AT&T GoPhone & Nexus??

[GiantsCheated]

Anybody using a Nexus on the AT&T GoPhone program?

 

[gale65]

You aren't supposed to use smartphones on it but I think people have bought a gophone and swapped out the sim card. It's a lot cheaper, for sure. I'd like to know also if it's possible.

 

[GiantsCheated]

AT&T sells smartphones (ZTE Avail etc) for their GoPhone program. I've talked to the folks at my local AT&T store and I get different answers. One guy says data will only work if the phone is "3G only" another says it will work fine another says it won't work period.

It's so much cheaper with their 1GB data for $25/month and with the amount I'm on Wi-Fi it's a perfect amount of data for me. Either way, I bought a G-Nex on Friday, it will be here tomorrow so I guess I'll see.

 

[gale65]

I guess I wasn't being very thorough. The $50 unlimited plan isn't for smartphones. If you have a smartphone you are supposed to get the $25 limited plan plus buy a $25 data package (not sure if you can buy the smaller data packages for this). So it ends up the same price, only it's pretty limited. I've read that some people get a go phone with the $50 unlimited plan and swap out the sim card.

eta: did they tell you there was a plan that was $25 total? I don't think that's true. I got my info from online chat so I don't know if that's more or less reliable. They told me if I have a smartphone and want a prepaid plan, to get the $25 per month and buy the data package with it. And it can only be purchased at a store, not online, if I have my own phone.

 

[squid101]

Use straight talk... I bought a $350 Gnex on Google & a straight talk sim card(specified for the at&t network) & it works amazing. Exactly the same coverage and data speeds you'd get with at&t. HSPA+ is almost as fast as 4g & works great. $45 a month for everything unlimited. They'll send you the sim card in the mail and you can refill your monthly charge via credit or buy a refill in any walmart store.

 

[djedgarftw]

Straight talk is better i got it and am useing it on my s3 to try it out and so far so good

 

[Trooper]

Use straight talk... I bought a $350 Gnex on Google & a straight talk sim card(specified for the at&t network) & it works amazing. Exactly the same coverage and data speeds you'd get with at&t. HSPA+ is almost as fast as 4g & works great. $45 a month for everything unlimited. They'll send you the sim card in the mail and you can refill your monthly charge via credit or buy a refill in any walmart store.

You can specify that you want the at&t network?

 

[mogelijk]

You can specify that you want the at&t network?

I believe it depends on your area, though the only choice I get from Straight Talk is AT&T.

 

[gale65]

I'm not sure it's exactly the same though. Straight talk mentions in their TOS that they prohibit streaming of music, video, etc. So technically you could lose service if they catch you doing it. Also, they do throttle or cut service if you use too much bandwidth. I'm using ST now (on AT&T-there's no t-mobile data signal here) but if they cut me off I'll move to the at&t prepaid plan. Here is the text from the TOS but note that in the FAQ section there's a question about whether it's permitted to download music and they say yes.

STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED TALK, TEXT AND MOBILE WEB ACCESS PLAN INTENDED USE: Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plans may ONLY be used with a Straight Talk handset for the following purposes: (i) Person to Person Voice Calls (ii) Text and Picture Messaging (iii) Internet browsing through the Straight Talk Mobile Web Service and (iv) Authorized Content Downloads from the Straight Talk Mobile Web Store. The Straight Talk Unlimited Plans MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous mobile to mobile or mobile to landline voice calls; (ii) automated text or picture messaging to another mobile device or e-mail address; (iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (iv) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (v) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses may have his/her service terminated without notice or a refund.

from the FAQs:
Can I download music, photos and videos to my phone?

Yes, depending on the specific capabilities of your device. All services may not work with every device.

 

[djedgarftw]

I'm not sure it's exactly the same though. Straight talk mentions in their TOS that they prohibit streaming of music, video, etc. So technically you could lose service if they catch you doing it. Also, they do throttle or cut service if you use too much bandwidth. I'm using ST now (on AT&T-there's no t-mobile data signal here) but if they cut me off I'll move to the at&t prepaid plan. Here is the text from the TOS but note that in the FAQ section there's a question about whether it's permitted to download music and they say yes.

STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED TALK, TEXT AND MOBILE WEB ACCESS PLAN INTENDED USE: Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plans may ONLY be used with a Straight Talk handset for the following purposes: (i) Person to Person Voice Calls (ii) Text and Picture Messaging (iii) Internet browsing through the Straight Talk Mobile Web Service and (iv) Authorized Content Downloads from the Straight Talk Mobile Web Store. The Straight Talk Unlimited Plans MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous mobile to mobile or mobile to landline voice calls; (ii) automated text or picture messaging to another mobile device or e-mail address; (iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (iv) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (v) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses may have his/her service terminated without notice or a refund.

from the FAQs:
Can I download music, photos and videos to my phone?

Yes, depending on the specific capabilities of your device. All services may not work with every device.

I do all that and if they cut me oh well going bak to at&t

 

[carmendiva]

I use my Lumia 900 on Gophone for 50 bucks a month.

 

[GiantsCheated]

Where I live in Vermont, USA, T-Mobile is not an option as there is either no data coverage at all or only 2G. In my town there is no coverage.

So my only other viable option was AT&T but since I have a second phone the name of the game with the G-NEX was cheap. So in case anyone else is interested I was able to get it activated on the (3G only) AT&T Go-Phone program and it works out to $50/month tax free for 250mins talk, unlimited text and 1GB data. Although I know there are folks that use Go-Phone and have figured out ways to get even cheaper so I'm going to research that. However, for what I needed, considering I'm on wi-fi most of the time anyway, this is perfect and the monthly price is doable.

Just thought I'd share in case anyone else was thinking of trying Go-Phone for their G-Nex as when I was looking for info on it there wasn't much out there. Even the folks at my local AT&T store didn't know or didn't think it would work.

 

[AntimonyER]

Hey Giants, I merged this with your existing thread on the subject. Thanks for understanding.

(P.S. Feel free to edit the title of your thread similar to the one I merged if you desire )

 

[gale65]

I use my Lumia 900 on Gophone for 50 bucks a month.

Are you on the limited plan (250 min, 1 gb data package) or did you get a gophone sim and swap it out?

 

[Trooper]

I believe it depends on your area, though the only choice I get from Straight Talk is AT&T.

Thanks man. I'm probably going to look into this next week.

 

[gale65]

Even though straight talk doesn't have a data signal here, they do have a talk signal so I was able to choose.

 

[squid101]

If you get at&t coverage, you get straight talk coverage... The android data map online is outdated and wrong. Why would you use gophone for $50 more & not get unlimited talk and data. Makes no sense. Your just succumbing to years of marketing. As far as at&t's network is concerned, if you're on straight talk, your on at&t... Just with no limits.

 

[GiantsCheated]

If you get at&t coverage, you get straight talk coverage... The android data map online is outdated and wrong. Why would you use gophone for $50 more & not get unlimited talk and data. Makes no sense. Your just succumbing to years of marketing. As far as at&t's network is concerned, if you're on straight talk, your on at&t... Just with no limits.

Well, it's not like I'm committed to anything other than $50... I own my G-Nex and can switch networks today if I feel like it or even use both.

So how do I know they're going to give me the AT&T coverage when I subscribe? They give you provider choice when you order?

 

[jrwaters67]

Giantscheated, I also use StraightTalk on AT&T with my GNEX. When you go to the straighttalksim website and start the order process, the first question it asks you is "Choose the Type of Phone you have". You would select the third option.."AT&T Compatible Phone".

I hope this helps.

 

[GiantsCheated]

And it uses the AT&T network so the coverage I get on AT&T Go-Phone will presumably be the same coverage I get on Straight Talk? If so, I guess I'll try it. Save $5/month but get unlimited talk and data. Even though they say no downloading or streaming games, video, music on Straight Talk; I guess I could just use it until they kick me off then go back to Go-Phone.

 

[djedgarftw]

And it uses the AT&T network so the coverage I get on AT&T Go-Phone will presumably be the same coverage I get on Straight Talk? If so, I guess I'll try it. Save $5/month but get unlimited talk and data. Even though they say no downloading or streaming games, video, music on Straight Talk; I guess I could just use it until they kick me off then go back to Go-Phone.

That's my plan and I think they slowed me down but after an hour of talking to them on the phone I'm at full speed

 

[rooob]

Use straight talk... I bought a $350 Gnex on Google & a straight talk sim card(specified for the at&t network) & it works amazing. Exactly the same coverage and data speeds you'd get with at&t. HSPA+ is almost as fast as 4g & works great. $45 a month for everything unlimited. They'll send you the sim card in the mail and you can refill your monthly charge via credit or buy a refill in any walmart store.

hey this seems a pretty cool deal.
i have couple of questions for you:
- what is the average speed you get?
- so straight talk uses ATT coverage? you have the exact same quality/coverage with your phone?

thanks for the help!

 

[djedgarftw]

hey this seems a pretty cool deal.
i have couple of questions for you:
- what is the average speed you get?
- so straight talk uses ATT coverage? you have the exact same quality/coverage with your phone?

thanks for the help!

I'm on the s3 but I get anywhere from 1-6 megs
And they do use att coverage and I get the same coverage I do with an att phone and call quality is good

 

[squid101]

Yes, I get the exact same coverage as with AT&T... In fact, straight talk is simply using the AT&T towers, so it is the same coverage and service. I almost always get HSPA+ speeds on data(because the gnex doesnt get 4g). Which is almost the same and sometimes better than 4g. I use about 3 gigs of data a month and have seen no slow down or interruption of service. Btw, setup was incredibly easy & my port only took an hour or so. Straight talk got me my sim in 2 days from when I ordered it.

 

[carmendiva]

Are you on the limited plan (250 min, 1 gb data package) or did you get a gophone sim and swap it out?

50 bucks a month unlimited talk and text