Other Connectivity → Cellphones, Providers, and Plans > [Mobile] Looking for pre-paid suggestions

[Mobile] Looking for pre-paid suggestions

So my 2-yr contract with Sprint is up next month and I'm looking to make the jump to a pre-paid carrier... preferably one that does NOT use Sprint's network because it just sucks IMO... at least where I live (4G LTE not available yet and probably still won't be for some time).

My only criteria really is that they offer 4G LTE (or something equivalent) in my area (Newark, OH - about 40 mins NE of Columbus, OH) and that they offer the iPhone (4 or 4S is fine) as my wife would really like that as an option. As for me, I have a rooted/unlocked HTC EVO 4G (WiMax version) that I would be content with continuing to use if the carrier will support it.

Thanks in advance for any feedback/suggestions.
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In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

You can do a used iPhone on AT&T or T Mobile and activate it on Net10 for $50/month unlimited. Best Buy sells the bring your own phone kits for $25 I think.

You can also do a new iPhone on Straight Talk which will run on Verizon Wireless but thats expensive up front. It is $45 a month unlimited and offered exclusively through Walmart.

I'm not familiar with Net10. What backhaul network do they use? Would my current unlocked HTC EVO work on their network? Thanks

Nevermind... just answered my own question. Unfortunately my current phone is CDMA and won't work with Net10. Guess I'll need to look at other options. Thanks

Okay... new question... is there a CDMA carrier that doesn't tie-back to Sprint's network? It doesn't seem like it from my cursory search. Am I basically stuck with Sprint's crappy backhaul network if I want to continue to use my current phone? I would really like to keep my phone if I can, but I don't think I'm willing to do that at the expense of having to use Sprint's network... that's how bad I think it is.
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In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

Your requirements are a bit confusing. For instance, you want 4G LTE, yet you want to keep your Sprint Wimax phone. Plus from what I remember, those Apple phones you listed are not LTE devices either.

If the keeping of your old phone is a must, then there a company called Ting that allows you to bring your old Sprint phone. Obviously, they use Sprint towers. However, there is voice and text roaming. No data roaming. Is this much better than what you have with Sprint postpaid now? Not likely.

A 2nd option would be to get somebody or figure out how to flash that phone to use on Verizon reseller Page Plus. Be aware that Verizon does not allow anybody other than its own postpaid service to have LTE. Not just LTE speeds either. NO LTE phones are allowed on Verizon mvno's. Of course, there are always people finding ways to get LTE phones onto Page Plus. As already noted with all Verizon prepaid services, the best you can get is 3g speed.

Since LTE seems so important to you, then maybe it comes down to At&t or T-Mobile resellers. At&t's GoPhone now gives LTE speeds. T-Mobile speeds are decent though coverage might not be as good as At&t. This naturally depends on the area. In both these case, nobody cares what phone you bring. That is because you would buy them on your own unsubsidized or from a 3rd-party.

Okay, my wife is dropping her desire to have an iPhone. So if we keep our current Sprint HTC EVO phones (rooted & unlocked) can they be used on Straight Talk? I've found conflicting information that suggests some CDMA phones do & don't work on Straight Talk?
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In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

You cannot bring your own CDMA phone to Straight Talk only GSM phones.

Thanks for the response. I think we might be able to take our phones to Virgin Mobile (since their a Sprint MVNO), but I'm having a difficult time verifying that. When I go try to start going through their activation process it asks me to provide the MEID of my phone which I do, but then it says something about it already being in use. Perhaps I need to cancel/deactivate service with Sprint first, but if I do that won't I lose the ability to port my number?

I'll be honest, I didn't think the wireless landscape was this complicated and confusing. I feel like I've been researching my options to death, but am no closer to finding a cheap solution to keeping our current phones.
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In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

I think you will find it tough to port a number from an active carrier to a MVNO of the same carrier. When I needed to do this years ago I ported my number from Verizon to Net10 AT&T to Straight Talk Verizon.

So what if I don't care to keep my current number... do you think they'd let me bring my phone to them? I sent VM an email last night asking them these questions too, but have yet to receive a response.
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In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

Pretty sure Boost Mobile has a program to bring your own Sprint phone. Personally if you don't care about your number I'd switch from Sprint. Keep in mind if you go from Sprint to a MVNO you will not be able to roam at all anymore.

Boost Mobile does let you bring you're own Sprint device, but their cheapest plan is $50/mo compared to Virgin Mobile's $35/mo plan. I still haven't heard from VM as to my questions and I'm starting to doubt I will. So I guess I'll either have to buy a new phone upfront through VM or go to Boost Mobile and pay more per month. Coverage should be the same in my area since they are both a Sprint MVNO.
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In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

Disregard my last post. I must have been thinking of another carrier because it doesn't look like Boost Mobile let's you BYOD.

I think we may just try ditching cell service altogether. Phones and monthly prices are just absurd for such a mature technology at this point. My wife and I have discussed get home VoIP service and then just keeping our current cell phones and using them wherever WiFi is available + Google Voice. Thanks for all the input/feedback.
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In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

Boost only has limited byod in that what they allow are mostly older feature phones. There are people who sell their service in which they flash your phone for use with Boost. Since bringing in outside phones is unauthorized, you are on your own if something is not working right. They do have something called Shrinkage where your bill is reduced $5 every 6 months if you pay on-time So after a year and a half, it is possible to get the price down to $35 a month.

If keeping your old phones without flashing is a must, here is a list of mvno's in America. Look for the companies that use Sprint and allow byod.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_US_MVNO

Why not go with T-Mobile? they are rolling out LTE pretty damn quick.

I am now with Verizon in 8 months when my contrats ends i am going with T-MO for sure.

Also Page Plus cellular runs on Verizon for 29$ you will get I think 1200 minutes , 1200 texts , 200 or 250MB of data.

Even cheaper then boost oh and you can use iPhones 4/4S as long as ESN is clean.