Switching from AT$T to T-Mobile. Any tips?

Discussion in 'iPhone' started by djuarez03, Sep 30, 2013.

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  1. djuarez03, Sep 30, 2013

    djuarez03 macrumors regular

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    #1
    I currently have 3 lines of service with AT&T: 2 iPhones with Unlimited Data and one dumb phone that still has a year left on contract. I plan on opening 4 lines when I switch over to T-Mobile and plan on upgrading my iPhones when I switch. Since I'll be giving T-Mobile all my business, and I'm willing to pay the ETF on the dumb phone line, got any tips so I can get the best deal with them? For example, any chance I could get them to pay that ETF, or waive activation fees and the like? Thanks in advance for any tips, even if the tip is "stay with AT$T". For reference, I'll be using their service in the San Diego area, and sometimes in the Imperial Valley. Any opinions before I switch are welcome.
     
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  2. aziatiklover, Sep 30, 2013

    aziatiklover macrumors 68030

    aziatiklover

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    #2
    Tmobile will not pay your etf i already called them on that, but you will be paying $100 a month for 4 lines and all of them will have data plan by default.
     
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  3. deeddawg, Sep 30, 2013

    deeddawg macrumors 604

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    #3
    Highly recommend unlocking a phone or two if locked (swiftunlocks.com if AT&T won't do it), pick up a TMO SIM and try out their $30/mo or $3/day prepaid service in your area to see if coverage meets your needs before committing. FYI: I've been told prepaid doesn't get quite as good coverage as postpaid, but thats just from mentions here on MR.
     
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  4. Gary500, Sep 30, 2013

    Gary500 macrumors regular

    Gary500

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    #4
    Best decision ever TC. I've saving tons of money and getting way better reception than with ATT. :rolleyes:

    Just get those iPhones unlocked (less than $5) , pop in a T-Mobile nano sim, and you're off to the races with insane LTE speeds.
     
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  5. alent1234, Sep 30, 2013

    alent1234 macrumors 603

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    #5
    how much are you paying on AT&T and what is your T-mo bill going to be?

    i ran the numbers for my 4 line account and there really are no savings unless you keep your phones longer than 2 years
     
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  6. Pastries, Sep 30, 2013

    Pastries macrumors member

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    #6
    Don't cancel and pay the etf, sell your unlimited data lines to someone, that way they take your contract.
     
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  7. djuarez03, Sep 30, 2013

    djuarez03 thread starter macrumors regular

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    #7
    Just to add, I've already requested unlocks through AT&T for the iPhones (4 & 4S) and had no problems getting them unlocked since they are off contract. Great suggestion to try a pre-paid one month to try out. Never thought of that. I have heard service is pretty great here in SD, but since I visit the Imperial Valley quite often, I was more worried about the coverage down there. Although, really, service down there is pretty spotty with any carrier. My main gripe with AT$T is the throttled data speeds, so I'm looking forward to paying for actual Unlimited with T-Mobile, since apparently they don't throttle anymore. I only really need Unlimited on my line, since I love to stream Netflix & video. Plus, unlimited minutes will finally let me get rid of my home line that I hardly ever use.
     
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  8. burgman, Sep 30, 2013

    burgman macrumors 68000

    burgman

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    #8
    Where Tmobile LTE works it works well, just make sure it works for you. Coverage maps are a start.
     
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  9. CEmajr, Sep 30, 2013

    CEmajr macrumors 601

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    #9
    Yeah you can just get the iPhones unlocked for like $2 over at swiftunlocks. All the lines come with a default of 500mb of data but I'd recommend at least 2.5GB for the iPhones.
     
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  10. djuarez03, Sep 30, 2013

    djuarez03 thread starter macrumors regular

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    #10
    I'm currently paying about $180-$190/month for my 3 lines. With T-Mobile, I calculated that I would be paying the same thing with unlimited minutes/texts, and upgrading my two iPhones to the 5S if I financed with them. Also, I'll be upgrading the dumb phone to the 4S, and just adding a bit of data to it, since my mom is not an avid internet user. Cost goes down by about $20 if I only upgrade one iPhone. Either way, since I have limited minutes with AT&T, it's still a better deal if I switch and pay the same I'm paying now.
     
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  11. djuarez03, Sep 30, 2013

    djuarez03 thread starter macrumors regular

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    #11
    Sorry, I miscalculated. I'm actually paying around $160/month with AT&T atm.
     
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  12. karmamule, Sep 30, 2013

    karmamule macrumors 6502a

    karmamule

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    #12
    When I first switched from AT&T to T-Mobile that is exactly the plan I first went with. The 100 minute call limit proved just a bit too small for me (which surprised me), and the 4G limit before throttling was also a bit tight (since I like to stream music and on heavier months can get up to 6gb or so.)

    I ended up going for their $70 everything unlimited plan (well, everything but mobile hotspot which they give you 1/2gb of) and noticed a slight bump in speed. (I had good coverage at work/home either way) Now that I have unlimited I even use their LTE at home rather than wifi because it's noticeably faster.
     
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