Virgin Mobile Underrated?

[EccentricGeek]

VM works great for me here in Cali so much so that I refuse to switch carriers no matter what phone they offer...it has gotten better over time and I suppose will continue to improve, phone selection definitely has!

 

[MacFett]

I would say that VMU is over rated. People cut it a break because it is $35 a month.

If we use the $79.99 Sprint plan as 100% service and since I am paying $25 a month I should have 31% service right? (There is also the 33% less minutes I have at my price level) When I leave my house, firstly my TWS is usually in the 60-70% range. When I am home on wi-fi I can't text and have to use wi-fi to use my cell.

At home I can't use my cell services, outside of my home I can't use my data services (that alone we can call 50% failure). To use my data I have to buy internet through another provider and I use it for SMS and VoIP.

I am using VMU on a hope and a prayer and paying them for that privilege.

And now most recently they tell me there is a problem with my device and they will replace it, but to do so it will raise my monthly bill $10 for their continued poor service.

I would have the same lack of service if I paid $25, 35, 45 or 55 a month.

 

[lou61166]

Whether I pay 35. or 85 for service I still expect service. I don't expect Verizon's speeds but I do expect something faster than dial up. What's hard to understand about that?

I agree but that old saying you get what you pay for applies to VM.

 

[mikeca]

I am mostly happy with the service and stunned with the price. Mostly in Fresno but some LA, OC, and east bay. Rarely without service but not the fastest data. Has gotten faster on 3g lately.

 

[riggerman0421]

I've said it before and I'll say it one last time. It's prepaid, people. If the service doesn't work in your area, you get bad or little reception or you can't get a 3g signal, then why do you keep paying for it? Switch carries and quit complaining. All carriers have areas with little to no reception. My in-laws had to buy a signal booster because their AT&T contract phones have such poor signal strength at their new house. Why should VMU be any different? I actually get excellent signal all over the area I live and work, both for cell use and 3g, so I'm loving it.

 

[MacFett]

I've said it before and I'll say it one last time. It's prepaid, people. If the service doesn't work in your area, you get bad or little reception or you can't get a 3g signal, then why do you keep paying for it? Switch carries and quit complaining.

Because I just spent $140 on a device, until I can dump it I am stuck with virgin for a bit longer. Even though there is no contact you are locked in with your device. Unlocked GSM is the way to go, but that is something we don't have a large choice of here in the states.

 

[gamikzone]

Because I just spent $140 on a device, until I can dump it I am stuck with virgin for a bit longer. Even though there is no contact you are locked in south your device. Unlocked GSM is the way to go, but that is something we don't have a large choice of here in the states.

there's straighttalk .

 

[MacFett]

there's straighttalk

Which uses AT&T and T-Mobile. Again not a lot of options.

 

[hchen42]

VM underrated in the following : good support when there's a need for replacement phone, battery. Very fast shipping. Reasonable monthly pricing. Don't cut off/throttle your data once a threshold is reached (at least I haven't).

VM over rated in the following :their claim of coverage. Living in NYC guarantees me almost superb coverage. Once I drive out to the suburbs of Long Island, New Jersey, it becomes sporadic. EXTREMELY overrated with their tech support - see OV data problem, Evo V 4G radio problem. OV data problem seem to just fixed. Official Evo V 4G radio fix is still a mystery.

 

[mogelijk]

VM underrated in the following : good support when there's a need for replacement phone, battery. Very fast shipping. Reasonable monthly pricing. Don't cut off/throttle your data once a threshold is reached (at least I haven't).

VM over rated in the following :their claim of coverage. Living in NYC guarantees me almost superb coverage. Once I drive out to the suburbs of Long Island, New Jersey, it becomes sporadic. EXTREMELY overrated with their tech support - see OV data problem, Evo V 4G radio problem. OV data problem seem to just fixed. Official Evo V 4G radio fix is still a mystery.

Actually, it is only the Evo V 4G that is not currently throttled, all the other phones are. Some people think that the Evo V is not throttled because of the 4G on the phone, they do not have the software to properly track usage on the phone properly. It is possible that the 4G will not be throttled, though it is believed 3G usage on the Evo V eventually will be.

 

[ScottColbert]

I agree but that old saying you get what you pay for applies to VM.

And that saying is a bunch of crap. If I bought a car and it suddenly stopped working doing 65 down the freeway, doesn't matter what I paid, it's unacceptable. Period.

 

[Petrah]

they do not have the software to properly track usage on the phone properly.

Where do you get this information?

 

[Petrah]

And that saying is a bunch of crap. If I bought a car and it suddenly stopped working doing 65 down the freeway, doesn't matter what I paid, it's unacceptable. Period.

I agree wholeheartedly. It is unacceptable, and those that are unhappy have options. One of the options I chose was to get another phone and move to a new carrier with better coverage.

How did I find a better carrier? I used the Carrier Coverage app and it told me what carrier was the strongest in my area. It matched up perfectly with what the article stated from PC Magazine.

How did I find such a great phone within my price range? I researched the net until my eyes bled.

 

[mogelijk]

Where do you get this information?

As I said, "Some people think..."

I've not seen anything officially but it does seem to be supported by the fact that the only phone that does not track data use, despite the fact VM officially says it should be throttled, is the one 4G phone they offer.

 

[Ranhead]

And that saying is a bunch of crap. If I bought a car and it suddenly stopped working doing 65 down the freeway, doesn't matter what I paid, it's unacceptable. Period.

I don't think this analogy works for my circumstances. For me it's more like... I bought my wife the Ferrari that she wanted from a dealership that includes a maintenance plan that is WAY cheaper than all the other dealerships. The catch is, the car only does 40mph. Fortunately for me, my wife only drives in the city where the speed limit is 25mph.

Translated ..... my wife wanted an iPhone. She works from home and uses Wi-Fi 99% of the time. (And she barely lets me touch the damn thing so who cares if it only goes 40mph.)

 

[Ranhead]

How did I find a better carrier? I used the Carrier Coverage app and it told me what carrier was the strongest in my area.

Cool app .... It confirmed my 3G at home. Now I need to do some testing abroad.

 

[Petrah]

As I said, "Some people think..."

Ah, the way you worded it didn't include that bit ("and" after the comma was excluded).

Sorry, I misunderstood.

 

[Petrah]

Cool app .... It confirmed my 3G at home. Now I need to do some testing abroad.

If you mean outside of the US, it's not supported.

 

[Ranhead]

If you mean outside of the US, it's not supported.

Yeah ..... I was just being liberal with my wording. I meant while traveling around South Jersey, where data can be very crappy.

 

[Kamau]

When the service is good, it's great. But when it's so-so, it's the bottom of the food chain.
My advice to anyone is to not go by the coverage maps, but ask around. I made that mistake, and have regretted it ever since.

 

[hchen42]

When the service is good, it's great. But when it's so-so, it's the bottom of the food chain.
My advice to anyone is to not go by the coverage maps, but ask around. I made that mistake, and have regretted it ever since.

Totally agree, and given you can buy a VM phone at Radio Shack, Target, Wal-mart where they have great return policy, I'd purchase a phone and test out the signal at the places you frequent. With TMO, if you don't subscribe, your phone won't show any signal. With VM it'll show the signal strength even if you don't subscribe to the service right away.

 

[mogelijk]

Totally agree, and given you can buy a VM phone at Radio Shack, Target, Wal-mart where they have great return policy, I'd purchase a phone and test out the signal at the places you frequent. With TMO, if you don't subscribe, your phone won't show any signal. With VM it'll show the signal strength even if you don't subscribe to the service right away.

I don't believe that is true with T-Mobile. I think what is confusing you is that you have to have a SIM card in the T-Mobile phone (or any GSM phone) in order to see the signal but the SIM does not need to be activated.

This merely has to do with the difference between CDMA and GSM phones. CDMA phones come "pre-programmed" for the carrier who you will use it with, GSM phones need the SIM card for the phone to know what network to use.

 

[swerver32]

I'd say they are fairly accurately rated. I don't hear many people raving about them. I'd say I hear more people dogging them than cheering them, based on poor coverage. If you are in an area with good coverage and don't travel a lot, it can be a great deal. That's the boat I'm in. If I traveled for business I would pony up for better coverage. It's just not worth it to me to pay double for a standard contract style arrangement, for the few times a year it would be worthwhile. I do travel a fair bit for leisure but I can live with a dead spot here and there while driving somewhere.

Again, it would be nice to have complete coverage anywhere all the time, but it's not worth double the monthly cost to me. Am in wifi most of the time anyway, so I wanted good phones and small monthly fees, vm is perfect for me. For now. Tmo has some interesting options but they don't quite work for me (not enough minutes on the $30 plan) but I can see how it's a good fit for others. I'm pretty happy with the evo, will probably ride it for a while. I think the landscape will be quite different the next time I'm shopping for a phone, so I can't say that I would definitely stick with vm next time, I'll evaluate then and see. But overrated? Nah.

Edit: duh I read the thread title backwards, nevermind

 

[hchen42]

I don't believe that is true with T-Mobile. I think what is confusing you is that you have to have a SIM card in the T-Mobile phone (or any GSM phone) in order to see the signal but the SIM does not need to be activated.

This merely has to do with the difference between CDMA and GSM phones. CDMA phones come "pre-programmed" for the carrier who you will use it with, GSM phones need the SIM card for the phone to know what network to use.

Based on my experience:
When I switched to TMo back in 2006, my phone shows no signal after Tmo rep inserted the SIM. He said wait a few hours, once you see "signal", that means your phone is activated. Phone was a Sony Ericsson W800. For about 1 hour, no signal. Then the signal showed up.

Fast forward to 2011. When I switched from TMo to VM, within 20 minutes of transferring the account, signal disappeared on my phone (Nokia 6301).

Of course, it could also just happen that these two particular phones "turn off" the signal if the account is not active.

 

[mogelijk]

Based on my experience:
When I switched to TMo back in 2006, my phone shows no signal after Tmo rep inserted the SIM. He said wait a few hours, once you see "signal", that means your phone is activated. Phone was a Sony Ericsson W800. For about 1 hour, no signal. Then the signal showed up.

Fast forward to 2011. When I switched from TMo to VM, within 20 minutes of transferring the account, signal disappeared on my phone (Nokia 6301).

Of course, it could also just happen that these two particular phones "turn off" the signal if the account is not active.

You made me curious and I realized that I had an unused T-Mobile activation kit here so I thought I'd test. I turned my phone off, removed the SIM, put in the unused SIM and booted. Once it was up, I showed 4 gray bars of signal. When I checked in settings, it showed the phone number as "unknown".

The FCC requires mobile carriers to transmit 911 calls from cell phones, regardless of if the cell phone is connected to an account. In fact, there are groups that collect unused cell phones (such as Volunteer Guide) to give to the elderly or women's shelters, allowing those people to call 911 in an emergency when they are out.