Best cell phone carrier for the money?

[diesellover]

Very happy with straight talk over the last 10 years! I recently moved back to Michigan and have dead zones. Indiana we would have service everywhere basically!

$45 or $55 per month per phone with discount w/ auto renewal. The only change is more Hotspot data. Unlimited data. When I drove a lot and many many hours a week I'd let youtube or youtube music play and never an issue!

We have starlink for internet for about two weeks.

 

[Rand]

I've been very happy with google fi for 5 years or so.
but many have caught up.. (free roaming in Canada for example)
and FI keeps going up.

I'm not moving yet but 103$ for 3 lines is different than $84 for 4 lines it used to be.

Sometimes they have insane phone deals too but now they require the 10$ gig plan which is worthless
or the super premium plan that only 1% of world travelers need.
also have 3 lines and all 3 must be on same plan which is a drag.

 

[alarmguy]

Let's make sure we are talking apples to apples here. The access priority for a user on a carrier's network is called QCI as explained here: Quality of Service Class Identifier.

US Mobile's contract does have the higher QCI 8 priority, but only for the Verizon (i.e., WARP) 5G network as discussed here: Priority Data on WARP 5G. USM's other carrier services T-Mobile (Light Speed) and AT&T (Dark Star) do not have QCI 8 Priority Data.

The problem with generic populist forums and social media like Reddit is that the bulk of the posters are not technically astute, unlike the typical BITOG member. Most of the info on Reddit is hearsay, supposition or anecdotal, not scientifically based. I doubt the average Reddit poster understands the difference between cell network priority versus cell tower saturation/overload. Just because you have high network priority, it doesn't mean that you will always be able to stream data during times of high congestion like at an NFL game venue or Taylor Swift concert. When a tower(s) reaches its maximum capacity, it won't allow additional user access, regardless of QCI rating. I look at it this way: Louis Hamilton can be in his Ferrari and me in my Honda; however, neither of us are going to get home any faster if the tractor trailer has overturned on the freeway.

With that said, here is a 2024 Reddit Thread where the poster does appear to have valid information on data prioritization.

Bingo -
"US Mobile's contract does have the higher QCI 8 priority, but only for the Verizon (i.e., WARP) 5G network as discussed here: Priority Data on WARP 5G. USM's other carrier services T-Mobile (Light Speed) and AT&T (Dark Star) do not have QCI 8 Priority Data."

You can get ATT (Dark Star) for $12 a month or $120 a year QCI 8 but obviously makes sense to go to VERIZON.

I never cared about Priority service. Never had a complaint of over a decade of MVNOs. Results may vary where you live or if you dont care about cost. GO with the 3 major companies directly and pay for it. For my wife and I $33 a month, for two lines actual payment with QCI 8 service is cool but I didnt even know about it until later and honestly there really isnt a difference in our non city area. Never cared about it in the ten years we had MVNOs either. $33 is super cheap only because most data is used at home. I would gladly pay for a $45 to $50 plan (two lines) if we needed more data. Which I used to do. Still more than half the price of the major providers.

 

[alarmguy]

Based on this info, Verizon has the higher priority on USM, the other two networks don't. That's good information. I was planning to sign up for Warp USM when my Red Pocket expires, so I'm good.

Cool part is you are always good. Even if you signed up with USM with ATT or TMobile you can switch networks at anytime, in a matter of minutes right on your computer. ACTUALLY US Mobile is now advertising as the super carrier. All 3 networks available to switch in and out of.
https://www.usmobile.com/blog/teleportal/

https://www.usmobile.com/help/articles/946304

 

[diyjake]

Give us an update after six months.

I will definitely try to not forget. Hoping things keep up.

 

[14Accent]

I will definitely try to not forget. Hoping things keep up.

You picked a good time to sign up, with USM announcing the doubling of data across all plans effective 8/1.

I've been on the Warp starter plan for a little over a year and couldn't be happier. With yesterday's announcement, it's also nice to know that I'm grandfathered into QCI 8 on Warp/Verizon for life as new plans after 8/18 will be QCI 9 or QCI 8 with a $4 up-charge.

 

[alarmguy]

You picked a good time to sign up, with USM announcing the doubling of data across all plans effective 8/1.

I've been on the Warp starter plan for a little over a year and couldn't be happier. With yesterday's announcement, it's also nice to know that I'm grandfathered into QCI 8 on Warp/Verizon for life as new plans after 8/18 will be QCI 9 or QCI 8 with a $4 up-charge.

We have US Mobile Warp. Are you saying my data will double? Where did you see the announcement? I'll check now and make sure our plan is in this whatever you typed above. Thanks

No, wont affect me, we have monthly 12gb pooled data plan with auto top off at $33 actual payment for two lines. I do hope I am grandfathered in with QCI 8 and will assume so.

 

[I<3oil]

We have US Mobile Warp. Are you saying my data will double? Where did you see the announcement? I'll check now and make sure our plan is in this whatever you typed above. Thanks

No, wont affect me, we have monthly 12gb pooled data plan with auto top off at $33 actual payment for two lines. I do hope I am grandfathered in with QCI 8 and will assume so.

Yea it will. They just announced yesterday. Starter plans double for Warp/Lightspeed and Darkstar is uncapped whilst premium plans are uncapped. And yes you are grandfathered in.

https://www.reddit.com/r/USMobile/s/FVoTpdv6Uo

 

[tbm5690]

This is great timing on this info regarding QCI 8 grandfathering on Warp. I'm currently on an annual plan with Red Pocket that expires on 8/22, and I am going to jump over to US Mobile and will do so prior to 8/18 to get the grandfathered priority level!

 

[Nessism1]

This is great timing on this info regarding QCI 8 grandfathering on Warp. I'm currently on an annual plan with Red Pocket that expires on 8/22, and I am going to jump over to US Mobile and will do so prior to 8/18 to get the grandfathered priority level!

I recently moved from RedPocket to US Mobile, and it was a somewhat painful process. Had to chat more than once to get it done. I think, mostly RP holding things up. Don't wait until the last day...

I went Warp on USM. Three bars where I live, but then, I'm on wifi in the home, so that doesn't matter. What matters is coverage when you are away from home, and in that regard, AT&T (Darkstar) seems hard to beat these days. I tried to search out coverage maps, but that's not info that these companies want published, and 3rd party accounts, are iffy. Bottom line: coverage trumps priority level. It's difficult to truly understand where the best value proposition lies.

 

[diyjake]

Yea it will. They just announced yesterday. Starter plans double for Warp/Lightspeed and Darkstar is uncapped whilst premium plans are uncapped. And yes you are grandfathered in.

https://www.reddit.com/r/USMobile/s/FVoTpdv6Uo

In your link in this paragraph it says QCI-7 coming soon for Dark Star, did they mean Lightspeed?

What’s New in Unlimited Premium​

Premium plans now include unlimited high-speed data on Dark Star, Warp, and Light Speed — no 100 GB caps. You also get priority access by default, with QCI-8 on Dark Star and Warp, and QCI-7 coming soon for Dark Star. Hotspot-wise, the existing 50GB on Warp and Light Speed stay in place for now. And DarkStar hotspot still remains unlimited with 100 Gb at full speed, 100 GB at 8mbps then 600kbps.

 

[I<3oil]

In your link in this paragraph it says QCI-7 coming soon for Dark Star, did they mean Lightspeed?

What’s New in Unlimited Premium​

Premium plans now include unlimited high-speed data on Dark Star, Warp, and Light Speed — no 100 GB caps. You also get priority access by default, with QCI-8 on Dark Star and Warp, and QCI-7 coming soon for Dark Star. Hotspot-wise, the existing 50GB on Warp and Light Speed stay in place for now. And DarkStar hotspot still remains unlimited with 100 Gb at full speed, 100 GB at 8mbps then 600kbps.

To my knowledge, no. It’s correct wording.

 

[diyjake]

So if in my area dark star and warp have similar coverage which one would be the better choice?

 

[I<3oil]

So if in my area dark star and warp have similar coverage which one would be the better choice?

Honestly, flip a coin, unless any of this helps:

According to the carrier, Unlimited Premium will no longer include data caps across Dark Star, Warp, and Lightspeed, and now includes 20GB of international data, 200 international minutes, and 250 texts. You’ll also get high-priority data on Dark Star and Warp. For those who use a lot of hotspot access, you’ll get 200GB with Dark Star, as well as 10GB of domestic roaming data; Warp and Lightspeed customers will get 50GB of hotspot access.

Although most of the changes impact the Unlimited Premium plan, the Unlimited Starter plan will now also include high-speed data on Dark Star, as well as 70GB of high-speed data on Warp and Lightspeed. Starting on August 18, Warp users on this plan will default to QCI-8, but you can still get faster priority Warp (Verizon) access for $4 a month, or $3 a month if on an annual plan

 

[alarmguy]

The best service from the best cell phone company is, which of the three major companies have the largest presence in your area.

From there, you can select which one you want at US mobile for a great price

 

[OFFRD]

While not "budget", I'm on T-Mobile at $80/month but I get priority 5G data, 250 gigs of 5G hotspot, and best of all they turned on "T-Satellite" service last week which now means I have no dead spots anywhere in the nation as long as I can see the sky, and to me that is WELL worth the cost. A cell phone is worthless at any price if it has no signal.