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 see. So if I get a GSM phone on the MetroPCS $40/month plan, I am still making use of T-Mobile networks? Thank you!
It's the same exact coverage you see with tmobile it's just no data when roaming but you looked at the CDMA map if you see EHA's They use T-Mobile towers if your on metro BYOD, you won't even use a bit of metros network. 100% T-Mobile and I would say its better in 97% of areas with overlapping metro coverage so far
As said before, as soon as you get a GSM phone at metro you will be 100% of the time on TM network. (Metro does not have GSM towers just CDMA)
I have a couple of questions. Does T-Mobile have an unlimited plan like Metro? Also, which is generally faster, CDMA or GSM?
For $70 Def GSM, on GSM you have HSPA+ as a fallback & GSM will get you slight better battery life than the same phone would on CDMA
It was up until March of this year. They have a faster hspa network than AT&T and that's what they were calling 4g until they launched their LTE network in 7 cities in March. Now they're up to 110+ markets.
These new metro gsm phones won't connect to t mobile's lte network though correct ? Only hspa+ ? Or ?
If its LTE capable it'll be on tmo LTE if available, you get full access to the tmobile network. Never metro LTE though
It's interesting having an tmobile gs4 is all tmobile network having an metro gs4 you get access to metropcs lte and tmobile hspa but once I come back to metro I will only access tmobile lte and hspa very interesting
Oh ok see I always get all confused lol but bringing my gs4 back to metro as an byod then I will get the same coverage as I get now with tmobile right?
I'm guessing August 11th now, with the release of the new PRL's would be reasonable for them to give over a week to make sure it's pushed to everyone they can get it to.
No they'll just be sharing spectrum for increased bandwidth but you can only get on it through the tmobile ID so still won't be on metro LTE
So if you already have aT-Mobile account but need a new phone and want the F3 then it woul dmake sense to get it from MetroPCS for $150 instead of from T-Mobile at $240 and just pop your SIM into it correct? I assume the MetroPCS allows the SIM to be swapped. Will it require unlocking to do this?
