Success! PagePlus $12/Month iPhone!

[GlockSpock]

As many have read, I love Ting. However, Ting does not support iPhones currently (although they are supposedly in the works). Therefore, I did my research and found that PagePlus (Verizon MVNO) should do what I was hoping. In short, it did!

 

At face value, PagePlus does not support iPhones. If you call them, they will say that they cannot activate them on their network. However, if you find a PagePlus "dealer", they will do it for you. I don't know the skinny exactly, but I was told essentially that PagePlus cannot officially advertise that Verizon iPhones will work on their service because they could theoretically be sued. I don't know if that is true, but it is what I was told.

 

So now I have a "Verizon" iPhone 4s (thanks to a member here). It is currently working on PagePlus's service, and I am paying $12 a month for 250 minutes/250 texts/and 10MB data a month. I turned off cellular data. I will use iMessage (on WiFi) to do the majority of texting while on WiFi (most everyone I know has an iPhone). I can use Facetime or Skype for WiFi to WiFi calls, and found a service called Talkatone to call landlines for free (it integrates with Google Voice, giving you better iOS integration that the standard Google Voice app).

 

So, if I am on WiFi, I can call and text whomever as much as I'd like, and then use my pool of minutes/texts for when I'm out of WiFi. The main reason I picked up the phone was because I wanted to be able to use certain apps, have a quality pocket phone, and have something that would sync common things (contacts, mail, etc). I hate keeping two address systems (such as you would have to on a feature phone and also iCloud). Now of course it syncs whenever on WiFi. I'm going to give it a try at $12 a month for a while (these PIN's can be found for a bit less than $12 on Ebay and other sites. I may "upgrade"to $29.95 (1200 minutes/3000 texts/500MB data) at some point, but I am going to see how well I can go at $12 a month. If you go over your allotment, then you simply pay $.05 a message/text and $.10 per MB of data. So there would be a pretty decent amount of leeway financially between the $12 and $29.95 plans. 

 

Unless something unexpected comes up, I am 100% satisfied. I did like Ting's customer service better (very easy to talk to on the phone or email). I will probably switch back to Ting, but PagePlus also uses Verizon's network so I do get better coverage. We'll see, and I'll keep you updated.

[Murgatroy]

Virgin Mobile supports the iPhone, without hacking it, and has a much better data plan (unlimited text, unlimited data though it is throttled with 300 minutes a month for $30.)

 

Granted, you have to buy one of their iPhones (I think.)

 

I have been using Virgin for over a decade, and I couldn't imagine paying more.

 

I currently have an Android powered phone and I am grandfathered in at a lower rate.

 

As for customer service, I don't have a clue, I have handled all of my needs through their website and myself, for at least half a dozen phone changes in the last decade. They run on Sprint's network.

[GlockSpock]

Well, that doesn't sound bad. One would have to purchase one of their phones (possibly from them, possibly any Sprint phone). I admit unlimited text and "throttled but unlimited" data sounds nice. However, That is roughly 2.5x what I could pay through PagePlus, and Verizon also has better coverage where I live.

 

Either are a great alternative to $80+ through any of the big names.

[Murgatroy]

Yeah, that is the big point that confuses me, my entire family has phones, unlimited texting, unlimited data and 300 minutes a piece, for $75. That is less than most folks pay for one phone, much less three.

 

Anymore, I don't even talk on the phone unless it is work related, and them damn buggers gave me one of their evil phones for that reason alone.

 

I keep nagging my wife, I don't understand why we have a home phone, but she demands it, even if it is VOIP through Time Warner.

[GlockSpock]

Well, I did discover a slight "bug" in my plan. $12 was going to cut it because I am willing to do without the data on the go. However, I discovered last night an issue within iMessage by which if I do not have a data connection, other peoples' iPhones default to trying to send the message through iMessage first. Then, after roughly five minutes, they default to sending it as SMS. I also feel that Apple's settings in the iPhone could be a bit more robust in terms of data. I can go through there and turn data usage off for most any app, but if a new app is installed it by default allows data usage. Also, the "system services" seems to always be activated. This is of course if cellular data is turned on (turn it off, and everything is killed). What I was wanting to do was essentially allow iMessage data usage and turn everything else off. I don't think the settings are robust enough to allow that.

 

Simply an inconvenience of a delayed text message by five minutes or so. I am considering either upgrading to the $29.95 plan that includes 500MB data, but I will also research Virgin Mobile:)

[TripleDigitRide]

Yeah, unlike the old-school cell phones, smart phones are constantly eating up data, even when not in use. This is why unlimited plans have become so popular, and most carriers charge an extra fee (usually $10-$20 per month) for a smartphone.

Edited August 18, 2013 by TripleDigitRide

[Murgatroy]

Could you possibly jailbreak the phone to get more control over the apps?

 

I have no experience, as my stock phone does what I needed it to, but I know that most everyone I associate with has hacked their phone to some degree.

[LagerHead]

That's pretty cool. Unfortunately I use more than 250 minutes per day, so I MUST have an unlimited voice plan. 

[GlockSpock]

Could you possibly jailbreak the phone to get more control over the apps?

I have no experience, as my stock phone does what I needed it to, but I know that most everyone I associate with has hacked their phone to some degree.

We'll...maybe. I am running iOS 7 Beta 6 so I doubt I will be jail breaking soon.

I think I will give the 1200 plan a try for $29.95.