4 ms·

Why aren't people just going prepaid? Cheaper and no headaches.

RandomBacon 1y ago
Unfortunately the best plans are not available under prepaid.
Someone1234 1y ago
The problem relying on prepaid/MVNO to save us, is that MVNOs still depend on the infrastructure of the big three. So if the big three are able to set new [higher] price standards for their own customers, eventually they will increase wholesale rates for third parties piggybacking on the network. This will of course eventually trickle down to prepaid/MVNOs. One of the many reasons why the Sprint acquisition was anti-consumer.
- BenjiWiebe 1y ago
  Even the big three's own prepaid plans are far cheaper than their postpaid plans.
dghlsakjg 1y ago
Are there any prepaid plans that have the same free international roaming that T-Mobile offers?
toomuchtodo 1y ago
Prepaid plans get lower priority on carrier infra, as do MVNOs typically. Postpaid/premium is getting premium transit, unfortunately. If there is any disruption to be had, it is an MVNO that is plugged into all US carriers, as well as satellite offerings, with the ability to pivot around whenever a carrier tries to squeeze the relationship. Google Fi with more carriers and better customer support, Airalo, etc. This enables you to keep your number while the service underneath the account can shift. https://www.airalo.com/global-esim https://www.airalo.com/global-esim
- eightysixfour 1y ago
  Airalo’s SIMs are more deprioritized and worse than any prepaid ones I have ever used. The prioritization is pretty straightforward, there’s a good reddit post that keeps track: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/1cyfjpp/data_prioritization_policies_of_the_carriers_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/1cyfjpp/data_pr...
  - toomuchtodo 1y ago
    Agree, that's the challenge, an abstraction where you maintain the flexibility without the deprioritization. I admit, it may be impossible due to the inherant limitations of the model. With that said, from your link, Google Fi gets a high priority designation on T-Mobile ("QCI 6 goes to all branded plans, both postpaid and prepaid, besides those with Essentials in the name. Google Fi has QCI 6 as well."), so perhaps it's possible.

Unfortunately the best plans are not available under prepaid.

The problem relying on prepaid/MVNO to save us, is that MVNOs still depend on the infrastructure of the big three. So if the big three are able to set new [higher] price standards for their own customers, eventually they will increase wholesale rates for third parties piggybacking on the network. This will of course eventually trickle down to prepaid/MVNOs. One of the many reasons why the Sprint acquisition was anti-consumer.

BenjiWiebe 1y ago
Even the big three's own prepaid plans are far cheaper than their postpaid plans.

dghlsakjg 1y ago

Are there any prepaid plans that have the same free international roaming that T-Mobile offers?

toomuchtodo 1y ago

Prepaid plans get lower priority on carrier infra, as do MVNOs typically. Postpaid/premium is getting premium transit, unfortunately. If there is any disruption to be had, it is an MVNO that is plugged into all US carriers, as well as satellite offerings, with the ability to pivot around whenever a carrier tries to squeeze the relationship. Google Fi with more carriers and better customer support, Airalo, etc. This enables you to keep your number while the service underneath the account can shift. https://www.airalo.com/global-esim https://www.airalo.com/global-esim

eightysixfour 1y ago
Airalo’s SIMs are more deprioritized and worse than any prepaid ones I have ever used. The prioritization is pretty straightforward, there’s a good reddit post that keeps track: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/1cyfjpp/data_prioritization_policies_of_the_carriers_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/1cyfjpp/data_pr...
- toomuchtodo 1y ago
  Agree, that's the challenge, an abstraction where you maintain the flexibility without the deprioritization. I admit, it may be impossible due to the inherant limitations of the model. With that said, from your link, Google Fi gets a high priority designation on T-Mobile ("QCI 6 goes to all branded plans, both postpaid and prepaid, besides those with Essentials in the name. Google Fi has QCI 6 as well."), so perhaps it's possible.