[ale] fyi - cheaper way to add a smart phone to verizon

[Ron Frazier (ALE)]

Van Loggins <vanloggins at gmail.com> wrote:

>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:53:27 -0400
>> From: "Ron Frazier (ALE)" <atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com>
>> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
>> Subject: Re: [ale] fyi - cheaper way to add a smart phone to verizon
>>         account
>> Message-ID: <e40d6ca8-ba30-45c3-91dd-d64ef4cd9d98 at email.android.com
>> >
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>>
>> Hi Greg,
>>
>> I am potentially very interested in the plans by
>straighttalk.com(Walmart).  Since you mentioned it, I went to Walmart
>and talked to the guy
>> in electronics.  He was very helpful.  They do have phones on
>Verizon.  You
>> have to look for cdma-v on the package.  He said the technology is
>the same
>> as verizon but all the customer service goes through straighttalk and
>> sometimes that is sub par.  I might be willing to risk it though.  I
>could
>> get a 3.5" android 4 phone with unlimited everything for me for $ 45
>/ mo.
>>  He said it's really unlimited.  No tethering is allowed, and if they
>think
>> you're abusing it, they can throttle your data or cut you off.  But,
>I
>> wouldn't abuse it if that's the agreement I signed.  I can also get a
>dumb
>> phone for my wife, which is all she wants, with 1000 minutes
>(currently
>> have 750 shared) and 250 text messages, for $ 30 / mo.  So, for the
>same
>> price, I get a smart phone with unlimited data and she gets more talk
>time
>> and and text messages.  Sounds pr!
>>  etty cool.
>>
>> Do you or anyone here have experience with straighttalk?  Verizon
>does
>> have reasonable and accessible customer service, unless something
>goes
>> badly wrong.  I suspect that if I port my number over to
>straighttalk, that
>> it would be hard to get it back to verizon, but I could be wrong.  I
>also
>> suspect I'd lose my family share plan forever.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Ron
>>
>>
> Ron,
>
>I can't comment on how well ST on Verizon network works, but I switched
>from Sprint's sub par cell network over to ST running on the AT&T
>network
>using the BYOD sims that they used to sell (they only sell T-Mobile
>ones
>now). I've been very happy with them. I can advise though that they can
>and
>will throttle your data if you use more than about 2GB a month, My
>Girlfriend ran over last month and got throttled.
>
>I normally only use about 1GB to 1.5GB a month so I've never got
>throttled.
>
>Van
>
>

Van,

Thanks for sharing your experience about straighttalk.  I think they're buying a 2-3 GB plan from verizon, att, tmobile, and reselling it and calling it unlimited.  Thus, throttling.  I really want a smart phone, but am not willing to pay verizon $ 30 more per month to add it to my plan.  My need is just not that great.  I'm glad you're having a good experience with st, but after reading a number of customer service horror stories online, I guess I'll just stick with my two dumb phones and verizon.

Sincerely,

Ron



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Ron Frazier
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