Switch from T-Mobile to Virgin

[spinsheet]

I currently have the 'All You Can Eat' plan with T-Mobile, unlimited talk for two phones for $90 plus Android Web for one phone for $30. I currently use only about 250 minutes of talk and about 100 MB of data per month. I've also added the $25 per month unlimited texting plan since my wife and I text a lot.

Since I am paying so much and am such a light user I was thinking of switching to Virgin Mobile's $25/month plan for Unlimited data and 300 minutes of talk with the Samsung Intercept. I have no experience with Virgin Mobile and I do like my experience with T-Mobile. How do people here like Virgin? How do they compare with T-Mobile? How does the Samsung Intercept compare to the G1?

 

[lou61166]

I currently have the 'All You Can Eat' plan with T-Mobile, unlimited talk for two phones for $90 plus Android Web for one phone for $30. I currently use only about 250 minutes of talk and about 100 MB of data per month. I've also added the $25 per month unlimited texting plan since my wife and I text a lot.

Since I am paying so much and am such a light user I was thinking of switching to Virgin Mobile's $25/month plan for Unlimited data and 300 minutes of talk with the Samsung Intercept. I have no experience with Virgin Mobile and I do like my experience with T-Mobile. How do people here like Virgin? How do they compare with T-Mobile? How does the Samsung Intercept compare to the G1?

To be honest where i live everything works good never had any call or text issues,the data is good but could be faster,as for the Intercept where it has the slide out keyboard,it is not a good phone in terms of performance,if you can get used to a virtual keyboard the LG Optimus V is by far a better Android phone and a better value,but this is only an opinion.do not hesitate the 25 dollar plan is going up to 35 this month.

 

[spinsheet]

That was very informative, thanks. I would never have even considered the Optimus as I really was hooked on a physical keyboard but after looking at the reviews of the two phones I see that they are not even close. The Optimus seems to actually be a quality phone while not many have good to say about the Intercept.

I might just have to adjust to no keyboard.

 

[insertusername]

As you may know, Virgin Mobile works off of Sprint's network - so if you have good Sprint service, you'll get good VM service.

Some people say that they tend to have data problems or billing problems at the end of the month so they need to call Virgin Mobile to work it out, but it's not really that big of a deal.

Personally, I would advise you to stay away from the Intercept and go with the Optimus V. Actually, in about a week, they're going to have a new phone, the Motorola Triumph, BUT, the rate plans will go up from $25 to $35 a month. So, if you would rather stick with the cheaper plan, you need to buy your phone ASAP. Not to mention, the Optimus V is only $150 right now, whereas the Triumph will be about $299 (upon release).

As for activation, you just need to order the phone or buy it in store ... and then activate it online. It'll take you through the process and you should be up and running in no time.

 

[BeTrue]

I have the Intercept, wife has the optimus.

I bought the intercept because I also wanted a physical keyboard. The Android on-screen keyboard is so good that I NEVER use the slide out keyboard.

Save yourself and do not buy the overpriced crappy intercept. I have trouble with it daily. Some times it takes numerous battery pulls to get it to complete the boot process.

The specs for the optimus say it is slower, but since it is a lots better chipset, it actually works faster. (intercept can't even handle live wallpapers!)

The wife's optimus v is worlds above the intercept. She (and I) love it. Personally, I'm planning on getting the Triumph. But at half the price, the Optimus is a great phone.

 

[AirCatHeavy]

Spinsheet,

I was facing the same dilemma. I was with T-mobile but every month when the $80+ billing came due and I look at my usage, it just wasn't adding up for me.

So while I still had T-Mobile, I bought two VM phones, an Intercept and an Optimus V) and I put one on the $25/mo plan and the other onthe $40/mo plan.

Where I live, the T-Mobile service was slightly better. Meaning slightly more reliable and consistent. However, I have since cancelled my T-Mobile service and find VM is more than adequate for me. I have not traveled with the VM phones yet but I do know that T-Mobile had excellent over the road coverage.

VM seems to me a bit rough on the edges compared to the more expensive national carriers but the price difference more than compensates and I can get what I need from the phone a guesstimated 95% of the time? Maybe better than that.

As far as the two phones, I have to break camp.
I find I like using the Intercept a bit more than the Optimus V.
The onscreen keyboard is no match for the real thing (IMO).

I also like the button layout on the Intercept far more than that on the Optimux V. But that's just personal preference.

That said, I will admit that the Optimus is more responsive in that it will switch screens faster and does have a noticeably faster screen presentation. But I came from a G1 and so the Intercept seemed like it was lightning fast

And I don't seem to have all the problems some seem to have with the Intercept. When I first got the phones the Optimus seemed faster but now they're about the same. Maybe they were still synching to the local towers? The radios are in fact different but you and I seem to have similar needs from the phone and not as heavy as some others. I don't use it like a lot of the young folks do.

The screen resolution is higher on the Optimus but I really don't notice the difference in eveyday use.

If I have both phones in front of me, I'll reach for the Intercept first.

Unlike others, I honestly get about the same performance and speed from both.

 

[jting0193]

has anyone come across a problem porting a number from t-mobile to virgin?

i called to port thursday afternoon, and now it is almost sunday night. kinda ridiculous

 

[joelkfla]

In the Orlando area, frankly, Virgin data service sucks. Half the time I get network errors or server unavailable. Sometimes rebooting fixes it for a while. When I can connect, I run speed test and get download speeds under 100K, even with 4 or 5 bars.

Using Intercept.

 

[AirCatHeavy]

has anyone come across a problem porting a number from t-mobile to virgin?

i called to port thursday afternoon, and now it is almost sunday night. kinda ridiculous

When I switched from T-Mo to Virgin I had my T-Mo number ported to VM. It took about 2 hours max. The secret is you have to call them back in about 2 hours and then they do something that otherwise is on hold. If I had not called back and pushed it, it could have taken days or weeks?

 

[AirCatHeavy]

In the Orlando area, frankly, Virgin data service sucks. Half the time I get network errors or server unavailable. Sometimes rebooting fixes it for a while. When I can connect, I run speed test and get download speeds under 100K, even with 4 or 5 bars.

Using Intercept.

I could be wrong, but somehow I think that after they implement bandwidth caps in October, we may all see a slight improvement in connectivity. There really are some out there who use so much bandwidth it bogs down the system. I'm a casual user but some use their plans for serious business ventures, good and bad.

 

[mr_malina]

I could be wrong, but somehow I think that after they implement bandwidth caps in October, we may all see a slight improvement in connectivity. There really are some out there who use so much bandwidth it bogs down the system. I'm a casual user but some use their plans for serious business ventures, good and bad.

I know of a few people who are using the $25 plan as their primary internet connection at home.

 

[lou61166]

I know of a few people who are using the $25 plan as their primary internet connection at home.

Thus the reason behind the Cap,way to many abusers who have ruined a good thing.

 

[mr_malina]

Thus the reason behind the Cap,way to many abusers who have ruined a good thing.

Yes, this is life. People will abuse any system and ruin it for everyone else.

 

[androidfonefan]

VM is a decent provider.
I have had all the Virgin Mobile Androids, Intercept, Optimus, Triumph.
For phone stability, ie you just want it to work and no headaches, buy the Optimus.
The Intercept is a pain in the back side with all its glitches and problems. As stated in this thread it is a overpriced POS. The Triumph sadly is not far behind it at 100.00 dollars more than the Intercept.
Phone call quality on the Triumph is about the same as the Intercept and Optimus but the Internet and GPS on the Triumph are seriously lacking. VM and Motorola should be ashamed of themselves for putting this on the market and charging 300.00 dollars for it. the screen is the only decent thing about this phone and it is NOT worth 300.00.
For me the Optimus was not without issues. But on the whole it worked in just about every way.
Calls go through? yep. Text? yep. Internet work? yep. GPS? yep.
Cant say that for the Triumph.
Seriously?! Even Sprint seems to have issues with all their hi end android phones. And I don't understand it. HTC for their price should be putting out a glitch free phone every time. But they don't.

Any way. If you want the best android phone VM has, pay 150.00 and get the Optimus V. Wish I still had mine.

 

[AirCatHeavy]

A couple months down the road I have a "slightly" different perspective.

T-Mobile and AT&T are going to be more reliable.

What I mean is that with T-Mo and AT&T, the connection was basically always there and near max speed.

With VM, it's there...hmmmm....80% of the time give or take. I get times when Data is completely unavailable but usually it's for 10 - 20 minutes then it starts working again. Sometimes (like others) I have to re-boot the phone.

So, you pay a LOT less, and you get slightly less service. Works for me. T-Mo and AT&T are just out in the Stratosphere on price. When gas goes back to under $1 per gallon I'll probably go back to T-Mo.