StraightTalk Cell Phone coverage (Android) ?

[R_Bert]

I am struggling on updating to a new cell phone service, and like times before, pulling my hair out looking for reliable info on coverage.

I need to make decisions and act by the end of the month.

I would prefer an Android, and Straight-Talk (Walmart) looks pretty good, but local WM's each have 2-3 stories depending on day & clerk.

- need international calling. Anyone using the new plan from Sraight-talk ?

- Need coverage in North Cumberland WMA/ Royal Blue (Verizion carrier works fairly OK,)

- (and to really bone things up) need coverage in Piketon/Portsmouth Ohio area.

Anybody got experience / insight on any of these things ?

Thanks, Bert

[turkeydad]

Theres 2 "kinds" of straight talk phones. . GSM and CDMA. . most Walmarts carry the GSM style which work off ATT and the CDMA works off Verizon. .example the Walmart here in Lenoir City sells the GSM versions. . including the Androids. Madisonville sells the CDMA versions as many areas around Mad town doesnt have an GSM coverage. . (the CDMA versions do not have an Android the last time I checked and I suspect they never will as Verizon is very sensitive as to what it will allow on their 3g and 4G overlays and I dont think they would embrace Straight Talks. . "all you can eat" on anything other than slower 1x data services). . I doubt the GSM models would work for you at all as ATT's coverage really sucks in rural areas. . and neither of the straight talk platforms offer the ability to roam on other networks. .I spent 6 1/2 years as a Technical Services Specialist for US Cellular and theres is one thing that I Learned GSM sucks. . .and Prepay of any kind not too stable for someone who goes to alot of different places and really needs their phone to work. Verizon has the best coverage in the nation bar none. . but there were still many places in the country where their post pay customers would roam on US Cellulars network as verizon would not have towers in those areas. . and certainly the reverse was true as well.

[R_Bert]

WM rep today said per their fac rep, StraightTalk was going to release a CDMA Android on Verizion platform. Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, stock# 550322539, $179.00; Should start hitting stores ~20th. Not all stores will have it (in fact did not show up on their order form yet).

Saw no evidence on da interwebs yet.

Will be watching.

[TripleDigitRide]

Will a regular phone through one of the major carriers not work? Or are you trying to avoid a long-term contract?

[R_Bert]

Will a regular phone through one of the major carriers not work? Or are you trying to avoid a long-term contract?

at $45/mo "unlimited" (which is apparently still data limited, BTW to ~4GB per mo), it is a hard plan to beat. Then, they have also announced a "unlimited" International plan, at $60, which is a phenominal deal. I just prefer upgrading to a Android, but a simpler smartphone will do if I have to.

Verizion Unlimited Single Line is $90 voice/text + $30 for 2GB data

[wewoapsiak]

I get decent reception w/ T-Mobile in Knoxville and Oak Ridge but I can't speak for everywhere.

Since you are considering Android, one option would be Google Voice.

I have a cheap T-Mobile plan with unlimited data (Truely unlimited since I'm grandfathered in), unlimited text, and only 500 minutes. I also have a free google voice account, which uses your data connection or wifi. So if I somehow talk on the phone more than 500 minutes (not including nights and weekends) I switch over and use google voice. Having a Washington State area code #, I also choose my GV # to be from my home town so my family can call w/o worry of long distance charges.

Google voice also can be used to text, so if I wanted to lose my grandfathered plan and get rid of my text I could have a cheaper plan. I've rooted my phone and tether way to much to loose my data plan though. I think T-Mobile has a decent $30 monthy no contract plan if I remember correctly, and Knoxville actually has T-Mobile's version of 4g (HSPA+). As far as traveling goes, T-Mobile will work on AT&T's network and 2g data.

Edit: I don't know about international calling, I think GV has most European countries at 10c per minute.

Edited April 17, 2012 by wewoapsiak

[strickj]

and Prepay of any kind not too stable for someone who goes to alot of different places and really needs their phone to work. .

Not true anymore. I switched to prepay almost 3 years ago and have had naught call lost due to area coverage.... and I venture out into some pretty rural areas.

To answer the OP, the ST phones use the exact same service as ATT and Verizon. Only difference is you pay less then half.

I'm on T-mobile now with their $30, 1500 min/30mb data. I was paying $90 more at Verizon for less! #### that ####!

Edited April 17, 2012 by strickj

[R1100R]

_{I'm on Walmart's new Family Mobile which is through T-Mobile. We have two lines with unlimited minutes, text and data for $95.00 total to include taxes. I travel all over with the Army and have not experienced any issues in the three months we have used this service. I have their version of the android phone. This a no contract service.}

_{When I was with AT&T, I'd have to walk around the yard to talk .}

Edited April 17, 2012 by R1100R

[turkeydad]

WM rep today said per their fac rep, StraightTalk was going to release a CDMA Android on Verizion platform. Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, stock# 550322539, $179.00; Should start hitting stores ~20th. Not all stores will have it (in fact did not show up on their order form yet).

Saw no evidence on da interwebs yet.

Will be watching.

Heck me too. . .if any of the Walmarts around here get 'em it will be the one in Madisonville. . I'll check it out from time to time when I'm over that way visiting my mom and what not. . I'll throw you a bone. . if I see anything. I was talking to Gary. . one my friends at Verizon Repair Bureau (their fancy name for technical services) and they did put a 2gb redirect on their data platform that automatically routes data connection after 2gb of usage to 1x. . I bet thats what they are gonna use that for. . still unlimited data for straight talk but protects Verizons network from parasitic broadband overload. .but I use my android alot and never went over 2gb. . but I know some people do but 2gb seems to be the norm limit on most prepay services

[R_Bert]

_{I'm on Walmart's new Family Mobile which is through T-Mobile. We have two lines with unlimited minutes, text and data for $95.00 total to include taxes. I travel all over with the Army and have not experienced any issues in the three months we have used this service. I have their version of the android phone. This a no contract service.}

_{When I was with AT&T, I'd have to walk around the yard to talk .}

Thanks,

IIn my search, I will look closer at T-Mobile services

[turkeydad]

Not true anymore. I switched to prepay almost 3 years ago and have had naught call lost due to area coverage.... and I venture out into some pretty rural areas.

To answer the OP, the ST phones use the exact same service as ATT and Verizon. Only difference is you pay less then half.

I'm on T-mobile now with their $30, 1500 min/30mb data. I was paying $90 more at Verizon for less! #### that ####!

I'm glad that has worked out for you. .and where you go . . but believe me that is not the case for everyone. . you take that T Mobile prepay phone of yours north of I 40 in TN between Nashville and Knoxville or almost anywhere in Kentucky between I 65 and I 75 and many other places that I'm not gonna take the time to mention off the top of my head much less research. . and all you are gonna get is searching for service. I didnt offer this man my advise because I bought a phone and it worked for me. .I put my 2 cents in because Ive worked in the field for 7 years and addressed these issues after people have made poor decisions based on bad information roughly 40 times a day. . 5 days a week. . 49 weeks per year (after vacations are taken out) for 7 years. . so believe you me. . and I will say it once again if you must have your cell phone work. . wherever you go and you want to have a prepay phone. . you better make sure that the carrier its housed on has home coverage where you need it to work. And that holds true to straight talk on CDMA on Verizon they have some significant holes in KY, ME, OK, KS, and many other places that once again Im not going to take the time name them all. . and their home coverage is by far the most comprehensive of any carrier. .and another thing when you look at these coverage maps be carefull. . both Tmobile and ATT are notorious in the industry to build their coverage maps off of where they have licences. . not off their engineering maps (where actual towers are operating). You couple these mis-representations of coverage along with the fact that GSM cell towers don't get near the range. . building penetration. .or capacity as CDMA. . we are back to my original analysis. . GSM SUCKS. . .

Edited April 17, 2012 by turkeydad

[R_Bert]

Heck me too. . .if any of the Walmarts around here get 'em it will be the one in Madisonville. . I'll check it out from time to time when I'm over that way visiting my mom and what not. . I'll throw you a bone. . if I see anything. I was talking to Gary. . one my friends at Verizon Repair Bureau (their fancy name for technical services) and they did put a 2gb redirect on their data platform that automatically routes data connection after 2gb of usage to 1x. . I bet thats what they are gonna use that for. . still unlimited data for straight talk but protects Verizons network from parasitic broadband overload. .but I use my android alot and never went over 2gb. . but I know some people do but 2gb seems to be the norm limit on most prepay services

Yeah,

I am mostly wanting mobile broadband as a last resort backup. Tether off the Android phone is attractive, but as I need to have capability to keep voice and data seperate, I am also looking at a second service agreement for data alone. For that side of plans, I have not decided on hotspot, ipad/tablet(which will tether also), or a netbook/laptop that is mobile data enabled.

[R_Bert]

Valuable info, and conclusion -

GSM SUCKS. . .

That for my purposes, I am aligning with in favor of CDMA (especially for data)

Thanks for *All* insight. You have no idea how important and timely this is.

Bert

[turkeydad]

More info discovered on the CDMA straight talk Android. . it is not 3G at all. . 1xrtt data only. . super slow. . at this time Verizon not allowing straight talk on their 3g servers at all. . .wow I couldn't do that even for $45.00 a month

[R_Bert]

More info discovered on the CDMA straight talk Android. . it is not 3G at all. . 1xrtt data only. . super slow. . at this time Verizon not allowing straight talk on their 3g servers at all. . .wow I couldn't do that even for $45.00 a month

Who was your source ?

(The Straight-Talk division rep had emphasized 3G. edit- just called and verified again, same story)

The Verizion authorized dealer that I spoke with was telling me a whole lot of out-right lies. I have been meaning to drop by one of the two authentically Verizion Corporate stores in the Knoxville area and compare thier line. One is in Turkey Creek, the other is next to a Target, Clinton HWY, I think.

Edited April 26, 2012 by R_Bert

[turkeydad]

I read this on an in house tech forum on syniverse technologies which is the dominant provider of roaming ss7 messaging visibility between carriers. . I'm still trying to verify. . but supposed to be someone who has been doing what the industry calls "friendly user testing" on the device and they are definetely in the industry cause you cant get a log in to that forum without syniverse access . . after thinking about it. . having done friendly user testing myself . . I may have jumped the gun posting this as often these are done on "beta" platforms that may not have full server access. .bottom line its still sketchy. . .and that forum wont show what carrier each member is from and theres even rumours that the CDMA straight talk android will be on sprint. . so it beats all Ive ever seen for something thats supposed to be this close to launch to be so clandestine. .

[strickj]

I'm glad that has worked out for you. .and where you go . . but believe me that is not the case for everyone. . you take that T Mobile prepay phone of yours north of I 40 in TN between Nashville and Knoxville or almost anywhere in Kentucky between I 65 and I 75 and many other places that I'm not gonna take the time to mention off the top of my head much less research. . and all you are gonna get is searching for service

Just offering my opinion

I have been in those areas with T Mobile. I had better reception with it then I did with Verizon.

Last time I went to Kentucky, my Verizon lost service somewhere north of Knoxville (don't know where exactly) and didn't get a signal again until I got into Lexington.

You can say whatever you wanna about how bad T Mobile service sucks, but my experience says it's just as good as Verizon. And I was a happy Verizon customer for about 10 years.

[R_Bert]

II did see that $60 international plan on the Straighttalk site. Might be worth just getting that with a cheap phone. I can get Android phone,or tablet or hotspot later.

One of the reasons I dropped Verizion a long time ago was coverage in the boonies (I-75 in KY). Now, in the boonies of Royal Blue, Verizion is great, AT&T not only sucks, it is pretty much absent (a mile removed from Interstate or Hwy 63).

A buddy of mine has it solved. He has a international work phone on AT&T, a blackberry on Verizion, a *second* home cell on Sprint, and then a separate data package on Verizion.

[R_Bert]

Samsung Galaxy Proclaim Android

Per Straighttalk's Facebook comments, it is Verizion.

http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PhoneDetails.do?action=view&productVariantExtensionId=15771226

[R_Bert]

International Calling Plan is very limited.

I tried the "destination checker" and the cities I needed Rio, Vienna Austria, Johannesburg South Africa, Moscow, etc. were not available. London & Rome was, But I don't know anyone there. Most of my friends are in hellholes.