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Pro's for T-Mobile Galaxy S2:
Generally better data speeds
Generally cheaper plan
GSM, so can use internationally
True Android-native infrastructure tethering after root
No Loss of Service (LOS), a problem afflicting Sprint GS2
No Sound Pool bug, a problem that crashes games afflicting all Exynos GS2
NFC
Wifi calling
USB Host (USB on the go)
Noise cancellation microphone
Con's for T-Mobile Galaxy S2:
Generally less coverage around the country (especially on non-roaming prepaid plans)
Screen suffers from blotches on low-brightness
Slightly slower CPU/GPU
Worse front-facing camera
Runs hotter
Less dev support
No notification LED
Capped data that throttles after plan limits
Edit: This thread was originally about me considering switching from a Sprint GS2 to a T-Mobile GS2. I've now done so, but figured since I drew up such a comprehensive list of differences, might as well keep it around for anyone else that might be curious
read thought this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1320942
talltexan said:
read thought this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1320942
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Click to collapse
Yup, I saw that, weird and disappointing. That's why I have "slightly worse screen" in my list of cons.
manekineko said:
I
GSM, so can use internationally, but only at EDGE speeds
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that's not correct
it can get 3G/4G at any GSM internationally
that's the beauty of this version of SGS2 Hercules
manekineko said:
No LOS, a problem afflicting Sprint GS2
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What is LOS? Line of Sight? Left over soup?
I just switched over from Sprint as well. Their 3G has been totally pathetic and borderline unusable for the last 6 months. My T-Mobile speeds are 10+ times faster. I don't know what the SERO plan is, but T-Mobile doesn't have free mobile to mobile calling like Sprint. They only give you free calling from T-Mobile to T-Mobile and their nights and weekends are more restrictive than Sprint.
AllGamer said:
that's not correct
it can get 3G/4G at any GSM internationally
that's the beauty of this version of SGS2 Hercules
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Wow, that is big for me. Thanks for the tip, I hadn't heard the Hercules also has the AT&T bands.
Splaktar said:
What is LOS? Line of Sight? Left over soup?
I just switched over from Sprint as well. Their 3G has been totally pathetic and borderline unusable for the last 6 months. My T-Mobile speeds are 10+ times faster. I don't know what the SERO plan is, but T-Mobile doesn't have free mobile to mobile calling like Sprint. They only give you free calling from T-Mobile to T-Mobile and their nights and weekends are more restrictive than Sprint.
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Loss of Service. It's a problem that comes from the fact that Samsung kind of sucks at making CDMA modems. Sometimes the Sprint GS2 will just lose cell service, and it won't come back until you reboot. I haven't gotten bit by it yet, but it's widespread enough that I feel it's just a matter of time.
The Sprint speeds drive me nuts. In the middle of Manhattan, I see download speeds on 3G of as low as 100kbps on Speedtest.
I'd be going to the T-Mobile $30 prepaid 5GB 100 minute plan, so I wouldn't get any nights and weekends or mobile to mobile I think. The plan's a big downgrade from the numbers I had on Sprint, but the speed improvements and lower monthly fee would balance it out for me. Plus, talking is probably the feature I use least on my phone.
manekineko said:
Loss of Service. It's a problem that comes from the fact that Samsung kind of sucks at making CDMA modems. Sometimes the Sprint GS2 will just lose cell service, and it won't come back until you reboot. I haven't gotten bit by it yet, but it's widespread enough that I feel it's just a matter of time.
The Sprint speeds drive me nuts. In the middle of Manhattan, I see download speeds on 3G of as low as 100kbps on Speedtest.
I'd be going to the T-Mobile $30 prepaid 5GB 100 minute plan, so I wouldn't get any nights and weekends or mobile to mobile I think. The plan's a big downgrade from the numbers I had on Sprint, but the speed improvements and lower monthly fee would balance it out for me. Plus, talking is probably the feature I use least on my phone.
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If your paying $79.99 for sprint tmobile has the same plan for $79.99 with contract 2 gig cab though. if you want 5 gig cap its $89.99. 10 gig cap is $99.99
All those plans have unlimted minutes and texting.
Killbynature said:
If your paying $79.99 for sprint tmobile has the same plan for $79.99 with contract 2 gig cab though. if you want 5 gig cap its $89.99. 10 gig cap is $99.99
All those plans have unlimted minutes and texting.
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I pay 49 for unlimited talk/text and 2 gigs data. Not sure about 79.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
my wife works for tmobile and ill tell you that if you live in a good area then tmobile is definitely worth it and is the best bargain out there , if you travel alot then i dont recommend them,all depends on your lifestyle, most major cities get pretty good tmobile service
mikeyinid said:
I pay 49 for unlimited talk/text and 2 gigs data. Not sure about 79.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
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Classic or Value if you don't get subsidize it is much cheaper.
For me:
1. Sprint Galaxy S II phones do suffer from loss of signal. I have noticed this on both Sprint Galaxy S II phone I have. Very very annoying.
2. T-Mobile's version suffers from poor display.
3. T-Mobile's version suffers from poor front facing camera.
Maybe all of these problems can be fixed with a software update. And Samsung will take the time to make this happen. There are no assurances however.
For its part, Sprint has acknowledged the loss of signal problem and has promised a fix. T-Mobile has not yet acknowledged problems with their unit.
Walmart piggybacks off Tmobil.towers
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
I dunno what everyone is talking about with the front camera, it's the same resolution as sprint's.
kabuk1 said:
I dunno what everyone is talking about with the front camera, it's the same resolution as sprint's.
Click to expand...
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You might have missed this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1326314
Yes, I definitely missed that post. Damn :/
Hopefully it's just a software issue.
Killbynature said:
Classic or Value if you don't get subsidize it is much cheaper.
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Click to collapse
I'm on a value plan. 99 a month for 2 lines. And I'm in an excellent coverage area. But, 2 gigs is definitely not enough. I blew through half of that on Friday listening to Google music beta
First time I missed sprint since I switched a few months back.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
Has anyone tried USB on the go to plug in a USB stick on the T-Mobile GS2?
They disabled it on the Sprint version for some reason, and am wondering if this is another pro I could add to the list.
Another question that I thought of.
Has anyone experienced lots of random crashing to home screen while playing games? Both the Sprint and international Galaxy S2 suffer from a bug in their sound system that causes certain games to crash all the time. If the T-Mobile one doesn't do that, it'd be a huge advantage.
Former sprint to tmo customer.
as a former sprint customer recently switched over to T Mobile in the NorCal area...
SWITCH TO TMOBILE.
holy ****. i ing hate sprint. i got the evo 3d from them, and right out of the box the first unit was bunk. started power cycling directly AFTER i set everything up and linked my contacts. The 3vo being my first android phone, i didn't know that a randomly restarting phone meant LEMONLEMONLEMON so i hung onto it for a couple days, hoping the issue would fix itself or something.
Called IN ADVANCE when the phone first began having issues to talk to the guy who sold me the phone. Brought it in a week after, after trying everything someone rational would, i.e. battery pull, factory reset, etc. and when i brought the device in i was told by the associate, (yes this is a quote) that he couldn't exchange it but that he could do a "hard hard reset" for me, (after i explained to him it had already been reset every way possible) and send me on my way.
Bear in mind sprint store is 35 minutes away in the next town over, and so this is now taken 2 hours of driving, and still no fully functional phone.
i get home, set everything up again, and boom. Literally as i drag the last icon into place it starts power cycling again.
i call corporate at this point to see if i can ensure an actual replacement on my next trip. i get a vague "probably-ish." sorta answer from them.
when i arrive the next day, there's an associate who was obviously told to expect me as he becomes instantly friendly when i tell him my name and he reads some memo on his screen. I give him my phone, and he hands me the power cord and charger, winking at me and goes "this is for your wasted time. keep it, as a thirty dollar value"
now, like all of you, i'm aware a usb cord and adapter is not worth 30 dollars. However, i was appreciative of the gesture, and i know that sprint really will try to charge you 30 bucks for one of those cords.
After a little wait i'm told the technician got my phone in front of him, and it power cycled in his face. so they replaced it. (finally)
as i'm checking out, back with the original associate who i got the dude phone from 2 weeks before, he's being SUPER surly. Won't look me in the eyes or answer any of the questions i have with more than a grunt or mumble. As he's switching out the new phone with the old, he takes the new charger cable and tosses it in the old box and slides it away from me.
i interrupt him and say "hey, the guy i checked in with said i could keep that."
not even bothering to look up, he shrugs, PULLS IT OUT OF MY HAND, tosses it into the box and closes it and says "nope."
i'm a bit taken aback at this point. incredulously i say, "i was told i would be given that for my wasted time. i was already told that i could have that."
to which he says, still not looking up "htc policy we return em."
at this pont, i'm just ing done dealing with this dude. So i just ask him where the other associate is, so i can work it out with him instead, to which he replies "he went to lunch."
"well...when will he be back"
"dunno."
at that point i walked out. I called about the issue and was given a run around.
anyways. thats ONE of my stories with sprint, in the ing 3 months i was with them. i have MANY MANY more. and their corporate branch is just as bad as the stores, i've been told so many contradicting things by sprint associates on the phone that i have literally found myself saying to them in barely hidden anger "HOW CAN ONE OF YOU TELL ME ONE THING AND THEN THE NEXT GUY AFTER THE TRANSFER SAYS THE OPPOSITE?! are you people even working for the same company?!"
anyways, i've had t-mobile since the release of the galaxy s2, and called in several times to change my features and they have been nothing but friendly informative and helpful. I've heard a bunch of **** talked about how the Tmo version of the GS2 is inferior to the others, but i have faith in the good people on these forums to correct most of those inferiorities which i believe are mostly software issues arising from the Tmo version having a different processor than the other versions.
so yeah sorry for the ungodly long post, but i am another sprint customer recently gone to tmobile and just wanted to share a little bit of my experience. here's a short list of ADDITIONAL pros, and the cons.
PROS.
1. WAY faster data, at least in my area. Went from CRAWLING 3g, and no 4g to being able to torrent via my tether when my cable went out. Achieving 9mbps according to speedtest app, never tested on sprint, but it was browsing speeds, AT BEST. took youtube videos AGES to load. Tmo 4g is about half the speed of my home wifi connection, which is impressive.
2. PRO/CON: better service in populated areas, but service does cut out earlier whenever you drive out into middle of nowhere parts. Also, much more continuity between service and data connection. With sprint, lots of service. Mobile data cuts out LOTS. Tmo data pretty much works until you have no service whatsoever, or at least close to that point.
CONS.
1. QUALCOMM processor instead of the one samsung meant for this device. LOTS of info about what this means as far as detrimental effects on device performance ALL OVER this particular forum.
2. Screen Issues...also, look in this forum.
3. No truly unlimited data plan (best you can get is 5 gb then down to EDGE speeds...which suck.)
My phones actual ability to maintain a signal and make data connections is just ****ing abysmal. Sigh, actually what had happened recently was I was using Codename 1.4 /w a hybrid radio and my connection was decent. At home I never get any bars of 3G but my data connection at least worked. I was in class yesterday and then my phone ran out of battery, I rebooted it to check the calendar but I didn't have time before it insta-died on boot, and then my phone softbricked. I had to re-flash(forgot to do a CWM backup)a ROM and now my connection is just back to being as ****ty as it was before I had decent luck. My phone just has these bouts where it can't send SMS at all even and my phone can't hold onto 3G(in a very good metropolitan area, mind you). I start using the data connection and then my data drops on 3G or LTE. It's just ridiculous. No hybrid radio i've tried has helped.
My question is this: what kind of recourse do I have for getting out of my contract /w Verizon as a new customer if I ***** and moan about how this phone barely functions on their network in my area? I haven't even paid my first bill, but I know that I am past the 14 day return/cancellation period. Has anyone ever been in my situation? In the worst case I'll just have to sell the phone and early terminate I suppose.
Thanks.
you could probably flash stock android ICS on that phone, then sell it, and use the money you receive from selling the phone to pay for your Early Termination Fee
Like the guy above me said, try to reflash a stock ROM. Sometimes this half-boot-ups can **** things badly up.
Gesendet von meinem Galaxy Nexus mit Tapatalk
Stop using custom ROMS and kernels. Go back to stock and see how things work.
Are other people who use your carrier having similar issues n your area? If you live in a cellular "dead zone", I don't think there's much you can do about it.
Actually, my best friend who got me to buy the nexus(I don't mean he persuaded me or anything, he let me play /w his and I was hooked)said that after I unlocked the bootloader, installed cwm, and installed the AOSP 4.0.4 leak that his signal/reception was worse. I don't use a custom kernel, well I mean I don't flash kernels that is. I tend to leave whatever kernel comes /w a rom. If I go back to stock should I relock the bootloader too?
There is definitely something wrong with the Verizon Galaxy nexus antenna. I along with many other have had horrible antenna problems. I had phone since day 1 and finally gave up on it yesterday and sold it.
Samsung like other manufacturers have duds. Those of us who had the original galaxy S phones now Samsung had a hardware GPS defect. No matter how many times you switch it out it's not going to solve your problem.
1. Where did you get your phone? Verizon corp? Amazon? Wirefly? Be careful if you terminate within 6 months at wirefily/amazon cause u might get charged $250 extra in addition to the $350 Verizon etf. That's why amazon sold you the phone for $99 for new customers.
If you got it from Verizon. They may cut u some slack and take phone back and u just pay for partial pro rates fees etc restocking.
I liked the phone myself. ICS is def a huge step forward. Screen amazing. But a phone needs to function as a phone first.
Had huge issue with iPhone 4 last year also. Not antenna gate like media stated. But the iPhone 4 (gsm) had a well known sensor defect that apple "fixed with a software released". We all know that's bogus. Manufacturers never want to admit a hardware defect/poor design. They would just rather deal with individual cases and hope the problem goes away or until the next design is released and people forget about it. My iPhone 4S has no sensor issue at all (I can actually move my head around when on a call and the screen doesn't auto turn on and hang out/call ex girlfriends etc like the iPhone 4.
I suspect Samsung is well aware of this antenna issue in the CDMA model. I am sure the next version of this phone will be fixed. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant with tmobole had gps defect and Samsung Galaxy S 4G had no gps defect.
I got it from amazon unfortunately. So yeah I am aware of the 250 extra addon. I will call them tomorrow and talk to them about waiving that.
Dajinn said:
I got it from amazon unfortunately. So yeah I am aware of the 250 extra addon. I will call them tomorrow and talk to them about waiving that.
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Click to collapse
Going to be tough for them to waive it unless you also offer to send the phone back to them.
Not sure how it's going to play out but good luck.
I sold my Gnex yesterday. I would have just used the proceeds from sale (sold it for $380...Verizon Gnex resell values are dropping unforurtanely). Anyways I would have just paid the ETF but I got a grandfathered unlimited LTE data so just using the LTE sim in my new iPad and that works great.
I'll see what the Samsung S3 has to offer.
I know how you feel. I am on my 6th GNex, and since last week it has been dropping calls every time I use it, unless it is a very short call. It may last for a few minutes, or for 30 to 40 minutes, but it will drop the call. The phone was okay when I got it about a month ago, very weak data connections, but worked for voice calls, dropping a few now and then. I am almost to the point of reactivating my OG Droid and just using the GNex is a PDA. I do not want to break my contract because I am grandfathered in on an very sweet Alltel plan. I know I will never buy another Samsung phone.
For what its worth I had a Verizon g next since December and the phone had amazing signal reception and always was on 4g. Never dropped a call and all texts sent perfectly well. The phone got really hot last weekend and wouldn't turn on. After being deemed shot, I got a new gnex. I've been on this phone for 2 days and I've dropped 5 calls and had at least 20 texts fail to send. I look at the signal bars and half the time they're completely empty. If this phone was my first experience I'd be pissed beyond belief. Maybe try and swap it for a new one. I'm sure as hell going to. I know what the phone is capable of and I'm nowhere near that with this one.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
So check this out.... I am an AT&T user and back when the HTC HD2 came out for T-Mobile I bought it from a friend when they signed up for a new contract. Got an unlock code from Ebay and have been using it for the past 2 years without having to have a data plan, never got added automatically to my plan like i have heard happen to others? And I'm wondering why? Is it possibly cuz its a T-Mobile phone? Or is it cuz I still have an old "Cingular" SIM card? I am curious about this because right now, Wally World has a special sale on the phone at $249, plus a $100 gift card, which will bring the phone down to $150 basically, so a pretty damn good deal for a phone just out on the market. And I'm plan on getting it this week, I was wondering if any of you would be able to tell me if at some point if i was able to get a T-Mobile version of the Samsung Note 2 if i could slip my SIM card into it and then be able to cancel my DATA plan, if i told them i went back to a Motorola Razr or something, which worked when i got my HD2? Or will AT&T be able to see that i have a smartphone? Is it the newer smaller SIM card, that will tell AT&T that I have a smartphone, or will the phone it self be what sends info to the servers or whatever that tells AT&T I have a smartphone? Or do you think this method of getting a T-Mobile phone and using an AT&T SIM card will work and I won't get stuck with a DATA plan? Everywhere I go has Wi-Fi so I have no need for the Data plan it will be going to waste.
That offer of 249 is only for new contracts and upgrades
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
funziebear said:
That offer of 249 is only for new contracts and upgrades
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Yep, I am eligible for an upgrade, haven't upgraded in a few years or so... Just wondering if the new micro sim cards or the newer phone will alert at&t that i am using a smart phone, or if i will be able to do the same thing i did last time, by getting a tmobile phone with at&t service and not be required to have a data plan, if they don't know that i'm using a smart phone...?
Red-Dog said:
Yep, I am eligible for an upgrade, haven't upgraded in a few years or so... Just wondering if the new micro sim cards or the newer phone will alert at&t that i am using a smart phone, or if i will be able to do the same thing i did last time, by getting a tmobile phone with at&t service and not be required to have a data plan, if they don't know that i'm using a smart phone...?
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Click to collapse
so you are going to start a tmobile contract to get the discounted price on the phone then switch back to att
So, you've been stealing data for 2 years now... Making my data cost go up. Stealing is a crime! Please turn yourself in and agree to pay back the last 2 years of stolen data....
I'm messing with you.
If you bring a phone to T-Mobile, they won't force a data plan on you. I'm assuming The Dark Side [AT&T] is the same.
If you use an upgrade, a 2GB Data Plan is required, and they will not let you remove your data afterwards. T-Mobile is weird like that.
dkb218 said:
So, you've been stealing data for 2 years now... Making my data cost go up. Stealing is a crime! Please turn yourself in and agree to pay back the last 2 years of stolen data....
I'm messing with you.
If you bring a phone to T-Mobile, they won't force a data plan on you. I'm assuming The Dark Side [AT&T] is the same.
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LOL, nice, but no, I'm saying I don't have any internet on my phone, only had the Wi-Fi, therefore wasn't having to pay for a data plan, because i wasn't required to have one since they didn't know i had a smart phone, just the regular cost of having a calling plan... I'm hoping it's something to do with the IMEI, if it isn't in the system, hopefully they won't know what phone i'm using...
iamtimmah said:
If you use an upgrade, a 2GB Data Plan is required, and they will not let you remove your data afterwards. T-Mobile is weird like that.
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Yeah AT&T requires you to have an added Data Plan also with any smartphone, but I don't need it, its a waste of money for me, I have Wi-Fi most of the places I go, and don't need to be connected to the net 24/7 ...lol But, I'm hoping I can get a Tmobile Note 2 and use it for a while, then tell them I went back to my Razr and hopefully be able to drop the data part of the plan, but i don't know if i could do that until the new contract is over
truthkillszz said:
so you are going to start a tmobile contract to get the discounted price on the phone then switch back to att
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Click to collapse
No, originally it was just an impulse buy, cuz its such a kick ass phone...lol I would prefer just to buy a Tmobile version somewhere and use it on AT&T and hopefully not be required to have a data plan, but since the phone is so new, i'm probably not going to find one anywhere, less than $400 even on Ebay. So what I was thinking is, just upgrade my current AT&T plan to a new 2 year agreement, and get the phone for $250, plus the $100 gift card from Wally World, and that basically brings the price down to $150, and then possibly selling or trading the phone and getting a Tmobile version, so i can cancel the internet data plan. But, i'm not sure i could do that, i don't know if the contract terms say I'm required to keep the data part, even if i don't have a smartphone anymore say after a few months or year or so. Like for example, if I sign a new 2 year agreement, and after a couple of months, tell them I went back to a Razr phone, if i can drop the data, but i'm still on the 2 year agreement. And hopefully the Tmobile version phone won't be able to be detected so i'm not automatically enrolled into the data plan again....?
I don't get it. If you just want a feature phone then just get an feature phone. There are tablets that uses WiFi only just bigger. Then you can get a free basic phone for texting and calls only. Or get a feature phone for almost free for text, calling, and listening to your music. At this point PPCs (Pocket Personal Computers) aka "Smartphones", like Galaxy Note 2, are way too much for the purposes that you are wanting to use them for.
To make PPC aka "smartphones" truly mobile they need to be connected to the Internet at all times. That is why cellular data radio services is so important for these PPC devices. They are truly cellular mobile computers. That is why I coined them as CPPC (Cellular Pocket Personal Computer) and MPPC (Mobile Pocket Personal Computer).
MPPC (Mobile Pocket Personal Computer) is the best description of what these devices are. They are mobile in terms that you are always connected on the go with these devices. They fit in your pocket (at least your big pocket). They are very personal in the way you use them. And they are truly computers. They are your personalized pocket sized (big pockets) computers on the go with cellular radio and communication services. They are your MPPC (Mobile Pocket Personal Computer.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is not for you at all. You are just wasting money on the Galaxy Note 2. Get either a basic phone or feature phone as your phone device. And get a tablet as your WiFi media device. You can get both for less than or close to the cost of a Galaxy Note 2.
JaguarXT said:
I don't get it. If you just want a feature phone then just get an feature phone. There are tablets that uses WiFi only just bigger. Then you can get a free basic phone for texting and calls only. Or get a feature phone for almost free for text, calling, and listening to your music. At this point PPCs (Pocket Personal Computers) aka "Smartphones", like Galaxy Note 2, are way too much for the purposes that you are wanting to use them for.
To make PPC aka "smartphones" truly mobile they need to be connected to the Internet at all times. That is why cellular data radio services is so important for these PPC devices. They are truly cellular mobile computers. That is why I coined them as CPPC (Cellular Pocket Personal Computer) and MPPC (Mobile Pocket Personal Computer).
MPPC (Mobile Pocket Personal Computer) is the best description of what these devices are. They are mobile in terms that you are always connected on the go with these devices. They fit in your pocket (at least your big pocket). They are very personal in the way you use them. And they are truly computers. They are your personalized pocket sized (big pockets) computers on the go with cellular radio and communication services. They are your MPPC (Mobile Pocket Personal Computer.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is not for you at all. You are just wasting money on the Galaxy Note 2. Get either a basic phone or feature phone as your phone device. And get a tablet as your WiFi media device. You can get both for less than or close to the cost of a Galaxy Note 2.
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I'm not trying to buy the Galaxy Note 2 outright, I plan on going to Walmart sometime this week and upgrading my contract and getting the Note 2 for $249, and then on top of that Walmart will throw in a $100 gift card, that you can use on anything at the store, probably even gas at the Murphy USA station so basically, that brings the price of the phone down to $150.... I don't know of any decent tablet anywhere near that price. This phone is basically a phone and tablet all in one, I don't want to be carrying multiple devices around with me, a big 7" or 10" tablet everywhere I go everyday, plus my cell phone. I'm looking for an all in once device, and this is pretty much it. Most of the places I go have Wi-Fi, so I wouldn't, (and haven't), even hardly use(d) any data. And the extra, $15, $20 or $30 a month for a data plan could be used to help pay for other bills. I can still use the phone to its full potential without having a data plan... Except when I'm driving down the highway and I'm lost and need GPS? ...lol But, I still have my HD2 with tomtom on it, or eventually I might sell it and get a dedicated GPS, or use google navigation, I think I heard they have an option to download offline maps. If I'm bored waiting on my oil to get changed in my car somewhere, and want to watch a YouTube video, sure I'll be SOL if they don't have a public Wi-Fi, but I'll have plenty of apps and games to keep me entertained while I wait...lol IF I ever have an absolute need to use, mobile data, its a pay-per-use feature, per MB I think so I'll still have that, it just won't be a set monthly price.
Att requires you to keep a data plan for 6 months after an upgrade.
Here is what I would do:
If you upgrade then switch to the t-mo version, call att when you switch and tell them you are using a t mobile dumb phone and want your data removed. They may do it if its been 6 months since your upgrade. If they wont remove data completely, tell them you want the $10 media net package. It is unlimited and you will get hspa+ if your phone allows for it. That way you have data if you ever need it, and its cheap.
I used the $10 plan with my gsm razr, but switched back to unlimited so I wouldnt lose it. I know the $10 plan works for phones not in att's system.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
bfinch said:
Att requires you to keep a data plan for 6 months after an upgrade.
Here is what I would do:
If you upgrade then switch to the t-mo version, call att when you switch and tell them you are using a t mobile dumb phone and want your data removed. They may do it if its been 6 months since your upgrade. If they wont remove data completely, tell them you want the $10 media net package. It is unlimited and you will get hspa+ if your phone allows for it. That way you have data if you ever need it, and its cheap.
I used the $10 plan with my gsm razr, but switched back to unlimited so I wouldnt lose it. I know the $10 plan works for phones not in att's system.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Exactly, thanks for the info, helps a lot. That is exactly what I planned to do, just wasn't for sure on how long I would have to keep the mobile data plan. So $150, plus $15 a month for the minimum plan, for 6 months = $240 total, phone and mobile data.... not too bad...
Red-Dog said:
I'm not trying to buy the Galaxy Note 2 outright, I plan on going to Walmart sometime this week and upgrading my contract and getting the Note 2 for $249, and then on top of that Walmart will throw in a $100 gift card, that you can use on anything at the store, probably even gas at the Murphy USA station so basically, that brings the price of the phone down to $150.... I don't know of any decent tablet anywhere near that price. This phone is basically a phone and tablet all in one, I don't want to be carrying multiple devices around with me, a big 7" or 10" tablet everywhere I go everyday, plus my cell phone. I'm looking for an all in once device, and this is pretty much it. Most of the places I go have Wi-Fi, so I wouldn't, (and haven't), even hardly use(d) any data. And the extra, $15, $20 or $30 a month for a data plan could be used to help pay for other bills. I can still use the phone to its full potential without having a data plan... Except when I'm driving down the highway and I'm lost and need GPS? ...lol But, I still have my HD2 with tomtom on it, or eventually I might sell it and get a dedicated GPS, or use google navigation, I think I heard they have an option to download offline maps. If I'm bored waiting on my oil to get changed in my car somewhere, and want to watch a YouTube video, sure I'll be SOL if they don't have a public Wi-Fi, but I'll have plenty of apps and games to keep me entertained while I wait...lol IF I ever have an absolute need to use, mobile data, its a pay-per-use feature, per MB I think so I'll still have that, it just won't be a set monthly price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus 7 Tablet!!! Check it out.
To use Google Maps you will need Internet connection so that the device can download the maps while you are traveling. Yes you can do that off line. But the Google Maps function the best when you are connected. Just a good example of so many things within these devices that Must be connected at all times for.
Why not check out lower end Android devices or feature phones with these features? They will cost you even less. Much less.
Again, Galaxy Note 2 is way too much of a professional device than what you are look for. So much of Galaxy Note 2 will be wasted. And the complexity of Galaxy Note 2 is not going to make you happy in the long run.
Warning - Galaxy Note 2 WILL use your cellular data rather you want it to or not. Again, this is the nature of these devices. Everything from email, system backing up, your contacts gets checked and backup, any social apps WILL use your data in the background, Google PlayStore in check for updates, Google Maps in getting new maps (as you travel) and adding location accuracy (with cellular towers), Google Street View in downloading the street view for you, Calendar will check Google and update, free apps that have ads will download the ads, some apps will be running in the background checking stuff online and downloading from online, and so much more WILL be using your Cellular data throughout the day and night on everyday.
When it comes to free apps you can buy the paid ad-free apps. But by the time you do that with all apps you will end up spending as much as it would if you just get the $30.00 per month unlimited data plan. I know that because I hate ads so much that I spend money for the paid ad-free apps.
At the end you better off either going for the $30.00 unlimited data plan or go for a feature phone that does what you want it to. With what you want to do with the device you are better off with a feature phone.
But if you do go for Galaxy Note 2 go for the Unlimited data plan and try to learn the features of this device. Hopefully you will learn to love or at least like the features enough that you would never again think of not having data plan with the device. But my fear for you is that the experience in trying not to use data service is going to be a very bad experience for you. But at least you were forewarned.
You can remove the data plan at anytime if you buy it from AT&T, not sure about other places.
There is a few problems with your plan. T-mobile version of the note 2 is worth more in the used market than AT&T version, so you may find it hard to do an even exchange.
Secondly AT&T do sweeps to detect smartphones more regularly now. It may be able to detect the Tmobile version of note 2 very soon.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Even if you can take out the data plan, your usage with Galaxy Note 2 would be hampered in a huge way. So huge that it is not worth removing the data plan or getting the Galaxy Note 2. I gave examples in a post above of some of stuff that uses the cellular data. Those and much more would be hampered by taking cellular data plan out. Again, not worth it. There are feature phones that would do what that user wants without hampering the usage.
You see that Droid X on my signature? That is not on the grid anymore. And I can tell you that I notice how much the device and I am hampered by not having data plan. It sucks in a huge way. I am talking with experience.
Android PPC aka "Smartphones" is at its best if on the grid all the way, including cellular data plan. Otherwise go for a feature phone.
JaguarXT said:
Even if you can take out the data plan, your usage with Galaxy Note 2 would be hampered in a huge way. So huge that it is not worth removing the data plan or getting the Galaxy Note 2. I gave examples in a post above of some of stuff that uses the cellular data. Those and much more would be hampered by taking cellular data plan out. Again, not worth it. There are feature phones that would do what that user wants without hampering the usage.
You see that Droid X on my signature? That is not on the grid anymore. And I can tell you that I notice how much the device and I am hampered by not having data plan. It sucks in a huge way. I am talking with experience.
Android is at its best if on the grid all the way, including cellular data plan. Otherwise go for a feature phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this post was meant for the OP.
I have an unlimited data plan and I use a lots of it. I'm just telling the OP what he can expect in his situation.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
whatsitsnamenow said:
Direct it towards the OP.
I have an unlimited data plan and I use a lots of it. I'm just telling the OP what he can expect in his situation.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry.
We are both trying to tell the OP what to expect in his situation.
I know it's a little bit of an inconvenience not having mobile data, but I have been using a T-Mobile HTC HD2 for the last 2 years without a mobile data plan, just fine. If there is something I need to do that requires internet, i'm patient enough to wait until I can get on Wi-Fi, make a reminder in the calender for when I have time and problem solved. I still have Windows 6.5, which kinda sucks, on it. And I also have Android ported onto it using the memory card. So if I'm traveling somewhere I restart the phone and boot into Windows and use my TomTom GPS program. Then after, I boot back into Android and in the settings there is a checkbox that I can check to keep my phone from using a mobile data connection, so I've been doing just fine. And the GN2 will be a step up from this phone and not that much money out of my wallet.
JaguarXT said:
Nexus 7 Tablet!!! Check it out.
To use Google Maps you will need Internet connection so that the device can download the maps while you are traveling. Yes you can do that off line. But the Google Maps function the best when you are connected. Just a good example of so many things within these devices that Must be connected at all times for.
Why not check out lower end Android devices or feature phones with these features? They will cost you even less. Much less.
Again, Galaxy Note 2 is way too much of a professional device than what you are look for. So much of Galaxy Note 2 will be wasted. And the complexity of Galaxy Note 2 is not going to make you happy in the long run.
Warning - Galaxy Note 2 WILL use your cellular data rather you want it to or not. Again, this is the nature of these devices. Everything from email, system backing up, your contacts gets checked and backup, any social apps WILL use your data in the background, Google PlayStore in check for updates, Google Maps in getting new maps (as you travel) and adding location accuracy (with cellular towers), Google Street View in downloading the street view for you, Calendar will check Google and update, free apps that have ads will download the ads, some apps will be running in the background checking stuff online and downloading from online, and so much more WILL be using your Cellular data throughout the day and night on everyday.
When it comes to free apps you can buy the paid ad-free apps. But by the time you do that with all apps you will end up spending as much as it would if you just get the $30.00 per month unlimited data plan. I know that because I hate ads so much that I spend money for the paid ad-free apps.
At the end you better off either going for the $30.00 unlimited data plan or go for a feature phone that does what you want it to. With what you want to do with the device you are better off with a feature phone.
But if you do go for Galaxy Note 2 go for the Unlimited data plan and try to learn the features of this device. Hopefully you will learn to love or at least like the features enough that you would never again think of not having data plan with the device. But my fear for you is that the experience in trying not to use data service is going to be a very bad experience for you. But at least you were forewarned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually already bought the GN2 on black friday, from at&t as a contract upgrade, it was kind of an impulse buy, i'm a penny pincher... I know, kinda weird when we are talking about a $700 phone, right? ...LOL But, I try to save money where I can. I took it back on Tuesday night, because a co-worker told me about the deal at walmart. So I'm gonna go get it from them. From Saturday to Tuesday I was streaming football and basketball games for a few hours everyday, over wi-fi, just fine. I checked my data usage on the phone with the included apps and I was barely even using anything, it was only a few MB's or so, that is probably when I was playing around with it before I connected it to my home and work Wi-Fi, 4G at my work was extremely slow, so I connected to Wi-Fi and was much faster, and I was thinking to myself, if 4g is that damn slow, i don't need to be throwing money away at it... Me and another co-worker that works in my same department were wondering how fast the mobile data is so, I was trying to go to speedtest.net to test the speed and it would never even completely load the page up. I didn't even try the wi-fi speedtest at work, because i was ready to clock out and go home... I did the speedtest at my home from wi-fi and on 4g and my wi-fi kicked the **** out of the 4g, the 4g didn't even get over 1MB! I don't need to have my apps all connected to mobile data all the time, I've used facebook, ebay, craigslist, google play store, checked email and the apps that have the ads don't really bother me, not that big of a deal to me. Sometimes they are annoying, but for me I'd rather see the ad then racking up money by buying all the paid apps. I might buy a few apps that I really like but probably not very many, who knows.. ...And on a sidenote, i don't see a $30 unlimited data plan anywhere, is that a T-Mobile or AT&T plan?
Since ardatdat's kernel there has been no fix for the data counter on this phone. I've given up asking on the dev forums as I'm just ignored. Now I'm seeing the built in data counter option even removed from Jelly Bean. I use data a lot, and I need to be able to monitor my data, but Rogers' app isn't very reliable (constant crashes, needs to be connected to cell network only, doesn't work from 2am to who knows when). If anyone knows a fix for the data counter so I can use a data monitoring app (eg 3gWatchdog), please do tell.
Watchdog works for me.
Sent from my SGH-i927 using Tapatalk 2
antharr said:
Watchdog works for me.
Sent from my SGH-i927 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, I'll give Watchdog another try then. Up till now though, I've seen the same wonky data readings as when I first got the phone.
Devian50 said:
well, I'll give Watchdog another try then. Up till now though, I've seen the same wonky data readings as when I first got the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just curious how much data have you got on your package from Rogers. Only reason I ask is because I had 500megs addon for 25$ and they told me there was 6GB addon for 30$ no brainer I took the 6GB. I never look at Data anymore and use up to a max of 2GB a month.
JB
dudejb said:
just curious how much data have you got on your package from Rogers. Only reason I ask is because I had 500megs addon for 25$ and they told me there was 6GB addon for 30$ no brainer I took the 6GB. I never look at Data anymore and use up to a max of 2GB a month.
JB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mind you asking, I've got the 500mb plan, however my bill is already 80$/month because my phone is the original on the plan (family plan of 3 phones, 2 smart, one not smart). Rogers has been raping my family for a while now, since they locked us into a contract for internet they've been cheating us on a lot of stuff. If I were paying my own bill, you bet I would up it, however my mother is currently paying the bill until I take over so upgrading is out of the question.
I'm on a family plan with one unlimited data phone, one that has the 4 gig for the price of 2 special from a while back and one no data phone. I know the plan with the 4 gig data phone has an upgrade so is it possible to get the phone on that plan and keep that 4 gig phone plan and just do the sim card swap to the unlimited one? Honestly the person on the 4 gig line doesn't care about upgrades or data so I figured if they could keep that 4gig plan I could take the phone and they could keep their phone.
Coolage2 said:
I'm on a family plan with one unlimited data phone, one that has the 4 gig for the price of 2 special from a while back and one no data phone. I know the plan with the 4 gig data phone has an upgrade so is it possible to get the phone on that plan and keep that 4 gig phone plan and just do the sim card swap to the unlimited one? Honestly the person on the 4 gig line doesn't care about upgrades or data so I figured if they could keep that 4gig plan I could take the phone and they could keep their phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If all of the lines are on the same family account, you could upgrade the 4gb line. When you received the new phone just call VZW customer service and activate it on the unlimited line. OR, activate on the 4gb line then swap the sim card. Both methods are good.
One more question. I couldn't find anything about this online, but since it was a 4 gig for 2 gig special those years ago, will they be able to keep those 4 gigs or would they be forced to a 2 gig line?
Coolage2 said:
One more question. I couldn't find anything about this online, but since it was a 4 gig for 2 gig special those years ago, will they be able to keep those 4 gigs or would they be forced to a 2 gig line?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your unlimited and 4 gb lines are permanent. There will be nothing change to your account if you do what I shown you above.
I did the same thing. Upgraded 6gb data on my family plan then just simply swap sim. Now my UDP number is on note 4
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
So would my steps be correct?
1. Use upgrade on 4 gig data plan to get note 4.
2. the sim card that comes with the galaxy note 4 holds the 4 gig data line so that goes into the current 4 gig data phone?
3. i just put my current sim card from my unlimited phone to the new note 4 before even putting the battery in and it activates? (as i've read from other people around here)
so is this good or am i missing something?
I'm thinking about buying it today so i just want to be sure.
Yeah pretty much. This is what I did in best buy last Friday
- upgrade the 6gb line to note 4
- take my UDP sim card and put it in note 4 even before it was powered
-put the new sim card (tied to 6gb now) into my old note 2
-now note 4 has a UDP and note 2 has a 6gb plan
It doesn't hurt also to tell the customer service guy what you intend to do. Most cases they'll be willing to confirm the method and help you out (based on my experience at least)
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
andrep182 said:
Yeah pretty much. This is what I did in best buy last Friday
- upgrade the 6gb line to note 4
- take my UDP sim card and put it in note 4 even before it was powered
-put the new sim card (tied to 6gb now) into my old note 2
-now note 4 has a UDP and note 2 has a 6gb plan
It doesn't hurt also to tell the customer service guy what you intend to do. Most cases they'll be willing to confirm the method and help you out (based on my experience at least)
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks man I appreciate it. Will do.
Baaaaah. I knew this was possible, however, while in the store they told me it wasn't. They said there was nothing they could do to the phone with the UDP because of the minutes associated with it, so that my bill would be up higher some ridiculous amount because I'd be forced to keep the old talk minutes from the family share.
Coolage2 said:
So would my steps be correct?
1. Use upgrade on 4 gig data plan to get note 4.
2. the sim card that comes with the galaxy note 4 holds the 4 gig data line so that goes into the current 4 gig data phone?
3. i just put my current sim card from my unlimited phone to the new note 4 before even putting the battery in and it activates? (as i've read from other people around here)
so is this good or am i missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope even more simpler, you don't need step 2. At the end you have a brand new SIM from the Note4 as spare. You don't need to touch your 4gb data line phone. When you received the new phone, just take the old sim from unlimited line and put into the note4.
Ok that makes me feel much better. One last question.
Since my phone is a bionic I have a mini sim and the note 4 has a micro. Could I actually have verizon transfer the plan from my mini to the micro that came with the note 4 or would I need a whole new micro sim card?
Coolage2 said:
Ok that makes me feel much better. One last question.
Since my phone is a bionic I have a mini sim and the note 4 has a micro. Could I actually have verizon transfer the plan from my mini to the micro that came with the note 4 or would I need a whole new micro sim card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, not a problem if you don't have the same sim. When you received the new note4, power off the bionic, then call Verizon customer service and ask them you want to activate your note4 on your unlimited line. That's it.
If that's the case then this'll be much more easy than i thought assuming the verizon guy is willing to cooperate.
Coolage2 said:
If that's the case then this'll be much more easy than i thought assuming the verizon guy is willing to cooperate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, this is a normal procedure for the Verizon reps to activate your phone, nothing out of the norm. They will gladly do it without any issue. I have done this many times. Just tell them you received the phone for your line, but your wife loves the new phone, so you want to activate on the her line.
Will do. Thanks buddy.
I just did this same exact thing yesterday. A line on my family plan has a basic 3g phone with no data plan. I upgraded that, then did the whole switch on the internet when i got home from the internet. I got to even use the same sim that came with the note 4 on my account. I called verizon to put a data block on the 3g phone and also asked them if they still saw unlimited on my line. She was acting fishy and said she didn't see it, then i said that i saw it on my side and i've done this alternate upgrade twice in the past and if i lost my UDP, id return the phone tomorrow and switch to T-Mobile she then recommended the shared data plan and i told her no, i would go to verizon and return the phone and go to T-Mobile. Literally 5 seconds later she tells me "Ooooo i found it, you actually do still have unlimited. How great!".. I knew she was trying to play it off. But here I am downloading at 6MB/S at my home location :laugh:.
dapimpinj said:
I just did this same exact thing yesterday. A line on my family plan has a basic 3g phone with no data plan. I upgraded that, then did the whole switch on the internet when i got home from the internet. I got to even use the same sim that came with the note 4 on my account. I called verizon to put a data block on the 3g phone and also asked them if they still saw unlimited on my line. She was acting fishy and said she didn't see it, then i said that i saw it on my side and i've done this alternate upgrade twice in the past and if i lost my UDP, id return the phone tomorrow and switch to T-Mobile she then recommended the shared data plan and i told her no, i would go to verizon and return the phone and go to T-Mobile. Literally 5 seconds later she tells me "Ooooo i found it, you actually do still have unlimited. How great!".. I knew she was trying to play it off. But here I am downloading at 6MB/S at my home location :laugh:.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So just to be 1000 percent sure on my behalf the transfer upgrade from basic line and switch back to basic plan after getting your new phone still works? I was just too much of a wuss to try it ,read a few horror stories on how vzw came back weeks later n took the unlimited away or forced the basic line to keep a data plan. If so I'll be doing this for my girl as she's jealous of my n4 or i may do this when the nexus. 6 drops. Any feedback from someone who did this with within the last month would be much appreciated
gcforreal said:
So just to be 1000 percent sure on my behalf the transfer upgrade from basic line and switch back to basic plan after getting your new phone still works? I was just too much of a wuss to try it ,read a few horror stories on how vzw came back weeks later n took the unlimited away or forced the basic line to keep a data plan. If so I'll be doing this for my girl as she's jealous of my n4 or i may do this when the nexus. 6 drops. Any feedback from someone who did this with within the last month would be much appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If worse comes to worst, you can order the phone on a basic line from a Verizon store. Come home and immediately call Verizon and tell them that you want to do an alternate upgrade and but the basic phone back on the basic line and that you want to put the new Note on the UDP line. If they feed you the BS "we can't do that," thank them for their help and call another rep.... Although I've never had this issue... Ever! But let's say that start making the switch and tell you "the system isn't letting me make the switch without removing your unlimited," you can tell to leave the account how it is and that you'll be returning the note 4 the next morning.. There's only a $35 restocking fee but I literally did this whole process last night at 9 pm and it worked perfectly. The other plan reverts to a basic plan, you stay with the UDP, and end of story. I haven't heard about unlimited being taken away but there's competition on that you can threaten to leave to t-mobile if they try that in the future. Also one last measure which I think does work. If let's say, they do take away your UDP, I think you can return the phone and ask customer service to revert the line as it was before. I've heard mixed stories about this that it works for some and not for others. But ultimately, be honest and tell them you're doing the unlimited data plan loophole and you know it works because you have a few buddies that have done it successfully. They are willing to work with you.
Sorry for the long message! Hope this clears things up .
Alright tried unsuccessfully in one store but the reps are typically dicks there so no surprise I'm gonna try another nearby store and like you said worst case scenario If they come after my udp I'll just return the phone and get it back