Best Alternative to LG Optimus Elite on $25.00 Plan

[jamoosh]

Hi Forum,
I've had the Elite since September and like the phone except for some major data connectivity issues specific to the phone (see threads in Elite forums). I am considering ditching the Optimus Elite and getting a Slider or Chaser, to--hopefully--remedy my data issues. Coming from the OE, will my experience by unsatisfactory? What is the next best phone I could get in order to not lose the $25.00 plan?

Thanks in advance.

 

[keisukehonda]

To be perfectly honest it probably is the Motorola Triumph. Sure there are a lot of people who are going to complain about various aspects of the phone, but the hardware itself isn't that bad. The 4.1" screen is still adequate in today's world where 4.7" is the norm for new high end phones. Processor and memory can handle what I throw at it (I can play NFS Most Wanted with occasional stutters.) If you check the forums a lot of people will complain about the fact that it never received an update, but if you are the rooting type (and if you're on this forum I assume you are), the phone is extremely easy to root and CM7 runs great on this device; there's also CM9 if you're okay with a partially working camera. After owning the phone for a year, the main concern I have are some of the phone's defects, such as the charging port no longer working, but there are workarounds to these as well. Considering the price you can probably pick up a Triumph for nowadays, I'd say the Triumph is your best bet.

 

[jamoosh]

Thank you for your response. I will have to consider this phone. The Elite, although I like it quite a bit, is almost impossible to use due to the data issues.

 

[Deleted User]

All I can tell you is to join republic wireless, seeing you are very interested in high end phones.

 

[keisukehonda]

All I can tell you is to join republic wireless, seeing you are very interested in high end phones.

Doesn't Republic Wireless only have one phone, the Motorola Defy XT?

 

[jamoosh]

Correct.

 

[jamoosh]

Would I be enormously disappointed going from Optimus elite to Optimus V? Price is a consideration as well.

 

[aml1025]

Would I be enormously disappointed going from Optimus elite to Optimus V? Price is a consideration as well.

Yes, you would. Think of the OV as the Elite's precursor. Smaller screen, minimal memory.

 

[SuperAfnan]

Would I be enormously disappointed going from Optimus elite to Optimus V? Price is a consideration as well.

Yes, don't get an ov. It's way too out of date now

 

[jamoosh]

What about the Slider? Same story? My needs are fairly modest. Texting and email mostly and wifi tether on occasion..

 

[350X]

OV is great if you get good data speed in your area and need a mobile hotspot. only reason I have kept my OV, easier wifi on the go.

 

[jamoosh]

I think it would probably be worth it to settle for a slower phone in exchange for dependable data.

OV is great if you get good data speed in your area and need a mobile hotspot. only reason I have kept my OV, easier wifi on the go.

 

[350X]

Yep, very dependable data, and no root wifi is what keeps it around. It also broadcast very far, it can be in the house 70ft away and I still get enough signal in the work shop on my tablet. [no high speed zone, my OV wifi is my only high speed]

 

[jamoosh]

That's really quite cool. I may very well downgrade to the Optimus V.
Thanks for sharing your experience.

Yep, very dependable data, and no root wifi is what keeps it around. It also broadcast very far, it can be in the house 70ft away and I still get enough signal in the work shop on my tablet. [no high speed zone, my OV wifi is my only high speed]

 

[vmforlife]

Only esrly versions of the op 5 have hotspot capability.

This was blocked soon after the phone was introduced.

 

[jamoosh]

Thanks for this information, this is good to know.
However, regardless, if rooted, I could run Barnacle tether or some such thing anyway, right?

Only esrly versions of the op 5 have hotspot capability.

This was blocked soon after the phone was introduced.

 

[keisukehonda]

Thanks for this information, this is good to know.
However, regardless, if rooted, I could run Barnacle tether or some such thing anyway, right?

Yep.

 

[jamoosh]

Okay, cool. Then it's not an issue, really.

Yep.

 

[vmforlife]

Just got off phone with VM. My Op Elite has no data. Tried everything but can not fix it. VM told me it needs to be replaced and that no matter what I would lose the $25 plan even if I got another Elite. They said ANY phone change from this point on triggers the $35 new plan. NO MATTER WHAT OR WHY YOU ARE CHANGING PHONES.

OH well. It could not last forever.

 

[jamoosh]

Man, what? I wonder if that's true..
You never know for sure with CS...

Just got off phone with VM. My Op Elite has no data. Tried everything but can not fix it. VM told me it needs to be replaced and that no matter what I would lose the $25 plan even if I got another Elite. They said ANY phone change from this point on triggers the $35 new plan. NO MATTER WHAT OR WHY YOU ARE CHANGING PHONES.

OH well. It could not last forever.

 

[vmforlife]

I had the CS rep refer to a supervisor. The supervisor confirmed that ANY phone change from now on triggers the loss of the $25 plan.

Luckily just today my data started to work again. I believe my entire month had to cycle and reset for data to reset as well. My new month started today and my data suddenly is now working.

I spent hours on the phone with CS trying to reset data service and was finally told I had to replace my handset and that this meant a $35 charge a sthe old grandfatheres $25 plan was tied to my phone and my phone only from now on.

YOU MAY GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER FROM ANOTHER CS REP OR SUPERVISOR. They were pretty firm with me. I TOLD THEM I HAD BOUGHT A 2 Year replacement warranty from Walmart when i bought the phone and would replace it with the exact phone. They said so sad too bad but any phone change triggered the end of my $25 plan. No matter the reason or circumstances or type od phone.

Hopefully my LG optimis elite will now last a while since data is finally working.

 

[aml1025]

I had the CS rep refer to a supervisor. The supervisor confirmed that ANY phone change from now on triggers the loss of the $25 plan.

Luckily just today my data started to work again. I believe my entire month had to cycle and reset for data to reset as well. My new month started today and my data suddenly is now working.

I spent hours on the phone with CS trying to reset data service and was finally told I had to replace my handset and that this meant a $35 charge a sthe old grandfatheres $25 plan was tied to my phone and my phone only from now on.

YOU MAY GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER FROM ANOTHER CS REP OR SUPERVISOR. They were pretty firm with me. I TOLD THEM I HAD BOUGHT A 2 Year replacement warranty from Walmart when i bought the phone and would replace it with the exact phone. They said so sad too bad but any phone change triggered the end of my $25 plan. No matter the reason or circumstances or type od phone.

Hopefully my LG optimis elite will now last a while since data is finally working.

Customer service reps have been saying this since last year. Nothing official has been released, and the FAQ on the website still lists phones that will allow you to keep the $25 plan. Unfortunately, most of them are now discontinued, but they are available elsewhere.

My guess is that it may no longer be possible to put an Elite on a $25 plan without triggering a plan change, thanks to the system updates. It was a nice bonus that lasted for the better part of a year, much longer than Virgin Mobile intended.

As for any phone swap causing loss of the $25 plan... I'll wait for an official notification.

 

[vmforlife]

I would think any change to your plan would prompt a CS rep to say that said change will trigger the end of the now long gone $25 plan. I was going to try and port a number over from T-mo but don't want to deal with CS tellingme it will end my $25 plan.

From a VM perspective, im sure they would like to end all grandfathered plans and migrate everyone to current plans.

 

[350X]

CS read from scripts, what the script says and what really happens can always vary. These are peple paid $2.50 an hr in India to answer phones in a call center, that answers phones for 300 companies, one min the person is talking to you about virgin mobile, is now talking to another about their home loan from BOA...........

handle your account online, you don't need them.

 

[vmforlife]

Actually, the CS reps I get are from the Philippines.

Unfortunately, there are going to be issues with any MVNO that is budget minded. I do use H2o wireless as a backup and actually got Americans on the line. I was amazed.

I'm not sure we can do everything online, but the more the better.