Cheapest mobile wifi plan out there

[tuqqer]

Any of you currently on a mobile wifi hotspot account, like Sprint's?

We have Sprint which works great, but we're hardly using it at all any more, and so we're looking for something cheaper than $61/month. I'd love an account that has like 4 hours a month, with additional fees for more. Any ideas, please pass 'em on.

[GGD]

By "mobile wifi hotspot", I assume you're really referring to a cellular based internet service combined with a MiFi like device, and not referring to access to WiFi hotspots in places like coffee shops.

You might look at Virgin's pre-paid MiFi plan, it's on the Sprint network so your coverage should be the same, but it can be as low as $20/mo.

The speeds are often throttled.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-br...nd2go.html

I got it a year ago and at that time there was an advantage to buying the device from WalMart, if the device was purchased from WalMart, when you activated it, Virgin would offer an additional plan of 1GB/mo for $20. I know that plan is still offered to me, but it might be because I'm grandfathered. They also had a $40/mo unlimited plan when they first introduced the device/plan, which they later started severely throttling if you go over 5GB, you can't buy that plan anymore.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Virgin-Mobile-...e/14321312

Edit: This seems to be confirmation that the 1GB/Mo $20 plan still exists for devices purchased at WalMart.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Virgin-Broadba...y/15443368

# Provides 1GB of data over 30 days exclusively for Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go devices purchased from Walmart or Walmart.com
# Provides 500MB of data over 30 days for Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go devices not purchased at Walmart or Walmart.com

Edit2: You don't need to buy those refill cards, there is also an option when you activate it to have the monthly cost charged directly to a credit card.

[tuqqer]

I have yet to figure out the nomenclature of what that service and device are called. Mobile wifi? Wifi stick?

Thanks for these tips, GGD. I will check out Walmart and Virgin now...

[silvarios]

Typically you don't buy hours, you buy data allowances. There were some pay by the day options, I know T-Mobile used to have one, but I don't know if they are still around. Are you downloading a lot of data or streaming media during your normal use? If not, the 1TB VIrgin deal might be good enough.

[silvarios]

Another option, T-Mobile has a $30 prepaid plan with 100 minutes and unlimited messaging/data (latter is throttled to EDGE after 5GB). If you had a phone with a built in hotspot feature, that might work for your needs.

[Bill in NC]

Yes, that plan works well if you have T-Mobile 3G in your area (5GB/month for $30 - prepaid, no add'l fees or taxes)

Additionally, once you've set up the plan, you can remove the SIM from the smartphone and plug it into a Zoom USB stick (Model 4597- supports T-Mobile's 3G frequency) to use it directly in your computer or plug that USB stick into the Zoom router (model 4501) to get a wireless router (includes one wired LAN port)

You have to use the above 3rd party devices because T-Mobile blocks the $30/month plan from being tethered on their devices.

silvarios wrote:
Another option, T-Mobile has a $30 prepaid plan with 100 minutes and unlimited messaging/data (latter is throttled to EDGE after 5GB). If you had a phone with a built in hotspot feature, that might work for your needs.

[silvarios]

Bill in NC wrote: You have to use the above 3rd party devices because T-Mobile blocks the $30/month plan from being tethered on their devices.

Does T-Mobile block the Android hotspot feature on a T-Mobile branded phone?

[Bill in NC]

Hotspot usually works on the older, 3G-only Android phones.

It is blocked on the newer 4G phones - you have to root them and disable "tethering manager"

silvarios wrote:
[quote=Bill in NC]You have to use the above 3rd party devices because T-Mobile blocks the $30/month plan from being tethered on their devices.

Does T-Mobile block the Android hotspot feature on a T-Mobile branded phone?

[silvarios]

Thanks for the info Bill.