Pros and Cons of Millenicom

[TripleE]

I have read a number of people suggestions that Millenicom is a good substitute for Verizon. I would like to hear if there are any cons to the service.

I am looking to possibly replace my grandfathered unlimited data plan with Verizon and upgrade my device. This seems to be the cheapest way to do that. We use between 10 - 15 GB each month so the new Verizon plan would be expensive.

[Phils]

I don't want to hijack the thread but my question might find an answer here since it's relating to a switch from Verizon to Millenicom:

When my Verizon MiFi contract is up, will I be able to use the Verizon Jetpack with Millenicom or will I have to replace it with another?

This unit is the 4G Mobile Hotspot 890L, if that makes any difference. It works flawlessly (and replaced an earlier model that too frequently dropped us offline). I like the unit but would like more GB per month at a better rate.

Phil

[TripleE]

Yes, I verified it.

[rk911]

TripleE wrote:
Verizon gives us excellent coverage but I am looking at lowering my cost by going with Millenicom, since they use the Verizon network.

have you verified that with Millenicom? don't assume. when we were Millencom customers a few years back Millenicom used Verizon with some devices and either AT&T or Sprint for others.

[TripleE]

Verizon gives us excellent coverage but I am looking at lowering my cost by going with Millenicom, since they use the Verizon network. If we upgrade with Verizon it will cost me about $100 a month just for wifi. I plan on keeping my phones with them (one smart and one dumb) just change the wifi plan.

[rk911]

CA Traveler wrote:
MiFi and Millenicom provide a connection to the internet and nothing else. If Charter hosts your email or data then you would need to keep Charter or move the email/data. That is a major IMHO disadvantage of that type of service in that it's a problem when you want to move elsewhere.

or you can opt for a free e-mail account from any number of sources....google (gmail), yahoo, outlook.com to name just a few.

[hcs1947]

Thanks CA Traveler. So as I near retirement and we travel more, I would like to eliminate the cable at home if possible, also the old desktop computer, and just have laptop, tablet, and phones, and be able to access everything wherever we happen to be. If I understand correctly, I could drop Charter internet cable, and sign up with Millenicom, and get email through a gmail account for example. Would I need to keep a Verizon contract for phone service, or does Millenicom cover that as well if I own my phones? Thanks for patience with my questions...

[CA_Traveler]

All of our connections are now wireless. For example 2 laptops and printer in the MH are connected via WiFi to MiFi which is connected to Verizon.

Verizon gives us excellent coverage.

[CA_Traveler]

For example I use free accounts from MSN, Google and Yahoo. They are available from any internet connected computer anywhere which includes my MiFi (or Millenicom should I change).

I do have Firefox configured on my laptop for my email accounts which takes care of the logging in details etc.

[CA_Traveler]

MiFi and Millenicom provide a connection to the internet and nothing else. If Charter hosts your email or data then you would need to keep Charter or move the email/data. That is a major IMHO disadvantage of that type of service in that it's a problem when you want to move elsewhere.

[hcs1947]

This may be a dumb question, but if you go with Millenicom do you still have to have an ISP or is Millenicom the ISP? Like now at home I have Charter internet service, would I drop that and just use Millenicom, or would I need both? Is there much speed difference between cellular internet service and cable?

[Learjet]

left Verizon proper for Millenicom...no regrets. Same service and more gigs. This is our home internet and internet on the road. We use @ 15 gigs per month.

[Dave_From_AK]

We have been using Millenicom since last May. The first device they sent me locked up a couple times, then failed altogether. Their customer support is superb. They sent me a new, much better device, a Pantech Jetpack MHS291LVW. It has never failed, and it displays your current usage during the billing cycle.

We hit 30 GB one month and a tiny bit over 20 GB twice, and they haven't complained. The new device lets me track our usage more carefully so I don't run the risk of getting penalized for an overage.

Regarding placing the service on hold, I asked them, and here's the response I got:

You can cancel the service for now or put it on vacation hold.

Vacation hold can be for up to 3 months in any 12 month period with no
charges while on vacation and no charge to take it off vacation. You
can resume service any time during the 3 month period by emailing us
at billing@millenicom.com. The vacation hold option is only cost
effective for you when on hold in one month increments as you are
required to pay for the entire calendar month if the service is active
for any part of the month.

If you chose to cancel the account it can be reopened at any time with
a $19.99 activation fee (reduced from our normal $49.99 charge).

[WoodGlue]

hbhconstruction2010 wrote:
You will only loose your unlimited if you renew your contract to get a discounted price on your new device. I found a used Verizon Jetpack MIFI4620L on Ebay for $25.00 and changed devices and didnt loose my unlimited data. Hope this helps.

Thanks Matt

Is there an AT&T solution for this if you know?

WoodGlue

[TripleE]

I checked at Best Buy about doing what you suggest and it seems that Verizn has closed that loophole and it can no longer be done.

[hbhconstruction]

You will only loose your unlimited if you renew your contract to get a discounted price on your new device. I found a used Verizon Jetpack MIFI4620L on Ebay for $25.00 and changed devices and didnt loose my unlimited data. Hope this helps.

Thanks Matt