Database Users

[Q] Best MNVO for use with AT&T's network?

I have seen an handful of users mention they are using SIM cards from Simple Mobile, who is a TMobile MNVO per Wikipedia ... but seeing that our (US-based users) only certain way to both make standard phone calls and access 3G data is via AT&T's network... as such, can we get some suggestions as to who is a good MNVO to use to access AT&T?
EDIT: i.e., looking for a carrier/reseller of AT&T who would serve a role similar to that of Simple Mobile, who is a reseller of T-Mobile's network, but who does so with a better pricing structure and month-to-month plans.

Perhaps I should adjust the initial question a bit...
Are there *any* AT&T resellers that include 3G data access with their plans?

Alrighty, I might be the only one looking for this info, but thought someone else might as well...
Per this list of US-based resellers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_US_MVNO
Here are the resellers who look to be offering 3G internet via AT&T's network:
AirVoice Wireless: unlimited talk/text/100MMS/30MB internet -- http://www.airvoicewireless.com/PlanA.aspx
H2O Wirless: unlimited talk/text/MMS/50MB internet -- https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=plans

Unfortunately, it's fairly clear that AT&T has the monopoly on 3G data in US...
- GadgetGuy

Gadgetguy said:
Unfortunately, it's fairly clear that AT&T has the monopoly on 3G data in US...
- GadgetGuy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point of listing/finding these MNVO companies is that they are resellers of AT&T services, but under their name, not under AT&T's name ... so like many who use a Simple Mobile sim card to access T-Mobile's network, the same can be done here (i.e., using an H2O sim card to access AT&T's network).
And unlike AT&T's pricing structure, you typically can find a better deal going through one of these resellers (although note that I can only find 2 offering data services as it looks like AT&T is keeping the data to themselves ... probably due to their iPhone/data issues, but I could be wrong).
So take H2O's plan: unlimited talk & text + 50MB of data for $49.95/month. That isn't all that bad and it is month-to-month, so you aren't locked in to a 2 year deal
Comparing that to AT&T's..
Nation Unlimited plan: unlimited talk for $69.99/month
Dataplus for smartphone: 200MB of data for $15.00/month

TurckBoatTruck said:
The point of listing/finding these MNVO companies is that they are resellers of AT&T services, but under their name, not under AT&T's name ... so like many who use a Simple Mobile sim card to access T-Mobile's network, the same can be done here (i.e., using an H2O sim card to access AT&T's network).
And unlike AT&T's pricing structure, you typically can find a better deal going through one of these resellers (although note that I can only find 2 offering data services as it looks like AT&T is keeping the data to themselves ... probably due to their iPhone/data issues, but I could be wrong).
So take H2O's plan: unlimited talk & text + 50MB of data for $49.95/month. That isn't all that bad and it is month-to-month, so you aren't locked in to a 2 year deal
Comparing that to AT&T's..
Nation Unlimited plan: unlimited talk for $69.99/month
Dataplus for smartphone: 200MB of data for $15.00/month
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we are saying the same thing. Unless your point of shifting to an MNVO from AT&T is to make phone calls, then you can get the best value from AT&T itself, since you have the option of 2GB of data for $25/mo. But even this price sucks compared to the $30 "unlimited" iPhone and iPad data plans I have for my other devices.
I am a heavy user of data and travel internationally for work, so I have limited options.
- GadgetGuy

Gadgetguy said:
I think we are saying the same thing. Unless your point of shifting to an MNVO from AT&T is to make phone calls, then you can get the best value from AT&T itself,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, voice calling is my priority... and being able to access 3G data when needed (rarely) is a bonus.
BTW, looks like Jolt Mobile will be offering data access soon:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...ted-talk-text-50-plan?p=14139937#post14139937

I can help you get your Tab onto H2O if you want.

qipengart said:
I can help you get your Tab onto H2O if you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure thing! Although I was under the assumption that simply doing the Euro-firmware upgrade to the AT&T Tab (and using an H2O sim) would allow me on... no?

Awesome... I would have to provision your Tab for use on H2O. I work for a wireless company.
Sent from my Eris using XDA App

qipengart said:
Awesome... I would have to provision your Tab for use on H2O. I work for a wireless company.
Sent from my Eris using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very cool. What needs to be done on my end?
And I certainly appreciate the help.

Seeking input on US-based GSM carriers.

I'm currently in the group of people still using an unlocked phone (Galaxy SII GT-i9100) on AT&T's $10/mo medianet plan. My wife uses an iPhone 4s on the grandfathered $30/mo unlimited plan. Between the two of us, 550 minutes, and unlimited text, our bill comes to $125.20 every month. It's not bad at all and I have no complaints. However, I'd like an exit strategy in case AT&T yanks the medianet plan as they've recently done to SGS3 and Galaxy Nexus owners.
Two of my options are to accept the $30/mo 3GB limit, or move to the 4GB family share plan. My wife typically uses 200-500MB of data and I average about 1.2GB a month with spikes up to 2GB. Getting raised to the $30/plan brings our bill to about $145/mo (our discount seems to negate the taxes), whereas going to the 4GB family share plan will put us at about $150, and takes away my wife's unlimited. Also, me going to the $10 medianet plan was out of principal, as I previously had the $30/mo unlimited plan, suspended my account during deployment, and then AT&T took it away, claiming that "military lose their grandfathered plans on deployments." I know that's not true, I just got a bad CS rep, but that's what I was told and I've been paying AT&T back ever since.
So, my other options are to try another GSM carrier. I'm in the Seattle area now and T-Mobile has excellent coverage up here, and by proxy, their MVNO carrier, Simple Mobile. In the case of Simple Mobile we could save quite a bit of money as well. But, as many people know, neither the iPhone 4S nor the SGSII support AWS bands. However, T-Mobile has been switching over to 1900mhz lately. Ideally, our phones should already support 3G/fake 4G in this area on T-Mobile. Can any Simple Mobile users comment on whether or not SM is using this new (to them) frequency?
Lastly, in the case of not being able to use 3G/fake 4G on Simple Mobile, are there any other GSM MVNOs worth considering?

I believe Straight Talk is unlimited everything for $45/month, and has support for (your choice of) AT&T, T Mobile, and Verizon (?).
So if you were to take both your phones, dumb them on two different ST plans for $45, you'd end up spending $90 a month for both your phone. Blam!
(Btw, I heard something about cutting you off or throttling at 3 to 4 GB of data usage, but since that's not in your range, I wouldn't worry)
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium

T-Mobile refarmed Seattle already I think (check airportal.de to verify) so I would switch to them. If you both get on the $30 plan and port your number to Google Voice you can use Talkatone or GrooveIP to talk on the phone. And if you get stuck on Edge Talkatone still works good.

Found what I want from T-Mobile.
http://explore.t-mobile.com/phone-sim-card
Two lines, 1000 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data w/throttling after 2GB for $79.98/mo. No throttling if you pay $99.98/mo. In both cases, I'm eligible for a 15% military discount, unlike prepaid plans like Simple Mobile and straight Talk. However, I believe T-Mobile hides more below the line fees, making it nearly a wash in terms of advertised price. The difference being, unlike SM and ST, T-Mo won't kill my account for using more than 2Gb on an unlimited plan.
Also, they require a 2-year contract with a $200/line cancellation fee despite it being "bring your own phone," which is some straight up bull****.
As of today, I can save $25/mo moving to their unlimited plan, or $45/mo if I go to the 2GB throttling plan. I'd prefer the unlimited, so at $25/mo, it's only $300/year saved. However, I'd get slightly less coverage, and my wife wouldn't get her $200 iPhone upgrade every 2 years, which pretty much negates the savings (and she would miss her visual voice mail). So, unless AT&T rate jacks me by taking me off Medianet, we're not switching to this plan.

Best AT&T MVNO?

Currently using Net 10 wireless, which has announced it will throttle AT&T sim card users after 1.5GB per month.
T-Mobile is absolutely horrible at my house, which I will need to live at for the next 3-6 months. I would need to work out a Call Forwarding solution and they only do that for post-paid customers, which I am not looking to get locked into a contract.
Are my options bleak? I think AT&T Straight Talk is about to go through the same capped/throttling plan since they are owned by tracfone.
My research into other AT&T MVNOs have shown time and time a get to be fruitless ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators) as each has a similar cap.
Am I destined to get the short end of the stick until I move back into a major metro area?

Rebel908 said:
Currently using Net 10 wireless, which has announced it will throttle AT&T sim card users after 1.5GB per month.
T-Mobile is absolutely horrible at my house, which I will need to live at for the next 3-6 months. I would need to work out a Call Forwarding solution and they only do that for post-paid customers, which I am not looking to get locked into a contract.
Are my options bleak? I think AT&T Straight Talk is about to go through the same capped/throttling plan since they are owned by tracfone.
My research into other AT&T MVNOs have shown time and time a get to be fruitless ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators) as each has a similar cap.
Am I destined to get the short end of the stick until I move back into a major metro area?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mind the cap since I have wifi wherever I go. But yes every ATT MNVO has caps for similar prices. Tmo/sprint is last to have unlimited. And tmo throttles after a certain amount. But tmo coverage sux in many areas why I left them for net10 att sim.

AT&T is throttling pretty much all MVNO's after 1.5 GB, I don't know of one that's not hit by this. AT&T's cheapest plan is limited to 1 GB of data at around $60/month so is no bargain.

kzoodroid said:
AT&T is throttling pretty much all MVNO's after 1.5 GB, I don't know of one that's not hit by this. AT&T's cheapest plan is limited to 1 GB of data at around $60/month so is no bargain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Red Pocket and H20 Wireless both have 2gb plans but are around $60 dollars as well. both are Att.mvno my friend uses red pocket and he is pretty happy with them.

MVNO for Verizon Anyone?

I am evaluating the Essential right now, especially after seeing Best Buy's offer for $450! I currently use H2O as my MVNO. However, because of my location, I would rather use a Verizon MVNO. GSM service here using either T-Mobile or AT&T is pretty spotty. And my wife's experience using Verizon has been excellent. Can anyone tell me what their experience has been with various MVNO services and Verizon? I want to spend no more than $30 a month...unlimited talk and text with 1-2 GB of data (I don't use a lot). All opinions will be appreciated. Thanks.

rebecker said:
I am evaluating the Essential right now, especially after seeing Best Buy's offer for $450! I currently use H2O as my MVNO. However, because of my location, I would rather use a Verizon MVNO. GSM service here using either T-Mobile or AT&T is pretty spotty. And my wife's experience using Verizon has been excellent. Can anyone tell me what their experience has been with various MVNO services and Verizon? I want to spend no more than $30 a month...unlimited talk and text with 1-2 GB of data (I don't use a lot). All opinions will be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am currently on Xfinity Mobile, a Verizon MVNO. Basically there are two plans. $12/month by the GB (including unlimited calls and text), or $45/month unlimited. But there currently is no BYOD plan (XM says they plan to offer one in "the future"). So you have to buy a device from them, and you have to have Comcast internet.
The cell service is VZW. The "customer" service is Comcast, so you know what that means...

Xfinity works fine for me as well. In fact it's the only one that works well for me. Can't use my main Tmo line since neither of the essential phones I've had can hold a connection well on Tmo.

Best U.S. prepaid provider for essential phone?

I am curious to know which provider will the essential phone never most from? I'm thinking about getting away from mvno's and going with someone like Verizon, att, TMobile, etc. I'm looking for best overall provider. Price wise, as well as coverage and data. Thank you.

I decided to go with Verizon's prepaid. They have a deal $40 for 3gb but if you sign up they double it, plus roll over data. Which should be great because I only use like 2gb a month.

Of course Mint sim . 25$ for 10 gb .

I use straight talk. 55$ for unlimited. They used to be pretty good but I've noticed recently it's been painfully when I'm around a lot of people on their phones. Also one thing I've noticed is my essential doesn't get as good of WiFi or cell service as my s8+ did.

I used total wireless $35 plan for a while. Good if you can deal with the 5mbps limit, if they still have that limit.
I'm now using straight talk $55 unlimited with Verizon SIM, actually my total wireless SIM. On ST you are heavily deprioritized BUT you have good speeds at night and early mornings... Depending on your area of course.
From all I've read Verizon works best with this device, usually.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA Labs

I'm usually happy with my usmobile plan, seems to work great with the essential phone, so far.

"never most from'"
What the hell does that even mean?

I'm using Verizon and get 7 GB of data a month plus unlimited calls and texts for $50.00 a month. This includes roll over data as well. I'm not a huge fan of any cellular provider but where I live Verizon has the best overall coverage although their network speed sucks compared to T-Mobile.
I get about the same performance using my S8+ or PH-1.