Hi all,
I'm vacationing with my family to Disney Paris and T-Mobile has a nifty feature of unlimited data and texting in foreign countries included in my plan.
Awesome!
Unfortunately the data is only 2G. Makes it impossible to use GPS. Surf the web or send pictures attached to a text.
Is there a mod that can bump that back up to 4G?
Thanks,
NJ
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
njdevils28 said:
Hi all,
I'm vacationing with my family to Disney Paris and T-Mobile has a nifty feature of unlimited data and texting in foreign countries included in my plan.
Awesome!
Unfortunately the data is only 2G. Makes it impossible to use GPS. Surf the web or send pictures attached to a text.
Is there a mod that can bump that back up to 4G?
Thanks,
NJ
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the reason why it's free
GPS should work fine though. You can pay to get 4G data, but it's so expensive for so little data, I wouldn't bother. Try looking for free wifi hotspots.
njdevils28 said:
Hi all,
I'm vacationing with my family to Disney Paris and T-Mobile has a nifty feature of unlimited data and texting in foreign countries included in my plan.
Awesome!
Unfortunately the data is only 2G. Makes it impossible to use GPS. Surf the web or send pictures attached to a text.
Is there a mod that can bump that back up to 4G?
Thanks,
NJ
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to your T-mobile account and buy a one week 200 MB data for $25 (or 2 weeks 500 MB for $50). This is fast data, the free one is 2G only.
The best data prices when traveling abroad usually entail getting a local SIM card. Prepaid or sometimes a regular (cancel anytime) plan. For example, the last time that I looked SFR France had a 1 GB data plan (3G+) for 8 Euro.
.
fffft said:
The best data prices when traveling abroad usually entail getting a local SIM card. Prepaid or sometimes a regular (cancel anytime) plan. For example, the last time that I looked SFR France had a 1 GB data plan (3G+) for 8 Euro.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally forgot about this. OP, do this. Europe is so much cheaper than here for cell service, you can get something that will cover you for an entire month for about $10. You do have to make sure that your phone is unlocked though. If it isn't and you've had the phone for more than 40 days on the same tmobile account, you can ask mobile to give you the unlock code. If you haven't had it for more than 40 days, then you can just pay for one online.
njdevils28 said:
Hi all,
I'm vacationing with my family to Disney Paris and T-Mobile has a nifty feature of unlimited data and texting in foreign countries included in my plan.
Awesome!
Unfortunately the data is only 2G. Makes it impossible to use GPS. Surf the web or send pictures attached to a text.
Is there a mod that can bump that back up to 4G?
Thanks,
NJ
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is exactly what is supposed to happen. Your connection may range from 2G through LTE when roaming internationally, however on the "free" plan you will be capped at 128kbps. Which isn't great, but it is fine for email, light web-lookups, most apps even skype calls!
You are lucky that the S5 worked out of the box. I was in London last week on an LG G3 and it took hours of fiddling with the APNs to get the damn phone to roam over there. So much of a hassle to have to find the perfect combination of mobile network/APN, that I just gave up and traded for an S5. I'm hoping that like my old iPhone 5s the data will just plain work without any fiddling.
T-mobile's free data plan may sound slow, but compared to roaming plans that existed before, this is the best thing since sliced bread! Imagine landing in a foreign country and immediately having working data...without having to hunt for a local SIM? Priceless. For folks who travel to many foreign destinations for short times, this is perfect.
lordhamster said:
That is exactly what is supposed to happen. Your connection may range from 2G through LTE when roaming internationally, however on the "free" plan you will be capped at 128kbps. Which isn't great, but it is fine for email, light web-lookups, most apps even skype calls!
You are lucky that the S5 worked out of the box. I was in London last week on an LG G3 and it took hours of fiddling with the APNs to get the damn phone to roam over there. So much of a hassle to have to find the perfect combination of mobile network/APN, that I just gave up and traded for an S5. I'm hoping that like my old iPhone 5s the data will just plain work without any fiddling.
T-mobile's free data plan may sound slow, but compared to roaming plans that existed before, this is the best thing since sliced bread! Imagine landing in a foreign country and immediately having working data...without having to hunt for a local SIM? Priceless. For folks who travel to many foreign destinations for short times, this is perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with your statement that the Tmo roaming works right out of the box, no fiddling. Where I go in the Caribbean, you step off the plane and everything just works (slowly).
Related
I was thinking about going with Simple mobile. They have unlimited min,text, and web for $60. Has any one tried them? let me know. My t-mobile contract is up in two more weeks and I might go this route.
Most of these little providers only work in major tri-state areas, so if you are spending the majority of your time in such areas you should be fine.
My friends have MetroPCS, and it works great for them, but whenever they leave NYC area, even just across the river to NJ, they get no service at all.
reksp13 said:
I was thinking about going with Simple mobile. They have unlimited min,text, and web for $60. Has any one tried them? let me know. My t-mobile contract is up in two more weeks and I might go this route.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple Mobile uses tmos network so it is nationwide. Not sure if they limit speeds on 3g but its worth a try. Also you may want to try the new prepaid plans on TMo. They just came out today and look like they are very comparable and you don't have to go through the trouble of switching. Oh yea and if you go through Simple mobile, you don't have to unlock your phone just put their sim in and it works perfectly!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I just got the HTC EVO View 4G off a deal on the internet and I really don't want to activate with Sprint (bad issues about 10 years ago). Is there any way to activate it on any other network carrier or am I stuck with SPRINT or WIFI?
rljohnson said:
I just got the HTC EVO View 4G off a deal on the internet and I really don't want to activate with Sprint (bad issues about 10 years ago). Is there any way to activate it on any other network carrier or am I stuck with SPRINT or WIFI?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This doesnt belong in development.. I'm not sure though... I heard you can get 4g service with clear since they provvide sprint with 4g service.. Not sure about 3g though
Edit - Misunderstood the question for some reason
Sent from my PG41200 using xda premium
wyldkard said:
Bought my view without having to activate it on Sprint for $230. Check eBay. There are also some online sale sites selling it cheap, can't think of their names ATM.
Ask the seller, whether It's a person or company, if it needs to be activated or it will say so on the page
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He means using 4G on a different carrier.
You can activate it on cricket service, I've done one and it works pretty well. Of course you will only get 3g instead of 4g as Cricket does not have 4g yet. I had everything working except incoming calls would not ring through, still working on it. However, texting, mms, web, apps, and google voice worked great. I could get incoming and outgoing calls through google voice just fine.
crmcsh01 said:
You can activate it on cricket service, I've done one and it works pretty well. Of course you will only get 3g instead of 4g as Cricket does not have 4g yet. I had everything working except incoming calls would not ring through, still working on it. However, texting, mms, web, apps, and google voice worked great. I could get incoming and outgoing calls through google voice just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much does cricket service cost a month?
Sent from my PG41200 using xda premium
Cricket has an android plan for their smart phones which gives you unlimited talk/text/data for $55 per month. That is the method I used. Their 3g is pretty decent where I'm at, but like most carriers Cricket will throttle you if you exceed your data usage. I have not been throttled yet, but I do not use an awful lot of data. I believe there is a way to use the $45 per month plan which requires a few more steps flashing the View, but I have not tried it and I am not sure how reliable it would be.
I saw a program called flash to talk android studio that might let you do it. Thing is , its $50 for the program and $5 each time you use it. I think a lot of stores use it to flash android phones between carriers. If its worth it to you, check it out.
Sent from my PG41200 using XDA App
I have flashed mine using cdma workshop which I bought for $100 and qpst which is free.. If you can get the msl code then no need for cdma workshop
Sent from my PG41200 using xda premium
I currently use mine on boostmobile for 3g and i use clearwire for 4g. did a few things that im sure i cant speak of here. but yes you can put it on other carrier's. where i am at cricket/metro doesnt work so i could not go that route otherwise i may have. I use boostmobile because 4g can be spotty sometimes and the 3g is a good backup anywhere 4g doesnt kick in. i had it on sprint but for 1gig of data my monthly was coming in at like 50 with insurance and taxes and no 4g...just pathetic. my alternative gives me pay as you go like 11 bucks a month flat no taxes unlimited 3g/text/no phone at least the normal way but till that is figured out i'm happy using groove ip with google since my data is always on no need to spend talk minutes just use data for talk hence why it costs .35cents a day. and as for 4g well i'm on an older clear plan and i share it with my hotspot(switching back through the login page pretty easy) again i'm not explaining how to do it as in many places its not allowed to talk of the method's tut, i'm just sharing that there are ways. If I was able to use it on other carriers that worked in my area i would or if sprint wouldnt try and be a ripoff and give a decent plan a realistic plan i would just stick with them.
I was going to go with simple mobile but then saw I would only be able to get EDGE so I was thinking about getting a gophone and using that so I can get 3G. I went to go pick up a go phone simply and saw the 50 plan says its not for smartphone.
Will my internet work if I just get the monthly unlimited plan? Are there any other options and if i was to just go with simple mobile simple is EDGE that slow?
Any help is appreciated!!!
have you looked into h2o wireless? Last i heard they functioned on at&t network so you'd get full 3g
Yea I have looked at H20 and I'm not sure how long 1gb of data is gonna last for 60 a month. I know in the past I saw people using go phone sims with iphones and just wanted to know lf it's still working while getting internet on the 50 a month plan without buying a data plan also..l
hey this is off topic but, your talking about these data plans etc, ive seen a few posts on here regarding this. in my opinion they all seem a little pricey?
what exactly are you getting for 50 or 60 dollars a month?? here in the uk for 15 usd(10 gbp) i get 250 mins any network, unlimited texts any network, and unlimited data, which is hsdpa (7.2mbps) or 3g in lower signal areas
so my question is what are you getting for your money and why so expensive?
also im pay as you go, are your plans contract or pay as you go?
Only att is pricey, if you have metro pcs or simple mobile its only 50 a month with unlimited talk text and web.
But why is it so pricey?? I guess its a contract??
Sent from my Dell Streak using xda premium
I really don't know.
Does anybody know if using the sim from a e71 with straight talk still working?
I use 3 in the UK
The One Plan.
2,000 any network minutes
5,000 Three-to-Three minutes
5,000 texts and All You Can Eat internet ( With no "fair usage" policy, you can use all the data you want at no extra cost. )
£25 p/m
And tethering is allowed
Anybody else got any info???
Hi all,
I have just switched to 3 in the UK and have noticed that there appears to be no data when the phone rolls back to 2G (out of 3G/HSPDA coverage) so I get no GPRS.
Is this right?
I am aware that 3 uses Orange for voice and calls when out of there own coverage areas, but should I not be getting GPRS on Orange?
Thanks.
Yep three are 3g or 3g+ only
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Oh dear..
Thanks for your reply.
Is there any solution to get GPRS while on Oranges 2G network?
gavin watson said:
Oh dear..
Thanks for your reply.
Is there any solution to get GPRS while on Oranges 2G network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope!!!!
Oh dear, dear!
This isn't good news for me! Slow connectivity is better than no connectivity!
Hmmm, seems like I am not 'On the network for built for the internet' if I get NO internet!
to be fair, i rarely find myself in an area of no signal, but when I am, 3's internet speeds are outrageously fast.
well worth it
It's ok in 97% if the UK when it's good it's very good but when it's bad it's bloody awful
I went to Scotland a week and found the 3% of the country without coverage it killed me no.internet or phone for that matter
In defense of 3 they are superb value where else could you get 2000 mins 5000 text 5000 3 to 3 minutes and unlimited internet for £36
I.use around 7gb per month via my phone and tethering
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Hi guys,
I'm not denying when there is 3G (and above) coverage it is very good. I was just shocked to learn that there is no GPRS backup, for me I'd rather have very slow data than none at all... It would appear from what I've found out that they don't want the users to have 'a bad customer experience' when on GPRS thinking that it's a slow network... Not sure I agree with that, especially when you desperately need data, even it is it GPRS...
I would really like them giving users the option to fallback onto GPRS by maybe manually entering APN settings, this way at least having a choice (knowing that it is GPRS and not their own 3G network)...
Interesting...
mancuk29 said:
It's ok in 97% if the UK when it's good it's very good but when it's bad it's bloody awful
I went to Scotland a week and found the 3% of the country without coverage it killed me no.internet or phone for that matter
In defense of 3 they are superb value where else could you get 2000 mins 5000 text 5000 3 to 3 minutes and unlimited internet for £36
I.use around 7gb per month via my phone and tethering
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly i couldnt put it better myself
mancuk29 said:
It's ok in 97% if the UK when it's good it's very good but when it's bad it's bloody awful
I went to Scotland a week and found the 3% of the country without coverage it killed me no.internet or phone for that matter
In defense of 3 they are superb value where else could you get 2000 mins 5000 text 5000 3 to 3 minutes and unlimited internet for £36
I.use around 7gb per month via my phone and tethering
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you 100% I went with three's one plan for the data, this month I have used 8.7GB from the 14th yes their signal can be sketchy at times but if I had a 1GB plan I would have clocked up hundreds on my bill so its bearable for me.
When I say their signal is sketchy I get a full signal on my window ledge but on the sofa under the window I get 1 or 2 bars literally less than one foot distance.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I'm not complaining about the price or the allowance, nor about their network speed. I was just saying it would be nice to have the option to fallback to GPRS data when 3G isn't available. I had no diea this would happen when I signed up 5 days ago, and it is a problem for me to not have that...
So far I am happy enough with the speed and the allowance, etc... Which is why I moved over to 3 in the first place...
If you are in a marginal signal area, you may have a reasonable signal outside your property, but because 2100mhz signal doesn't penetrate walls well, it may not get inside your house. Walk around the outside perimitter of you property, checking the signal strength as you move - if there is a good signal, then there are solutions for getting that signal inside using 2100mhz signal boosters, their use seems to be a legal grey area - but no one has been prosecuted for using them in the uk as I understand to-date. I too have no signal in 80% of the inside of my house yet am very close to a 3uk mast, but I live in a building with 2ft thick walls. I have just installed a signal repeater and, although I am still playing about with the siting of the antenna and booster, it has deffinately made a difference.
If you have only just taken out your contract with 3uk - you may be able to get out of it if you wish - they are obliged to check that there is an available signal at your registered address and should have refused your application if not. Hope this helps
gavin watson said:
I'm not complaining about the price or the allowance, nor about their network speed. I was just saying it would be nice to have the option to fallback to GPRS data when 3G isn't available. I had no diea this would happen when I signed up 5 days ago, and it is a problem for me to not have that...
So far I am happy enough with the speed and the allowance, etc... Which is why I moved over to 3 in the first place...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Three only use 3g I would when I first signed up to them I did ask about 3g coverage and they said they only use 3g, ask the right questions and you would have known, if it's only been 5 days you should be able to cancel if you want (I think three say 14 days and get another contract, but I personally wouldn't I'm happy with them because of the unlimited data.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
gavin watson said:
Hi guys,
I'm not denying when there is 3G (and above) coverage it is very good. I was just shocked to learn that there is no GPRS backup, for me I'd rather have very slow data than none at all... It would appear from what I've found out that they don't want the users to have 'a bad customer experience' when on GPRS thinking that it's a slow network... Not sure I agree with that, especially when you desperately need data, even it is it GPRS...
I would really like them giving users the option to fallback onto GPRS by maybe manually entering APN settings, this way at least having a choice (knowing that it is GPRS and not their own 3G network)...
Interesting...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wouldnt get too attached. 2G will be turned off and reassigned for new spectrum auctions in the very near future. i have been on 3 for 2 years and i have never not had 3G for long.
GPRS cant cope with normal web anyway. it was designed for WAP. its not a big loss trust me. At least you can still make calls.
delsus said:
ask the right questions and you would have known, if it's only been 5 days you should be able to cancel if you want (I think three say 14 days and get another contract, but I personally wouldn't I'm happy with them because of the unlimited data.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did ask, they told me that when out of their coervage it reverted to Orange, which I was on before. What they didn't say was that when it reverted to Orange, it wouldn't include data. I'm not saying they lied, they were however, a little economical with the truth!
I have spoken with them, they are allowing me a little more time (over 7 days) to see how it all works out. As I travel quite a bit I will have to see how much this affects me. I think I will end up staying as it makes more sense for me to have unlimited data than pay Orange quite a bit over my monthly plan for the extra data used...
gavin watson said:
I did ask, they told me that when out of their coervage it reverted to Orange, which I was on before. What they didn't say was that when it reverted to Orange, it wouldn't include data. I'm not saying they lied, they were however, a little economical with the truth!
I have spoken with them, they are allowing me a little more time (over 7 days) to see how it all works out. As I travel quite a bit I will have to see how much this affects me. I think I will end up staying as it makes more sense for me to have unlimited data than pay Orange quite a bit over my monthly plan for the extra data used...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh I would recommend staying, while three have a lot of drawbacks the well priced unlimited data makes it worth it imo up to now on a 1GB plan I would have an extra £700+ on my bill and I still have 13 days on this billing cycle. Anything other than unlimited data is unacceptable now in my eyes.
The only other option for unlimited data is t-mobile but it will cost more (I think £40+ with the phone)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Three has been 3G only for quote a few years now, when they first launched they used to use Orange or O2 for 2G fallback but they didn't renew these agreements as their own 3G coverage was deemed strong enough.
It would not have taken much research to find out they have no 2G coverage, also if you just asked someone before taking the contract out...did the name Three not give you any indication?
the only thing going for three is the 'cheaper' priced tarrifs, much faster 3G network and no fair usage, apart from that their offers are on parr with other special offers on other networks.
The lack of 2g is a bit of an issue if you are in a no coverage area, however if you do have coverage your fine.
A|ex said:
the only thing going for three is the 'cheaper' priced tarrifs, much faster 3G network and no fair usage, apart from that their offers are on parr with other special offers on other networks.
The lack of 2g is a bit of an issue if you are in a no coverage area, however if you do have coverage your fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that's what matters these days, data costs a lot more than voice and texts, you can rack up a larger bill in a shorter time with data than with anything else, also in the world of data speed matters a lot. Lets not forget the economy I get 5000 texts, 2000 mins and unlimited data for £34/month nothing beats that with a galaxy S3 and lets not forget the £700+ on my bill for data I have saved with 3, I don't think it's possible to do that with voice and texts.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I went through hell to get a 3 contract cancelled and a MIFI portable broadband dongle contract scrapped because I couldn't get a 3G signal. They dropped 2G in places they deem to be "good coverage" and are turning more and more of their back up network (Orange) off.
They are the worst provider by far. Now with T-Mobile and I get T-Mo and Orange coverage since the merger. Can switch as I please.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Hello there guys
Theres a question i would like to be answer , i bought a photon off ebay with bad esn , that means i cannot activate it on sprint , thats alright cause i use gsm i live outside the usa , but i might leave to the states in a few months , so my question is , can i use the kddi radio to activate it on At&t ?
Cause esn = imei but on cdma am i right?
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
The KDDI radio will allow you GSM usage here in the US, correct, but to flash that radio onto the device you're going to have to still be on Android 2.3.4, with an unlocked bootloader as well (at least that's my understanding - I was lucky enough to get a 2.3.4 Photon a few days ago, and I'm avoiding 2.3.5 at all costs meaning the OTA).
As far as "activation" that's not required since the Photon is already unlocked for world operation.
Once you start using the KDDI radio (if you can use it), then you shouldn't have any issues with any GSM carrier here in the US. I currently use mine with T-Mobile prepaid because T-Mobile just turned on their 3G 1900 MHz band here in Vegas about 2 weeks ago and it works great so far.
So there shouldn't be any problems with esn and so ?
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
manybreak said:
So there shouldn't be any problems with esn and so ?
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I understand correctly, your ESN number should not matter at all for GSM networks. Your phone and account information are linked to your SIM card. At least that's how I understand it. I believe ESN numbers only pertain to CDMA networks.
InsanePostman said:
If I understand correctly, your ESN number should not matter at all for GSM networks. Your phone and account information are linked to your SIM card. At least that's how I understand it. I believe ESN numbers only pertain to CDMA networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright then sounds good to me , gonna keep my photon for a while with all this leaking happening *thats what she said*
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
The ESN is irrelevant for use with GSM networks, it's not read, it's not noted, it's not used at all - this is one particular reason why some "global" phones are popular in the used smartphone markets: if the owner didn't pay the bill on such a phone with the original carrier (Sprint, Verizon, aka CDMA carriers) they typically - but not always - have the option of potentially being able to use the device(s) with GSM capability.
But that's also the reason such devices when sold here in the US almost always lock out the GSM functionality here in the US so, thankfully in some instances it's possible to open or "unlock" that feature - and I don't mean carrier unlock since global phones almost always are unlocked from the factory anyway.
The Droid Bionic I recently had is easily "unlocked" for GSM use just by changing a few characters in the NVFlash; the Photon just requires flashing that KDDI radio but of course you have to have an unlocked bootloader to get that done so...
Either way, if you're on 2.3.4 and you can do the necessary stuff to get that KDDI radio on there, you'll be good to go here in the US for the GSM networks, and then you can revert back if needed too.
br0adband said:
The ESN is irrelevant for use with GSM networks, it's not read, it's not noted, it's not used at all - this is one particular reason why some "global" phones are popular in the used smartphone markets: if the owner didn't pay the bill on such a phone with the original carrier (Sprint, Verizon, aka CDMA carriers) they typically - but not always - have the option of potentially being able to use the device(s) with GSM capability.
But that's also the reason such devices when sold here in the US almost always lock out the GSM functionality here in the US so, thankfully in some instances it's possible to open or "unlock" that feature - and I don't mean carrier unlock since global phones almost always are unlocked from the factory anyway.
The Droid Bionic I recently had is easily "unlocked" for GSM use just by changing a few characters in the NVFlash; the Photon just requires flashing that KDDI radio but of course you have to have an unlocked bootloader to get that done so...
Either way, if you're on 2.3.4 and you can do the necessary stuff to get that KDDI radio on there, you'll be good to go here in the US for the GSM networks, and then you can revert back if needed too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the photon i got was on 2.3.4 , i already unlocked the bootloader and been messing around with roms and stuff & i already had the kddi radio but i just had that doubt about it :]
Another thing , to get a simcard with unlimited data for smartphones on at&t , how much would that be ?
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
There's just no such thing for AT&T, or any provider for that matter. T-Mobile would be your best bet, they have prepaid service that's "unlimited" and you pay by the day, it's $3 and there really are no limitations that I've ever noted - that's what I currently use and it's fairly worthwhile since I don't actually want full blown monthly service or any contracts.
Also, in the US anybody that advertises "unlimited" is basically lying unless you do pay out the nose for it. T-Mobile does have a $30/monthly "true" unlimited plan now but they don't have it for any prepaid stuff, so that means a) you have to set up a 2 year contract and b) you have to sign up for a regular phone plan on top of the $30 so you'd be looking at the 2 year commitment and about $80 a month so, that's not gonna work either.
The T-Mobile $3/day prepaid thing would do great for you if you're just going to be here on a visit or something. If you intend to actually move here permanently and you want something decent, that T-Mobile $30/monthly unlimited on contract would most likely be the best overall right now and who knows when they may change it. It works for 4G as well but unfortunately there's no 4G service with the Photon with that unlocked bootloader and replacement radio.
br0adband said:
There's just no such thing for AT&T, or any provider for that matter. T-Mobile would be your best bet, they have prepaid service that's "unlimited" and you pay by the day, it's $3 and there really are no limitations that I've ever noted - that's what I currently use and it's fairly worthwhile since I don't actually want full blown monthly service or any contracts.
Also, in the US anybody that advertises "unlimited" is basically lying unless you do pay out the nose for it. T-Mobile does have a $30/monthly "true" unlimited plan now but they don't have it for any prepaid stuff, so that means a) you have to set up a 2 year contract and b) you have to sign up for a regular phone plan on top of the $30 so you'd be looking at the 2 year commitment and about $80 a month so, that's not gonna work either.
The T-Mobile $3/day prepaid thing would do great for you if you're just going to be here on a visit or something. If you intend to actually move here permanently and you want something decent, that T-Mobile $30/monthly unlimited on contract would most likely be the best overall right now and who knows when they may change it. It works for 4G as well but unfortunately there's no 4G service with the Photon with that unlocked bootloader and replacement radio.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright let see if i got this
A)So i cant just get the 30/monthly plan from T-mobile without signing up for a regular phone plan?
B)how does the prepaid service for data works? Like how you pay the 3 bucks a day
C)if i get T-mobile as my phone provider for data and so , im gonna get 3G with my photon?
Thanks for being around and answering my questions
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A) Correct, because the $30/unlimited data plan must be tied to a regular calling plan aka you get locked into a contract.
B) You stop by a T-Mobile store or direct reseller and get the prepaid SIM card, put money on it (minimum $10) and then if you use your device with the SIM card it'll start the clock running in whatever time zone you happen to be in, the $3 is good till midnight in that time zone so it's best to try and use it just after midnight to get the most time possible. If you don't use it then you don't pay, basically (keep the phone in airplane mode till you actually require it, that sort of thing).
C) T-Mobile just starting rolling out service in the 1900 MHz GSM frequency band a few weeks ago here in the US - until the day the iPhone 5 came out T-Mobile did not offer 1900 MHz service anywhere in the US and using a device like the Photon would limit you to 2G/EDGE service and speeds.
However, the day the iPhone 5 was released was the first day T-Mobile enabled their 1900 MHz coverage for 3G/4G service in the US, and I happen to be lucky enough to have gotten it here in Las Vegas since this was the first city in the entire country to get that service turned on. It's spreading fast, of course, and you can go to this website:
http://www.airportal.de/
and see where T-Mobile is finally offering 3G service (and 4G as well) on non-T-Mobile devices like our Photon, or the Atrix 4G or Atrix 2, etc. I added a few reception reports for Las Vegas as soon as it went live here and now it's popping up all over the US as the rollout for 1900 MHz for T-Mobile spreads. They're doing it for several reasons but one big one is they're hoping to attract a lot of customers with unlocked GSM devices like the older iPhones to T-Mobile.
It's a smart move on their part.
Alright nice , i went to that webpage you just gave me and new york got 3G services so woohoo
About the T-mobile prepaid plan , so alright i bought my simcard with 10$ on it , got it at 9 am in the morning , once i activate my data on my photon , 3 bucks will be deducted from my balance until that day is over ?
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Pretty much, yep, $3 per 24 hour period max - like I mentioned already, your best bet it to keep the phone in airplane mode when it's not in use, and turn that mode off just after midnight in whatever time zone you happen to be in to get the most use. That "day" will end at midnight regardless so, if you don't care or it's not a big deal then don't bother with it - as each new "day" begins it'll just deduct the $3 from the balance on the account till it's out or there isn't enough to refill the day's charge. When you "activate" a day's charge, it's not good for 24 hours from the time you activate it, it's good till midnight in that time zone so, if you enabled it at 11PM you'd only get about 59 minutes of service for the $3... hope that makes sense.
Been using it for a while now, it works fine for me and my purposes, doesn't cost an arm and a leg and there's no practical limit on me given the time I use it. There are a ton of services like Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, and NET10 that say "$50/month unlimited" or $45 or whatever and you have to avoid them because their terms of service has some very tricky fine print in it. Using those services, technically if you fire up iHeartRadio or Pandora or any kind of streaming service at all they can and have been known to just literally kill your service.
Pisses me off to no end when a company puts "unlimited" in their plans and yet then turns around and slaps limitations on your as to how you can use the service.
T-Mobile doesn't do that: it's $3/day and I can do whatever I want with that bandwidth and time. Hell, I even tethered my Photon a few days ago when my Cox cable connection crapped out and I leeched about 7GB of data in a few hours (I live across the street from a T-Mobile tower so I pull about 10Mbps with great stability). No problems doing that so it's a fallback for me if needed.
Ohhh i think i got the whole "midnight data' thing
So its 11PM and i decide to turn on my data , as soon as i do this , 3 bucks are deducted and i got 59 mins of data , cause when i get to 12am its a "new" day , and 3 more bucks will get deducted if i keep using data , am i right?
Those simcard only work for data ? Or they come with a number also?
And when i start using data , it just runs out even thought im not using it right?
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Correct on the midnight thing; soon as the clock rolls over to 12:01AM in the time zone you're in, that's another $3 deducted from the balance, good till 12:00AM 23 hours and 59 odd minutes later.
T-Mobile prepaid SIM cards have a number, it's full prepaid phone service for $3/day. Voice, text (SMS/MMS), data, all inclusive.
Not sure what you mean by the running out - if you mean at midnight does it stop, I can't say for sure, never been in the middle of some big download before the midnight rollover, but I'd guess that yes it would stop at that point. Might have to try that sometime if I intend to use the account two days in a row and see if it "rolls over" through the midnight cutoff.
Nevermind on the running out lol , so you dont have to make a call or txt a number to t-mobile to get data running? , just activate data and automatically data starts running ?
Btw , the apn's just shows up in the phone right?
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In newyork u an use a prepaid sim called h2o which uses [email protected] tiwers u can pay 40 or 50 $ each mnth and completly unlimited just open their site and see their deals and their signal is good in ny ;nj and i tried it also in ohio
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MIONS said:
In newyork u an use a prepaid sim called h2o which uses [email protected] tiwers u can pay 40 or 50 $ each mnth and completly unlimited just open their site and see their deals and their signal is good in ny ;nj and i tried it also in ohio
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Translation: In New York, you can use a pre-paid SIM from a company called H2O which uses AT&T towers. You can pay either $40 or $50 per month and get unlimited access. If you open their website you can look at their plans. The signal is good in New York, New Jersey as well as Ohio from my personal experience.
Thanks cant say it better
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InsanePostman said:
Translation: In New York, you can use a pre-paid SIM from a company called H2O which uses AT&T towers. You can pay either $40 or $50 per month and get unlimited access. If you open their website you can look at their plans. The signal is good in New York, New Jersey as well as Ohio from my personal experience.
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But H2O offers real unlimited data ? If it does not i'll just stick with the T-mobile data
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