Community Forums

X-OEM · 10-14-2020, 01:06 PM

You could be right about OTR not being owned by AT&T. Just read that on line a few times - and since it was on the internet it must be true don't ya think??

However, anecdotal evidence (mine obviously) indicates otherwise. I signed up with OTR when they were using T-Mobile as their provider. I was excited about that because I already had a 100G plan from AT&T almost free as my wife and I had AT&T service on our phones and I was a DirecTV customer plus I had a visible hotspot. That would give me three choices or possibilities to get solid reception.

Not two weeks after the finalization of the T-Mobile and Sprint merger they sent me a new Sim card switching back to AT&T. Talked to their customer service. and although they were being cagey about the switch, one guy said "we are bringing it back in house due to the merger".

BTW - I might have missed it but never saw an unlimited plan like Visible from Crocket. (or AT&T if you are correct)

tetranz · 10-15-2020, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-OEM

BTW - I might have missed it but never saw an unlimited plan like Visible from Cricket. (or AT&T if you are correct)

I think that's true. Cricket doesn't really have anything quite the same as Visible.

One thing Cricket does have which is kind of unique are data only plans like these https://www.cricketwireless.com/data-only-plans . As far as I can find, those are the only plans that an ordinary person in the US can buy and put the SIM in their own router and be sure that no TOS are being violated. They're kind of expensive and $90/mo for 100 GB is still not enough for a heavy user. Of course you can get more from a reseller like OTR or Nomad. Good luck if they work well for you but they're kind of in a different category which I'd prefer to avoid.

I don't know what the OTR person meant by "in-house" but I've been following this whole mobile / rural data business quite closely for the last few months and I'm sure that OTR is not owned by AT&T. I think they got caught up in the action by T-Mobile a month or so ago when T-Mobile canceled lots of reseller plans for violating TOS so they went back to reselling AT&T plans which they had done before switching to T-Mobile.

**pasdad1** · 10-15-2020, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-OEM

Do not understand what 3X phones at $30 dollars means so $90 a month. The Visible service is either $40 or $25 depending on the obvious.

Party pay reduces the bill $5 for each member up to max of $15.....so having 3 phones is like having a party pay of 3 members. So $10 discount = $30 per month per account.

docj · 10-15-2020, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tetranz

Of course you can get more from a reseller like OTR or Nomad. Good luck if they work well for you but they're kind of in a different category which I'd prefer to avoid.

Just to clarify one thing, cellular resellers (also known as MVNOs'--Mobile Virtual Network Operators) are, for the most part, legitimate businesses. These aren't the people on eBay selling discontinued plans, etc. You may elect not to do business with them, but that's your choice. Many people do use them. Like any cellular service, the effectiveness of their plans depends heavily on your location. JMO

Joel (AKA docj)

CWSWine · 10-15-2020, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLDieter

I just signed up for one of their plans. If it works properly, and REALLY doesn't throttle the data, I can cut my T-Mobile plans down to the bone and just use this. AWESOME!

Been a while, so how is your Nomad account working?

I don't understand with the big three plans that most require a contact locking you into some time period even if the service goes south. I like the third party plans that if the service is not up to MY standards I can cancel without having to pay termination free.

tetranz · 10-15-2020, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

Just to clarify one thing, cellular resellers (also known as MVNOs'--Mobile Virtual Network Operators) are, for the most part, legitimate businesses. These aren't the people on eBay selling discontinued plans, etc. You may elect not to do business with them, but that's your choice. Many people do use them. Like any cellular service, the effectiveness of their plans depends heavily on your location. JMO

I agree that the resellers are kind of a mixed bag. I'm sure some are better than others.

Maybe I've just spent too much time reading https://www.reddit.com/r/Rural_Internet/ where there seems to be an ongoing war with a few well known resellers, one in particular. It's hard to tell if that's just a few noisy unhappy customers or if there are real problems. This guy mgcarley has some interesting info and seems legit as far as I can check him out. https://www.reddit.com/r/Rural_Inter...eb2x&context=3

I don't think it's correct to call a reseller a MVNO. As I understand it, a MVNO is licensed regulated by the FCC. Here's an interesting list at the FCC https://apps.fcc.gov/cgb/form499/499a.cfm You can find all the well known MVNOs like Visible, Cricket, Mint, Page Plus, TracPhone etc but none of the popular resellers.

docj · 10-15-2020, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tetranz

I agree that the resellers are kind of a mixed bag. I'm sure some are better than others.

The positive side of dealing with resellers is if they don't deliver you cancel and find another one!

tetranz · 10-16-2020, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

The positive side of dealing with resellers is if they don't deliver you cancel and find another one!

I think that's true of all recent phone plans. I have postpaid AT&T and T-Mobile plans signed up a couple of months ago and there's no contract. I can cancel any time.

I think the only contracts these days are if you buy a phone from a carrier. You're basically paying off a loan on the phone. There's no contract if you BYOD.

lonfu · 10-16-2020, 09:22 AM

have a look at walmarts straight talk. has both phone with hot spot and reegular hot spots.

smiller · 10-16-2020, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Poet

I have tried almost everything everyone has used. When we decided to "cut the cord" for our overpriced, under programed satellite system, we looked around and realized that streaming and internet eat a lot of gigs!
After trying some hotspots and gadgets from at&t and verizon, we had just about given up.
The final solution is working great for almost a year, gives us un-throttled, unlimited gigs, fast speed, and $40.00 a month, total!
The plan uses verizon's towers, so the coverage is excellent! The plan is Yahoo Mobile. Easy to set up and you can use your current phone or get another just for the internet. We bought a refurbed iphone (6s plus) at $118 and, we have another phone line if we need it!
We use the phone and plan 24/7 for streaming and internet at home and on the road in our dp, we have the same quality service while traveling.
Just my 2 cents. Thanks

Just an FYI, Yahoo Mobile's offering is provided by Visible and is essentially the exact same plan except Visible offers Party Pay which will drop your bill to $25/month. Any new user contemplating using Yahoo Mobile should probably just go direct to Visible instead.

1Poet · 10-16-2020, 10:32 PM

I tried Visible and their customer service sucks, really sucks! I have had no problem with Yahoo Mobile, though. I have heard that Visible is the beta company for Yahoo Mobile, thus less problems. I repeat, the Visible plan may be cheaper and you, indeed, get what you pay for. We have had zero problems with Yahoo Mobile and we will stay with them. If you want cheap and problems, go Visible!

sibe · 10-17-2020, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Poet

I tried Visible and their customer service sucks, really sucks! I have had no problem with Yahoo Mobile, though. I have heard that Visible is the beta company for Yahoo Mobile, thus less problems. I repeat, the Visible plan may be cheaper and you, indeed, get what you pay for. We have had zero problems with Yahoo Mobile and we will stay with them. If you want cheap and problems, go Visible!

what issues...curious

i have had to call twice in last year, both times problems solved,,,

yep price can matter but i am stuck with comcast at home and i rate ther support a 3 out of 10, and it is premium price

W4KMA · 10-17-2020, 06:06 AM

I have found visible phone and data service to be great. I have used online chat several times and have found their customer service to be courteous, fast, and solve problems easily.

X-OEM · 10-17-2020, 06:59 AM

I would agree with the positive review of Visible. Had some issues with my hotspot when I initially signed up and they solved it pretty fast. Since then, no issues at all. Download speeds are super and no capping evident.

Mr. Poet, how long ago did you have your issues with Visible? Perhaps when they first started up? Not disagreeing with your experience, obviously it happened, but maybe teething pains for a new company??

I would recommend them to anybody based on my experience only.