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US Mobile Is A Super Carrier With Access To All Three Networks, But How Does That Work?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
During the summer US Mobile announced it is now a "super carrier", offering the ability to connect to all three major US cellular networks. There's been a lot of confusion about this new change and how it works. I've spent a few months with the carrier getting to know it for that very reason. In this short guide, we explain US Mobile carrier switching and how it works, as well as if it's as good as it sounds on paper and who it's best suited for.
Can you switch between the networks or do you have to pick just one?If you've dealt with US Mobile in the past you might be under the assumption that you have to pick just one network and stick with it, as that was somewhat true in the past but thankfully not anymore. US Mobile does offer the ability to switch between carriers. If you're hoping this works a bit like Fi Wireless, I'm afraid not. While Google Fi can switch between T-Mobile and US Cellular networks without any input from the user, US Mobile requires you to change networks through the app.
This process is basically like fully transferring to another network. Though it's possible to physically swap SIMs for the transfer, an e-SIM is essential if you want this experience to be as simple and painless as possible. Even then, it's not exactly an instant procedure.
Typically the switch takes around 15 minutes and you must be connected to a Wi-Fi network during the process. I've also had it fail before and ended up having to initiate a request again, but that's pretty rare. Please be advised that once you switch you also can't immediately undo the transfer.
Are there any limits on how often you can switch networks?Fi Wireless might have gone with an unlimited and automatic approach, but US Mobile has hard limits here we're afraid. According to the alert box you've given when you switch networks, you can only change networks every 3 hours and only up to 8 times a cycle. That doesn't sound so bad but keep in mind only the first two requests are free.
If you want to change the network the full 8 times in one cycle, you'd have to pay $2 each time you switched after the first two, which would come to $12 extra a month in fees.
Is the Super Carrier feature useful or more of a marketing gimmick?It's a bit both, frankly. While it's true that US Mobile on paper might sound like it can seamlessly switch between carriers anytime you need better coverage, the reality is more mundane, tedious, and restricted than users might assume initially. The answer to whether it is worth it really depends on your needs. If you travel outside of your home region at least once or twice a month on average and have run into carrier issues, then yes this is a great deal. It's also nice having the piece of mind to be able to switch anytime there's extra congestion or a network outage, like the big Verizon outage that recently was in the news.
I have an extended family member who recently switched to US Mobile because while AT&T works great at home, the few times a year they drive the long distance to their mom's house prefer to use Verizon's network as it tends to hold out better. Of course, if you were hoping to be able to switch networks every day due to inconsistent coverage during a commute or other situations where you need to frequently swap, this could get expensive in a hurry and even then you're only limited to 8 changes a month. Still, there are no other carriers that allow this at all, so it might still be worth exploring even then.
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CommentsVerizon Is Shutting Down Message Plus In November
Verizon Message Plus is shutting down. The messaging platform is being retired because it cannot offer the 'best messaging experience'.
What is Verizon Message Plus?As the name indicates, Verizon owns, supports, and operates the Verizon Message Plus app. Officially, the app is called Verizon Messages. However, for reasons unknown, several users refer to the messaging app as Verizon Message Plus. It does everything that other popular messaging platforms can do.
According to Droid-Life, Verizon Messages has existed for at least 8 years. Needless to say, this is a long time for a messaging app to survive, especially while competing with the likes of Apple's iMessage, Google Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, and other popular messaging platforms.
As per the Google Play listing of Verizon Message Plus, the app has more than 100 million downloads. Some reports suggest this proves Verizon Messages is popular. However, it is possible that Verizon is preinstalling the app on the devices or bundling it with the plans that the company sells.
Verizon might be sending some important communication or alerts on its messaging platform. Doing so would ensure users don't uninstall the app and switch to popular alternatives.
When will Verizon shut down its messaging app?Verizon has updated the support page for Verizon Messages. The page includes a detailed FAQ and mentions the company will retire the app on November 11, 2024.
Verizon hasn't offered a specific reason why it is shutting down its messaging app. If the app is allegedly used by more than 100 million Android users, this number alone should have compelled the company to justify its decision.
Verizon has mentioned it decided to shut down Verizon Message Plus because they want users to have the "best messaging experience", and presumably, the app isn't able to offer that. The company did, however, hint why it was shutting down the messaging app.
Verizon claimed it "recognizes RCS as the future of both Android and iOS messaging, and Message+ simply can't compete there." What this suggests is that Verizon Messages might not be able to support RCS, a backend messaging pathway that even Apple recently adopted. Regardless of the reason, if anyone is using Verizon Message+ it would be wise to switch over to Google Messages on an Android device before the app vanishes from Google Play Store.
CRKD Atom Review: A Surprising Novelty That Is Perfect For Retro Gaming
CRKD Atom: One-minute reviewThe CRKD Atom is far and away the smallest controller I have ever tested. Billed as a collectible keychain controller by its manufacturer, the Atom is an impressively compact 3 inches (about 76mm) from left side to right. This alone makes it remarkably portable-friendly and is easily stored in your pocket or even on your keychain.
A range of attractive colorways also add to the Atom's collectability factor, and the controller sits at a reasonable price, thus making that collectible nature broadly more achievable for those who are interested. And of course, for stalwart CRKD heads, the Atom has the manufacturer's app integration, allowing you to scan for your product's overall rarity and unique number via near-field communication (NFC).
It's a neat little controller in the aesthetics department, then, but I've also been impressed by its overall gaming performance. Compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices, I found the CRKD Atom to have pin-sharp responsiveness across both wired and Bluetooth connections. As such, it's an excellent choice for retro games or ones that don't need to rely on analog sticks to play.
The CRKD Atom is available to purchase now from the brand's official website or its Amazon store page. All color options retail at $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$33, making for an affordable bite-sized controller that doesn't price gouge on some of the nicer variants. There are eight colorways available, and they are as follows:
Amazon stock tends to fluctuate greatly between designs, but all colors are more reliably available on CRKD's official website. Do keep in mind, though, that as the Atom is under $25 / £25 on the brand's own site, you will have to pay a little extra for shipping.
I mentioned the CRKD Atom is the smallest controller I've ever tested. It's also the cheapest, with the closest point of comparison being the GameSir Nova Lite which retails at $24.99 / £29.99 (around AU$40). Similar to the affordable GameSir wonder, the CRKD Atom is a cheap controller that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
CRKD Atom: SpecsSwipe to scroll horizontally
Price $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$33 Dimensions 3 in x 1.5 in x 0.8 in (76mm x 38mm x 20mm) Compatibility Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile Connection type Wireless (Bluetooth), Wired (USB Type-C) Battery life Around 10 hours via Bluetooth Software CRKD app
Like other impressively compact devices such as the Game Boy Micro, the CRKD Atom's most striking design trait is its size. It's so small that it could legitimately fit inside a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controller. Of course, given its stature, the Atom has to miss out on analog sticks (though if CRKD does eventually make a follow-up with Hall effect thumbsticks, I'd be very impressed). Additionally, ZL and ZR - typically triggers on the best Nintendo Switch controllers - have been converted to tiny, tactile buttons nestled between the larger L and R bumpers.
Despite the omissions that keep the Atom's size (and presumably, costs) to a minimum, CRKD hasn't ditched its penchant for quality. Materials feel great in spite of the pad's near-nonexistent weight, with solid casing and delightfully tactile buttons.
On the Atom, in addition to those bumper and 'trigger' buttons, you're also getting a d-pad, four face buttons with the typical Switch layout, Start and Select, and a Home button in the center. There's also a USB-C port at the top, an NFC touchpoint on the back for use with the CRKD app's collection system, and a groove at the bottom-left of the controller where you can thread through the included wrist strap.
The Atom is a lovely collectible item - especially given its price - but if you are planning on playing games with it, definitely don't underestimate its tiny size. True to its name, the Atom is minuscule and thus isn't well-suited to folks with larger hands. It certainly isn't best suited to longer gaming sessions, either, given your hands will be closely wrapped around its small casing. On the flip side, the Atom does make for a fun, affordable gift for younger players.
CRKD Atom: PerformanceA lack of analog sticks makes the CRKD Atom a poor choice for most modern games. However, it seriously excels at retro gaming, and titles that don't require the use of analog sticks. Nintendo Switch Online's retro libraries are a great example, and during my testing I found myself diving into games including The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Blaster Master, and Fire Emblem. Other Switch hits like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, and Vampire Survivors are also fantastic fits for the CRKD Atom.
You can expect solid results via Bluetooth connectivity, too. The Atom is brilliantly responsive when used wirelessly, and the pairing process on both Switch and mobile was near-instantaneous. However if you'd prefer a more reliable connection overall, the Atom does support a wired USB-C connection which also makes it usable on PC.
There are some ancillary functions available on the Atom, too, accessible via button input macros. For example, you can change the d-pad to instead function as a left or right analog stick by holding Select and left or right on the d-pad respectively for five seconds. I didn't get much use out of this feature, really; the SNES-style layout already makes the Atom a poor fit for titles that primarily make use of analog sticks, and it certainly doesn't benefit from the additional sensitivity that sticks provide. A more useful inclusion, however, is the ability to take screenshots by pressing the Start and Select buttons simultaneously.
In terms of battery life, you're getting an impressive 10 hours with the CRKD Atom. That's not a lot in the grand scheme of things, especially compared to the 20 hours from the 8BitDo Ultimate or the 40-50 hours from the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. However, given its size - and the fact that the Atom is best suited to shorter play sessions - this is more than an adequate amount of battery life, I feel.
Should I buy the CRKD Atom? Buy it if... Don't buy it if... Also consider...If the CRKD Atom isn't quite to your liking, we've highlighted a couple of other fantastic controllers that are well worth your consideration.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 Row 0 - Cell 1 Row 0 - Cell 2 Row 0 - Cell 3 Row 1 - Cell 0 CRKD Atom 8BitDo Ultimate Nitro Deck Price $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$33 $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$104 $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$82 Dimensions 3 in x 1.5 in x 0.8 in (76mm x 38mm x 20mm) 5.8 in x 4.1 in x 2.4 in (147mm x 104mm x 62mm) 10.2 in x 4.3 in x 1.8 in (260mm x 110mm x 46mm) Connection type Wireless (Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C) Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C) Wireless (Bluetooth) Compatibility Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile Nintendo Switch, PC Nintendo Switch Battery life Around 10 hours 20 hours (charging dock included) Dependant on Switch battery life Software CRKD app Ultimate Software CRKD app How I tested the CRKD AtomI tested the CRKD Atom over the course of a week, primarily playing titles on Nintendo Switch. Given its small size, I found the Atom to be better suited to shorter play sessions overall. That, paired with the SNES-style layout, made it a great fit for Nintendo Switch Online's retro library, as well as games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Vampire Survivors that don't require the use of an analog stick.
I also found the Atom to pair well with various retro compilations on PC, including Sonic Origins Plus, Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection, and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster titles. As the Atom doesn't include a 2.4GHz or Bluetooth adapter in the box, I went with a USB-C wired connection on PC.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed September 2024
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