[LG V30 Questions & Answers] ChazzMatt:
I LOVED the 2014 Moto Quark. Droid Turbo was the Verizon variant, but I had three of the "international" Moto Maxx (also sold as Moto Turbo) XT1225 which had more LTE bands (including all of AT&T's LTE bands), no CDMA bands, and all had 64GB internal memory. Some of the Verizon Droid Turbo XT1254 had 64GB, but most people in 2014 bought the 32GB version from Verizon.

Used it daily for 3 years before I got the V30. I researched for a year to find a worthy replacement and the 2017 V30 (especially the 128GB V30+) seemed to be the spiritual successor to the Moto Quark (Droid Turbo, Moto Maxx, Moto Turbo). The V30 Joan series is something the Motorola of 2014 would have made if they hadn't been sold to and cannibalized by Lenovo.

Right. You would still be using Verizon while not directly paying Verizon.

MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) use the major carriers towers but offer their own branded service. They are paying AT&T, Verizon, T-mobile (and now Sprint) wholesale prices, then packaging it for you. Some are carrier specific -- like T-mobile or Verizon only. Others use all 4 (now 3) major carriers.

All are not alike.

Some MVNOs try to hide the underlying carrier, as if it makes no difference (but it does, due to geographical differences). 2 years ago my mother's Net10 flip phone stopped receiving texts. (Don't freak, I know it was her phone not the service.) But rather than replace the phone, their customer service script entailed sending a new SIM card. OK... But I told them, it HAS to be an AT&T tower SIM card like she has now. They sent a T-mobile SIM card. :rolleyes: She can't get T-mobile where she lives. Then, their replacement to the replacement never arrived. Tired of Net10's crap, I gave her one of my spare US998 V30 phones, and put her on my AT&T Prepaid account. (

Lot less money than "regular" AT&T postpaid

, if you already own your phone. It seems to be a well-kept secret. Just stay away from AT&T Prepaid "unlimited" plans. Explained below.)

My point, which I almost buried, is there are good MVNOs and bad ones. Some of the bad ones don't tell you clearly WHICH major carrier you are using. The good ones do and let you choose. Some that use Verizon towers may make you use Verizon branded phones (with Verizon IMEI) if you get their "Verizon" SIM card. Others don't care and will let you use Verizon as long as your phone is compatible. Like say, a Sprint LS998 V30+ Frankensteined to a US998. Or LS998 V30+ Frankensteined to a VS996.

If you have a native VS996 V30, then that requisite won't matter. But many Verizon customers bought LS998 V30+ (128GB) and converted them to US998 or bought them off eBay already converted to US998. (Those will never have Verizon-eligible IMEI.) BUT with an already-activated Verizon SIM card -- like switched over from Droid Turbo -- until now that didn't matter. :silly: (I am not sure whether your current phone is native VS996 or one just flashed to VS996 firmware?)

Since Verizon 3G CDMA is shutting down, those people are facing a choice by end of 2020:

* Run stock VS996 firmware on their non-Verizon branded V30 to get VoLTE with their Verizon SIM cards.

OR

* go to an "Verizon" MVNO which will still give them both Verizon service and VoLTE, especially if the "Verizon" MVNO allows non-Verizon branded phones.

OR

* go to another major carrier or carrier MVNO if geography allows.

Total Wireless recommended by [MENTION=2839177]schwinn8[/MENTION] for example allows carrier unlocked phones for their Verizon SIM card and some plans have hotspot.

REVIEW (05/2020)- Total Wireless Review: Cheap Cell Phone Plans on Verizon’s Network

https://clark.com/technology/total-wireless-review/

RedPocket

recommended by [MENTION=832590]TheDannemand[/MENTION] is an excellent MVNO for AT&T (using the GSMA SIM card. The A means AT&T). Great

"annual plans" for Red Pocket -- for ALL MAJOR CARRIERS -- on ebay.

See this

note about VoLTE on Red Pocket "Verizon".

("CDMA SIM" is their code word for "Verizon".)

So, seems like this will affect all "Verizon" MVNOs?

AT&T Prepaid

(sold and serviced in AT&T stores) is another excellent source for AT&T. The only caveat is their

"unlimited" plans are capped to lower LTE speeds

, while their

8GB plan and lower

is completely uncapped (70 - 90 Mbps).

A.I.X. -- based on stock LG V30 Pie -- is found on the V30 Telegram thread. It's like stock on steroids. A.I.S. was the Oreo based version. You have to ask for permission to access the specific A.I.X. thread, maintained by the dev. You have to follow the installation instructions completely. To be honest, it's not for beginners. For instance, he replaces Google Play app with a modified one and as a result you can't accept Google Play app updates until he makes a newer one. If you have any problems with the ROM, don't complain. Make sure you've read all the documentation. If you complain, the dev will ban you.