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killer6600
Marine
August 27th, 2012 @ 7:15PM
Registered:
2007-06-16
Location:
canada
Posts: 1160
| it costs them almost nothing to send data over their network, thats why the unlimited plans used to be the darlings of phone companies.
your best bet is to get the smallest data plan they make you get and then only download your apps/watch videos when you're at home or work linked to the wifi so it's not using your per month data.
i have a 1 gb plan and i've never gone over 750mb in a month in 2 years and that one month was the first month i had the phone and had never had a smart phone before so watching youtube videos on your phone was awesome for 3 weeks |
jdLordHelmet
Good is Dumb
August 27th, 2012 @ 7:17PM
Registered:
2003-12-22
Location:
Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1295
| I have T-mobile, and with my 2gb plan if I go over it only slows it down, no extra cost. Granted it gets pretty slow, but I only went over one time. |
LKS_Onslaught
Peon
August 27th, 2012 @ 8:03PM
Registered:
2003-10-09
Location:
At my computer
Posts: 6
| As the others said, the capped data plans aren`t as bad as one might think when you have wifi access at home and at work.
The biggest hog for data would be app download or netflix streaming.
The s3 has a built in data usage monitor. You can set it up to turn off mobile data once you hit a certain threshold. It also gives you a detailed list of any data used by any app installed on your phone. |
Charkoth
Right Wing Extremist
August 27th, 2012 @ 8:15PM
Registered:
2003-05-08
Location:
OHIO
Posts: 2207
| That's the problem when you give everyone 4G speeds. I download at 20MBs often on my Galaxy Nexus...which is funny since switching to wifi actually slows my phone down.
Killer it costs them nothing up until they reach capacity which is the problem and why they are raising prices to lower demand. Do you recall what happened to AT&T with their unlimited plans on Iphone exclusivity?
I'm not a huge fan of Verizon due to their pricing practices and I get a 22% discount from a corporate plan. What pisses me off is how they restructured text-messages. I get and send maybe 50 texts a month if that...now their minimum texting plan is $10/month where it used to be $5 and you get no discount from it.
The alternatives are pretty shitty. I have unlimited from Verizon but since all their competitors are doing away with it they can too. Honestly I doubt I've ever used a GB in a month so I shouldn't really care when I end up losing it. |
justinr
Marine
August 27th, 2012 @ 8:28PM
Registered:
2003-04-13
Location:
Houston, TX
Posts: 119
| I got rid of my phone and exclusively use google voice/gmail. If people need me, they can just wait until I get home. All phone companies are a massive scam and simply exist to fuck their customers over. I'm done with it and I refuse to keep paying them to bend me over. |
dandaman111188
women run from me
August 27th, 2012 @ 11:21PM
Registered:
2004-04-13
Location:
So Cal
Posts: 696
| I would actually hold off for a bit until tmobile puts in their actual unlimited which is coming really soon.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/08/21/t-mobiles-new-unlimited-data-plan-will-actually-be-unlimited/
only another week or so until they roll it out, you get affordable HSPA+ 4g which is unlimited along with an S3.
It's not LTE, but its fast enough for whatever you need over a mobile network. Also tmobile has said they plan to roll out LTE in 2013 so you'll still be in contract and have unlimited when they bring out LTE.
If you go with this route, get the true unlimited, not the hotspot/tethering. If you root your phone and get a tethering app(extremely easy to do), you can tether without paying extra. Most of these tethering apps increase the TTL value in the packet header by one so the provider doesnt even know you're tethering.
Edit: by the way, I just got an S3 3 days ago. Excellent phone and I am extremely happy with it(minus touchwiz which I'm going to replace with cyanogenmod as soon as there is a jellybean RC). Since the screen is so big and guzzles juice you may want to invest in an extendable battery like I did.
EDITED: 2012-08-27 23:25:57 |
Hammer
Special Ops
August 28th, 2012 @ 6:38AM
Registered:
2009-04-07
Location:
Posts: 371
| First off I have to echo Justinr --- Anyone who has an android and isn't using Google Voice is doing it wrong.
I really can't tell you everything Google Voice does as well as this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOZU7BOeQ58
As far as Cell Phone Companies go --- yea --- I agree, all of them are scum. I don't like AT&T, I don't like Verizon, I don't like Sprint --- I don't think you can name an ISP or Cell Phone Company I don't have strong negative feelings about.
You're right though, they're looking for ways to exploit, exploit and exploit more. Moreover they want all the benefits of being a utility company without being flagged as a utility company.
I think its far time cell phoen companies get regulation --- ESPECIALLY since its TAX DOLLARS paying for them to install cell towers these days. |
Hammer
Special Ops
August 28th, 2012 @ 9:24AM
Registered:
2009-04-07
Location:
Posts: 371
| I figure I'll dump this here since it's relevant to this discussion and in Cnet today:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57501372-94/how-carriers-get-away-with-locking-the-iphone/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title |
Bashkir
Special Ops
August 29th, 2012 @ 5:14AM
Registered:
2003-04-30
Location:
Alexandria, VA
Posts: 181
| Be an asshole and bitch a lot. Ask to speak to the manager. Ask to speak to the manager's manager. The squeaky well gets the oil. If that doesn't work, try another store--wash, rinse, and repeat. You will find someone that's willing to help you eventually...hopefully sooner than later. |
justinr
Marine
August 29th, 2012 @ 6:44AM
Registered:
2003-04-13
Location:
Houston, TX
Posts: 119
| If you give enough of a shit to try that hard, might as well just buy an unlocked phone outright and deal with selling it on ebay when you want a new one. Dealing with cell phone companies is painful and I'd rather just not have a phone. |
Mantaur
Peon
August 29th, 2012 @ 8:22AM
Registered:
2011-12-16
Location:
Portland, OR
Posts: 17
| I switched to AT&T about a couple years ago. The service sucks badly, but the customer service - at least in my experience - was much better. They even sent me a mini cell for free that I could set up in my Office and at Home so I can get decent connection. |
killer6600
Marine
September 8th, 2012 @ 11:19PM
Registered:
2007-06-16
Location:
canada
Posts: 1160
| gotta love buying a phone from them
signing a contract to pay them money for the next 3 years for their service
then being told you need to pay to access their network
could you imagine if ford charged you 30 dollars 'lot fee' to use their parking lot to drive your car from where it's parked on the lot to the road? |
Hammer
Special Ops
September 9th, 2012 @ 6:51AM
Registered:
2009-04-07
Location:
Posts: 371
| You know Nebu, I'm on a huge rant this weekend over AT&T.
I've been dying to upgrade my phone since June (Motorola Backflip = SHITIEST phone ever =(). I wasn't supposed to be to upgrade until September 17th, so I randomly checked last night and low and beyond, I can upgrade now.
Right now, I pay $25/mo for my phone. I have a basic, basic coverage plan and a basic, basic data plan (only 200 MB a month). Since I use Google Voice for EVERYTHING and most places I use my phone has wifi, I really, truly don't need to have anything fancy plan wise. I just need to be able to initiate calls using the internet when I am out and text. Everything else I do that's network intense, I do with wifi converge.
When I went to set my new phone up, AT&T is now shoving a shared data plan at me that removes our families shared minute/shared texts which costs us only $25 for the group plan, replacing it with that shared data plan for $50 and then trying to charge me $45 PER PHONE for minutes, texts and individual data.
Our monthly bill for four phones on the plan is $141 currently and that's with three data devices on it. With these changes, it shoves our plan up to $200.
Oh and to top that off, they want to charge me $36 for a phone upgrade fee and a $15 for a plan upgrade fee, which takes the savings of $50 on the Samsung Captivate (the one I was looking at, almost entirely because it has a keyboard, its a Samsung and an Android with a nice rating) that's supposed to cost me $49 and they essentially voided the $50 instant rebate its supposed to have by jacking me up on hidden costs.
I did some research and found that I liked what T-Mobile was offering. Brand new Galaxy S2 for free for each new line activated and up to 4 devices with unlimited everything for what I am paying now.
I went into AT&T to talk to them about it and they pretty much said "Sorry, nothing we can do about that" and then when I said "Why should I renew with you guys when I can go over to T-Mobile and get a better deal" and they said "Well, we don't compete with T-Mobile".
I was really taken back by all of this. Seriously, what a bunch scum bags. AT&T's ratings with Consumer Reports is horrible and they "don't compete with T-Mobile".
I think I'm jumping ship as soon as we can. Hell, I might pull the legal loop holes and get us out faster.
EDITED: 2012-09-09 06:56:47 |
Blazer
Instigator
September 9th, 2012 @ 8:34AM
Registered:
2003-09-04
Location:
Syracuse, NY
Posts: 1821
| ALWAYS dispute an activation charge. Most of the time they'll honor that request and refund you. |
Hammer
Special Ops
September 9th, 2012 @ 9:08AM
Registered:
2009-04-07
Location:
Posts: 371
| 90% of the additional charges they try to throw at you aren't legal to begin with. I haven't researched activation charges specifically, but I had planned on bitching about that if we for some reason stick with AT&T as our provider.
I guess I'll throw this on the table too --- termination fees are legit either and you can ALWAYS get out of them if you know who to talk to and what to say. A great example is if you port your number to another service, it usually just turns your account off without a termination fee. |
Charkoth
Right Wing Extremist
September 9th, 2012 @ 6:34PM
Registered:
2003-05-08
Location:
OHIO
Posts: 2207
| I don't get it, I upgraded my phone from a Blackberry Storm 2 to a Galaxy Nexus and while I paid $300 for the phone(when it was new), I didn't get any activation fees or anything.
I also get a 22% discount on my plan from my company. |
killer6600
Marine
September 9th, 2012 @ 8:57PM
Registered:
2007-06-16
Location:
canada
Posts: 1160
| maybe however your company deals with the phone company they cover or get the activation fee waived? |
Hammer
Special Ops
September 10th, 2012 @ 6:07AM
Registered:
2009-04-07
Location:
Posts: 371
| Its more likely Charkoth's carrier doesn't want to piss off Charkoth's employer.
Cell phone companies (and ISPs, and Media services) don't really care if they piss you off and you leave. Once upon a time they used to care about turn over, now they only care about how many new activations they have. |
Charkoth
Right Wing Extremist
September 10th, 2012 @ 6:55AM
Registered:
2003-05-08
Location:
OHIO
Posts: 2207
| I have my plan through a personal account, I only linked in my employee discount which only saves 25% off accessories(like I'd buy them from Verizon) and 22% off plan charges (excludes texts for some reason which is stupid). |
Miamihrrcne
Marine
September 10th, 2012 @ 8:55AM
Registered:
2004-03-12
Location:
Miami
Posts: 803
| Maybe they drop the fee when you pay a lot of money for the phone. |
keepersmith
Marine
September 10th, 2012 @ 9:42AM
Registered:
2003-10-01
Location:
Posts: 77
| Get a Galaxy Nexus (pure Android - no crapware!) direct from Google, and get a month-to-month plan with someone.
I picked T-mobile, because I wanted a GSM-phone (uses simcard and works around the world), and they have decent month-to-month deals.
The freedom of not dealing with contracts and other nonsense is really nice.
Also, you don't need much of a data plan, unless you want to watch videos on the train or something. Most of the time, you have access to Wi-Fi, and all of the applications have settings so they will only use a lot of bandwidth if they are on Wi-Fi. |
Smokin Joe
Marine
September 10th, 2012 @ 11:52AM
Registered:
2006-06-10
Location:
The Land of Chocolate
Posts: 2245
| Get a Galaxy Nexus (pure Android - no crapware!) direct from Google, and get a month-to-month plan with someone.
If you do this, make sure you get it through the play store and not verizon. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus is void of crapware, but I still have no received a damn Jelly Bean update.
There are a few of other differences that need to be researched first - I did not do my due diligence and have regretted it.
The phone is beautiful, lot of fun to use, but to make the realization that Verizon has stomped on the "Nexus" branding and is dragging their feet with testing/releasing Jelly Bean really has rubbed me the wrong way. |
Charkoth
Right Wing Extremist
September 10th, 2012 @ 12:34PM
Registered:
2003-05-08
Location:
OHIO
Posts: 2207
| The Verizon Galaxy Nexus is void of crapware, but I still have no received a damn Jelly Bean update.
I'm with you on that one Joe. Where is my flipping Jelly Bean Verizon??? So stupid not to have the update available to the rest of the world for 3 months now! I'm about ready to root my phone. |
Smokin Joe
Marine
September 10th, 2012 @ 3:41PM
Registered:
2006-06-10
Location:
The Land of Chocolate
Posts: 2245
| I'm with you on that one Joe. Where is my flipping Jelly Bean Verizon??? So stupid not to have the update available to the rest of the world for 3 months now! I'm about ready to root my phone.
I hear you! I've been holding off on rooting simply because I wanted to give Jelly Bean in all its glory a shot.
I've read that Verizon's testing schedule is holding this back, that they are a million times more rigorous than Google (after being with Verizon for a while, I've come to realize it's probably not rigorous but FILLED WITH BUREAUCRACY), so them testing the handoff from 3g to 4g and wifi to 3g and wifi to 4g etc... is really dragging the process on for a while.
I've gone into stores and tried to politely ask what is going on, but they all just blame Google and act like they didn't realize the "Nexus" brand meant anything.
I haven't rooted my phone in years and really have no idea how to even begin for this beast (xda1 seems to be getting tons of nasty reviews from casual visitors). Seems like things have gotten easier for rooting, but even now I'd have to make sure that I'm using the instructions for a CDMA GNexus and not a GSM one. |
Hammer
Special Ops
September 10th, 2012 @ 4:27PM
Registered:
2009-04-07
Location:
Posts: 371
| If you get an Android and you're not rooting it and roming it right away you're doing it wrong =(.
I don't allow any crapware on my Android devices! |
Smokin Joe
Marine
September 10th, 2012 @ 5:39PM
Registered:
2006-06-10
Location:
The Land of Chocolate
Posts: 2245
| I don't allow any crapware on my Android devices!
What device you got in the holster?
I rooted my G1 and Thunderbolt and enjoyed it, although found myself lagging and undisciplined with updating them and eventually went back to stock (typically when a newly released Android OS comes out to play with that).
I'm leaning more and more to doing the same with my GNexus, but I remember it took a little time for the previous two devices (mostly cause I got meself a Macintosh). Hopefully I'll have a free weekend to give it a shot sometime soon. Waiting for a carrier to release an update is like donating maple syrup back to a tree. |
Hammer
Special Ops
September 10th, 2012 @ 6:16PM
Registered:
2009-04-07
Location:
Posts: 371
| I'm in between phones now. I litterally just smashed my POS Motorola Backflip I got two years ago because it crashed making calls 10x in a row today lol.
Believe it or not, its the fault of the phone design. Its a well documented POS. It worked 10x better after I rooted and put Cyogen on it, but even after rooting it and putting Cyogen, it was still a POS, just less of a POS.
I'm kind of stuck for a few days while I try to make my case to my family that we should dumb AT&T.
I do have four other Android devices besides my crap phone and every case, I always pull off the stock ROM and throw a custom one on.
Its actually a little weird to realize I have more Android devices in this house now then I have Windows boxes lol. |
