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.

[Demonface]

Well I was with Simple Mobile using my Android and old iPhone but then I switched to Sprint to get the iPhone 4S a week or so ago.

[Satnam1989]

This is great, looks like AT&T is a winner here lol, But to anyone looking to save money Straight Talk is your best bet and you can't go wrong with $45/Month, If you do need 1.5GB+ Data then ya its worth sticking with AT&T because you can have up to 3GB but also at a cost of $65++

----------

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.

H2O Wireless has a $25/Month Plan that you can use in any combination....if you strictly use it for talking then you can have 1000Min/Month = Approx 16.7Hours/17Hours of Talk/Month! I think thats the cheapest you going to find

[moldy lunchbox]

My gf is trying to switch from AT&T to Straight Talk, its correct that your iPhone does NOT need to be unlocked to use the Straight Talk simcard right?

The phone is on 4.11.08 baseband which isn't unlockable.

[scott craft]

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

[ValerieDurden]

Originally Posted by moldy lunchbox

My gf is trying to switch from AT&T to Straight Talk, its correct that your iPhone does NOT need to be unlocked to use the Straight Talk simcard right?

The phone is on 4.11.08 baseband which isn't unlockable.

No unlock is needed.

[BiggAW]

I got the iPhone BECAUSE I'm on AT&T. If I was on Verizon, I'd be on Android.

[dontwalkhand]

At this point, I would think Straight Talk has the best deal out there. $45 for unlimited everything with decent 3G, you don't need to bother with an unlock from AT&T either, because the SIM cards just work in AT&T phones. They sell a Micro-SIM for $14, so no cutting required. When you need to pay your bill, just go buy another $45 card from Wal-Mart.

[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.

[dontwalkhand]

Originally Posted by BiggAW

I got the iPhone BECAUSE I'm on AT&T. If I was on Verizon, I'd be on Android.

AT&T unfortunately has a very weak Android selection, and they would rather promote Windows phone right now then ever care about Android it seems.

[BiggAW]

Originally Posted by dontwalkhand

AT&T unfortunately has a very weak Android selection, and they would rather promote Windows phone right now then ever care about Android it seems.

It's gotten noticeably better, but they have never had the top Android phone that's out at any given time, other than arguably sharing the Gnex with T-Mo, but that's a teeny, tiny niche. They still have a much worse selection than Verizon though, and don't have any really "WOW" phones like DROID RAZR MAXX. They have the most Android phones/phones in general, but a lot of them are garbage, and the overall selection still puts them behind Verizon.

I think M$ is paying them to promote WP7/ they want to diversify away from Apple (although better Android phones would do that a lot better than WP7).

[Satnam1989]

I think all T-Mobile users should move to Straight Talk....honestly the 3G connection your going to get is much better than the EDGE from T-Mobile any day! It Truly is the best deal around and definitely gets you bigger bang for your buck!

I honestly don't find T-mobile's deals that appealing since day one....Last year I went through the trouble of getting a Nokia E71 from Straight Talk because it was the only phone along with Nokia 6790 that had a sim card in it which worked on AT&T network and was useable in any iPhone.......Rather than going with T-Mobile it was worth the trouble as 3G Connection > 2G Connection plus $45/Unlimited everything > $50+ T-Mobile w/2G Speeds

----------

Originally Posted by scott craft

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

You can do everything to anything you can on any other network, on Straight Talk.....Only thing is if you abuse the Data, Id say going over 1.5GB/Month is Abusing....so you will get a call from them and if you do it too many times and get too many notifications from them then sooner or later they will ban you. So I suggest anyone switching to Straight Talk, the deal is so amazing that its not worth abusing and loosing it....

[fullmanfullninj]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

I think all T-Mobile users should move to Straight Talk....honestly the 3G connection your going to get is much better than the EDGE from T-Mobile any day! It Truly is the best deal around and definitely gets you bigger bang for your buck!

I'm on Tmobile...and it's not too bad for me. I've had an iPhone for almost four years now? I did not need data until last year. For me personally, that was great. I didn't have to fork over extra money every month for something I didn't yet need.

Last year, I decided "eff it, I'll get data". I called Tmobile and I currently am paying $5 a month for (technically) unlimited data. Albeit it's not 3G speeds, but for $5 a month? I seriously cannot complain...(and I have wifi at school, work, and home anyway)

[Minhimalism]

Originally Posted by fullmanfullninj

I'm on Tmobile...and it's not too bad for me. I've had an iPhone for almost four years now? I did not need data until last year. For me personally, that was great. I didn't have to fork over extra money every month for something I didn't yet need.

Last year, I decided "eff it, I'll get data". I called Tmobile and I currently am paying $5 a month for (technically) unlimited data. Albeit it's not 3G speeds, but for $5 a month? I seriously cannot complain...(and I have wifi at school, work, and home anyway)

This is exactly the position I'm in. My phone family uses iPhones on T-Mobile, and we all love it. No need for blazing data, because I have Wi-fi at home and school as well! Love it. Especially now that AT&T unlocked my phone.. no more Gevey WOO!!

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by fullmanfullninj

I'm on Tmobile...and it's not too bad for me. I've had an iPhone for almost four years now? I did not need data until last year. For me personally, that was great. I didn't have to fork over extra money every month for something I didn't yet need.

Last year, I decided "eff it, I'll get data". I called Tmobile and I currently am paying $5 a month for (technically) unlimited data. Albeit it's not 3G speeds, but for $5 a month? I seriously cannot complain...(and I have wifi at school, work, and home anyway)

How much you paying total now?

----------

Originally Posted by Minhimalism

This is exactly the position I'm in. My phone family uses iPhones on T-Mobile, and we all love it. No need for blazing data, because I have Wi-fi at home and school as well! Love it. Especially now that AT&T unlocked my phone.. no more Gevey WOO!!

How much total are you paying per line?

[fullmanfullninj]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

How much you paying total now?

I guess I didn't mention I'm on a family plan. I think 80$ for 4 lines. My dad has my old 3GS with no data plan, I have a 4 with the $5 data plan, my mom has a regular flip phone.

Unlimited text and some amount of minutes we never get close to hitting. Lol.

No matter what, this is the best choice. Take my line off our family account and the price still sits at $70 ($5 to add a line, $5 for my data). None of the above options have a prepaid plan for $10 a month.

TBH, there is no one-size-fits-all plan, as I'm sure you're well aware of :P For me, this works best. For others, they find your options more fitting. Some others may find options none of us have even heard of. To each their own

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by fullmanfullninj

I guess I didn't mention I'm on a family plan. I think 80$ for 4 lines. My dad has my old 3GS with no data plan, I have a 4 with the $5 data plan, my mom has a regular flip phone.

Unlimited text and some amount of minutes we never get close to hitting. Lol.

No matter what, this is the best choice. Take my line off our family account and the price still sits at $70 ($5 to add a line, $5 for my data). None of the above options have a prepaid plan for $10 a month.

TBH, there is no one-size-fits-all plan, as I'm sure you're well aware of :P For me, this works best. For others, they find your options more fitting. Some others may find options none of us have even heard of. To each their own

True say, I was jus curious. lol I talk, text and do tend to use a decent amount of data, mostly on WiFI...

[trina27]

Nice summary. I'm paying $64/month to AT&T right now (450 minute plan plus data with a FAN discount) for my iPhone 3GS. I'm seriously considering switching to Straight Talk. There are 2 reasons I'm delaying:

1. I'll probably be ready to upgrade on the next iPhone release.
2. I still have an unlimited data plan on AT&T. I leave AT&T and there's no getting that back.

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by trina27

Nice summary. I'm paying $64/month to AT&T right now (450 minute plan plus data with a FAN discount) for my iPhone 3GS. I'm seriously considering switching to Straight Talk. There are 2 reasons I'm delaying:

1. I'll probably be ready to upgrade on the next iPhone release.
2. I still have an unlimited data plan on AT&T. I leave AT&T and there's no getting that back.

$64 not bad at all!