I’m thinking of stepping away from Verizon at some point – they’re still using bass-ackwards CDMA, and the phones they offer are pretty lame compared to the alternatives.
So the question becomes: AT&T or T-Mobile?
(note: I pay for unlimited texts (since I use them more frequently than I call, anyway), and would be looking for a good service for a family (couple) who likes to be internetting. I’m interested in the iPhone and the series of Android phones like the G2)
What say you, and why?
Well, it depends. In terms of service, T-Mobile beats AT&T hands down. I had amazing customer service with them the 3-4 years I was with them, and their plans are the most affordable out there.
However, AT&T wins in terms of phones. My biggest complaint on T-Mobile was that their selection of phones sucked ass. Maybe that’s changed in the past 2 years, I’m not sure, but I know AT&T has some good phones. Including obviously, the iPhone, which is hands down the best mobile device out there, as far as I’m concerned.
AT&T has the iPhone, T-Mobile has the G2 Android phone (with more android phones in the offing).
From what I’ve heard re: Android, it’s still not up to par with the iPhone, and there’s (always) rumors of a new model in a few months anyway. That’s not to say that the upcoming andriod phones won’t be better.on par, but currently I think the iPhone still has it’s place ahead of the competition.
One of the things that I really like about Android is that it is a much more open platform. Check out some of these excellent free apps: http://lifehacker.com/5212542/one-dozen-super+useful-and-free-android-apps
I like Apple, I really do; that said, I like to replace my battery, use standard devices (did you see what they did to the new shuffle, sticking a chip in the headphones so you have to buy their authorized brands?), and download whatever software I choose to use, rather than relying on Apple to tell me that, say, jiggling boobies or podcasts not on the itunes stores aren’t me prerogative.
Honestly, if they didn’t have this kind of authority problem at every level, it would have been a no-brainer for me a long time ago. I’ve kept to my crumbling LG eNV both because I’ve been stuck on Verizon and because the fastest, sexiest horse in the race won’t turn when I ask it to.
Oh, I’m not saying the iPhone or Apple is perfect, just that I think they’re still better than the competition, even with their restrictions. Do I think this will be the case forever? Certainly not. I think in the long run, Android will end up the better platform, but I don’t think it’s there yet. I think it has some good apps, and a lot of promise, but I think Apple is still winning the battle, at this point.
That being said, I understand the concern about the restrictions Apple places on their content. I understand why they do so, even if I don’t agree with it, but sadly, consumers such as you and I AREN’T Apple’s target audience – most “general” users won’t care about such things, as the content they can get from Apple will more than suffice for their needs. And to be fair, I actually haven’t found anything that I’ve wanted for the iPhone that I haven’t been able to get – but that’s just me.
I have no experience with AT&T, but my parents tell me their packages are better if you want more than very basic service. T-mobile is currently charging us individually for incoming text messages (no matter how many times i tell my stupid sisters-in-law NOT to text me…) and even individual voice mail messages, because i refuse to pay extra for these things as a service. Voice mail used to be a free service! I refuse to pay for it in a package, as i feel it’s silly. T-mobile keeps us because they’re still generally cheap.
Ah yes, that’s how I felt about The Internet, around 1995. *grin*
I pay for unlimited texts (since I use them more frequently than I call, anyway), and would be looking for a good service for a family (couple) who likes to be internetting.
I would go with AT&T then; my parents do the internet thing through them and are very very happy with it. I don’t know what the rates are, but a 46-year-old man who doesn’t know what he’s looking at, but is undeniably a cheap bastard, tells me it’s the best thing ever, and i should switch with them.
I have T-Mobile.
They haven’t pissed me off but I’m also not a salivating fan of the service. The worst think I can say about them is that they don’t have the iPhone.
My Dad has at&t, he seems okay with it.
I’m probably not helping.
I have been looking to do the same thing for the past couple of months. I have also been doing my own research for a Verizon replacement. From what I have come up with T-Mobile is looking like the clear winner for me, cheaper Family plans with more minutes, an actual unlimited family text messaging plan, and data plans @ a much cheaper rate than other carriers. Plus I like the HotSpot calling feature that while an extra isn’t priced at a point that I wouldn’t consider paying for it.
I love my G1 and I’ve had really great service with T-mobile.
There is no comparison. At&T is a decent company, even with them being a little backwards on the whole not-a-smart-phone-but-qwerty-for-txting market.
T-mobile is only used by tweens and people who think the sidekick is teh_awesome.
Plus, At&T is finally getting away from the “WE HAVE THE IPHONE! What? IPHONE or Blackberry, why the fuck do you need another choice?”
I left Verizon over a year ago for At&T for the same reason. At&T also still barters for phones, so make sure you’re ready to haggle when you go in. Take screenshots from online retailers and smooze. If they won’t do it better in person, buy online. wirefly is a great place to sign up and get rock bottom pricing.
Plus, if you want an iPhone, get one. I’m not all that about it, because it has no real qwerty, but if if did, I’d be on it like a fat kid on cake.
AT&Ts family plans were, on average, 15% more expensive than TMO. The data plans run slightly higher. The customer service is legendarily bad (although I hear improving).
TMO is as cheap as it gets without going the MetroPCS route.
I’ve been a customer of Sprint, Nextel, AT&T, and TMobile. The last is the one I’ve stuck with for half a decade for service and great phones.
TMobile has better customer service and better plan rates than AT&T… I love TMobile and will hopefully be getting a G2 when I upgrade my phone next. Oh yeah… and I have unlimited texting… gotta, since I’ve used 2227 texts so far this billing cycle and there are still 3 days left!
I wonder if they have a “steal from the others” deal? In other words, do they offer moneys for people coming from another plan who might have to break it?
I don’t know… never checked into that, since my contract with Verizon was already up when I switched over to TMobile!