T-Mobile Query

self | 6.28.2014 | self

[bboop]

Looking to get Android cell phone on T-Mobile, maybe Google Nexus 5. Any thoughts about T-Mobile network reliability or Nexus 5? Thanks.

[sten]

have both T-mobile and google nexus. love it. rarely do i have a problem and the battery life is great

[fella]

I recently switched from AT&T to a T-Mobile subsidiary Mobile PCS. It uses T-Mobile’s network and I have about the same service as I had with AT&T in North Texas and in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas.

There is no contract I pay monthly plus I can get phone service through any wifi I can link into.

I’m paying $60 a month flat rate for unlimited phone, text and data plus $5 more for insurance. That’s still less than my old AT&T non-smart phone with limited service.

I bought my Samsung Galaxy Mega outright. If I’d bought the same phone and service with AT&T I’d be paying $120 a month plus all the taxes and fees that AT&T doesn’t tell you about but loves to tack onto your bill.

When I’m in a G4 cell or on wifi I can surf the net at DSL speeds, that’s in most population dense areas, out in the sticks like Oklahoma and Arkansas it drops to G3 and slower data rates. All in all I’m pretty happy with T-Mobile/Metro PCS.

[minnesota_bound]

I use T-Mobile $30 plan (google it to locate it)
100mins, 5gb 4g data. I use Skype for my phone and it uses the data which means I have over 1,000 mins.

T-Mobile in my work location has very high speed data ranging up to 39mb. Inside the building it is pretty much dead, both data and phone. (2 story office building, at my home it works great for phone and data +20mb).

I know 3 others at work with T-Mobile and they experience the same except for one person. He gets 7mb to 10mb inside. He has a Nokia Lumia 1020 GSM unlocked phone from ATT that he put a T-Mobile SIM card in. Great connection. He bought it at Amazon.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 that I bought from Amazon that was made for T-Mobile.

I would switch to an ATT unlocked phone if I really need the data for tethering (no way to know which other model except the Nokia). I do not need tethering right now at work and I can make calls outside the building and figure T-Mobile will improve their signal.

The problem is when you search on issues with any phone it may work great in one location and be lousy in another. I searched on that Nokia phone and there are forums where people post their phone reviews.

I may buy a phone model made for ATT but put in the T-Mobile SIM. Maybe ATT has better standard?

Nokia Lumia 1020 phone. (cannot add memory, windows)
http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-1020-RM-877-Unlocked-Windows/dp/B00F590ITY/ref=pd_cp_cps_3

T-Mobile coverage map
https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx/

Open Signal - people who have the app create the maps as they drive.
http://opensignal.com/

[9YearLurker]

Do you not have wifi access within the building? If you do, you can just use that for your T-Mobile smartphone.

[minnesota_bound]

I do have wifi but it is only for work related use. One of my co-workers decided to stream music using Pandora all day. Our datacom dept notified the manager that someone was using a lot of bandwidth.... : )

[9YearLurker]

Got it.

[real saxophonist]

I’m happy with Verizon. Droid RAZR. I know some people think that Verizon is the devil incarnate, but they give me a Veteran’s discount, and I think the charges are somewhat reasonable.

[mkleesma]

I almost did the same thing - the Nexus 5 is a good phone. However, once I saw it in real life I noticed that it’s screen had a really washed out look to it. I instead opted for the Sony Experia - excellent video and graphics, and fast!

[bboop]

Thanks again for ALL the good advice and T-Mobile reports. It helps a great deal.