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T-Mobile Announces 'Test Drive', A One Week Network Trial With a Free iPhone 5s
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I really have no intention of switching from AT&T, but I'm a bit curious to see how T-Mobile's network is like in my area. Although I honestly would only test the phone out for a few days. I really don't want nor care to carry around two iPhone's with me.
TMO works great in my area. But once you go inside a Costco, Mall, Grocery store ect, LTE drops to Edge or No Service. Kinda crappy.
Well I just got my trial iPhone 5S today (white/gold model # ). It's definitely 'snappier' than my 4S, but I am getting on average 1 to 2 dots/bars less than my 4S at home with AT&T. Which is weird, as T-Mobile's coverage map shows me as 'Very Good'. I haven't had a chance yet to test it out in real world.
I really am hoping this works out, as I do like Tmo's service plans compared to AT&Ts.
I really am hoping this works out, as I do like Tmo's service plans compared to AT&Ts.
Just got my 64GB 5S in Grey/Black
So far this thing kicks the pants off of VZ. I'm in the Boston area, typically a stronghold for VZ coverage, have never had any other carrier than VZ...going back to 1998. I can tell you that the north shore of Boston in particular, where VZ barely gets you 3 bars of LTE in places and often switches to 3G, T-Mobile is lit up 4 bars of 4G and sometimes 3 bars...even in my building, which is full of steel and reinforced walls where VZ drops my calls on a daily basis, T-Mobile has no such problems at all! I am streaming from Netflix over 4G (3 bars) while sitting in my office where again, VZ can't even keep a phone call active. I can tell you what I'm thinking, just 12 hours into my 'test drive'....
This is insane, I'm paying about 130 bucks/month for unlimited data/calls/texts with VZ (grandfathered into the unlimited data plan from the first time VZ got iPhone). I may have to make the move when the 6 comes out.
So far this thing kicks the pants off of VZ. I'm in the Boston area, typically a stronghold for VZ coverage, have never had any other carrier than VZ...going back to 1998. I can tell you that the north shore of Boston in particular, where VZ barely gets you 3 bars of LTE in places and often switches to 3G, T-Mobile is lit up 4 bars of 4G and sometimes 3 bars...even in my building, which is full of steel and reinforced walls where VZ drops my calls on a daily basis, T-Mobile has no such problems at all! I am streaming from Netflix over 4G (3 bars) while sitting in my office where again, VZ can't even keep a phone call active. I can tell you what I'm thinking, just 12 hours into my 'test drive'....
This is insane, I'm paying about 130 bucks/month for unlimited data/calls/texts with VZ (grandfathered into the unlimited data plan from the first time VZ got iPhone). I may have to make the move when the 6 comes out.
so i did this too
was hoping that the T-mobile sim would see the AT&T microcell site in our building, but no go. reception at my house seems slightly worse, so unfortunately i'll probably have to stick with AT&T.
the phone seems new despite the contract language saying it may be 'used'. it's a white 64GB model. quite nice actually and the touch ID works great (am currently using an iPhone 5 so the touch ID is new to me). it shipped with a charger, sim ejector and USB cable but i just left them in the box...
the phone seems new despite the contract language saying it may be 'used'. it's a white 64GB model. quite nice actually and the touch ID works great (am currently using an iPhone 5 so the touch ID is new to me). it shipped with a charger, sim ejector and USB cable but i just left them in the box...
You may want to reconsider T-mobile once iOS 8 is released and they support wifi calling. Should give you similar performance to using ATT with a Microcell.
i should clarify that it's not a microcell like ATT deploys in people's homes. it's something more like a temporary cell tower like ATT deploys at festivals, etc. my mistake though for referring to it as a microcell.
anyway reception on the first floor of my house was also kinda lousy but the wifi calling should take care of that as well.