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expired Posted by swammer • Feb 15, 2021
expired Posted by swammer • Feb 15, 2021

Tello Prepaid GSM Phone Service: Unlimited Talk & Text + 1GB Data Plan

(then $10/mo. thereafter)

$5/mo. for First 3 Months

Tello
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Deal Details
Tello offers New and Existing Customers opening a New Line select Tello Prepaid GSM Phone Service Plans + Free SIM Card Kit at a reduced introductory rate of as low as $3.50/month for the First 3 Months of Service. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member swammer & bazardeal for finding this deal.

Note, after the first 3 months of service, the price to continue on your prepaid line will revert to standard plan costs (listed below).

Available offers:
  • New Customer Discount: Apply coupon code 15OFFAFF for an extra 15% off the first month (only)
    • Unlimited Text + 100 Talk Minutes + 1GB Data Plan $3.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $7/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Text + 100 Talk Minutes + 2GB Data Plan $5.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $11/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 1GB Data Plan $5/month for the First 3 Months (then $10/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 2GB Data Plan $7/month for the First 3 Months (then $14/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 4GB Data Plan $9.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $19/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 6GB Data Plan $12/month for the First 3 Months (then $24/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 8GB Data Plan $14.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $29/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text & Data (25GB high speed, unlimited 2G) Plan $19.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $39/mo. to continue)
Features:
  • You can upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime with no extra fees, after the 3 month period.
  • Once your monthly plan data is used up, you will rever to unlimited 2G data until the next month begins.
  • Tello offers 4G LTE and 5G service.
  • A compatible 5G capable device and 5G coverage in your area is required to receive 5G service.
  • You may bring your current number to Tello or get a new one.
  • Tello operates on the nationwide T-Mobile GSM network (check your coverage area).
  • A compatible smartphone is required (check your phone's compatibility here or buy one from Tello).

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • Offer valid through March 31, 2021 or while promotion lasts.
  • Refer to the original forum post here for additional details and discussion.

Original Post

Written by swammer
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Tello offers New and Existing Customers opening a New Line select Tello Prepaid GSM Phone Service Plans + Free SIM Card Kit at a reduced introductory rate of as low as $3.50/month for the First 3 Months of Service. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member swammer & bazardeal for finding this deal.

Note, after the first 3 months of service, the price to continue on your prepaid line will revert to standard plan costs (listed below).

Available offers:
  • New Customer Discount: Apply coupon code 15OFFAFF for an extra 15% off the first month (only)
    • Unlimited Text + 100 Talk Minutes + 1GB Data Plan $3.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $7/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Text + 100 Talk Minutes + 2GB Data Plan $5.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $11/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 1GB Data Plan $5/month for the First 3 Months (then $10/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 2GB Data Plan $7/month for the First 3 Months (then $14/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 4GB Data Plan $9.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $19/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 6GB Data Plan $12/month for the First 3 Months (then $24/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text + 8GB Data Plan $14.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $29/mo. to continue)
    • Unlimited Talk & Text & Data (25GB high speed, unlimited 2G) Plan $19.50/month for the First 3 Months (then $39/mo. to continue)
Features:
  • You can upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime with no extra fees, after the 3 month period.
  • Once your monthly plan data is used up, you will rever to unlimited 2G data until the next month begins.
  • Tello offers 4G LTE and 5G service.
  • A compatible 5G capable device and 5G coverage in your area is required to receive 5G service.
  • You may bring your current number to Tello or get a new one.
  • Tello operates on the nationwide T-Mobile GSM network (check your coverage area).
  • A compatible smartphone is required (check your phone's compatibility here or buy one from Tello).

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • Offer valid through March 31, 2021 or while promotion lasts.
  • Refer to the original forum post here for additional details and discussion.

Original Post

Written by swammer

Community Voting

Deal Score
+84
Good Deal
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Top Comments

slkmaster2000
3057 Posts
358 Reputation
I would go for the stack social deal instead. More data, more months
swammer
1668 Posts
296 Reputation
I have 5 lines using the $7 plan (1gb , 100 min, unlimited text) using the referral dollars and have no issue with them.

381 Comments

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Feb 15, 2021
126 Posts
Joined Jan 2006
Feb 15, 2021
bazardeal
Feb 15, 2021
126 Posts
Quote from Techslck20 :
Is this coupon only for first month?
That is correct. First order, and only for new customers.
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Joined Mar 2005
Feb 16, 2021
drinkingbird
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Quote from po-90260 :
Tello uses CDMA phones

Got a free SIM from Sprint store saying I would set up later.

My Tello Custom Plan:
$6 per month
500 MB data
100 minutes talk
Unlimited text

I use WiFi data at home
Not anymore. CDMA phones will stop working in about 6 months. They have switched to GSM.
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Joined Mar 2005
Feb 16, 2021
drinkingbird
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Keep in mind they are having a lot of pain related to the GSM migration.

Lots of features do not work (HD voice, wifi calling, group MMS, visual voicemail, etc).

Coverage seems to change for some customers daily with phones having trouble locking on to certain bands etc.

Their support seems to be learning as they go too, some customers had to help them figure out what to put in for APN settings etc.

Lots of people furious that they were sold CDMA only phones (without knowning it) in the last 6 months when Tello knew they would be going GSM.

I suspect this deal is to try and boost their subscriber numbers after many have left.

Just FYI - plenty of people love the service and it is cheap, just something to be aware of.
Original Poster
Feb 16, 2021
1,668 Posts
Joined Apr 2006
Feb 16, 2021
swammer
Original Poster
Feb 16, 2021
1,668 Posts
Quote from drinkingbird :
Keep in mind they are having a lot of pain related to the GSM migration.

Lots of features do not work (HD voice, wifi calling, group MMS, visual voicemail, etc).

Coverage seems to change for some customers daily with phones having trouble locking on to certain bands etc.

Their support seems to be learning as they go too, some customers had to help them figure out what to put in for APN settings etc.

Lots of people furious that they were sold CDMA only phones (without knowning it) in the last 6 months when Tello knew they would be going GSM.

I suspect this deal is to try and boost their subscriber numbers after many have left.

Just FYI - plenty of people love the service and it is cheap, just something to be aware of.
thanks for this info. I'm still on cdma for 5 lines and wanted to try the gsm on a new line.
Feb 16, 2021
2 Posts
Joined Mar 2017
Feb 16, 2021
svvr
Feb 16, 2021
2 Posts
Do you guys know if we can do a port in?
Feb 16, 2021
1,066 Posts
Joined May 2011
Feb 16, 2021
luo2010
Feb 16, 2021
1,066 Posts
Only thing keep me away from them is not able to use wifi calling natively. You have to use an app...
Original Poster
Feb 16, 2021
1,668 Posts
Joined Apr 2006
Feb 16, 2021
swammer
Original Poster
Feb 16, 2021
1,668 Posts
Quote from svvr :
Do you guys know if we can do a port in?
yes when you receive sim

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Feb 16, 2021
4,377 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
Feb 16, 2021
Follywood
Feb 16, 2021
4,377 Posts
Is Tello better than Mint mobile?
Feb 16, 2021
2,111 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
Feb 16, 2021
MtF4392
Feb 16, 2021
2,111 Posts
Quote from drinkingbird :
Coverage seems to change for some customers daily with phones having trouble locking on to certain bands etc.

Their support seems to be learning as they go too, some customers had to help them figure out what to put in for APN settings etc.
This is very interesting. My daughter was saying her coverage seems to be worse on Tello T-mobile than when she was on Mint on the free Super Bowl deal a year ago. Can you direct me to where I can find out more about whether she could be locking to the wrong bands?

And she hates the lack of visual voicemail, plus using up some of her minutes to check voicemail.
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Joined Mar 2005
Feb 16, 2021
drinkingbird
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Quote from ShannonF4392 :
This is very interesting. My daughter was saying her coverage seems to be worse on Tello T-mobile than when she was on Mint on the free Super Bowl deal a year ago. Can you direct me to where I can find out more about whether she could be locking to the wrong bands?

And she hates the lack of visual voicemail, plus using up some of her minutes to check voicemail.
Are you sure your daughter has a T-Mobile/GSM SIM card from Tello in the phone? Up until a few weeks ago, they were only sending CDMA (Sprint) ones as far as I know. That would definitely explain it as sprint generally has worse coverage than TMO. Once they update all the sprint towers, then coverage will be better for everyone, but until then, it is still 2 separate networks.
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Joined Mar 2005
Feb 16, 2021
drinkingbird
Feb 16, 2021
3,102 Posts
Quote from Follywood :
Is Tello better than Mint mobile?
Better.... probably not. But if you want 2Gig or less of data, it is cheaper, especially the first 3 months with this deal. But I don't think it is worth the few bucks for all the issues they're facing right now.

The downside of mint is you have to sign up for 12 months to get the best prices. But the 3 month plans aren't ridiculously expensive either (especially the first 3 months which are at the 12 month rate).
Feb 16, 2021
2,111 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
Feb 16, 2021
MtF4392
Feb 16, 2021
2,111 Posts
Quote from drinkingbird :
Are you sure your daughter has a T-Mobile/GSM SIM card from Tello in the phone? Up until a few weeks ago, they were only sending CDMA (Sprint) ones as far as I know. That would definitely explain it as sprint generally has worse coverage than TMO. Once they update all the sprint towers, then coverage will be better for everyone, but until then, it is still 2 separate networks.
Yes, absolutely sure she has the T-Mobile SIM. On Jan. 19, I saw the GSM checker on Tello's website, I contacted them to say Sprint had become unusable and asked to be in the first round migrated. They said anyone can order their new SIM and gave me the steps. Looks like I switched her over on Jan. 26, but I may have been one of the first ones. When I tried to activate the SIM the previous day, I could not get past the address checker stage of activation.

While it is slightly better than the coverage she was getting from Sprint, it is definitely not as good as when she was previously on T-mobile via Mint. She recently said she had to hold the phone out a window to get enough of a signal to make a call. We will give it a couple more months (primarily because I have Tello Dollars to burn), but if it doesn't improve, I'm going to move her to Tracfone/Verizon which seems to have the best coverage in our rural area.
1
Feb 16, 2021
3,267 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
Feb 16, 2021
bigmace
Feb 16, 2021
3,267 Posts
Can I change the plan once the promotion price is over?
Feb 16, 2021
470 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Feb 16, 2021
guho
Feb 16, 2021
470 Posts
Is it still possible to activate a new CDMA line? I only intend to keep it for 3 months. I already have a nice collection of Sprint SIMs to use.

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Feb 16, 2021
2,111 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
Feb 16, 2021
MtF4392
Feb 16, 2021
2,111 Posts
Quote from guho :
Is it still possible to activate a new CDMA line? I only intend to keep it for 3 months. I already have a nice collection of Sprint SIMs to use.
No, their system will not allow a Sprint SIM for a new line.

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