Anybody know of a low cost cellphone provider with Android?

RabbitSuit

RabbitSuit

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My contract with Sprint is up tomorrow! And I reallly want to ditch them. The service, phone wise, has been great. However, I can't exactly say that their customer support service has been on-par with my expectations for a company I've been shelling out 70USD on a monthly basis to for the past two years.

Right now I'm looking for a new provider. Somebody that preferably uses sim-cards, and has Android phones available without a required Internet-plan.

I'd at least need two, since I cover the phoneline for somebody else too.

Anybody know of some decent providers and phones/deals that they offer?
 
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Straight Talk (pay-per-month) has a new Android Phone: Samsung Galaxy Precedent. You pay for the phone ($??) + $45/month unlimited plan.
 
If you don't have your own gsm android phones, a phone plan for 2 handsets is going to run you more than $70 a month on postpaid. No provider is going to allow you to get a subsidized android phone with no data. Even if you bring your own phone, some models are flagged to require data especially if the phone is provider branded unless you go with a prepaid plan.
 
[quote name='Kerig']Straight Talk (pay-per-month) has a new Android Phone: Samsung Galaxy Precedent. You pay for the phone ($??) + $45/month unlimited plan.[/QUOTE]

Hm, I haven't even considered a pay-per-month phone, but looking at this thing makes it a bit interesting. Thanks for the advice.


I don't mind if it goes over $70 a month for the two, dohdough.

But that's a shame about not being able to pick up a dataplan-less phone. I'm swimming in wifi hotspots overhere. Seems like a waste.
 
I go with t-mobile I think they got a plan for 50 for ultilimited everything plus u get the phone discount which is why people get contract
 
Yeah, an Android phone requires a data plan on every carrier, it's mandatory.

There's prepaid services like Virgin Mobile, they have a few android phones, they use the Sprint network, but have different CS. Also Boost mobile, but with these carriers you're not going to get anywhere near the service quality or feature set as The Big 4 (Sprint, Verizon, T-mobile, AT&T). I use Virgin right now, I can't say I like them too much, in fact I plan on ditching them soon to go to Sprint! lol

One thing about prepaid (no contract) phones is that they'll be a lot cheaper than any contract based provider, like both phones cost as much per month as you pay for 1 phone currently. As I said though, generally lacking features, and they don't subsidize the cost of their phones, which means shitty phones.

I'd say probably T-mobile is your best bet, especially if cost is not such a big factor that you need prepaid. They offer a ton of android devices from entry-level to premium, they're GSM (which means they use SIM cards, and work internationally), and you can set the two phones up on a family plan. The Unlimited Plus family plan includes unlimited data (though they start throttling your speeds after 2gb) for $140 a month (plus all taxes). They also get the Google Nexus android phones, which are great if you feel like doing any tweaking around with the device, or just want a phone with some different features.

One thing about T-Mobile, they say their network is 4G, there's a lot of heated debates and arguments about what technology qualifies as 4G and what doesn't, but just know T-Mobile's 4G is not gonna be as fast as some other companies. Still should be plenty fast. ;)

If you wanna read some reviews on android phones of their network, I suggest androidcentral.com
 
[quote name='RabbitSuit']
But that's a shame about not being able to pick up a dataplan-less phone. I'm swimming in wifi hotspots overhere. Seems like a waste.[/QUOTE]

Hah... I'm in the same boat. I really want a Android or iOS phone for their apps/features but don't need the data plan. I really don't like to have to carry around a phone and an iPod.
 
This is why I don't own a cell, or especially a smart phone. I won't pay more than $20 per month, and do not want or need a data plan. And I'd never, ever, ever join a company that requires a service contract.
 
You could try cricket if available in your area.

$55/month unlimited talk, text and data. Says 1GB unlimited data. Not sure if they just throttle it if you go over or what.

I think prices vary by zip code.

mycricket.com
 
$27 a month for unlimited text and data wtih no cap and 300 min with virgin mobile and 179 for an android phone. best deal around.
 
[quote name='mutantchipmunk']$27 a month for unlimited text and data wtih no cap and 300 min with virgin mobile and 179 for an android phone. best deal around.[/QUOTE]

Whoa! That's a fucking deal! A quick look at their website says it's $35 a month but that's still awesome.

Does anyone know how good their coverage is?
 
[quote name='Vinny']Whoa! That's a fucking deal! A quick look at their website says it's $35 a month but that's still awesome.

Does anyone know how good their coverage is?[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, that deal is no longer available as of the end of August. Virgin mobile does use Sprint's towers, so I assume the coverage is somewhat decent, although I have personally never used them (was very much considering it).
 
[quote name='Vinny']Whoa! That's a fucking deal! A quick look at their website says it's $35 a month but that's still awesome.

Does anyone know how good their coverage is?[/QUOTE]

That has to be for you to find out. Anyone's coverage can be fantastic one place and be total shit somewhere else, and you can't really trust their maps. I was on T-Mobile, and was covered by their map, but literally had to go stand in the street to make a call. I was on Virgin before, and I'm absolutely going back just as soon as I can afford the phone. My brother has the Blackberry on Virgin and watches YouTube and stuff
porn
on it all the time.
 
Cricket stinks and T-Mobile isn't much better. I've used both. Cell coverage has always depended largely on what areas you happen to live in or traverse, so YMMV. I've not used Virgin phones or plans, so I can't speak to if those are any good, but my Sprint service has been great for the year I've been using them.
 
If you are still looking, I went with Boost Mobile. They have an ok selection of droid phones. The plan I went with is $50/month with shrinkage (every 6 on time payments lowers my bill $5/mo) which caps at $35/mo.

EDIT: Boost uses Sprint Network, which you are familiar with. I do not use my phone too much, but $50 (soon to be $45 for 6 payments) is much better than being locked in for 2 years at $80+/mo.
 
I quit T-Mobile a few months ago because the prices of their service was getting ridiculously expensive. And I didn't even have a phone with a data plan! Just recently took a chance and went with Virgin Mobile and have been happy so far. I got my first smart phone, their LG Optimus V with Android on it. Plus, it's unlimited 3G data, text, and 300 talk minutes for $35 a month! Hard to beat right now especially in this economy. And I have no problems with the service where I am. Last I read the BB ad, the LG phone was on special for only $99! Not sure if it's still the same price this week. But Virgin Mobile also had the new Motorola Triumph smart phone with a more recent version of Android for around $299.

And it's not a problem that there is no SIM card for contacts, you can easily bluetooth them over to your new phone.
 
I bought the straigh talk samsung galaxy precdent i actually think its a great service so far.

ALthough one drawback with it is its 3g. But other than that its been great
 
After avoiding these sucker data plans for a few years, I finally caved in.
The main reason, though, is that most regular phones being offered by the major carriers are utter trash. Unless you want to carry one of those ugly 'tough' phones, the choices are very limited (on purpose of course).
They want you to buy into those data plans, and shrink your other choices as much as possible.
 
Simple Mobile is $40/month for unlimited everything, or $50/month if you want 4G. 3G is fine for me. It uses T-Mobile's network, and SIM cards, so you can drop a Simple Mobile SIM in a Nexus One or Nexus S and you're off to the races. No contract. As soon as my contract is up with T-Mobile, I'm switching to that.

http://www.mysimplemobile.com/plans-40-unlimited.aspx
 
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