T-Mobile prepaid vs. contract?? - Page 2

mogelijk · February 13th, 2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong67

On the prepaid plan, does the $30 or $50 you put in, does it expire after 90 days?

I know with pay as you go, for $100 it is good for up to 1 yr and you get gold status.

Does it apply in Prepaid plan like the monthly $30, $50, $60 or $70 plan?

The Monthly Prepaid Plan is just that, monthly. You have to pay the $30 every month to continue to have service, there is no option to pay more and have the plan last longer. If you go over your $100 minutes with the plan, additional minutes are charged at 10 cents a minute (so long as you have money in your account to cover the cost of those minutes). If you put $100 in your account, they will just use it to pay for 3 months of service, taking $30 out every 30 days (provided you don't otherwise spend the money, such as on extra minutes).

The plans you are talking about vary the number of minutes and the time you have to use those minutes based on the size of the refill card you buy. For example, with the T-Mobile Pay As You Go, if you pay between $10-50, the minutes you buy will last 90 days, and if you buy the $100 card the minutes will last for one year. The disadvantage to this is that when you run out of minutes, unlike on the Monthly Plan, you have to purchase a new plan, no matter how much or your 90 days (or 1 year) that you have left. Your plan starts over, based on the amount of the card used. Even if your minutes had lasted one year previously, if you don't use the $100 card then your minutes will only last 90 days. Also, T-Mobile does not offer this type of plan for data -- all the data plans are Monthly.

Hope this helps.

chong67 · February 13th, 2013, 12:10 PM

Yes now I am clear.

For the $100 pay as u go for 1 year, bc you are already in gold status, if you have alot of mins left, you can just pay $10 the next year. So for $110 it last you 2 years.

For my monthly plan, yesterday I got a $50 for $35. Good deal ant it? So this monthly type, the balance will never expire until it is needed.

Arrowslinger · February 15th, 2013, 11:54 AM

I just went from pre paid 85 a month (unlimited everything + hot spot) with a Prism (cheap phone) to the same plan contract and a Galaxy S 2 seven dollars a month cheaper. The only thing I have noticed is the Galaxy contract phone seems to roam a lot (att network) which when doing this the mobile hot spot does not work. I only use it at work but if it does that at work today I will be cancelling that.

thebryceee · March 12th, 2013, 12:27 PM

Just noticed there's a separate coverage map for prepaid/monthly 4G subscribers. On the regular T-Mobile postpaid service, there's excellent coverage at my place. Switching over to the prepaid map, it says very good instead of excellent.

Crashdamage · March 12th, 2013, 03:35 PM

It's not just coverage areas that are better for postpaid vs prepaid. Postpaid also gets voice and data connection priority over prepaid. Just because a 3rd-party reseller says they use such-and-such network doesn't mean they offer full and equal access to it. This applies to all carriers and 3rd-party resellers, not just T-Mobile.

There are many reasons why service from resellers like Straight Talk, Solavei, etc. is inferior. That's why they're cheaper.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

chong67 · March 12th, 2013, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebryceee

Just noticed there's a separate coverage map for prepaid/monthly 4G subscribers. On the regular T-Mobile postpaid service, there's excellent coverage at my place. Switching over to the prepaid map, it says very good instead of excellent.

Good vs excellent is like how many percent?

How can I see this in action that I have a lower tier of speed vs the Tmo postpaid user at the same location?

runtmms · March 12th, 2013, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong67

How can I see this in action that I have a lower tier of speed vs the Tmo postpaid user at the same location?

It's not postpaid vs prepaid. This from the fine print on the T-Mobile site.

"Data traffic of Premium and Ultra plans will be prioritized over other currently offered plans during period of congestion."

This fine print appears on the postpaid value plans page as well as the prepaid.

Fuzzy13 · March 16th, 2013, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashdamage

It's not just coverage areas that are better for postpaid vs prepaid. Postpaid also gets voice and data connection priority over prepaid. Just because a 3rd-party reseller says they use such-and-such network doesn't mean they offer full and equal access to it. This applies to all carriers and 3rd-party resellers, not just T-Mobile.

There are many reasons why service from resellers like Straight Talk, Solavei, etc. is inferior. That's why they're cheaper.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

I do agree that post customers get priority on the network over other users. But after doing a full comparison between post paid and pre paid through T mobile and compared it to Straight Talk with T mobile SIM, everything is the same. Straight Talk gets all the same features and exactly the same speeds. I guess from them using the towers this is what you would expect. I myself wasn't sure before I did the comparison for myself to see first hand. I assumed that Straight Talk some how throttled down data speeds but that isn't the case at all.

I will use Straight Talk with a T mobile sim for as long as they offer it. I pay $40 a month and I get 25Mbps. I couldn't ask for anything better for that price. But if I was ever to go post paid, T mobile would be the company. But being that they are going strictly pre paid I guess that will never happen.

Crashdamage · March 16th, 2013, 05:59 PM

T-Mobile is definitely NOT going prepaid only. They will still offer postpaid Value Plans.

Prepaid and postpaid service is NOT the same, particularly if you go with a 3rd-party reseller such as Straight Talk or Solavei. Reread my previous post carefully. I stand by what I said before 100%

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

chong67 · March 16th, 2013, 10:26 PM

One said prepaid and postpaid the same and one say not.

Which is which? :-)

If I have Tmo prepaid, the only difference for me is that I get no data roaming right? Everything else is the same?

SuperAfnan · March 17th, 2013, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong67

One said prepaid and postpaid the same and one say not.

Which is which? :-)

If I have Tmo prepaid, the only difference for me is that I get no data roaming right? Everything else is the same?

Like crashdamage said, prepaid and postpaid are not the same. I also agree because virgin mobile is the same story with basically sprint prepaid, and while they get it cheaper, they get a low priority.

It is also pretty obvious they are different because you get what you pay for, and people pay more for postpaid so they will get better service. (even though prepaid is excellent compared to terrible sprint/virgin, which I used to have).

And yes, for prepaid in T-Mobile, we don't get data roaming but we do get voice and message roaming.

runtmms · March 17th, 2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runtmms

"Data traffic of Premium and Ultra plans will be prioritized over other currently offered plans during period of congestion."

Once again, the above is a direct quote from the T-Mobile website. I've looked and can find no disclosure about prepaid having different priority than the contract plans other than Premium and Ultra plans. Why do so many people assume the network priority is different than what T-Mobile discloses in their fine print?

The contract plans do have varying additional features the prepaid plans don't. For example they have broader roaming agreements, data roaming(3g), subsidized phones(some), conditional call forwarding. These are all reasons why you might pay more to be on contract. But unless you're on a Premium or Ultra plan I think you're kidding yourself if you think your network priority is different than the prepaid plans. If I'm wrong - point me toward an actual T-Mobile disclosure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperAfnan

And yes, for prepaid in T-Mobile, we don't get data roaming but we do get voice and message roaming.

As an FYI Solavei has 2g data roaming in those areas T-Mobile only voice and message roaming.

Crashdamage · March 17th, 2013, 10:01 AM

You misunderstood the T-Mobile statement. It actually means that Premium and Ultra plan members get priority over Classic Plan, Value Plan and T-Mobile prepaid customers. But there's so few of those it's basically a moot point.

3rd-party reseller customers such as Straight Talk or Solavei get lower network priority than any T-Mobile customers, pre or postpaid. As long as network traffic is light that's OK. But when it gets busy or if like me you depend on your phone for business or other critical use it can be a *huge* deal.

Again, this is true of all providers, not just T-Mobile.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

runtmms · March 17th, 2013, 10:42 AM

I've asked this specific question of Solavei, and I did my best to push it up the food chain. Their response was that with their agreement with T-Mobile, Solavei customers receive the same priority as T-Mobile's. I guess it's up to each of us to decide who to believe. I don't pretend to have inside information - I've just tried to get a real answer to the question.

Most people in this thread are concerned about how prepaid service from T-Mobile proper compares to contract plans. From what I've found network priority appears to be the same except for Premium and Ultra plans.

Crashdamage · March 17th, 2013, 11:13 AM

I do have inside info. I can say with absolute certainty that whoever you talked to at Solavei was either misinformed or just lying. ALL T-Mobile customers get network priority over 3rd party.

T-Mobile postpaid also gets priority over T-Mobile prepaid. However, this probably is very rarely a factor in practice.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

runtmms · March 17th, 2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashdamage

I do have inside info. I can say with absolute certainty that whoever you talked to at Solavei was either misinformed or just lying. ALL T-Mobile customers get network priority over 3rd party.

T-Mobile postpaid also gets priority over T-Mobile prepaid. However, this probably is very rarely a factor in practice.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

Can you give a source for any of these blanket statements you make?

Crashdamage · March 17th, 2013, 12:14 PM

Can't give details in a public forum, but...

My brother in law has run a cellphone tower construction company for 15 years. They build towers for all carriers all over the country.

I also live near the Sprint headquarters in KC and know a couple of people fairly high in the Sprint foodchain. I would *never* use Sprint.

Between the two you learn a lot.

Been with T-Mobile 16 years.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

runtmms · March 17th, 2013, 12:52 PM

Once again it all comes back to what source you're going to believe. I started with Solavei flunkies and pressed until I got a response from a founding member. I got consistent answers from everyone. I have trouble believing they are all lying or misinformed.

For me, it's really a moot point. I have no problems with my service and no complaints.

chong67 · March 17th, 2013, 01:03 PM

The only way to find out is to have a Tmo prepaid and postpaid with both phones side by side and do the speedtest at the same time a few times. But we cant know when the celltower are max out.

Crashdamage · March 17th, 2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong67

The only way to find out is to have a Tmo prepaid and postpaid with both phones side by side and do the speedtest at the same time a few times. But we cant know when the celltower are max out.

To see a difference you would have to test during heavy network traffic. If traffic is light there would be no difference because priorities would not be active.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

chong67 · March 17th, 2013, 06:02 PM

What it means, if you want to do something u like, do it now so u can be grandfather in.

new optimus · March 21st, 2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperAfnan

Like crashdamage said, prepaid and postpaid are not the same. I also agree because virgin mobile is the same story with basically sprint prepaid, and while they get it cheaper, they get a low priority.

It is also pretty obvious they are different because you get what you pay for, and people pay more for postpaid so they will get better service. (even though prepaid is excellent compared to terrible sprint/virgin, which I used to have).

And yes, for prepaid in T-Mobile, we don't get data roaming but we do get voice and message roaming.

I have used boost mobile, but with the cdma phone the network towers and priority are partly dependent on the PRL I put sprints corp prl on the phone and dont worry about it much.
I dont know how gsm phones handle it, possibly via info on the sim card itself.

SuperAfnan · March 21st, 2013, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new optimus

I have used boost mobile, but with the cdma phone the network towers and priority are partly dependent on the PRL I put sprints corp prl on the phone and dont worry about it much.
I dont know how gsm phones handle it, possibly via info on the sim card itself.

Even if you change the prl you will still be marked as a boost customer. It won't change the priority of the phone. It would still be user@boostmobilesprintpcs.com or something.

new optimus · March 22nd, 2013, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperAfnan

Even if you change the prl you will still be marked as a boost customer. It won't change the priority of the phone. It would still be user@boostmobilesprintpcs.com or something.

very true, but using the sprint prl will give you more towers (depending on location) and thus you could connect to a less busy tower.

NeXuS4 · March 23rd, 2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong67

One said prepaid and postpaid the same and one say not.

Which is which? :-)

If I have Tmo prepaid, the only difference for me is that I get no data roaming right? Everything else is the same?

Also contract users get priority data in highly congested areas, other than that you are correct sir.

jhawkkw · March 23rd, 2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeXuS4

Also contract users get priority data in highly congested areas, other than that you are correct sir.

I'm not sure about t mobile in particular, but generally on prepaid if you hit a limit on something, it's cut off. On postpaid, they charge you for overages.

SuperAfnan · March 23rd, 2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhawkkw

I'm not sure about t mobile in particular, but generally on prepaid if you hit a limit on something, it's cut off. On postpaid, they charge you for overages.

Correct!

That's another fear of postpaid. Imagine your child watching Gangnam Style 50 times on 3g and getting a 699$ phone bill. :what:

jhawkkw · March 23rd, 2013, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperAfnan

Correct!

That's another fear of postpaid. Imagine your child watching Gangnam Style 50 times on 3g and getting a 699$ phone bill. :what:

Indeed, it's a curse and a blessing at the same time. You don't want to rack up major overages, but you'd like it to be available in case you REALLY need it.

Crashdamage · March 23rd, 2013, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperAfnan

Correct!

That's another fear of postpaid. Imagine your child watching Gangnam Style 50 times on 3g and getting a 699$ phone bill. :what:

No, completely false. On T-Mobile postpaid plans data is actually unlimited and there are *never* overage charges. You are only throttled when you reach your data allotment.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

jhawkkw · March 23rd, 2013, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashdamage

No, completely false. On T-Mobile postpaid plans data is actually unlimited and there are *never* overage charges. You are only throttled when you reach your data allotment.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

Yep, unlike some carriers

SuperAfnan · March 23rd, 2013, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashdamage

No, completely false. On T-Mobile postpaid plans data is actually unlimited and there are *never* overage charges. You are only throttled when you reach your data allotment.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhawkkw

Yep, unlike some carriers

Oopsies I meant Verizon as the example but didn't say. (doh!)

T-mobile just throttles, Verizon makes you bend over.

greenghost2212 · March 24th, 2013, 09:39 AM

Haha well me and my sprint Gnex hits 25mb in Chicago and I'm unlimited.

kingdeeray · March 24th, 2013, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenghost2212

Haha well me and my sprint Gnex hits 25mb in Chicago and I'm unlimited.

I'm jealous. I'm on T-Mobile with a nexus 4. I hit about 15 mb down on a good day. Does chitown have the sprint lte rollout

Sent from my Nexus 4

Rxpert83 · March 24th, 2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingdeeray

I'm jealous. I'm on T-Mobile with a nexus 4. I hit about 15 mb down on a good day. Does chitown have the sprint lte rollout

Sent from my Nexus 4

Yep, its in Chicago and its creeping its way into minneapolis. about a block away from my living room

greenghost2212 · March 24th, 2013, 10:19 AM

Yeah now about almost all of Chicagoland including the burbs has lte including Indiana and as the poster above said Minneapolis. U can check for updates on s4gru.com.

greenghost2212 · March 24th, 2013, 10:47 AM

Proof