A few days ago I ordered a cheap Windows Phone (Specifically the Nokia Lumia 521) for use on T-Mobile’s network.
Before you get out the pitch forks and swords, hear me out. I’m just testing it out. I decided to switch because I assumed I’d have 3G coverage. In actuality, that map must have been off by half a mile. I ended up getting 2G in an area that would have, at lest, get satisfactory 3G coverage.
It doesn’t really bother me that much. I’ll just go back and forth to work to see if it’s not just the phone. If I get 4G/3G (*cough* Faux G *cough*) at work, then I know it’s my area. If I don’t, I’m gonna have to look into that.
Since I’m only testing it, I didn’t sign up for their post-paid service. (It would be silly to do so.) I bought the phone outright from the Microsoft Store, activated the SIM with their $30/month plan.
I find I use an average of 3 gigs a month on my other phone anyway. The $30/month plan includes 5 gigs of 4G data/Unlimited text/100 mins of talk (Hate talking on the phone sometimes.)
We’ll see how this goes. I’ll probably end up sticking to the carrier. Although, I shouldn’t have taken my boss’ advice and change my number. Should have sucked it up and deal with strangers calling my other number.
– That’s all for now, folks. 🙂
in the good old days the most important part of a phone test was how good the actual reception was. Nowadays I never see that mentioned, they just write about minuscule differences in time to start an app or how the user interface looks.
Strange, because especially in the US the network infrastructure is so pathetic that you really need the best phone performance you can get unless you only visit major cities and travel along interstates..
The main thing with a carrier with me is *does it work inside my house.* Next is data. Do I regularly have access to data that works, not just an indicator that says data, while travelling. We took T-Mobile from NC to Nevada and back. Nice solid coverage though often roaming in the deserts, but it was good roaming.
I travel heavily in the rural south for my job. T-Mobile is fabulous in SC, but rural central VA sucks.
You can almost always make a voice call and text anywhere with T-Mobile, even in Appalachia, but for data you have to be near something. Fast data is usually in the towns and cities, even rather small ones, though luck will have it that any time you urgently need a data pull, it will just sit there. Strangely, Orangeburg, SC has the most screaming H+ data I’ve ever encountered.
So, T-Mo is a go for me. My bill is half of what it was on Sprint, and the devices are more to my liking. T-Mobile seems to be up and coming, whereas Sprint seemed to be ailing badly. At least with T-Mo you can quit whenever you want to, and your device will work on AT&T or some of the virtuals.
So, that’s my take. I’ve never considered a Windows device but wouldn’t be opposed to one. My old age has made me less militant about these things, lol.
When I was working for the circulation department of the local paper, I found it ironic that their phones were not usable in their own office … which was admittedly in the basement but my personal phone worked fine down there. AT&T and Verizon may both claim most reliable service, but maps do not tell the story.
“The $30/month plan includes 5 gigs of 4G data/Unlimited text/100 mins of talk”
My Canadian provider would charge you twice that!!
Phone performance doesn’t equal signal strength. In the US, it’s varied by preference and availability of the carrier’s data options.
T-Mobile seems to be the best option for those who have coverage with them lately. Even with Sprint now offering Framily plan options and the likes, they still can’t complete with Magneta.
Bad news: Sprint’s pulling 50 billion dollars in cash to see if they can purchase T-Mobile. Let’s hope the FCC and the DOJ block it. They will absolutely ruin T-Mo.
I’ve used the flagship Windows Phones. They’re nice. But my wallet was limited, so I went with this perky little device. 😀
T-Mobile’s phones? Usually band 1700Mhz and 2100Mhz don’t penetrate (heh, penetrate) buildings all that well.
Ha, you’re right! Maps don’t tell the story. They’re pretty much off. Most of the time, that is.
Yea, Canadians have it hard with mobile options. Even Internet. Which makes me wonder…How can Canada be worse than the US in terms of offering cheap internet/cell service?! Damn.