Cell Phone Companies

[Glenn]

I have to ask. Do you have stock in, or work for T-Mobile? I love the enthusiasm for them. Honestly you have pretty much convinced me to stay with them. If I can get this worked out with them, I believe I will stay with them. It seems its been this past 6 months that I've been having these problems. Up until then they have been absolutely amazing. Customer Service wise, Coverage wise, and cost wise.

In the spirit of full disclosure, yes I do work for T-Mobile. However I'm not a sales person. I'm just a corporate drone in their offices. I'm honestly not trying to show any enthusiasm or add any fluff, just trying to give you some information that you might not know about. Our marketing folks aren't too great at telling people about their options.

Also note I've been a T-Mobile customer for 9 years. So I live it, not just talk about it.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

In the spirit of full disclosure, yes I do work for T-Mobile. However I'm not a sales person. I'm just a corporate drone in their offices. I'm honestly not trying to show any enthusiasm or add any fluff, just trying to give you some information that you might not know about. Our marketing folks aren't too great at telling people about their options.

Also note I've been a T-Mobile customer for 9 years. So I live it, not just talk about it.

I will definitely give T-Mobile this, the Customer Service is second to none. After a thirty something minute conversation, with one of the representatives I feel so much better. Not once did I threaten to leave for another company, and he totally took care of any and all problems I have had. He also got most of the fees dropped too, something I neither expected or asked for. Yet again, the Customer Service has won my continued loyalty. That's the reason I've stuck with them for 7 years now. Seems I jump off the handle, sometimes before I actually try to solve the problem the right way.

Also I just discovered that I do have a form of insurance on my phone that covers loss or theft. So I'm not totally without protection.

[Glenn]

I'm glad it worked out for you. Changing carriers is a hassle, so I'm glad you were able to get everything resolved.

Have a great Christmas!

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I'm glad it worked out for you. Changing carriers is a hassle, so I'm glad you were able to get everything resolved.

Have a great Christmas!

I am too. Gives me one less thing to worry about.

And Yall have a wonderful Christmas as well.

[GLADES]

I just dropped Verison for Metro PCS when my contract expired. I had 1 android and two non smart phones. The average bill was 250.00 a month. I hated having allotments of minutes.

With Metro, I bought 3 android phones and I have good service in south Florida, and with unlimited everything on 3 phones for 150.00 a month.

Location might determine prices.

[Marty]

Keep in mind T-Mobile just got a ton of new coverage area, thanks to ATT....to the tune of about 60 million more Americans will now have T-Mobile coverage very soon.

Glenn, what do you know that we don't? That deal has been reported as dead.

[Glenn]

Oh my goodness, y'all didn't hear about the "breakup fee" ATT paid T-Mobile for the dropped deal? ATT paid T-Mobile 3 billion dollars, plus another 1 billion dollars in spectrum and roaming agreements.

This just happened this week, so of course it's going to take a month or two to implement, but the net gain is that T-Mobile will now have a much larger footprint. Essentially, all the major carriers will have the same coverage now, with some exceptions in rural areas of course. So yes, in some areas Verizon will have coverage where T-Mobile doesn't and vice versa. But generally speaking, coverage will not be a major decision maker unless you live in one of those rare spots.

[tomustang]

You can thank the govt for shafting ATT.

[guitarkid]

_{Anybody but at&t. please DO NOT get at&t.}

_-gk

[tomustang]

Wow, really...

[tomustang]

Oh my goodness, y'all didn't hear about the "breakup fee" ATT paid T-Mobile for the dropped deal? ATT paid T-Mobile 3 billion dollars, plus another 1 billion dollars in spectrum and roaming agreements

The FCC and DOJ have been blocking this deal since it started, what else was Att suppose to do. I don't know why I typed this since someone will probably delete it for some reason.

[Glenn]

Well no, that's not true. The merger was announced in March, and the DOJ announced their opposition in late Aug. The FCC then announced their opposition a few months later. So no, they weren't against it since it started.

Your previous post was removed because it was more like an anti-government rant. Those kind of comments instantly turn things into a political debate, and we have a clear "no politics" rule here.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Just out of curiosity, how exactly would the merger between AT&T and T-MOBILE have created a monopoly. I mean you still have Verizon which is enormous. Sprint isn't exactly tiny either. Plus all the numerous small and local companies. I just don't see the problem with the merger. I mean after all it seems to be capitalism at its finest.

[Root beer]

Well no, that's not true. The merger was announced in March, and the DOJ announced their opposition in late Aug. The FCC then announced their opposition a few months later. So no, they weren't against it since it started.

A lot of analysts saw it coming from the get-go. AT&T thought they could get away with it.

Anyway, we're only paying $120 a month for three phones. We have unlimited text and media messaging on all three phones. One of the phone has unlimited data which is my droid. We have Verizon. It is far more economical for us to stay with Verizon than it is with T-Mobile and AT&T for the same features. I'm fairly certain the price of plans can vary base on location...I was told by a friend the other day that Verizon in this area no longer carry unlimited data.

[Root beer]

Just out of curiosity, how exactly would the merger between AT&T and T-MOBILE have created a monopoly. I mean you still have Verizon which is enormous. Sprint isn't exactly tiny either. Plus all the numerous small and local companies. I just don't see the problem with the merger. I mean after all it seems to be capitalism at its finest.

AT&T and T-Mobile's market share would have been bigger than all the other companies combined.

[FD.]

Regardless of the carrier, if you own a smart phone get yourself a $40 ballistic case. My galaxy s has been dropped from a front end loader, run over by a tractor, dropped in the parking lot more times than I can count and even in a mud puddle at least once. If you take it out of the case it looks brand new with no problems at all.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Regardless of the carrier, if you own a smart phone get yourself a $40 ballistic case. My galaxy s has been dropped from a front end loader, run over by a tractor, dropped in the parking lot more times than I can count and even in a mud puddle at least once. If you take it out of the case it looks brand new with no problems at all.

This here case you are refering to is it similar to the otter box I have? If not an otter box can you give me the manufacturer of said case? You have me very interested.

[FD.]

http://www.goballisticcase.com/

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Thank ya. I like this. I think I'm gonna have to order one of these. The otter box is getting very ratty. Seems like it will provide better protection then the otter box also.

[tomustang]

Your previous post was removed because it was more like an anti-government rant. Those kind of comments instantly turn things into a political debate, and we have a clear "no politics" rule here.

Sorry man, didn't mean to imply it that way, I use emoticons when I type blunt but on mobile-full site there's no way to pop up the emoticons this way

[Stringjam]

I've been with Sprint for a couple of years and I've been very happy with them. The online plan management and bill pay is actually understandable and easy (as opposed to when I was a Verizon customer).

My $70 plan gives unlimited data. I always have coverage. Sprint roams on Verizon's network so between those two I've always had a signal.

T-Mobile appears to have a cheaper plan....I may look into it at some point if I decide to switch carriers.

[jdw174]

Around my neck of the woods, ATT is basically worthless. That's why I have Verizon. However, since I work for the state of Tennessee, I get a 19% discount on my bill and it's still over $77/mo for two phones, no texting or anything else but making calls. I will be retiring next spring, and am seriously considering switching over to WalMart's Straight Talk. Lots of people around here have it and I haven't heard a complaint yet. You can get a phone that works either on the Verizon network or AT&T's. There's two plans to pick from. One is $30/mo (per phone) that gives you 1000 minutes of talk, 1000 texts, and 30MB of downloads. The other is $45/mo (per phone) and gives you unlimited everything. You can renew each month online, or just walk into WallyWorld, purchase a new card and enter the number over your phone and you're good for another month. You do, however, have to purchase the phones in most cases and I don't believe that insurance is available for them. You can also switch over your current phone number if you want.

[SirSnookalot]

Those Walmart plans aren't bad.  I have Verizon with 2 smart phones, unlimited text and phone and 1 gb of data which is sufficient for us, my bill is $130 plus taxes.  For years the cell phone industry has operated on the Gillette business model, free or cheap razor as long as you keep buying our blades.  For years my upgraded phones were quite cheap as long as I extended my contract for 2 years, but that's changing.  Not only are upgraded phones a bit more expensive now but the major carriers are charging an additional $30 upgrade fee which they never did before.

 

Technology is great, but don't think for a second it's created for us, it's developed so the phone makers and carriers can make more money, we are brainwashed into believing we need the latest and greatest, and what you had a year ago doesn't cut the mustard anymore, gotta admit I do like it.

Nothing ever worked better than my Bell phone hanging on the wall in the 50-60's, they never broke and if the rare problem happened they were out with a service call at warp speed and replaced it for free.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Wow I had forgotten I made this thread.

Seeing as how we are on the subject though. We swapped to Verizon early last month. I get a huge discount in my bill through my company. Thus far it has been great. We have 2 smart phones. Unlimited talk and text and 10 gigs of data for 150 a month. Its hard to beat that deal. The other plus' in switching over, are the girl that set all this up for me gives me 25% off on all accessories and what not in store. I also get amazing service.

T-Mobile has great service and I love the new plans they came out with. I think other carriers will follow their lead on those. Plus their customer service is some of the best ever. My only complaint was a lot of the places I work I wouldn't have service. Many rural areas and smaller towns. When in a large city the service was great. As long as you were not under ground or under lots of concrete. Verizon on the other hand I'm still getting service thirty feet below ground inside a massive concrete box with four foot thick walls and ceiling.

I do wish I could have stayed with T-Mobile, however I am happy with Verizon.

[retiredbosn]

I went to a pre pay net 10 phone 3 years ago, set it up on auto pay. 40 bucks a month unlimited talk text and internet its only 3g or wireless thru a router. I have a smart phone with more gadgets than I need couldn't bee happier. My daughter has her's in Boston another son in WV, and the others in SC. My wife travels with work it had worked from TX to Boston and everywhere in between. Uses Sprint's network