| Find right carrier and pick your own phone If you are on ATT or T-Mobile, then just buy an unlocked GSM or 3GSM phone if you are unhappy with what the carriers offer. They are for sale new and used everywhere on the internet. I just bought a new N900 from Nokia USA on clearance for $200 (after rebate) and I use it on T-Mobile USA as a compliment to my dependable T-Mobile branded, unlocked 2G flip phone (switch the SIM card). The flip phone has carrier software/firmware that I appreciate and use everyday, namely UMA.
Even with Sprint or Verizon, you can get unlocked cell phones, although the options are fewer than with GSM.
If the idea is to save money, then get your phones on clearance or used and just pick the most desirable, least expensive plan. T-Mobile USA is the only company who seems to get this concept with their Plus Plans. Don't play the "I've got to have the latest phone" game!
If the idea is to have the software you desire on the phone, then pick one that can be flashed to what you want and bypass the carrier's choice. |
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 kg4icg
join:2003-11-16
Herndon, VA
1 edit | You do know that TMobile and AT&T high speed networks are on different frequencies and that unless its got the frequencies of both 1700 and 1900 mhz that all your gonna get is edge from either 1.
Oh and by the way, unless you know someone in Verizon or Sprints tech support. There is no way your gonna get a CDMA phone on there network if the ESN isn't in there system. |
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| Of course I know about the different 3G frequencies. That's why I bought the N900, because it supports the carrier that I chose, namely, T-Mobile USA. Oh, and last weekend I got 6-7 Mbps down and .5-.7 up on T-mobile 3.5G in St. Louis. Try that on any other USA carrier. I won't disclose how much I pay for such high speeds, but lets just say that other T-Mobile USA users with the N900 know the answer.
There are unlocked new Sprint phones for sale that are compatible with the Sprint network. Of course, you are still getting the Sprint software, but you are just choosing to purchase it yourself at the price you choose. Obviously, one reason Verizon and Sprint are charging more per month for their plans is because they are subsidizing the cost (at full retail price) of the phone and locking you into a contract. If enough customers with these companies ask for or request lower monthly pricing when they provide their own phone, then the policies will change.
Americans pay way more per minute for cellular/PCS/3G services than those in less developed countries. At least T-Mobile gives customers an OPTION for lower total costs! |
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| said by Getunlocked :
Americans pay way more per minute for cellular/PCS/3G services than those in less developed countries. Got a citation for that claim?
It's all in picking the right plan. I wind up paying about 3 cents per minute when you take the cost of my post paid family plan and divide it by the number of minutes we use.
Something else to consider: In many countries you pay a premium for calling wireless customers. In the US (and Canada?) it's the same amount of money to call a wireless or a wireline number. |
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| Use India as an example of low mobile rates. Many prepaid plans there are 1p/sec for talk, that translates into 60p/min or 0.6 Rs./min or $.0129/minute converted into US dollars. Granted, the advertisements for these rates/tariffs state for the first year only, but I assume that customers in India switch often (SIM) to stay at these low rates. SMS rates in India are not quite as competitive for very heavy users, but 50p/text or $.0108/text is not bad for most users. Here are some links:
»www.zonshare.com/magazine/2009/1···parison/
»www.rcom.co.in/Rcom/personal/pre···sec.html
We currently pay around $.02-.025/minute (depending on usage) for our T-Mobile USA family plan. I'd sure like to have our cell phone bill cut by 35%!
Most Americans pay higher rates than you or I, and the lowest advertised national USA prepaid rates are $.05-$.10/min. |
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