What are /r/freedompop's favorite Products & Services?

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The true cost of this deal is $5.01, assuming you want the free plan, and assuming you know what you're doing. :) Many FP "old timers" may not know this, but FreedomPop now requires that you pay for a $5 credit if you want to switch to the free plan. This deal is signing you up for a paid plan with a 30 day free trial, but then you'll automatically get charged for the paid plan unless you downgrade to the free plan, and that requires that you pay for a $5 credit. But this same credit allows you to turn off auto-top-up so you won't get dinged $15 bucks if you come within 100mb of your free data limit. It's best to know what you're doing before you sign up, otherwise you can be the victim of an easy to make "user error". You might want to read this guide: http://cranialborborygmus.com/freedompop-for-dummies.htm It explains how to downgrade both the plan and the service. Do both or expect a charge. Also, you should add 10 fp friends and you'll get 200mb + 500mb friends bonus = 700mb of free LTE data every month. Turn off auto-top-up using your $5 credit and you can use the whole 700mb. You can find other people to be your "friends" here: https://slickdeals.net/f/5276432-freedompop-friends Good luck!

If the free plan does indeed come out to be only 250 mb per month, it will no longer a viable option for me. What are the next cheapest cell phone options for US citizens? FreedomPop's 500 mb data plan at $13.99 seems too expensive.

Running list of my best options for [single line plans][locked in rates]

$50 /yr ($4.16/mo) FreedomPop 1 GB/mo plan data only (VOIP call/text), AT&T service ($45/yr Target) Target Link

$150 /yr ($12.50/mo) FreedomPop 5 GB data/mo data only (VOIP call/text), AT&T service: SlickDeals Link

$10/mo Unreal 1GB/mo LTE (+Unlimited 2G), unlimited call & text ? not VOIP, Sprint service

$15/mo Unreal 2GB/mo LTE (+Unlimited 2G), unlimited call & text ? not VOIP, Sprint service

Anything is better than Freedompop. If you change your mind and cancel Freedompop make sure you call your bank or credit card and have them "block merchant" on freedompop because they will continue to charge you even after you cancel your account. Check out Textnow, you can get the app from the google play store and use it for free texting and calling over wifi. They also have some nice looking phones and plans https://www.textnow.com/plans.

Google Voice number + Hangouts Dialer works pretty well for me.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.hangoutsdialer

It uses about 0.6 MB per minute, but can use less if you are on a slow connection.

-- OR -- use this deal, and pay $199.99 instead of $159.99. This is a cheaper deal if you want unlimited talk/text, because it includes a year of those services.

So essentially you pay $40 for a year of service vs $80 if you went directly through FreedomPop.

First, thank you SO much for reporting back.

Second, I'm surprised and disappointed for you that somehow you got a Sprint SIM card from TextNow. I thought there was a tiny chance a TextNow SIM card could possibly work in Canada, but I was expecting you to receive the new TextNow T-Mobile SIM card. https://www.textnow.com/wireless/checkout?plan_id=57&product_id=392 https://www.textnow.com/m/fasternetwork/

Third, I'll look forward to your next report after you visit Niagara. Thank you.

go to the last page of the FreedomPop Friends Slickdeals thread and invite the most recent email addresses. avoid the temptation of adding the entire list. too many friends makes the site bog down significantly.

also, make sure you don't use your primary email addresses.

ExpressVPN is working just fine. Speed isn't the best in other apps isn't the best but FreedomPop works.

Got here yesterday. Toughest part was figuring out I needed to delete my US LTE APN and reconfigure a Global one through their website.

It may show up as unavailable for you:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.dialer

What platform are you using? The stock dialer on many systems (such as CyanogenMod/LineageOS dialer, which are based on AOSP) is nearly identical to the one Google has on the Play Store.

Hangouts is smart enough to switch between the wifi and data on the fly even, though sometimes the call wont survive the transition. I would recommend may be getting one of the LTE hotspots on the sprint network and putting it in your car if you do a lot of calls or streaming music. You can get a gig with that.

Also note the global sim is a UK sim so your data gets VPN back to UK and then has to come back to the US. This can mess with hangouts by adding a small delay on the call, which is also why i recommend grabbing an LTE hotspot for your car.

Also being a UK sim you will have to make sure all hangouts calls are dial with full country code like so +12345678901. Shameless plug, my app will handle automatically adding country and area for you when using your native dialer and redirect the call to hangouts.

I use Google Voice as my primary phone number. At home, I have an Obihai analog telephone adapter and it works flawlessly. At work, I have Google voice ring my desktop phone, and that works great too.

As for my cell phone, Google likes to keep Hangouts and Hangouts Dialer on the cutting edge, so if you use it to place or receive voice calls, be prepared for the occasional broken update. It is good to keep FreedomPop Messaging around as a backup, because you will need it for voice calls when Hangouts isn't working.

This is due to a Freedompop update that they screwed up royally at the end of February. They subsequently released two more updates that didn't fix anything.

If you use Android, go here to get an older version of the app:

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/freedompop/freedompop-messaging/

FreedomPop Messaging Phone/SIM 24.00.1317.0928, October 1, 2018, is the last version before the bad updates. But, I had issues with mine starting and stopping constantly for about a year. So, I had to go back to this one:

FreedomPop Messaging Phone/SIM 22.00.1068.0202, February 4, 2018

I went to https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/freedompop/freedompop-messaging/freedompop-messaging-24-00-1317-0928-release/freedompop-messaging-phone-sim-24-00-1317-0928-android-apk-download/ search and downloaded an apk. Search for Freedompop messaging and select the version you want. I used version 24.00.1317.0928 (Android 4.1+) dated October 1 2018. It is a bit tricky because of the ads but select then scroll till you see "download apk". Apk's are self extracting. You will probably be prompted to allow the install after clicking the file on your phone. Good luck.

I never could get an account set up under privacy.com, but I use virtual card numbers with Eno from Capital One®. It generates a card number that works everywhere but can be set for a limited $ amount and expiration period. I love it for online purchases...and it also looks for discounts that can be applied to every purchase.

Try an older version. It may prompt you to update, but you can ignore it. Works, more or less, for me.

https://apkpure.com/freedompop-messaging-phone-sim/com.freedompop.phone

They play games with their plans. If you don't really read the details and know the angles they will hit you with surprise charges. Looks like the new plans are no different. One thing you can do is use a service like Privacy.com or something similar so they can't charge more then the limit you set.

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I was looking at Freedompop as a possible cheap way to connect IOT devices but even that's starting to look iffy.

I reupped another free line and got dinged $2.30 for a text top up at random - old balance was 10, now it's 110. This appears to be a continuing issue. I had opened a ticket about the earlier bad charges that I resolved via chat - they got back to me today and I reported the problem - we'll see what happens. If the charge posts, I will do a chargeback.

My feeling here is that this company has changed from ethically challenged to a dedicated criminal enterprise dedicated to fleecing people $2-$8 at a time. I have taken u/mybelle_michelle's advice and set up privacy.com burner card with a limited spend and changed all lines to use this card.

We'll see what happens!

On one or two of my (completely free) FP accounts I was able to change my payment to PayPal successfully; then went to PayPal and removed FP's access.

One FP account wouldn't accept the PayPal change, so I then set it up with Privacy.com, using a card specifically for FP set to a max charge of $1. FP has tried to charge to it multiple times and it's been denied.

It has been a long time since I've commented here but I think that the minutes are the voip type. That is my guess based on the fact that it is unlimited. The line access fee I think would be for the phone tied to the shared plan. Verizon used to do this at least in the past; buy a bucket of data and each phone has an access fee of $10-20.

Also, did anyone notice that it said "Family Mobile GSM". So whoever said Sprint......ha.

I think there is a seperate CDMA family plan mentioned here.

https://slickdeals.net/f/9897460-freedompop-new-family-plan (links to http://familymobile.freedompop.com/)

That one mentions that you can have a premium voice connection for an additional fee.

Ok, so for an extra $5 you get at least an extra GB free (using friends) with several services for free such as group mms, visual voicemail, and usage alerts. It looks to be that they charge around $7/GB so you save a little this way but it isn't completely free either. Personally, I was hoping that the 500 MB plan would become the standard free plan but I don't think that will happen anymore.

post your email here.

Or just pick some of the emails off the list. I would go to last page of the thread. There are a handful that have been posted within the last week. I'd start with those.

You need to unlock it first. Check the SD wiki.

@ChristianM19: "It'll show it's unclean or unpaid bills for sprint only. However, it will work on Sprint MVNO's [after unlocking]. I did just that with an iPhone 5s and it shows as unpaid bills but upon resetting the phone and activating it with a mintsim(tmobile) sim card, it showed the "unlocked" message."

https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=99070792&postcount=217

However, @SlickDealingInNYC reported a problem checking activation with Ting after unlock:

https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=99151500&postcount=264

Use a prepared CC or use https://privacy.com/join/2ZMM4 (Get free $5 if you use that link) it allows you to create prepared CC in like 30 seconds.

But can you please tell me the date + screenshot of that email? I never got it. I only get 250MB of free data

So even when buying the Nexus 5 through this site with their plan that's normally $10.99/month I think, it would still have to be over data or wifi? This is what I'm referring to: https://stacksocial.com/sales/freedompop-nexus-5-talk-text

So if I want to make a call I have to use my 500mb of free data pretty much? But texting is through Sprint's network then? I'm just trying to understand how it works since FreedomPop mentions WiMax on their site as well and I really don't know what that is either. If it'd be through an app though with unlimited minutes and texting then I'd have to stay away since I really wouldn't like to use my data

Well yes, I think it is. Isn't this it? However, all the one-star reviews should be an indicator that maybe it isn't working as well as it ought. And, even if unavailable from Google Play, there are plenty of places to source an APK for it.

My FP Messaging app was still working yesterday morning before I uninstalled it and hammered the SIM cards into the pavement. :))

Oh I didn't know about the new account management app. I was talking about the other messaging app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freedompop.ott

Upon entering the long number on the sim to activate it; the site will show you a the name and picture of the package. If you're seeing this product picture: https://www.amazon.com/FreedomPop-LTE-SIM-Kit-3/dp/B0792H2MY8

Then you were sent the wrong sim. Contact Amazon.

Good point.

I thought they were referring to the PF Messaging App.

CallFree & Text Free app has not received very good recent reviews:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freedompop.ott&hl=en_US

OTT is the non-SIM based free calling app, i assume you got that plan thru this app right? (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freedompop.ott&hl=en) if so, you have a OTT/non-sim plan/service. it wont harm you as you can have lots of devices on your account.

I also saw ExpressVPN has good reviews and and a 30-Day money back guarantee, so I could also just do that for two weeks and then cancel before the month is up.

Any personal experience with EarthVPN? You are right that it's $3.99 for a month, so that's an easy move if it comes to that.

Best bet for this is to use the google voice site to have it call the fpop number. There was an app to handle this for you, as I recall, and it was used at one point, by people with dual sim phones, one sim with unlimited incoming calls, and a freedompop sim with limited but present data.

Edit: This app may work for that: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zone.bai.gvoicecallback

I thank you for your reply it is difficult to find information on these phones

I have a hauwei union right now on sprint network/freedompop

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your Hauwei Mate SE specs say

1st sim supports 4G,3G & 2G and 2nd sim only 2G

hard to find other information about it but it seems it also supports band 12

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Which sim option did you purchase (TMobile, ATT, Generic GSM) to allow it to get on Freedompop?

Do you know what GSM LTE bands you are using? You might be able to see it in your about phone.

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Also you know all the hauwei phones are on the don't use list because of security issues.. keep that in mind... its one issue that I have with buying the RedMi

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the RedMi 6 specs are amazing for the price $150 but I don't know that it will work with either freedompop or Tracfone because of the broadcast bands it uses.. also RedMi is pretty much the official phone of china so i wonder if it has security issues too

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G5K25WT

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again thanks its really hard to find this info...

you would think that FreedomPop could just poll its accounts and generate a list of phones that are already on its network and then list it so users would know what phones they can use.

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Thats all they would have to do is poll the user database and see what phones are active .. then post that list as a list of phones that definitely work and whether they work on the TMobile or ATT or GSM or Sprint setups

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Thats another thing i don't even know.. FreedomPop offers 3 GSM Options.. but are all of the sims the same? or are they different?

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Interesting, thanks for sharing.

Dimensions and weight at their blog: http://blog.freedompop.com/freedompop-launches-freedompop-v7-mobile-phone-deal-59-including-free-monthly-phone-service/

Doesn't seem like a particularly good deal. Only 1 GB RAM, and not particularly small either. Comparable model might be something like the BLU Advance 5.0 HD: https://www.amazon.com/BLU-Advance-5-0-Unlocked-Smartphone/dp/B01E9BNCQ4

Personally, I'd rather pony up a bit more for a 2 GB RAM phone, and I wouldn't worry all that much about dual SIMs (but I'm not a big data user, nor am I trying to mix and match service providers).

Will be interesting to see if they do this in the US. I imagine it would be a phone will similar specs plus LTE capability.

A GSM device generally cannot be used on a CDMA network.

I am not aware of any data limitation on how much you can receive at this time.

EDIT: Is this the product?

https://www.amazon.com/5792-Unlocked-HotSpot-Touchscreen-Hotspot/dp/B00XVYDKJU

Then: "In the USA this device will work on AT&T and T-Mobile networks only."

To put it simple, no it will not work on the Sprint CDMA network.

Are both phones on FreedomPop global GSM? Do you have similar problems using the FreedomPop messaging app to place the calls?

>When I call, the other phone can see it ringing and pick up, but we cannot hear each other.

This sounds like a classic VoIP problem when both phones are behind routers, but hangouts should be immune to that cause.

>When I receive a call, it will sometimes pick up and we both can talk and hear each other, sometimes when I try to pick up a ringing phone call it says cannot join call.

This just sounds like a poor data connection. What do speed test apps show? I like this one since you can go in the settings before running the test and limit test length (in seconds) so it doesn't eat all your data.

I just went back to your original post:

>I've also noticed when I dial on hangouts it shows the data signal as if it's using data instead of wifi, whilst I'm connected to wifi.

Does it only show the 3G symbol when you place the call? Newer versions of android will maintain a connection to a hotspot that doesn't have internet (such as on that's a weak signal or one that requires sign in but you haven't signed in yet) while routing data over cellular network. But it shouldn't matter what app you're using. I think there's a way to disable this behavior; I'll have to dig around a bit.

/u/iwishiwaswise Vote for this issue (on JIRA)! I did some more digging on echo cancellation in Android. Try the 062317 nightly with this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.enflick.android.TextNow

Let us know if it works for you! Not a great solution but better than running old Lollipop.

Edit: The app linked above uses a different audio engine in order to cancel echos.

If you really want to use the FP voice and text, I think the stock Android messenger app should connect to it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en

Edit: Maybe I was wrong. I will have to test this out.

Sorry to reply to an extremely old comment but I found an app which is free and can fix seven and 10 digit numbers. Just set the number of digits for international numbers to 10 and then put the prefix as 1. Then set the number of digits for national numbers as 7 and the prefix as 1 then your area code. You should add it to your website

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sergiocarvalho.android.phoneprefixer

Awesome!

Instead of Speedtest.net's app, though, I would recommend the app from v-speed.eu. What I like about v-speed's app is they allow you to customize the length (in seconds) of the speed test, so you chose sacrifice accuracy in order to use less data. Blowing through ~90MB of your 700MB/mo total is kind of a big sacrifice for a bandwidth test.

You can get a free unique phone number just using the "FreedomPop OTT Call and Text" app, no need to get/run a FP device or SIM:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freedompop.ott&hl=en

eek, MIUI. Xiaomi does some heavy customization to their phones and their phone permission settings that could be interfering. Try checking your security settings and app permissions for BuzzOut. Make sure you granted it all the permissions it requested. Also try using the stock dialer from Google if you can and see if it helps.

I use to use a Mi3 personally, but the MIUI customization wrecked so much compatibility havoc, especially with google voice and MIUIs stock dialer that I gave up using it and moved on to a OnePlus 3.

As soon as I got my phone from FreedomPop (Nexus 5), I wiped it and put on the stock/generic ROM. I never once used the FreedomPop ROM they had loaded onto it.

You can then download the FreedomPop Messaging app to have it activate service, view account info, get calls and text working, etc.

With the app HERE Maps you can download entire maps and use the GPS in most phones for offline GPS service. You don't need any kind of data for this to work.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.here.app.maps&hl=en