Hey guys, school me on data plans...

**Pacman** · #1 07-01-2011, 04:24 AM

I'm here in Japan, but returning soon, and I'm looking at smartphones, Droid platform most likely.

I'm not what you'd call a "power user" (I read somewhere you can stream Netflicks to your phone), but I'd like to not worry about checking my email or facebook from my phone. I'm also reading that companies are dumping the unlimted data plans. I'm basically trying to get an idea of how much data I want/need.

So, middle of the road data plan users - how much are you using monthly? What are you doing with that bandwidth?

thanks!

TJ55 · #2 07-01-2011, 04:51 AM

My usage so far this month is 427169.0 KB and the cycle ends on the 13th. I have an $29.99/month unlimited plan through Verizon using an LG Vortex phone (android 2.2). The majority of my usage comes from streaming radio on Pandora, Slacker, and TuneIn Radio. I never watch any video and only occasionally surf the net to place a bet, check scores, get the weather forecast, or settle and argument. No emails or heavy facebook/twitter time here either.

dukeisdog · #3 07-01-2011, 05:14 AM

Im given 500MB of data on my plan, and I usually am around the 300-509mb range at the end of the month. That is from some videos I watch, apps like talkbass, and just regular web browsing. Make sure you get a phone that is wifi capable, that way when you're at home (assuming you have wifi) your usage won't go against your data.

**Eric Perry** · #4 07-01-2011, 07:25 AM

I have a 200MB data plan and that's enough for me. My iPhone has wifi, and the places I'm at most frequently are wifi hotspots (my house, my mom's house, my brother's house, and work). When you use wifi, you are not using the carrier's data transfer.

DblG · #5 07-01-2011, 07:42 AM

I think I had to take the unlimited plan ($29.99) to get the iPhone through Verizon (or any other smart phone)

Tituscrow · #6 07-01-2011, 07:51 AM

My iPhone package gives me unlimited data through Wi-Fi and 500MB per month through 3G. Watching YouTube - for example - is very high data consumption. It depends whereabouts you want to use your phone to watch video. Using your home Wi-Fi you can do it all day, but then that's what a PC is for. Unless you like to watch videos on the throne...

bassface73 · #7 07-01-2011, 07:57 AM

Careful with Verizon, they are set to cap their data plans starting next week.

Verizon to Cap Data

Sprint has unlimited data still, so if you get in soon enough, you should be able to keep it that way indefinitely. Also, T-Mobile's unlimited data is subject to a cap for the fastest speed, then it throttles down.

Gard · #8 07-01-2011, 08:34 AM

Sprint: Unlimited everything, $80/mo., good phones (love my Android EVO 4G).

Service is at least equal to, if not superior to, every other service I've had (and WAY better than AT&T, frankly).

**Eric Perry** · #9 07-01-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Sprint.... Service is at least equal to, if not superior to, every other service I've had (and WAY better than AT&T, frankly).

That's an unfair statement to make. If you were to say "in your area" then I'd buy it, but to globally say that isn't fair. For me, AT&T's service is far superior to Sprint's in my neck o' the woods. I know this through experience, as I had a BlackBerry Curve on Sprint's network for years. I switched to AT&T last June (after I bought my house and had ZERO service at home), and the difference is night and day, not only at my house, but across the three county region I travel for work.

Unrepresented · #10 07-01-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Sprint: Unlimited everything, $80/mo., good phones (love my Android EVO 4G).

Service is at least equal to, if not superior to, every other service I've had (and WAY better than AT&T, frankly).

I agree with Eric Perry, it's very much dependent on where you are. I literally ditched Sprint a week ago for Verizon and I traded spotty 3G coverage for much more consistent 4G coverage.

I hope that the proposed caps are only for future customers because I've been hitting my new phone hard with downloads since it's the first time I've actually had the bandwidth to enjoy it.

Gard · #11 07-01-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Perry

That's an unfair statement to make. If you were to say "in your area" then I'd buy it, but to globally say that isn't fair. For me, AT&T's service is far superior to Sprint's in my neck o' the woods. I know this through experience, as I had a BlackBerry Curve on Sprint's network for years. I switched to AT&T last June (after I bought my house and had ZERO service at home), and the difference is night and day, not only at my house, but across the three county region I travel for work.

I think you misunderstood me, or I wasn't clear:

Both companies have very poor reception at my house (which befuddles me - you know where I live, EP, not in the boonies at all!

).

I mean the CUSTOMER service. I was very unhappy with how AT&T treated me as a CUSTOMER, and find Sprint to be easier to deal with.

Sorry for the confusion!

Oh, and no "data package" BS with Sprint is a plus.

**Eric Perry** · #12 07-01-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

I think you misunderstood me, or I wasn't clear:

Both companies have very poor reception at my house (which befuddles me - you know where I live, EP, not in the boonies at all!

).

I mean the CUSTOMER service. I was very unhappy with how AT&T treated me as a CUSTOMER, and find Sprint to be easier to deal with.

Sorry for the confusion!

Oh, and no "data package" BS with Sprint is a plus.

Sorry sir. My bad.

And yeah, I remember when I was at your place, I had no service at all.

MakiSupaStar · #13 07-01-2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Perry

That's an unfair statement to make. If you were to say "in your area" then I'd buy it, but to globally say that isn't fair. For me, AT&T's service is far superior to Sprint's in my neck o' the woods. I know this through experience, as I had a BlackBerry Curve on Sprint's network for years. I switched to AT&T last June (after I bought my house and had ZERO service at home), and the difference is night and day, not only at my house, but across the three county region I travel for work.

Yeah, AT&T's service is much better in my house. I'm on a legacy Cingular account so I can't really give you anything accurate about new accounts.

MakiSupaStar · #14 07-01-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

I think you misunderstood me, or I wasn't clear:

Both companies have very poor reception at my house (which befuddles me - you know where I live, EP, not in the boonies at all!

).

I mean the CUSTOMER service. I was very unhappy with how AT&T treated me as a CUSTOMER, and find Sprint to be easier to deal with.

Sorry for the confusion!

Oh, and no "data package" BS with Sprint is a plus.

Sprint customer service is what made me dump them about 10 years ago. Those bastards STILL owe me 59 dollars that they'd promise to refund to me and still haven't done it.

SoonerMatt · #15 07-01-2011, 09:01 PM

My dad's grandfathered into an AT&T employee plan so I use that. Once I go solo, though, all I'll need is the 200mb plan. Like Eric said, use wi-fi when it's available and you'll be set. It does drain the battery more quickly, though, so I always make sure to keep a miniUSB-USB cable with my laptop in case the battery starts sweating.

Depending on where you are, avoid AT&T at all costs.

bassrique · #16 07-01-2011, 09:40 PM

When you come home PM, look into how well Metro PCS performs in your area. For work, I had to switch from a rugged "mil spec" phone to a Blackberry. I was with Verizon for ~10 years, but they would have charged me ~$140/month for unlimited voice/text/email/web on Blackberry. Metro PCS is $60 for "unlimited everything". I'm not talking about a Droid/iphone here, but this may give some perspective anyway.

I've had the plan/phone for ~ten days now and for two days during that time my email would not update (if at all) in a timely fashion to my BB. Not good.

On the other hand, Metro PCS customer service is supposed to be garbage, but I called them up to change my legal name to my business name and they did it w/out hesitation, which is something Verizon would not even consider doing.

So far, I'd give Metro PCS, a "B". If not for the email SNAFU, they'd get an A- from me.

James Hart · #17 07-01-2011, 10:10 PM

for about a year and a half the wife and I have had the Sprint 'Everything Data' family plan. We have tethered our laptops on our phones, used them for streaming audio, etc, etc, etc. I have no complaints besides not wanting to pay $137 total after tax and such every month for it. I've had no real major issues but the times I have had to call CS they were easy enough to deal with. I think my favorite part is calls to and from ANY other cell phone doesn't count against our shared minutes. Most everyone has a cell phone these days so I end up rarely breaking 100 minutes of usage according to the plan.