Enterprise Communications

Selecting a Wireless Carrier

by Colin Berkshire

Colin here. A lot has changed with the pricing plans of the wireless carriers recently. It’s almost hard to keep up with them. So I will help.

Let’s say you are a family with either 2 or 4 phones. Here is how the math works out:

  • It’s really never before been more clear which carriers offer the best prices. But in case it’s not clear I’ll summarize it this way:
  • T-Mobile and Sprint offer the best pricing. Period. Always. No question about it.
  • AT&T and Verizon both are about double the price or more.

If you care about cost then choose T-Mobile or Sprint. If you like paying more, then Verizon is your most expensive choice.

AT&T is a slightly better deal because they will give you 30 GB of data for just $30 more. That’s enough to use it for your cabin or even your home Internet service. Really, that’s reasonably priced.

Plus, you you really have masochistic tendencies Verizon has some truly terrible customer service, a grossly-one-sided contract, and a defective-by-design dispute resolution policy you can enjoy being screwed by.

One industry trend seems clear: No matter what company you go with, you are much better off buying your iPhone outright rather than under ANY of the 2-year financing or leasing plans. Buy your phone.

 

2-Year Contract
No Contract (BYOP)
2-Lines
4-Lines
2-Lines
4-Lines
Verizon
$130
$160
$180
$260
AT&T
$130
$160
$180
$260
T-Mobile
–
–
$100
$100
Sprint
–
–
$100
$100