Virgin & Boost to get LTE "relatively soon"

[metsfan99]

I just saw this article on Prepaid Phone News:

Sprint Prepaid News: 98% of Virgin Mobile Phone Sales are Smartphones, LTE and PTT Coming to Prepaid | Prepaid Phone News

 

[MT Rotor]

Holy shitaki mushrooms,...

 

[SuperAfnan]

I knew it!

 

[mogelijk]

Not quite sure what to think about this, "He didn't give a date for prepaid LTE but implied that it would be relatively soon which I'm guessing means next year."

It would help to know what the context with "relatively soon" was, as it seems from that sentence that he meant "relatively soon" in a context of what might happen over the next several years.

So, my guess is still (based on the article) is that it could still easily mean next summer -- when many have thought LTE would come to VM/Boost. Or the author could be wrong and "relatively soon" could mean before Christmas.

 

[MT Rotor]

Not quite sure what to think about this, "He didn't give a date for prepaid LTE but implied that it would be relatively soon which I'm guessing means next year."

It would help to know what the context with "relatively soon" was, as it seems from that sentence that he meant "relatively soon" in a context of what might happen over the next several years.

So, my guess is still (based on the article) is that it could still easily mean next summer -- when many have thought LTE would come to VM/Boost. Or the author could be wrong and "relatively soon" could mean before Christmas.

Take it for what it is

 

[Prinny]

My guess is next year. Unless they are working on phones for VM and boost that are LTE compatible right now, Christmas seems kind of far fetched. Unless you mean Christmas 2013, then that is plausible.

 

[mogelijk]

My guess is next year. Unless they are working on phones for VM and boost that are LTE compatible right now, Christmas seems kind of far fetched. Unless you mean Christmas 2013, then that is plausible.

MacRumors posted that there is a VM version of the iPhone 5 ready to go, complete with the VM model numbers. So allegedly there is an LTE phone ready to ship.

 

[Droidula]

Dear prepaid carriers, please give me this

and this

. Much thanks.

 

[thebryceee]

S3 MAYBEEEEEE. Lumia 920? Doubtful.

 

[Droidula]

Yeah, I think I was sleep-typing. A man can dream.

 

[mogelijk]

Dear prepaid carriers, please give me this

and this

. Much thanks.

You can have the Galaxy S3 on T-Mobile or Straight Talk. The Lumia 920 you should be able to get for Straight Talk using an AT&T SIM card. That is the huge advantage that you can get with most GSM prepaid providers, you typically can use any compatible GSM phone.

 

[Droidula]

You can have the Galaxy S3 on T-Mobile or Straight Talk. The Lumia 920 you should be able to get for Straight Talk using an AT&T SIM card. That is the huge advantage that you can get with most GSM prepaid providers, you typically can use any compatible GSM phone.

I've looked into both; T-mobile would be a great option if they had more minutes. I don't need a ton of minutes, but 100 is definitely too small of an amount. Straight Talk I'm unsure of, there are a lot of mixed reviews, and I don't want to take the chance of investing a lot of money into a phone, and switching services, only to find it sub-par or be cut off for using 100 mb of data.

 

[Petrah]

I've looked into both; T-mobile would be a great option if they had more minutes. I don't need a ton of minutes, but 100 is definitely too small of an amount. Straight Talk I'm unsure of, there are a lot of mixed reviews, and I don't want to take the chance of investing a lot of money into a phone, and switching services, only to find it sub-par or be cut off for using 100 mb of data.

You can always get a Google Voice account and pay a few dollars for GrooveIP (at the Play store). Using both of those in conjunction with the other will give you free phone calls. I do this, and I think Mog does too. My billing cycle begins on the 4th of each month, and I've only used 1 of my 100 minutes.

The 30 dollar a month plan with 100 minutes gives you 5GB of data every month.

 

[mogelijk]

You can always get a Google Voice account and pay a few dollars for GrooveIP (at the Play store). Using both of those in conjunction with the other will give you free phone calls. I do this, and I think Mog does too. My billing cycle begins on the 4th of each month, and I've only used 1 of my 100 minutes.

The 30 dollar a month plan with 100 minutes gives you 5GB of data every month.

I do use GrooveIP, though I'm around WiFi enough that I only use VoIP if I'm on WiFi (unless I get close to using my minutes).

 

[Droidula]

You can always get a Google Voice account and pay a few dollars for GrooveIP (at the Play store). Using both of those in conjunction with the other will give you free phone calls. I do this, and I think Mog does too. My billing cycle begins on the 4th of each month, and I've only used 1 of my 100 minutes.

The 30 dollar a month plan with 100 minutes gives you 5GB of data every month.

I see people posting that this is the setup that they use. It sounds like a great idea, for some people. I don't want to change my number though, for one thing (to use Google Voice). I can't think of how many people I'd have to get to or accounts, doctor's offices, etc.

(Edit: Just read something in a different thread about paying to port your number to Google Voice. I was not aware I could do that. Are you able to port it back out, if need be?)

Also, do you use JuiceDefender, or something similar? I am wondering, if GrooVe IP uses the data connection, and you turn off the screen which in turn turns off your data, do calls still come through?

And in case of issues with your internet connection, it could be a problem too. For me, I'm more comfortable using a regular number and line for voice, but it definitely seems like a good choice for some.

 

[hiwatt]

I see people posting that this is the setup that they use. It sounds like a great idea, for some people. I don't want to change my number though, for one thing (to use Google Voice). I can't think of how many people I'd have to get to or accounts, doctor's offices, etc.

(Edit: Just read something in a different thread about paying to port your number to Google Voice. I was not aware I could do that. Are you able to port it back out, if need be?)

Also, do you use JuiceDefender, or something similar? I am wondering, if GrooVe IP uses the data connection, and you turn off the screen which in turn turns off your data, do calls still come through?

No, the calls come through with no problem just like it was a regular call.

 

[tcomotcom]

(Edit: Just read something in a different thread about paying to port your number to Google Voice. I was not aware I could do that. Are you able to port it back out, if need be?)

Yes, you can port your number out of GV (or any other provider) if you decide to do that.

 

[mogelijk]

I see people posting that this is the setup that they use. It sounds like a great idea, for some people. I don't want to change my number though, for one thing (to use Google Voice). I can't think of how many people I'd have to get to or accounts, doctor's offices, etc.

(Edit: Just read something in a different thread about paying to port your number to Google Voice. I was not aware I could do that. Are you able to port it back out, if need be?)

Also, do you use JuiceDefender, or something similar? I am wondering, if GrooVe IP uses the data connection, and you turn off the screen which in turn turns off your data, do calls still come through?

And in case of issues with your internet connection, it could be a problem too. For me, I'm more comfortable using a regular number and line for voice, but it definitely seems like a good choice for some.

I used JuiceDefender on my VM phone, but have not been using it since I got my Galaxy Nexus. I can't say I've missed it, at all. Standby time on the Galaxy Nexus is great. One of the advantages of HSPA+ is that you don't use more battery by leaving "4G" turned on. The big "battery hog" on the Galaxy Nexus is the screen -- most seem to get between 4 to 6 hours of life with the screen on, depending on their settings. How long the battery lasts for you depends on how much you have the screen turned on. This is the issue with having phones with large, high rez displays.

As I've said before, I use GrooveIP only when the phone is connected to WiFI. If I approach my 100 minute limit, I have the choice of turning on GrooveIP full time or there is the option of paying 10 cents per minute for extra minutes.

 

[aurora40]

I don't want to take the chance of investing a lot of money into a phone, and switching services, only to find it sub-par or be cut off for using 100 mb of data.

That's the great thing about a GSM phone. If you don't like the service, change. Unlike CMDA phones, it will work elsewhere.

T-Mobile prepaid, AT&T prepaid (ugh), Straight Talk, Red Pocket, Solavei, who knows how many others... You can take the same device to all of them. It's certainly better than investing in a VM LTE phone, only to discover LTE coverage in your area is terrible or nonexistent.

 

[Kamau]

Does GrooveIP work over 3g,or do you need to be by wifi? In other words, how does it work?

 

[mogelijk]

Does GrooveIP work over 3g,or do you need to be by wifi? In other words, how does it work?

GrooveIP works over 3G, though the free version limits you to WiFi only.

 

[septembersrain]

We're likely getting this phone called the LG Mach that'll be the first LTE device for Boost Mobile.

The SIII is being rumored for around February - April.

 

[notebooko]

We're likely getting this phone called the LG Mach that'll be the first LTE device for Boost Mobile.

The SIII is being rumored for around February - April.

Huh... SIII coming to Boost? I'm guessing Sprint is doing really well in their prepaid markets... geez...:smokingsomb:

 

[aurora40]

I'm guessing Sprint is doing really well in their prepaid markets... geez...

I wonder at what point that stops working? Two years ago, VMUSA had only a few Android phones, all somewhat middling to downright crappy. But they were cheap, service was cheap, and expectations were lower.

You bring out phones at the $300 and up range, and people are less tolerant of things like no service inside a house, or data speeds measured in Kbps, or no OS upgrades or issue patches ever.

I also have to think people will grow intolerant of the upgrade path. You bought a phone 6 months ago for $300, and now you want the latest Android OS? Well, here's a different $300 phone we just released with it. Your old phone is old news, regardless of the premium you paid, and they won't be upgrading it.

How long can that go on for, though? It seems it started with the Triumph. "Premium" phone for prepaid, but with some issues. They never address the issues, and roll out the Evo V. "Premium" phone for prepaid, but with some issues. They never address the issues, but hey, here's an SII instead. And eventually an SIII (do they already know the SII has issues??)

Data is sort of similar. Don't like Kbps data? Here's some Wimax. Oh, don't like that Wimax won't work through a wall? Here's some LTE. What happens when people realize they don't live in one of the 7 cities that have LTE? Though this is less VM's fault, and at least it is cheaper than a Sprint contract...

At some point peoples' expectations will grow past what VM is delivering. I wonder when they will stop the game of just generating interest by rolling out new devices? Or maybe their business model expects a lot of churn?

 

[thebryceee]

Expectations have to be lowered with paying $35/month