Trial Peroid W/G1

[Synergy]

Hey I'm new to these forums and I have a few questions about t-mobile's service with the g1. I currently have verizon and I am on a family plan with well... my family. I've been wanting to get a smart phone for a while, except verizon only has windows mobile (eww) and blackberries (all the others aren't worth considering). If I was to get a smartphone on verizon, I would be paying $50 a month ($10 for phone line, $30 for data plan, $10 for texting). I looked into some t-mobile plans and figured out for $55 ($30 individual talk plan, and the $25 data/G1 plan), I could have 300 minutes (more than enough), web, and texting. Is there any strings attached with the cheapest plan t-mobile offers? Is getting it a mistake? Also, as for the trail period with the G1, do you need to be a t-mobile customer? Can I try the G1 and if I don't like it go back to the verizon plan without having to pay any extra money, or am I locked into a contract? Finally, how is the coverage with the G1. I've heard from some people that its fine, others that it is lacking. Thanks in advance for helping me!

[zeeptie]

From experience you have a 14 days trial period where you can bail for any reasons without any penalties. Might be longer in some states.

With T-Mobile, your data plan is not in the contract. You can cancel it at anytime unlike other carriers.

Coverage is base on your area. Their 3G network is also being expand.

[ewilts]

I looked into some t-mobile plans and figured out for $55 ($30 individual talk plan, and the $25 data/G1 plan), I could have 300 minutes (more than enough), web, and texting. Is there any strings attached with the cheapest plan t-mobile offers? Is getting it a mistake?

That's the plan I am currently on. The only issue with that that is international roaming. You don't want to data transfers over the cell phone signal (wifi is okay) because those rates are EXTREMELY high.

Finally, how is the coverage with the G1. I've heard from some people that its fine, others that it is lacking.

The T-Mobile web site has a "personal coverage" map that lets you see exactly where you have coverage and how good it is. Go to http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx

[Synergy]

By international roaming you mean traveling to other countries or talking to people outside the US? That is not a problem, I don't have any plans for leaving the country any time soon and I don't call anyone out of my state, much less the country. lol

[ewilts]

By international roaming you mean traveling to other countries or talking to people outside the US? That is not a problem, I don't have any plans for leaving the country any time soon and I call anyone out of my state, much less the country. lol

It doesn't sound like this is a problem for you. The problem comes in when people leave the country with their phones and then continue to read email or use other data services. I regularly travel to Canada with my phone (although not since I've had the G1) and although the prices are high even for a phone call, I don't use my phone enough for it to be a problem and a lot less hassle than getting a local SIM. The international data transfer rates are $15/MB.

[saint327]

Hey I'm new to these forums and I have a few questions about t-mobile's service with the g1. I currently have verizon and I am on a family plan with well... my family. I've been wanting to get a smart phone for a while, except verizon only has windows mobile (eww) and blackberries (all the others aren't worth considering). If I was to get a smartphone on verizon, I would be paying $50 a month ($10 for phone line, $30 for data plan, $10 for texting). I looked into some t-mobile plans and figured out for $55 ($30 individual talk plan, and the $25 data/G1 plan), I could have 300 minutes (more than enough), web, and texting. Is there any strings attached with the cheapest plan t-mobile offers? Is getting it a mistake? Also, as for the trail period with the G1, do you need to be a t-mobile customer? Can I try the G1 and if I don't like it go back to the verizon plan without having to pay any extra money, or am I locked into a contract? Finally, how is the coverage with the G1. I've heard from some people that its fine, others that it is lacking. Thanks in advance for helping me!

I was in same situation...on Verizon family plan. I had been anticipating the G1 for quite some time, so when my phone's contract was up for renewal I declined it and hopped on over to T-Mobile. Got the plan you're referring to and have not been dissappointed. One thing that I am still trying to get used to is the different network. Verizon & Sprint use CDMA, while At&T & T-Mobile use GSM.

GSM seems like a more robust network. The whole idea of SIMS for one. Additionally, with GSM you can merge up to 4 other people into a conference call and there are specific call forwarding features you can set for busy, unavailable, etc. One thing I had to change was the delay until calls are sent to voicemail. Not sure what the default was, but it seemed to short. I maxed it at 30 secs.

Overall no regrets. Friend of mine has 450 mins and the data with his iphone on AT&T and he pays over $80/month. Hmmm...

[Synergy]

Well, the signal isn't the greatest by my house. Its the 3rd lightest color, but I can go on the web with wifi, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

[ewilts]

Well, the signal isn't the greatest by my house. Its the 3rd lightest color, but I can go on the web with wifi, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

If you've got wifi in the house, it's faster than 3G anyway, so you may as well use it. My G1 connects in the house at 54Mbps via wifi upstairs and with the worst spot in the house at 48Mbps. 3G is under 384Kbps.

[Synergy]

For the $25 plan, it says 400 texts, pix, e-mail, or IM. Does that mean I can use only 400 total out of all of those? I was under the impression that it was 400 text/pix and unlimited e-mail and IM.

[ewilts]

For the $25 plan, it says 400 texts, pix, e-mail, or IM. Does that mean I can use only 400 total out of all of those? I was under the impression that it was 400 text/pix and unlimited e-mail and IM.

email is unlimited - that's counted in the data portion. It's 400 text/pictures messages that's the limiting factor.

That's why I have the cheaper plan even though I get a lot of email .