AT&T/Sprint/Verizon & T-Mobile Alternative Carriers & Plans for All iPhone Users

[Satnam1989]

If you are looking to move away from AT&T/Sprint/Verizon or Don't/Cant Unlock your iPhone from AT&T Yet:

Features Included by all Carriers/Plans Below:
- Unlimited Talk and Text PLUS Nationwide Coverage & Data (10MB-5GB)

Please Note!!
- If you are originally with AT&T then your iPhone Does not need to be Unlocked for Choices #1 and #3
- If you are with Sprint or Verizon(or any other Carrier) then Your iPhone 4S is Required to be Unlocked via Gevey Turbo SIM to use on any of the 4 Choices!(***CDMA iPhone 4 is not Unlockable)
- Getting your iPhone 4S Unlocked from Sprint/Verizon does not permit you to use your iPhone on another Carrier within United States, It is only meant to be used with International Carrier SIM cards!
- iPhone 5 from Sprint has the GSM Portion Locked!(Limited to International GSM Networks only...same as 4S)
- iPhone 5 from Verizon has the GSM portion UNLOCKED meaning you do not have to get it unlocked!
- If you have a Factory Unlocked iPhone 3G/3GS/4/4S/5 then you are GOLDEN

APN Settings = visit unlockit.co.nz on your iPhone to setup the desired APN for your carrier
MMS Settings = option 1) Simplest way is to Jailbreak and Install/Purchase TetherMe or SIM-Swap(Only available on 4S) as mentioned by many threads on this forum...please search. 2) Use a tool I think such as iPhone configuration utility...(I cannot provide feedback/support for MMS setup as I don't use it since I have no need for it thanks to all the great apps like iMessage & Whatsapp)

I Would Highly Recommend Choice #1 and Choice #2 unless you can find your self saving money with Choice #2 because your usage/needs are right in between Straight Talk and Simple mobile's plans

Choice #1:

Straight Talk - $45/Month(Excellent/Highest Value for Domestic Calls/Text/Data)
- Unlimited Talk, Text(Incl MMS) and Data (to be on safe side please don't abuse...2.5-3GB is Safe amount of usage)
- It is the absolute cheapest option around with Nationwide Coverage(Anywhere AT&T has 2G/3G/4G (HSPA+) Coverage You will get 2G/3G/4G(HSPA+) Depending on the area)
- 3G Speeds are Exellent!! Cheapest and Absolute Best Service as well as All Apps work 100%
- International Texting is Included but not mentioned(I have Texted Canada, Australia, India and UK)
- AT&T iPhone DOES NOT NEED TO BE UNLOCKED & Micro SIM Available
- Straight Talk now Also Offers $60/Month Which Includes International Calling to many countries!
http://www.straighttalk.com/ServicePlans


Choice #2:

GoSmart Mobile $35-$45(Excellent/Highest Value for Domestic Calls/Text/Data as well as International) Will be by #1 choice as soon as T-Mobile Reaffirm is finished!
- Unlimited Talk, Text(Incl MMS) and Data (up to 5GB of 3G, after its 2G)
- Directly competes with Straight Talk(AT&T MVNO), But has Cheaper & Better bang for your buck. You will get 2G/3G/4G(HSPA+) Coverage where ever T-Mobile has Refarmed their network!
- 3G Speeds are Exellent!! Cheap and Amazing Service as well as All Apps work 100%
- International Calling & Texting is only $10 extra making total to $45-$55 depending on plan added to (As compared to $60 for Straight Talk and Simple Mobile)
- AT&T iPhone DOES NEED TO BE UNLOCKED & Micro SIM Available, Verizon iPhone 5 does will work as its already unlocked
https://www.gosmartmobile.com/compar...ll-phone-plans

Choice #3A:

H2O Wireless - Varies from $40-$60 (Good for Domestic Talk/Text/Data PLUS International Minutes)
- Unlimited Talk, Text & MMS Included in All Plans but their Data is limited from 100MB-2GB Ranging from $40-$60
- International Calling minutes vary depending on the plan you pick (~500Min/Month)
- Nationwide Coverage(Anywhere AT&T has 2G/3G/4G(HSPA+) Coverage You will get 2G/3G/4G(HSPA+) Depending on the area)
- 3G Speeds are Excellent and All Apps work 100%
- International Texting is Included* (I have texted Canada & Australia before but not sure if it still is...been a year since I used their service)
- AT&T iPhone DOES NOT NEED TO BE UNLOCKED & Micro SIM Available
https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageC...ans&category=W

Choice #3B:

Red Pocket Mobile - Varies from $29.99-$54.99(30-Day Plans) (Good for Domestic Talk/Text/Data PLUS International Minutes)
- Unlimited Talk, Text, & MMS Included in All Plans and Data Included is from 10MB-1GB for $29.99-$54.99 Plans
- International Calling minutes vary depending on the plan you pick(Up to 200Mins/Month/+rollover)
- Nationwide Coverage(Anywhere AT&T has 2G/3G/4G(HSPA+) Coverage You will get 2G/3G/4G(HSPA+) Depending on the area)
- 3G Speeds are Excellent and All apps work 100%
- Internetional texting may be included*
- AT&T iPhone DOES NOT NEED TO BE UNLOCKED & Micro SIM Available
http://goredpocket.com/plans/


Choice #4:

Simple Mobile - Varies from $40-$50, Unlimited International Calling and Texting! 2G/ Speeds(Excellent for Domestic Talk/Text/Data & INTERNATIONAL Talking/Texting)
- Unlimited Talk, Text(Incl International ~ $5 worth), MMS and Data(250MB-Unlimited) Included in All Plans from $40-$50
- Option for Unlimited International Calling! $10/Month Add-On, This is the most affordable Carrier for International Calls & Texts
- 3G HSPA+ Speeds are Amazing in the T-Mobile 1900MHz HSPA+ network areas (Major Cities all have it)
- iPhone is Required to be Unlocked & Sim Cutting Required
http://www.mysimplemobile.com/Simple-Mobile-Plan.aspx

If/When more/better plans become available I will be sure to add them to the list, If you know of a great carrier/plan(s) that are better than what I listed then be sure to let me know

[eastercat]

Sprint/Verizon 4S is sim-locked for US gsm providers.

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by eastercat

Sprint/Verizon 4S is sim-locked for US gsm providers.

Thanks, Post updated

PS: Anyone know how to edit the poll? I could include Red Rocket Mobile to see how many people are on that as well....Thanks

[azentropy]

Not sure why you made it a poll, but it is good information. It would be nice to have a thread that summarizes all the options available and this is a good start. For a couple of months I used my iPad's SIM in my old iPhone 4 for data only. $15 for 250mb. Worked great. Then can use tools like pinger's textfree for doing texts and now even voice and vm (although I rarely use voice on it).

[fanboy05]

I have an old 3g, that i would like to use just as a phone ( not with a data plan at ALL)
is there a cheaper plan where I could put a sim card in that old 3g and just use it as a phone???
Everyone seems to want to include a data plan, but I wouldn't need it for texting or data, just to make calls.

[eastercat]

Pay as you go.

Originally Posted by fanboy05

I have an old 3g, that i would like to use just as a phone ( not with a data plan at ALL)
is there a cheaper plan where I could put a sim card in that old 3g and just use it as a phone???
Everyone seems to want to include a data plan, but I wouldn't need it for texting or data, just to make calls.

[Shadowbech]

Originally Posted by fanboy05

I have an old 3g, that i would like to use just as a phone ( not with a data plan at ALL)
is there a cheaper plan where I could put a sim card in that old 3g and just use it as a phone???
Everyone seems to want to include a data plan, but I wouldn't need it for texting or data, just to make calls.

T-mobile Pay as you go. But your iphone 3G needs to be unlocked first.

[GeorgieAcevedo]

I just find a little crazy this exist now. I remember shortly 2 years ago the crave for lots of people to have a unlocked iPhone for cheaper plans with tmobile. Now no need for that. You got this lol.

[chestvrg]

Originally Posted by scott craft

Through Straight Talk can you send videos or is it just pictures?

I have straight talk and I'm able to send MMS after I did the MMS settings via the swap SIM method without need to be jailbroken. I have a factory unlocked 4S, but I'm saving monie by having done the switch from AT&T to straight talk.

PS: search on other forums about this swap SIM method to change MMS settings.

[qanita92]

I'm sort of confused.

I plan on purchasing an iPhone 4 (along with my 4 siblings for a total of 5 iPhones) from Best Buy and getting either a 2year contract with Sprint or Verizon or AT&T so that I can get a cheap iPhone (for $50 each). Is there anyway that I can get Straighttalk?

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by qanita92

I'm sort of confused.

I plan on purchasing an iPhone 4 (along with my 4 siblings for a total of 5 iPhones) from Best Buy and getting either a 2year contract with Sprint or Verizon or AT&T so that I can get a cheap iPhone (for $50 each). Is there anyway that I can get Straighttalk?

I recommend that you go out and buy used/near mint iPhone 4/4S's from Craigslist/eBay for AT&T network....please do check them properly....best way to do it would be to get a PrePaid AT&T SIM card with a few $ on it that you can quickly insert into each iPhone 4/4S as you buy....Sure its going to cost you upfront but the log term savings are far greater than they will be on AT&T/Sprint/Verizon directly....Your looking $70 minimum for 1 phone...add $40 on average per phone above that...+$$ for a bigger data plan that 1GB on the shared plans...either way your bill is going to look well over $300 I'm Pretty sure with AT&T/Verizon/Sprint....where as Straight talk will cost you about $225 for all 5 lines together/month.......Each line will have UNLIMITED CALLING/TEXTING/CALLER-ID/VOICEMAIL/2.5GB of Data(they say data is unlimited but to be safe 2.5GB I personally recommend).....rest you may be able to ask other members on this thread who have 4-5lines and see what plans they have....

But if you can make do with say with your bill being around $300...maybe its cheaper to jus get a family plan then as the iPhone's subsidy on 2 year contract will definitely save you ton of money.

[iAi]

I have an iP5 Verizon and using an AT&T nano sim as my contract will expire mid next year. My area has no AT&T LTE coverage but Verizon does. I have an unlimited subject to throttling data plan with AT&T. Am moving next year though to a TBD area so not sure which will have LTE coverage.

These questions may have been asked repeatedly, so I apologize. Not really sure what I should do now but am exploring all options:

#1.
StraightTalk
1. StraightTalk has nano sim available now - or people are trimming the micro sims?
2. StraightTalk will work in either Verizon & AT&T iP5 version, right? I know no LTE either way.

#2.
T-Mobile (+PCS)
1. Would LTE T-Mobile works on either iP5 Verizon or AT&T? Or speediest it will get is the fake 4G or 3.5G even with re-farming?

#3.
Verizon
1. Go with Verizon for a little bit just to experience the power of LTE if I decide to stick with the iP5 Verizon phone. I still have 2 weeks to decide if I'd swap it with an AT&T iP5. Am mad with AT&T throttling now so I'll probably stick with iP5. Am not going for the long-term with Verizon's ridiculously expensive shared data plan as I will be the only user on a single iP5 device.

#4.
Sprint
1. Not an option now unless by my contract expiration they (with Softbank) become an LTE powerhouse but then I will have either an iP5 Verizon or AT&T in my possession.

#5.

?

What you guys would recommend to me?

Thanks!

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by iAi

I have an iP5 Verizon and using an AT&T nano sim as my contract will expire mid next year. My area has no AT&T LTE coverage but Verizon does. I have an unlimited subject to throttling data plan with AT&T. Am moving next year though to a TBD area so not sure which will have LTE coverage.

These questions may have been asked repeatedly, so I apologize. Not really sure what I should do now but am exploring all options:

#1.
StraightTalk
1. StraightTalk has nano sim available now - or people are trimming the micro sims?
2. StraightTalk will work in either Verizon & AT&T iP5 version, right? I know no LTE either way.

#2.
T-Mobile (+PCS)
1. Would LTE T-Mobile works on either iP5 Verizon or AT&T? Or speediest it will get is the fake 4G or 3.5G even with re-farming?

#3.
Verizon
1. Go with Verizon for a little bit just to experience the power of LTE if I decide to stick with the iP5 Verizon phone. I still have 2 weeks to decide if I'd swap it with an AT&T iP5. Am mad with AT&T throttling now so I'll probably stick with iP5. Am not going for the long-term with Verizon's ridiculously expensive shared data plan as I will be the only user on a single iP5 device.

#4.
Sprint
1. Not an option now unless by my contract expiration they (with Softbank) become an LTE powerhouse but then I will have either an iP5 Verizon or AT&T in my possession.

#5.

?

What you guys would recommend to me?

Thanks!

Here's what I can tell you from what I know:

1) Straight talk does not have Nano-SIM's so you will have to cut down currently and yes straight talk will work with Verizon iP5 (because I heard it comes unlocked) and Yes in AT&T iP5 100% no doubt about that one. You will not get LTE with Straight Talk.

2) T-Mobile LTE will not work with iP5...I dont think at least yet....unless they do launch it on one of the supported bands...but this is a question of the future which we are all uncertain about....so dont count on it....

3) If you are in to save money...go with Straight Talk...you will experience great speeds because more people are taking the leap onto LTE leaving the 3G network to be a little less clustered over the next year or so....I wouldnt recommend Verizon's expensive plans....again Straight Talk is your absolute best affordable choice.

4) No comment on sprint other than its almost like light years away for LTE and 3G sucks on it....

5) Go with straight talk, save money and enjoy what you are paying for.

[Mr Hill]

Originally Posted by iAi

I have an iP5 Verizon and using an AT&T nano sim as my contract will expire mid next year. My area has no AT&T LTE coverage but Verizon does. I have an unlimited subject to throttling data plan with AT&T. Am moving next year though to a TBD area so not sure which will have LTE coverage.

These questions may have been asked repeatedly, so I apologize. Not really sure what I should do now but am exploring all options:

#1.
StraightTalk
1. StraightTalk has nano sim available now - or people are trimming the micro sims?
2. StraightTalk will work in either Verizon & AT&T iP5 version, right? I know no LTE either way.

#2.
T-Mobile (+PCS)
1. Would LTE T-Mobile works on either iP5 Verizon or AT&T? Or speediest it will get is the fake 4G or 3.5G even with re-farming?

#3.
Verizon
1. Go with Verizon for a little bit just to experience the power of LTE if I decide to stick with the iP5 Verizon phone. I still have 2 weeks to decide if I'd swap it with an AT&T iP5. Am mad with AT&T throttling now so I'll probably stick with iP5. Am not going for the long-term with Verizon's ridiculously expensive shared data plan as I will be the only user on a single iP5 device.

#4.
Sprint
1. Not an option now unless by my contract expiration they (with Softbank) become an LTE powerhouse but then I will have either an iP5 Verizon or AT&T in my possession.

#5.

?

What you guys would recommend to me?

Thanks!

With T-Mobile you will get their HSPA+ 3G/"4G" if you're in a refarmed area, 2G everywhere else. Their LTE will be compatible with the AT&T iPhone 5 when it rolls out in 2013.

Skip Verizon. Too expensive.

My recommendation is to do Straight Talk for now and later jump to T-Mobile once their network is iPhone ready since they still offer unlimited data and will have a fast HSPA+ network as backhaul for their LTE.

[Moses84]

Hey everyone glad to be a part of the forums. I can personally say that I had straight talk on my 4s before i deployed to afghanistan. I had a spare iP4 laying around that i brought out here with me. I had it jail broken and used tetherme to modify all the settings i needed to run on straight talk without any issues (i.e. mms). I'm honestly not advertising but I did run in to the most inexpensive alternative to factory unlocking your AT&T iphone. do a google search for cellular medic. they charge 35 dollars to factory unlock your iphone permanently. I did this myself and i'm running on roshan here in afghanistan. the best part about it is that it brings back the options to modify the cellular data settings on your iphone. since straight talk uses slightly different settings to run data and mms, it will work like a charm if you're able to modify. so no more jailbreaking (unless you want to) and no more worrying about baseband upgrades. i've updated from 6.0 to 6.0.1 without any issues. now, i came to this post from the one that shows the map of witnessed T-Mobile 3g data support. i think the site is http://www.airportal.de
I personally want to switch to T-Mobile only because they offer a true fully unlimited no data cap plan. Their value plans are the best for unlocked iphone users (or any 3g phone that supports their bands) plus if i'm not mistaken i can stack my 15% DoD discount. The only complaint i have about straight talk is that the native iPhone visual voicemail is not supported and you're limited to 1.5gb or 2gb of data per month. I use to get warning calls and texts from straight talk stating they would shut down my service without warning if I continued to use heavy data (which i didn't, just push emails and facebook now and then). so having to worry about not going over your data cap always kept me on edge hehe.
Hope this info helps anyone considering to stay with straight talk or move over to T-Mobiles refarmed 1900mhz 3g. I honestly can't wait to get back home and try it out. I'm pretty sure the data will be slower than att's but not by much.

[Satnam1989]

I think soon ill have to change the thread name to AT&T/Sprint & Verizon Alternative Carriers & Plans for all iPhone users and include T-Mobile to the list of cheaper carriers.

[Mr Hill]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

I think soon ill have to change the thread name to AT&T/Sprint & Verizon Alternative Carriers & Plans for all iPhone users and include T-Mobile to the list of cheaper carriers.

Why? T-Mobile is one of the 4 main carriers and the other smaller carriers are pretty much MVNOs of AT&T and T-Mobile.

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by Mr Hill

Why? T-Mobile is one of the 4 main carriers and the other smaller carriers are pretty much MVNOs of AT&T and T-Mobile.

Ya but T-Mobile now supports 3G on iPhone's and is a really cheap alternative to AT&T, Sprint and Verizon despite being 4th largest carrier.

[Bob Coxner]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

Ya but T-Mobile now supports 3G on iPhone's and is a really cheap alternative to AT&T, Sprint and Verizon despite being 4th largest carrier.

TMo supports 3G only in very limited areas currently. You always have to note that to avoid noobs being disappointed when they try it.

[1rottenapple]

Data wise, straight talk seems to be the best for data. My friend has ST, and its pretty fast. Plays videos and everything.

[ukancallmeinky]

so now that the factory unlocked iphone5 from apple is available... can I use straight talk? and just buy a nano sim card cutter online??

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by ukancallmeinky

so now that the factory unlocked iphone5 from apple is available... can I use straight talk? and just buy a nano sim card cutter online??

You can use a AT&T or a Factory Unlocked iPhone 5 on Straight Talk, Yes you will have to modify your own SIM as last time I checked Straight Talk didnt offer the nano sim.

IF you have good T-Mobile's reaffirmed 3G HSPA+ coverage in your area I would definitely check out GoSmart Mobile that T-Mobile just launched!

[ukancallmeinky]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

You can use a AT&T or a Factory Unlocked iPhone 5 on Straight Talk, Yes you will have to modify your own SIM as last time I checked Straight Talk didnt offer the nano sim.

IF you have good T-Mobile's reaffirmed 3G HSPA+ coverage in your area I would definitely check out GoSmart Mobile that T-Mobile just launched!

ok I will check them out aswell... thank you

[Rajincajuns]

I have an iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S on Verizon network. What plan would be the best for these 2 phones? I forgot, Also I have a Samsung galaxy 3 on Verizon network.

[Rajincajuns]

Originally Posted by Rajincajuns

I have an iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S on Verizon network. What plan would be the best for these 2 phones? I forgot, Also I have a Samsung galaxy 3 on Verizon network.

Let me clarify myself on the above post I have a Verizon iPhone 5 & 4s I bought from apple. I also have an unlocked Verizon Samsung galaxy 3. Will these phones work on straighttalk?