Mobile Phone Plans...

[The_Tick]

So I have been with ATT for about 10 years. I keep looking at switching, but I can't figure out what is the best for the family.

I have 5 phones. All 5 are smart phones.

With ATT we currently have 700 Minutes a month, unlimited mobile to mobile. Unlimited texting. Each phone has a 2 GB data plan. (Which we have never even gotten close to. Combined each month I think we maybe use 1 to 1.5 GB)

Total with taxes is about $250.00 a month.

I was excited to hear that ATT now was going to have a shared data plan...until I got looking into it.

4 GB of shared Data - $70
Each Smartphone - $40

For a total of $270 before taxes.

Glad to see that it makes much more sense for me to leave a plan that makes no sense to me, to a plan that makes even less sense.

Anyone else out there have an account like mine but with a better deal? TW is a teacher, but I am not going to qualify for some special government plan and I don't have a family member that works anywhere that gets me a deal.

[Uncle Ted]

I have been thinking about looking into Virgin Mobile's plans but wonder if their network is any good. Apparently they use the sprint network and you pay a lot up front for the iPhone (no contract)... The plans start at $35 for unlimited texting and data (only 300 minutes).

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phone-plans/beyond-talk-plans/overview/

[old_gregg]

take a look at sprint's everything data family. unlimited data, messaging, ANY mobile to mobile (i.e. the only calls that count against your minutes are those from a land line), 4g, etc. the 1500min plan is $150 for two lines, each additional is $30. but, they offer a ton of corporate discounts (i think byu students qualify for a pretty steep discount too, but i'm not sure if the plan would have to be in your byu student's name). we get 24% off our bill every month.

[Jeff Lebowski]

We have five smartphones on Sprint for ~$240/mo. 1500 minutes (never been an issue) with unlimited text and data.

[old_gregg]

I have been thinking about looking into Virgin Mobile's plans but wonder if their network is any good. Apparently they use the sprint network and you pay a lot up front for the iPhone (no contract)... The plans start at $35 for unlimited texting and data (only 300 minutes).

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-...lans/overview/

virgin was great for me while i had it, but the 300 minutes wasn't enough and for the incremental price of moving to the 1500 minute plan it made more sense to do something else.

[Surfah]

take a look at sprint's everything data family. unlimited data, messaging, ANY mobile to mobile (i.e. the only calls that count against your minutes are those from a land line), 4g, etc. the 1500min plan is $150 for two lines, each additional is $30. but, they offer a ton of corporate discounts (i think byu students qualify for a pretty steep discount too, but i'm not sure if the plan would have to be in your byu student's name). we get 24% off our bill every month.

This is what we have. When we signed up, Gidget winked at the guy and gave us the Home Depot corporate discount which is 25% off. I believe 25% is the max discount they offer.

Costco Executive members get 20% off.

[Paperback Writer]

AT&T shared data plans make more sense for customers who use non-voice devices like iPads. That way they don't have to have a seperate data plan for their iPads and can use the same data plans as their iPhones. Adding an iPad to a shared data plan is $10 so the math works differently.

[clackamascoug]

We've got Verizon here in Oregon, 6 smart phones, unlimited text, 8 gig data (only use 2), 1800 phone (use 400 combined) for $310.

We've got 4 iphone 4's, and I've got a SGIII. The iphones are not as near as nice as the SGIII.

I always ask for the IBM discount. 30%. The button pusher service agents don't care a whit.

[Uncle Ted]

AT&T shared data plans make more sense for customers who use non-voice devices like iPads. That way they don't have to have a seperate data plan for their iPads and can use the same data plans as their iPhones. Adding an iPad to a shared data plan is $10 so the math works differently.

I don't like AT&T math. Every time I ask for that AT&T tells me I have to give up my grandfathered unlimited data plan on the iPhone. Ted can't live with a 2GB limit hanging over his head. Therefore, I just used a little "black magic" and turn up tethering on the iPhone instead.

[Drunk Tank]

So I have been with ATT for about 10 years. I keep looking at switching, but I can't figure out what is the best for the family.

I have 5 phones. All 5 are smart phones.

With ATT we currently have 700 Minutes a month, unlimited mobile to mobile. Unlimited texting. Each phone has a 2 GB data plan. (Which we have never even gotten close to. Combined each month I think we maybe use 1 to 1.5 GB)

Total with taxes is about $250.00 a month.

I was excited to hear that ATT now was going to have a shared data plan...until I got looking into it.

4 GB of shared Data - $70
Each Smartphone - $40

For a total of $270 before taxes.

Glad to see that it makes much more sense for me to leave a plan that makes no sense to me, to a plan that makes even less sense.

Anyone else out there have an account like mine but with a better deal? TW is a teacher, but I am not going to qualify for some special government plan and I don't have a family member that works anywhere that gets me a deal.

Work has a corporate discount. You should check into it.

[Paperback Writer]

I don't like AT&T math. Every time I ask for that AT&T tells me I have to give up my grandfathered unlimited data plan on the iPhone. Ted can't live with a 2GB limit hanging over his head. Therefore, I just used a little "black magic" and turn up tethering on the iPhone instead.

I've kept my unlimited data plan for the same reason. AT&T math won't work for everyone. It should work better for those who already gave up or never had unlimited data and who want to connect iPads and share data between their iPhones and iPads. Otherwise, a customer buys an Ipad and asks: "Why do I have to purchase another data plan? I already have an iPhone." And then buys the WiFi only model to save money. Now, they can hook up their iPads for $10.

Not everyone has the skillz and Nowledge you have. You're like Liam Neeson in Taken "...what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare...". In short, you're not AT&T's target when it comes to shared data plans but I'm sure AT&T does appreciate your buisness, black magic and all.

[Portland Ute]

I always ask for the IBM discount. 30%. The button pusher service agents don't care a whit.

Do you do this at the store or otherwise?

I'm with T Mobile, but I'm not sure it's the best deal and am starting to shop plans/phones.

I think I'm headed towards the S3, but not sure which carrier I want to be wed to for the next 2 years.

[UteStar]

Do you do this at the store or otherwise?

I'm with T Mobile, but I'm not sure it's the best deal and am starting to shop plans/phones.

I think I'm headed towards the S3, but not sure which carrier I want to be wed to for the next 2 years.

From what I am seeing, the T-Mobile plan is pretty solid and the cost is about as good as I have seen. I am not sure the big difference between the 'no contract' and the 'contract' though. You will stay have to pay off the phone on T-Mobile anyway. I like the idea of no contract phones. Phones cost cheaper up front and then you pay montly (for example, $20 a month to buy the phone for 2 years). So the cost comes out to the actual cost of the phone. You may be out a little more money initially but that cost is made up with the monthly charge by T-Mobile. Am I missing something?

With that said, the cost of the plans is cheaper than ATT. I am with ATT and I am at $180 a month for 2 iphones. If I switch over to T-Mobile and get unlimited everything, it would come out to $120.

[Bo Diddley]

I recommend going with prepaid service. You can find some good reliable cheaper options if you shop around, and you won't get roped into a contract. My total cost after taxes is $92.88.

	Talk	Text	Data	Cost	Network
Me	1200	3000	500 MB	$30	Verizon
Wife	1200	3000	500 MB	$30	Verizon
Kid #1	60	Unlimited	0	$15	Sprint
Kid #2	60	Unlimited	0	$15	Sprint

Now granted, we're light data users, but even so, you can find other options out there. I can jump up to unlimited talk, text, and 2 GB of data for $55. And kids don't need a lot of talk time. All they like to do is text.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

From what I am seeing, the T-Mobile plan is pretty solid and the cost is about as good as I have seen. I am not sure the big difference between the 'no contract' and the 'contract' though. You will stay have to pay off the phone on T-Mobile anyway. I like the idea of no contract phones. Phones cost cheaper up front and then you pay montly (for example, $20 a month to buy the phone for 2 years). So the cost comes out to the actual cost of the phone. You may be out a little more money initially but that cost is made up with the monthly charge by T-Mobile. Am I missing something?

With that said, the cost of the plans is cheaper than ATT. I am with ATT and I am at $180 a month for 2 iphones. If I switch over to T-Mobile and get unlimited everything, it would come out to $120.

My contract with Verizon is up in May. My upgrade came up in January, but I figured at the time I'd wait for the Galaxy S4. Now, I'm thinking about just letting my contract expire and buying the Google LG phone for $300 and going no contract. My BIL went this way and he's paying $50 for unlimited minutes, text and data (though they throttle after either 1 or 2 GB). By myself, I probably don't use 1 GB a month.

My wife is stuck with Verizon until October 2014 and she has an iPhone. I also have a second line which is a dumbphone on Verizon and that contract is up in September this year (it's a line with an area code that is outside my area, I'm wondering if I could just change that number over to a line that gets routed to my office phone). I believe I'll still be money ahead if I peel off of Verizon just by myself and go buy a Google phone and either go prepaid or with T-Mobile.