I have Att should've waited but I am okay now w 30 gig data and 4 lines did my math w the new phones I would've been paying more and not including etf
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Experience of switching from AT&T to T-Mobile
- Thread starter nousernamespecified
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
When I went to college, my parents decided they wanted to save a few bucks and moved to T-Mobile, so I assumed billing responsibility of our AT&T account (keeping my number; parents ported their numbers to T-Mobile). This was because the school I was going to had an AT&T tower on campus and this great plan for the students. (Well I didn't go to that school)
After two years crappy service at home and lack of general reception, I ported them back to AT&T with no resistance.
So technically our account has been around for twenty odd years, and I've personally never had an issue. I've tried test T-Mobile on and off, but never found a reason to switch. I've also had a Sprint MiFi for about four years; speeds were pretty terrible but the price was good. After AT&T introduced the MobileShare, we merged the MiFi into our account and canceled the Sprint. Verizon we never tried or switched to because back in the CDMA day we needed a GSM phone to switch SIM cards when we traveled.
After two years crappy service at home and lack of general reception, I ported them back to AT&T with no resistance.
So technically our account has been around for twenty odd years, and I've personally never had an issue. I've tried test T-Mobile on and off, but never found a reason to switch. I've also had a Sprint MiFi for about four years; speeds were pretty terrible but the price was good. After AT&T introduced the MobileShare, we merged the MiFi into our account and canceled the Sprint. Verizon we never tried or switched to because back in the CDMA day we needed a GSM phone to switch SIM cards when we traveled.
I switched from AT&T to T-Mobile in January and switched back last week. There's no service in most of my 3 hour daily commute. Unlimited data isn't worth that.
Truer words were never spoken.
Its all about how and where you use your phone that determines what service will be best for you
Absolutely it's about service where you need it, regardless of total cost. Which is why it's nice that T-Mobile offers a free test drive service where you get to try a 5S on their network for a week, free of charge: http://explore.t-mobile.com/test-drive-free-trial
My dad is retiring and is considering switching from Verizon. I gave him the spiel about why I like T-Mobile, then told him to use that program. It doesn't matter how much I love T-Mobile if the service doesn't work for him, but at least he can try it for free to see if it does.
My dad is retiring and is considering switching from Verizon. I gave him the spiel about why I like T-Mobile, then told him to use that program. It doesn't matter how much I love T-Mobile if the service doesn't work for him, but at least he can try it for free to see if it does.
Very interested in this post. If you had something to add with your experience, please post your location so we can get a better idea what coverage is like depending on your city.
I'm doing basically the same, for basically the same reason. Switched from AT&T to T-Mo in December last year and am switching back with purchase of iPhone 6. My LTE speeds in the DC area are fantastic, but leaving the metro area it quickly turns to s&%t and 4G and Edge are terrible. In fact, if I'm driving and have an Edge connection, I usually can't get a data connection at all until I stop moving...so on road trips, my phone is basically useless. Even just driving to Richmond on 95 (one of the busier stretches of road in the country) there are long stretches where I don't get service. South of Richmond, I don't get consistent data until like Jacksonville (with short spurts of LTE in places like Rocky Mount and Savannah).
Also, and maybe this is just an iPhone 5s issue, but my phone seems to take forever to reacquire a signal when coming out of buildings or whatever...oftentimes I'll emerge from a building and it'll have kicked down to Edge, and it won't switch back until I put the phone in airplane mode for a second. Again, maybe this is a 5s problem, but I'd wager it's a network issue and it's incredibly frustrating.
I also didn't really care for T-Mo's customer service. I qualify for a gov't discount, but the reps at the T-Mo store couldn't process it, and referred me to their corporate sales department. After going through all the rigamarole with them, which included faxing in documents (in 2014!), they never responded or applied my discount.
I'm just in the process of trying out TMobile prepaid now in the Seattle/Puget Sound area on an unlocked AT&T iPhone 5--the model that actually predates TMobile getting the iPhone, so it's apparently missing a band or two that TMobile uses.
In the house, I've got 1 bar of service & 4G only-- AT&T is no better on voice here at home at 1 bar, and 4G/LTE reception in here varies quite a bit, so they're pretty equivalent. Step outside, and on TMobile it jumps to 4 bars/LTE, at speeds just under 30 Mbps and actually FASTER than AT&T. Coverage seems pretty good so far, though I expect that will vary. But I'm able to send & receive calls even indoors, and I can always use Google Voice over wifi (until I upgrade to an iOS 8 wifi calling capable iPhone) for calls if my indoor reception sucks. I'm on wifi 95% of the time anyway as far as data goes, with minimal travel outside the metro area.
I suspect I'm probably an ideal TMobile prepaid customer at this point. And I'm definitely looking forward to cutting my wireless bill in half.
FWIW, my family lives in Seattle and I go there often to visit. My whole family & many friends have TMO and really like it. On AT&T, I can't get service in my mothers house at all unless I'm standing next to the window. I checked in w/ them again before I made the switch and yes, service is good for them basically all over the place outside. They are happy with their service. I had my sister refer me so that we could both get unlimited data for a year
WiFi calling is a game changer.
FWIW, my family lives in Seattle and I go there often to visit. My whole family & many friends have TMO and really like it. On AT&T, I can't get service in my mothers house at all unless I'm standing next to the window. I checked in w/ them again before I made the switch and yes, service is good for them basically all over the place outside. They are happy with their service. I had my sister refer me so that we could both get unlimited data for a year
WiFi calling is a game changer.
Excellent to know, thanks! And yeah, I probably need to upgrade phones so I can use TMobile's wifi calling, but I figure I can make do with Google Voice for now. I use the iPhone as an actual phone so little, I should be OK like this for a few months yet.
(That said, I should note that call clarity has been equal to AT&T in this area as well so far, and visual voicemail works even on prepaid.)True, but it's really too bad the 5 doesn't support wifi calling.
I'm now looking for the most efficient way to trade an unlocked 5 for a 5c...
Just switched my whole family 5 lines to T-Mobile from AT&T. I've been with AT&T for 6 years. The first years sucked badly but these past two to three years AT&T has gotten much better. Still, too expensive for my taste and now I am with T-Mobile. My family and I are happy with the service in the Bay Area. We have 5 iPhone lines plus an iPad line. Much cheaper than 4 lines AT&T plan. I have unlimited data too and the rest of my family has 4.5GB. Can't beat the price.
Only thing is I wish Apple didn't hate on T-Mobile so bad, we should be able to get a iPhone with UP on Apple Stores and Apple online store. It's taking too long to get iPhones from T-Mobile... We order 3 last week but aren't getting them to about 11/22. Crazy long wait.
I got my iPhone 6 Plus 128GB through Apple Store because I paid full price. If not I'd be waiting forever.
Anyways, we are happy with our switch.
Only thing is I wish Apple didn't hate on T-Mobile so bad, we should be able to get a iPhone with UP on Apple Stores and Apple online store. It's taking too long to get iPhones from T-Mobile... We order 3 last week but aren't getting them to about 11/22. Crazy long wait.
I got my iPhone 6 Plus 128GB through Apple Store because I paid full price. If not I'd be waiting forever.
Anyways, we are happy with our switch.
Everywhere I've traveled in the US AT&T has been solid from east to west coast. Not really using a sweeping generalization, talking from experience.
I've used Tmo for over a year, pretty happy, never used other carriers cause I never wanted contracts, so I can't compare, price seems good.
I recommend checking out the Tmo Refer-a-Friend promo. If you switched to TMo after Aug 29 with a post paid Simple choice plan, you can get their un-throttled unlimited data plan free for a year.
You have to sign up at Tmo's Refer a friend page. I can be your referral. (I get a $25 gift card)
If you then PM me your email, I can refer you, and send you my email if you need it. I referred someone Oct 3 and Tmo just verified my referral on Oct 13.
Whoever you use as your referee, make sure they are in good standing and on a Simple Choice postpaid plan, it's a great perk for newbies and I recommend it. Not sure when this Tmo promo expires..
I recommend checking out the Tmo Refer-a-Friend promo. If you switched to TMo after Aug 29 with a post paid Simple choice plan, you can get their un-throttled unlimited data plan free for a year.
You have to sign up at Tmo's Refer a friend page. I can be your referral. (I get a $25 gift card)
If you then PM me your email, I can refer you, and send you my email if you need it. I referred someone Oct 3 and Tmo just verified my referral on Oct 13.
Whoever you use as your referee, make sure they are in good standing and on a Simple Choice postpaid plan, it's a great perk for newbies and I recommend it. Not sure when this Tmo promo expires..
Last edited:
I guess I just interpreted your comment as suggesting the OP shouldn't use TMO because AT&T had great coverage everywhere, rather than just saying they have great coverage everywhere you've used them.
I'm not slogging AT&T, I use them myself as they provide the best coverage where I need it. They also have some definite issues in places.
I agree, TMo totally messed up the ordering process. I guess they were poorly prepared for such an ordeal. Aparrently, in-store orders somehow go bumped up, which is why I was able to get one depsite placing much later in the day on Sep 12th. Many people who placed online order early AM, didn't get it on launch day. Just got lucky I guess.
----------
I definitely agree that AT&T's network is better than TMo's. But it was also a matter of mental peace for me. This wasn't the first time AT&T kicked me in the butt. Just had to get away from AT&T. Next best option was TMo. I hate Verizon and Sprint is not even a consideration.
It's not just T-Mobile that messed up the iPhone orders, it's almost every carrier except Sprint. For some reason they always have iPhones available
If you mean better as in greater coverage, yes, AT&T covers a wider area. But TMO is faster in the areas where they have service for the most part. And again, WiFi calling solves a lot of indoor issues. If you travel within the US, back country, small towns, etc, TMO may not be for you. If you are generally in large cities or travel overseas, TMO is a great choice.
It really really comes down to how and where you use your cellular service.
Last edited:
Yep, I meant greater coverage not their data capacity. My use case is mostly in cities so I wasn't much worried about it. Every once in while I run into dead zones, especially indoors, e.g. a mall or my office building. But I am ok with that because I have wifi most of the times.
Interested in unlimited data for 12 months? I can be your referral! Let me know, email me bellal89@ymail.com or PM
I've had ATT since 2006 and have been overall very satisfied. In NH for coverage we basically have ATT, Verizon, or US Cellular.
I have a FAN unlimited data plan for $67 per month. I've had to call to make an early upgrade and to get upgrade fees waived, but they have always taken care of me. They even gave me a microcell tower, when Verizon first came out with the iPhone and I had the opportunity to switch carriers.
Everybody needs to work with the best carrier for them in their individual situation.
I have a FAN unlimited data plan for $67 per month. I've had to call to make an early upgrade and to get upgrade fees waived, but they have always taken care of me. They even gave me a microcell tower, when Verizon first came out with the iPhone and I had the opportunity to switch carriers.
Everybody needs to work with the best carrier for them in their individual situation.