Posted on 03/11/2022 8:20:35 PM PST by pfflier
AMAC keeps pushing PureTalk over other wireless carriers as having no agenda or being "un-woke". How does PureTalk rate compared to other carriers in terms of access, reliability, cost and customer service? How easy is it to switch over?
Placemarker
I just added a year’s worth of service to my Tracfone account for $59. I have 4000 rollover minutes and 5000 rollover text message so I probably won’t need to buy any for a few years.
Same with my wife’s phone.
I spend less than $100 a year per phone.
There’s WiFi everywhere so why pay for broadband?
Following
Mint and redpocket seem to work.
I went to Redpocket.
The switch was easy even for a tech challenged guy like me.
Ported my number and went from $84 a month for Verizon to $84 a year.
Visible. $25/mo for unlimited everything.
I just changed to T-Mobile - 15.00/month for unlimited talk and text and 2mg of data. I never use the internet on my cell phone but it was the cheapest I could find in a moment’s notice.
no opinion, but all telecomms are aholes
As a phone for talking, Puretalk was as good as AT&T. Same for texting. But for data, it was horrible, as in non-existent. So if you need data, stay away. Otherwise, it should be ok for you.
Puretalk is half or less functional if you have an Android. Service, when it works is great, if you don’t miss network calling and visual voicemail.
I pay $20 + tax/month as a single guy with unlimited talk/text and 3gigs data which I rarely use all of.
Puretalk is highly recommended by little old me.
I pay $20 + tax/month as a single guy with unlimited talk/text and 3gigs data which I rarely use all of.
Puretalk is highly recommended by little old me.
PureTalk is an MVNO - a virtual phone company, specifically a Mobile Virtual Network Operator - that operates using ATT Wireless’ network. Basically, a middleman reselling time/data bought en masse from AT&T.
The problem is that what I see of their prices is slightly more competitive than AT&T Prepaid, but they have all the disadvantages of an MVNO:
1. If there is an issue with too many users on a tower, the MVNO customers will get throttled or kicked off first. Likewise, MVNO users are the lowest priority for call dispatch, so people calling will get dumped to voicemail if your local tower is under significant load.
2. If there is a problem with the signal/throughput, you cannot go to or work with AT&T to get it resolved. You will have to work with the MVNO, which will at best have to relay concerns to AT&T and work with them on it.
3. If they can’t or don’t want to resolve the problem, that’s it, you’re done. They’ll point fingers at AT&T, AT&T will point fingers as well.
That’s because they’re an MVNO using the AT&T network. As an MVNO, their users get their data throttled or even be kicked off towers if higher ranked users need it. MVNO users are the lowest on the totem pole. See my post above.
We’ve been on pure talk for about 6 months. I like it and love the price. No service issues.
I spent a night at the peoples convoy. Lots of people reporting cell issues. I had good signals.
I use my phone for talking. But I also use it for navigation, playing Spotify music, taking photos, texting with family and relatives (and sending photos), checking in at the doctor’s office, monitoring my hikes and heart rate going up mountains, tracking my fitness, tracking my calories, getting into the gym (they did away with the thumbprint reader), find new places to hike, and a bunch of other things I can’t think of right now.
Oh, I do occasionally talk on it, too.
Ive had Puretalk for about one year now. Overall very happy with the service. One time I went over my data cap (maybe 4GB at the time) and that was miserable until the 1st of the month rolled around and it reset. I bumped up to more data for ~$5 more/month and all = cool. $25.91/ month beats $110 with Verizon. I can’t use the cellular Apple Watch but so what??!?
I use RedPocket. Pick your celltower collection (ATT, Verizon, T-mobile, one other) get the RedPocket SIM for that network, then pick a usage plan.
I’m nearly always on WiFi, so picked a low data, lowminutes plan, pay by the year, just under $200 for the year.
Not sure what cell tower network Puretalk offers - but for flexibility and pricing I’m happy with RedPocket since about September 2021.
I got there when ATT insisted the compatible phone I was using was no longer welcome. I took four lines with me on exit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.