How do you compare data plans for smart phones?

13 years ago

I have been looking for a way to compare 4g smart phone data plans in order to see who is lower or lowest but there is so little useful information that I have done nothing since my flip phone broke almost 12 months ago. Thank God we had two flip phones. I am considering smart phones... since there is such a bad selection of flip phones now. But choosing is frustrating so, I put off researching for several weeks or a month each time I look around. It has been almost a year soon.

Originally, I found a web site from Kim Komando (http://www.komando.com/dataplan-calculator/) but the rates shown in there seem old, they no longer match what I saw on the companies websites now. I recently found a new site (http://www.myrateplan.com/data_calculator/) but it was bad. Other similar places always want one to count things that one cannot really count.

For example: take the number of emails in a given time... a good chunk of my emails are junk emails that I delete so I cannot count those But I have to for the estimate to be somewhat accurrate (the rest of the emails go to the Junk Folder or get moved to other folders). So I have no way to tell how many I get (tried the obvious... not deleting them, not moving them and forgot!!!). Take counting "the number of web pages"... nothing out there gives me a monthly count so, no way to answer that; number of downloads... I do a small numbers but I have no idea how many times my software/Windows/Virus Checkers automatically download to stay updated; streaming... I do not even know what that is but then, what if I want to use that; get the idea how difficult this is????

So, if you comparison shopped some of these smart phone data plans, how did you do the compare? what tool(s) did you use?

I hate selecting a carrier and a certain amount only to find the next day that I got too big of a plan or too small of a plan. I am afraid if I do not select something, I may be on the way to waiting two years to replace the broken flip phone. TIA, Luis

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Comments (5)

Elmer J Fudd
13 years ago
They're all pretty comparable among the market leaders, the smaller guys (like Sprint) can be a bit cheaper. But they're all expensive.

I wouldn't rely on a comparison website, get it straight from the horses' mouths. Use the carriers' websites, or better yet, visit the stores and let them give you a pitch with the information and prices they can offer you. They really don't differ all that much.
acraftylady
13 years ago
Most of the major carries have forums on their site and I think that's a good way to read about compalints and stuff. I agree all the good reliable service smart phones are expensive. I want a smart phone but can't afford to do it on verizon so will keep my talk and text phone as long as it holds out. I looked at the all in one plans for $50 a month but I am afraid how the service will be and since I don't have a home phone I need reliable calling service and I get that from verizon for I am afraid to switch to one of the bargain plans. Mary
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OK you are on the Internet now so you Obviously already have a provider, do you have dialup, dsl, cable, how do you get the Internet? If it is a high speed Internet access then you would be able to get a wireless router and connect it, then you would have wireless Internet access and you can use it for the tablet. You definitely do not have to get any cell plans to use the tablet in fact most do not even have that option. Your existing Internet should suffice if you are on anything other than dial up. The problem with using a cellular plan is they limit your data and if you go over you can have some serious costs. Very few offer a true unlimited data plan. Just think of the tablet as a laptop or another computer that is how you handle it, very similar.
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Apps that I use on my Iphone are Noaa weather radar for severe weather, facebook where my friends, charities, news and organizations groups are my favorite places to go. I also use it for GPS quite often because we have kids that do sports or events that make me look up maps. My car is located via GPS and I can see where we are in relation to our destination. A couple months ago I downloaded a Florida Keys app so in any spare time I can read up on our summer vacation destination. I use 'siri' quite often. She's my phones attitude too. At this point she knows my name and keeps us entertained with her answers. Its pretty easy to use the voice text, and the voice answers that come over the vehicle microphone. The only problem I have with my phone is the same problem I found was using it when driving. Just like eating, or personal care, I have to remind myself to take care of business before or after driving. I will have a conversation on my, I guess it's called Bluetooth which connects to my phone when enter the car. We have a long Highway by the house, which isn't crowded. The microphone above my head makes for easy talking. I feel relieved to know my high school girls are able to call or text me if they need to 'check in'. The car syncs up with the Iphones music but I'll use the USB port in my car, which seems to save energy and charges the phone when I'm not using it too. I have to say there are plenty more apps I use daily and I feel a little lost when I leave it at home. I do put it away while I visit with other people though. Hope that gives you some more thoughts about smart phones. Even my dh has recently changed to a heavy duty smart phone. It's a Casio Commando, with a double heavy duty case made for a farmer! We have a free app called Live360 that GPS's all our phones. I see where he is farming when I need to get out there. (or where my girls are if I'm concerned about their whereabouts) Whew! that's just the tip of the iceberg!
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Yes, SW, we agree. When you have multiple users on any kind of data sharing system, it slows down. It's often not perceptible in real time, but it shows up as everything from ticks to pauses during HD streaming. I mentioned the ethernet connection as the most robust and stable, not as a necessity. It's the thing to compare the wi-fi to, given the same device/configuration. But that's assuming a short wire. I used to have to run a 100' ethernet cable up the stairs and through the maze every so often, before the double services, and it was noticeably slower than the 5' ones. :) LOL! Lukkiirish, I don't know about being a personal Google, but I often look things up. Like I looked up what my connection speeds were for this discussion. And why I didn't say what I actually pay for telecom because I'd have to parse too many bills to come up with a number. I can say that it seems to be in line with what others are paying for the bits I could compare off the top of my head. I do know a little about a lot of things and a lot about a few things, and I'm pretty good at researching the rest. :)
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kudzu9
13 years ago
First, most providers charge you extra (often a lot extra) if you exceed a data plan cap. You might consider getting an unlimited data plan so you don't continually worry if you are going over. There are actually some out there that are reasonably priced. I have been a T-Mobile customer for many years and my unlimited data plan is $20/month. You, as a new customer, are unlikely to get that rate, but you should see what they are willing to do. T-Mobile has a little "calculator" on their web site where you choose the kinds of things you are going to do with your data plan and they help you pick the lowest usage category. Unlike a lot of companies, they also have some limited data plans where -- even if you exceed your cap -- they don't charge you extra, they just throttle your online speed down for the rest of the month.

I suggest you investigate several providers, and talk to them on the phone. As a new customer, they may offer you a special deal if you explain you are shopping around and keep asking them: "Is that the best deal you can offer me?"

I also see that Costco -- if you have access to one -- typically has phone kiosks in the stores that offer very good deals on new smartphones and plans.
acraftylady
13 years ago
Most of the major carriers don't offer unlimited anymore except maybe sprint? Verizon is $30 a month per phone for 2gigs each but they do have the family share plan now. Even exhisting customers on verizon with unlimited data can't keep it if they take a phone upgrade. Only way to keep unlimited on verizon now if you were granfathered in is to buy the phone at full price.

My friend has an Iphone on verizon and doesn't go over 2gigs a month and she says most people don't. I think even the all in one plans throttle you after a certain amount I heard and you are paying a good chunk for the phone too. I looked at an all in one plan and the phone I wanted was $200. For me I have decided there are so many free wifi connections I can use while traveling I will just do that with my tablet and be happy.

I have unlimited texting on my cell and you would be surprised at what you can do with that. I can send an receive tweets from twitter. I can also use googel a little by text so if I need to find a store location or something I can type in the name of the store and town and google will text me back with locations in that area. My email also has the option of mail forwarding so I can have it forwared to my cell as text and respond back. Mary
kudzu9
13 years ago
Mary is right that unlimited plans can throttle you back if you are a data hog, which typically means you are streaming movies and music heavily each day. Most people with unlimited plans don't experience that. And it's also true that 2GB will be fine if all you are doing is a "normal" amount of web surfing, emailing, etc.

How do you compare data plans for smart phones?

Comments (5)

Elmer J Fudd

acraftylady

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