Looking for Carrier feedback for the wife to switch to !!

Using Verizon's towers for mvno's is really tough. None of the carriers allow usage of the LTE network. Page plus is the popular mvno for them, and Straight talk does have some Verizon compatibility as well. Also, most phone selection is terrible, though ST does have the iPhone 5 available for Verizon I believe. Both have BYOP programs, though they only allow 3g only phones. If a phone has LTE capability, it's a no go. So that basically rules out anything newer than 2 summers ago as far as phones go.
You really are better off either going direct T-Mobile prepaid, or using Net10 on AT&T's towers. T-Mobile's 50 dollar plan has unlimited minutes, texting and data (but throttled after 500mb). As you go up in price, you get a higher data cap before throttling. There is also the famous 30 dollar plan, though that sounds like it's ruled out due to it only having 100 minutes with the exchange for 5 gb of data before the throttling. Net10 has a 50 dollar plan(45 dollars if you sign up for automatic credit card refills) that has unlimited minutes & texting with a 1.5 gb hard cap for data. Plus with these being gsm, you can bring any compatible device and that's a lot of them. There's also direct at&t through gophone or aio wireless (only available in select markets at this point) that might be worth checking out as well.

Net10 doesn't let you use AT&T 's LTE network, but you do have access to their HSPA network.

Yeah, if you don't have Sprint LTE or WiMax, it will seem like fresh air compared to 3g. You should expect speeds between 2-6mbps down, 1-2mbps up.

Yes, Solavei runs on T-Mobile's network. So it would likely come down to how T-Mobile's coverage is in your area.

Tangent: To help with the voice calling, sign her up for Google Voice, port her number to that, and have her use Talkatone or Groove IP (or etc) when on WiFi...or even on mobile data if connectivity is sufficient.

DonB said:

So if that is the case, I thought TM had a $50 plan, what is the difference using them for $49, no data cap ? same coverage same price, an I missing something ?? TM id fine here on the east coast, it is when we go to the west coast of FL that the issues occur, U had bought a TM phone and service a few years ago and took it back on buyers remorse. I could always try them again and see.

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Typically with prepaid, you don't get to use the data roaming, so coverage could be a little bit smaller. But in exchange, I've heard Solavei gives a 4GB cap instead of the 500 MB. However, Solavei can't use T-Mobile LTE to my knowledge where actual T-Mobile obviously can.

DonB said:

So for the extra $10 I am better off signing her up with TM and be done with it. This way for $60 she gets 2.5GB of high speed data and 2.5GB of slower

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All of T-Mobile data plans are unlimited. The first 2.5 GB you use, will be at full speed or lower depending on coverage. After you pass the 2.5GB, it slows you down to 2G speeds, but you have unlimited data after that. Then it obviously resets when you enter the next bill cycle.

DonB said:

I should of also asked you how is your service with TM ?? and what plan you on ??

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My service is pretty decent. Not as good as Verizon, but still just fine for where I live. There are a couple of thick older buildings that service degrades quite a bit within, but I usually have enough to make a call or text. Most of the major interstates have towers all along them so you have coverage necessary to make calls or text. Getting out into the extreme rural areas can be suspect at times though.

Speeds are absolutely awesome if you're in an LTE or HSPA+42 area with download speeds at or above 20mbps. I use the $30 prepaid plan that gives 100 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data with the first 5GB at full speed before the throttling.

If you're willing to spend 60 dollars on the plan, you can also use AT&T GoPhone which gives unlimited minutes, unlimited texting, and a hard 2gb data cap. This does include their LTE network in this plan as well. Obviously much better service with AT&T than T-Mobile.

DonB said:

You have to love when they say unlimited data but your capped, LOL

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Indeed, but throttling is better than unexpected overage charges imo.

DonB said:

So if that is the case, I thought TM had a $50 plan, what is the difference using them for $49, no data cap ? same coverage same price, an I missing something ?? TM id fine here on the east coast, it is when we go to the west coast of FL that the issues occur, U had bought a TM phone and service a few years ago and took it back on buyers remorse. I could always try them again and see.

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Solovei is not capped, just throttled after 4gb. like tmo does. I think other then LTE you would be happer, plus cheaper to go with them.

I posted a link to some ones actual experience I my self never went with them, I would have if LTE had been offered.

As of now I do not think they have LTE they may in the next 12 months.

T-mobile speeds with just hspa + are normally very good, with all the LTE upgrading though some speeds seems to be down so after the period of adjustment I expect them to get back to normal.

Normal can be anything from 10mbs down to 30 down 1.7 to 3.3 up it really depends on where you live/work.
I used to get at home 14mbs down now with the lte merger its closer to 3-6 down but still 1.7 up. this was all on tmo.
They will have the same speed as tmo.

I saw your post in the Solavei thread asking for info posted here... My husband and I have been using Solavei since January. We switched from Sprint and have no complaints. It's phone service, and it works.

I'm in Colorado. My house is in an area that only shows very light green on the coverage map. I often only have 1 bar but I don't drop calls which is what matters to me. Data in my house has been as high as 9 Mbps, but recently has settled out around 3 Mbps when I test. At the grocery store a couple blocks away I routinely get 15Mbps.

We've driven to California. Much of the route is 2g which is pretty unusable for data - but I was getting regular texts from my niece no problem. Data speed picked up in bigger cities and we were fine once we were in California. I found the coverage maps to be pretty accurate. We didn't bother getting on WiFi when visiting family. (My brother in Southern California also uses Solavei.)

I have actually had unusually good customer service. I've posted some fairly specific questions in their support forums and gotten prompt responses, and in a contract cases phone calls in response to my posts - totally unexpected. I assume I'm an outlier. I know some people have been unhappy with the call center support. Personally, I would never call support, I'd go through the forums. Also, I expect my phone to work. If I needed customer service with any sort of regularity it isn't the right service for me.

I was skeptical of the referral aspect at first. The fact that the offering was the best value for my needs without participating ($49 unlimited talk/text/data unthrottled for 4GB. My total bill with taxes and fees is just shy of $55.) The referral program has been an unexpected bonus.

I think I covered the questions the OP had... Let me know if I missed any.