Transitioning from traditional cellular service to pre-paid.
Transitioning from traditional cellular service to pre-paid.
In an effort to dramatically reduce my ATT cellular phone bill which now reaches over $100 for one person in Waco, TX, I have contacted a local cell phone shop to try and determine if there is a prepaid option that could be as good on coverage and hotspot, but without the high cost and allow me to port my existing number. What the store told me was that Verizon had the best coverage but that even an unlocked device would have problems on that network. They said that the service through h2o https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/ would be an easy transition since they use ATT towers and would, therefore, work well with my existing Android ATT Galaxy Note 8.
I don't know if any of what they said is true, but I have included the details below in hopes that someone can shed some light on this and help me to make make the best choice that I can today.
Below are the access point names for h2o vs ATT.
Name: h2o internet
APN: PRODATA
mmsc: http://mmsc.mobile.att.net (same as ATT)
Multimedia proxy: proxy.mobile.att.net (same as ATT)
Multimedia proxy port: 80 (same as ATT)
MCC: 310 (same as ATT)
MNC: 410 (same as ATT)
APN type: default, mms, supl (ATT added fota)
APN protocal: iPv4 (ATT added iPv6)
APN roaming protocal: iPv4 (ATT added iPv6)
In an effort to dramatically reduce my ATT cellular phone bill which now reaches over $100 for one person in Waco, TX, I have contacted a local cell phone shop to try and determine if there is a prepaid option that could be as good on coverage and hotspot, but without the high cost and allow me to port my existing number. What the store told me was that Verizon had the best coverage but that even an unlocked device would have problems on that network. They said that the service through h2o https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/ would be an easy transition since they use ATT towers and would, therefore, work well with my existing Android ATT Galaxy Note 8.
I don't know if any of what they said is true, but I have included the details below in hopes that someone can shed some light on this and help me to make make the best choice that I can today.
Below are the access point names for h2o vs ATT.
Name: h2o internet
APN: PRODATA
mmsc: http://mmsc.mobile.att.net (same as ATT)
Multimedia proxy: proxy.mobile.att.net (same as ATT)
Multimedia proxy port: 80 (same as ATT)
MCC: 310 (same as ATT)
MNC: 410 (same as ATT)
APN type: default, mms, supl (ATT added fota)
APN protocal: iPv4 (ATT added iPv6)
APN roaming protocal: iPv4 (ATT added iPv6)
I use Verizon through Page Plus and have not had any problems with BYOD (bring your own device). Before going with an AT&T reseller you might want to investigate Page Plus as a possibility.
https://www.pagepluscellular.com/phones/
a) As with all the other service resellers, expect support only by email or on their web site.
b) Page Plus can sell you a plan, prepaid via PINs, or prepaid via automatic refill.
c) Unused minutes roll over on prepaid plans.
If you use a lot of internet access, either on the phone or by tethering your phone, prepaid is not the way to go.
https://www.pagepluscellular.com/phones/
a) As with all the other service resellers, expect support only by email or on their web site.
b) Page Plus can sell you a plan, prepaid via PINs, or prepaid via automatic refill.
c) Unused minutes roll over on prepaid plans.
If you use a lot of internet access, either on the phone or by tethering your phone, prepaid is not the way to go.
There are a LOT of MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) - they buy time and data at wholesale prices from one or more of the major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, and T-Mobile) and then resell it to you. H20 is one MVNO that buys time from AT&T and any phone that is locked to the AT&T network SHOULD work fine with H20 (Unlocked phones as well should work fine).
You can get a list of the MVNOs operating in the USA here:
https://bestmvno.com/mvnos/
In most cases, MVNOs will be lower priority to the main network operator (meaning, if the tower you are using is overloaded, AT&T will slow down H20 connections to it to provide better service to their direct customers. Based on what I've heard from others (in that I haven't heard others complain), I don't think this is something that happens often or is particularly noticeable (however, that could just be in my area in NY).
I've used AT&T directly, T-Mobile directly, AT&T via H20, and Ultra Mobile via T-Mobile and not noticed any issues.
I would say it would be wise to unlock your AT&T phone before switching (they say they will do it for free provided you have paid off the phone). One thing I'll mention, I switched to T-Mobile over the summer and tried to bring my LG V30 with me. Because the LG V30 was an AT&T branded phone originally locked to AT&T (since unlocked though), I CANNOT tether and my text message app on the phone constantly yells at me that it can't back up my text messages (of course, I no longer have AT&T service!). If you don't unlock the phone before you leave AT&T, you may not be able to get it easily unlocked and may therefore be stuck using MVNOs that use AT&T's network only!
You can get a list of the MVNOs operating in the USA here:
https://bestmvno.com/mvnos/
In most cases, MVNOs will be lower priority to the main network operator (meaning, if the tower you are using is overloaded, AT&T will slow down H20 connections to it to provide better service to their direct customers. Based on what I've heard from others (in that I haven't heard others complain), I don't think this is something that happens often or is particularly noticeable (however, that could just be in my area in NY).
I've used AT&T directly, T-Mobile directly, AT&T via H20, and Ultra Mobile via T-Mobile and not noticed any issues.
I would say it would be wise to unlock your AT&T phone before switching (they say they will do it for free provided you have paid off the phone). One thing I'll mention, I switched to T-Mobile over the summer and tried to bring my LG V30 with me. Because the LG V30 was an AT&T branded phone originally locked to AT&T (since unlocked though), I CANNOT tether and my text message app on the phone constantly yells at me that it can't back up my text messages (of course, I no longer have AT&T service!). If you don't unlock the phone before you leave AT&T, you may not be able to get it easily unlocked and may therefore be stuck using MVNOs that use AT&T's network only!
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