$40 4G LTE Plans for Esteem and other "smart" phones.

[Kingda Ka]

Is there any way to get the $40 LTE Plan for the Esteem? Despite the listing of a $40 plan on MetroPCS.com, I don't see any phone currently offering it. There is no documentation specifically stating the Esteem won't qualify for it, nor does MetroPCS's own Press Release about the $40 4G LTE plan. I spoke with a customer service rep who stated the Esteem wouldn't qualify and pointed me to a Samsung Craft. When I notified her the site listed no $40 for the Craft, she hung up. The rebate department said Wirefly's Esteem price qualified for the rebate, so I hope that wasn't a lie too. At $249.99 (w/o rebate), plus $50/month, I'm thinking I should just take T-Mobile up on their offer. I live in the NYC Metro Area, so Optimum Wi-Fi would more than make up for throttled data. However, MetroPCS is only a palatable option where T-Mobile is $20 more, not < $10.

$249.99 (+tax) + $50 (x24) (for 1xRTT speeds in my area) = 1472.22 (Metro)
$50 Nokia Lumina + ~$59 x24 ($49 Unlimited Talk, Text, and 2GB 4G Speed Data + unlimited 2G speed thereafter) = ~$1494.31

In my location, 4G LTE is not available with Metro, and paying $50/month plus cost of a phone is just not worth it. For a few pennies more, I can get T-Mobile HPSA+ with greater speeds with a Nokia Lumina phone (Windows Phone 7.5 isn't terrible).

I was hoping to get Metro's $40 4G LTE plan and a family plan for an additional $5/month.

Any tips or advice?

 

[redhook]

I think the $40 LTE plan is for the LTE feature phones. Smartphones require $50+.

 

[yahhboy]

I think the $40 LTE plan is for the LTE feature phones. Smartphones require $50+.

+1 and the only 4g phone on the $40 is the pos samsung craft right now

 

[NeoSabin]

Where in NYC are you because i haven't had loss of 4G yet.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

You might get lucky at a non-corporate store. They offered me the $40 plan. I had to go corporate recently, and i had to talk them out of bumping me to the $50 plan.

 

[Kingda Ka]

Where in NYC are you because i haven't had loss of 4G yet.

Eastern Nassau County, Long Island

 

[yahhboy]

Is there any way to get the $40 LTE Plan for the Esteem? Despite the listing of a $40 plan on MetroPCS.com, I don't see any phone currently offering it. There is no documentation specifically stating the Esteem won't qualify for it, nor does MetroPCS's own Press Release about the $40 4G LTE plan. I spoke with a customer service rep who stated the Esteem wouldn't qualify and pointed me to a Samsung Craft. When I notified her the site listed no $40 for the Craft, she hung up. The rebate department said Wirefly's Esteem price qualified for the rebate, so I hope that wasn't a lie too. At $249.99 (w/o rebate), plus $50/month, I'm thinking I should just take T-Mobile up on their offer. I live in the NYC Metro Area, so Optimum Wi-Fi would more than make up for throttled data. However, MetroPCS is only a palatable option where T-Mobile is $20 more, not < $10.

$249.99 (+tax) + $50 (x24) (for 1xRTT speeds in my area) = 1472.22 (Metro)
$50 Nokia Lumina + ~$59 x24 ($49 Unlimited Talk, Text, and 2GB 4G Speed Data + unlimited 2G speed thereafter) = ~$1494.31

In my location, 4G LTE is not available with Metro, and paying $50/month plus cost of a phone is just not worth it. For a few pennies more, I can get T-Mobile HPSA+ with greater speeds with a Nokia Lumina phone (Windows Phone 7.5 isn't terrible).

I was hoping to get Metro's $40 4G LTE plan and a family plan for an additional $5/month.

Any tips or advice?

Something else you could do is buy an unsubsidized T-Mobile phone and use it on the walmart/t-mobile plans. You don't have to unlock it or anything just change out the sim card and activate. I know that for $30 a month you get 100 minutes unlimited text and 5gb of data so I imagine that the higher plans offer even more minutes and you get to use all of T-Mobile's network w/o a contract.
Just another option you should be aware about I've been considering it for a while the only issue is coming up with $600 for an sII..

 

[ChazzMatt]

The $40 LTE plan is for NON-smartphones that are LTE -- feature phones, even "simple" phones that have LTE chips. The only phone that qualifies right now is the very first LTE phone MetroPCS got, the feature phone Samsung Craft (also known as the Samsung "Crap"). In the future Metro hopes to have ALL phones have LTE chips, thus the reason for this plan's existence.

I'm not sure why the $40 plan is not listed for the Craft on the Metro website. It's the only phone in Metro's inventory that qualifies for the $40 LTE plan.

 

[redhook]

I'm not sure why the $40 plan is not listed for the Craft on the Metro website. It's the only phone in Metro's inventory that qualifies for the $40 LTE plan.

They must be phasing it out.

 

[ShinySide]

They must be phasing it out.

I think they are.

 

[poluka2000]

I dont think that MetroPCS has any phones that qualify for the $40 plan any more. I asked and this is what I was told:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Alex'

Alex: Thank you for contacting MetroPCS. My name is Alex! How may I assist you today?

you: Hi alex
you: which phones qualify for the $40 4glte rate plan?

Alex: Just one moment while I research that for you.

you: thank you

Alex: The $40 4g plan is for phone that have been flashed over from other company so there no phone on our list that takes the $40 plan.

you: ok thank you

Pretty much from the horses mouth

 

[Kingda Ka]

Personally, being charged $50 for an LTE plan, where there is no LTE Service within a reasonable distance seems ridiculous. I don't think it should even be legal to market/sell customers a plan where such service can not be utilized.

MetroPCS offers a temendous value as pure play feature phone prepaid provider. As a "smartphone" provider, they leave a lot to be desired. Long Island is the most densely populated in the U.S. At best, we get 51kbps speed only in bursts with long ping times. I'll try to get the $40 plan for the Esteem before opening. Otherwise, I'll send the phone back. I ordered it sadly thinking the $40 plan was an option.

T-Mobile offers a much better deal sadly for a smartphone. A Nokia Lumina 710 + their $49.99 plan actually gives you a better deal. I'll receive at least 3mbps everywhere I travel. I'll do even better in areas where HPSA+ is implemented fully.

 

[Jeyd02]

Personally, being charged $50 for an LTE plan, where there is no LTE Service within a reasonable distance seems ridiculous. I don't think it should even be legal to market/sell customers a plan where such service can not be utilized.

MetroPCS offers a temendous value as pure play feature phone prepaid provider. As a "smartphone" provider, they leave a lot to be desired. Long Island is the most densely populated in the U.S. At best, we get 51kbps speed only in bursts with long ping times. I'll try to get the $40 plan for the Esteem before opening. Otherwise, I'll send the phone back. I ordered it sadly thinking the $40 plan was an option.

T-Mobile offers a much better deal sadly for a smartphone. A Nokia Lumina 710 + their $49.99 plan actually gives you a better deal. I'll receive at least 3mbps everywhere I travel. I'll do even better in areas where HPSA+ is implemented fully.

i understand what you saying but you can't blame MetroPCS's coverage. they even have provided specific maps where they have 4G. they are "apparently" growing (ihope)...

 

[yahhboy]

Personally, being charged $50 for an LTE plan, where there is no LTE Service within a reasonable distance seems ridiculous. I don't think it should even be legal to market/sell customers a plan where such service can not be utilized.

MetroPCS offers a temendous value as pure play feature phone prepaid provider. As a &quot;smartphone&quot; provider, they leave a lot to be desired. Long Island is the most densely populated in the U.S. At best, we get 51kbps speed only in bursts with long ping times. I'll try to get the $40 plan for the Esteem before opening. Otherwise, I'll send the phone back. I ordered it sadly thinking the $40 plan was an option.

T-Mobile offers a much better deal sadly for a smartphone. A Nokia Lumina 710 + their $49.99 plan actually gives you a better deal. I'll receive at least 3mbps everywhere I travel. I'll do even better in areas where HPSA+ is implemented fully.

You didn't even take my suggestion into account I guess. And its not really unfair for them to charge $50 for the lte plan because you also have to pay $50 for a non lte android a month.

 

[Kingda Ka]

You didn't even take my suggestion into account I guess. And its not really unfair for them to charge $50 for the lte plan because you also have to pay $50 for a non lte android a month.

I'll look into the T-Mobile Prepay Scenario. I'll inquire what a Nokia Lumina 710 will cost without subsidy. Plus, MetroPCS doesn't explicitly state that all Android Phones require a $50 plan. Certainly not in their press release for LTE Phone Plans. They should remove that $40 option from their main plan page and LTE page.

 

[yahhboy]

I'll look into the T-Mobile Prepay Scenario. I'll inquire what a Nokia Lumina 710 will cost without subsidy. Plus, MetroPCS doesn't explicitly state that all Android Phones require a $50 plan. Certainly not in their press release for LTE Phone Plans. They should remove that $40 option from their main plan page and LTE page.

Yeah it should be clarified, metro isn't too good at those things, and you may have to wait a bit for the price to drop since its a new phone that hasn't come out yet

 

[rloverload]

I bought my Esteem on the internet in mid November of last year and had it shipped to me. Once it arrived I tried to activate it online and got to the choosing your plan screen where I was able to select the $40 plan level. At that point I had to confirm the activation on the phone and while doing so was told on the website there was a problem and would need to call the company's activation department at some number. At that point the person on the other end began the process with me and then told me that the plan level was in conflict with the phone. I had spoken to a salesperson at a store telling me this phone could be on the $40 plan and told them that I was assured this phone would work on this plan level which is the reason I even bought it in the first place. They insisted the phone was in conflict with the plan. I asked for the supervisor, once on the line she explained the same thing and sent me to the Esteem phone profile on the MetroPCS website to show me that the $40 plan wasn't listed on the page. I again explained I had been assured beforehand this phone would work on this plan and asked for her supervisor. He wasn't there and I told them I wanted him to call me and left my number for when he was in. The supervisor on the line told me if he needed to contact me he would and assured me that my phone was activated and could send and receive calls. I have not received a call back from the unavailable 2nd supervisor since then. I've paid two months worth of bills on the website at the $40 level and haven't had any problems with the service except one time last month having to call and have some issue with roaming outside of the area where I originally activated my MetroPCS number resolved which took fifteen minutes or less and hasn't really been a problem since for me. My guess is that MetroPCS activation employees, due to be monitored for "quality assurance," aren't allowed to actually say they offer the phone at this plan price level because they want you to pay the extra $120-$240 a year for service but I can assure you, my Esteem is on the $40 plan and I get unlimited talk, text, and web, even though apparently 4G access would be throttled down if I go over a monthly quota of data.

 

[nmazloum]

I have been on the 40 $ LTE plan ever since i got the esteem, about 3 month now. I live in a 4g are and i use lots of data an i haven't had any problems to date. when i activated the phone at the store they put me on the 60 dollar plan but when i got home i signed up for an account online and was able to switch it online with out the need to call metro.

 

[poluka2000]

@Kingda Ka, I don't understand why think it should be illegal to market/sell/buy a 4g phone in an area where 4g is not available. Personally I think the more choices the better and it is a "Mobile Phone", your suppose to be free to move about, it is common knowledge that the service is available some places and not others. Should it be illegal to market boats in the middle of the dessert? Do you want the government to pass a bunch of laws to prevent you from making a bad purchases or would you rather have the freedom to take a chance and move from carrier to carrier and phone to phone?

As far as the plan pricing I think what we have is a mixed bag or regional pricing policies and changes over time (a two axis transformation).
I am a new MetroPCS customer and from what I was told the $50 plan was what I needed. The $40 plan was not available for my phone and I would not need the $60 unless I wanted the media streaming services from metropcs. I know the the $50 does not really indicate true "unlimited" data but as we see no one seems to be charged overages. On the other hand having thought about it for a few weeks now I can see spending an extra $10 a month for pc of mind. An extra $120 a year is a drop in the bucket compared to the overages I got hit with at Verizon, but it is still $120 that could be spent else where. I guess I am in that wait and see mode, at the first hint of overage charges I would prolly flip for the extra $10. I guess that would be a sinister marketing trick for Metro,,, get all that $50 plan people to upgrade by threatening them with overages

 

[Kingda Ka]

@Kingda Ka, I don't understand why think it should be illegal to market/sell/buy a 4g phone in an area where 4g is not available. Personally I think the more choices the better and it is a "Mobile Phone", your suppose to be free to move about, it is common knowledge that the service is available some places and not others. Should it be illegal to market boats in the middle of the dessert? Do you want the government to pass a bunch of laws to prevent you from making a bad purchases or would you rather have the freedom to take a chance and move from carrier to carrier and phone to phone?

Your boat analogy is ad-hominem and not applicable. However, If the boat company advertises the product I'm buying can be used in the ocean next to the dealership, then yes, it should be illegal to promise a service that doesn't remotely exist.

As for your government law aspect, it's a defacto law imposed by private corporations within the industry. The LG Esteem and Revolution are virtually the same phone save internal storage. Verizon will not activate an Esteem on their network. Neither will any other CDMA carrier despite compatibility. If my choice is to be governed by elected officials, or a cabal of colluding private corporations who answer mainly to hedge funds, I'll take the former every time.

If MetroPCS wants to call their plan the $50 Android Plan, instead of "4G" LTE, fine (they certainly don't call their feature phone plans, the CDMA plans). They won't, because whether or not "4G" translates into higher data speeds or not is irrelevant. MetroPCS knows the public has certain expectations of "4G", and counts on it in their marketing. If MetroPCS posted, "4G LTE phones in your area experienced 51kbps downstreams with a 456ms ping time", do you think their smartphone sales would be as high in those areas? If so, can I sell you a bridge I own in Brooklyn?

MetroPCS makes no clear difference in marketing of "smartphones" or "LTE phones". It's deceptive on purpose. They advertise a $40 plan for "LTE" phones that for all intents and purposes doesn't exist. Theft comes in many forms. Some overt. Some surreptitious. If I distract you and pick your pocket, can I blame you for not securing your wallet better? We all know thieves exist right?

Your comments border on "free market" libertarianism. I'm all for it as well. Government should have no role in regulating or policing the market. Let the market determine pricing based on supply and demand. Do not waste tax payer resources on efforts to protect "intellectual property" (i.e. trademarks, copyrights, patents), let the "free market" do that. Everybody hates regulation, until deregulation affects their pockets adversely. A true "free market" has zero oversight.

 

[poluka2000]

@Kingda Ka,

I wasn't trying to pick a fight with you but you did say "I don't think it should even be legal to market/sell customers a plan where such service can not be utilized." So when you say you don't think it should be legal it suggests to me that you think there should be a law against it. I am not sure exactly how that all lines up with your later comments. I was just pointing out that the freedom to move around from service to service seemed better then the alternative of restrictions.

 

[Kingda Ka]

@Kingda Ka,

I wasn't trying to pick a fight with you but you did say "I don't think it should even be legal to market/sell customers a plan where such service can not be utilized." So when you say you don't think it should be legal it suggests to me that you think there should be a law against it. I am not sure exactly how that all lines up with your later comments. I was just pointing out that the freedom to move around from service to service seemed better then the alternative of restrictions.

I do think there should. I feel the same for broadband services that market themselves as "unlimited", and impose a usage cap. My point is, it's purposely deceptive. I believe companies should have to be honest about their service. There's nothing to prevent MetroPCS from removing the non-existant or near impossible to obtain $40 "4G" LTE plan, and renaming the $50 & $60 plans as "smartphone" or "android" tier. Why would that be so bad? It hardly inhibits any freedom or imposes restriction. Same hardware and rates, but a more honest name and service expectation. Why would such a law be bad? Other than it makes it harder for companies to sucker in customers.

 

[ChazzMatt]

I dont think that MetroPCS has any phones that qualify for the $40 plan any more. I asked and this is what I was told:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Alex'

Alex: Thank you for contacting MetroPCS. My name is Alex! How may I assist you today?

you: Hi alex
you: which phones qualify for the $40 4glte rate plan?

Alex: Just one moment while I research that for you.

you: thank you

Alex: The $40 4g plan is for phone that have been flashed over from other company so there no phone on our list that takes the $40 plan.

you: ok thank you

Pretty much from the horses mouth

Well, that's WRONG information from MetroPCS. NO phones flashed over to Metro will ever qualify for the $40 LTE plan. Because no phones flashed will ever work on Metro's LTE network. So, "Alex" gave you misinformation. Even if you flash Verizon's LG Revolution over to Metro, only the CDMA part will work, not the LTE part -- even though it's practically the same phone as our LG Esteem. A flashed Revolution would be placed on the "regular" $40, $50, $60 plans, not any of the LTE plans.

Whereas, the $40 LTE plan is for Metro LTE phones that are not smartphones. The Samsung Craft is the only LTE phone that is not a "smartphone" -- it's a feature phone. And until recently it was the only phone in Metro's inventory that qualified for the $40 LTE plan.

I think if you went to a store, they would put it on the $40 LTE plan for you.

 

[poluka2000]

It is sad how hard it is to get reliable information from a company about its own services. Several companies I deal with seem to suffer from the same problem.

 

[djtyme209]

I think the $40 LTE plan is for the LTE feature phones. Smartphones require $50+.

yeah but the Lg esteem is a 4g cell phone so whay cant we choose the $40 plan ?