Develop Bugs

Question about the $30 T-Mobile Unlimited data (Walmart) plan

I am getting fed-up with AT&T and am exploring options for my GNEX.
I was looking at the pre-paid T-Mobile plan with 100 minutes and unlimited data (up to 5 gigs, 2g speeds after). This seems like a good deal as I use little voice and nave Google Voice if necessary (via data network).
How does this work? Can I go to Walmart, buy the cheapest ($29) prepaid T-Mobile phone, activate with this $30 plan then toss my SIM in my GNEX and all will work?

I bought the Sim online from Amazon for $4 and activated it on t-mobile.com with that plan.worked without a hitch

rock7632 said:
I bought the Sim online from Amazon for $4 and activated it on t-mobile.com with that plan.worked without a hitch
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Click to collapse
Thanks. Have a link to the Amazon product? The one's I'm seeing have users complaining that they are old sim cards.
Also, can I take my GNEX to a T-Mobile store and have them sell me a sim for $4.99 (as listed on their site) and activate the unlimited data plan there?

back in the day i bought some cheapie pre-paid Target T-Mob phone for like $20, took out the sim and put it into an HTC HD2 i got off of craigslist and it worked fine.

I thought I read it was a Walmart exclusive deal with T-Mobile, meaning only in Walmart stores or online... Feeling the same here about att and wanting to switch to the $30 plan.

ericshmerick said:
Thanks. Have a link to the Amazon product? The one's I'm seeing have users complaining that they are old sim cards.
Also, can I take my GNEX to a T-Mobile store and have them sell me a sim for $4.99 (as listed on their site) and activate the unlimited data plan there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that plan is for Walmart and t-mobile.com only and not for T-Mobile stores. this is the one I bought
http://www.amazon.com/T-Mobile-Tmob...RY06/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1322514224&sr=8-6
some reviews are saying that its an old Sim but it depends on the marketplace seller that you're buying from. the one I used, I forgot the name but it was compatible with Amazon prime, sent me a new one so it worked for that plan

I have this plan. I bought it directly from T-Mobiles website. Works great for me cause I hardly use voice, and in the rare occasion that I might go over 100 minutes. its only 10 cents a minute more, so you'd probably never exceed the price of your current $60-$100 plan.
edit: this reminded me I need to call soon to cancel my even more plus plan that I have suspended wasting $10 a month.

rock7632 said:
that plan is for Walmart and t-mobile.com only and not for T-Mobile stores.
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Click to collapse
Right, so does Walmart sell the SIM by itself? I don't want to purchase a phone just to throw it away (even if it's only $29). I'd like to run to Walmart today and try this out as I'm headed out of town tomorrow (and don't want to wait on Amazon 3rd party shipping).

ericshmerick said:
I am getting fed-up with AT&T and am exploring options for my GNEX.
I was looking at the pre-paid T-Mobile plan with 100 minutes and unlimited data (up to 5 gigs, 2g speeds after). This seems like a good deal as I use little voice and nave Google Voice if necessary (via data network).
How does this work? Can I go to Walmart, buy the cheapest ($29) prepaid T-Mobile phone, activate with this $30 plan then toss my SIM in my GNEX and all will work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have this plan. I ordered my SIM directly from T-mobile.com and activated it thru their website. Just be sure that you don't order a SIM card only, you need an SIM Card + Activation Kit. The activation kit is just an activation code you'll enter when activating it online, but I'm not sure if there may be SIM cards for sale without activation kits.
Edit: I think I paid $6.99 thru T-mobile.com and it came with ~$3 to apply toward my plan. Not a bad price...

ericshmerick said:
Right, so does Walmart sell the SIM by itself? I don't want to purchase a phone just to throw it away (even if it's only $29). I'd like to run to Walmart today and try this out as I'm headed out of town tomorrow (and don't want to wait on Amazon 3rd party shipping).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when I went to Walmart to get this they told me that they only sell it with pre paid phones. Sim kit comes inside the phone box which is why I decided to buy online. choice was either straight from T-Mobile.com or Amazon. tmo was 6.99 and Amazon was cheaper with no tax and free shipping so I want with Amazon

ericshmerick said:
I am getting fed-up with AT&T and am exploring options for my GNEX.
I was looking at the pre-paid T-Mobile plan with 100 minutes and unlimited data (up to 5 gigs, 2g speeds after). This seems like a good deal as I use little voice and nave Google Voice if necessary (via data network).
How does this work? Can I go to Walmart, buy the cheapest ($29) prepaid T-Mobile phone, activate with this $30 plan then toss my SIM in my GNEX and all will work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for asking this question, I was about to make this thread myself (after seeing a few people talking about it here in the GN forums). I currently have a EM+ plan that's $70/mo after taxes. That's 500min, unlim text, unlim (5gb) data. So its really worth it to literally cut my bill in half by going this route.
How are you planning to set up google voice over data? Using one of the apps with a SIP account? This is the 2nd part to using this plan, is being able to just use GV with SIP while at home on WiFi or in a solid HSPA+ area.
Also for anyone who has moved to this plan, were you able to port your number over to this plan from T-mobile? I've heard there are issues with this because the $30 plan is for "new subscribers only".
TIA.

martonikaj said:
Also for anyone who has moved to this plan, were you able to port your number over to this plan from T-mobile? I've heard there are issues with this because the $30 plan is for "new subscribers only".
TIA.
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Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure you can't port. You'll get a new number. No biggie if your already a google voice user and use that as your main number.
edit: also, if you plan to use google voice with this plan. You need to call and ask them to disable voice mail. so your voice messages will go to your google voice number, and not use minutes since you never answered the phone. Also, call forwarding is disabled on prepaids, so this is why you need to disable voicemail on the t-mobile line if you want the messages to go to google voice and not to the carrier voice mail. just skip the voice mail setup in the google voice app, but set it up for voicemails on the google voice website for that phone number.
you also need to call to disable webguard.

The plan would have been ideal for me if I could use conditional call forwarding with Google voice Voicemail. I would have probably ordered the GN form Espansys by now. it just a small thing but, I really like the way Google voice works. I have separate greetings for personel and, business. This something I don't want to give up.

qnet said:
The plan would have been ideal for me if I could use conditional call forwarding with Google voice Voicemail. I would have probably ordered the GN form Espansys by now. it just a small thing but, I really like the way Google voice works. I have separate greetings for personel and, business. This something I don't want to give up.
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Couldn't you just set up personal greetings per contacts in google voice on the website, or by groups?
edit: i just looked. you can do it either by contact, or by groups. it should work fine (I haven't tested it). you'd need to disable t-mobile voice mail first by calling them to disable it. then after a certain amount of rings or time, the call would automatically go back to google voice (if no one picked up), and go to google voice voice mail. basically bypassing the lack of conditional forwarding.

Luxferro said:
I'm pretty sure you can't port. You'll get a new number. No biggie if your already a google voice user and use that as your main number.
edit: also, if you plan to use google voice with this plan. You need to call and ask them to disable voice mail. so your voice messages will go to your google voice number, and not use minutes since you never answered the phone. Also, call forwarding is disabled on prepaids, so this is why you need to disable voicemail on the t-mobile line if you want the messages to go to google voice and not to the carrier voice mail. just skip the voice mail setup in the google voice app, but set it up for voicemails on the google voice website for that phone number.
you also need to call to disable webguard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you can actually use Google voice Voicemail with a pre-paid, you just have to have them disable the T-mobile one? I didn't realize this. Have you done this yourself?
---------- Post added at 04:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:41 PM ----------
Luxferro said:
Couldn't you just set up personal greetings per contacts in google voice on the website, or by groups?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's actually how I have it setup. From what I understood pre-paid plans don't support call-forwarding so, I couldn't forward my missed or ignored calls to GV. I've been hearing a lot of mixed ideas on this and, didn't want to take the chance it wouldn't work.

qnet said:
So you can actually use Google voice Voicemail with a pre-paid, you just have to have them disable the T-mobile one? I didn't realize this. Have you done this yourself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, that is how i do it. i don't have personal greetings. but my voice mails go to google voice app or site, since the t-mobile line never gets picked up and it's voice mail is disabled.
---------- Post added at 04:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:46 PM ----------
qnet said:
Yeah, that's actually how I have it setup. From what I understood pre-paid plans don't support call-forwarding so, I couldn't forward my missed or ignored calls to GV. I've been hearing a lot of mixed ideas on this and, didn't want to take the chance it wouldn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just order one the new sim, test it out, and if it doesn't work like you want it, don't use it anymore. You could always suspend your even more plus plan for $10 a month until you know you want to keep the $30 plan. That is what I did.
edit: woops, you weren't the one that said they had even more plus plan. But either way, its basically a $30 test to see if it meets your demands. I think it will if you set it up properly. disable t-mobile voicemail, and disable webguard.

Luxferro said:
Just order one the new sim, test it out, and if it doesn't work like you want it, don't use it anymore. You could always suspend your even more plus plan for $10 a month until you know you want to keep the $30 plan. That is what I did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will have to test this out. I have a Mytouch 4G and, I will test it out on that. If it works, I may get the GSM Galaxy Nexus and, port my number over. This has been one of the things holding me back. Of coures by the time I do this, the Verizon version may be out and, I'll have a decision to make.
I've also heard that they only charge you 10 cents for every minute you go over. That's too good to be true for me. I checked my usage patterns and, I only use about 170 minutes a month on average.

I'm interested in this as well, one question though:
Are T-Mobile to T-Mobile minutes free?

KiNG OMaR said:
I'm interested in this as well, one question though:
Are T-Mobile to T-Mobile minutes free?
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Click to collapse
I don't think so. Could be wrong, but don't think you get any features like mobile to mobile, nights and weekends, or anything like that.

Luxferro said:
I'm pretty sure you can't port. You'll get a new number. No biggie if your already a google voice user and use that as your main number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to call up T-mobile and switch from an Even More Plus plan no hassle. CSR just said she put through a form and 24 hours later my number was ported to this new plan. Did this like a week ago? I recommend this plan plus GrooveIP for free wireless calling.

[Q] Wi-Fi Calling doesn't use your plan minutes at all if you have SGS2 and Amaze!

I was having clarity issues on my wifi and non-wifi calling so I called Tmobile to replace my device and they've shipped a new device today. Reason, I mention this bcuz it all started when I asked the Tmobile rep that I've been hearing rumors on tmonews.com about the wifi app not using your plan minutes after November or so? He said it's true but only applicable to SGS2 and HTC Amaze phones, not to any prior models at all (period). They have to turn that option on in your account settings otherwise it will always be using your plan minutes. Here's the catch tho, He couldn't turn this option on bcuz I'm on grandfathered plan with myfavs option on my shared family plan.
I use Google voice to call my gf on UK cell and it's 10c/min and it still uses my plan minutes even being on wifi calling option on. He recommended either to change my plan to the newer ones to get free wifi minutes or to add my google voice number to five favs so it doesn't get deducted outta my plan mins. I didn't know if anybody had mentioned this before here so I thought about sharing it. Remem, Sharing is caring
Q) Does anyone else have any idea about cheaper and convenient way of calling uk Tmobile (796) number?
Q) Why do we get crystal clear sound wheneva she calls me but choppy/discarded convo when I make Google voice calls? she has Samsung Galaxy S1 Tmobile uk model. I also hear my buds from local town complaining about degrading sound quality after like a minute or so? I hope that new replacement device fixes the issue.

GillBostonian said:
Does anyone else have any idea about cheaper and convenient way of calling uk Tmobile (796) number?
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Click to collapse
Find a family member or a friend who is willing to add you as Vonage Extensions with World Premium Unlimited plan from $4.95/month. Call T-Mobile back, or use my.t-mobile.com, to add the Free Wi-Fi calling feature on your account.

I'll defi ask someone who can help me adding my number to their service. What if they're using or have their smart phone registered? idk how their service works. I've never used it tho!

GillBostonian said:
I'll defi ask someone who can help me adding my number to their service. What if they're using or have their smart phone registered? idk how their service works. I've never used it tho!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vonage Extensions details

Switching to a Cheap Plan

Well, I just switched my plan over to prepaid 100 minutes a month and unlimited text/data for $30/mo. I thought I would mention how I did it in case people were curious. Actually this is not the way I did it, but the way I should have done it. T-mobile reps don't seem to have a very good flowchart for figuring this one out, unfortunately.
Starting Point: In a contract on an unlimited plan.
1. Order a $2 prepaid simcard from t-mobile.com. Buying this sim card is the only way to be eligible for the "Wal*Mart Deal."
2. Once you have it, call up and explain that you have purchased a prepaid simcard online and that you want to cancel your contract and switch over to prepaid.
3. Once this is done, immediately call back (do not pay anything yet) and when you talk to someone tell them you have the sim card and that you want to activate the $30/mo plan with unlimited data. They should be able to get your sim card number from you and based on that, switch you over.
Note: You may experience some disruption in service doing this. However, in my case I am saving around $65/mo. from the previous plan, and I am using GrooveIP with Google Voice to make up the difference. This app is free with Wi-Fi calling, and costs $5 to enable 4G calling via a google voice number.
Alternatively, you can transfer your number to Google Voice for a fee of $20, and set everything up that way. If you do this, once the number transfers all you have to do is do a web activation with the new sim card on your phone. However, from what I can tell there are some downsides to using google voice now:
1. Your [Phone] button will dial out on the "wrong" number, as opposed to GrooveIP dialing out on the "wrong" number.
2. Your [Message] button will send texts from the "wrong" number as well, so you will have to send texts through Google Voice and will need data to do so.
For me, I do mostly texting, so keeping my number with the phone made sense. It is too bad this isn't more seamless. Maybe one day the carriers will pull their head out of their butts and stop trying to segment our service in stupid ways e.g., voice/text/data. Probably not.
I am a bit curious if anyone else has gone to this plan, or if anyone else uses the GV/GrooveIP combo in creative ways. GrooveIP seems to work pretty well here, although I do notice a bit of a lag in conversation.

tablador said:
Well, I just switched my plan over to prepaid 100 minutes a month and unlimited text/data for $30/mo. I thought I would mention how I did it in case people were curious. Actually this is not the way I did it, but the way I should have done it. T-mobile reps don't seem to have a very good flowchart for figuring this one out, unfortunately.
Starting Point: In a contract on an unlimited plan.
1. Order a $2 prepaid simcard from t-mobile.com. Buying this sim card is the only way to be eligible for the "Wal*Mart Deal."
2. Once you have it, call up and explain that you have purchased a prepaid simcard online and that you want to cancel your contract and switch over to prepaid.
3. Once this is done, immediately call back (do not pay anything yet) and when you talk to someone tell them you have the sim card and that you want to activate the $30/mo plan with unlimited data. They should be able to get your sim card number from you and based on that, switch you over.
Note: You may experience some disruption in service doing this. However, in my case I am saving around $65/mo. from the previous plan, and I am using GrooveIP with Google Voice to make up the difference. This app is free with Wi-Fi calling, and costs $5 to enable 4G calling via a google voice number.
Alternatively, you can transfer your number to Google Voice for a fee of $20, and set everything up that way. If you do this, once the number transfers all you have to do is do a web activation with the new sim card on your phone. However, from what I can tell there are some downsides to using google voice now:
1. Your [Phone] button will dial out on the "wrong" number, as opposed to GrooveIP dialing out on the "wrong" number.
2. Your [Message] button will send texts from the "wrong" number as well, so you will have to send texts through Google Voice and will need data to do so.
For me, I do mostly texting, so keeping my number with the phone made sense. It is too bad this isn't more seamless. Maybe one day the carriers will pull their head out of their butts and stop trying to segment our service in stupid ways e.g., voice/text/data. Probably not.
I am a bit curious if anyone else has gone to this plan, or if anyone else uses the GV/GrooveIP combo in creative ways. GrooveIP seems to work pretty well here, although I do notice a bit of a lag in conversation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started my Walmart deal a different way...
Went and bought a g2x off Craigslist. Went to Walmart bought their cheapest prepaid phone ($30) then took it to the counter where the wireless rep (not the associate) asked how I wanted it setup. I pulled out the g2x and said I wanted that $30 unlimited data / 100min deal, he said good idea and did it all for me. Few days later I ported my number from sprint to T-Mobile, took about 5 hours.
I then setup a google voice with a new number and use my phone number on my phone and GV and groove IP with the google number. I use it way less for texting then my actual phone, so I chose not to port it to google. I use groove IP on wifi and 4g, does passable on 4g for quick calls or automated like pharmacy or something like that.
So that was about 6 months ago, going fine. Traded the g2x for a t989 and now I have water mic lol. I use groove IP at home and I only use minutes on incoming calls or if I can't get a decent 4g connection for groove IP.
Oh there's a 5 gig cap for 4g. I never broke 2 gb so far.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

Thanks for the rundown.
Where does the ETF figure into this? I'm planning to do this too soon, but I'm expecting to pay T-Mo $200 to do it.

rosemachinegun said:
Thanks for the rundown.
Where does the ETF figure into this? I'm planning to do this too soon, but I'm expecting to pay T-Mo $200 to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is ETF? Yeah I paid the $200 because I had almost 2 years left on my contract. But at a savings of $65/mo that paid off pretty fast. I tried to find a sim card at walmart and the cheapest phone they had was in the $140 range. Much better for me at least to get the sim card online.
This is much easier coming from another carrier. Then you can do what pio did basically and just web-activate the sim (or get a phone at walmart if you need to get a GSM phone). Once activated you just call tmobile and transfer the number. Doing it within T-mobile is harder because (1) there is a wall between the contract and prepaid business (2) the prepaid customer service is poor, and (3) you have to jump through some hoops to be eligible for the promo.
Here's the sim card link, which can be found if you know where to look, or just search for "sim card": http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit
Also, a bit off topic but just noticed that Virgin USA is apparently getting an iPhone and has an HTC EVO option as well. Not bad for their plans, which start at $35/mo with unlimited data. I ruled this out because I already had a GSM phone I liked. And because I think tmobile has a better network (could be wrong about this).

tablador said:
What is ETF? Yeah I paid the $200 because I had almost 2 years left on my contract. But at a savings of $65/mo that paid off pretty fast. I tried to find a sim card at walmart and the cheapest phone they had was in the $140 range. Much better for me at least to get the sim card online.
This is much easier coming from another carrier.
Here's the sim card link, which can be found if you know where to look, or just search for "sim card": http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Early Termination Fee
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

pio_masaki said:
Early Termination Fee
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Click to collapse
Oh yeah. Duh.

I have 5 lines on my account that would be $1000 in ETF lol
Btw where did you find they offer unlimited data?

shankar10 said:
I have 5 lines on my account that would be $1000 in ETF lol
Btw where did you find they offer unlimited data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The plan is a Walmart exclusive prepaid plan. $30 you get unlimited data with 5gb 4g Iimit, unlimited text 100 minutes. Have to be done at walmart or at least through them.
Just saw the addition a few posts back, yes its a lot easier to switch from another carrier. I had to pay a pro rated $90 ETF to sprint when I ported the number it cancelled my service with them. I just got a phone off Craigslist then bought a cheapy prepaid phone at Walmart to get the sim, I was getting stuff from T-Mobile getting just a sim and they wanted me to buy a new phone, and only a limited few for pre paid. I saved about $350 in sprint service cancelling when I did and changing over. Plus sprint changed to LTE which made my evo worthless and I only got some 3g and mostly edge data where I normally go everyday. Now I pay a third for service and get 4g in most locations. I wouldn't have switched if sprint had EVER gave me 4g in my state considering I paid for it every month, then switched to LTE and left every wimax phone owner having to buy a new phone. /rant
Tapatalked from my A100 - Flex Reaper RF1.

pio_masaki said:
The plan is a Walmart exclusive prepaid plan. $30 you get unlimited data with 5gb 4g Iimit, unlimited text 100 minutes. Have to be done at walmart or at least through them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or on the tmobile website.
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans

tablador said:
Or on the tmobile website.
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I tried they didn't give me the option for the Walmart plan, I guess they added it or you have to be a current client. I had to get it done at Walmart.
Tapatalked from my A100 - Flex Reaper RF1.

pio_masaki said:
When I tried they didn't give me the option for the Walmart plan, I guess they added it or you have to be a current client. I had to get it done at Walmart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange, for me it was difficult to get, but the key was that I had to either have bought a phone from wal mart or bought the prepaid activation kit from the website. I am pretty certain it should work, because in part of my drama of switching over, they told me to activate my new sim card via the web and I was able to select the plan, even though it wasn't tied to my other account at that point. (Turns out this was the WRONG thing to do, as I discovered after I had done it, and they had to go switch credits around between the accounts to fix it.)

tablador said:
Strange, for me it was difficult to get, but the key was that I had to either have bought a phone from wal mart or bought the prepaid activation kit from the website. I am pretty certain it should work, because in part of my drama of switching over, they told me to activate my new sim card via the web and I was able to select the plan, even though it wasn't tied to my other account at that point. (Turns out this was the WRONG thing to do, as I discovered after I had done it, and they had to go switch credits around between the accounts to fix it.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well like I said I did it months ago, they probably just didn't have it up at the time. Point is, it is now so go rock that website lol not every wireless rep is as cool as mine was.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

I ported my number to Google voice. Paid the $20 fee and use Talkatone. Started with Groove IP but lagged even on wifi. Talkatone voice quality is impressive; the only con is the dialer integration.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

I use grooveIP as well and the only major downside is that I now have 2 different numbers. I have never heard of porting my number to GV, but to make it clear, porting my number to GV will make it so I have to text using data? But Does this mean I don't have to use grooveIP for making calls?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA

Laazyboy said:
I use grooveIP as well and the only major downside is that I now have 2 different numbers. I have never heard of porting my number to GV, but to make it clear, porting my number to GV will make it so I have to text using data? But Does this mean I don't have to use grooveIP for making calls?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree talkatone is a one of kind.. tried groove IP but have few issues..as for porting your number.. Google is willing to port your number if you want to use your carrier given number as your Google voice number.. it is possible for a fee of $20 and in return cancel your contract..so carrier may charge you on that am not sure...yes in order to use anything Google be it voice for calls or text or Gmail you need a source of data connection either wifi or mobile data connection to be able to use Google effectively..yes you need an app like groove IP or talkatone in conjunction with Google voice to make calls...its not complicated as stated..
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

I've been on this plan for a couple of months and have tried out both talkatone and groove ip. When I make calls from those apps, I am not charged any minutes. But whenever someone calls my Google voice number, I am charged minutes. Does anybody now why?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks given for bringing talkatone to my attention, it does seem better then groove ip so far.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

T-Mobile $30 Plan in Houston, TX
I've just finished my first month of the T-Mobile $30 plan and I am very happy. I am in the northwest part of Houston and I get great data speeds (generally 3Mbit-15Mbit download speeds). At my work location, I've gotten up to 17Mbit download. (see attached) I expect to be using 80-200 minutes per month, so I should always save $30-$40 per month compared to my old Sprint plan (Sprint data reliability for me was terrible.)
Here is what I'm using:
Samsung Galaxy S2 T989
ROM: DARKSIDE.UCLE2_BETA06_TDJ
Radio: Tmo_SGH-T989_VK1_ICS_Radio_MOD

I've been using the T-Mobile $30 prepaid plan with groove IP & Google voice for about 4 months now. I ported my number to Google voice & there is an option to have your native dialer to use that number on out going calls. All texts are handled through the Google voice app (witch doesn't handle mms) so that's a bummer.
But here is a tip, there is an app called auto ap in the play store that automatically puts your phone in air plane mode & starts groove ip whenever you connect to a wifi network. So in my case when ever I'm home or at work all my incoming calls are free. It also really helps my battery life.

jcrip said:
I've been using the T-Mobile $30 prepaid plan with groove IP & Google voice for about 4 months now. I ported my number to Google voice & there is an option to have your native dialer to use that number on out going calls. All texts are handled through the Google voice app (witch doesn't handle mms) so that's a bummer.
But here is a tip, there is an app called auto ap in the play store that automatically puts your phone in air plane mode & starts groove ip whenever you connect to a wifi network. So in my case when ever I'm home or at work all my incoming calls are free. It also really helps my battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice tip.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

Is it possible to use Google Voice, Whatsapp and ONLY a data plan?

I'm thinking I could save a lot of money every month by doing this since Google Voice makes free calls in the U.S. and Whatsapp is able to text using data or Wifi services. What do you guys think?

You can use google voice to text too btw. I've been doing it for about 3 years now. Speaking from personal experience using VOIP (like groove IP since GV is not a voip service by itself) it is doable. The call quality over 3g/4g was very iffy at best. It usually got the point a crossed, but everyone complained of crap quality unless I was on a good wifi. I am curious to know what service you plan to get that is data only and cheaper than some of the pre paid plans? The Tmobile plan for 30 bucks with data, text, and 100 minutes is the cheapest I have found.

Ting?

Does anyone have any experience with Ting? I am thinking about switching since my contract is up on 3 and soon up on the other 3 phones on my account and it would be about $170 per month cheaper.

Bump
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Ting is using Sprint's towers (I'm sure at a lower priority than contract subscribers (done via a PRL)). If you've been happy with Sprint's non-roaming service and you are happy with your phone, it might be worth it. They are not going to allow bad ESN phones, so you'll have to cleanly break w/Sprint (no past due bills etc), and I don't believe they allow roaming. They've also said you may/may not be able to send/receive MMS using your old Sprint phone, but luckily there are sites like this that can help more than the carrier is willing/able to.
People that are unsure of their financial futures are afraid to be under a contract, which is understandable. That's why there are so many contract-free options out there that used to be taboo. More and more of these MVNOs are now letting you use your existing phone, which saves both parties money.
Quite frankly, in my opinion, it all comes down to data consumption. The growing trend is more and more people are using their phones as their primary source of internet access, either native data from the carrier or via WiFi. Ting does not offer unlimited data, so it may or may not be a good option for you. Virgin & Boost do offer unlimited data, but they do throttle.
http://phandroid.com/2013/03/20/sprint-mvno-phones/

Good
I have been on Ting for a couple months now, with my Epic 4g (on Slim Rom, with NS4G modem), and very happy.
The way their pricing works, you get a significant discount for having multiple lines with them. For reference, this is all the phones that work for sure with Ting:
https://ting.com/blog/bring-a-sprint-device-to-ting-you-know-you-wanna/
I use my phone a reasonable amount, and attached is a screenshot of how they bill. ($28/mo for how much I used this month).
I use google voice to do all texting, so I pay zero for texting.
In short, I like that if I use my phone "normal", I pay $28, but if need to used it more for one month, pay more, then back to $28.
4g service has worked fine for me with Ting.
One note, to save on cell minutes, I got a OBI Talk 100 google voice adapter, to have a free house line for longer conversations.
This link will give a $25 discount for either service or device purchase for Ting.
https://zd6rs41lh12.ting.com/

I just switched yesterday, and brought my girlfriend over today. Looks like we'll be paying about 30-40 bucks per month, total, which is absolutely stellar when compared to the $150 we were paying before.
The Google Voice integration that Sprint has was automatically voided a few hours after my phone was activated on Ting, which sucks, but I just grabbed a new GV number and have my Ting voicemail forward to that number (so I can keep their visual voice mail and web access). SMS, on the other hand, can't come from Google Voice, unless I want to tell everyone I have two different numbers. The other option, of course, is to port my current cell number to Google Voice and request a different cell number from Ting. Then solely use Google Voice with GrooveIP, but I'm not entirely sure I want to mess with that currently. Also, MMS wouldn't work using Google Voice, but then again, I can't get it to work at all right now with CM10.1... And I've done the sd card boot to stock fc09 to make the necessary changes, but I digress.
As UPdownLoAD stated, it's all down to data consumption, really. Since the two main places we use data (our home and our respective workplaces) are well covered with WiFi, there's not much reason for us to worry. I'm excited though; we've really needed to cut our bills down, and the cell bill was definitely the most glaring problem.

I've been on it for about a week and have my Google voice number to the few people who I text with the most. So far so good. Once out am confident about Ting I intend to start moving my family over too
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