Here's where the 80/20 rule applies. If you want an iPhone, you get to pay double or triple the amount for the same service on a GSM network.
Also, in defense of CDMA, voice quality on CDMA is better than on GSM, so I've found, in most cases. Also, if you judge CDMA service by Verizon sure you'll get locked-up phones, but VZ is getting a lot better with that and if you want nice phones on CDMA everyone knows you go Sprint. Right now I'm using WMWiFiROuter to make a cellular broadband hotspot while on vacation to type this post. You can do that on any WInMo phone, but my Sprint phone (and, for what it's worth, Verizon's equivalent, though they did hopelessly downgrade the specs on the HTC Touch Pro) has coverage where I need it. So does Verizon, but Sprint is giving me a better deal.
And no, you can't do what I'm doing iwth an iPhone. At least, not without jailbreaking your phone and messing with several settings. With my Sprint (CDMA) WIndows Mobile phone (yes I know, Windows Mobile sucks...I'd have the Pre if my plan allowed it and if it supported a WMWiFiRouter-esque app) it takes a few screen presses (three for the record) and maybe twenty seconds to set such a hotspot up.
Anyhow, back to Tracfone.
They're doing the 80/20 rule, as I said before. People who want the iPhone/N71/N97 are not their target market. That's why they include a mere 30MB of data and have phones that are limited to 1xRTT data (which I'd say is comparable to EDGE in my experience in terms of responsiveness). The lineup is also higher-end than all but one of Tracfone/Net10's other brand offerings; I think the only higher-end phone than the Razr v3a is the Motorola em326g from Net10. On AT&T's network. With an $80 talk-and-text unlimited plan.
Personally, I think this competes with Boost Mobile and MetroPCS. Also, to some extent, CricKet (to a lesser extent because they have an EvDO network, albeit a rather crappy one). Boost has more limited coverage than Verizon, and data pokes along at 19.2 kbps. MetroPCS is coverage-limited to regional areas, phones are expensive and taxes + fees mean that their comparable plan is in the $35-$40 range. CricKet is similar, though depending on the market their plans are comparable or cheaper, even with taxes and fees.
One more thing about CDMA: higher capacity. That's why CricKet, MetroPCS, Revol, Pocket Communications, etc. use the tech. AT&T can't handle the strain being put on their network with iPhones right now; I don't want to think of what would happen if their network was flooded by $45 unlimited users. T-Mobile on the other hand doesn't have as horrible capacity issues, but why pick the nation's smallest wireless carrier over the largest one?
So the bottom line is that you can't use a $600 phone on Tracfone's service that only has 30MB of data included anyway. Which means you need to pick a different, more expensive, unlimited plan. If you must have your high-end phone, buy elsewhere. If you can live with a w385 or a Razr v3a (there is such a thing as an iPod touch), Straight Talk will work for you. As it will for probably 99.9% of the population who just need a phone that works and takes advantage of Trac's plans.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
iansltx @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:16AM
Here's where the 80/20 rule applies. If you want an iPhone, you get to pay double or triple the amount for the same service on a GSM network.
Also, in defense of CDMA, voice quality on CDMA is better than on GSM, so I've found, in most cases. Also, if you judge CDMA service by Verizon sure you'll get locked-up phones, but VZ is getting a lot better with that and if you want nice phones on CDMA everyone knows you go Sprint. Right now I'm using WMWiFiROuter to make a cellular broadband hotspot while on vacation to type this post. You can do that on any WInMo phone, but my Sprint phone (and, for what it's worth, Verizon's equivalent, though they did hopelessly downgrade the specs on the HTC Touch Pro) has coverage where I need it. So does Verizon, but Sprint is giving me a better deal.
And no, you can't do what I'm doing iwth an iPhone. At least, not without jailbreaking your phone and messing with several settings. With my Sprint (CDMA) WIndows Mobile phone (yes I know, Windows Mobile sucks...I'd have the Pre if my plan allowed it and if it supported a WMWiFiRouter-esque app) it takes a few screen presses (three for the record) and maybe twenty seconds to set such a hotspot up.
Anyhow, back to Tracfone.
They're doing the 80/20 rule, as I said before. People who want the iPhone/N71/N97 are not their target market. That's why they include a mere 30MB of data and have phones that are limited to 1xRTT data (which I'd say is comparable to EDGE in my experience in terms of responsiveness). The lineup is also higher-end than all but one of Tracfone/Net10's other brand offerings; I think the only higher-end phone than the Razr v3a is the Motorola em326g from Net10. On AT&T's network. With an $80 talk-and-text unlimited plan.
Personally, I think this competes with Boost Mobile and MetroPCS. Also, to some extent, CricKet (to a lesser extent because they have an EvDO network, albeit a rather crappy one). Boost has more limited coverage than Verizon, and data pokes along at 19.2 kbps. MetroPCS is coverage-limited to regional areas, phones are expensive and taxes + fees mean that their comparable plan is in the $35-$40 range. CricKet is similar, though depending on the market their plans are comparable or cheaper, even with taxes and fees.
One more thing about CDMA: higher capacity. That's why CricKet, MetroPCS, Revol, Pocket Communications, etc. use the tech. AT&T can't handle the strain being put on their network with iPhones right now; I don't want to think of what would happen if their network was flooded by $45 unlimited users. T-Mobile on the other hand doesn't have as horrible capacity issues, but why pick the nation's smallest wireless carrier over the largest one?
So the bottom line is that you can't use a $600 phone on Tracfone's service that only has 30MB of data included anyway. Which means you need to pick a different, more expensive, unlimited plan. If you must have your high-end phone, buy elsewhere. If you can live with a w385 or a Razr v3a (there is such a thing as an iPod touch), Straight Talk will work for you. As it will for probably 99.9% of the population who just need a phone that works and takes advantage of Trac's plans.