GSM vs CDMA, Should I upgrade my plan

elhamda · Nov 14, 2013

I am currently on a a promotional plan with a CDMA phone. If I switch to a newer comparable plan, I will have to pay $10/month more, but it will be on the GSM network. Is it worth the extra cost to switch? I'm in SF and I believe the GSM network is up and working here. I realize that I would need to get a new phone and I am considering the Nexus 5, but my question is strictly regarding the network itself regardless of the phone.

Gman9831 · Nov 14, 2013

elhamda said:
I am currently on a a promotional plan with a CDMA phone. If I switch to a newer comparable plan, I will have to pay $10/month more, but it will be on the GSM network. Is it worth the extra cost to switch? I'm in SF and I believe the GSM network is up and working here. I realize that I would need to get a new phone and I am considering the Nexus 5, but my question is strictly regarding the network itself regardless of the phone.

If you're fine with the CDMA network there's no rush you still have at least another year regardless. But I've had a much better experience with the GSM network and I have nothing to complain about.

Which plan are you currently on?

DirtyDee · Nov 14, 2013

Like gman I say up too you personally I rather be on gsm because CDMA is Marked for death

unnamedny · Nov 14, 2013

It really depends on few factors. I got my girlfriend L9 and at the time I used to have Lg motion. When we traveled places in Long Island, NY, Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, she had the signal and internet in most places, and I didn't, and it was much faster than my Motion's whenever we both had internet. I had the same $45 plan ($5 family discount) so upgrade would be just the phone. I got F3 and I have no regrets, I got faster phone, better internet and better coverage.

If you are not happy with your signal in places you go, I'd switch to GSM phone (I'm pretty sure SF should be well covered by T-Mobile). If you use it for calls/texts mostly, happy with your signal then you can wait for a little longer. If you consider an upgrade, wait until Black Friday. I'm sure some GSM phones are going to be on sale.

elhamda · Nov 15, 2013

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I'm currently on the $30 plan with 250MB of data which is more or less enough for me. However, I have noticed a deterioration in service lately; late text messages, late voicemail indicators, broken pictures from MMS and much slower and spotty internet connection. I use data but mostly for information and no so much for entertainment.

Shabbypenguin · Nov 15, 2013

the jump from the motion to nexus 5, plus faster and better speeds. possibly better signal quality (check out sensorly.com for a good idea of coverage of tmobile in your area) for 10 bucks extra a month, sounds like a solid enough idea IMO.

ChiweN · Nov 15, 2013

The short answer is yes, yes you should. If you are thinking a nexus 5 you will be getting a significant boost in terms of both phone awesomeness and network/data speeds. I'm sure SF is covered nicely by TMO.

Hola shabs ;-)

elcocho852 · Nov 17, 2013

Hello everyone I have a couple of questios? I currently switched from the lg esteem to the galaxy s4. I previously had the 30 dollar promotional plan and it was awsome because when I would run out of 4g data I would switch my phone to stay on 3g and the speeds were great on 3g I would usually get 1mp down and .90mb up which was actually fast. Now I got the s4 and I have the 40 dollar plan and I already wasted all my 4g data and the throttling speeds are not what I suspected, they are super slow. Now my question is, if I have the s4 and upgrade to the 60 dollar plan and I try to add my sisters phone(she is on the 30 promotional 4g plan), my brothers phone(he is also on the 30 promotional 4g plan) and my dads phone (he has the 25 dollar phone plan, its a basic phone)will I get the family discount? And how much would it be? Me 60, sister 30, brother 30 and dad 25? Would it be $130? Im loving my gs4, but speeds not so much.

And also is the 60 4g plan really unlimited? Do they cap you at all?

Thanks for reading and im sorry for a long post, im just trying to save money?

ChiweN · Nov 19, 2013

Yeah, it's unlimited, no worries about being throttled. Your math is off on those numbers, it comes out to $145 with the current figures, but you get a 5 dollar discount per line. Prices would be 55, 25, 25 and 20 comes out to $125.

new optimus · Nov 30, 2013

elcocho852 said:
Hello everyone I have a couple of questios? I currently switched from the lg esteem to the galaxy s4. I previously had the 30 dollar promotional plan and it was awsome because when I would run out of 4g data I would switch my phone to stay on 3g and the speeds were great on 3g I would usually get 1mp down and .90mb up which was actually fast. Now I got the s4 and I have the 40 dollar plan and I already wasted all my 4g data and the throttling speeds are not what I suspected, they are super slow. Now my question is, if I have the s4 and upgrade to the 60 dollar plan and I try to add my sisters phone(she is on the 30 promotional 4g plan), my brothers phone(he is also on the 30 promotional 4g plan) and my dads phone (he has the 25 dollar phone plan, its a basic phone)will I get the family discount? And how much would it be? Me 60, sister 30, brother 30 and dad 25? Would it be $130? Im loving my gs4, but speeds not so much.

And also is the 60 4g plan really unlimited? Do they cap you at all?

Thanks for reading and im sorry for a long post, im just trying to save money?

If where you live has good t mobile coverage you might even consider switching to straight talk byod t mobile sim, $45 unlimited, 2.5gb full speed and best if LTE is there it gets it.

I know its a switch away from metro but with that savings and level of service its well worth it.

Gman9831 · Nov 30, 2013

new optimus said:
If where you live has good t mobile coverage you might even consider switching to straight talk byod t mobile sim, $45 unlimited, 2.5gb full speed and best if LTE is there it gets it.

I know its a switch away from metro but with that savings and level of service its well worth it.

Isn't that only with the AT&T SIM?

new optimus · Nov 30, 2013

Gman9831 said:
Isn't that only with the AT&T SIM?

No it is with both att and t mobile.

I am now on straight talk with a t mobile sim, on my nexus 4, I get LTE.

Gman9831 · Nov 30, 2013

new optimus said:
No it is with both att and t mobile.

I am now on straight talk with a t mobile sim, on my nexus 4, I get LTE.

Oh good to know. Weird they don't advertise it like on the AT&T SIM.

new optimus · Nov 30, 2013

Gman9831 said:
Oh good to know. Weird they don't advertise it like on the AT&T SIM.
View attachment 64939 View attachment 64940

I too am curious about that, I decided to switch to straight talk about 3 months ago, I ordered 2 sim cards (one for my dad as he was going with att sim) I put the t mobile sim in my nexus 4 and lte was up imediately, and on his with att it was too.

I ordered and received the sims in late sept.

GSM vs CDMA, Should I upgrade my plan

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