Develop Bugs

[Q] Best carrier for Florida, bringing a Galaxy Nexus GSM

Hey all.
I'm going to Florida in June for just over three weeks and am wondering about carriers.
What carrier will work best with a GSM Galaxy Nexus and provide sufficient coverage to where I'm going? (Miami / Key West / Daytona Beach / Hollywood / Tampa / Orlando and roads inbetween).
What I want is to get a refill card, stick it in my phone and have some kind of data plan on it as well. 500MB or so for the whole duration.
Where do I turn? AT&T ?
Somewhere else?
Data speed isn't the most crucial, better to have it working than working fast in limited areas if you know what I mean.
Thanx in advance
// Stefan

There's a big thread here about Prepaid service on the galaxy nexus.. you should check it out
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
if you only going to be here for three weeks close to a month you might as well get a prepaid plan for like $30 bucks a month with 500mb-2gb a data then just cancel it. without that all carriers will charge you like 50cents per kbs.. its no credit check needed btw. just read that thread

YoungAceAtlanta said:
There's a big thread here about Prepaid service on the galaxy nexus.. you should check it out
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
if you only going to be here for three weeks close to a month you might as well get a prepaid plan for like $30 bucks a month with 500mb-2gb a data then just cancel it. without that all carriers will charge you like 50cents per kbs.. its no credit check needed btw. just read that thread
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Thanx a bunch.
Sounds like what I should do!
// Stefan

$50 at ATT should get you unlimited nationwide text+ 250 minutes + 500MB data. Plus potentially the price of the sim card depending on where you get it activated.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

If I were you, I'll go with AT&T.

I spend about 2 weeks in Orlando every year.
I have an AT&T GoPhone SIM that I load up. For $2/day, you get unlimited calls in the U.S., unlimited SMS (and long-distance to Canada is about 10c/min I think). You can add 500MB of data for $25.
Now, that said, I can tell you that, based on my personal experience, AT&T's coverage in/around Walt Disney World and Universal Studios sucks big time.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I live in south Florida and I have tmobile. I really like it down here, I never really lose service anywhere!
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium

FWIW, i Live in Orlando.
i have friends on AT&T, T-mobile, and Sprint.....and no one ever complains about coverage. so you are pretty much all set in orlando no matter who you go with.

Att owns an enormous amount of spectrum in florida, most of any other carrier or state. So i think att typically is good there...

I travel to Florida regularly from the UK and I use t-mobiles's pre paid plan. $3 a day gets unlimited calls and texts - US numbers - and 200mb of data.
Its usually more than enough for emails, whatsapp, Google's excellent navigation etc.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Guys (and any potential girls)!
Thanx a lot for all the info and help you've given me.
From what I read here it's basically:
Go with either of the big two (AT&T/Tmobile) and choose whichever suits me best.
Look at prices in the thread linked in the beginning of this thread and pick one.
Can't be easier than that.
Probably gonna go with Tmobile's "$60/mo unlim min unlim text 2GB".
I'm assuming I can just pop into any Tmobile store (if they have stores?) ?
// Stefan

Go to Wal-Mart, electronics section and you can get the TMobile Unlimited pre paid for what is it $45 somebody help me out on price I think its $45 USD.

justanothernoob said:
Go to Wal-Mart, electronics section and you can get the TMobile Unlimited pre paid for what is it $45 somebody help me out on price I think its $45 USD.
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Walmart has TMobile prepaid unlimited text, 100 voice minutes, and unlimited days (5 GB 4 G speed, after at 3 Go believe) for $30.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

_Dennis_ said:
Walmart has TMobile prepaid unlimited text, 100 voice minutes, and unlimited days (5 GB 4 G speed, after at 3 Go believe) for $30.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
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Thanx. That is an option as well. Hm. Do they have only that one at Walmart or do they have the other options as well ? (The $60 one I wrote about above for instance).
Now to find a Walmart somewhere between MIA and Key West and I'm set
EDIT: Walmart Supercenter
33501 S Dixie Hwy
Florida City, FL 33034
// Stefan

If you are looking for a budget go with T-Mobile, if you are looking for coverage, go with AT&T.
I live in Miami, and AT&T has better coverage than T-Mobile. I spend most of the summer at the Keys and AT&T has a lot more coverage down there as well. Is not that T-Mobile is bad but if you plan on going to the keys, you are going to find a lot of dead spots, while in Miami it is very solid.
Note: I was a T-Mobile customer for 5 years before switching to Verizon on November.

[POLL]Which provider do you use on unlocked Gnex?

Curiosity mostly, but I plan on dumping verizon soon and getting on the prepaid train.

T-Mobile Prepaid.

My past experience with Pre-paid is the network signal is weaker, I use Cincinnati Bell wireless and they told me I had to get a contract plan to get better service. This was years ago, not sure how pre-paid is these days, would love to find out more anbout it.

Optimus pre paid
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

LibertyMonger said:
My past experience with Pre-paid is the network signal is weaker, I use Cincinnati Bell wireless and they told me I had to get a contract plan to get better service. This was years ago, not sure how pre-paid is these days, would love to find out more anbout it.
Click to expand...
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014

martonikaj said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
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That's a great post. I have a well paying job but even I can't justify 100+ bucks a month for verizon, much less the verizon gnex. I will probably be joining the GNex with straight talk. Even though I will miss verizon customer service, I think I can deal with paying half that.

martonikaj said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
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Great article, thanks bud. But I don't think it's for me. I pay $260 a month for 3000 min. on 5 business phones shared and unlimited everything else, that includes insurance on all my phones,. Probably gonna drop the insurance. My contract is up in November and I am about to buy a GNex, so not sure what I'm gonna do.

T-Mobile: 2 lines, unlimited talk, text, and 5gb of data (before throttle) for both. Total after taxes comes to $124/month.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

LibertyMonger said:
Great article, thanks bud. But I don't think it's for me. I pay $260 a month for 3000 min. on 5 business phones shared and unlimited everything else, that includes insurance on all my phones,. Probably gonna drop the insurance. My contract is up in November and I am about to buy a GNex, so not sure what I'm gonna do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For large numbers of business phones (or large family plans), you're almost always better off with a shared/contract plan, unfortunately. When you need to manage multiple phones/upgrades/shared minutes, contract plans really help.

Has anyone had any experience with Pure Talk? I am out of luck with tmobile. AT&T is the only signal choice I get unfortunately.

bukithd said:
Has anyone had any experience with Pure Talk? I am out of luck with tmobile. AT&T is the only signal choice I get unfortunately.
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i use straight talk at&t. i had t-mo postpaid & made the switch. in my area, (westchester, ny), straight talk at&t provides me with service in places t-mo didn't, however, data speeds are considerably slower for me. t-mo i consistently saw speeds averaging 10mbps/3mbps vs. straight talk at&t averaging around 3-5mbps/1-2mbps. the speeds are bearable & for $45/month (vs. $100 on t-mo), i really can't complain. good price, good service. have had no problems refilling on a month-to-month basis via their website.

Which Company Will You Choose?

I'm just curious as to which company everyone will be getting their GNote2 on? I am undecided between AT&T and Big Red (Verizon). I know Verizon will have bootlock GNote2, but Im sure someone will figure out around it. My mane concern is service, data speeds... Who do you think has the best... Sprint and T-Mobile are not even an option for me.
Thanks

mi2gurlz said:
I'm just curious as to which company everyone will be getting their GNote2 on? I am undecided between AT&T and Big Red (Verizon). I know Verizon will have bootlock GNote2, but Im sure someone will figure out around it. My mane concern is service, data speeds... Who do you think has the best... Sprint and T-Mobile are not even an option for me.
Thanks
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U.S. Cellular all the way! CDMA rules the land.
While GSM is nowhere to be seen.....

ima get sprint anyways i will flash it to boostmobile i got great speed on the galaxy s3 flash to boostmobile as long i can watch youtube video with buffering im good i dont need all the speed most of the time i be on wifi i got both wifi at work and home and for 50 dollar unlimited you cant go wrong
it just gona cost me i will preoder from amazon so i can put they insurance

1st Verizon
2nd T-Mobile
Sprint - Came from there and not going back.
AT&T - Unethical company that's always leading the industry with ripping off consumers.

Going verizon. Wife's getting my s3. Opening 2nd line for note 2. Freaking can't wait
synergized and Ikilling

sprintuser1977 said:
Going verizon. Wife's getting my s3. Opening 2nd line for note 2. Freaking can't wait
synergized and Ikilling
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i'm excited myself.... its so close yet so far away

Verizon then T-Mobile. Right now I have unlimited data and I buy my devices outright anyway... So the speeds here Verizon > T-Mobile. 60mbps vs. 8mbps.

Getting mine through Sprint!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I'm currently on AT&T, and have been for 4 years or so. My plan is up in Feb, but I'm really looking forward to the Note 2, so if they don't allow me to early upgrade, I may just eat the ETF, and look around for a different carrier. I'd like to pay a little less than the 98 a month i'm paying now for unlimited data + 450 minutes +1500 text. It's murdering me.
Do you guys think it would be worth it to buy the phone un-subsidized and go to a cheap plan? I see people mentioning stuff like 50 a month unlimited data and stuff... That blows my mind.

Kreiger1981 said:
I see people mentioning stuff like 50 a month unlimited data and stuff... That blows my mind.
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That would be me, but no it's a plan they no longer offer. If they axe my plan I will probably switch too. But apparently I'm pretty tick off about Verizon CFO right now about the "Unlimited is just a word" thing.

Kreiger1981 said:
I'm currently on AT&T, and have been for 4 years or so. My plan is up in Feb, but I'm really looking forward to the Note 2, so if they don't allow me to early upgrade, I may just eat the ETF, and look around for a different carrier. I'd like to pay a little less than the 98 a month i'm paying now for unlimited data + 450 minutes +1500 text. It's murdering me.
Do you guys think it would be worth it to buy the phone un-subsidized and go to a cheap plan? I see people mentioning stuff like 50 a month unlimited data and stuff... That blows my mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did that with the og note. would do it again but can't afford it outright again this time. If you can afford it I recommend it
synergized and Ikilling

T-Mobile for me, I've always gotten good service and low prices for my plans from them.

I will be getting this beast on the Yellow network...

Im currently on the tmobile $30 plan - and after going all in with google voice it's been great. I'll probably stick with tmobile and either get the international note 2 or the tmobile version (as i think it'll be a pentaband phone)

I currently have the note and service with AT&T... I left sprint to get this phone and I won't get anything else if it's not the note 2 or 3...
I will be paying the ETF on AT&T and head over to Verizon.... AT&T doesn't provide LTE in my area and Verizon does...
Just a bit of information on someone that don't currently have the note.... You will be using this phone for pretty much everything... So for that reason I would advise you guys to look into your areas and go with a provider that offers LTE..... Only if you can afford it.... I stream pretty much anything I want.. Movies, sports, using slingbox as well and the big screen is just amazing to watch these things...
So there you have it... Don't get discourage on the screen size.... At first you will be like, what did I do? But believe me, after a coupe of days you will not put it down.....
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium

Getting mine on Sprint!

Not sure. I was planning to just upgrade on my ATT line; since I have unlimited data. But T-Mobile is looking very appealing. I'm such a noob to android though. I'm wondering if one will have more development than the other.

sticking with UK vodafine in the UK, I've got 12 months laft on my existing note contract, they said they would offer me the note 2 at £280, my mates offered me the same for my note, so thats a no brainer really. Although I cant actually order until Monday 01/10/2012.
I'll let you guys know when its in my hand!
What colour are people going for, im gonna get the dark one, I'm just not a fan of white electronic devices, its all a bit poser'ish pour moi.
:laugh:

futurama said:
What colour are people going for, im gonna get the dark one, I'm just not a fan of white electronic devices, its all a bit poser'ish pour moi.
:laugh:
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Going with the grey for sure. Never did like white as well. Wish it was Satin Black though, maybe matte.

AT&T for me. Been with them since 1997 so I have unlimited data. Best LTE network I have seen in Texas. (Have Verizon for work). I get a great corporate discount on my rate plan so I cannot wait for the GN2!
Titanium Grey for me. Never had a white phone and see no reason to start now.

Straight Talk ATT sim VS. true ATT plan ?

Is there a network difference between Straight Talk with an ATT sim, vs a true real ATT plan ?
I am looking at getting the Note 2 off contract for $649, and currently on Straight Talk ATT sim with my international One , but I do have issues with Straight Talk, and not sure if I would have those exact same issues, if I signed up with a true real plan directly with AT&T themselves ?
- Some people tell me, they try call me, and it goes straight to voice mail, or won't go through to me. Clients tell me they tried calling, but I not answer. But I never even seen those calls as missed at all. So that is strange.
- Another issue with ST I have is, is group messages rarely if ever go through. I have to send individual texts to one person at a time to make sure they get it. When I send to two or three people at the same time, it's like 50/50 if it goes through. And picture texts take forever to go through, most of time only like half actually get sent.

Just to add to this. I spoke to a family friend who is an account executive with AT&T on pricing and plans.
I found this strange, he said if I go on contract with AT&T the Note 2 is $299, but even if I buy the phone outright for the full $649, that will not lower my monthly plan, would still be the same he said. I thought the $299 was a subsidized price, you are paying for the phone over the course of the two year plan, so shouldn't buying the phone for full retail price out of contract, give me a lower monthly bill, since I would not be subsidizing the phone ?
He said best plan now for two on a Family / Shared plan is $150, includes; unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 4GB data shared.
My guy replied;
Correct the $649 price, you would be month to month, no contract. Taking the subsidy that AT&T offers would lock you into a 2 year contract. But the monthly bill would still be the same @ $150/month. So the only deal you get for buying it out full retail of $649, over $299, is not being in a contract, but still the same monthly bill.
For that, I may as well pay full retail, and just stick with Straight Talk, for two phones is $97.50 / Month. Why go to AT&T for $162/ Month, if paying the same $649 for the phone ? Am I missing something here ? Sure for the $162 I get 4G LTE, and supposedly the real true AT&T network, that he says is much better than ST, but is there truly a difference in network between Straight Talk's ATT sim, vs the real AT&T contract ?

I thought with Straight Talk you do not have access to LTE.

homegeek said:
I thought with Straight Talk you do not have access to LTE.
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That is correct, you get HSPA+ only on Straight Talk.
But is LTE and going on the true AT&T network worth the extra $ ? My bill now is $97 w/tax, and on AT&T would go up to $162 w/tax. Is the increase of 70% ?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

Zorachus said:
Just to add to this. I spoke to a family friend who is an account executive with AT&T on pricing and plans.
I found this strange, he said if I go on contract with AT&T the Note 2 is $299, but even if I buy the phone outright for the full $649, that will not lower my monthly plan, would still be the same he said. I thought the $299 was a subsidized price, you are paying for the phone over the course of the two year plan, so shouldn't buying the phone for full retail price out of contract, give me a lower monthly bill, since I would not be subsidizing the phone ?
He said best plan now for two on a Family / Shared plan is $150, includes; unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 4GB data shared.
My guy replied;
Correct the $649 price, you would be month to month, no contract. Taking the subsidy that AT&T offers would lock you into a 2 year contract. But the monthly bill would still be the same @ $150/month. So the only deal you get for buying it out full retail of $649, over $299, is not being in a contract, but still the same monthly bill.
For that, I may as well pay full retail, and just stick with Straight Talk, for two phones is $97.50 / Month. Why go to AT&T for $162/ Month, if paying the same $649 for the phone ? Am I missing something here ? Sure for the $162 I get 4G LTE, and supposedly the real true AT&T network, that he says is much better than ST, but is there truly a difference in network between Straight Talk's ATT sim, vs the real AT&T contract ?
Click to expand...
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What is subsidizing the phone is the 2 year contract, not the actual plan. They figure if you are locked in for 2 years, then you are repaying the phone costs no matter the plan you have.
Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

I have my gnote2 on ST and pay about 48 ish tax included on the 45/month plan.
I get data speeds at a consistent 2.5-4mbps with hspa+ and ever so slightly lower on 3g.
There is no lte but honestly is it worth another almost 70 bucks for a little more speed and stuck in a 2 year contract?
Hell No.
Im very happy with what I have
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda app-developers app

My Wife and I need Unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. We use our smartphones, for phone calls too, which seems unheard today to some people, to me a smartphone is a phone #1 most importantly.
For business during the workday, I use maybe 2000+ minutes a month, my Wife uses 1000 minutes during the weekdays month.
So on Straight Talk for two people it is $97/Month unlimited x 24 months = $2,328, plus buying the Note II off contract @ $649 x 2 phones = $1,298. Grand Total = $3,626 over two years
On AT&T, best unlimited plan for two people w/tax is $162/ month x 24 months = $3,888, plus buying two Note 2's subsidized @ $299 x 2 = $598. Grand Total = $4,486 over two years.
Straight Talk, plus paying full price for the smartphone is a HUGE savings, over the course of 24 months, almost $1,000 cheaper. The upfront cost buying the Note 2 full retail is the biggest hit, but then saving almost $70/Month is a big deal x 24 months. Is LTE and true AT&T service worth that extra cost over Straight Talk ATT SIM ?

If I were you I would stick with straight talk. LTE, based on my experience, is nothing to ride home about.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium

Android_Noob_2k12 said:
If I were you I would stick with straight talk. LTE, based on my experience, is nothing to ride home about.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
Click to expand...
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Just left ATT store with brand new white Note 2 for $649, will stick my Straight Talk ATT sim in after rooting and installing new ROM
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

I see that net10 has unlimited plans now to u can get 4 lines for around 170 a month. Is There a difference in straight talk and net10?
Sent from my xoom2 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

yubby said:
I see that net10 has unlimited plans now to u can get 4 lines for around 170 a month. Is There a difference in straight talk and net10?
Sent from my xoom2 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
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Net 10 is garbage
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda app-developers app

Don't they use the same att towers
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

yubby said:
Don't they use the same att towers
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
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It depends where you are. In Southern California I use Straight Talk only unlocked international S3 and international One X. I average 5-7MB down. Now Simple Mobile $50 unlimited everything I was averaging 6-9MB down bit also 3-4MB up. I have been told Net 10 is not too good
Sent from my LG-E970 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

Delete

Telus Upgraded my Plan.

I have an S3 on Telus and I have had a crappy plan for the past year. A while ago they came out with an Unlimited Nationwide plan with 3GB of data, all for $60/month. Of course, this was for new customers only, so I was going to sell my S3, get the Note 2 and upgrade, but things fell through and I couldn't afford to get the Note 2.
Anyway, I called Telus and mentioned that I would like to upgrade my account to something like what they were advertising and lo and behold, they upgraded me to that plan.
For those with crappy or more expensive plans, give it a try.
Ian

Man im really happy to hear telus hooked you up. I pay around 120 an month and get 1gig of data and 200 mins. I get raped. I have two years left. I swear it will be cheaper for me to get a phone from the states and use it up here. and worse part about it I have lte in my town they just put up a new high tech tower and my house is a dead zone.
I hear you on the note 2. I want to upgrade my phone. but I think the wait for a note 3 will be best for me in the long run.

Yopkin1 said:
Man im really happy to hear telus hooked you up. I pay around 120 an month and get 1gig of data and 200 mins. I get raped. I have two years left. I swear it will be cheaper for me to get a phone from the states and use it up here. and worse part about it I have lte in my town they just put up a new high tech tower and my house is a dead zone.
I hear you on the note 2. I want to upgrade my phone. but I think the wait for a note 3 will be best for me in the long run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call them and switch your plan, dude. A while back I managed to get their unlimited plan with 6gb for $60. Jumped all over it.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app

Yopkin1 said:
Man im really happy to hear telus hooked you up. I pay around 120 an month and get 1gig of data and 200 mins. I get raped. I have two years left.
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No offense, but how the hell do you pay $120/month and only get 1GB and 200 minutes? Yopkin1, are you in Quebec by any chance? If you are, all you have to do to cancel your contract is pay off your phone. Then you can look for the best contract and use your phone there.
If you don't want to do that, you should absolutely call Telus and speak to them and ask for the same plan I have, unlimited nationwide calling and 3GB of data for 60/month.
I also have 2 years left to go and now that I have the decent plan, I will keep the S3 until I need another plan (Galaxy S6?)
Ian
Ian

I think it depends where you are, in AB if you go to the page for Alberta it doesn't show a 3 gb plan at all....
Actually just checked all the provinces.... only Quebec gets a 3 gb plan for $60... all other provinces are $70 for a 2 gb plan.....

jordan.harris01 said:
Call them and switch your plan, dude. A while back I managed to get their unlimited plan with 6gb for $60. Jumped all over it.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
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after taxes my bill comes to 120 don't as me how it works out to be that much it just does. I forgot to add I have north America 15 added to my bundle. when I went into telus store here in bc that's all I could get. Im not happy about it one bit but inless I wana pay out that's the best I can do. I have talked to customer loyalty and that's all they can do. When May 1st came out they also wanted me to pay for texting to the USA and wanted more money to have unlimited even though that was the main reason I put myself into the three year. From play wow I meet a lot of people down south that I talk to after quitting. there is not much I can do. trust me I call pretty much every month. They have hung up on me half way throw my phone calls to them a lot of times. I want to switch to wind but my town is owned by telus and bell. some times you have to accept what you can get.

They have done this for me a couple times the past few years . Not likely they will always do it, probably depending on the rep you get and if you are considered a good customer I guess.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app

350Rocket said:
They have done this for me a couple times the past few years . Not likely they will always do it, probably depending on the rep you get and if you are considered a good customer I guess.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app
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Call Telus *311 on your phone I believe and ask for customer retention. They will give you a hard time before they patch you through but just say its about your bill or something. Once through, you will have a much easier time getting any rate plan changed.
I've done it countless times when wanted to upgrade phones or change to a better plan. Typically they will not let you change to a plan that they do not have advertised on their website so unless your're grandfathered into a better plan its worth the call.
Cheers

Actually I have the direct number for retentions on my phone. That probably helped
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app