Official Tello Mobile thread

[Yeswap]

Now that Sprint has been taken over by TMobile, are Tello customers going to be migrated to the TMobile network?

I sure wouldn't mind it. I really hate whitelisted device networks.

Sent from my moto e5 play using HoFo mobile app

Eventually, the Sprint network will be shut down and all Sprint MVNOs will have to be migrated to T-Mobile. Based on the timeline of the MetroPCS and Cricket aquistions and migrations, I don't expect that to happen until sometime next year.

[Solomon960]

I currently use a LG Ultimate 2 on Tracfone (Verizon). Learning that this model relies on 3G, which is to be discontinued later this year, I am in the market for a new phone AND service provider that offers a better rate than Tracfone's $0.025/min. Tello pay-as-you-go is 1-cent-per-min/1-cent-per-text (I don't use data), which appears the lowest cost I can find anywhere. What basic phones would be recommended for use on tello both today AND after the inevitable migration? I am particularly concerned about battery life and Google Voice integration.

If another service provider matches or "bests" tello's rates, please share. Thank you.

[Boz1]

I currently use a LG Ultimate 2 on Tracfone (Verizon). Learning that this model relies on 3G, which is to be discontinued later this year, I am in the market for a new phone AND service provider that offers a better rate than Tracfone's $0.025/min. Tello pay-as-you-go is 1-cent-per-min/1-cent-per-text (I don't use data), which appears the lowest cost I can find anywhere. What basic phones would be recommended for use on tello both today AND after the inevitable migration? I am particularly concerned about battery life and Google Voice integration.

If another service provider matches or "bests" tello's rates, please share. Thank you.

How many minutes and texts do you use monthly? Tello's current TOS indicate that $20 must be added every 3 months to keep your paygo balance from expiring, which means the minimum cost is $80/year. https://www.prepaidphonenews.com/201...it-expiry.html I'm not sure if that's currently being enforced, but it's there and could be enforced at any time even if it isn't now.

Based on that, unless you use a LOT of minutes and texts, TF might still be cheaper, and on top of that, you'd have cellular data available in case you would ever need it. There are new TF bundles available often starting at $49.99 for a new phone AND 1200/1200/1200/1Year.

[bobdevnul]

...Tello's current TOS indicate that $20 must be added every 3 months to keep your paygo balance from expiring, which means the minimum cost is $80/year. https://www.prepaidphonenews.com/201...it-expiry.html I'm not sure if that's currently being enforced, but it's there and could be enforced at any time even if it isn't now.

They have not started enforcing the $20/3 months paygo balance expiration yet for my legacy deposit a couple of years ago. I just did my bimonthly check by sending a one cent text. My balance is still there and the service worked. But, the existence of the TOS $20/3 months paygo balance expiration means that I can't count on the phone as a backup since they could expire my paygo balance at any moment of any day without notice.

Otherwise, I have been very happy with Tello as a service provider aside from Sprint being the carrier. I knew what I was getting into with Sprint as the carrier and knew to live with Sprint's limitations.

As to the OP question about what would be a good phone, given the uncertainty of Sprint's future, I would recommend a carrier agnostic phone that can be used or switched to any carrier. To be switchable the phone needs to be bought plain, not from a carrier or service provider that carrier locks them. There is a topic about them here:

https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...n-Sprint/page3

I personally have a Moto G6 and a Moto E5. Both are decent phones and have good battery run time. The G6 and E5 are not good choices if switched to T-Mobile down the line. They do not have T-Mo's long range band 71 (unless they are bought from T-MO).

Otherwise, I don't know much about Sprint specific phones. Sprint has been bought by T-Mobile and it is unknown how long or how well Sprint-based services will work as they transition to T-Mobile.

As Boz said, let us know how much talk and text you want to use and we can make suggestions of what may be better deals. prepaidcompare.net is a good site to see what is available. Also what price range phone do you want.

HSN is a source of cheap, quick, and easy Tracfone phone and service bundles. They start at $45 and include a phone, basic case, home charger, car charger, a year of Tracfone service time, and 1500 units each of talk minute, texts, and data MB. Most, if not all of them, use Verizon as the carrier. My E5 is one of those bundles. They are locked to Tracfone for a year. After a year you can get them unlocked to use elsewhere.

[Solomon960]

Thank you for your candid remarks, Boz1 and bobdevnul. I use <300 min/mo and <150 texts/mo (no data). I emailed Tello Wireless customer service and received a quick response to my nine questions, yet there was no mention about a $20/3 mo requirement - I'll have to follow-up on that point specifically. If that is the case, why would anyone choose it on tello when one can subscribe to the $5/mo unlimited talk and text plan? There seems to be a disconnect with the marketing strategy.

Regarding phones: I just want something simple with long battery life and an average camera. I don't use data; I won't install an app onto my handset. As long as it works, doesn't need to be charged often (my LG U2 can go two weeks between charges), camera images are respectable, and Google Voice calls can be forwarded to without worry, I'll be happy.

[bobdevnul]

Thank you for your candid remarks, Boz1 and bobdevnul. I use <300 min/mo and <150 texts/mo (no data). I emailed Tello Wireless customer service and received a quick response to my nine questions, yet there was no mention about a $20/3 mo requirement - I'll have to follow-up on that point specifically. If that is the case, why would anyone choose it on tello when one can subscribe to the $5/mo unlimited talk and text plan? There seems to be a disconnect with the marketing strategy.

The $20/3 month requirement is for no monthly charge, pay-as-you-go (paygo) service where you make a deposit and usage draws from the deposit at 1 cent per voice minute, 1 cent per text, 2 cents per data MB. The requirement is in the Terms of Service (that they are not enforcing yet, but we don't know when/if they will). When they started it was a $5 minimum deposit that never expired with some use at least every 90 days. That was ideal for a low use or backup phone.

They are probably losing money on my $5 deposit several years ago, with $3 remaining, considering that they probably have to pay Sprint something monthly for my phone number.

The paygo service allows data use that the $5/mo talk and text only does not.

Regarding phones: I just want something simple with long battery life and an average camera. I don't use data; I won't install an app onto my handset. As long as it works, doesn't need to be charged often (my LG U2 can go two weeks between charges), camera images are respectable, and Google Voice calls can be forwarded to without worry, I'll be happy.

There is nothing that is truly simple about smartphones. They are all oriented to at least some app and data use. A lot of that can be avoided by turning off data and disabling unwanted apps that come with the phone. You can remove app icons from the screen, but they will still be there. It takes some knowledge and effort to simplify a smartphone.

An average camera isn't hard to get.

Smartphones with long battery run time tend to be thicker and heavier. I need to charge my main phone, that I hardly use, about every other day. Running the battery down low is to be avoided. It reduces the battery life.

If you have Wifi at home or places you go, you might find it useful for news, weather, etc. Wifi use is free.

There are still a few flip/feature phones.

Just a reminder, Sprint is a dead end. T-Mobile has bought them, just finalized this month. The exact transition isn't fully known yet.

[Solomon960]

Thank you for the sound explanation, bobdevnul. My correspondence with Tello Wireless confirms that "Pay As You Go credit is available for a period of 3 months since your last order. If no order was placed in a period of 3 months, the Pay As You Go credit will expire and the Tello service will be disconnected."

I keep my phone energized only at night and on weekends; when at work, it's off. I have WiFi at home and keep data and apps disabled 24/7. I don't perform any meaningful transactions on any WiFi connection (home or public) to maintain security/privacy.

If I were to choose tello, the $5/mo (+ tax) plan seems most cost-effective. I agree: the Spring network is likely to be disbanded within the next 12 months; whichever phone I transition to needs to be usable both today and three years from now (ideally).

[spocko]

Hmm. I thought Tello had a reputation for good customer service? That doesn't seem to be the case anymore, or at least not today.

I have 2 lines of service that were completely shut off today for some unknown reason. I tried to call support several times but can't get through. After a few min on hold, I'm told that nobody is available to take my call, and I can't even leave a message because the voice mailbox is full. The only thing I could do was send an email and wait.

This is pretty bad, and definitely shakes my confidence in the company.

[Boz1]

Did you try these phone #s?

https://tello.com/contact
United States, +1-866-377-0294
United States, +1-678-306-1436
From your Tello phone, dial 611

[spocko]

Yes, that is the info listed on their website. I was calling the 678 number. Couldn't call 611 because the phones weren't working.

Deleting and re-adding my credit card info in the online accounts seemed to resolve the issue. Strange, because no payment was due, the card was good, and I added the re-added the exact same info.

They eventually responded to my email and just said the problem was resolved. No apology. And they had the gall to include their standard boilerplate material in the respose: "Don't forget that we provide live 24/7 customer service". Yeah, that's BS.

[spocko]

Service got shut off again at my next renewal. It may have something to do with the 6-month prepaid promotion that I'm on. Hopefully normal monthly subscribers are not affected. On the bright side, I didn't have any trouble reaching the support line this time, even though it was a weekend. So the 24/7 customer support is nice when it works.

[zengen]

... which means the minimum cost is $80/year. ...

Tello requires an order every three months. Under FAQ of Does my Pay As You Go credit expire? "If no order was placed in a period of 3 months, Pay As You Go credit will expire and the Tello service will be disconnected. This policy is in effect since September 10, 2019."

After two months of PayGo, I put my service on a monthly plan (ex. $5 for 100 minutes and unlimited texts) and then cancel for two months back on PayGo. This puts my annual cost about $20.

However, when attempting to do so today, I received this message "If you wish to keep your Tello number +1 (XXX) YYY YYYY , you need to make a new plan purchase once your current plan expires or port out during this billing cycle. Otherwise, your number may be permanently lost and will not be retrievable.

We will notify you 7 days prior to expiring your Tello number.
Your monthly billing will deactivate once you cancel your plan.".

Is this a sign of what is to come (require monthly plan otherwise cancellation upon expiration of plan) or merely trying to scare members to remain on monthly plan while expiration is still based on orders once every three months?

Per above, FAQ does not speak about immediate cancellation but prior history [2019], changes of requiring an order every three months was not widely communicated.

Maybe they will still give you 7 days notice?

[millept]

I've had two lines on Paygo for over a year and they haven't cut me off yet.

Sent from my moto g(6) (XT1925DL) using HoFo mobile app

[WheelieBoot]

Does the BYOP phone have to be unlocked, or can I use a locked Sprint ready phone?

My only Sprint phone is an old ZTE N817 8gb smartphone I used for a year on Assurance Wireless which used Virgin Mobile/ Sprint. About 2016 to end of 2017?

I never requested unlock and don't know if i can now. It's so memory deficient, hard to run any apps without memory issue messages, and it runs on Kit Kat 4.4 anyway. No SIM card.



Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using HoFo mobile app

[bobdevnul]

Does the BYOP phone have to be unlocked, or can I use a locked Sprint ready phone?

My only Sprint phone is an old ZTE N817 8gb smartphone I used for a year on Assurance Wireless which used Virgin Mobile/ Sprint. About 2016 to end of 2017?

I never requested unlock and don't know if i can now. It's so memory deficient, hard to run any apps without memory issue messages, and it runs on Kit Kat 4.4 anyway. No SIM card.

Sprint does not require Sprint phones to be unlocked to use on their MVNOs. Virgin Mobile phones used to be locked to Virgin service only. Don't know if you will run into that.

I activated an old LG Viper on Tello several years ago. It was one of the early Sprint LTE phones with no SIM. It was from ~2013 so much older than yours. We still use it as a hotspot.

Try the activation checker at Tello and see what it says.