cghodo

Good day,

I want to run my plan past some of you and hopefully get some feedback for people already doing this.

I currently have Verizon (Thunderbolt) with the $40 voice plan and $30 unlimited data. I use Google Voice so I don't have a texting plan.

The plan:

1. Drop both the voice and data plan (losing my VZ unlimited plan forever)
2. Using my soon coming upgrade, get one of the mobile hotspots (Jetpack, etc.) and go with the 5g cap mobile data plan for $50.

I already have GrooveIP and have been testing it out (since I've been using Google Voice for a while, no one has had to change which number to call). I haven't been able to get the echo out without having to turn down the speaker to were I can barely hear the other party. However, a huge advantage of going this route is the easy internet access I have with any device with a wifi adapter because I'm walking around with a hotspot. I'm always carrying a bag or wearing a coat so carrying that is no big deal.

Also, I've been using gmail chat a lot lately and found its VOIP to be much clearer than GrooveIP so whenever I can, I would just have my laptop running Gmail. It actually rings when someone calls as long as I'm not logged in on GrooveIP so it can function as a phone. If I can combine that with a headset and get a laptop doc in my car, I could mostly do all voice through Chat without ever having to pick up my "phone".

I've already went a little too long for a forum post like this. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages to this, but, from as far as I can tell, it seems to be worth it, especially considering the added freedom of device and $20 a month in savings.

If anybody else is running a set up similar to this, I'd appreciate some feedback or anyone that thinks I'm forgetting something.

tcat007

I am on VM unlimited for $25 with Optimus-V. Also have Galaxy Player 5.0 with GrooveIP. I have been using less than 15 minutes per month, and even though $25 is a deal, it appears to be more than I need. Truconnect has wifi hotspot for $5.00/mo plus .039 per mb. I don't think I'd use more than 100mb. Or just get a cheap VM phone = $5-$6/mo (at 20 cent per minute), no hotspot (other than local ones). I just put another month on my VM since I had Callingmart credits so only cost me $22. One more month to decide....

GrooveIP is a little unreliable, but usually works fine. Having a real phone would be more reassuring. At $20 every 90 days I'd be getting 33 minutes per month, more than I'd need... so that's the direction I'm leaning. Hotspots seem to be "everywhere".

cghodo

I would love to get into a cheaper data option than the 5g for $50 at VZ. I actually originally heard about GrooveIP from someone that didn't even have a data plan, but my driving habits really bring up my data usage.

I knock down about 2-2.5 gbs a month. (I'm on the road around 10 hrs per week). Under that Truconnect plan, my last data bill would be north of $80. Unfortunately I don't have access to wifi at work and a lot of my data is pulled down as i drive home from work (in the form of podcasts not available before I leave the comfort of my home wifi).

I would actually love to use the 2g plan from VZ on a hotspot, but they only allow those plans on tablets and netbooks. Looked at Sprints plan and they've got 3g for $35, but my main problem with other networks is location. I live in a major city with tons of options during the week, but spend my weekends in a small town and in that small town plus most of the trip there, VZ is really the only good option.

On a sidenote about GrooveIP, I have had some success lately using earbuds when in a call and that obviously eliminates the feedback that causes the echo. Still G Chat just seems to put out much better quality and is much more tolerant of 3g.

skoster

I have the Exhibit II 4g on T-Mobile's $30 no contract unlimited data (5Gb cap, then 3g) and texts and 100 minutes of calling.

I use GrooveIP for my calling, and very rarely do I have a problem with it (there is one area I drive to where I get dropped calls), though there is a little bit of lag.

I tether using either wifi or usb (I prefer usb since it leaves my wifi adaptor running and just seems a little more robust). It required that I root the phone and freeze the tethering manager, but that was pretty easy and it allowed me to get rid of a bunch of other annoying crap as well.