The importance of each differs on one’s personal preferences. Second, each company has their own distinct features. It’s definitely worth a look though if you want to cut costs and they now support most of the major smartphone brands. But the cost can approach the bigger players if consuming a lot of cellular data. If you use little data each month, this is likely the cheapest big name option. Google Fi is not prepaid and you pay a prorated consumption amount for data. MVNO Alternatives – The biggest is Google Fi, they have MVNO elements where they buy time from other providers TMo and US Cellular, but they also have invested heavily in wifi hotspot technology that avoids using data on cell networks wherever possible.These companies offer what are typically called Prepaid plans. They save costs by limiting or not having Brick and Mortar expenses and getting discounted rates from the big networks through paying in advance for the bandwidth they will consume. There are many names for these carriers, most are MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) and they buy data and voice/text time at wholesale rates from the big guys. The MVNOs – StraightTalk, Cricket, Mint Mobile, and a slew of other services buy time, in advance from the big 3.You may notice Sprint is not in this list which is due to them merging with T-Mobile in the past year. They invest in brick and mortar stores and offer discounts on new phones which they can do as their plans are expensive. The Big Players – Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T who own their towers and networks.So where does one start if contemplating a change from the biggest, arguably best and most expensive cellular service? First let’s discuss key industry dynamics. So like a slow rolling boulder loosened from it’s centuries-old resting place, my complacency had given way to a momentum pulling me from the “Can you hear me Now” network. Verizon did eventually make things right, but not until after hours on customer service chats and phone calls getting bounced between numerous Verizon associates. Not surprisingly cheaper plans abound, so the question is…do other service providers provide ‘good enough’ quality to go along with their too-good-to-be-true price points. Verizon recently provided semi-deceptive sales tactics and indifferent customer service prompting an exploration of the options. The coverage and network quality have been industry bests for years and so the “You Get What You Pay For” mantra kept my family entrenched for 13 years. Most people don’t question a hefty Verizon Wireless bill. Hope anyone considering mint mobile finds it helpful. Original Post got moved for having a referral link, dropping the text of the review sans referral link here.

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