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.
Thanks for that explanation. I didn’t know there was a name for that, i. e., “MVNO”. As I posted above, that happened to my brother when he went to Pure Talk or Straight Talk. If the Verizon towers had too many VZ users, my bro was “sucking hind tit” and service was crappy or even non-existent at times.