I have an Optimus V on Virgin Mobile.

$25 a month for 300 voice minutes and unlimited data (after a few gigabytes this usage is throttled, but still remains relatively fast for a phone data connection when you aren't constantly watching streaming netflix or whatever, which I never do with my phone anyway).

As a full-on Google Voice/VOIP user, the fact that I have "only" 300 minutes is pretty much meaningless, I consume almost entirely "data". As an Android fanboy/Cynaogenmod user my phone is running Ice Cream Sandwich even though the Optimus V is old enough to ship with Froyo standard. I use the tethering features available in CM/Android daily.

Granted, I'm not saying my setup would work for everyone, you have to be fairly technical to take advantage of unofficial ROM upgrades and I'm probably bending if not breaking terms of usage with my tethering usage (even though I only use it for basic web browsing and stuff, I'm not running torrents or anything goofy like that), but my current deal is the best I've ever seen for a smartphone.

The phone cost $150 no-contract and I've been paying $25 a month for the past year and a half or so. The phone's hardware pales in comparison to the latest iPhone or high-end Android phone, but it does everything I need including the full Google Nav GPS experience, pocket browser, pocket tethering modem, etc.

Sadly they upped the monthly rate to $35 (still a great deal!) but as long as I stay on my Optimus I'm "grandfathered" in at the old rate, which is pretty cool considering I'm not on any contract to start with.

I'm using an Optimus V on VM as well, but my experience with their "unlimited" data is disappointing. I have been using the service since May, 2011, and the bandwidth typically doesn't serve more than 40 KB/s consistently around my area. For instance, listening to a stream via TuneIn is unbearable, because VM data service can't even stream at 32 K without buffering every few seconds. It doesn't matter that VM advertises unlimited data or have a 2.5 GB fast cap when the service can't even be used besides reading email.

If I were a new user, I'd go with T-Mobile instead of Virgin Mobile. T-Mobile uses GSM so switching to a new phone won't require calling up VM for activation -- just pop in the SIMM card. Right now there's no way to use a newer CDMA phone without losing my grandfathered $25/mon plan.

im also another doing the same thing, except I bought my optimus v for $40 off ebay. Using roms, I get excellent performance and battery life (beating even my wifes iphone4 with similar usage). Completely worth it except I'll be probably switching to a gsm pre paid only because I'd like to take my phone with me when I travel.

Measuring the utility of having the internet in your pocket in megabytes seems crazy to me. I would instead measure it in the number of times you use a map application to get where you're going, or the browser to figure out if a store is open or not, or the Amazon app to see if something is cheaper, or the number of times you look up something on your iPad using tethering on your phone.

Of course, you might still find that the utility is low :).

Those reasons were the exact things I thought I would use. But it never turned out that way.

I feel like so many of these use cases are romanticized.

Mapping on the phone is painful, especially if you have no signal. I tried it in LA and found myself waiting on tiles to load. I just decided to buy a small map and use my boyscout map skills -- which was better.

Amazon is great, but by the time I find myself in Best Buy, the decision to purchase has been made. Brick and mortar has the benefit of immediacy.

Same goes with tethering and immediate access to information. Coffee shops, office lobbies, and client offices offer all the connectivity my laptop could want. Secondly, I am not the kind of person to settle a dispute by whipping out wikipedia entry at dinner.

In terms of utility, I say it is definitely marginal. The times when it was convenient did not outweigh the expense.

> Amazon is great, but by the time I find myself in Best Buy, the decision to purchase has been made. Brick and mortar has the benefit of immediacy.

Even if you're planning to buy brick and mortar, I find it valuable to be able to look at Amazon et al and confirm that I'm not getting ripped off (since, once in a while, I am).

I was starting to list examples of how a phone with internet changed my life, but I think they all come down to one thing: using public transport.

I'm on T-mobile's $30/month prepaid plan for unlimited texts and 4G data (you get throttled to EDGE speeds after 5GB but ... 5GB is a lot.) Voice calls are "limited" but that's what VOIP is for!

Unfortunately this plan is "web exclusive" and limited to new activations only, so you have to order a new SIM online and activate it with a new number to switch to it. (You can port the number afterwards; I just route everything through Google Voice).

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans

What is your GVoice-VOIP setup?

I've been on that t-mobile plan for a few months using GrooveIP for GVoice-VOIP, but keep thinking there is a better way.

I've tried Talkatone, Sipdroid, and Groove IP. GrooveIP is easily the best (sadly). Tighter integration sure would be swell, but it seems a lost cause. It works well enough, especially for receiving calls while on Wifi. Beats the hell out of paying for minutes, though.

Have you tried Talkatone? It's not perfect but seems to be working pretty well for me so far...

I've also been texting more on my smartphone than I did on the dumbphone, especially since installing TouchPal.

So you can't port an existing number to the 30/month Monthly4G plan?

You text and drive at the same time? Isn't that illegal in most countries and states?

Not to mention pretty dangerous.

Texting while driving is never safe. Please stop doing it.

T9 is better than using those micro sized keyboards though.

read again with sarcasm tag on :-)