you're signing up - you'll be able to see the balance on the T-Mobile account when it's active and BEFORE you put money into it)

- give it a few minutes for the funds to propagate into the account and then you'll get a text message to the phone with that SIM card saying it's "live" and ready to go

- (optional) use that SIM card in any GSM device you want afterward and as long as service is alive
[General Topics] lopri:
- Usually the SIM will pick up T-Mobile service nearby and you will learn (or be prompted) that you are connected to T-Mobile's service.

- From here you should be able to go to T-Mobile.com using Chrome. You will be taken to a page where you pick your plan. Simply choose the plan that you want and make a payment using a credit card or a refill card. It kind of works like a Hotel Wi-Fi.

- If you do not see the plan you wanted (e.g. $30 plan sometimes is not visible), call 611. You can call 611 even if you don't have a plan. Ask for the $30 plan. You can pay over the phone or they can send that option to your phone. You may have to provide your name, phone's IMEI number, etc,.

- I don't think T-Mobile cares about your age.

- There is no "owner's name" But You have to give T-Mobile some name and pick a 4-digit password.

---------- Post added at 12:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 AM ----------

If you pay with a credit card, there is no tax. (at least there wasn't, for me) Buying a refill card can cost tax (e.g. retail stores) or can be cheaper (e.g. eBay).
[General Topics] br0adband:
Check it:

https://plus.google.com/+AlexWiesen/posts/5ZPhfqXgtYD

Still ain't perfect (the MMS content goes to Gmail as an attachment) but at least it's some progress.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/08/google-voice-t-mobile-mms/
[General Topics] KrazyAttack:
Do you need to edit/create an APN for this?

Or since it's TMO and through them do you just pop the activated sim in and go?

I'm currently on Net10 AT&T and you've gotta try a bunch of different APN combos and here I am still unable to receive MMS.
[General Topics] br0adband:
The SIM card has the APN data, so when you put it into your Nexus 5 you should be good to go after rebooting the device, it should connect to LTE if it's available in your area, if not then it'll fall back to HSPA+ (both of them fall under the fast.t-mobile.com APN). You shouldn't have to edit anything at all.
[General Topics] jinx626:
Is anyone else encountering throttling on LTE on this particular plan? For the first few MB it download fast but then starts to go towards a crawl to like 2G speeds. Is there any way around this?
[General Topics] cpenticuff:
The state sales tax for Nevada is only 6.85%, which isn't especially high compared to many states. The rest of the 8.1% you are referring to is a local tax.

"Sales tax" is a pretty general term and is imposed on the state level, meaning, YOUR state decides what to tax and how to tax it. Here in Kentucky, we are taxed for pretty much everything excluding non-prepared food. There are some tiny quirks as well... if you eat "inside" a restaurant, you are charged a "dine in" tax. If you get your food to go or order through a drive through, there is no dine in tax, but you are charged a "convenience tax" of the exact same amount. Certain types of "prepared" food are tax exempt (cold sandwiches and some salads). I don't pretend to understand how this works, but the items are usually labeled to help avoid confusion.

I live in the southern part of KY, and we often have shoppers from Tennessee purchasing groceries here. Their sales tax is higher, but they also have a food tax that we do not, meaning they save 5% on food items by crossing the border to shop. Of course, they SHOULD be reporting these purchases on their state tax forms, but we all know how that works.

You also have issues with online purchasing. Certain states require sales tax to be collected at the time of purchase, while others assume the purchaser will report the purchase on their state taxes and pay usage tax at that time. Until ~2 years ago, I could shop tax free at Amazon, but now KY requires tax to be collected. The exception here is with some sellers whose orders are fulfilled by amazon.

Don't even try to understand sales tax, it will just make your head hurt.
[General Topics] mattcoz:
Everywhere I've read says it isn't available, and when I downloaded the app i didn't connect so I figured that was the case. But I just opened it again and it works. :confused: Well, I'm happy now, heh.
[General Topics] jaybeeunix:
states CAN and DO tax prepaid

Many states tax prepaid phone cards: They might call it something else, but in that case it's a tax in everything but name. For example:

Illinois ("prepaid surcharge"): http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3375&ChapterID=11

Washington State (many of these T-Mo $30 threads claim WA doesn't charge any tax on prepaid): http://www.wa-food-ind.org/images/E-911_Info_Sheet.pdf

Texas: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/911_fees/911_ppd_wireless_faq.html
[General Topics] github:
There is a thread about this on HowardForums if I remember. Seems there is some throttling going on according to a few posts over there.

edit: I Think this is the thread: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1815146-T-mobile-Throttling-Pre-paid-Users

Also, no tax on the $30 for me via autorefill through T-Mobile. I live in FL.
[General Topics] Lokitez:
I'll be moving to prepaid in a few months and I'm trying to gather information on the $30 T-Mobile plan versus the $45 AT&T Straight Talk plan.

1. Does anyone have any experience with roaming data on the T-Mobile plan? My current T-Mobile post-paid plan only allows for 50 MB of roaming data, which is virtually worthless. There's no T-Mobile coverage in Western Maryland, where I go about 8 or 9 times a year, so I get piggybacked onto the AT&T network out there.

2. I had no problems turning my Nexus 4 into a mobile hotspot on my current T-Mobile plan, but my Nexus 5 is now being blocked from doing this. Anyone on the $30 plan having any issues here?
[General Topics] jaybeeunix:
I had the same problem: No issue with native tethering on my Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 4. I had to change the APN on my Moto X, but couldn't get it to work on my Nexus 5.
[General Topics] OwenMeany:
Please excuse these simple questions

Please excuse me for asking for clarification on what are likely simple questions. I have tried to find my answers by extensive reading, taking notes, etc. but have become very confused:crying:. I have always been on a basic post pay plan, so never have dealt with APN VOIP SIP Google Voice, etc. I hope someone will not mind answering these simple questions for me. Any help is appreciated.

I don't understand the difference between VOIP and SIP, The fact that Google Voice is changing has further complicated this. If I managed to use less than 100 minutes for incoming calls, is there a simpler solution for me if I only need to place outgoing calls over an alternative method (using wifi and cellular service)?

Will the Google Voice changes make alternative ways of making calls obsolete, or are there options that will not be affected?

From reading about the N4 I had assumed I could tether to N5. Are the problems I'm reading about only when tethering to Tmobile (prepaid), or will I be unable to tether to any carrier without a hotspot plan?

I've read you can tether by rooting your device. I thought with this phone I wouldn't need to root. Does rooting invalidate your warranty, etc. as it does with other devices?

If I was on the $30 plan and unable to tether, could I add the mobile data package for 7 days, 1GB for $15 to this plan, or is that only for other plans.

Since I'm on a family plan with an employee discount I am realizing that many of the plans will not save as much as I anticipated. This plan will be great if I can figure out how to get additional minutes beyond the 100 that are included. Any help is appreciated.
[General Topics] someone0:
To the OP, what is the point of linking to another thread like assuming people gonna read through 150+ pages? If you already read through all that, make yourself useful and create the FAQ page instead. There is very no point on having 2 seperate threads just to talk about t-mobile plan. Let me make it clear, I'm mot talking about thread with Nexus 5 issue on t-mobile plan here. This thread and the other are mainly about a T-mobile plan with little to do the Nexus 5.
[General Topics] mattcoz:
1. No roaming on this plan.

2. I get directed to a T-Mobile login page when trying to tether.

---------- Post added at 01:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------

Yes, but you can always unroot it if you need warranty services, they'll never know.
[General Topics] trent25:
Ya what's the deal with that? And now according to the My T-mobile app we are getting 100MB of hotspt data as part of the $30 plan. Why cannot I use them? :confused:

I haven't tried any of the apps that try to bypass tethering blocks, I rarely need to tether, but I was just making sure my N5's hotspot is working without issues and bam I get redirected to my account page, asked to log in, and then nothing happens !!!! :confused:
[General Topics] Gaffadin:
Apparently there is a fix here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=47203432&postcount=70 and it looks like you will need to be rooted in order to do it.
[General Topics] aohus:
Thought I'd give my mini first impressions of T-Mobile prepaid network in terms of data only ($30/month 5GB LTE, unlimited data), coming from Verizon Wireless (grandfathered unlimited data).

I am more than happy and satisfied with T-Mobile's LTE/HSPA+ network. Living in the Bay Area, I have had no issues with reception, even inside buildings. Even HSPA+ was amazingly fast for me.

The only time Verizon won out was when I went out to Napa, and it had a pretty good connection of mostly LTE and some 3G. On T-Mobile, I was getting just HSPA+ where Verizon had LTE, and where Verizon was on 3G, T-Mobile was on edge network. (I brought both phones to Napa; Galaxy Nexus and N5 for some comparison testing)