Looking for cellular provider advice

[Abdullah71601]

My company's contract here is winding down and I expect to be back in the US in late January. I haven't needed a US based cellular provider in six years and don't have a clear picture of who does what for how much money.

My wife and I own our iPhones (she 6+, me 7) and we will want unlimited voice and data packages. It's southeast Arkansas where Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have the most reliable service coverage.

Verizon doesn't seem to offer unlimited data. T-Mobile does at $120/mo with caveats. AT&T does with TV?

Can you guys point me in the right direction?

[rr-nyc]

I use ATT and find it to be more reliable where I travel domestically and abroad.

In order to have ATT unlimited, I'm quite certain that you need to bundle it with their DirectTV service. That is, of course, unless you're grandfathered into their old unlimited plan

TMO is really making a push here. They have expanded their network to compete with the two big providers and are priced better. I'm thinking about giving them a try. Im not sure if they still throttle high users anymore after paying a $48M fine for not telling people

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I use ATT and find it to be more reliable where I travel domestically and abroad.

In order to have ATT unlimited, I'm quite certain that you need to bundle it with their DirectTV service. That is, of course, unless you're grandfathered into their old unlimited plan

TMO is really making a push here. They have expanded their network to compete with the two big providers and are priced better. I'm thinking about giving them a try. Im not sure if they still throttle high users anymore after paying a $48M fine for not telling people

I have DirectTV. I'll look into AT&T.

The TMO plan looks very attractive, as long as there aren't any hidden charges. The caveat they list is degraded service above 28GB usage. And it's unclear whether that usage limit is for each device on the plan or for all devices.

Originally Posted by swils8610

I've been a Verizon customer for years with no issues. I'm not sure if they have an unlimited plan for data.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

No unlimited data plan, which is a deal breaker for me. The missus Skypes family every day, which burns through data like it's free.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

I have DirectTV. I'll look into AT&T.



The TMO plan looks very attractive, as long as there aren't any hidden charges. The caveat they list is degraded service above 28GB usage. And it's unclear whether that usage limit is for each device on the plan or for all devices.







No unlimited data plan, which is a deal breaker for me. The missus Skypes family every day, which burns through data like it's free.

While TMO throttles speeds after you use 28gb, ATT does the same after 22gb. I'm pretty sure though both only do so during peak hours

I gave up my unlimited years ago and opted for 20gb (3 year old plan) and just pay for overages if needed, which is rare but at least I never get reduced speeds. With current plans, there are no overages but you get throttled down to 128kb. That's horrible

[Etschell]

i have att and it is spotty in my area. that said i dont pay much for it, like net $25 a month on a subsidized family plan.

[swils8610]

I've been a Verizon customer for years with no issues. I'm not sure if they have an unlimited plan for data.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by swils8610

I've been a Verizon customer for years with no issues. I'm not sure if they have an unlimited plan for data.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Ditto. Verizon has also worked for me internationally over the years.

[kulak]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Ditto. Verizon has also worked for me internationally over the years.

I still prefer T-Mobile for international with free text and data. Calls are also reasonalably priced. Coworker had Verizon and had to buy the $10 day pass when he wanted international roaming.

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by swils8610

I've been a Verizon customer for years with no issues. I'm not sure if they have an unlimited plan for data.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

X2. Now, unused data rolls over to the next pay period. It used to be if you didn't use it you lost it. Been with Verizon for close to 15 years. Wife gets a discount due to her employer.

[mikemcq]

I use T-Mobile currently. For 80$ a month I get, Unlimited Voice, Text and Data. Plus 7 gigs of hotspot data (I can use my phone as a wireless, secure hotspot to connect my laptop to) Great in a pinch!

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by mikemcq

I use T-Mobile currently. For 80$ a month I get, Unlimited Voice, Text and Data. Plus 7 gigs of hotspot data (I can use my phone as a wireless, secure hotspot to connect my laptop to) Great in a pinch!

Just out of curiosity, how do they know when you're tethering to your laptop?

[mikemcq]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Just out of curiosity, how do they know when you're tethering to your laptop?

You need to turn the hotspot on on the phone. Then you set the Username and Password. It basically replicates a wif-fi router. "iPhone" will show up in your wifi list, you then enter the password that you configure in the Hotspot settings.

The other thing about Tmobile, is they have tons of things that do not "go against" your data usage.

List below
https://www.t-mobile.com/offer/binge...ideo-list.html

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by mikemcq

You need to turn the hotspot on on the phone. Then you set the Username and Password. It basically replicates a wif-fi router. "iPhone" will show up in your wifi list, you then enter the password that you configure in the Hotspot settings.

The other thing about Tmobile, is they have tons of things that do not "go against" your data usage.

We live in the boonies, where landline (cable) internet does not exist. Can I use the unlimited data plan as a mobile wifi hotspot on my iPhone with unlimited data? Or is the tether limited data?

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Just out of curiosity, how do they know when you're tethering to your laptop?

You need to use the T-Mobile app for tethering

At least I do on my Note 5


Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Kingair

You need to use the T-Mobile app for tethering

At least I do on my Note 5

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

I tether when I travel over here. I just plug my iPhone into my laptop and off we go. The provider doesn't have any visibility on the process.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

I tether when I travel over here. I just plug my iPhone into my laptop and off we go. The provider doesn't have any visibility on the process.

I know but T-Mobile does apparently

Now last month they added 2 unlimited data lines to my plan for free

One went in our Samsung tablet and got second sim for one day in another device

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

I tether when I travel over here. I just plug my iPhone into my laptop and off we go. The provider doesn't have any visibility on the process.

With the old unlimited plan, ATT assessed data usage to figure out who was tethering and shut them down. Back then, the only app for tethering was through jail broken iphones.

I use the hotspot on my iphones all the time. My Mac automatically connects when I'm not on a saved wifi

[DeeTee]

In major cities I prefer T-Mobile. Stronger signal and data is faaaaast.
In the sticks I prefer Verizon.

[singe89]

Verizon had slightly better coverage in my area but switched to ATT for unlimited calls and data for $100/month with U-Verse.

[GradyPhilpott]

Verizon has plans up to 100GB.

I can recommend Verizon because they are one of the most consumer oriented companies that I've eve done business with and that's hard to say about any telephone company I've ever done business with.

[fusionstorm]

Some more context is needed. Is the unlimited data requirement for watching/streaming lots of video and other internet services? If so, will this be at home, while traveling in the US, etc?

The AT&T Unlimited plan has one significant caveat if you're going to be a heavy user:

"After 22GB of usage, reduced speeds may apply. Tethering and Mobile Hotspot use prohibited (except for Connected Car)."

If you're looking to try and avoid getting a "hard wired" Internet connection at your residence, and your AT&T mobile wireless internet speed is consistently decent where you live, the most economical answer is to buy an unlimited data SIM card on the secondary market (I have one grandfathered from the days when AT&T still offered them, and pay $29.99/month for unthrottled unlimited data). You get a wireless router that you can insert the SIM card into, and you've got cheap Internet for however many laptops, tablets, TVs and phones wherever there's AT&T coverage.

People who have those unlimited SIMs have reported using it for lots of data (500+GBs) on a monthly basis, with no download speed throttling. If you're lucky enough to live near an AT&T tower, you can get some decent speeds (50 Mbps) from mobile wireless.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by fusionstorm

Some more context is needed. Is the unlimited data requirement for watching/streaming lots of video and other internet services? If so, will this be at home, while traveling in the US, etc?

The AT&T Unlimited plan has one significant caveat if you're going to be a heavy user:

"After 22GB of usage, reduced speeds may apply. Tethering and Mobile Hotspot use prohibited (except for Connected Car)."

If you're looking to try and avoid getting a "hard wired" Internet connection at your residence, and your AT&T mobile wireless internet speed is consistently decent where you live, the most economical answer is to buy an unlimited data SIM card on the secondary market (I have one grandfathered from the days when AT&T still offered them, and pay $29.99/month for unthrottled unlimited data). You get a wireless router that you can insert the SIM card into, and you've got cheap Internet for however many laptops, tablets, TVs and phones wherever there's AT&T coverage.

People who have those unlimited SIMs have reported using it for lots of data (500+GBs) on a monthly basis, with no download speed throttling. If you're lucky enough to live near an AT&T tower, you can get some decent speeds (50 Mbps) from mobile wireless.

This would be ideal. Since I'm a complete novice, can you tell me what secondary market I would find these on?

[fusionstorm]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

This would be ideal. Since I'm a complete novice, can you tell me what secondary market I would find these on?

eBay to start. They pop up occasionally on Craigslist. I've heard them sell for $1K+. You get your ROI back within 2 years, and quicker if you and your travel together in the US for any period of time.

[rolexgiants]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

This would be ideal. Since I'm a complete novice, can you tell me what secondary market I would find these on?

Boonies= will probably mean ZERO T-Mobile service!

[mikemcq]

The 7 gig limit is separate from the unlimited data plan. But, depending on your usage, they do offer other levels of hotspot data.

My $80 plan includes the 7 gig, but they have different levels of hotspot plans. I do not know off hand what they are though. I only use mine in emergency situations for work. But 7 gigs is about equal to 7 hours of Netflix streaming (just to put into perspective)

[Kingair]

I pay $ 120.00 a month for 4 phone lines unlimited everything included and the 2 free data they gave me

That was close to only my service costs way back in the days without even making one call 😂

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Kingair

I pay $ 120.00 a month for 4 lines unlimited everything included

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

The missus gets three for her stuff and I can live with one.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The missus gets three for her stuff and I can live with one.

Well that works

They even gave a share of T-Mobile to their customers a few months ago

So I got 4 now and they are doing good apparently

Went up close to $ 12.00

Maybe I should buy some more 😉

And each Tuesday the have free giveaways

Fun for the kids like free movies a Fandango, a Tshirt, . . .

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[glenn_herwig]

Verizon has a rollover data plan now. I have it know and my whole family never goes over now. Really great.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by glenn_herwig

Verizon has a rollover data plan now. I have it know and my whole family never goes over now. Really great.

I didn't see that offered on their website. I'll have to look into it.