Straight Talk Experiences? (purchase, codes, move)

[violeteyes1988]

I currently have wireless service through AT&T. Coverage has been great (for this area, at least). However, my contract ends this month and I'd like to switch to a no-contract carrier to save a bit of money. Straight Talk seems to have one of the best deals around with their Unlimited Everything Plan for $45/mo. Does anyone have any experience with them?

I apologize if this was covered already. I searched the forum and couldn't find any threads related directly to Straight Talk.

Thanks in advance.

[poopskooper]

I know many who are very satisfied with Straight Talk. Remember, though, it will depend on what phone you choose as to what network you'll be using. Straight Talk is a MVNO. MVNOs contract with the big carriers for bulk service and then essentially resell it. Therefore, Straight Talk will use AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and possibly the Sprint networks and, again, it will depend on what phone (or SIM card) you choose as to what network you'll be using.

If you stay in big metropolitan areas, it probably doesn't matter what network you have as most major metro areas are pretty well covered by those big carriers. However, if you're in the fringes or travel a lot, it will make a difference. You also will not have roaming privileges on MVNOs. You will be forced to use the native towers of the network you're "assigned."

The other drawback of Straight Talk currently is that you will not have access to 4G LTE on any network. So if you want those super fast data speeds on your smartphone that you'd get with 4G LTE, you won't be happy with Straight Talk. However, it seems most I talk to are satisfied with 3G speeds as you won't see a tremendous difference unless you're downloading big files or need fast streaming. Ordinary web surfing, emailing, etc. will be adequate with 3G speeds.

You may be able to bring your phone/SIM so you can still use the AT&T network. I'm not that familiar with the options. But again, currently you have roaming privileges with AT&T contracted service. Their contracted service is one of the best coverages around along with Verizon. However, if you use the AT&T network with Straight Talk, you'll only be allowed to use AT&T native coverage (no roaming).

I think Straight Talk is a good deal if you don't travel a lot and stay in the metropolitan area. And also if you don't need super fast data speeds.

Just my opinion.

[violeteyes1988]

Originally Posted by poopskooper

I know many who are very satisfied with Straight Talk. Remember, though, it will depend on what phone you choose as to what network you'll be using. Straight Talk is a MVNO. MVNOs contract with the big carriers for bulk service and then essentially resell it. Therefore, Straight Talk will use AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and possibly the Sprint networks and, again, it will depend on what phone (or SIM card) you choose as to what network you'll be using.

If you stay in big metropolitan areas, it probably doesn't matter what network you have as most major metro areas are pretty well covered by those big carriers. However, if you're in the fringes or travel a lot, it will make a difference. You also will not have roaming privileges on MVNOs. You will be forced to use the native towers of the network you're "assigned."

The other drawback of Straight Talk currently is that you will not have access to 4G LTE on any network. So if you want those super fast data speeds on your smartphone that you'd get with 4G LTE, you won't be happy with Straight Talk. However, it seems most I talk to are satisfied with 3G speeds as you won't see a tremendous difference unless you're downloading big files or need fast streaming. Ordinary web surfing, emailing, etc. will be adequate with 3G speeds.

You may be able to bring your phone/SIM so you can still use the AT&T network. I'm not that familiar with the options. But again, currently you have roaming privileges with AT&T contracted service. Their contracted service is one of the best coverages around along with Verizon. However, if you use the AT&T network with Straight Talk, you'll only be allowed to use AT&T native coverage (no roaming).

I think Straight Talk is a good deal if you don't travel a lot and stay in the metropolitan area. And also if you don't need super fast data speeds.

Just my opinion.

Thanks for the detailed response. I assumed that the network would depend on which phone I chose but I was not aware of the "no roaming privileges". I don't travel an awful lot but it would be nice to have decent coverage when I do. Something to think about over the next couple of weeks...

Thanks again

[poopskooper]

Originally Posted by violeteyes1988

Thanks for the detailed response. I assumed that the network would depend on which phone I chose but I was not aware of the "no roaming privileges". I don't travel an awful lot but it would be nice to have decent coverage when I do. Something to think about over the next couple of weeks...

Thanks again

I think you'll have "decent" coverage when you travel around the country on "native" networks so I wouldn't put too much importance on that, myself. I was mainly referring to people that are on the road a lot such as RVers and truckers who may need coverage in more remote areas as they move about. You'll have coverage in most large to medium areas even with Sprint & T-Mobile (they both have the lesser coverage areas of the four) but may not have coverage in some smaller towns or certain rural areas.

When you get closer to choosing a Straight Talk phone, there will be places on the internet where you can find from the serial number codes of the SIM card what network that phone or SIM will use.

Currently, choose a phone that uses AT&T or Verizon as those two will have the largest native networks (as opposed to Sprint and T-Mobile).

You can go to each carrier's web site to see their coverage maps and you should be able to compare their native networks. Again, if you have contracted service, you're usually given free roaming but with pre-paid service, no roaming is included. If you go with pre-paid service with the big carriers, they'll sometimes allow you to purchase roaming but if you decide to go with an MVNO like Straight Talk, no roaming will be provided at all as your coverage will be limited to the native towers of the carrier you are "assigned" to.

I'm not a real expert at all this but do study it a bit for my own information as I am on the road frequently. Let me know if you need help with it as you get closer to choosing a prepaid phone.