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What phones can port to Straight Talk?

I have e-mailed Straight Talk support, and they are completely clueless about their own service. I'm sure you guys know far more.
The coverage in my area is much better with AT&T. There is hardly any T-Mobile coverage. That being said, when shopping for a phone, I need to know which phones I can use. I understand that it has to be GSM. However, when shopping for SIM cards, Straight Talk asks if it the phone is a
Unlocked Phone
AT&T Compatible Phone
T Mobile Compatible Phone
So, can I just buy any GSM phone, and then put a Straight Talk AT&T SIM in it, since that is the coverage I want, or does it have to be an AT&T phone?

You can take any GSM phone and unlock it with an unlock code. I think you can use a locked AT&T phone on ST but if it doesn't work unlock codes are $10 or less anyways...
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gagdude said:
You can take any GSM phone and unlock it with an unlock code. I think you can use a locked AT&T phone on ST but if it doesn't work unlock codes are $10 or less anyways...
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium
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Depends on the phone and how new to the market it is I think Max it can be is like 50$ idk
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Buy on Sprint and later use on TMobile

Will I be able to use the phone on sprint and then when my contract is up use the same phone on T-Mobile?
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slyd0997 said:
Will I be able to use the phone on sprint and then when my contract is up use the same phone on T-Mobile?
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Well, since the one device has all the frequencies we would assume that it could be used interchangeably. However, if you buy it straight from sprint its really up to them (but they should be required to unlock it as long as your account is in good standing).

I'm hoping the playstore just sells one version that will work on all carriers.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

No, since you used the Galaxy Nexus, if you're one Sprint, there's your answer. Verizon sell 'world phones' but it come through them first, with the software approved and ESN allowed to be activated, there will be two versions if they're going to be a CDMA version.
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big gulps huh? said:
Well, since the one device has all the frequencies we would assume that it could be used interchangeably. However, if you buy it straight from sprint its really up to them (but they should be required to unlock it as long as your account is in good standing).
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This is what I am hoping for. My Sprint contract doesn't end until February but my SGS2 is starting to show its age and what can I say...I get impatient.
I am hoping to buy a N5 unlocked and it would be great if I could buy it at launch, do a device swap on my Sprint plan so I can use the newer handset for the last few months of the contract, and then buy a T-Mo prepaid SIM for the $30/mo plan, port my number, and cancel Sprint.
I'm gonna have to keep an eye on things to see how that works out since I don't want to just assume it will work and I end up screwing things up somehow. I mean...I can wait until February if I have to, I'd just rather have the new handset sooner than later if I'm already buying it outright with no subsidy.

Sprint nexus works on att???

I see that bestbuy only carries the nexus 5 for sprint will it work on att??

SuperMiguel said:
I see that bestbuy only carries the nexus 5 for sprint will it work on att??
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Yes

Exact same phone, the one at Best Buy just comes with an $100 SIM card.

This is one of the most appealing features of this phone that has so far gone pretty much unrecognized. You can take this single model and jump to most major and prepaid carriers.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

Directed to the two posters above who say it will work on AT&T - how do you know? Do you have confirmation from someone who bought the phone at Best Buy? The listings on Bestbuy.com both say (Sprint) after the name of the phone.

I have the nexus from Sprint and can personally verify it works with a prepaid att straight talk Sim card. FYI the sprint sold phone does not include the Sim tray key.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Can i just walk into bestbuy and buy one? or i actually need a sprint account?

ronwi2 said:
Directed to the two posters above who say it will work on AT&T - how do you know? Do you have confirmation from someone who bought the phone at Best Buy?
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Yes
SuperMiguel said:
Can i just walk into bestbuy and buy one? or i actually need a sprint account?
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As long as you are paying full price, you should be able to get it without a Sprint account. It will of course depend on whether the sales person you deal with decides to be a jerk or not.

uh60james said:
Exact same phone, the one at Best Buy just comes with an $100 SIM card.
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If we don't want the SIM card can we get $100 off?
haha jk, I bought mine at best buy and was able to get them to match the play store.

ktt4510 said:
I have the nexus from Sprint and can personally verify it works with a prepaid att straight talk Sim card. FYI the sprint sold phone does not include the Sim tray key.
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So you just stick an AT&T SIM card in there and it'll automatically switch to it? Was your phone already activated on the Sprint network? I'm curious since Sprint would tie in with the ESN activation for CDMA. If it's just as simple as putting in an AT&T or Tmobile SIM, then I'm sure getting it!

scoliosis said:
So you just stick an AT&T SIM card in there and it'll automatically switch to it? Was your phone already activated on the Sprint network? I'm curious since Sprint would tie in with the ESN activation for CDMA. If it's just as simple as putting in an AT&T or Tmobile SIM, then I'm sure getting it!
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Yeah it really was that simple. Just put the Sim card in reboot the phone and your good. I had to change a couple settings in the connections menu to go back to sprint but it was relatively painless
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

scoliosis said:
So you just stick an AT&T SIM card in there and it'll automatically switch to it? Was your phone already activated on the Sprint network? I'm curious since Sprint would tie in with the ESN activation for CDMA. If it's just as simple as putting in an AT&T or Tmobile SIM, then I'm sure getting it!
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I bought a Nexus 5 from Best Buy and I'm an AT&T customer. Yes, the phone will automatically connect to AT&T's network. It took a few minutes to convince the BB employee that the phone would work on AT&T. They also insisted it was store policy that they activate every phone they sell, so I had to pay the $30 activation fee.

ktt4510 said:
Yeah it really was that simple. Just put the Sim card in reboot the phone and your good. I had to change a couple settings in the connections menu to go back to sprint but it was relatively painless
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Thanks! If you can detail out the settings you had to change to go back, that would be much appreciated!

I can't remember specifics but I had to change the settings here back to LTE a couple of times. For some reason it wouldn't stick after the first reboot. I can't retest it because my straight talk Sim is not active right now. I can assure you it works relatively easily though.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

ronwi2 said:
Directed to the two posters above who say it will work on AT&T - how do you know? Do you have confirmation from someone who bought the phone at Best Buy? The listings on Bestbuy.com both say (Sprint) after the name of the phone.
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because all N5's sold in North America are the same model, with the same frequencies (D820), the only thing that may have to be changed is the APN.
this is not like other Sprint specific devices like the G2 (LS980) vs the AT&T G2 (D800)
AT&T - D800
GSM 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS 850/1900/2100
LTE 1900(2)/1700(4)/850(5)/700(17)
Sprint - LS980
GSM 850/1900
CDMA 800/850/1900
UMTS 850/1900
LTE 1900(25)/800(26)/2500(41)

brooksyx said:
If we don't want the SIM card can we get $100 off?
haha jk, I bought mine at best buy and was able to get them to match the play store.
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That would have been awesome, I don't understand why everybody charges $100 more unless Google really is taking a hit on each one they sell.
Glad you got them to price match, they wouldn't budge for me. Brought them a few receipts where other people did it, brought them the price printed. They just kept telling me it's not the same phone, got to the point where I was just tired of wasting my time with them and didn't want to wait on the Play Store so I just got it at full price.

uh60james said:
That would have been awesome, I don't understand why everybody charges $100 more unless Google really is taking a hit on each one they sell.
Glad you got them to price match, they wouldn't budge for me. Brought them a few receipts where other people did it, brought them the price printed. They just kept telling me it's not the same phone, got to the point where I was just tired of wasting my time with them and didn't want to wait on the Play Store so I just got it at full price.
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I don't think Google is necessarily taking a hit but I do think they are selling them just slightly above cost. You have to remember that Google isnt a electronic sales company like Apple, they make all of their profits from there data mining and advertising business. Android is just another medium to collect data and deliver ads. So they could give these away for free and still benefit. However companies like best buy and sprint make their money off of retail sales and cell phone plans. So they are trying to maximize profits that way.
Anyways bummer that they didn't match for you. I guess I just got luck. I walked in not feeling to confident with my play store ad. They were cool but hesitant. After the guy asked his manager he said that they normally wouldn't match the play store but were will to make an exception.

I am in the same boat but for T Mobile. Anyone know if this phone will work for T Mobile as well? I would believe so but I want to make especially if BB is going to charge me an activation fee.

[Q] Bad ESN?

Friend couldn't pay his bill on Verizon and is looking to sell off his RAZR maxx HD as a result. Branded ESN due to lack of payment. I'm interested in buying it off him but only if I'm able to activate it. I was wondering if anyone knew of a safe and LEGAL way of clearing/fixing the branded ESN.
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reply
You'd probably have to contact Verizon and or Motorola

it is all up to VZ, it has nothing to do with Rola:laugh:
HtcOneVprimoc said:
You'd probably have to contact Verizon and or Motorola
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UN5EEN said:
Friend couldn't pay his bill on Verizon and is looking to sell off his RAZR maxx HD as a result. Branded ESN due to lack of payment. I'm interested in buying it off him but only if I'm able to activate it. I was wondering if anyone knew of a safe and LEGAL way of clearing/fixing the branded ESN.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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If you want to get the devices release. Your going to have to do a couple of things.
If services is suspended,
1. Your friend need to call them and set up a promise to pay on the bill. You need to set that up to get the devices cut back on to completed a en change. (The promise to pay is going to need a checking account. You can purchase a PayPal Prepaid card and give them the banking information.
2. Once you have the first one completed, then find an older phone or something that you can complete a esn change and that will release the devices.
If the devices is still activate,
1. Call Verizon and tell them you want to do a esn change on that number.
That should do it for you my friend.
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Sprint Nexus 5 Sim

Nexus 5 arrived today and I was pretty excited to activate it until I found out that Sprint sent me the wrong sim card. *Sim cards are now on backorder with Sprint. *Does anybody have one lying around that they would be willing to send me?
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Call around to some local stores. You may end up calling quite a few before you find one.
sent from my HAMMERHEAD neXus

I have one from my Old account that I canceled. I'm on ST now. If you need it PM me.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

The Sprint stores that have them are the ones that repair phones. Only Sprint repair stores have them to give.

jdawg0024 said:
I have one from my Old account that I canceled. I'm on ST now. If you need it PM me.
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Thanks jdawg0024! PM sent. I apologize if you receive two messages from me. Wasn't sure if the first went out so I sent a second. Thanks again!
oaliaso and CRIME INC. I did call all the local Sprint stores and Best Buy locations to no avail. Thanks for the tip though.

Was in the same boat, went to the local corporate store and they gave me a SIM card right away. I would call ahead just in case though, they only seem to keep a few of them in the store and order them as they need them.

I don't have sprint and never will, but I'm just curious. Why is it such a hassle to get a sim card? With any other carrier, I just walk into a store and they hand me one.

oaliaso said:
The Sprint stores that have them are the ones that repair phones. Only Sprint repair stores have them to give.
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How can a service provider sell service without SIM cards? That's like selling a car without the keys to start it. No wonder people are jumping ship on Sprint like crazy.

BirchBarlow said:
How can a service provider sell service without SIM cards? That's like selling a car without the keys to start it. No wonder people are jumping ship on Sprint like crazy.
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Because this is the first phone that Sprint has ever allowed on their network that was bought from another source (google play store) other than themselves. Not to mention they're CDMA / LTE and this is the first experience as a company that they had to deal with people actually getting sim cards to activate / use their phones instead of replacing one they already have.

To expand a touch on lilotimz statement. All Sprint branded devices that require a sim card come with a sim card in the box from the factory. The N5 is the first non-Sprint branded device most stores will encounter.

aooga said:
I don't have sprint and never will, but I'm just curious. Why is it such a hassle to get a sim card? With any other carrier, I just walk into a store and they hand me one.
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Cause they are terrible, I used to work for them. Hell, I even carried a T-Mobile phone because service was so bad... From dialup 3g, to spotty lte that's slower than Tmobile hspa, to dropped calls.
And Sims, every store were dicks about those. Even if they had any, they wouldn't give them out unless they were making money, was insane! Basically, corporate didn't send many of those and very few phones need them. So, they save them for activations... If a customer needs them, nope, upgrade... Nope.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

air2k57 said:
Cause they are terrible, I used to work for them. Hell, I even carried a T-Mobile phone because service was so bad... From dialup 3g, to spotty lte that's slower than Tmobile hspa, to dropped calls.
And Sims, every store were dicks about those. Even if they had any, they wouldn't give them out unless they were making money, was insane! Basically, corporate didn't send many of those and very few phones need them. So, they save them for activations... If a customer needs them, nope, upgrade... Nope.
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Just another reason to not switch to sprint.

You can use gs4 SIM and iphone 5 SIM according to Sprint