How Difficult to Use Unlocked Phones
I purchased an unlocked phone while traveling abroad. When I returned to the states, I wanted domestic service. My phone roamed on AT&T & T-Mobile.
The AT&T Store Customer Rep told me that they don't provide prepaid service with unlocked phones but if I purchase monthly service and a phone from them, I might be able to use the SIM in my existing unlocked phone.
Hmmmm. (I didn't really need another phone.)
I went to T-Mobile and they were cool about it. Although they don't support a phone they don't sell (that's cool), they will sell me a prepaid SIM or monthly service -- no phone. I now have 700 pre-paid minutes which will not expire for 1 year @ about .17/minute. 😁
I'm thinking about buying an unlocked Smartphone soon. A...
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The AT&T Store Customer Rep told me that they don't provide prepaid service with unlocked phones but if I purchase monthly service and a phone from them, I might be able to use the SIM in my existing unlocked phone.
Hmmmm. (I didn't really need another phone.)
I went to T-Mobile and they were cool about it. Although they don't support a phone they don't sell (that's cool), they will sell me a prepaid SIM or monthly service -- no phone. I now have 700 pre-paid minutes which will not expire for 1 year @ about .17/minute. 😁
I'm thinking about buying an unlocked Smartphone soon. A...
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Beryl said:...
I purchased an unlocked phone while traveling abroad. When I returned to the states, I wanted domestic service. My phone roamed on AT&T & T-Mobile.
The AT&T Store Customer Rep told me that they don't provide prepaid service with unlocked phones but if I purchase monthly service and a phone from them, I might be able to use the SIM in my existing unlocked phone.
Hmmmm. (I didn't really need another phone.)
I went to T-Mobile and they were cool about it. Although they don't support a phone they don't sell (that's cool), they will sell me a prepaid SIM or monthly service -- no phone. I now have 700 pre-paid minutes which will not expire for 1 year @ about .17/minute. 😁
I'm thinking about buyin
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Cingular charges $1 for each day that any minutes are used...
So even if you only use a few minutes per day, every day, they charge ~$30 on top of your minutes. Thats nuts.
I was thinking of doing a prepaid for my wife since she only uses about 130 minutes per month. Who would be the best for this? I'm willing to buy a bulk of minutes at once (around 1500) if they last a year.
So even if you only use a few minutes per day, every day, they charge ~$30 on top of your minutes. Thats nuts.
I was thinking of doing a prepaid for my wife since she only uses about 130 minutes per month. Who would be the best for this? I'm willing to buy a bulk of minutes at once (around 1500) if they last a year.
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Well i looked around for you and Cingular charges $1 each day but only .10/min. Verizon has a .25/call and .10/min so if you make 4 calls a day it's the same thing. T-mobile you'll probably pay a little over $50/two months which is about .20/min but no connecton charge that i can see. Your sort of on a borderline there between if you should go prepaid or post paid. You might even want to look at Cingular's 29.99 post paid which gives you 250 anytime, and 1000 N&W. If she is going to do a lot of one minute calls to say she is comming home then the post paid might work out better, If she is going to talk half an hour once a week then the Cingular is best, if she is going to do 5 minute calls once a day every day then i would go with Veriz...
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post paid may work out better but if i can get a deal like OP did... 700 minutes to use any time in a year, that sounds awesome to me.
OP, how did you get that?
OP, how did you get that?
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There was/is a special going on at T-Mobile.
I had an unused prepaid SIM w/100 minutes but it was expiring. I called to renew and change to a local number (no cost!). The Rep said that if I renewed now the existing minutes plus the new minutes would be in effect for 1 year. So, I renewed for $100/600 minutes so I have 700 minutes. if my math is right, that is about .14/minute. Not bad for a backup phone, IMO.
I had an unused prepaid SIM w/100 minutes but it was expiring. I called to renew and change to a local number (no cost!). The Rep said that if I renewed now the existing minutes plus the new minutes would be in effect for 1 year. So, I renewed for $100/600 minutes so I have 700 minutes. if my math is right, that is about .14/minute. Not bad for a backup phone, IMO.
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jagster said:
Cingular charges $1 for each day that any minutes are used...
So even if you only use a few minutes per day, every day, they charge ~$30 on top of your minutes. Thats nuts.
I was thinking of doing a prepaid for my wife since she only uses about 130 minutes per month. Who would be the best for this? I'm willing to buy a bulk of minutes at once (around 1500) if they last a year.
Cingular has three kinds of prepaid:
Plan #1
Standard airtime rates
$0.25/min
Nights/weekends rates
$0.25/min
Nationwide long distance
Included
Plan #2
Standard airtime rates
$0.10/min $1/day
Nights/weekends rates
$0.10/min $1/day
Nationwide long distance
Included
Plan #3
Take Charge $29.9...
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I dont understand their take charge plans...
They charge a monthly PLUS per minute.. makes no sense to me. For $30/month you get to pay $0.15 per minute. Wouldnt it be better to just pay $1 per day used and $0.10 per minute? 30 days use pay $30 but 10 cents per vs. 15 cents per.
and if you are looking at the nights minutes that are free.. why not get a regular plan that gives night/weekend minutes plus anytime minutes for the same prices?
Maybe i just dont understand their"Take Charge" plans fully.
They charge a monthly PLUS per minute.. makes no sense to me. For $30/month you get to pay $0.15 per minute. Wouldnt it be better to just pay $1 per day used and $0.10 per minute? 30 days use pay $30 but 10 cents per vs. 15 cents per.
and if you are looking at the nights minutes that are free.. why not get a regular plan that gives night/weekend minutes plus anytime minutes for the same prices?
Maybe i just dont understand their"Take Charge" plans fully.
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No No, not plus a per minute rate.
Its a hybrid plan, half pre-paid half post paid. You have to have a credit/debit card or a checking account. You pay 29.99 and get say...300 minutes (whatever breaks down to 15 cents a minute or whatever). Once you use those 300 minutes, your phone shuts off. POW. Thats it. No going over. You don't get any more minutes until say, the 15th of every month, when your checking account is automaticaly debited 29.99 again. If you DO happen to run out before then, you can call customer service and buy like, 15 dollars more, max i think.
Its neat for a few reasons:
1. Its cheaper than pre-paid (still more expensive than post paid)
2. Theres no credit check..so good for people with no credit, but hate tho...
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Its a hybrid plan, half pre-paid half post paid. You have to have a credit/debit card or a checking account. You pay 29.99 and get say...300 minutes (whatever breaks down to 15 cents a minute or whatever). Once you use those 300 minutes, your phone shuts off. POW. Thats it. No going over. You don't get any more minutes until say, the 15th of every month, when your checking account is automaticaly debited 29.99 again. If you DO happen to run out before then, you can call customer service and buy like, 15 dollars more, max i think.
Its neat for a few reasons:
1. Its cheaper than pre-paid (still more expensive than post paid)
2. Theres no credit check..so good for people with no credit, but hate tho...
(continues)
...
jagster said:
I dont understand their take charge plans...
They charge a monthly PLUS per minute.. makes no sense to me. For $30/month you get to pay $0.15 per minute. Wouldnt it be better to just pay $1 per day used and $0.10 per minute? 30 days use pay $30 but 10 cents per vs. 15 cents per.
and if you are looking at the nights minutes that are free.. why not get a regular plan that gives night/weekend minutes plus anytime minutes for the same prices?
Maybe i just dont understand their"Take Charge" plans fully.
It is not a monthly plus per minute. The monthly fee decides how much per minute the call is. 29.99 is .15 cents a minute and so forth.
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Take charge isnt exactly pre-paid..
Its a hybrid plan, half pre-paid half post paid. You have to have a credit/debit card or a checking account. You pay 29.99 and get say...300 minutes (whatever breaks down to 15 cents a minute or whatever). Once you use those 300 minutes, your phone shuts off. POW. Thats it. No going over. You don't get any more minutes until say, the 15th of every month, when your checking account is automaticaly debited 29.99 again. If you DO happen to run out before then, you can call customer service and buy like, 15 dollars more, max i think.
Its neat for a few reasons:
1. Its cheaper than pre-paid (still more expensive than post paid)
2. Theres no credit check..so good for people with no credit, but hate th...
(continues)
Its a hybrid plan, half pre-paid half post paid. You have to have a credit/debit card or a checking account. You pay 29.99 and get say...300 minutes (whatever breaks down to 15 cents a minute or whatever). Once you use those 300 minutes, your phone shuts off. POW. Thats it. No going over. You don't get any more minutes until say, the 15th of every month, when your checking account is automaticaly debited 29.99 again. If you DO happen to run out before then, you can call customer service and buy like, 15 dollars more, max i think.
Its neat for a few reasons:
1. Its cheaper than pre-paid (still more expensive than post paid)
2. Theres no credit check..so good for people with no credit, but hate th...
(continues)
...
Not bad. Thanks for breaking it down so clearly.
What would you recommend if I was only using the Cingular SIM as a backup when there is no CDMA service in an area and there was GMS service? In this case, there is a low likelihood of ever using the SIM at all.
If I did find using Cingular service much better -- even in CDMA areas, I'd switch to monthly and use it as my primary provider.
What would you recommend if I was only using the Cingular SIM as a backup when there is no CDMA service in an area and there was GMS service? In this case, there is a low likelihood of ever using the SIM at all.
If I did find using Cingular service much better -- even in CDMA areas, I'd switch to monthly and use it as my primary provider.
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