$170 for the phone + $50 mail-in rebate.
Tethering
Phone insurance.
Cons for Cricket:
1GB cap
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE COVERAGE.
$55/mo + tax and additional fees.
Proprietary SD Card malfunctions
Pros for VM:
Better coverage.
10GB cap
$27/mo (after applying taxes and additional fees.)
Cons for VM:
$200 for the phone.
No tethering
No phone insurance
In other peoples opinions, which is better? I dislike Cricket's service enough to want VM, but tethering and insurance are enough to make me REALLY second guess myself.
$170 for the phone + $50 mail-in rebate.
Tethering
Phone insurance.
Cons for Cricket:
1GB cap
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE COVERAGE.
$55/mo + tax and additional fees.
Proprietary SD Card malfunctions
Pros for VM:
Better coverage.
10GB cap
$27/mo (after applying taxes and additional fees.)
Cons for VM:
$200 for the phone.
No tethering
No phone insurance
In other peoples opinions, which is better? I dislike Cricket's service enough to want VM, but tethering and insurance are enough to make me REALLY second guess myself.
I myself have a HUAWEI ASCEND with CRICKET® service.I'm rooted(still using stock ANDROID 2.1.1 O/S) w/bloatware removed & have LINK2SD installed to store all user(downloaded)apps to the external SDcard,using ROM MANAGER to partition the SDcard.
I also have Titanium Back-Up PRO & utilize the 'FREEZE' option on system & user apps that I don't use,but,do not want to permanently delete.
My phone works GREAT,very quick & responsive.You could probably perform these same steps with a VIRGIN ANDROID as well,just read the associated forums for info & help if you need it.
However,once I hit the 1GB data usage level,I get throttled & web use crawls to a merciless slow pace.
If coverage is an issue,I'd look into getting the SAMSUNG INTERCEPT W/VIRGIN MOBILE.If you look into the forum for this phone,you'll find that it CAN be tethered,plus according to PHANDROID NEWS,the INTERCEPT is due to be upgraded to ANDROID 2.2 on 4/11/2011.{Samsung Intercept to receive Froyo update Monday}
My advice would be to wait & see if tethering is possible w/the INTERCEPT 2.2 or wait until someone provides a method of Rooting & tethering for it,& then make your decision.
I'd also try to find others with service on both CRICKET & VIRGIN in your area & get their input.I've heard coverage & call quality for VIRGIN is extremely well in the PHOENIX area,hopefully for you,it is as well in the TUCSON area.
I'm satisfied w/my CRICKET service overall,just wish they'd bump up the data usage to 1.5GB-2.0GB before throttling.
Another plus w/CRICKET:
If you pre-pay 3 Months of service,you get the 4th month free.Just go to a CORPORATE CRICKET store & ask about it.
BTW,WELCOME to ANDROID FORUMS!
Last edited by KOLIO; April 10th, 2011 at 06:27 AM.
Cricket has very good coverage where I live, but if Virgin is better in your area, I would go with them. You can use the Optimus v for tethering if you download an app. (can't remember what it's called, check out the optimus v forum for more info on that). Also, all the Optimus models have already been announced to be getting 2.3 gingerbread. Virgin was having a lot of data issues when the Optimus first came out, but they seem to have gotten that straightened out now. Good luck with whatever you decide.
*edit- I went and checked the Optimus v forum and the app for tethering is called Quick Settings.
__________________
"Machete don't text"
Last edited by Gmash; April 10th, 2011 at 04:01 AM.
Coverage should be your biggest concern....what good is a phone that can tether but caps you at 1GB and has horrid coverage
I'd go with VM...Cricket just seems so....ugh(no offense to anyone who has them).
I'd even go with Boost and Straighttalk before i'd go with Cricket
Ugh indeed,CARMENDIVA,no offense taken! The 1GB/MO. is not enough to make it through a whole month,considering most people are now using mobile devices more than ever.With VM's improved 3G + unlimited data,I'm hoping the other budget carriers will be forced to offer something similar to stay competitive.
Device(s): Phone: Huawei Mercury
Current ROM: Stock
Carrier: CricKet
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 9
Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Hey if the coverage for VM is better in your area... then go for it.
I find almost no fault in Cricket so far.
Pro:
-Cheap, straight $55 (if you pay online)
-Decent speeds
-Decent coverage (in my area I get 3 bars almost anywhere. No dropped calls)
-Tethering (if you tether)
Con:
-Crap lower end smartphones
-No 4G
-NO GINGERBREAD!
I myself have a HUAWEI ASCEND with CRICKET® service.I'm rooted(still using stock ANDROID 2.1.1 O/S) w/bloatware removed & have LINK2SD installed to store all user(downloaded)apps to the external SDcard,using ROM MANAGER to partition the SDcard.
I also have Titanium Back-Up PRO & utilize the 'FREEZE' option on system & user apps that I don't use,but,do not want to permanently delete.
My phone works GREAT,very quick & responsive.You could probably perform these same steps with a VIRGIN ANDROID as well,just read the associated forums for info & help if you need it.
However,once I hit the 1GB data usage level,I get throttled & web use crawls to a merciless slow pace.
If coverage is an issue,I'd look into getting the SAMSUNG INTERCEPT W/VIRGIN MOBILE.If you look into the forum for this phone,you'll find that it CAN be tethered,plus according to PHANDROID NEWS,the INTERCEPT is due to be upgraded to ANDROID 2.2 on 4/11/2011.{Samsung Intercept to receive Froyo update Monday}
My advice would be to wait & see if tethering is possible w/the INTERCEPT 2.2 or wait until someone provides a method of Rooting & tethering for it,& then make your decision.
I'd also try to find others with service on both CRICKET & VIRGIN in your area & get their input.I've heard coverage & call quality for VIRGIN is extremely well in the PHOENIX area,hopefully for you,it is as well in the TUCSON area.
I'm satisfied w/my CRICKET service overall,just wish they'd bump up the data usage to 1.5GB-2.0GB before throttling.
Another plus w/CRICKET:
If you pre-pay 3 Months of service,you get the 4th month free.Just go to a CORPORATE CRICKET store & ask about it.
BTW,WELCOME to ANDROID FORUMS!
I just went to pay my bill at cricket, and they no longer do the pay 3 months get the 4th one free. It ended in March cuz of a new billing system. I am bummed cuz i used to do that all the time. I paid in March, and they didn't give me the 4th month free but i went in and complained and they credited my account. I hope they bring it back!
I myself have a HUAWEI ASCEND with CRICKET® service.I'm rooted(still using stock ANDROID 2.1.1 O/S) w/bloatware removed & have LINK2SD installed to store all user(downloaded)apps to the external SDcard,using ROM MANAGER to partition the SDcard.
I also have Titanium Back-Up PRO & utilize the 'FREEZE' option on system & user apps that I don't use,but,do not want to permanently delete.
My phone works GREAT,very quick & responsive.You could probably perform these same steps with a VIRGIN ANDROID as well,just read the associated forums for info & help if you need it.
However,once I hit the 1GB data usage level,I get throttled & web use crawls to a merciless slow pace.
If coverage is an issue,I'd look into getting the SAMSUNG INTERCEPT W/VIRGIN MOBILE.If you look into the forum for this phone,you'll find that it CAN be tethered,plus according to PHANDROID NEWS,the INTERCEPT is due to be upgraded to ANDROID 2.2 on 4/11/2011.{Samsung Intercept to receive Froyo update Monday}
My advice would be to wait & see if tethering is possible w/the INTERCEPT 2.2 or wait until someone provides a method of Rooting & tethering for it,& then make your decision.
I'd also try to find others with service on both CRICKET & VIRGIN in your area & get their input.I've heard coverage & call quality for VIRGIN is extremely well in the PHOENIX area,hopefully for you,it is as well in the TUCSON area.
I'm satisfied w/my CRICKET service overall,just wish they'd bump up the data usage to 1.5GB-2.0GB before throttling.
Another plus w/CRICKET:
If you pre-pay 3 Months of service,you get the 4th month free.Just go to a CORPORATE CRICKET store & ask about it.
BTW,WELCOME to ANDROID FORUMS!
if you hit more than 1gb of data usage in a month your speed connecting to internet via 3G will be slow,on your billing due date it will reset to 0,so the speed will be fast again..
Cricket vs VM.
The 1GB/MO. is not enough to make it through a whole month,considering most people are now using mobile devices more than ever.With VM's improved 3G + unlimited data,I'm hoping the other budget carriers will be forced to offer something similar to stay competitive.
