• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

What's Your Rate Plan?

remanifest

Android Expert
Jan 13, 2013
838
321
Just curious what rate plan everyone on here has gone with. I just switched from T-Mobile to Virgin Mobile, and I'm loving it so far. I started with the $45/month plan, then I found out that I could use Google Voice and Talkatone to make free calls using data, and I've switched to the $35/month plan.

My bill is less than half of what it was with T-Mobile, and my service is about 10x better. I called Virgin Mobile about not being able to receive calls in my house, even though I had service bars. After basic troubleshooting (about 15 minutes), they forwarded my ticket up to a higher level. I got a call back in about 3 or 4 hours, and they said the problem was fixed now. Lo and behold, it was.

The main reason I switched was because T-Mobile had terrible service at my house, and they didn't seem to care. About a week before my contract was up with them, I dropped my G2, and the screen spidered all over the place. I asked what it would cost to upgrade or replace, and the cost was greater than it would be for me to buy the EVO V 4G. For an extra $45 to set it up for a month and with the money saved over 2 years, it was well worth it...

Anyone else want to share a story?
 
Likewise here, I left T-Mobile almost 2 years ago (March 13, 2011). T-Mobile service in NYC area is pretty good. When I first got T-Mobile in 2006, there were few bad coverage. When I reported, TMo fixed it. What made me switch was the pricing. I was paying $45.90/month for only 1000 minutes and nothing else. So I switched over to VM for $25 plan with a Optimus V. I eventually upgraded to Evo V.

As for Virgin Mobile service, the coverage is comparable to TMo in NYC area. I've upgraded to Evo V 4G, and 4G in NYC is very good. It beats the crap out of my wife's ATT 4G Blackberry (I get on avg of 7mbps vs her 1mbps 4G). VM's customer service is very good at replacing your phone, battery. I've received a replacement battery for my Evo and a replacement phone. I always receive the replacements within 48hrs. However, anything a bit technical (such as not receiving calls, texts) then it's like talking to Black Hole, during which case, I came to the forums here seeking help or call Sprint directly.
 
Upvote 0
I didn't realize there were so many people that switched from T-Mobile to VM. I had only heard stories of people switching the other way.

For my play, I lost my $25 plan when I gave up my Elite. So now I'm on the $35 plan. No regrets though ..... I really really like this phone.:D (oh and I use Groove IP for free minutes)


My wife has the same plan, but with the iPhone she is paying $30.
 
Upvote 0
I switched from AT&T/BlackBerry when Virgin was the first prepaid carrier offering Android with the Intercept, was paying almost $120 a month, went with the $25 through the Intercept/Wildfire/Triumph and then $35 with the Evo V. I used to use Groove Ip but now use the free Magic Jack app and find it has better sound quality. :p
OB
 
Upvote 0
I must be the only one that originally came from Sprint? I had an old 400 peak minute plan with unlimited nights and weekends starting at 7pm for 30 bucks a month plus 10 bucks data. With an employer discount I was paying total about 30 bucks with a Samsung exclaim as my last phone with them. When it was time to get a real phone they wanted to jack up my bill to 70 bucks a month. Not bad but principal alone for being a customer for ten years I just thought that was too much of a jump. So I shopped around and was surprised that the HTC EVO 3D was on virgin. I knew of it from Sprint.

Anyhow, now I'm on the 45 bucks plan because I now use this phone for work thanks to the radio update. The 35 bucks plan was fine for personal use for me.

On another note I have been keeping my eye on metro PCS for the s3 if it drops in price. I will miss the 3D though, which I think really makes our phones unique
 
Upvote 0
My Mom is about to switch from her Sprint plan of like 10 or 12 years to Virgin Mobile, in April. I almost went with MetroPCS but they don't offer service in my area. They offer service where my Dad lives, so I was going to use his address but when I asked their rep about "moving outside the home area after service is activated" he told me they would cancel service if I was roaming off-network for too long.
 
Upvote 0
I'm on the $45 plan, and that's even less than half what I paid to Sprint for almost identical service.

With Sprint, there's no throttle (I rarely go over 1 gig anyway) and with Sprint, I got ~450 anytime minutes, but unlimited mobile to mobile and nights/weekends...so it's hard to accurately compare them.

I don't want to mess around with google voice, so I thoght it would be best to get 1200 minutes.

EDIT:

This thread reminded me to top up, and I forgot to mention it in the post above. If you use crazygametime to buy your top ups, you save an additional 15%. I bought a $60 top up for $50.99 (no sales tax either).

So I now have my phone paid through March 7th, and a $15 credit on file, all for just $50.99.

I also looked at my plan details, and in just 3 weeks, I had used 368 minutes. I definately need to stay on the 1200 minute plan.
 
Upvote 0
I'm on the $45 plan, and that's even less than half what I paid to Sprint for almost identical service.

With Sprint, there's no throttle (I rarely go over 1 gig anyway) and with Sprint, I got ~450 anytime minutes, but unlimited mobile to mobile and nights/weekends...so it's hard to accurately compare them.

I don't want to mess around with google voice, so I thoght it would be best to get 1200 minutes.

Big benefit with Sprint is you can roam
 
Upvote 0
In California there are a lot of rural pockets that do roam on Sprint. Especially if you go outside of Truckee. Virgin there is no signal at all

Does Virgin use all of Sprint's towers? Are any ommitted?

if they do use all the Sprint Towers, then one could overlay the Virgin Mobile coverage map on top of the Sprint coverage map, and the difference would be where Sprint's roaming agreements come into play right?
 
Upvote 0
Does Virgin use all of Sprint's towers? Are any ommitted?

if they do use all the Sprint Towers, then one could overlay the Virgin Mobile coverage map on top of the Sprint coverage map, and the difference would be where Sprint's roaming agreements come into play right?
I believe they use all of Sprint's towers. And if you did overlay the 2 maps the only thing would be missing is the roam area
 
Upvote 0
I believe they use all of Sprint's towers. And if you did overlay the 2 maps the only thing would be missing is the roam area

I've been wondering about that too.. although I have 4G in my area, there are certain cities where 4G isn't available according to Virgin Mobile.

Cell Phone Coverage - Check Cell Phone Coverage | Virgin Mobile

Example: Detroit, MI.

If you go onto Virgin's site, it clearly shows only 3G coverage.

However, if you go to Sensorly's site for "Spring WIMAX" coverage, it shows 4G available in limited areas.

Coverage Maps | WIMAX - USA - Sprint | Sensorly

Wonder how this discrepancy works..
 
Upvote 0
I've been wondering about that too.. although I have 4G in my area, there are certain cities where 4G isn't available according to Virgin Mobile.

Cell Phone Coverage - Check Cell Phone Coverage | Virgin Mobile

Example: Detroit, MI.

If you go onto Virgin's site, it clearly shows only 3G coverage.

However, if you go to Sensorly's site for "Spring WIMAX" coverage, it shows 4G available in limited areas.

Coverage Maps | WIMAX - USA - Sprint | Sensorly

Wonder how this discrepancy works..

What does Sprint's website show for coverage?
 
Upvote 0
I switched from at&t and an Iphone to the Triumph at $35 and then eventually migrated to the Evo V 4G.

I'm actually an at&t employee and even with my discount I was still paying $80 a month for one phone (had grandfathered unlimited data though), but service around my office actually started to degrade. Quite depressing when I help fire up fiber circuits for Verizon and Sprint through my office while my $80 service goes to hell. Ah well!
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones