Hoping someone can help resolve my confusion about MetroPCS and T-Mobile.
I am thinking about getting an LG Optimus F3.
I see that the F3 is available from the MetroPCS web site for $99 (after a $50 rebate). The web site doesn't really say it, but I assume this is a GSM phone that can be unlocked so that when I travel overseas I can pop in a foreign SIM. The MetroPCS $50/month plan gives you 2.5GB data per month after which you get throttled to about 128kbps. I currently live in a city where MetroPCS has rolled out LTE.
The F3 will also be available on T-Mobile for $0 down and $10/month for 24 months ($240 total) if you purchase it in conjunction with a Simple Choice plan. The closest that T-Mobile has to the MetroPCS plan I described above is $60/month that gives you 2GB data per month after which you get throttled to about 128kbps.
The differences above (aside from the $50/month vs. $60/month) seem fairly minimal. I guess I am hoping someone can tell me what are the major differences between MetroPCS vs. T-Mobile. As far as I can tell, the main thing is that the MetroPCS coverage area is sparser than T-Mobile's. For example, if I were to travel to Pittsburgh, then that would be considered an "Extended Home Area" for MetroPCS and I would have no access to data. However, on T-Mobile, according to the network map their coverage is excellent.
Am I correct in thinking that this problem should abate with time? For example, until MetroPCS announced on July 26 that they were adding 19 new LTE cities, then I could have expected no access to data if I were to travel to Seattle. But now that they have expanded coverage to Seattle (along with Cleveland, Houston, etc) that is no longer an issue.
Thanks for helping to clear up my confusion.
I am thinking about getting an LG Optimus F3.
I see that the F3 is available from the MetroPCS web site for $99 (after a $50 rebate). The web site doesn't really say it, but I assume this is a GSM phone that can be unlocked so that when I travel overseas I can pop in a foreign SIM. The MetroPCS $50/month plan gives you 2.5GB data per month after which you get throttled to about 128kbps. I currently live in a city where MetroPCS has rolled out LTE.
The F3 will also be available on T-Mobile for $0 down and $10/month for 24 months ($240 total) if you purchase it in conjunction with a Simple Choice plan. The closest that T-Mobile has to the MetroPCS plan I described above is $60/month that gives you 2GB data per month after which you get throttled to about 128kbps.
The differences above (aside from the $50/month vs. $60/month) seem fairly minimal. I guess I am hoping someone can tell me what are the major differences between MetroPCS vs. T-Mobile. As far as I can tell, the main thing is that the MetroPCS coverage area is sparser than T-Mobile's. For example, if I were to travel to Pittsburgh, then that would be considered an "Extended Home Area" for MetroPCS and I would have no access to data. However, on T-Mobile, according to the network map their coverage is excellent.
Am I correct in thinking that this problem should abate with time? For example, until MetroPCS announced on July 26 that they were adding 19 new LTE cities, then I could have expected no access to data if I were to travel to Seattle. But now that they have expanded coverage to Seattle (along with Cleveland, Houston, etc) that is no longer an issue.
Thanks for helping to clear up my confusion.
