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TMobile Dilemma

Hello, community -

I've been a customer with TMobile for over 8 years or so. Well, Technically TMobile bought out my old company Suncom back in 07. I've never switched a thing.

I have never upgraded my phone, I usually get phones from friends and family the hand-me-downs. I've only once upgraded my plan once which required a contract extension.

As of now I am not under any contractual obligations for over 3 years.

I want to upgrade my phone to an Android device. (SmartPhone)

Problems is I am cheap customer, I pay my bill on time every month and never go over my plan.

I roughly pay $56 a monthly which included 500 minutes and unlimited text. I barely go over 200 minutes a month and probably a few hundred texts.

Every time I go into my TMobile page, and look at the upgrade options I can never find a decent price. Sure all new customers get the latest and greatest for practically free and I'm almost a ten year customer and can't catch a break.

So I'm thinking to look for a used Android device, maybe here, and switch from being a billed customer to a pay as you go. Why? Well if I get a new phone they all require a DATA package and such a package will bring me close to $80 a month.

So the $30 or $50 prepaid packages sounds like a better deal to me, then signing up for a new plan, having to pay for decent device ($150-$200) and then paying more per month.

See the problem? I suspect if I can get a phone with WiFi and do WiFi calling the $30 prepaid option with 100 minutes is enough for me.

What do you guys think? Recommendations? Feedback? All is welcome.


Best regards,

Trek



PS >>> This was suppose to go into a new thread, reporting now.
 
See the problem? I suspect if I can get a phone with WiFi and do WiFi calling the $30 prepaid option with 100 minutes is enough for me.

I'm a cheapskate and this is the option I use.

I just bought a used GNex at a great price. I use Google Voice w/GrooveIP and don't even use my minutes at all.

If it wasn't for the $30 ppd plan, I don't know what I would be using.
 
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I'm a cheapskate and this is the option I use.

I just bought a used GNex at a great price. I use Google Voice w/GrooveIP and don't even use my minutes at all.

If it wasn't for the $30 ppd plan, I don't know what I would be using.

I read something about Google Voice. The app is like $5 and then its always free WiFi calling? People can call me and I can call them. I just need to make an account through my Gmail?

What's a GNex and how much could I expect to pay for that?
 
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I read something about Google Voice. The app is like $5 and then its always free WiFi calling? People can call me and I can call them. I just need to make an account through my Gmail?

What's a GNex and how much could I expect to pay for that?

Google Voice is free, the problem is that it doesn't directly support WiFi calling. Instead, you use a second program, such as GrooveIP, which adds WiFi calling to Google Voice. There is a free version of GrooveIP, but it only supports calling over WiFi; the paid version of GrooveIP is $4.99 and will support WiFi calling over a data connection.
 
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for the $30/month plan with 100 minutes, you pay 10c/min over the 100 minutes. So, for your usage, if you just pay for the additional minutes, it's another $20/month, end up around $50/month. Still cheaper than your current plan and you got 5GB of 4G data. And don't have to bother with VOIP... just another thought. :)
 
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for the $30/month plan with 100 minutes, you pay 10c/min over the 100 minutes. So, for your usage, if you just pay for the additional minutes, it's another $20/month, end up around $50/month. Still cheaper than your current plan and you got 5GB of 4G data. And don't have to bother with VOIP... just another thought. :)

this is the plan i have never use my minutes just use groove ip plus the pins on ebay are cheap i just get 2 $50 pins for the wife and me so ill be paying nothing next month with the credit
 
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I used Groove IP since it was released, works ok as long as you have a good signal. For the past month or so I've been using the free Magic Jack app and find that it has better audio quality on wifi compared to Groove, callers hear me fine without echo and on my end they actually sound better than the network.
 
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Yep, I've decided this is the route to go. TMobile only looks after new accounts, screw its old customers.


That couldn't be any more wrong. Call T-Mobile, when it asks what you want say "cancel service". That will get you to the retention department who will give huge discounts on phones and data plans to long time customers. Old customers usually can get much better deals than even new customers can get.
 
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That couldn't be any more wrong. Call T-Mobile, when it asks what you want say "cancel service". That will get you to the retention department who will give huge discounts on phones and data plans to long time customers. Old customers usually can get much better deals than even new customers can get.


I spoken to them a hand full of times and never receive any real deals. They want to charge me up front then give me discounts for a phone. I had a phone call just a week ago, the best offer they could give me was LG Optimus L9 for $150 then give me a credit for $50 and another $50 service credit. But I still have to pay for a DATA plan, another $20, so my bill will be near $80 a month.


I can do the $30 plan setup the WiFi calling and be better off.


So another question for folks here. If I purchase this phone from HSN do I need to purchase a SIM card kit from Walmart or TMobile in order to setup the new plan.

Code:
http://www.hsn.com/electronics/samsung-android-no-contract-4g-smartphone-with-t-mobile-service_p-6887238_xp.aspx
 
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I spoken to them a hand full of times and never receive any real deals. They want to charge me up front then give me discounts for a phone. I had a phone call just a week ago, the best offer they could give me was LG Optimus L9 for $150 then give me a credit for $50 and another $50 service credit. But I still have to pay for a DATA plan, another $20, so my bill will be near $80 a month.


I can do the $30 plan setup the WiFi calling and be better off.


So another question for folks here. If I purchase this phone from HSN do I need to purchase a SIM card kit from Walmart or TMobile in order to setup the new plan.

Code:
http://www.hsn.com/electronics/samsung-android-no-contract-4g-smartphone-with-t-mobile-service_p-6887238_xp.aspx


And to add, that LG phone was 100% free from NewEgg as an upgrade option without hassles of "discounts". That was two days ago, now its back to $49.99 free next day shipping. Still sounds like a better deal than their retention department.

But I'm not looking to increase my plan by like $20 just so they get more $$ and for services that I don't need.
 
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Yep, I've decided this is the route to go. TMobile only looks after new accounts, screw its old customers. So I'll get me the the Exhibit and buy one of those cards @ Walmart

What deals are there that work for new customers that you are not allowed to take advantage of?

Also, as you sound pretty pissed already, I would not get the Exhibit. You're just gonna be more angry. Get something with ICS at a minimum, dual cores or better if possible. It will be a much more enjoyable experience.
 
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