Ting vs T-Mobile: One Year Later

Summary

Pros

• Pay only for what you use
• They will credit 25% of your early termination fees, up to $75/device
• Still offer $25 credit
• Can BYOD from Sprint, including iPads

Cons

• Relatively expensive texting and data
• Sprint coverage, no data roaming
• Cannot BYOD devices from carriers other than Sprint
• The psychology of rationing usage

Code for $25 credit

The current Ting homepage. I'm glad to see my $10/month per device is below the average $21.

Introduction

As you can read from my earlier posts here, here, and here, I've had a lot of (mostly positive) experiences with Ting. Now, after a year of use, I wanted to go back and provide updates on the service, and what has changed. 

Discussion

While Ting has continued to accept more and more devices (e.g. iPhones, iPads), I'm glad they have continued to save a lot of money with them, and they have excellent customer service. Here's an example they've put up on Youtube:

Note: accurate hold time is accurate

Unlike other companies that run ads such as the one above, Ting actually lives up to the its portrayal of itself as a fun, quirkly company. For example, here is an article that the CEO posted on the Ting blog year: T-Mobile CEO John Legere stole my 2012 brand strategy and my 1987 hair.

Despite not taking itself too seriously, Ting has been making major improvements over the past, and is working on addressing concerns. Here is another article on their blog that came out a few days ago: You Asked: How to block unwanted callers.

The user interface has also been updated on the website:

The Latest Ting Dashboard

Ting has also put their money where they're mouth is, and have offered their ETF credit on a permanent basis now. I guess a lot of people must have been using this, because they changed the terms of the program from paying 100% to paying 25% of the ETF (within certain limits in both cases). Nevertheless, I would have liked to take advantage of this myself, but sadly,Ting only offered ETF credits sporadically at that time.

Coverage continues to be be fine: I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and have never had problems with reception, even on BART. The buzz is that Sprint is continuing to expand their network, and the fact that they don't have as good of a presence as other big carriers outside of large cities. Because of Ting's deal with Sprint, BYOD is limited Sprint devices, and there is no data roaming outside of the Sprint network.

The biggest drawback I experience is from how Ting has implemented is its main selling point: you only pay for what you use. Ting charges people a certain amount of money for a certain range of service. If you go above or below that range, you'll be charged the appropriate fee for that range. There's no question that this setup is way cheaper than traditional plans for my family and I, but this sometimes leads to rationing towards the end of the billing cycle, if we are close to the limit of a minute/text/data bucket, to avoid the extra fee associated with the next level.

$3 for 0-100 texts per month is pretty good...unless you only send/receive 10

A solution would be to bill based solely on each minute/text/MB used. I've seen similar suggestions on the Ting blog, but as I understand the response from the Ting team, this would be a lot more complicated and expensive than the current system they have, and they've designed the ranges of their bucket system to accommodate most users. I agree that this works well with minutes, but as you can see from the screenshot of my Ting dashboard above, its frustrating when we use only a handful of text messages per month, and are charged the flat $3 for 0-100 texts.

Conclusion

By expanding their device offerings, continuously updating their website and services based on customer feedback, and saving people even more money with ETF credits, Ting has kept improving itself. I am definitely happy with my service with Ting over the past year, and will keep you all updated if that changes in the future.

Code for $25 credit

Thanks for reading! You get a Ting $25 credit code! 

Ting iPhone Beta!

Click here for Ting coupon code

Summary

Pros

• iPhone 4, 4S (along with Android and Windows phones)

Cons

• No iPhone 5, 5S, 5C

Hopefully the die-hard Apple fans can now switch to Ting.

Introduction

I've written plenty about Ting's virtues, and I'll just reiterate that I don't get any freebies or any payment for reviews beyond ad traffic and coupon codes.

YouTube money! EpicMealTime, living the dream of being paid to eat bacon. Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/7492062494/

Ting is a great, relatively new cell phone service provider. After several months of using Ting, and referring it to friends and family, the only negative I've heard was the lack of Apple devices from those who just have to have that type of device. Well, now the wait is over, as Ting has begun quietly allowing people to begin bringing Sprint iPhone 4 and 4S's to Ting.

Discussion

If you don't already know about Ting, I've written some reviews on my experiences on this project:

Ting vs. T-Mobile, $25 credit

Ting Coupon Code and Update: Coverage, Billing, Customer Service

Ting Early Termination Fee Refund

And lest you think I only write positive reviews, see my FreedomPop reviews:

FreedomPop - free internet?

FreedomPop Hub Burst - Free Broadband?

FreedomPop Freedom Phone? Update from San Francisco Bay Area

FreedomPop: it's a trap! Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyku/3082069553/

Conclusion

I'm assuming that people researched Ting before worrying whether this phone or that phone was supported. With that in mind, you can get the latest Galaxy, Galaxy Tab, Windows phone, and now Apple phones as well on Ting (hopefully support for the latest iPhone will come once the Beta concludes).

Epic Winning! Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58638907@N02/5549964876/

Click here for Ting coupon code

Ting Early Termination Fee Refund

Click here for Ting coupon code

Summary

Pros

• Early Termination Fee (ETF) Relief
• No time limit--Ting is offering this program from this date onwards

Cons

• Only 25% of ETF covered, up to $75 per line

Some of us (I) had to pay T-Mobile several hundred dollars in ETFs a few months ago...

Introduction

I've still been using Ting with no problems. In fact, some of my family members have moved to different states for work, but everything is still great. The only thing I have to complain about now is this new ETF relief program that Ting has instituted, and how I don't qualify for it.

Well, that and the lack of iPhones (but is that really a bad thing?)

Discussion

Earlier this year, Ting set aside $100,000 for ETF refunds. The whole pot was depleted in seven minutes: some people got their entire ETF's covered, while others were left out in the cold. Now, after several months, Ting is relaunching a permanent ETF relief program. People switching over to Ting from other carriers can get 25% of their ETF per line--up to $75--refunded.

There are only 3 steps to take:

1. Activate a device with Ting.
2. Port your number to Ting.
3. Send Ting your ETF documents.

If my previous contacts with their customer service is any indication, this will be a fairly painless process (if you call their toll-free number, you'll get in touch with a rep within a few rings). However, if anyone experiences anything different, please share this in the comments section.

Mmmmm, you can practically smell it...

Conclusion

There has been a lot of movement in the mobile phone industry, both on the part of manufacturers and service providers, and I am very excited to see what the future holds for this industry. Besides the new and improved hardware, service providers are falling over themselves trying to out-do each other. Sprint is really playing the exclusive phone angle, AT&T is letting people upgrade their devices every year, and T-Mobile dropped their two-year contracts for all new customers.

Sure, the ETF refund isn't a full one like last time. However, it is still a good deal in my opinion (better than what I got), I don't see a lot of other companies doing anything else like this (yet).

(Duh!)

Click here for Ting coupon code

FreedomPop Freedom Phone? Update from San Francisco Bay Area

Summary

Pros

• Works as advertised
• FreedomPop now has access to both Sprint and Clearwire networks

Cons

• Many extra fees
• Limited options for devices
• Apparent contrast between advertised philosophy and actual practices
• Company still does not seem to be at same level as competitors

O RLY?

Introduction

I have been using FreedomPop for three months now, and while there are both good and bad things about the devices and company, my overall impression is a negative one. This is true for both the Freedom Hub Burst (home internet) and Freedom Sleeve Rocket (for the 4th Gen iPod). I am therefore skeptical regarding FreedomPop's upcoming offering of a Freedom Phone, and will go over my reasons below.

Free 500 MB, 200 min, and unlimted texts per month; too good to be true?

Discussion

I had really high hopes for FreedomPop. And I will admit, they seem to follow the letter--if not the spirit--of their claims. However, I am generally disappointed with the company and devices.

For example, while they claim to want to revolutionize the mobile internet space, they seem to be using a lot of tactics to nickle and dime users. There are a lot of extra fees associated with FreedomPop that I don't like. Usage alerts for $2.99/month? Speed Plus for $3.99/month? They even had a monthly maintenance fee of $0.99/month if you did not use at least 5MB per month that they only recently removed.

On a related note, mobile devices are refundable for up to a year, but home internet devices are only refundable in the first 30 days. I feel that there is so much advertisement regarding a year-long return policy and FreedomPop's own rebel image, that it's so easy to not check the fine print as you would with 'big bad corporations.'

Also, I have used both FreedomPop's home and mobile internet devices, and while they were OK, they weren't spectacular, and I would hesitate to even call them good. There was just so many problems, with connectivity issues, overheating, short battery life, etc., that I ended up returning what devices I could, and canceling my account

Doesn't seem to be lot of difference from a UI perspective. FreedomPop had a great idea to essentially turn an iPod into an iPhone that unfortunately didn't work for me.

Conclusion

Based on the FreedomPop coverage map, and the fact that I live in a world-class city next to Silicon Valley, I suspect that problems I experienced with FreedomPop products were not strictly due to network or connectivity issues. The company's stated philosophy also seems to clash with many of their practices, and as stated

In the end, I can neither recommend FreedomPop as a company nor as a service provider, and if you get the Freedom Phone, my advice is to be sure to save the packaging in case you need to return it.

I'm a big fan of new ideas and technology, but FreedomPop doesn't seem to be at the level of other similar companies at this time. Stick with traditional home internet offerings, or look into options such as Virgin Mobile, Republic Wireless, or Ting. 

Ting Coupon Code and Update: Coverage, Billing, Customer Service

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Summary

Pros

• Fantastic, live customer service via phone and email
• Very accurate and thorough billing reports

Cons

• Sprint network
• Limited number of phones

iPhone on the way!

Introduction

I have been using Ting for four months now in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, and am ridiculously happy with the company and service thus far.

Ting! No problems with coverage in San Francisco...

...or Los Angeles!

Discussion

Ting's coverage is the same as Sprint, so if you can get Sprint coverage, you are covered with Ting. Billing is straightforward; Ting has simplified things even more, so instead of estimating your usage and getting billed more or getting a refund depending on the month, Ting now just bills everyone at the end of the month based on usage.

The billing aspect is one of the few things I have to complain about--Ting offers a "live" billing view via it's dashboard, which is more of an estimate. Final bills are completely accurate, but just wait for a few days after the end of your billing cycle, and don't worry too much about what is listed on the dashboard. If there is a problem, definitely call to let them know, and they will take care of it right away.

Customer support is awesome: Ting's call center is open M-F from 8 am - 8 pm EST, is based in Canada (so I was able to get my questions answered on 4th of July). Ting prides itself on answering calls with a live person within a few rings, and I have experienced this personally many times. This is in contrast to other similar companies, that only offer support via email, e.g. Republic Wireless or FreedomPop.

The final thing I will mention is that Ting still only carries a limited number of phones, and these phones are of the Sprint variety. This is that is actually important to note, since Sprint disables the SIM slot on many world phones (essentially forcing you to use their service when traveling abroad). This is not true of the iPhone due to Apple's own restrictions on how carriers could modify their devices, but otherwise if you travel abroad, you may be better off getting a cheap phone with a SIM card slot to use.

I personally don't care about the iPhone, but if it's something you want, be aware Ting doesn't carry it yet.

Conclusion

I keep blathering on about how great Ting is, but it is truly a great company. It is refreshing to find a company that is so responsive to their customers, and goes above and beyond what they say they will do. They have fun giveaways and events frequently posted on their blog and Facebook, and I would recommend checking them out for yourselves.

Seems too good to be true, but, from my experience, Ting has gone above and beyond to make my experience with them as great as possible.

Click here for coupon code

Ting vs. T-Mobile, $25 credit

Referral code for $25 credit

Summary

Pros

• Relatively cheap minutes/texts with roaming
• Sprint coverage
• Latest Android phones, along with basic phones, wifi hotspots, etc. + BYO(S)D
• No contract; month-to-month billing

Cons

• Relatively expensive data with no roaming
• Sprint coverage
• No non-android phones (iPhone, Windows, Blackberry, etc.), only Sprint phones
• Phones priced at full retail

Referral code for $25 credit

The Ting homepage.

Introduction

Thinking about Ting? Below are my personal experiences with this cellular service provider.

A few months ago, my family and I were looking to save money (who isn't?), and a notable re-occurring monthly expense for us was our cell phone bill. By switching from T-Mobile to Ting, my family and I have gone from paying $170/month to $50/month ($39/month before taxes/fees; the San Francisco Local Access Tax alone was $17!).

Ting monthly plans. Note that I've set minutes, text, and data to 0/$0. Ting allows users to set whatever amount they want, and will either bill them or refund them accordingly, with no penalties or overages!

Discussion

Ting is a MVNO that operates on the Sprint Network. It allows for voice/text roaming, but no data roaming as of the writing of this article. It bills users $6/line, and beyond that, minutes, texts, and data are billed on a pay-as-you-go basis. I like the dashboard and app that Ting has to track your usage, and Ting prides itself on having real people answer your phone calls: no automated phone systems or menus, but a real (Canadian) staffer that picks up your calls, usually within a few rings.

The Ting Dashboard.

Minutes and texts are very cheap, and the biggest concern that people often have is the cost and lack of roaming for data. However, as my family and I live in San Francisco, and work in the San Francisco Bay Area, coverage is not a concern for us, and we ues the plethora of WiFi spots all around us. In fact, in our experience the voice quality has been much better on Ting/Sprint than T-Mobile. Plus, while the GSM/TDMA that T-Mobile uses is the global standard, the CDMA that Ting/Sprint is more common in the United States.

I would be remiss if I did not point out that Ting—like many other MVNO's—requires you to pay for the phone upfront, and they currently do not carry iPhones, Windows phones, Blackberries, etcetera; however, Ting is actively working on expanding their line-up. Additionally, there are no free evening/weekend minutes, though this can be circumvented by using a VoIP service/app like Google Voice plus home WiFi.

Conclusion

In the end, Ting worked for my family and I, and I recommend spending a few minutes to do a cost-benefit analysis and see if it will work for you. I believe that if you live in a large city, and don't mind waiting to use WiFi to download/upload large items and make long calls over VoIP, Ting will work for you as well.

If you use my referral code with Ting, you and I will each get $25 in credit (a sign of the Ting mentality; also, check out their facebook page for Caption Friday's and giveaways!). Be sure you order directly after clicking the referral code to ensure we both get credit.

Google Voice. Free calls/texts in the United States and Canada, Google Voice also comes in app form.

Notes

BYOD/BYO(S)D: Bring Your Own Device/Bring Your Own Sprint Device

WiFi: WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network

MVNO: Mobile Virtual Network Operator

GSM/TDMA: Global System for Mobile Communications/Time Division Multiple Access

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access

VoIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol

Referral code for $25 in credit

Ting vs. T-Mobile, $25 credit

Referral code for $25 credit

Summary

Pros

• Relatively cheap minutes/texts with roaming
• Sprint coverage
• Latest Android phones, along with basic phones, wifi hotspots, etc. + BYO(S)D
• No contract; month-to-month billing

Cons

• Relatively expensive data with no roaming
• Sprint coverage
• No non-android phones (iPhone, Windows, Blackberry, etc.), only Sprint phones
• Phones priced at full retail

Referral code for $25 credit

The Ting homepage.

Introduction

Thinking about Ting? Below are my personal experiences.

My family and I were looking to save money (who isn't?), and a notable re-occurring monthly expense for us was our cell phone bill. By switching from T-Mobile to Ting, my family and I have gone from paying $170/month to $50/month ($39/month before taxes/fees).

Ting monthly plans. Note that I've set minutes, text, and data to 0/$0. Ting allows users to set whatever amount they want, and will either bill them or refund themaccordingly, with no penalties or overages!

Discussion

Ting is a MVNO that operates on the Sprint Network. It allows for voice/text roaming, but no data roaming as of the writing of this article. It bills users $6/line, and beyond that, minutes, texts, and data are billed on a pay-as-you-go basis. I like the dashboard and app that Ting has to track your usage, and Ting prides itself on having real people answer your phone calls: no automated phone systems or menus, but a real (Canadian) staffer that picks up your calls, usually within a few rings.

The Ting Dashboard.

Minutes and texts are very cheap, and the biggest concern that people often have is the cost and lack of roaming for data. However, as my family and I live in San Francisco, and work in the San Francisco Bay Area, coverage is not a concern for us, and we ues the plethora of WiFi spots all around us. In fact, in our experience the voice quality has been much better on Ting/Sprint than T-Mobile. Plus, while the GSM/TDMA that T-Mobile uses is the global standard, the CDMA that Ting/Sprint is more common in the United States.

I would be remiss if I did not point out that Ting—like many other MVNO's—requires you to pay for the phone upfront, and they currently do not carry iPhones, Windows phones, Blackberries, etcetera; however, Ting is actively working on expanding their line-up. Additionally, there are no free evening/weekend minutes, though this can be circumvented by using a VoIP service/app like Google Voice plus home WiFi.

Conclusion

In the end, Ting worked for my family and I, and I reccommend spending a few minutes to do a cost-benefit analysis and see if it will work for you. I believe that if you live in a large city, and don't mind waiting to use WiFi to download/upload large items and make long calls over VoIP, Ting will work for you as well.

Google Voice. Free calls/texts in the United States and Canada, and it also comes in app form.

Notes

BYOD/BYO(S)D: Bring Your Own Device/Bring Your Own Sprint Device
WiFi: WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network
MVNO: Mobile Virtual Network Operator
GSM/TDMA: Global System for Mobile Communications/Time Division Multiple Access
CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access
VoIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol