Chuck is still using the iPhone 6 and is planning to get a new model soon. He hears that T-Mobile is merging with Sprint. Will his phone work after? Leo says the merger isn't a done deal... but if it is, his iPhone will probably work better since it's all LTE and his coverage will increase greatly.
The merger between Sprint and T-Mobile has been approved by the Department of Justice, giving mobile another major carrier to compete against AT&T and Verizon. The talk is, that T-Mobile is going to work with DISH Network to create a huge new 4th carrier by Dish. Dish will also get Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and several other MVNOs. As a long-time T-Mobile user, Leo doesn't really have a problem with it, especially as we move into 5G speeds. But it's not in the clear yet, as 13 state attorney generals are suing to stop it.
Dale has problems with his text messages: He doesn't get the entire long message, and it's all chopped up out of order. Leo says it's the carrier that is limiting, or "truncating" his SMS text message to 160 characters, chopping it up, and sending it out in multiple bursts. It's an issue with Sprint, unfortunately. If he can start using a messaging app and convince everyone in the family to do the same, he won't have this issue.
John heard about Sprint's free for a year deal. Is it legit? Leo says it is, but the devil is in the details. He'll have to pay taxes on it. He'll have to pay $12.99 up front, and he'll have to bring his own phone. He can read more about it here.
Robert wants to know if his new Samsung mobile phone will support Wi-Fi calling. Leo says that all phones do these days, but the real issue is, does the carrier? Sprint is his carrier and they say they support it on the iPhone as well as most Android phones. So Robert should look in his Wi-Fi settings and see if it's enabled. It'll be under advanced features.
Gene is getting huge bills from Sprint with overage charges. He thought he was supposed to have unlimited data. Leo says that Gene should call Sprint and see if there's been a billing error. It may also be that Gene has malware on his phone that is causing overages by using the data.
Paul wants to buy a hotspot. Leo says that the Karma Go is one he uses. He can pay as he goes, or pay monthly if it is to be his primary subscription. It uses Sprint, so he should check the coverage map. T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T offer similar devices for around $10 a GB. No rollovers.
Steven has a Motorola Droid phone and he has to move over to Sprint. But if he does, he has to get another phone and he doesn't want to lose the great battery life with his Droid. Leo says he doesn't have to get the phone from Sprint. His old Droid is probably carrier locked and if he's paid for it and is in good standing, he can request that they unlock it. Once that's done, he can take it to Sprint. If they refuse, he'll have to get another phone. His choices are going to get more limited because battery life is decreasing. Right now, the iPhone 7 Plus has the best battery life.
Nick wants to buy a hotspot or MiFi card and use wireless as his home internet connection. Leo says if he's in a remote area, then that's a great way to go. He'll have to make sure he has a good package that doesn't include bandwidth caps, though.
Neil wants to know what cell phone provider is the best. He keeps hearing that Verizon is the best nationwide, and Leo says they may be. But the question is, what is the best cellphone company where Neil lives? He should ask his friends and neighbors what they use and if they like it. Leo really likes Google Fi. It uses three different carriers and switches to whatever is best, be it T-Mobile, Sprint, or US Cellular. If he travels overseas, Google Fi doesn't charge for international data roaming in many countries.
