So, I am looking to find a good, but reasonably priced android phone for my sister before she goes overseas.. T-mobile USA has the galaxy s 2 for free today... Could she get it, pay a months service, then pay the 200 dollar etf and keep the phone? I couldn't find anything that says otherwise.
Yes you could, that is what the ETF is for, however it will probably be much higher than 200, more like 375 ish. You would also have to wait until 31 or 32 days into the contract. 31 or 30 days or less and you can return for phone without paying an ETF (I would expect them to pressure you to do this instead of paying the ETF however after that initial month you are good)
The ETF will slowly go down as you progress through the contract. You will also need to get the phone unlocked, and since T-Mobile doesn't use standard 3G Bands you will only receive 2G speeds for internet I think almost everywhere else in the world. (don't exactly quote me on that, i'm not positive whether or not there are more companies who use the non-standard bands in other parts of the world)
You may be better off buying a used AT&T Galaxy S 2 and using it. (AT&T samsung codes are also cheaper than T-Mobile Samsung codes to unlock the phones.
[FONT="]Please use the Q&A Forum for questions & [/FONT]
[FONT="]Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting [/FONT]
[FONT="]Thanks [/FONT][FONT="]✟[/FONT]
[FONT="]Moving to Q&A[/FONT]
lufc said:
[FONT="]Please use the Q&A Forum for questions & [/FONT]
[FONT="]Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting [/FONT]
[FONT="]Thanks [/FONT][FONT="]✟[/FONT]
[FONT="]Moving to Q&A[/FONT]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about that!
Reading through the t-mobile terms, their initial etf seems to be 200 for all devices. And it seems that the returns period is 14 days. Also, the t-mobile galaxy s II (sgh-t989) seems to have a radio capable with all the umts bands, while att's is only compatible with their umts bands. I was just wondering if they'd have some crazy subsidy rule for advanced devices.
bigraymeehan said:
You may be better off buying a used AT&T Galaxy S 2 and using it. (AT&T samsung codes are also cheaper than T-Mobile Samsung codes to unlock the phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to buy anything. Its free. But if u wanna pay be my guest.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.sgs2simunlockcode
Related
I started a 2 year plan with T-mobile in September, not ever considering going to school in Canada, but now that is the prospect that I'm facing.
The biggest problem is that I'm still going to need a phone here in the states for breaks, so I can't just get a new Canadian plan. The reason I have posted this in the XDA forums is cause I have a rooted G2 + google voice. I know the chances are slim, but is there anything I can do with these two things that could help me not lose either a ton of money on cancelling a plan early, or lose the phone that I have paid $250 for?
Thanks for any help.
Maybe you can sell the phone with the contract to somebody else and just get a new one?
by law plans are pro-rated so if you have a 2 year plan and you are 1 year into it the penalty is 50% of the early termination fee. So look at the fine print the cost may not be as bad as you think.
What about the phone, since it is unlocked, would it work if i got like a prepaid plan in canada?
It should have the GSM bands that Canada operates on, so yes, but that's edge speeds only. I don't know which 3g bands the G2 has or what canada's 3g operates on, so look into that to see if you can get speeds above edge.
You should cancel your plan & for the states use prepaid t-mobile (or whatever) phone should still work. Just make sure you get tmobile to unlock it for you
I am planning on purchasing wither the SGSII or SCII, as my first smartphone.
Right now, I have a very old, at least 7 year old, flip phone. The backlight doesn't work any more, so its a bit difficult to read text, the mic is going, so people can't hear me too well. But since I hardly use it anyway, I can wait. I also don't have a plan, I go prepaid and that works fine. I spend 100$ on my phone yearly, and I never go through it all (less than 10$ a month), so that is why I am also not going to get a plan, as paying 4x that a month for the same use is not worth it. Plus, I have wireless ever where, so a data plan may not be needed, but Ill see after a while, and get it if I need it.
I know the SGSII is out right now, but its with bell, not that it matters though. The captivate will probably be out in a month.
The SGSII is 4G, and the SCII is LTE I believe. A sales rep told me (and yea, I was just reading another forum that says to not take their advice too much) that 4G is really 3G, the standards for 4G dropped, and phones with 3G were marked as 4G. Then LTE is the "Real" 4G network, which should be faster than an SGSII. However, I don't really know about phones too well, and I wouldn't know if the 4G and LTE will make a big difference. Plus, if it is mainly through downloading, id do all my downloading at a wireless location since I don't have a plan anyway.
I'm with rogers right now, so I would have to unlock the SGSII from bell, but it shouldn't be too hard, the people here know what they are doing. I would be buying the phone outright, since I don't have the plan.
Thanks,
~404
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
So towards the end of June I was planning on leaving Sprint and heading over to At&t with the girlfriend. I had a plan with my brother to swap lines, his being off contract, allowing him to continue using my GSII and having me leave Sprint without any ETF worry. However now it seems that my brother is backing out of the whole idea which is leaving me at a whopping $300 ETF that doesn’t look too pretty.
I figure by selling the SII I am still looking at a big chunk just to get out of Sprint and buying a new phone until I realized something. I noticed that the difference between smartphones and basic phones half the ETF fee, $150 in my case. So what if I were to downgrade my plan with a basic phone, pay the ETF, sell the SII for around $200, and have some left over to put into the new phone. It all just seems too good to be true and I might just be overlooking something just in the thought of a somewhat loophole but what do you guys think? Could it be that easy? Should I read the terms and conditions instead of writing a thread out of shear excitement?
What do you think?
Generally speaking, it is much harder to downgrade than it is to upgrade. When you entered the contract for the smartphone you agreed to pay for service for a full two years in return for a subsidized phone. Legally they can (and odds are they will) tell you to either keep the phone & plan or pay the etf.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Thanks ✟
Moving to Q&A
If your rooted get roam control.
They will drop you after a while.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
I've looked everywhere for a Note 10.1 and can only find it on Amazon for $600+. Is this the only place to buy it? Why isn't this available in Best Buy, Wal Mart, ATT Stores etc?
I'd really like to pick one up by the end of the year.....
LuckyStrike88 said:
I've looked everywhere for a Note 10.1 and can only find it on Amazon for $600+. Is this the only place to buy it? Why isn't this available in Best Buy, Wal Mart, ATT Stores etc?
I'd really like to pick one up by the end of the year.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no LTE version of the galaxy note 10.1, just 3g (the 8020--an LTE version doesn't seem to be shipping to retailers anywhere). You can buy the 3g galaxy note 10.1 from other vendors, including Sams Stores; however, most are higher than Amazon's price--expect to pay $625-$629 USD. (Right now, Negri Electronics has the unlocked 3g version available for $595 USD, I'm not sure how long that price will be valid, Negri is usually higher. http://negrielectronics.com/samsung...l?gclid=CI_s68298rMCFQmCQgodYWoAkw#.ULZxSqL-u ) If you really want LTE, look at the galaxy note 2, but expect to pay about the same price for the off contract version from US carriers (going unlocked international right now limits you to 3g). I'm seriously considering upgrading my existing Android tablet with the WIFI only version of the note 10.1. I'm not doing a lot of traveling right now and LTE isn't available in my area. Should I do more traveling next year to LTE areas, I'll get a prepaid MIFI to get LTE to supplement Internet access when WIF hotspots aren't available. I use VOIP on both my tablet and smartphone via WIFI and am happy with it, but then I've used VOIP at home exclusively for the past 8 years.
LuckyStrike88 said:
I've looked everywhere for a Note 10.1 and can only find it on Amazon for $600+. Is this the only place to buy it? Why isn't this available in Best Buy, Wal Mart, ATT Stores etc?
I'd really like to pick one up by the end of the year.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There will never be an N8000 sold in the U.S.; Samsung doesn't sell (or allow to be sold) any unlocked devices. So anywhere you get it it's going to be imported. An LTE Note passed the FCC a while ago with AT&T's bands so I'd expect them to offer it shortly; maybe in the beginning of the year. And any Note you will import is going to be HSPA+ 21MB which is 3G, not 4G. And if you find a N8020 it's highly unlikely it's LTE bands will be compatible with the U.S. carriers.
verizon gnote 10.1 with LTE is coming soon (allegedly). Google "sch-i925"
I'm not sure if this is bogus news....but anyone hear anything else about this mythical device?
There is LTE version of Note it has been launched in South Korea recently with JB as default and it also supports voice calling. It should launch in US soon as that will be the key market for the LTE version. The only reason Samsung delays its products in US is because of Apple Patent law suits
biswasd said:
verizon gnote 10.1 with LTE is coming soon (allegedly). Google "sch-i925"
I'm not sure if this is bogus news....but anyone hear anything else about this mythical device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I made a parenthetical reference to it in my post above. It's the 8020. It's been trotted out for press views but I couldn't find any references to it being stocked anywhere yet, even Korea. Given the non-uniform LTE standards stateside, you'll probably only be able to get this via a carrier. I would expect the off contract price to be slightly higher than the off contract price for the Note 2. I wouldn't expect to see the 8020 showing up at any US carriers until late in the 1st quarter of 2013 or possibly not even until the 2nd quarter.
I might get the att version if it ever comes out. 600 + for this tablet and 3g is just crazy .
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Sorry, I forgot my audience, I mean 3g not LTE which of course is true 4g. (I'm used to talking with people who don't understand)
Kind of depressing though, I can go to any electronics store and buy and iPad, yet a 3g Note 10.1 is next to impossible. And they wonder why android hasn't shaken up the tablet market? I don't want to buy this device if in 3 months I can get it through ATT by that point it there will be something newer...... I don't understand this business model.
So my next question would be is are there any high end android tablets I can get through ATT? Locally it is just the Galaxy Tab 2 which isn't really what I'm looking for. Also I would like to be able to make calls from the device if possible, but this is not mandatory.
Thanks.
LuckyStrike88 said:
Sorry, I forgot my audience, I mean 3g not LTE which of course is true 4g. (I'm used to talking with people who don't understand)
Kind of depressing though, I can go to any electronics store and buy and iPad, yet a 3g Note 10.1 is next to impossible. And they wonder why android hasn't shaken up the tablet market? I don't want to buy this device if in 3 months I can get it through ATT by that point it there will be something newer...... I don't understand this business model.
So my next question would be is are there any high end android tablets I can get through ATT? Locally it is just the Galaxy Tab 2 which isn't really what I'm looking for. Also I would like to be able to make calls from the device if possible, but this is not mandatory.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see a new LTE tablet coming out at the same time as the inevitable upgrade to the Note 10.1. There will probably be several months delay again in getting LTE tablets out because Samsung will need to work with individual carriers on LTE versions (same will be true of Europe as it rolls out LTE to more regions). If you live in an area with a Sams Store and have a membership or know someone who has a membership, check them out. They carry unlocked GSM phones and tablets. They have the Samsung P7320 (Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G LTE) as well as the 3G Note 10.1. I can't say how many stores have all items in stock. The problem with LTE in the US, as usual, is fragmented standards. This means that most LTE devices are only available through a carrier unless you're diligent and shop around online (NegriElectronics and Ebay are sources that occasionally have unlocked LTE devices that run on specific US carriers' LTE networks). You pay through the nose buying an on contract device locked to a fairly expensive monthly data plan that is added on top of a minimum of minutes for voice calls and texting. When you add up the cost of monthly fees over a 2-year minimum period plus the subsidized cost of a device, it's generally much, much more expensive than buying an unlocked, off contract device and then buying a prepaid service like Straight Talk (you can get an AT&T SIM or T-Mobile SIM, depending on which service is best in your area) https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans. There are also MVNOs for CDMA carriers Verizon and Sprint that have better prepaid monthly plans. Just take your time and do some research. If you're willing to carry a table rather than a phlablet, another option is getting a prepaid LTE MIFI device, which will be pretty small. Heck, if you have an LTE cellphone, check to see if you can use it as a hotspot.
mke1973 said:
I don't see a new LTE tablet coming out at the same time as the inevitable upgrade to the Note 10.1. There will probably be several months delay again in getting LTE tablets out because Samsung will need to work with individual carriers on LTE versions (same will be true of Europe as it rolls out LTE to more regions). If you live in an area with a Sams Store and have a membership or know someone who has a membership, check them out. They carry unlocked GSM phones and tablets. They have the Samsung P7320 (Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G LTE) as well as the 3G Note 10.1. I can't say how many stores have all items in stock. The problem with LTE in the US, as usual, is fragmented standards. This means that most LTE devices are only available through a carrier unless you're diligent and shop around online (NegriElectronics and Ebay are sources that occasionally have unlocked LTE devices that run on specific US carriers' LTE networks). You pay through the nose buying an on contract device locked to a fairly expensive monthly data plan that is added on top of a minimum of minutes for voice calls and texting. When you add up the cost of monthly fees over a 2-year minimum period plus the subsidized cost of a device, it's generally much, much more expensive than buying an unlocked, off contract device and then buying a prepaid service like Straight Talk (you can get an AT&T SIM or T-Mobile SIM, depending on which service is best in your area) https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans. There are also MVNOs for CDMA carriers Verizon and Sprint that have better prepaid monthly plans. Just take your time and do some research. If you're willing to carry a table rather than a phlablet, another option is getting a prepaid LTE MIFI device, which will be pretty small. Heck, if you have an LTE cellphone, check to see if you can use it as a hotspot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tether with my Note, but I'm planning on using this as a headunit in my car so I'd like to have Google navigation without having to be tethered constantly, plus according to the guy I know at ATT he says it will be $10 per month for a tablet because at work I'm on a family share plan of 10 lines and we only have 7 now.
I will call a few Sams Clubs I am a member but online they just have the wifi note 10.1 so I wasn't sure.
I hope that this isn't against the rules or in the wrong section but I have questions regarding my topic.
I'm a student so I don't have a ton of money. I've been without a phone for a few months now but I am really looking to get service again if its not too expensive. Currently it seems like VM offers the best deal with $35 a month for unlimited data/sms however they do that buy getting one to buy a new phone. $35 seems do-able for me but adding $300 is a bit too much for me.
I used to have a nexus s 4g when I was on sprint and I also have access to a sprint galaxy s2. Is there any way I can get either to work on Virgin?
Thanks a bunch
snowice0 said:
I hope that this isn't against the rules or in the wrong section but I have questions regarding my topic.
I'm a student so I don't have a ton of money. I've been without a phone for a few months now but I am really looking to get service again if its not too expensive. Currently it seems like VM offers the best deal with $35 a month for unlimited data/sms however they do that buy getting one to buy a new phone. $35 seems do-able for me but adding $300 is a bit too much for me.
I used to have a nexus s 4g when I was on sprint and I also have access to a sprint galaxy s2. Is there any way I can get either to work on Virgin?
Thanks a bunch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have the galaxy S2, then yes you could use it on VM. You would probably have to make sure that it is unlocked. To get it unlocked you can pay someone or look up a website that offers the service because carriers tend to lock the device specifically for the carrier. Either way you shouldn't pay more that 50$ to unlock it and move your S2 over to VM.
thanks; unlocking it shouldn't be an issue so I'll see how things turn out.
I hope VM is down with it on their end though