Gulp... I'm actually considering changing my phone plan. Gulp.
As far as I've been able to tell, AT&T has the best cell phone coverage in this area. I already own an ATT enabled iPhone (3Gs). I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can switch my current phone to a prepaid type plan ...
I generally average around 150 minutes a month and less than 1 gig of data, and around 100 texts. I have TONS of rollover minutes. On Vacation I average around 3-400 minutes, 100 texts, and 3 - 5 gigs of data.
My school supposedly may be getting Wi-Fi soon. If so, then my data usage would lessen even more.
I suppose I could switch to a Go Phone for actual talking away from home/school, and keep my iPhone/iPad for talking at home/school. Although I'd really miss the GPS ... but maybe I could buy a GPS device within a few months with the savings from not paying the monthly fee (currently pay $75/mo for 450 anytime minutes w/rollover, 200 texts/mo, unlimited data (grandfathered in.)
When I go on trips I can always just buy/download movies to watch. I'll have to see if Go Phones have texting capability - they probably do, just not as easy as on the iPhone (which is why I even text now...)
I wonder if there's a way to turn on data for the iPhone a month at a time? So then when I go on a trip (like during the summer) I can have the data plan for that month???
(The iPad I'm getting is WiFi only as far as I know.)
The two things that make me most reluctant to let go is 1. being grandfathered in to the $25/mo unlimited plan; and 2. Although a very rare texter before the iPhone invaded my life, I do now find it *very* convenient .... Ok... 3. I really do enjoy the GPS function - not just for maps/directions, but for when I go out exercising/walking - I can decide at a moment's whim to venture off the regular path, and still know exactly when I've reached a predetermined turn around point (judging by distance rather than place) ...
If I jump off the deep end and cancel my plan with ATT,there is no going back. (i.e. no return to unlimited data plan)
If I thought Sprint would work out here reasonably well, then even going with their cheapest unlimited data/voice/texting plan would bring me a savings (if I could somehow unlock my phone to work on their plan??)
Looking at this practically, my phone costs me approximately $900/yr. If I could even cut that in half, and somehow have close to the same functionality...
Pondering ..
September 29th, 2012 at 05:48 am
September 30th, 2012 at 04:42 am 1348980149
September 30th, 2012 at 07:37 am 1348990677
I think I'm going to test out Ting. I'll get the $79 refurbished phone and a new number, then if all goes well, I'll port my current number over and be done with ATT and the $75/mo noose. I think with Ting I could easily keep my bill to $40 or less a month. It would mean having to figure out the Android operating system .... but seriously, of everything I've researched, this just seems to make the most sense. (Plus, I found out that there IS Sprint coverage here - so that's why I decided to test out Ting.) At worst, I may lose out on the $79 I spend on the phone (although they may take it back?? will have to check on that), at best, I'll end up saving a good chunk of money.