AT&T vs. T-Mobile vs. ?

[GenghisKhent]

I would appreciate your thoughts on pros and cons between AT&T vs. T-Mobile vs. someone else (e.g. MetroPCS) who supports the 950 XL frequency, apart from signal strength (which varies by area).

To get this party started, one "con" against AT&T is having to provide (at least for now) an IMEI from another AT&T LTE phone to get LTE working, as discussed at length on this thread.

Other pros or cons (apart from signal strength) for AT&T vs. T-Mobile vs. Whoever would be appreciated, not just for me (I may yet switch from the AT&T Galactic Empire) but for others pondering this choice. Thanks.

 

[Musicman247]

If you're bringing your own phone, the carrier is just a dumb pipe, as it should be. Go for the carrier that gives you the most for your money - minutes, messages, data, perks, etc.

 

[GenghisKhent]

If you're bringing your own phone, the carrier is just a dumb pipe, as it should be. Go for the carrier that gives you the most for your money - minutes, messages, data, perks, etc.

There usually is a trade-off between the most for your $$ and coverage. I am curious about the not so obvious pros and cons. The AT&T LTE IMEI issue is one. I'm sure there are more (visual voicemail, VoLTE, etc.).

 

[libra89]

By the way, MetroPCS is owned by T-Mobile. As far as I know, T-mobile does not charge a device/smartphone fee. With them, you can essentially just pay for your service (voice, data). I hear that AT&T has a fee of $15 for each device. However, please test the coverage if you can, and look at the maps on T-mobile's site and see if they have coverage in the zip codes of where you live, work and/or attend school.

 

[mdbuilder]

I use Cricket which runs over the AT&T network, advantage is it is cheap. Paying $100 for 4 lines, 2.5 gigs per month each line. They give you $10 off for each additional line such that 5 lines is $100. 40 + 40-10 + 40-20 + 40-30 + 40-40 for example. If you want 5 gigs per line the base charge per line is 50, you can mix and match - get a line of two @50 and the rest @ 40 with the same increasing discounts per line.

I do believe the LTE speed on cricket is throttled some over AT&T native lines. I've done speed tests and seen 8 to 12 max, mostly 8 ish.

 

[libra89]

Oh, I forgot that there's also the option of using the Straight Talk AT&T flavor too, so you can keep the network you are used to. I would say that it also depends on your data usage. It's worth comparing to see what works best for you.

 

[Musicman247]

I wonder if this topic wouldn't be better suited in the Carrier Discussion Lounge - Windows Central Forums

But whatever.

So far nobody has gotten a Dual SIM 950 XL to work with the built-in Visual Voicemail as far as I know.

I'm on T-mobile, great coverage in my area. $100/mo for 2 lines, unlimited talk and text, 10GB of LTE per line (throttled to 2G after 10GB). Wifi Calling app doesn't work on the phone since it's not T-mo branded.

 

[jmajid]

I wonder if this topic wouldn't be better suited in the Carrier Discussion Lounge - Windows Central Forums

But whatever.

So far nobody has gotten a Dual SIM 950 XL to work with the built-in Visual Voicemail as far as I know.

I'm on T-mobile, great coverage in my area. $100/mo for 2 lines, unlimited talk and text, 10GB of LTE per line (throttled to 2G after 10GB). Wifi Calling app doesn't work on the phone since it's not T-mo branded.

Does the entire 10GB include the tethering allowance or is that a smaller amount of the 10GB?
My wife is on TMO and im still on ATT - waiting to jump (pun intended) to TMO

 

[Musicman247]

Does the entire 10GB include the tethering allowance or is that a smaller amount of the 10GB?
My wife is on TMO and im still on ATT - waiting to jump (pun intended) to TMO

The 10GB can be used however I want. All on phone, all on tether, half each, whatever. Plus T-mobile doesn't count music streaming against your data, and I believe thy just announced video streaming will only count partially or something. I'll have to look into it.

 

[RumoredNow]

I wonder if this topic wouldn't be better suited in the Carrier Discussion Lounge - Windows Central Forums

Why yes. Yes it is.

The device is incidental aside from the configuration to get ATT LTE on 950 XL (I'm not sure that is universal across the device so much as how the service is enabled).

Moved to appropriate forum since we are discussing ALL the merits of comparison shopping for a carrier.

 

[cracgor]

I wonder if this topic wouldn't be better suited in the Carrier Discussion Lounge - Windows Central Forums

But whatever.

So far nobody has gotten a Dual SIM 950 XL to work with the built-in Visual Voicemail as far as I know.

I'm on T-mobile, great coverage in my area. $100/mo for 2 lines, unlimited talk and text, 10GB of LTE per line (throttled to 2G after 10GB). Wifi Calling app doesn't work on the phone since it's not T-mo branded.

It seems ridiculous to me, but Microsoft support rep told me 950xl does not have visual voicemail, that it is carrier added...not just turned on or off by carriers.

 

[RumoredNow]

On other platforms that is true. VVM is a carrier App. But Windows 10 Mobile has it baked into the OS.There are mixed reports about getting it enabled, not being able to get it no matter what.

I think deep down it is a carrier side issue. WP8.1 had way less issues with VVM than 10 is seeing.

 

[cracgor]

On other platforms that is true. VVM is a carrier App. But Windows 10 Mobile has it baked into the OS.There are mixed reports about getting it enabled, not being able to get it no matter what.

I think deep down it is a carrier side issue. WP8.1 had way less issues with VVM than 10 is seeing.

That's what I thought. So I called Microsoft to find out before switching carriers to get it enabled. Cricket had free VVM for all phones, so in theory if it is baked into the OS it would work. The fact that both AT&T's tech support AND Microsoft told me that it does not support it, kind of made my choice for me. I think we just assume that because it works on insider previews it is still there, but it wouldn't be the first time Microsoft dropped support of a normal phone function.

 

[njshoregurlz]

I'm just curious 3 lines 20 gig family mobile
VS t mobile 5 gig per person 3 lines
I would need T-Mobile phones-
I heard T-Mobile was 100$ cheaper for my brother he has same service I'll have to check out