wnaplay1647545503 Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Trying to see if virgin mobiles coverage is worth switching to. We live in Reynoldsburg and really needs to have decent coverage around here. From the coverage map it looks like a lot of blank areas and just looking for first hand experience. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Friend of mine had it at broad/wag area and didnt have good service. Kind of a ways from you but still not good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue98ls1 Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 It is spotty. Not horrible but definitely loses signal completely in some spots. My mom has had it for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morabu Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 my wife has it, it's not bad. but i'm on the other side of town. you're going to get whatever coverage Sprint has without the roaming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted August 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 Thinking about buying Iphones on virgin mobile but don't want them to be shady 1/2 the time. Is boost mobile any better? I am only looking at these 2 companies as an option because I like no contracts and unlimited data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickey4271647545519 Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 Thinking about buying Iphones on virgin mobile but don't want them to be shady 1/2 the time. Is boost mobile any better? I am only looking at these 2 companies as an option because I like no contracts and unlimited data. Boost also runs off the sprint network. With sprint I have no problems in/around columbus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morabu Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 as already stated, Boost is the same as Virgin. Sprints 3g is DEPLORABLE! slower than everybody else. if i were you i would go with T-Mobile pre-paid. Get a T-Mobile branded Iphone at retail price and activate it on their prepaid network or Wal-Mart's Family Mobile (uses T-Mobile towers). they both also have unlimited data, and it's WAY FASTER than anything you'll get on any Sprint network. JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted August 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 I am not technically savvy so can any iphone be used with tmobile or just a tmobile iphone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morabu Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 you can use an unlocked at&t Iphone on T-Mobile, but it will be slow data until T-Mobile gets done changing over old frequencies to use their faster 3g. A T-Mobile Iphone will have their fastest 3g data out of the gate. Pretty sure their Iphone 4s uses HSPA42+ (3g), which is faster than some peoples LTE. While their Iphone 5 will use that, and LTE that is coming online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted August 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 So look on craigslist for some used tmobile iphone 4's or 4s's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copperhead Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 The first iPhone that T Mobile offered is the iPhone 5. You can use an older AT&T iPhone ONLY if AT&T was kind enough to unlock it for you, which you must request them to do. As said before, Boost and Virgin are both prepaid carriers that lease Sprint coverage, and use their towers. I've been with Sprint around 12 years and I'm so fed up with dropping calls and data speeds that are as bad or worse than they were 5 years ago that I picked up a T-Mobile phone to try out. So far I'm 100% happy with it but I still need to take it further out of town and see how it does. They do have a hidden $30 plan that offers 100 minutes a month and either 2 gigs or unlimited data, I forget which. $70 a month gets you unlimited everything. So long as you buy the phone outright, you don't have a contract. AT&T GoPhone is a prepaid deal with nearly identical plans as T-Mobile, but don't offer unlimited data. For $70 a month you get 3 gigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morabu Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 T-Mobile DOES also sell the Iphone 4 and 4s, not just the 5. i have the $30 plan, it offers 100 voice minutes with unlimited text and Unlimited data (the 1st 5 gigs are at full 4g speeds) after that they slow you down to 2g. which is STILL FASTER than Sprints 3g most of the time. they also offer various other plans with more minutes, less full speed data. i was with Sprint for 11 years and dropped them about 1 1\2 years ago. So happy i did. J.R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 (edited) Sprints 3G is picking up quite impressively in certain areas with the NV upgrades. 4G comes shortly after the NV 3G goes online. Edited August 26, 2013 by unfunnyryan reading comprehension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 T-Mobile DOES also sell the Iphone 4 and 4s, not just the 5. i have the $30 plan, it offers 100 voice minutes with unlimited text and Unlimited data (the 1st 5 gigs are at full 4g speeds) after that they slow you down to 2g. which is STILL FASTER than Sprints 3g most of the time. they also offer various other plans with more minutes, less full speed data. i was with Sprint for 11 years and dropped them about 1 1\2 years ago. So happy i did. J.R. This is the way to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaSSon Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 As has been said, stay far far away from Sprint, Virgin, Boost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted August 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 What do I need to watch for when buying used iphones off craigslist? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaSSon Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 What do I need to watch for when buying used iphones off craigslist? To use on T-mobile it has to be SIM unlocked, and the ESN (electronic serial number) has to NOT be blacklisted, IE the phone can't be stolen. An AT&T iPhone will only have partial data compatibility with T-mobile's data networks. I would avoid going this route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copperhead Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 What he said. If you are dead set on used iPhones then you may as well just stick with AT&T (GoPhone). Otherwise, get cheaper Android phones on a cheaper T Mobile plan. If you want to go even cheaper you can get Nokia Lumia 521 Windows 8 phone brand new from Amazon for about $120 shipped, comes with a sim card. This is the phone I'm using right now, it's not bad for the price but if I stick with T Mobile I'll be going back to Android (or Firefox phones if they ever get good hardware). If you get a used phone keep in mind you will have to buy a $10 sim card kit for each phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted August 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 I was looking at the Lucia 521 this evening and the lq or l9(something like that) from t mobile. These will be to upgrade the kids phones and everyone seems to be into iPhones these days so of course they want them. Data usage is what scares me and prevents me from just getting iPhones with Verizon. That and I am afraid they will break a rather expensive phone the first week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 run the IMEI on http://www.swappa.com/esn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 The Nexus 4 is now only $199 (unlocked and no contract) and will work on T-Mo or AT&T. Now it doesn't have LTE, unless you root it. I rooted mine for just that reason and I'm getting LTE on T-Mo pretty much everywhere in and around 270. Even if you don't, HSPA+ is still plenty fast. $200 for a premium phone + no contract + $30/month unlimited text & data...can't beat that. https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaSSon Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 The Nexus 4 is now only $199 (unlocked and no contract) and will work on T-Mo or AT&T. Now it doesn't have LTE, unless you root it. I rooted mine for just that reason and I'm getting LTE on T-Mo pretty much everywhere in and around 270. Even if you don't, HSPA+ is still plenty fast. $200 for a premium phone + no contract + $30/month unlimited text & data...can't beat that. https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb This is a good route. Especially if kickass enables the LTE for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) I am not sure what any of that means. Rooting and all that is beyond my skillset. What's the difference between the nexus and lumia? Edited August 29, 2013 by wnaplay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 I am not sure what any of that means. Rooting and all that is beyond my skillset. What's the difference between the nexus and lumia? Nexus is Google's line of flagship or developer devices. So they come with a pure, unmodified version of Android, the way Google wants it. So they always get the latest software updates first. The Lumina is a Windows phone, I don't know too much about them, but Windows Phone seems to be a pretty decent OS, but I'd still take Android over it. Nokia makes excellent hardware, IMO they make the best mobile hardware, just too bad they decided to go with Windows. Rooting just pretty much takes the child safety off your phone so that you can modify the OS and anyway you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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