yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Topics] bo0gietrain:
Just wanted to post my story.

I got a free microSIM kit using the code NOV10.

Got my Nexus 5 and thought I could just put in the sim, and sign up for a new account on the phone, but it wouldn't get past the initial Activation screen.

I had to activate my sim/phone on this website: https://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/ActivateCodes.aspx

There's a bug with that site though where at the last step you can't add a payment method, but the sim still gets activated (you might not realize this because you have to close out of the activation process at step 5 (adding payment method) without completing the whole processes) At this point you should have a tmobile number - in my case I was porting my number from VM from the start.

When that site asked me for my virgin account number, i stupidly used my phone number. After a few calls to the T Mobile's NTC (Number Transfer Center) (I don't have the number anymore, but you can get it on their LiveChat) they explained that VM wasn't releasing the number because the account num I provided to tmobile was incorrect (this is about 36 hours after I requested the port). So I had to call VM and get my actual account number (couldn't find it on my account management page for VM). I called the NTC back and explained that I needed to update my VM acct number ( they always start by asking me for my phone number, then they say that they can't find that account - that's because the account isnt active till the port is complete in my case). The guy updated my request with the correct account number and said that my nexus should be active in less than 3 hours, and it was!

I then had to create a "My T-Mobile" account using the number on my newly established T-Mobile line (i thought this was kind of strange).

I got a refill code from wallmart.com with email delivery and applied it to my account and now I'm getting just under 15mbps on 4G!

This crushes Virgin's <1mbps 3G signal.
[General Topics] KrazyAttack:
You can fix the bug on their site very very easily to just activate it online through step 5, you just click the $30 you want to add to the account at the bottom, then right click that same box after you it 30, go to inspect element, and scroll down almost to the bottom to where you see <input type="hidden" name="autorecharge_plan_type" value="autorefill" id="autorecharge_plan_type">. double click on 'autorefill' and delete it, leaving value="".

Then hit continue, and you're done.

Why they haven't fixed that error in 8 months worth of time, I do not know.

That is for Chrome btw, but I'd imagine Firefox has a DOM inspector as well.

I just did this not even 10 min ago. Awaiting my number to be ported from Net10.
[General Topics] Gaffadin:
Yeah VM changed their account management system about 10 months ago. Your account number used to be your phone number, but is now something else that you have to contact them for (I emailed vmusocialcare@sprint.com and got it within a few hours). You can't port without it.
[General Topics] tsunami643:
So far it's been perfect for me. Voice quality and such has been just fine. I think I heard an 'ad' one time before a call went through like "Thank you for using Simonics" or something like that, but I'm not sure. It definitely hasn't been a regular thing.
[General Topics] dazz87:
Man is tmobile blocking sites? Trying to check my NFL pool standing and I get this. Lol
[General Topics] harveydent:
It's similar to Google "Safe Search" they block porn and gambling sites. You can go to a TMo store and show them ID to remove it, or do it via phone/online but you'll have to give them your SSN
[General Topics] slowpok22:
I turned my off by logging into the website, would not allow me to go to gun related sites either.
[General Topics] karl23:
In NA, we also are probably looking at lower customer density. We tend to be pretty spread out (my guess).
[General Topics] KrazyAttack:
How long did it take for you guys to get your number ported over?

I did mine last night (coming from Net10) and still nothing today.

When I ported from Sprint to Net10 it took about 10 minutes. Should I contact TMobile or wait another day?
[General Topics] HtcOneVprimoc:
Reply

there is only 2g in my area but its worth it for the price. although Republic wireless is a better deal.
[General Topics] PhillyFan65:
Does ordering the micro sim "create/activate" my T-Mobile account or is is the activation of the sim.
[General Topics] herosemblem:
Kayone, for step # 5 (porting old number onto T-Mobile)...could you elaborate on this step for a noob like me? Thank you.
[General Topics] slowpok22:
I called the t mobile support #, and hit 0 to by pass the automated menu, gave them my info and my Verizon security ID and 15 minutes later rebooted my phone and that was it.

I did it about 4 days after I activated it so I could test signal and data where I spend 80% of my time just to be sure it was going to work for me.
[General Topics] dazz87:
Took me about 4 hours. Number was from at&t. Did it over the phone.
[General Topics] hoktrillian:
When you activate your SIM with your phone.
[General Topics] tsunami643:
Porting from ATT to T-Mobile took a little under 6 hours.
[General Topics] hoktrillian:
I am with you. Only mobile phone carriers can provide 100% full feature text service thus far. If I were you, I would port Sprint number to T-Mobile for free and use this number for full feature texting only. Just let all incoming calls go to voicemail (which should not use your 100 minutes airtime) then you can call the caller right back via app with free outgoing calls feature such as magicJack or netTALK without using your 100 minutes airtime, just via mobile data or Wi-Fi. I would create voice mail greeting to let every caller know my new voice telephone number as the telephone number they are calling is for texting only. I would get a new telephone number for free (but only have telephone numbers within southern California) from Voxox instead of Google Voice to avoid Google relentless effort on data mining such as only allow phone to be rang five times (25 seconds) then answer with voice mail for transcription. I would use Voxox app to answer all calls. Voxox also refill your account back to $1 credit balance every month so you can make some outgoing call for free every month. For example, calls to Canada, Philippine and United States are 1¢ per minute so users can make calls up to 100 minutes for free to those countries. Users can call other countries for free as well, but with less minutes due to higher per minute rate.
[General Topics] hoktrillian:
“Family Mobile” is a short name of a brand, not a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). The full name of the brand is “Walmart Family Mobile Powered by T-Mobile”. In other words, it is a brand by Walmart and sold by Walmart, but actual service is provided by T-Mobile. T-Mobile also sell identical service without the brand directly via their prepaid web site. There is no difference between same plan sold by Walmart and T-Mobile prepaid web site. Furthermore, starting October 20, 2013 T-Mobile also give pay-in-advance customers access to domestic data roaming across the United States.
[General Topics] hoktrillian:
The real reason is profit. Therefore, $30 per month for 100 minutes talk, unlimited text with first 5 GB at up to 4G speeds can only be sold via their prepaid website or via Wal-Mart. There is insufficient gross profit to support nice bricks and mortar physical presence of stores cross the country. Let alone uniformed staff in each store. In fact, prepaid plans have less profit than post-paid plans, so much so it is hard to find from the main website.

---------- Post added at 05:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:15 AM ----------

I use Voxox for calling toll-free numbers without any issue and love its ability to upload custom ringback tones that even play when user make outgoing calls, not just for people calling me.:good:
[General Topics] Letitride:
+1 Thanks for the clarification & especially the new access to domestic data roaming for prepaid accounts.

StraightTalk is another prepaid, sold exclusively by Walmart - it is offering similar plans using T-Mo, AT&T and VZW's CDMA towers, although I believe not all smartphones or handsets are supported - pricing are about the same, variations are mostly from the amount of 4G/LTE or HSPA+ high speed data included (and, throttling once over the cap instead of an absolute cutoff) Most of them, however, do not offer any shared line advantages, savings or discounts - unless I overlooked the details in researching them in spare time.

Walmart's Family Mobile also has Unlimited Plan Talk, Text & Web (up to 2.5 GB of 3G/4G LTE) - $39.88 or $29.88/mo for Talk & Text only - and additional lines at $34.88 or $24.88 (a $5 saving only) - mix & match up to 5 lines. It is a POSTPAID plan and billed by T-Mobile after activation, but no credit credit is done per brochure I picked up in the store. Calls to Canada, Mexico & 12 other countries are 5 cents per minute but otherwise it is domestic service only, and no domestic data roaming (unless T-Mo just changed it like other plans above)

Since these plans are only for new activations, I will be port 2 VZW lines over this week - and use Talkatone/GV for calling whenever practical & possible, and have extra funds to debit for any minutes over the allowances - still a lot cheaper than others with the generous data cap, just no roaming calls when we travel abroad. Still torn about using postpaid T-Mo, but I think we will decide later on as we can freely migrate or switch (for free) 1 line to the postpaid $60 plan + taxes/fees with 2.5GB data & unlimited calling (and 100 minutes/5GB data on prepaid.)
[General Topics] firebrain:
Family Mobile is a separate carrier than T-Mobile prepaid so you can not freely port between the 2.

In addition Family Mobile doesn't have LTE.

Family Mobile does not offer the $30/5GB plan.
[General Topics] maxell505:
or you can just do $50 and get unlimited everything!
[General Topics] edd247:
I thought it was $70 for unlimited everything?
[General Topics] maxell505:
sorry yeah it is $70 for unlimited everything. I was mistaken because it used to be $50 for unlimited talk, text, and data. If you live with other people you can get a family plan. It is much cheaper than paying two separate bills.
[General Topics] Atrix2destroyer:
What were the APN settings used?
[General Topics] dazz87:
anyone getting calls from telemarketing on their phone? Today, I had two calls from companies I never heard of. Never happen when I was on AT&T GoPhone.
[General Topics] hammester:
Does any one else have data being used while being on WIFI? If I sign into tmobile it shows that every night at like 3am I have data usage but during that time I am on WIFI.
[General Topics] Ash359:
Could it be mms? Whenever someone sends me a picture I see LTE on my screen even while on Wi-Fi.

Otherwise there are apps that monitor this and and tell you if you have a rogue app using your data.

Might even be the my T-Mobile app. That thing is total spyware. It even checks to see if you are rooted now.

Sent from my Jedi Master Note II
[General Topics] hammester:
Thanks for the reply. No it isn't MMS as this is happening every night and I am not getting MMS during the night. I guess I will have to install a app and see what is using the data. I don't have any Tmobile apps on my phone so not sure what it is...
[General Topics] slowpok22:
Could always turn data off at night and see what happens?
[General Topics] KrazyAttack:
5 calls over 2 days later, my number is ported and I'm now using this plan/service. Finally.
[General Topics] bo0gietrain:
What took so long?
[General Topics] kayone73:
Mine ported within the hr after setting up my account on the website

Sent from my Nexus 5
[General Topics] ximaginex:
Same here.
[General Topics] KrazyAttack:
Well I did it all online, waited for the port the next day and nothing.

I was coming from Net10 AT&T, and you don't have an acct number on that so I just put in my phone # like it said for my account number.

That wasn't right so when I called the first time and spoke to transfer center, she said that was the error and it would be the serial number, so I gave her the serial number. Wait 24 hours port should be good.

Today, nothing. Call again, still an error, this time the lady keeps me on the line and calls them and I get a text 5 min later my number has been ported.
[General Topics] dazz87:
Yeah when porting over make sure to have your account number. I did the porting over the phone and I thought my acct number was my phone number. I couldn't find my acct number on at&t site. Tmobile cs knew that will be the issue so he had a three way phone call with at&t rep and they gave me my acct number. Took about 4 hrs to port over.
[General Topics] kayone73:
Yes you need to have the account number and info of your current wireless account to ensure the port is successful

Sent from my Nexus 5
[General Topics] KrazyAttack:
Yeah, did you guys have any issues with texting at all? I can make calls, but I can't send texts. It says they're sent just fine, but called my buddy and he never got either text I've sent him over the last hour or so.

I went to one of those free text websites and sent myself one and I got it immediately. Very weird.

Do I need to mess with APN settings or download anything? I'm just using the standard T-Mobile GPRS fast.t-mobile.com APN that's selected default, but again, people aren't receiving my texts and if I try to call my phone, straight to voice mail. I went in and set up my TMobile voice mail, but my voice mail is still AT&T too.
[General Topics] hoktrillian:
Yet, pre-paid do not have any add-on extra charge like post-paid so they actually offer better deal in most cases.

It is not a good deal since post-paid means additional charge below the line. I believe you should check out offering from Spot Mobile and Simple Mobile instead.

I would just get a SIM card locally for better deal. In other words, I would consider post-paid plan at all.
[General Topics] Lythandra:
How are you guys tethering now? I have the 100 MB hotspot but when I connect my laptop it sends me straight to the T-Mobile page and won't let me go anywhere else. 100 MB should be fine for me as the rare cases I do need a connection its quick on and off for work.
[General Topics] wideasleep1:
The first 100 megabytes just plain work. Downloading my t mobile app see if you've already expended your data.
[General Topics] Lythandra:
Well Its not working for me as I already use the TMobile app and haven't used any tethering yet.

It may not matter as I had bought PDANet long ago and just reinstalled it and stuck in my old serial which was still good. I wont be able to test till tonight but I used to use PDANet alot back in the old Palm (pre iOS and Android) days.
[General Topics] Letitride:
Thanks, appreciate the comments & feedback - I had an AT&T Gophone line before and I still maintain 2 prepaid line, oversea's CMHK with home rates in HK & CN and dirty cheap direct dial (called IDD) rates back to US when we travel, which also give us mobile phone access when we cruise the America's / Bermuda-Mexico-Caribbean's with roaming rates on AT&T and T-Mo's towers, never used VZW's expensive international rates except for unusual emergencies - or, simply do Skype or GV calling when possible for families. The charges below the line for Big Red / VZW is about 23%. Bottom line is that we are tired of paying a small fortune, far more than what it's worth, IMO.

Our 2 lines are now on T-Mo's $30 5GB data plan with 100 minutes of calling, porting is done & over with - goodbye VZW. Let's hope everything will work out to the best & thus far, love the speed.

Started the online activation process and was done in less than 30 minutes for 2 lines, including the initial funding with extra $10 added for any extra minutes, just in case. Got the welcome to T-Mo welcome msg. in less than 10 minutes on the N5, took actually a bit longer on the old unlocked quadband phone. Within an hour, both phones had outgoing services with the correct "old" mobile #'s displayed - and setup online account to manage the details. Went to sleep and wake up this morning, about 8 hours later with SMS that porting has been completed - confirmed that all is set & working. For all practical purposes, old VZW account is closed aside from final billing - already cleared voice mail, etc.

As captured screenshot said, it is for new activations only -

Time to optimize those APN, GV & Talkatone settings along with Apps, etc. and explore Youtube and tethering to see if speed cap is a problem around here. Initial impression - LTE speed blasted VZW's 3G data way behind in the stone ages, so glad to be free of contract and switching carrier.
[General Topics] namartlu:
Hi,

I am on the $30/month prepaid plan. I am going out of country for a month, so I am thinking if I could save a month payment? When I come back, is it as simple as refilling my account, and the plan re-start from that day? Heard that they are going to keep the number for a month or so?

Thank you!
[General Topics] Ash359:
Personally I would not take the chance to save $30

Sent from my Jedi Master Note II
[General Topics] plee3:
I stopped last year for 1 month early on when I first signed up the $30 plan as I wanted to try StraightTalk to see if it had better coverage and speeds. It didn't, so I restarted the T-Mobile plan without any problems. I believe the account can be idle for 60-90 days, but I am not certain. You need to check with T-Mobile to make sure.

Hope this helps... plee3
[General Topics] tylerjames09:
Got this plan today and activated on my n5, I absolutely love the speeds I am seeing. Can u guys guess which speeds r sprint and which r T-Mo? Lol finally get to experience LTE. I'm also using talkatone with my gv number so I don't have to worry about minutes.
[General Topics] ryukiri:
Did anyone activate this plan at a local Walmart? I feel that its easier to have them do everything and walk out with a fully working Nexus. Or will that not work?
[General Topics] Gaffadin:
The $30 5GB plan is online activation only.
[General Topics] wideasleep1:
Or by phone...and it's not tough to do at all.
[General Topics] :
Does T-Mobile restrict you from going to certain sites by default with this plan? I was reading about it, and it appeared to be called "web guard".

(I'm a teen and my parents would be suspicious if i asked them to turn it off. The problem is i heard they block sites based on keywords and at one point even Facebook was blocked.)

I am on AT&T right now, as my dad is a manager at a store so we get very good deals. I was thinking of switching to this plan, even though i wouldn't be making profit, because of the unlimited data. I may try it for a month to see if i can handle their 2G speeds. Lol.
[General Topics] unknownbeing:
Is anybody else stuck on edge? I'm completely stock. I've been waiting for my number to transfer over then when it finally did I was getting five bars of edge and nothing else.
[General Topics] RhinoShock:
If you're an account admin you can shut webguard off in your profile settings on their site. When I called for them to turn off my voicemail I asked them to turn webguard off as well because I didn't want it on on my account. The rep said that for pre-paid customers it isn't even an option to turn on. After a few days I went to a website that webguard didn't like and it triggered, so I guess it is on by default, but you can shut it off from the web preferences.
[General Topics] Letitride:
If you are using a new micro-Sim card, it should be provisioned for LTE and/or 3G/HSPA depending on your location/nearest tower - do you have 4G services now or new to T-Mo? Check it on another device and/or ask anotther T-Mo user? Power down & reboot the N5 - did you receive your "Welcome to T-Mo" message with your porting # now associated with the micro-sim card? Also, check your APN entries under Settings ... Otherwise, call customer care & perhaps they need to reset your account - porting 2 #'s from Verizon was completed in 8 hours overnight for us this week.

BTW, I'm getting around 20MB download and 3MB upload on LTE - laughing all the way to the bank ditching Big Red. (Edit: upload is now running around 9MB, yeah !! T-Mo fixed or resolved their network issues)

Our 2 newly activated/ported lines are different, they're Web Guard enabled by default to "Teens" but easily disabled once registered for "My T-Mobile" to manage user profile & balance/refills, etc. - need to click & provide certain personal info, including DOB & last 4 digits of SSN to disable or turn it off.
[General Topics] Trueglich:
are you on older Iphone (4 4s 4gs) TMOs HSPA on older iphones coverage is not the same as for many android phones due to limited radios in older models
[General Topics] Ostrich Egg:
FYI, if you have a Target Redcard you can get T-Mobile $30 refill cards for $27.07 right now on Target.com. Not sure if it's good in stores.

Go here http://www.target.com/p/t-mobile-30-prepaid-refill-card/-/A-14510266# and with no tax, free shipping (from the Redcard), and 5% off (also from the Redcard) the final price will be $27.07 per card. Stock up.

edit: Guess I should mention that with no Redcard it's 28.49, so still a good deal if it's available in stores, since you won't get free shipping
[General Topics] ryukiri:
what does webguard block on default?
[General Topics] kayone73:
When i tried to activate by phone the reps I got were very unhelpful and said they weren't authorized to activate that plan, website only. Im not saying everyone experienced this but I tried twice on the phone without success and didn't want to waste time and did it online, spending all of 30 min and wishing I did it that way i the first place. It's obvious not all T-Mobile reps are briefed at the same level so experience may vary.
[General Topics] TooLegit7:
hotspot

does this plan include mobile hotspot or how does that work? Will I have to use a seperate app to get this going?
[General Topics] wideasleep1:
The activation kit had a number which automated the whole process...incl. the number port. Didn't talk to a soul. :)

---------- Post added at 02:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:41 PM ----------

First 100 MB tether incl. Upsell page after that.
[General Topics] herosemblem:
Background info:

I'm on a family plan with ATT. I am not the account holder. My phone number is not the primary number on this family plan. I want to keep this phone number and bring it to the T-Mobile $30 prepaid plan. I have a Nexus 5 in hand, I've ordered the Micro-SIM starter kit for free from T-Mobile.com, and (from what I have gathered from a couple hours' reading in this garbled thread) I'm about to go to Wal Mart to purchase a $30 T-Mobile prepaid refill card like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-30-Wireless-Airtime-Card/15443357

A question for you guys...

Before I begin the process, am I supposed to remove my phone number from my existing ATT plan? Won't I be charged their early termination fee?

I don't really understand this whole "porting the phone # over to T-Mobile" process. I appreciate any clarification.
[General Topics] wideasleep1:
You need to check with the existing account holder to find out what kind of early termination fee could be suffered by removing your number from the plan. Should you ultimately decide to port your number doing so through t-mobile during activation will automatically kill your number at AT&T.
[General Topics] herosemblem:
Thanks, wideasleep1. I knew it couldn't possibly be that easy. Funny I haven't seen anyone discuss the difficulties of early termination/withdrawing from existing plans.

I'll check with my family plan's account holder and we'll both have to go into an ATT store and find out how I can remove myself from that plan.

I also didn't realize that other carriers (e.g. T-Mobile) had the ability to kill other carriers' (e.g. ATT) plans. I'll spend some more time on this and see where I get...