Your experience with $30 5GB plan + VOIP app

[epp]

I'm actually considering this today, coming from Virgin Mobile. I have considered also staying with VM and going to the S2 from my current HTC EVO V.
But the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 are looking pretty tempting (Hey, its tax time, and I've been a good boy). I think I would just pop in to Best Buy and purchase one unlocked, then go over to Walmart and do the $30/month plan since I talk little, but do use web a lot.
So my question is if I did come over to this plan, how has some of your experiences been with it? In my area, TMO has decent coverage, so I'm not to worried about that. But if anyone here ahs either of those phones, I'd sure like to get your feedback on this before I shell out that kind of dow for one of these phones.

I believe you would have to purchase the phone at Walmart for them to activate it there on any plan. I don't believe they will activate a phone purchased elsewhere, I don't think any retailer would.

 

[chong67]

Never in this lifetime or the next will I do a contract. I'm gonna be buying then outright so that I can do the $30/month plan.

Never in my lifetime would I do contract + will always get stock phone like the N4 unless Goo ask someone to make horrible phone.

 

[Kamau]

Never in my lifetime would I do contract + will always get stock phone like the N4 unless Goo ask someone to make horrible phone.

I did give the N4 some thought, but maybe its just me, but I'm not into ordering things. I'd rather just buy it, activate it and be good to go. Also, non-removable battery and limited storage is not my thing. , I may never use all the memory, but I'd like to know that if I wanted to go up to 64g, I could. I'm all about choices.

Edit: As far as stock goes. I'm rooting whatever puppy I get within an hour.

 

[acegolfer]

I love my VoIP setup.

Piaf on aws ec2 using g729 codec.

Excellent call quality and smallest lag over 3g

Edited: my set up is not an app. Just realized that this thread is about android app. It may be too complicated for average user but here is the guide.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37168371

 

[chong67]

I love my VoIP setup.

Piaf on aws ec2 using g729 codec.

Excellent call quality and smallest lag over 3g

How do you set this up?

 

[chong67]

I did give the N4 some thought, but maybe its just me, but I'm not into ordering things. I'd rather just buy it, activate it and be good to go. Also, non-removable battery and limited storage is not my thing. , I may never use all the memory, but I'd like to know that if I wanted to go up to 64g, I could. I'm all about choices.

Edit: As far as stock goes. I'm rooting whatever puppy I get within an hour.

Non-removable battery might the only thing that will be on new phone. I guess to make it smaller n thinner? One way to deal with this is always keep it plug in.

For space storage, I have a ftp server at home. Anything I want is download on the fly. Even at home I use ftp thru wifi and dont even plug my phone thru USB.

 

[acegolfer]

How do you set this up?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37168371

 

[chong67]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37168371

Good grief. That is complicated.

 

[runtmms]

My experience... VOIP via wifi has been very good. I have my GV number going to an obi100 box for my home phone. GrooveIP worked fine at home - but was not good enough off wifi for me. It was too difficult to carry on a conversation.

Since I had to step up in plans anyway, I decided to gamble on getting an unlimited plan for effectively $30 a month. I went with Solavei which is $49 unlimited talking / text / data (4GB unthrottled) on the T-Mobile prepaid network. They're doing referral sign ups. For every three people who sign up through your link you get paid back $20 /month. (Assuming they're still customers.) It's another option if you can't make that $30 plan work.

 

[chong67]

Wifi at home on GrooveIP is the best for me, just like making regular phone call.

What mbps upload speed do u have at home?

 

[runtmms]

What mbps upload speed do u have at home?

Me? Wifi is about 3 mbps up. Off wifi is 1.6 up. Where GrooveIP really failed was when my husband tried to drive around the block while talking.

 

[acegolfer]

Wifi at home on GrooveIP is the best for me, just like making regular phone call.

What mbps upload speed do u have at home?

3 factors that adversely affect VoIP are latency, jitter and packet loss. 3g mobile connection suffers from all 3.

Latency, jitter, and packet loss and how they affect my calls Primus TalkBroadband VoIP FAQ | DSLReports.com, ISP Information

OTOH, Speed has less impact on call quality.

For example, Tmo's 3g is faster than my cable internet at home. But the VoIP quality over 3g is not as good as at home.

 

[chong67]

When I talk on 4G and goes to 2G, GIP just hang up.

 

[tube517]

Me? Wifi is about 3 mbps up. Off wifi is 1.6 up. Where GrooveIP really failed was when my husband tried to drive around the block while talking.

That is one thing that doesn't work with VoIP . Driving while on the phone. Bluetooth, hands free of course

 

[Kamau]

I believe you would have to purchase the phone at Walmart for them to activate it there on any plan. I don't believe they will activate a phone purchased elsewhere, I don't think any retailer would.

Well, I went with their Galaxy S2 on the $30/month plan. I don't normally talk but about 100 or so minutes a month anyway, and I've set up my GrooveIP for keeping even that under check. I stay on WiFi at home, so data is no problem either.
So far, I'm loving the screen over the Ego V I'm coming from. The camera is nothing to sneeze at either. Nice pics coming from it. Just can't wait though to get this crapware off of it.I'm gonna root in a day or two, to give myself time to get acquainted with the phone.
All in all, I'm happy with this.

 

[chong67]

I get into the habit of hanging up on everyone's call these days. This is better than do not call list.

When I am in office I would just google that # to see who it is.

 

[chong67]

I am using an app : my data manager to keep track of my data. Should have done it the first day. Its pretty good.

 

[epp]

When I talk on 4G and goes to 2G, GIP just hang up.

I think that is because the data actually disconnects between HSDPA and EDGE when it switches.

 

[epp]

I am using an app : my data manager to keep track of my data. Should have done it the first day. Its pretty good.

Avast Mobile Security includes a Network Meter, but I disable it to save on phone memory.

 

[finndo77]

Onavo will tell you what app is using how much data, I believe it also allows you to limit the data usage of any individual app, or block it entirely

 

[chong67]

Was there a study on which VOIP is good for Android phone without doing all the technical stuff?

I am now trying Skype for $3 unlimited a month and see how it is also. Maybe paying a little would help?

Is GrooveIP and Talkabout using Google Voice is good and the same instead of paying?

I use Vonage so other people can see my phone number. Others are routed thru the usual Cali number.

 

[acegolfer]

Was there a study on which VOIP is good for Android phone without doing all the technical stuff?

I am now trying Skype for $3 unlimited a month and see how it is also. Maybe paying a little would help?

Is GrooveIP and Talkabout using Google Voice is good and the same instead of paying?

I use Vonage so other people can see my phone number. Others are routed thru the usual Cali number.

I have compared 12 free VoIP solutions in xda forum. Will update the link later.

 

[chong67]

I think I am done with my 1 month playing of $30 with VOIP.

I am trying to figure out the science of VOIP like doing it during the night or day, standing still vs moving, playing phone tag n hang up and "bunch of hello hello hello" "can you hear me now?" with my family, etc etc

In the end I think I am going to give up and I am getting sick and I just want to go home to die.

OK, in the next few days I am going to get the $70 plan. I like talking on the phone while I am driving. I dont have a home phone. I need something reliable. I have save money on other things already. I cant be really this poor.

I know I cant come back to this plan anymore.

This is a great secondary plan. It could just be great hotspot plan + the bonus 100 minutes. It is not for every body.

 

[runtmms]

Wow, you must use a lot of data to be stepping up to the $70 plan.

 

[chong67]

I use My Data Manager app and it is projected I will use 4.10GB this month. And 26% was on Wif which doesnt count.

I also dont know I end up with so much data use. I do use Skype and watch my home webcam and I did tether 2 times.

Is it normal to consume this much data? I didnt do YouTube streaming.

I was just frusted with the phone call on VOIP. The data I have no complaint.