Hi Folks,
The phone "officially" registered on my contract with Orange UK is an old 2G one for it has a 2G SIM. I'm looking to get a Touch HD which will need a 3G SIM.
Unfortunately, I'm told that Orange won't just give out shiny new 3G SIMs.
The obvious way to wheedle a 3G SIM out of Orange would be to simply "upgrade" to a cheap 3G phone - But because of the ancient tariff I'm on ("Everyday 50"), my local Orange shop wouldn't entertain ANY kind of upgrade, even though I am "out of contract", unless I change to a more expensive tariff !
Any ideas anyone ? "Dog ate my SIM"? Threaten to leave ?
Thanks in advance.
- Steve
If you go in somewhere like phones4u and tell them the contract you already have, they will often try to match it, sometimes by giving you a lump sum refund so that the monthly price is brought down to what you want.
jez83uk said:
If you go in somewhere like phones4u and tell them the contract you already have, they will often try to match it, sometimes by giving you a lump sum refund so that the monthly price is brought down to what you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an idea - but the plan I'm on at the moment suits me very well and is very cheap indeed (which is undoubtedly why they are not keen on giving me an upgrade phone). I can't see anyone easily matching it long-term.
I wonder if all SIMs used by orange are now 3G compatible, or would I really need to specifically get a 3G phone to get a 3G SIM?
Have you thought about going for one of the SIM only tariffs? That way you get the new SIM, the old number can be ported across and you get a lower monthly cost.
Just done it with Vodafone for their cheapest tariff and its costing me £10 for 75 mins and 500 texts on top of which i have added the £7.50 Mobile Internet. And the SIM i have is HSPDA compatible.
Oh, and one other possible plus, while it is a contract there is no long term tie in, its a rolling 30 day commitment.
I have been a long time customer (more than 10 years) with Iowa Wireless. I LOVE the plan I have, and the rate I haven't been able to find a match to. I'm a big fan of GSM and how I can change phones at will, but alas, I am moving to an area of North Dakota that doesn't have any GSM data, and very poor GSM voice coverage.
I have to move to Verizon (or any other CDMA provider), so I have taken this as my chance to get a new Rhodium to upgrade from my Kaiser to. Yay me.
BUT...
I don't like it, but I have had some financial difficulty, and now must pay a heafty deposit to get 'normal' service from Verizon (which is over priced to begin with).
If I get the Verizon pre-pay unlimited plan *shudders*, can I add a TP2 from eBay by just providing the correct serial numbers?
What about other pre-pay CDMA providers? Wal-Mart's Straight Talk is the right plan at a reasonable price, but can I mount a CMDA TP2 to thier network?
If you have access to MetroPCS in your area, and are willing to jump through a few hoops in getting the device configured, you can use a TP2 there. I have a Sprint TP2 that I bought on eBay running on MPS without issue. Data speeds will take you back to 2003, but the $40 unlimited call/text/data plan is hard to beat.
goldenu said:
If you have access to MetroPCS in your area, and are willing to jump through a few hoops in getting the device configured, you can use a TP2 there. I have a Sprint TP2 that I bought on eBay running on MPS without issue. Data speeds will take you back to 2003, but the $40 unlimited call/text/data plan is hard to beat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, I'll have to check them out. Is MetroPCS GSM, or CDMA based? Unfortunatly (in this case) the TP2 can run both GSM and CDMA... as for speeds, I'm used to a trunkated 20K, so anything is fine with me. *chuckles*
Thanks for the pointers!
Check out Page Plus it resells Verizon service thier data plans are crap 20megs and 50 megs and then prepaid $3 a meg (I think) lol but if you setup you phone right you can get allo the free data you can use. I had some issues but had it working pm me if you want details. thei unlimited plan talk and txt with 20megs of data is ~$40
Otherwise see if US Cellular is in the area still expensive for my plan but better than Verizon.
1000 anytime National plan, free nights and weekends starting at 7pm, free incoming calls txts and pics~$45
+txt plan 750 msgs ~$10
+data $24
+phone insurance ~$6
+taxes ~however much the government steals
gets my bill ~$100 per month
But I do pull about a 1megabit down and reasonable upload with 200ms to 250ms latency in my service area when tethered on my pc and I've only been in two places in all of america I did not get coverage so I like them allso the costumer service is the best I've ever had from ANY COMPANY HANDS DOWN.
If their was one company that deserves a hug in the whole world is US Cellular they are the best!
sorry for typos it's late I'm tired and lazy.
How do you get free unlimited data from Page Plus?
I am also curious as to whether or not you can tie an unlocked Touch Pro 2 to the Straight Talk network. Anybody have any ideas?
Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid Plan
I've got a Blackberry through work and use that to read my work mails and for calls. I was still using the HTC P3600 as my PDA/MP3 player/Navigation/snapshots/movies/games/etc. and was thinking it's time for an upgrade. The TP2 seemed to be a worthy successor... thank god - I was waiting long enough. Anyway, I was also looking for a plan that I could use every now and then without any monthly commitments and related high charges. So the Verizon basic pre-paid plan seemed ideal for my situation - it costs 99 cents per day you use it - while giving you unlimited data for that day. I'd get a $100 charge so they let me keep my number for 1 year and I'd get OTA data for every third day during that year. So much for the plan...
First attempt: Try to get the Vz TP2 with the basic pre-paid plan. FAILED ... although the pre-paid guys told me the phone would work with the plan, they wouldn't be able to sell it to me without a monthly plan. I could have gotten it for the month-to-month price and then cancelled the plan after the first month - but I didn't want to go that far.
So I bought the phone through eBay. Slight complication - but I am very happy with my new phone so far!
Second attempt: Get the Vz pre-paid plan setup to my new TP2 that I bought off eBay. FAILED althought initially I was informed the pre-paid plan would WORK with the TP2 - Verizon Wireless refuses to set it up with the TP2 (which they will recognize as soon as you give them your MEID). They told me "the pre-paid network is not able to handle the traffic generated by the TP2 phone" right, like there's a separate pre-paid network....
Third attempt: PENDING I want to get some low-cost CDMA phone, either off eBay or from Vz directly (~$40 dollars one-time costs) and set that up with the basic pre-paid plan. Then I'll just "repair"/clone that phone's ESN to my TP2 and theoretically will be able to use my TP2 finally with the Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid plan.
Anyone has any thoughts or - even better - real life experience? Will this work? Any ideas for a cheaper solution? I don't mind the workaround - it's fun so far...
Bizzled - THIS IS EXACTLY the kind of information I wanted to know! I'm reading this intently, I can't wait to hear how this went. I have a little bit of time before I have to change companies, I'd really like to do this...
I think I can get you a phone that is from VZ... used to be on the network, let me know if you need one, I'll go do the research on my end.
Page Plus is a prepaid service that uses the Verizon network. They will activate any unlocked CDMA phone (even phones from another carrier).
Most Verizon PDA phones work out of the box with no unlocking or anything needed.
See here:
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/
Sounds like exactly what you are looking for.
bizzled said:
I've got a Blackberry through work and use that to read my work mails and for calls. I was still using the HTC P3600 as my PDA/MP3 player/Navigation/snapshots/movies/games/etc. and was thinking it's time for an upgrade. The TP2 seemed to be a worthy successor... thank god - I was waiting long enough. Anyway, I was also looking for a plan that I could use every now and then without any monthly commitments and related high charges. So the Verizon basic pre-paid plan seemed ideal for my situation - it costs 99 cents per day you use it - while giving you unlimited data for that day. I'd get a $100 charge so they let me keep my number for 1 year and I'd get OTA data for every third day during that year. So much for the plan...
First attempt: Try to get the Vz TP2 with the basic pre-paid plan. FAILED ... although the pre-paid guys told me the phone would work with the plan, they wouldn't be able to sell it to me without a monthly plan. I could have gotten it for the month-to-month price and then cancelled the plan after the first month - but I didn't want to go that far.
So I bought the phone through eBay. Slight complication - but I am very happy with my new phone so far!
Second attempt: Get the Vz pre-paid plan setup to my new TP2 that I bought off eBay. FAILED althought initially I was informed the pre-paid plan would WORK with the TP2 - Verizon Wireless refuses to set it up with the TP2 (which they will recognize as soon as you give them your MEID). They told me "the pre-paid network is not able to handle the traffic generated by the TP2 phone" right, like there's a separate pre-paid network....
Third attempt: PENDING I want to get some low-cost CDMA phone, either off eBay or from Vz directly (~$40 dollars one-time costs) and set that up with the basic pre-paid plan. Then I'll just "repair"/clone that phone's ESN to my TP2 and theoretically will be able to use my TP2 finally with the Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid plan.
Anyone has any thoughts or - even better - real life experience? Will this work? Any ideas for a cheaper solution? I don't mind the workaround - it's fun so far...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you buy a verizon branded TP2? Just curious, since I'm dealing with my own issue with verizon.
@cdmccul - I'll definitely share the results once I'm done. Got a Verizon Phone already for the cloning process... just need to figure the cloning out now. Thanks for the offer though!
@SaltyDawg - thanks for the hint. I won't go with PagePlus though since they charge you $1.20/MB for data and that's all I'm interested in for my future TP2 plan...
MadM3rlin said:
Did you buy a verizon branded TP2? Just curious, since I'm dealing with my own issue with verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did.
bizzled said:
@cdmccul - I'll definitely share the results once I'm done. Got a Verizon Phone already for the cloning process... just need to figure the cloning out now. Thanks for the offer though!
@SaltyDawg - thanks for the hint. I won't go with PagePlus though since they charge you $1.20/MB for data and that's all I'm interested in for my future TP2 plan...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$1.20 per MB? That's only if you take the standard plan.
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/Plans/Talk n Text 1200.aspx
That says you get 1200 minutes, 1200 text messages, and 50 MB of data for $29.99 per month (which is the same as the $1.00 per day that you were talking about on Verizon). And data is billed at .60 per MB if you go over the 50 MB.
I looked at PagePlus, but the web site wasn't working well for me, and it appears as though they won't get me a phone number near where I need one. Doesn't mean I won't try a different area code, but for now, if I can get Verizon to work, that would be 'better.
However, Verizon doesn't have any LOCAL numbers to exactly where I am. The closest town to where I am moving to is considered long distance to where I will be living.
cdmccul said:
I looked at PagePlus, but the web site wasn't working well for me, and it appears as though they won't get me a phone number near where I need one. Doesn't mean I won't try a different area code, but for now, if I can get Verizon to work, that would be 'better.
However, Verizon doesn't have any LOCAL numbers to exactly where I am. The closest town to where I am moving to is considered long distance to where I will be living.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just port your number in. Keep your existing number. If you don't have an existing number, buy a cheap prepaid phone and then port that number.
SaltyDawg said:
Just port your number in. Keep your existing number. If you don't have an existing number, buy a cheap prepaid phone and then port that number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to see if I can find any - the town I'm moving to isn't THAT small, but I haven't found any local cell numbers. I'll have to do more research, there's got to be somebody... That or I'll try to do something with the GoogleVoice thingy I read about a while ago.
Well if push comes to shove, you can port landline numbers too. So you could sign up for a landline from whoever the local phone company is, and then after a few days port it out to your cell phone.
Hey I am a smartphone user and going off to college next year.. Currently on AT&T and in a family plan with my mom and dad. Our contract "expires" this July as its been two years. Unfortunately I have like one more year b/c my phone got stolen and I had to upgrade. My parents didn't.
Currently our family plan is around $110. ($30 unlimited data, no texting for anyone, cheapest voice plan)
Anyway, they use "dumbphones" and I was wondering, since they can leave AT&T in July.. Is there a way for them to use like MetroPCS and me to stay on AT&T and save some money? I know they have some unlimited voice plans (which is ALL they need)
$10 is not that worth it but if I can use AT&T and my parents use voice-only on another carrier for $20 that would definitely be worth it.
All my parents need is voice unlimited and decent coverage in the North new Jersey / new york area.. A sim-card service would also be ideal (idk if metropcs is, just an example!)
(I know this is a long post, but I have honestly done the research but just cannot find the answer.. I know some of you guys can though!)
--
Alright, if you guys can allow me to get data only and both my parents with unlimited voice for around $90, AWESOME!
However, if it still rounds out to like $100 or $110 (current plan), I might as well stay with AT&T..
If this is the case, what is the "best" dumbphone for AT&T? They don't need a keyboard, no data obviously, need at least 2 days of battery life, and a screen with some decent-sized type so they can see all the letters/numbers. Also would like to pay no more than $50 on eBay or other site.. Don't wanna waste an upgrade for a free phone if I can pay $50
optional: touchscreen. also optional but kinda important is some sort of expandable memory cuz they might listen to some music.
-- Sorry for LONG post but I think the questions are fairly simple if you guys know.. So thanks a lot in advance!!
Anyone have any info? PRetty easy questions if you know
Thankss
Anyone..?
please
Wouldn't their phones be locked to AT&T or are you planning on unlocking them for them?
Hi im currently on tmobile
when i first got my contract in tmobile i got an LG sentio then the next day i got a vibrant from ebay. i did this because i wanted a smarthphone, withouth having to pay for a smarthphone plan. saince i had a crapy phone (LGsentio) and not a smarthphone, i could change my plan options when i wanted, internet, text etc... a year ago i could use my vibrant with Tzones just fine, but thats over hahahahhha. Eany ways im thinking of swithching to ATT, but people keep telling me that i can not do like in tmobile, that even if i bring my own phone, they will still charge my for smartphone plan... let me explain. in tmobile if i get a contract and pick one of the free phones, if after that i buy a diferent phone in this case a smartphone i can still use it with just voice and text plan, its not required to have a smarphone plan sainse im buying the phone by my self.
the question is... if i switch to ATT and get one of the free phones, and after that lets say i but in ebay eany android phone, will they change my voice and data plan by it self to a smartphone plan? or can i use it with the normal plan i pik?
PS: i need it this way cause my job its not steady and when no good income is coming in, i have to take out internet and stuff.
Hi im currently on tmobile
when i first got my contract in tmobile i got an LG sentio then the next day i got a vibrant from ebay. i did this because i wanted a smarthphone, withouth having to pay for a smarthphone plan. saince i had a crapy phone (LGsentio) and not a smarthphone, i could change my plan options when i wanted, internet, text etc... a year ago i could use my vibrant with Tzones just fine, but thats over hahahahhha. Eany ways im thinking of swithching to ATT, but people keep telling me that i can not do like in tmobile, that even if i bring my own phone, they will still charge my for smartphone plan... let me explain. in tmobile if i get a contract and pick one of the free phones, if after that i buy a diferent phone in this case a smartphone i can still use it with just voice and text plan, its not required to have a smarphone plan sainse im buying the phone by my self.
the question is... if i switch to ATT and get one of the free phones, and after that lets say i but in ebay eany android phone, will they change my voice and data plan by it self to a smartphone plan? or can i use it with the normal plan i pik?
PS: i need it this way cause my job its not steady and when no good income is coming in, i have to take out internet and stuff.