Alltel vs. T-Moblie (G1 Google Phone) (Hampton: neighborhood, cost, cheapest)

[RMELIFER]

My Alltel plan is expiring and now that we're married, my wife is trying to get me to join her T-mobile plan. I haven't had any problems with Alltel on the Peninsula side, and I'm sure that I really don't need anything except a basic 600 voice minutes, and maybe 10 text messages per month.
My wife likes T-mobile because she says she can use her phone overseas, although we just went to the Ukraine for three weeks and she didn't use her phone once.
I've been holding onto my Alltel contract and I pay $73/month which I think is still way too much for what I need. I heard today about this new T-mobile G1 Google phone that's coming out Oct 22 and now I'm wondering again. This new phone supposedly has Googlemaps which could help me maybe once a month (I don't have a GPS and I still get lost on the southside).
Are there any Alltel people that are going to stay with their plan when Verizon takes over?
Is there anyone in Hampton Roads area that's going to switch to T-mobile just for the new G1 phone?

[Shoobie]

I will switch to an android phone when they come out with a touch screen one. Or, better yet, let me install Android on my Blackjack 2.

If you really don't need or want anything like the G1, wait for the next Android handset with better features or try Sprint. They give you 30 days before you are bound to the contract.

[Trevor92]

Originally Posted by RMELIFER

My Alltel plan is expiring and now that we're married, my wife is trying to get me to join her T-mobile plan. I haven't had any problems with Alltel on the Peninsula side, and I'm sure that I really don't need anything except a basic 600 voice minutes, and maybe 10 text messages per month.
My wife likes T-mobile because she says she can use her phone overseas, although we just went to the Ukraine for three weeks and she didn't use her phone once.
I've been holding onto my Alltel contract and I pay $73/month which I think is still way too much for what I need. I heard today about this new T-mobile G1 Google phone that's coming out Oct 22 and now I'm wondering again. This new phone supposedly has Googlemaps which could help me maybe once a month (I don't have a GPS and I still get lost on the southside).
Are there any Alltel people that are going to stay with their plan when Verizon takes over?
Is there anyone in Hampton Roads area that's going to switch to T-mobile just for the new G1 phone?

Just a few points to consider...

I've not actually looked it up, but most phones that use programs like Googlemaps or let you surf the web charge an extra monthly fee for 'data usage' somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 extra month. If you're only going to use it every now and then, it's probably not worth the extra fee. And again, I've not actually checked out the T-Mobile website to see if they do charge any extra fee for data usage on that phone, but it's something to check on and think about.

The new Google software is being hyped up, but I'm not really sure what else they could do with it that you can't do with a Palm or Blackberry. I've got Google Maps on my Palm as it is now. It's pretty neat but if I didn't need a smartphone anyway it wouldn't be worth it. If it's anything like the iPhone, there will be a newer, better version soon.

Also, the cheapest approach probably would be for your wife and you to get on the same plan under the same account with a single provider. You can even port your number to your new provider so you don't have to change numbers.

Alltel and T-Mobile each have their own advantages. T-Mobile is a GSM provider and your phone should work more places around the world, such as Europe, but also be aware of roaming charges. Alltel is a CDMA provider and should work in many more rural places in the U.S. If you check the coverage maps, both providers cover the big cities and interstates in Virginia, but alltel is much stronger throughout the more rural parts of the state, same for North Carolina.

New T-Mobile plans have My Faves, Alltel has My Circle. However, nothing has been announced on if Verizon will let alltel customers keep their plans with My Circle when Verizon takes over next year, or if they'll have to pick a new Verizon plan which are more expensive.

I have some family members that are planning on sticking with alltel and hoping the transition to Verizon goes smoothly. I personally got on my wife's Sprint plan so I certainly understand the situation you're in. If the new T-Mobile phone doesn't cost that much more (if that matters), and the service works where you need it, it might be a better bet than hoping the transition to Verizon goes well.

[shellytc]

My husband and I had two different plans, he had sprint and I have t-mobile. Since his contract was up before mine, we switched him to my t-mobile. I have had t-mobile for over 5years and been VERY PLEASED. I especially like that I could calls down in Hatteras. Something sprint couldn't (maybe they can now.. but couldn't when I chose t-mobile). anyway, it has saved us so much money per month. Really, you need to consolidate providers, regardless of which one.

Oh, and the added benefit of my husband and I on the same plan, when we talk to each other, it doesn't count on our minutes (without listing as a fav. five). More savings since we aren't using minutes to talk to each other..... and you can change your fav five monthly.

shelly