Do you find yourself traveling abroad sometimes and thinking, “Man. I wish I could still use my phone without having to spend extra money on an international data plan or on some random SIM card.”?
Check out T-Mobile. I found out a week after coming back from a trip abroad (and after about $100 in overages thanks to my old wireless provider’s craptastic international roaming package that provided a whopping 120 MB for $30 USD) that T-Mobile provides free, unlimited international data and text to its customers in just about every country. I switched without hesitation.
I can understand if you're not interested because they don't have great coverage in your particular area, but their plans are less expensive and better in general, so if you have that option available to you, TAKE IT!
If you already have an unlocked GSM phone, your transition will be smooth. If not, you'll need to get a few things ready before making the move, like unlocking your phone for use with other carriers. Check out my post on how to prep your old smartphone before upgrading for some tips.
There is the possibility of having to buy a new phone, especially if you're coming from a provider like Verizon or Sprint, which run on CDMA networks (as opposed to GSM, which is what T-Mobile runs on). Some people have found success bringing their iPhones from Verizon to T-Mobile, so don't lose hope! You can also go to T-Mobile's website to check if your current phone is compatible with their network.
I was a longtime patron of my previous wireless provider and felt some weird sense of loyalty to their company all this time, even though I knew theirs was probably not the BEST deal I could get. If you're like me, I just want to tell you that it's all BS. Wake up! These companies are not your family nor your friend. They are multi-billion dollar corporations, and they don't care about you - they care about your MONEY!
Your cellphone is but a tool that helps you navigate through your life. Pick your carrier based on which one will serve you best for now.
** This is an unpaid message brought to you by a disgruntled former customer of a certain wireless provider that shall remain nameless but they own a ballpark in a certain “city by the bay”. **
