Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Scott Granados]

That will be resolved on the new phones coming out over the next couple 
quarters if it hasn’t been already.  T-Mobile is building new sites like crazy. 
 The 600 MHz spectrum will help fill in the gaps.  T-mobile actually just 
passed verizon in percent of population covered but I’m sure VZ still has the 
edge in more  rural areas they are losing that edge slowly.  VZ is now the 3rd 
from the top when it comes to speed having just been passed by AT and 
T-Mobile is at the top.  The coverage game amazes me though that VZ has lost 
the lead.  If you remember though in the 3G networks they were the slowest of 
the 2 CDMA networks, Sprint at that time was the best with EV-DO Rev A, on GSM 
T-Mobile had horrible coverage but great speed and AT was buried by iPhones.  
The race to 4 and 5G  will be interesting.  


On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:46 PM, Mary Otten  wrote:
> 
> T-Mobile definitely has a long way to go here out west once you get off the 
> major highways and out of the major towns. Shoot. Nine or so blocks south of 
> my house, still well in the city, T-Mobile coverage sucks. Fortunately, I 
> don't have to go there. But this is where Verizon still kicked T-Mobile's 
> butt.
> Mary
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 7:42 PM, lenron brown  wrote:
>> 
>> Scott your totally right it depends on your area. I would say try and
>> give them a test drive if possible. T-Mobile could be better where I
>> live and I have even talked to reps about making that happen. I still
>> love the service because I have a nice cell spot in my house and when
>> I got in the city I normally have pretty good service. It's just alone
>> some of these country roads I have issues.
>> 
>>> On 8/15/17, Scott Granados  wrote:
>>> I know T-Mobile does, Metro I know has an unlimited talk plan not sure on
>>> their data although they are less expensive.  I know you get 3G but I’m not
>>> sure the 4G data pricing for unlimited.  I’d go with T-Mobile direct if I
>>> were going down this path.  I use them and love their network but your
>>> milage may vary depending on your area.
>>> 
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:18 PM, Jessica Moss 
 wrote:
 
 Ok, I’m confused; do both t-mobile and metro PCS now offer unlimitted
 data, or just t-mobile?
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Scott Granados 
> wrote:
> 
> I’m on an older plan that offers up to 10 lines for $50 per but the new
> plans I believe are $45 all in including taxes tag and title.:). It’s
> either $45 or $50 something in that range.  They include the tax in the
> total amount as does Metro PCS.
> 
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:36 PM, Jessica Moss 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> How much are you paying for t-mobile’s unlimitted service with taxes and
>> the like?
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados 
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them
>>> over some time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All
>>> the provisioning is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.
>>> 
>>> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad
>>> idea if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited,
>>> Metro offers 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s
>>> worth a call to them to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is
>>> very good though, I use it my self and use 20 or more gigs per month on
>>> average with out problem.
>>> 
>>> Good luck.
>>> 
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss 
 wrote:
 
 Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time
 I checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that
 could’ve changed.
 I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store
 in the Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because
 they weren’t carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one
 I already had over, that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the
 price for the mobile speak software, and on top of that, about 3 other
 customers ahead of me had complaints about how they’d downloaded apps
 on to their phones that refused to download, but were still charged
 for them.
 So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with
 all the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one
 point in time already had it.
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados
>  wrote:
> 
> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which
> is no picnic. 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Mary Otten]

T-Mobile definitely has a long way to go here out west once you get off the 
major highways and out of the major towns. Shoot. Nine or so blocks south of my 
house, still well in the city, T-Mobile coverage sucks. Fortunately, I don't 
have to go there. But this is where Verizon still kicked T-Mobile's butt.
Mary


Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 15, 2017, at 7:42 PM, lenron brown  wrote:
> 
> Scott your totally right it depends on your area. I would say try and
> give them a test drive if possible. T-Mobile could be better where I
> live and I have even talked to reps about making that happen. I still
> love the service because I have a nice cell spot in my house and when
> I got in the city I normally have pretty good service. It's just alone
> some of these country roads I have issues.
> 
>> On 8/15/17, Scott Granados  wrote:
>> I know T-Mobile does, Metro I know has an unlimited talk plan not sure on
>> their data although they are less expensive.  I know you get 3G but I’m not
>> sure the 4G data pricing for unlimited.  I’d go with T-Mobile direct if I
>> were going down this path.  I use them and love their network but your
>> milage may vary depending on your area.
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:18 PM, Jessica Moss 
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Ok, I’m confused; do both t-mobile and metro PCS now offer unlimitted
>>> data, or just t-mobile?
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Scott Granados 
 wrote:
 
 I’m on an older plan that offers up to 10 lines for $50 per but the new
 plans I believe are $45 all in including taxes tag and title.:). It’s
 either $45 or $50 something in that range.  They include the tax in the
 total amount as does Metro PCS.
 
 
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:36 PM, Jessica Moss 
> wrote:
> 
> How much are you paying for t-mobile’s unlimitted service with taxes and
> the like?
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them
>> over some time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All
>> the provisioning is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.
>> 
>> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad
>> idea if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited,
>> Metro offers 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s
>> worth a call to them to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is
>> very good though, I use it my self and use 20 or more gigs per month on
>> average with out problem.
>> 
>> Good luck.
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss 
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time
>>> I checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that
>>> could’ve changed.
>>> I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store
>>> in the Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because
>>> they weren’t carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one
>>> I already had over, that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the
>>> price for the mobile speak software, and on top of that, about 3 other
>>> customers ahead of me had complaints about how they’d downloaded apps
>>> on to their phones that refused to download, but were still charged
>>> for them.
>>> So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with
>>> all the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one
>>> point in time already had it.
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados
  wrote:
 
 Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which
 is no picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round
 of testing of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from
 consideration for being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile
 averages 30 megabits per second and Sprint averages less than 15.
 You also have very poor LTE coverage compared to the other carriers
 and because Sprint has only extremely high frequency spectrum the
 penetration in to buildings is difficult at best.
T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro
 PCS which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop
 around and try to get a better performing network for the same or
 less money.
 
 Just my $.02
 
 
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala 
> wrote:
> 
> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a
> 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[lenron brown]

Scott your totally right it depends on your area. I would say try and
give them a test drive if possible. T-Mobile could be better where I
live and I have even talked to reps about making that happen. I still
love the service because I have a nice cell spot in my house and when
I got in the city I normally have pretty good service. It's just alone
some of these country roads I have issues.

On 8/15/17, Scott Granados  wrote:
> I know T-Mobile does, Metro I know has an unlimited talk plan not sure on
> their data although they are less expensive.  I know you get 3G but I’m not
> sure the 4G data pricing for unlimited.  I’d go with T-Mobile direct if I
> were going down this path.  I use them and love their network but your
> milage may vary depending on your area.
>
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:18 PM, Jessica Moss 
>> wrote:
>>
>> Ok, I’m confused; do both t-mobile and metro PCS now offer unlimitted
>> data, or just t-mobile?
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Scott Granados 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I’m on an older plan that offers up to 10 lines for $50 per but the new
>>> plans I believe are $45 all in including taxes tag and title.:). It’s
>>> either $45 or $50 something in that range.  They include the tax in the
>>> total amount as does Metro PCS.
>>>
>>>
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:36 PM, Jessica Moss 
 wrote:

 How much are you paying for t-mobile’s unlimitted service with taxes and
 the like?
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados 
> wrote:
>
> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them
> over some time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All
> the provisioning is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.
>
> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad
> idea if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited,
> Metro offers 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s
> worth a call to them to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is
> very good though, I use it my self and use 20 or more gigs per month on
> average with out problem.
>
> Good luck.
>
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss 
>> wrote:
>>
>> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time
>> I checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that
>> could’ve changed.
>> I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store
>> in the Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because
>> they weren’t carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one
>> I already had over, that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the
>> price for the mobile speak software, and on top of that, about 3 other
>> customers ahead of me had complaints about how they’d downloaded apps
>> on to their phones that refused to download, but were still charged
>> for them.
>> So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with
>> all the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one
>> point in time already had it.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados
>>>  wrote:
>>>
>>> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which
>>> is no picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round
>>> of testing of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from
>>> consideration for being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile
>>> averages 30 megabits per second and Sprint averages less than 15.
>>> You also have very poor LTE coverage compared to the other carriers
>>> and because Sprint has only extremely high frequency spectrum the
>>> penetration in to buildings is difficult at best.
>>> T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and 
>>> Metro
>>> PCS which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop
>>> around and try to get a better performing network for the same or
>>> less money.
>>>
>>> Just my $.02
>>>
>>>
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala 
 wrote:

 I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a
 customer.
 You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
 important to you.

 Best,
 Mika

 On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated
> however,
> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested
> in trying
> it.
> I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so
> this 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Scott Granados]

I know T-Mobile does, Metro I know has an unlimited talk plan not sure on their 
data although they are less expensive.  I know you get 3G but I’m not sure the 
4G data pricing for unlimited.  I’d go with T-Mobile direct if I were going 
down this path.  I use them and love their network but your milage may vary 
depending on your area.

> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:18 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> 
> Ok, I’m confused; do both t-mobile and metro PCS now offer unlimitted data, 
> or just t-mobile?
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Scott Granados  wrote:
>> 
>> I’m on an older plan that offers up to 10 lines for $50 per but the new 
>> plans I believe are $45 all in including taxes tag and title.:). It’s either 
>> $45 or $50 something in that range.  They include the tax in the total 
>> amount as does Metro PCS.
>> 
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:36 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>>> 
>>> How much are you paying for t-mobile’s unlimitted service with taxes and 
>>> the like?
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados  
 wrote:
 
 Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them over 
 some time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All the 
 provisioning is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.  
 
 If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad 
 idea if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited, Metro 
 offers 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s worth a 
 call to them to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is very good 
 though, I use it my self and use 20 or more gigs per month on average with 
 out problem.
 
 Good luck.
 
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss  
> wrote:
> 
> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
> checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that 
> could’ve changed.
> I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in 
> the Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they 
> weren’t carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I 
> already had over, that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price 
> for the mobile speak software, and on top of that, about 3 other 
> customers ahead of me had complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on 
> to their phones that refused to download, but were still charged for them.
> So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all 
> the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in 
> time already had it.
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is 
>> no picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of 
>> testing of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from 
>> consideration for being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile 
>> averages 30 megabits per second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You 
>> also have very poor LTE coverage compared to the other carriers and 
>> because Sprint has only extremely high frequency spectrum the 
>> penetration in to buildings is difficult at best.
>>  T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
>> which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around 
>> and try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
>> 
>> Just my $.02
>> 
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
>>> 
>>> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
>>> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
>>> important to you.
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> Mika
>>> 
>>> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
 Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
 where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in 
 trying
 it.
 I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this 
 may
 be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently 
 affiliated
 with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the 
 service and
 not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go 
 back
 to Sprint.
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
> 
> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Jessica Moss]

Ok, I’m confused; do both t-mobile and metro PCS now offer unlimitted data, or 
just t-mobile?
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Scott Granados  wrote:
> 
> I’m on an older plan that offers up to 10 lines for $50 per but the new plans 
> I believe are $45 all in including taxes tag and title.:). It’s either $45 or 
> $50 something in that range.  They include the tax in the total amount as 
> does Metro PCS.
> 
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:36 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> 
>> How much are you paying for t-mobile’s unlimitted service with taxes and the 
>> like?
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados  
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them over 
>>> some time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All the 
>>> provisioning is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.  
>>> 
>>> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad 
>>> idea if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited, Metro 
>>> offers 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s worth a 
>>> call to them to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is very good 
>>> though, I use it my self and use 20 or more gigs per month on average with 
>>> out problem.
>>> 
>>> Good luck.
>>> 
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss  
 wrote:
 
 Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
 checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that 
 could’ve changed.
 I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in 
 the Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they 
 weren’t carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I already 
 had over, that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price for the 
 mobile speak software, and on top of that, about 3 other customers ahead 
 of me had complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on to their phones 
 that refused to download, but were still charged for them.
 So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all 
 the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in 
 time already had it.
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  
> wrote:
> 
> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is 
> no picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of 
> testing of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from 
> consideration for being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile 
> averages 30 megabits per second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You 
> also have very poor LTE coverage compared to the other carriers and 
> because Sprint has only extremely high frequency spectrum the penetration 
> in to buildings is difficult at best.
>   T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
> which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around 
> and try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
> 
> Just my $.02
> 
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
>> 
>> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
>> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
>> important to you.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Mika
>> 
>> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>>> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
>>> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in 
>>> trying
>>> it.
>>> I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this 
>>> may
>>> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently 
>>> affiliated
>>> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service 
>>> and
>>> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go 
>>> back
>>> to Sprint.
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
 
 CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
 Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
 CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, 
 gadgets
 and
 much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
 FAQ
 page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
 Cheapskate
 on Twitter!
 
 
 Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
 savings to buy them some vowels.
 Rok Mobile
 How much data do you typically 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Scott Granados]

I’m on an older plan that offers up to 10 lines for $50 per but the new plans I 
believe are $45 all in including taxes tag and title.:). It’s either $45 or $50 
something in that range.  They include the tax in the total amount as does 
Metro PCS.


> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:36 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> 
> How much are you paying for t-mobile’s unlimitted service with taxes and the 
> like?
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados  wrote:
>> 
>> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them over 
>> some time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All the 
>> provisioning is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.  
>> 
>> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad idea 
>> if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited, Metro offers 
>> 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s worth a call to 
>> them to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is very good though, I use 
>> it my self and use 20 or more gigs per month on average with out problem.
>> 
>> Good luck.
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>>> 
>>> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
>>> checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that could’ve 
>>> changed.
>>> I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in the 
>>> Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they weren’t 
>>> carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I already had 
>>> over, that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price for the mobile 
>>> speak software, and on top of that, about 3 other customers ahead of me had 
>>> complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on to their phones that refused 
>>> to download, but were still charged for them.
>>> So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all 
>>> the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in 
>>> time already had it.
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  
 wrote:
 
 Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is no 
 picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of testing 
 of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from consideration 
 for being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile averages 30 megabits 
 per second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You also have very poor LTE 
 coverage compared to the other carriers and because Sprint has only 
 extremely high frequency spectrum the penetration in to buildings is 
 difficult at best.
T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
 which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around 
 and try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
 
 Just my $.02
 
 
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
> 
> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
> important to you.
> 
> Best,
> Mika
> 
> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
>> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in 
>> trying
>> it.
>> I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
>> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
>> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service 
>> and
>> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go 
>> back
>> to Sprint.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>>> 
>>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>>> and
>>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>>> FAQ
>>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>>> Cheapskate
>>> on Twitter!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>>> Rok Mobile
>>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>>> somewhere
>>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>>> deal
>>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G 
>>> LTE
>>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>>> 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Jessica Moss]

How much are you paying for t-mobile’s unlimitted service with taxes and the 
like?
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados  wrote:
> 
> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them over some 
> time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All the provisioning 
> is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.  
> 
> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad idea 
> if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited, Metro offers 
> 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s worth a call to them 
> to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is very good though, I use it my 
> self and use 20 or more gigs per month on average with out problem.
> 
> Good luck.
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> 
>> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
>> checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that could’ve 
>> changed.
>> I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in the 
>> Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they weren’t 
>> carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I already had over, 
>> that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price for the mobile speak 
>> software, and on top of that, about 3 other customers ahead of me had 
>> complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on to their phones that refused 
>> to download, but were still charged for them.
>> So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all 
>> the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in 
>> time already had it.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is no 
>>> picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of testing 
>>> of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from consideration for 
>>> being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile averages 30 megabits per 
>>> second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You also have very poor LTE 
>>> coverage compared to the other carriers and because Sprint has only 
>>> extremely high frequency spectrum the penetration in to buildings is 
>>> difficult at best.
>>> T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
>>> which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around and 
>>> try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
>>> 
>>> Just my $.02
>>> 
>>> 
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
 
 I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
 You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
 important to you.
 
 Best,
 Mika
 
 On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in 
> trying
> it.
> I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service 
> and
> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
> to Sprint.
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>> 
>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>> and
>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>> FAQ
>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>> Cheapskate
>> on Twitter!
>> 
>> 
>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>> Rok Mobile
>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>> somewhere
>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>> deal
>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>> everyone.
>> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
>> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
>> plan.
>> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
>> bit
>> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
>> Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
>> unlimited Sprint-network 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Scott Granados]

Yes, definitely go with an unlimited plan, they are all offering them now.


> On Aug 15, 2017, at 3:28 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> 
> Oh cool, I may consider that then.  I’ve used a little over 7 gb before, 
> mostly because I stream pandora as well as gps on a regular basis on my way 
> to work, so that consumes a load of data.
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados  wrote:
>> 
>> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them over 
>> some time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All the 
>> provisioning is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.  
>> 
>> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad idea 
>> if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited, Metro offers 
>> 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s worth a call to 
>> them to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is very good though, I use 
>> it my self and use 20 or more gigs per month on average with out problem.
>> 
>> Good luck.
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>>> 
>>> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
>>> checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that could’ve 
>>> changed.
>>> I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in the 
>>> Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they weren’t 
>>> carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I already had 
>>> over, that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price for the mobile 
>>> speak software, and on top of that, about 3 other customers ahead of me had 
>>> complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on to their phones that refused 
>>> to download, but were still charged for them.
>>> So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all 
>>> the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in 
>>> time already had it.
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  
 wrote:
 
 Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is no 
 picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of testing 
 of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from consideration 
 for being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile averages 30 megabits 
 per second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You also have very poor LTE 
 coverage compared to the other carriers and because Sprint has only 
 extremely high frequency spectrum the penetration in to buildings is 
 difficult at best.
T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
 which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around 
 and try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
 
 Just my $.02
 
 
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
> 
> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
> important to you.
> 
> Best,
> Mika
> 
> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
>> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in 
>> trying
>> it.
>> I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
>> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
>> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service 
>> and
>> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go 
>> back
>> to Sprint.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>>> 
>>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>>> and
>>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>>> FAQ
>>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>>> Cheapskate
>>> on Twitter!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>>> Rok Mobile
>>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>>> somewhere
>>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>>> deal
>>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G 
>>> LTE
>>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>>> everyone.
>>> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Jessica Moss]

Oh cool, I may consider that then.  I’ve used a little over 7 gb before, mostly 
because I stream pandora as well as gps on a regular basis on my way to work, 
so that consumes a load of data.

> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Scott Granados  wrote:
> 
> Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them over some 
> time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All the provisioning 
> is the same as regular T-Mobile phones.  
> 
> If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad idea 
> if you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited, Metro offers 
> 2 GB of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s worth a call to them 
> to make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is very good though, I use it my 
> self and use 20 or more gigs per month on average with out problem.
> 
> Good luck.
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> 
>> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
>> checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that could’ve 
>> changed.
>> I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in the 
>> Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they weren’t 
>> carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I already had over, 
>> that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price for the mobile speak 
>> software, and on top of that, about 3 other customers ahead of me had 
>> complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on to their phones that refused 
>> to download, but were still charged for them.
>> So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all 
>> the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in 
>> time already had it.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is no 
>>> picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of testing 
>>> of the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from consideration for 
>>> being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile averages 30 megabits per 
>>> second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You also have very poor LTE 
>>> coverage compared to the other carriers and because Sprint has only 
>>> extremely high frequency spectrum the penetration in to buildings is 
>>> difficult at best.
>>> T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
>>> which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around and 
>>> try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
>>> 
>>> Just my $.02
>>> 
>>> 
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
 
 I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
 You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
 important to you.
 
 Best,
 Mika
 
 On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in 
> trying
> it.
> I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service 
> and
> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
> to Sprint.
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>> 
>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>> and
>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>> FAQ
>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>> Cheapskate
>> on Twitter!
>> 
>> 
>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>> Rok Mobile
>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>> somewhere
>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>> deal
>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>> everyone.
>> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
>> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
>> plan.
>> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
>> bit
>> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Scott Granados]

Nothing is the same from 4 years ago or longer.  T-Mobile took them over some 
time ago and now runs Metro PCS on their own network.  All the provisioning is 
the same as regular T-Mobile phones.  

If I had the choice I’d go with T-Mobile directly but Metro isn’t a bad idea if 
you need the savings.  T-Mobile definitely offers unlimited, Metro offers 2 GB 
of 4G data and then unlimited 3G I believe but it’s worth a call to them to 
make sure.  T-Mobile’s unlimited service is very good though, I use it my self 
and use 20 or more gigs per month on average with out problem.

Good luck.

> On Aug 15, 2017, at 2:46 PM, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> 
> Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
> checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that could’ve 
> changed.
>  I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in the 
> Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they weren’t 
> carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I already had over, 
> that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price for the mobile speak 
> software, and on top of that, about 3 other customers ahead of me had 
> complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on to their phones that refused 
> to download, but were still charged for them.
>  So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all 
> the dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in 
> time already had it.
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is no 
>> picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of testing of 
>> the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from consideration for 
>> being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile averages 30 megabits per 
>> second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You also have very poor LTE 
>> coverage compared to the other carriers and because Sprint has only 
>> extremely high frequency spectrum the penetration in to buildings is 
>> difficult at best.
>>  T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
>> which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around and 
>> try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
>> 
>> Just my $.02
>> 
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
>>> 
>>> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
>>> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
>>> important to you.
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> Mika
>>> 
>>> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
 Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
 where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in trying
 it.
 I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
 be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
 with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service and
 not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
 to Sprint.
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
> 
> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
> and
> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
> FAQ
> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
> Cheapskate
> on Twitter!
> 
> 
> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
> savings to buy them some vowels.
> Rok Mobile
> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
> somewhere
> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
> deal
> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
> everyone.
> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
> plan.
> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
> bit
> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
> Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
> unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60
> a
> year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes
> 24/7
> roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk
> if
> you don't already have AAA or the like.
> 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Jessica Moss]

Do both of those actually have unlimitted data though?  The last time I 
checked, metro pcs didn’t, but that was several years ago and that could’ve 
changed.
  I was going to switch to them about 4 years ago, and went to a store in the 
Orlando area, and immediately decided not to, partly because they weren’t 
carrying the phone I wanted, and I couldn’t port the one I already had over, 
that I’d already paid about $400 for, plus the price for the mobile speak 
software, and on top of that, about 3 other customers ahead of me had 
complaints about how they’d downloaded apps on to their phones that refused to 
download, but were still charged for them.
  So at that point, I decided it wasn’t worth it, along with along with all the 
dropped calls I was getting from a friend of mine who at one point in time 
already had it.
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 10:25 AM, Scott Granados  wrote:
> 
> Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is no 
> picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of testing of 
> the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from consideration for 
> being so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile averages 30 megabits per 
> second and Sprint averages less than 15.  You also have very poor LTE 
> coverage compared to the other carriers and because Sprint has only extremely 
> high frequency spectrum the penetration in to buildings is difficult at best.
>   T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
> which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around and 
> try to get a better performing network for the same or less money.
> 
> Just my $.02
> 
> 
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
>> 
>> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
>> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
>> important to you.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Mika
>> 
>> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>>> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
>>> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in trying
>>> it.
>>> I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
>>> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
>>> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service and
>>> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
>>> to Sprint.
 On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
 
 CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
 Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
 CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
 and
 much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
 FAQ
 page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
 Cheapskate
 on Twitter!
 
 
 Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
 savings to buy them some vowels.
 Rok Mobile
 How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
 somewhere
 around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
 deal
 around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
 data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
 everyone.
 Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
 stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
 plan.
 Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
 bit
 more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
 Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
 unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60
 a
 year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes
 24/7
 roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk
 if
 you don't already have AAA or the like.
 Rok who-now?
 Rok Mobile has been around for a few years; the carrier's early claim to
 fame was a bundled music-streaming service, but that option is no more.
 Instead, you're basically scoring Sprint's $50-a-month plan for $45 a
 month
 and getting the aforementioned tow-truck benefit.
 That plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messages and 4G LTE
 data.
 Is the data really unlimited, though? Rok "may reduce to slower speeds
 after
 20GB of LTE usage," according to a company rep. That's a common practice;
 I'm pretty sure Sprint does likewise after 22GB.
 Another common practice: Rok's "Data Stretcher" streams video at a lower
 resolution so you consume less data. Curiously, however, this works only
 on

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Jessica Moss]

Ok, this is starting to throw up a lot of red flags on my end, unless someone 
knows something I’ve overlooked.  I just checked out their webpage, and so far, 
I see no contact information for them, they want you to enter your name and 
e-mail address, which I’m not going to do when I know precious little about a 
company of any sort, and when I tried doing a google search on how to contact 
them, I did find a “about rok mobile,” link, which was really lengthy in 
describing how the company was founded, which seems to be UK-based.
  On top of that, when I tried to find a store in my area, I called the number 
listed, I got this foreign man who answered the phone “Hello,” instead of 
“thankyou for calling rok mobile, how may I help you,” and I checked the number 
I dialed along with the number listed on the web site, and they both matched, 
so this company seems really shady to me, especially if they’re offering all 
these editional services at no aditional cost.
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
> 
> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
> important to you.
> 
> Best,
> Mika
> 
> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
>> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in trying
>> it.
>>  I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
>> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
>> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service and
>> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
>> to Sprint.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>>> 
>>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>>> and
>>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>>> FAQ
>>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>>> Cheapskate
>>> on Twitter!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>>> Rok Mobile
>>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>>> somewhere
>>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>>> deal
>>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
>>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>>> everyone.
>>> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
>>> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
>>> plan.
>>> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
>>> bit
>>> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
>>> Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
>>> unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60
>>> a
>>> year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes
>>> 24/7
>>> roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk
>>> if
>>> you don't already have AAA or the like.
>>> Rok who-now?
>>> Rok Mobile has been around for a few years; the carrier's early claim to
>>> fame was a bundled music-streaming service, but that option is no more.
>>> Instead, you're basically scoring Sprint's $50-a-month plan for $45 a
>>> month
>>> and getting the aforementioned tow-truck benefit.
>>> That plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messages and 4G LTE
>>> data.
>>> Is the data really unlimited, though? Rok "may reduce to slower speeds
>>> after
>>> 20GB of LTE usage," according to a company rep. That's a common practice;
>>> I'm pretty sure Sprint does likewise after 22GB.
>>> Another common practice: Rok's "Data Stretcher" streams video at a lower
>>> resolution so you consume less data. Curiously, however, this works only
>>> on
>>> Android devices, according to the carrier's FAQ page.
>>> Speaking of phones, you should be able to bring any unlocked,
>>> CDMA-compatible model to Rok, though of course you'll need to do an
>>> IMEI-number check before signing up. It's worth noting that many modern
>>> phones (Google Nexuses, some Samsung Galaxys, late-model iPhones, and so
>>> on)
>>> can work on both GSM and CDMA networks, so if you were previously with a
>>> GSM
>>> carrier, you should be able to make the move.
>>> Deal or no deal?
>>> The other consideration, of course, is coverage. For many users (myself
>>> included), Sprint coverage is, um, not excellent. Rok notes that it now
>>> leverages both Sprint and "the nation's most reliable other CDMA
>>> network,"
>>> which is MVNO-speak for "Verizon."
>>> This 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Scott Granados]

Remember though, in the end you’re still on the Sprint network which is no 
picnic.  Sprint’s network performed so badly in the last round of testing of 
the big 4 networks they had their results dropped from consideration for being 
so slow.  To give you an example, T-Mobile averages 30 megabits per second and 
Sprint averages less than 15.  You also have very poor LTE coverage compared to 
the other carriers and because Sprint has only extremely high frequency 
spectrum the penetration in to buildings is difficult at best.
T-Mobile has a 45$ all in plan as well worth looking at and Metro PCS 
which is T-Mobile rebranded has a $30 plan.  I’d definitely shop around and try 
to get a better performing network for the same or less money.

Just my $.02


> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
> 
> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
> important to you.
> 
> Best,
> Mika
> 
> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
>> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in trying
>> it.
>>  I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
>> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
>> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service and
>> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
>> to Sprint.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>>> 
>>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>>> and
>>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>>> FAQ
>>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>>> Cheapskate
>>> on Twitter!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>>> Rok Mobile
>>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>>> somewhere
>>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>>> deal
>>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
>>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>>> everyone.
>>> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
>>> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
>>> plan.
>>> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
>>> bit
>>> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
>>> Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
>>> unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60
>>> a
>>> year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes
>>> 24/7
>>> roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk
>>> if
>>> you don't already have AAA or the like.
>>> Rok who-now?
>>> Rok Mobile has been around for a few years; the carrier's early claim to
>>> fame was a bundled music-streaming service, but that option is no more.
>>> Instead, you're basically scoring Sprint's $50-a-month plan for $45 a
>>> month
>>> and getting the aforementioned tow-truck benefit.
>>> That plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messages and 4G LTE
>>> data.
>>> Is the data really unlimited, though? Rok "may reduce to slower speeds
>>> after
>>> 20GB of LTE usage," according to a company rep. That's a common practice;
>>> I'm pretty sure Sprint does likewise after 22GB.
>>> Another common practice: Rok's "Data Stretcher" streams video at a lower
>>> resolution so you consume less data. Curiously, however, this works only
>>> on
>>> Android devices, according to the carrier's FAQ page.
>>> Speaking of phones, you should be able to bring any unlocked,
>>> CDMA-compatible model to Rok, though of course you'll need to do an
>>> IMEI-number check before signing up. It's worth noting that many modern
>>> phones (Google Nexuses, some Samsung Galaxys, late-model iPhones, and so
>>> on)
>>> can work on both GSM and CDMA networks, so if you were previously with a
>>> GSM
>>> carrier, you should be able to make the move.
>>> Deal or no deal?
>>> The other consideration, of course, is coverage. For many users (myself
>>> included), Sprint coverage is, um, not excellent. Rok notes that it now
>>> leverages both Sprint and "the nation's most reliable other CDMA
>>> network,"
>>> which is MVNO-speak for "Verizon."
>>> This particular plan is specifically identified as a "Sprint Unlimited,"
>>> however, which suggests to me that you'll be limited to Sprint's network
>>> only. I asked Rok for clarification on that; the answer I got was 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Jessica Moss]

It is; all of my family/friends, along with my daughter’s school have had that 
number for years
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 9:49 AM, Mika Pyyhkala  wrote:
> 
> I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
> You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
> important to you.
> 
> Best,
> Mika
> 
> On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
>> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
>> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in trying
>> it.
>>  I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
>> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
>> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service and
>> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
>> to Sprint.
>>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>>> 
>>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>>> and
>>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>>> FAQ
>>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>>> Cheapskate
>>> on Twitter!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>>> Rok Mobile
>>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>>> somewhere
>>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>>> deal
>>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
>>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>>> everyone.
>>> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
>>> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
>>> plan.
>>> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
>>> bit
>>> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
>>> Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
>>> unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60
>>> a
>>> year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes
>>> 24/7
>>> roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk
>>> if
>>> you don't already have AAA or the like.
>>> Rok who-now?
>>> Rok Mobile has been around for a few years; the carrier's early claim to
>>> fame was a bundled music-streaming service, but that option is no more.
>>> Instead, you're basically scoring Sprint's $50-a-month plan for $45 a
>>> month
>>> and getting the aforementioned tow-truck benefit.
>>> That plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messages and 4G LTE
>>> data.
>>> Is the data really unlimited, though? Rok "may reduce to slower speeds
>>> after
>>> 20GB of LTE usage," according to a company rep. That's a common practice;
>>> I'm pretty sure Sprint does likewise after 22GB.
>>> Another common practice: Rok's "Data Stretcher" streams video at a lower
>>> resolution so you consume less data. Curiously, however, this works only
>>> on
>>> Android devices, according to the carrier's FAQ page.
>>> Speaking of phones, you should be able to bring any unlocked,
>>> CDMA-compatible model to Rok, though of course you'll need to do an
>>> IMEI-number check before signing up. It's worth noting that many modern
>>> phones (Google Nexuses, some Samsung Galaxys, late-model iPhones, and so
>>> on)
>>> can work on both GSM and CDMA networks, so if you were previously with a
>>> GSM
>>> carrier, you should be able to make the move.
>>> Deal or no deal?
>>> The other consideration, of course, is coverage. For many users (myself
>>> included), Sprint coverage is, um, not excellent. Rok notes that it now
>>> leverages both Sprint and "the nation's most reliable other CDMA
>>> network,"
>>> which is MVNO-speak for "Verizon."
>>> This particular plan is specifically identified as a "Sprint Unlimited,"
>>> however, which suggests to me that you'll be limited to Sprint's network
>>> only. I asked Rok for clarification on that; the answer I got was a
>>> little
>>> vague.
>>> But here's the beauty of no-contract services like this: You try it out
>>> for
>>> a month or two, and if you're not happy, you move on.
>>> Your thoughts?
>>> Bonus deal: It's not exactly an impulse buy, but if you've had your eye on
>>> a
>>> big iPad, here's a significant savings: For a limited time, and while
>>> supplies last, BuySpry (via eBay) has the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 256GB Wi-Fi
>>> +
>>> Cellular for $799.99 shipped. Apple charges $1,029.
>>> 
>>> Pull in local stations (hopefully) with this amplified antenna.
>>> Vansky
>>> What's the catch? These are new, sealed iPads, but apparently they're
>>> also
>>> the "European 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Mika Pyyhkala]

I don't see any reason why Sprint would not take you back as a customer.
You may just have to check also on the number porting if that is
important to you.

Best,
Mika

On 8/15/17, Jessica Moss  wrote:
> Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however,
> where/how to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in trying
> it.
>   I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may
> be right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated
> with Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service and
> not satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back
> to Sprint.
>> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
>>
>> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
>> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
>> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets
>> and
>> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our
>> FAQ
>> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the
>> Cheapskate
>> on Twitter!
>> 
>>
>> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
>> savings to buy them some vowels.
>> Rok Mobile
>> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is
>> somewhere
>> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best
>> deal
>> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
>> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
>> everyone.
>> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
>> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited
>> plan.
>> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a
>> bit
>> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
>> Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
>> unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60
>> a
>> year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes
>> 24/7
>> roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk
>> if
>> you don't already have AAA or the like.
>> Rok who-now?
>> Rok Mobile has been around for a few years; the carrier's early claim to
>> fame was a bundled music-streaming service, but that option is no more.
>> Instead, you're basically scoring Sprint's $50-a-month plan for $45 a
>> month
>> and getting the aforementioned tow-truck benefit.
>> That plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messages and 4G LTE
>> data.
>> Is the data really unlimited, though? Rok "may reduce to slower speeds
>> after
>> 20GB of LTE usage," according to a company rep. That's a common practice;
>> I'm pretty sure Sprint does likewise after 22GB.
>> Another common practice: Rok's "Data Stretcher" streams video at a lower
>> resolution so you consume less data. Curiously, however, this works only
>> on
>> Android devices, according to the carrier's FAQ page.
>> Speaking of phones, you should be able to bring any unlocked,
>> CDMA-compatible model to Rok, though of course you'll need to do an
>> IMEI-number check before signing up. It's worth noting that many modern
>> phones (Google Nexuses, some Samsung Galaxys, late-model iPhones, and so
>> on)
>> can work on both GSM and CDMA networks, so if you were previously with a
>> GSM
>> carrier, you should be able to make the move.
>> Deal or no deal?
>> The other consideration, of course, is coverage. For many users (myself
>> included), Sprint coverage is, um, not excellent. Rok notes that it now
>> leverages both Sprint and "the nation's most reliable other CDMA
>> network,"
>> which is MVNO-speak for "Verizon."
>> This particular plan is specifically identified as a "Sprint Unlimited,"
>> however, which suggests to me that you'll be limited to Sprint's network
>> only. I asked Rok for clarification on that; the answer I got was a
>> little
>> vague.
>> But here's the beauty of no-contract services like this: You try it out
>> for
>> a month or two, and if you're not happy, you move on.
>> Your thoughts?
>> Bonus deal: It's not exactly an impulse buy, but if you've had your eye on
>> a
>> big iPad, here's a significant savings: For a limited time, and while
>> supplies last, BuySpry (via eBay) has the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 256GB Wi-Fi
>> +
>> Cellular for $799.99 shipped. Apple charges $1,029.
>>
>> Pull in local stations (hopefully) with this amplified antenna.
>> Vansky
>> What's the catch? These are new, sealed iPads, but apparently they're
>> also
>> the "European model with US charger" -- meaning no discernible difference
>> from the US model, at least according to the seller. And it comes with a
>> full Apple warranty. So if you want the premium, loaded iPad Pro 12.9 for
>> the price of the entry-level model, here you go!
>> Bonus deal No. 2: 

Re: Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[Jessica Moss]

Thanx so much for passing this along.  I wish they’d stated however, where/how 
to obtain this new service, sense I’m really interested in trying it.
  I really need to cut back as much as possible on my spending, so this may be 
right up my alley.  I wonder however, if they’re apparently affiliated with 
Sprint, and you’re a current Sprint customer who joins the service and not 
satisfied with it, what the likelyhood would be that you could go back to 
Sprint.
> On Aug 15, 2017, at 1:24 AM, M. Taylor  wrote:
> 
> CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
> Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
> CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and
> much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ
> page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate
> on Twitter!
> 
> 
> Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
> savings to buy them some vowels.
> Rok Mobile 
> How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is somewhere
> around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best deal
> around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
> data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
> everyone.
> Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
> stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited plan.
> Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a bit
> more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
> Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
> unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60 a
> year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes 24/7
> roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk if
> you don't already have AAA or the like.
> Rok who-now?
> Rok Mobile has been around for a few years; the carrier's early claim to
> fame was a bundled music-streaming service, but that option is no more.
> Instead, you're basically scoring Sprint's $50-a-month plan for $45 a month
> and getting the aforementioned tow-truck benefit.
> That plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messages and 4G LTE data.
> Is the data really unlimited, though? Rok "may reduce to slower speeds after
> 20GB of LTE usage," according to a company rep. That's a common practice;
> I'm pretty sure Sprint does likewise after 22GB.
> Another common practice: Rok's "Data Stretcher" streams video at a lower
> resolution so you consume less data. Curiously, however, this works only on
> Android devices, according to the carrier's FAQ page.
> Speaking of phones, you should be able to bring any unlocked,
> CDMA-compatible model to Rok, though of course you'll need to do an
> IMEI-number check before signing up. It's worth noting that many modern
> phones (Google Nexuses, some Samsung Galaxys, late-model iPhones, and so on)
> can work on both GSM and CDMA networks, so if you were previously with a GSM
> carrier, you should be able to make the move.
> Deal or no deal?
> The other consideration, of course, is coverage. For many users (myself
> included), Sprint coverage is, um, not excellent. Rok notes that it now
> leverages both Sprint and "the nation's most reliable other CDMA network,"
> which is MVNO-speak for "Verizon."
> This particular plan is specifically identified as a "Sprint Unlimited,"
> however, which suggests to me that you'll be limited to Sprint's network
> only. I asked Rok for clarification on that; the answer I got was a little
> vague.
> But here's the beauty of no-contract services like this: You try it out for
> a month or two, and if you're not happy, you move on.
> Your thoughts?
> Bonus deal: It's not exactly an impulse buy, but if you've had your eye on a
> big iPad, here's a significant savings: For a limited time, and while
> supplies last, BuySpry (via eBay) has the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 256GB Wi-Fi +
> Cellular for $799.99 shipped. Apple charges $1,029.
> 
> Pull in local stations (hopefully) with this amplified antenna.
> Vansky 
> What's the catch? These are new, sealed iPads, but apparently they're also
> the "European model with US charger" -- meaning no discernible difference
> from the US model, at least according to the seller. And it comes with a
> full Apple warranty. So if you want the premium, loaded iPad Pro 12.9 for
> the price of the entry-level model, here you go!
> Bonus deal No. 2: Ditching cable usually means ditching local channels --
> unless you connect an antenna and take advantage of your TV's built-in
> tuner. (You remember antennas and tuners, right?)
> OK, but can one of those flat, plastic antennas really do the job? Depends
> on where you live, how the antenna is positioned and other variables. But
> here's your chance to test-drive the 

Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET

[M. Taylor]

CNET News - Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:50 AM
Get an unlimited no-contract phone plan for $45 - CNET
CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and
much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ
page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate
on Twitter!

 
Rok Mobile's new plan undercuts Sprint by $5 a month. You can use that
savings to buy them some vowels.
Rok Mobile 
How much data do you typically consume in a month? The average is somewhere
around 3-4GB, in which case Cricket Wireless offers arguably the best deal
around: $35 a month (with autopay) for a plan that includes 4GB of 4G LTE
data. Cricket is a GSM carrier, however, and 4GB may not be enough for
everyone.
Indeed, if you're packing a Sprint-compatible CDMA phone and you like to
stream a lot of video, you're probably more interested in an unlimited plan.
Verizon charges $80 per month for the privilege, while Sprint is quite a bit
more affordable at $50. But now there's an even better deal.
Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Rok Mobile just introduced an
unlimited Sprint-network plan for $45 per month. That would save you $60 a
year over Sprint and $420 over Verizon. What's more, that plan includes 24/7
roadside assistance -- kind of a weird extra, but also a pretty nice perk if
you don't already have AAA or the like.
Rok who-now?
Rok Mobile has been around for a few years; the carrier's early claim to
fame was a bundled music-streaming service, but that option is no more.
Instead, you're basically scoring Sprint's $50-a-month plan for $45 a month
and getting the aforementioned tow-truck benefit.
That plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messages and 4G LTE data.
Is the data really unlimited, though? Rok "may reduce to slower speeds after
20GB of LTE usage," according to a company rep. That's a common practice;
I'm pretty sure Sprint does likewise after 22GB.
Another common practice: Rok's "Data Stretcher" streams video at a lower
resolution so you consume less data. Curiously, however, this works only on
Android devices, according to the carrier's FAQ page.
Speaking of phones, you should be able to bring any unlocked,
CDMA-compatible model to Rok, though of course you'll need to do an
IMEI-number check before signing up. It's worth noting that many modern
phones (Google Nexuses, some Samsung Galaxys, late-model iPhones, and so on)
can work on both GSM and CDMA networks, so if you were previously with a GSM
carrier, you should be able to make the move.
Deal or no deal?
The other consideration, of course, is coverage. For many users (myself
included), Sprint coverage is, um, not excellent. Rok notes that it now
leverages both Sprint and "the nation's most reliable other CDMA network,"
which is MVNO-speak for "Verizon."
This particular plan is specifically identified as a "Sprint Unlimited,"
however, which suggests to me that you'll be limited to Sprint's network
only. I asked Rok for clarification on that; the answer I got was a little
vague.
But here's the beauty of no-contract services like this: You try it out for
a month or two, and if you're not happy, you move on.
Your thoughts?
Bonus deal: It's not exactly an impulse buy, but if you've had your eye on a
big iPad, here's a significant savings: For a limited time, and while
supplies last, BuySpry (via eBay) has the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 256GB Wi-Fi +
Cellular for $799.99 shipped. Apple charges $1,029.
 
Pull in local stations (hopefully) with this amplified antenna.
Vansky 
What's the catch? These are new, sealed iPads, but apparently they're also
the "European model with US charger" -- meaning no discernible difference
from the US model, at least according to the seller. And it comes with a
full Apple warranty. So if you want the premium, loaded iPad Pro 12.9 for
the price of the entry-level model, here you go!
Bonus deal No. 2: Ditching cable usually means ditching local channels --
unless you connect an antenna and take advantage of your TV's built-in
tuner. (You remember antennas and tuners, right?)
OK, but can one of those flat, plastic antennas really do the job? Depends
on where you live, how the antenna is positioned and other variables. But
here's your chance to test-drive the setup on the cheap: Vansky's
transparent indoor amplified antenna is $16.99 shipped (with Prime) when you
apply promo code IIJUEF17 at checkout.
Promising to pull in channels up to 50 miles away, this mostly see-through
antenna will work best when mounted high up on a window. How far do you live
from the stations in your area? Visit AntennaWeb to find out. Products like
these can be very hit-and-miss, working great for some folks and poorly for
others. Fortunately, Amazon makes it easy to return items that don't work,
so you've got nothing to lose by trying.

Original Article at:
https://www.cnet.com/news/get-an-unlimited-no-contract-phone-plan-for-45/#ft
ag=CAD590a51e