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So, I excitedly purchased a Nexus S 4g off eBay the other day thinking, hey it's a CDMA phone it might work on the Verizon network. Now I'm not so sure. I'd even be willing to use the Sprint network but those guys just told me Sprint has no sims and the only option is to open a 2 year contract agreement to use that phone. Sounds a little crazy to me. I'm not willing or able to do that at this time.
I need a no-contract phone carrier for the Nexus S 4g. Are there any no-contract carriers in the USA that will provide service?
My wife uses her Nexus S 4G on Metro PCS.. there is probably a guide to alternative carriers on here if you look around. She only gets 3g on it but for phone and text its perfect.
Sent from my JellyBeaned Epic 4G
TONYSALEM78 said:
My wife uses her Nexus S 4G on Metro PCS.. there is probably a guide to alternative carriers on here if you look around. She only gets 3g on it but for phone and text its perfect.
Sent from my JellyBeaned Epic 4G
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Hi thanks for your reply. If I remember correctly the phone you mention would be a GSM variety. I have a CDMA version. My phone's spec name is Nexus S 4G SPH D720.
Found some good info here....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers
So just to get 3g I'd need to match up a carrier that supports CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, then a compatible sim, then assuming they allow a sim swap if I have to buy one of their phones unless they have a sim program like Smart Talk.
UNLESS... and this is the real reason I posted this on XDA, I can get some information on how to flash my phone to one of these carriers. I'm now looking hard at Cricket Wireless. They're pretty good in my neighborhood. I know I can pay somebody to do the flash but where would the fun be in that even if I could afford it lol.
So any info on how to flash the phone, correct the settings or whatever else I need to do to get this phone Cricket ready is appreciated!
I'm looking into net10 now. They have a SIM program and support 3g.
My wifes phone is the same.(I think) It was a sprint phone originally. Anyhow, I was in my local metro dealer the other day and he showed me some sim cards as they are about to start using them in September for the bring your own phone program. So if you have a sim slot, that is a possible option for ya! Good luck and keep us posted what you decide,so others know their options as well.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
TONYSALEM78 said:
My wifes phone is the same.(I think) It was a sprint phone originally. Anyhow, I was in my local metro dealer the other day and he showed me some sim cards as they are about to start using them in September for the bring your own phone program. So if you have a sim slot, that is a possible option for ya! Good luck and keep us posted what you decide,so others know their options as well.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
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There's no SIM card in this phone. It arrived today. They used an embedded SIM from what I understand. Although I've used Metro PCS in the past it isn't even available in my area if my phone had a SIM. I do appreciate your responses as it appears this device is not getting much love anymore. Funny thing, the phone state is still in service although Sprint has closed usage. So I get a signal and all and have discovered the Sprint network is weak in my area. Specifically my home is a dead zone practically. Back to the drawing board. Be nice if I could switch out the radio I guess. Not sure I wanna undertake all that. Seems a shame as this is still a nice device running Jellybean as well.
You can use sprint or any derivative, ie boost or possibly virgin. No sim, but the phone can be flashed to work on boost. Pretty sure of that. It will never work on anything but sprint guaranteed.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 11:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 AM ----------
This might help. Different phone but good information. Still might work the same. Forgot about ting! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2060085
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app
My opinion is buy gsm unlocked ns and your options are endless and I believe gsm has more development as well. Sell the ns4g to pay some of the difference. Gsm are almost always slightly more expensive than gsm but this Phone is 3 years old so it really shouldn't be a problem finding one for less than $100
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
You could check out ting.
Thanks for the link. I'm gonna look into flashing this phone to Verizon today.
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
Yeah good idea. i had very limited funds the other day while looking for a device and came across the sprint phone cheap. i figured the gsm phones would be just out of my pocket money's reach.
I might end up selling it off and getting a gsm version in the future. in the meantime i went and bought aSamsung illusion running on Verizon network. this phone is very similar to the Nexus phone. Smaller than the "s". Now that Im contracted with Verizon (prepaid) I'll see if i can move the sprint phone over via flashing it. Stay tuned!
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
jumico said:
You could check out ting.
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Click to collapse
I heard of ting while researching possibilities. Don't quite remember what that was all about. thanks. will check it out.
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
KEB64 said:
I heard of ting while researching possibilities. Don't quite remember what that was all about. thanks. will check it out.
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
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Ting runs off Sprint towers. You can use any previous Sprint contract phone that Ting has on their eligibility list. Just go to their web site and enter your phone's ESN/MEID to check for eligibility.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
michaelandrew said:
Ting runs off Sprint towers. You can use any previous Sprint contract phone that Ting has on their eligibility list. Just go to their web site and enter your phone's ESN/MEID to check for eligibility.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Good to know thank you. I ended up signing with Sprint and getting an EVO 4g LTE. I did have the nexus running on Sprint for a few days whil I made my decision.
Earlier this week, I went to AT&T to get a new micro sim for my Nexus 5. It works fine on HSPA+. However, I never see it go to LTE. Using the speedtest app, my d/l speeds max out at 2.5Mbps.
I am in an LTE coverage area. I stood right next to a couple of my co-workers with a Moto X and iphone 5. Both of their phones say LTE.
I called 611 (AT&T customer service) to make sure I had LTE coverage. According to their system, both my phone and plan say LTE.
Am I missing anything? Do I need to do anything (play with any settings) to make LTE go on?
Help...
Is it set to LTE and CDMA/GSM?
LTE is selected
Interesting I'm getting mine today and will be using AT&T I'll let you know if I have the same problem
Very weak LTE for me too. I'm a little disappointed in that, but I'm getting 5-8Mbps down with HSPA+
My LTE works fine on AT&T, I've ran some tests and seen 30Mbps
is your account provisioned for LTE?
htcvividnoob said:
My LTE works fine on AT&T, I've ran some tests and seen 30Mbps
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Click to collapse
Same here
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I'm getting LTE with no problem. I'm getting about 20 down and 12 up. The only so far I don't like is the speaker volume. It may be YouTube, but it's horrible.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
mine is correctly provisioned, and i do see LTE, but it's very weak for me where friends with a Moto X and iPhone 5 see full LTE coverage.
My Nexus 4 on T-Mobile would stay on LTE all day, but my Nexus 5 gets off LTE and goes back to HSPA+ when it drops to 2 bars or less. I am very aggravated. I can get it on LTE if I show it that there is LTE around by going to the secret dialer menu and enabling LTE only, but it is like it doesn't want to get on LTE unless it is 4-5 bars.
I need to see how my wife's Nexus 5 operates and I may end up RMAing mine.
I have yet to see my Nexus 5 on LTE (AT&T), i'm coming from an HTC One and that has connected to LTE without issues, not sure what the issue is, if AT&T is blocking it because its an 'unknown device' or what, has anybody discovered anything new on this?
cbcharlie said:
I have yet to see my Nexus 5 on LTE (AT&T), i'm coming from an HTC One and that has connected to LTE without issues, not sure what the issue is, if AT&T is blocking it because its an 'unknown device' or what, has anybody discovered anything new on this?
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Works great on AT&T's LTE network on the n5, SIM originally from a Lumia 920 also LTE.
No problem here with SIM out of S3. I did notice that he automatically changed my APN's. It only pulled ATT Phone and ATT WAP. Its set to Phone. I am roughly same speed as s3
Showme1 said:
No problem here with SIM out of S3. I did notice that he automatically changed my APN's. It only pulled ATT Phone and ATT WAP. Its set to Phone. I am roughly same speed as s3
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Click to collapse
I'm using a new micro sim since I was previously using a galaxy nexus. I'm thinking that it might be an apn setting issue. If there any way you (or someone else) could list their apn settings? A screenshot would be great.. Thanks in advance.
Works fine for me using the stock APN
I walked in my AT&T store, handed my Nexus 5 still in the box to a tech, she unboxed it, put in a sim booted it up, download SpeedTest app and with a LTE tower right next to the store these were the numbers I got.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Artexman said:
I walked in my AT&T store, handed my Nexus 5 still in the box to a tech, she unboxed it, put in a sim booted it up, download SpeedTest app and with a LTE tower right next to the store these were the numbers I got.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly the same experience. walked in today with my N5, handed it to the tech, transferred my # (coming from VZW), activated a new sim, put it in and off i went into LTE land. no issues at all
I've had the same issue since I got my Nexus 5 last Monday. Went to store, she put in LTE sim. Mine only show H. That's it just "H". Called at&t several times. They tried different settings on the phone. Suppose to send me another sims card in the mail. Also, said they "escalated" my case to a specialist. I should have it resolved by Nov. 11th.
I just simply pop in my sim from my s4
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I'm new to the prepaid game. I just ordered my nexus 5.
Now I want to get straight talk because I hear its att or Verizon towers?..
Anyway.. Is there a special sim or settings I will need to order or can I get it from Walmart?
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 2
Your Nexus 5 can't connect to Verizon, but no worries. StraightTalk can connect to either AT&T or T-Mobile depending on which sim card you choose. Make sure you check coverage to see which suits you best.
The Nexus 5 takes a Micro sim card.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
imablackhat said:
I'm new to the prepaid game. I just ordered my nexus 5.
Now I want to get straight talk because I hear its att or Verizon towers?..
Anyway.. Is there a special sim or settings I will need to order or can I get it from Walmart?
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just activated my Nexus 5 with straight talk over the weekend. I got a BYOP kit from Walmart, which has 4 SIM cards: 2 regular SIM (for AT&T and T-mobile towers) and 2 micro SIM (AT&T and T-mobile). You need the pick the micro SIM of the service provider that you want to use.
To activate, just go the straight talk website. The kit has $45 1 month unlimited talk, text and data card with a service PIN. You would need to enter the serial number of the SIM and the service PIN to activate the service. You can choose to get a new number or port an existing number. I ported mine from Verizon and it took only a few hours.
You would also need to enter the APN settings from the straight talk website. There is a flashable zip here in the forums that can help automate the process or you can enter them manually. After you enter the APN settings, LTE should be functional. You may need to reboot the phone.
My Nexus 5 works perfectly with straight talk with AT&T as the service provider.
Any speed test? Also the zip can you post link?
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 2
And what's better to get T-Mobile or att? In my area I know att is better. (ma). But that's full. Not prepaid and through straight
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 2
The thread for the APN is on the Nexus 5 development forum.
[APN] Straight Talk All, AIO Wireless Flashable & (for Devs) Sprint Full Data Fix
imablackhat said:
And what's better to get T-Mobile or att? In my area I know att is better. (ma). But that's full. Not prepaid and through straight
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the beauty of prepaid try out one if your not satisfied try out the other.
Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk
One big issue with Straight Talk
Not sure why nobody else is mentioning it in the forums but I just discovered that Straight Talk severely limits video streaming on LTE or 4G. Trying to watch a video on Youtube is pretty useless since it will keep stopping every 3-4 seconds to buffer and will never pre-load any of the video. But if you switch your phone to 3G, Youtube works like normal. I can't deal with this problem so I'm dropping Straight Talk very soon.
I have Straight Talk with a T Mobile SIM in my Nexus 5 and I am getting awesome LTE coverage, although my friend has the exact same setup and is only getting H data and not LTE. We are both using the same APN settings, and the only difference that I can think of is that I bought my SIM card more recently. I didn't think that the T Mobile SIMs on Straight Talk supported LTE, but I am definitely getting it and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same. If you are getting LTE, what are your APN settings?
jab0321 said:
I have Straight Talk with a T Mobile SIM in my Nexus 5 and I am getting awesome LTE coverage, although my friend has the exact same setup and is only getting H data and not LTE. We are both using the same APN settings, and the only difference that I can think of is that I bought my SIM card more recently. I didn't think that the T Mobile SIMs on Straight Talk supported LTE, but I am definitely getting it and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same. If you are getting LTE, what are your APN settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought ATT was the only one you could get LTE through on Straight talk, Tmobile is the 4G speeds but HSPA+.
ketjr81 said:
I thought ATT was the only one you could get LTE through on Straight talk, Tmobile is the 4G speeds but HSPA+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought, but I am definitely on Straight Talk with a T Mobile sim and am getting LTE data. Not just in my area either, since I recently took a trip and had LTE coverage in many major cities.
I can confirm that the new ST T-Mobile SIM cards support LTE. Received my new SIM one week ago and have been enjoying LTE speeds for the past week. Interestingly, the color of the SIM card was hot pink as opposed to the light pink T-Mobile SIM I used to have.
m0nk89 said:
I can confirm that the new ST T-Mobile SIM cards support LTE. Received my new SIM one week ago and have been enjoying LTE speeds for the past week. Interestingly, the color of the SIM card was hot pink as opposed to the light pink T-Mobile SIM I used to have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right on, will have to tell my friend to order a new Sim then!
m0nk89 said:
I can confirm that the new ST T-Mobile SIM cards support LTE. Received my new SIM one week ago and have been enjoying LTE speeds for the past week. Interestingly, the color of the SIM card was hot pink as opposed to the light pink T-Mobile SIM I used to have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I tried to contact useless Straight Talk support regarding this question. They didn't seem to understand it, sent me the at&t APN settings, when I called them on it, they sent me the non-smartphone APN settings. They said that yes, t-mobile does support LTE, not just H+ (but I didn't actually trust them to understand the question), however said nothing about needing a new sim card. I have the light pink sim right now.
However I'm still not entirely convinced. Here's a picture on ebay of what I assume is the new hot pink sim:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Straight-Talk-Micro-SIM-Card-T-Mobile-Network-/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/b7gAAOxy3zNSlQHw/$_57.JPG
You can see clearly on the card that it admits "4g" is HSPA+, not LTE. I'm also suspicious because T-Mobile has a different APN setting for LTE, while Straight Talk does not. Has anyone checked the "Mobile Network Type" in settings to verify that you really truly are getting LTE? Could the hot pink be because it's in micro sim size? The at&t cards have a similar color scheme (light blue for full sized sim, dark blue for micro), and I think offering the Micro Sim size for t-mobile is new, but the internals of the sim may not be.
Can someone post a speedtest speeds result of their "LTE" speeds? My H+ speeds are very fast, so I don't know if there'll be much difference..
T-Mobile sucks where I'm from. New England so I got the at&t Sim
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
imablackhat said:
T-Mobile sucks where I'm from. New England so I got the at&t Sim
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Wow, incredibly helpful comment.
Going to order a T-Mobile sim and see if I can get LTE. Hoping i can use straight talk with LTE vs the $60 T-Mobile plan. Tried the $30 T-Mobile plan but need more than 100 minutes and VoIP isn't cutting it
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
edd247 said:
Going to order a T-Mobile sim and see if I can get LTE. Hoping i can use straight talk with LTE vs the $60 T-Mobile plan. Tried the $30 T-Mobile plan but need more than 100 minutes and VoIP isn't cutting it
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please update us. From what I can understand it seems like they're only advertising "4g" as the H+ speeds.
XDAcat62 said:
Please update us. From what I can understand it seems like they're only advertising "4g" as the H+ speeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got the T-Mobile sim yesterday and can confirm that LTE is working on straight talk. I'm getting great speeds too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
edd247 said:
Just got the T-Mobile sim yesterday and can confirm that LTE is working on straight talk. I'm getting great speeds too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is great to see. I actually email support and their replies were so generic that it didn't answer my question.
So best place to get SIM card to insure i get LTE for tmobile?
thank you,
-D
bucd said:
This is great to see. I actually email support and their replies were so generic that it didn't answer my question.
So best place to get SIM card to insure i get LTE for tmobile?
thank you,
-D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ordered mine directly from the straight talk website but I think you can order one from Walmart
Just curious if anyone here has been cutoff by straight talk. I read the small print, and you are only unlimited on their web space. So technically they can cut you off if you use too much data.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Its unlimited 2.5gb LTE. Then they throttle you down.. Maybe if you blew threw all your 2.5gb in five minutes by downloading a torrented movie they'd shut you off. All your data in less then a day.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
edd247 said:
I ordered mine directly from the straight talk website but I think you can order one from Walmart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok cool. So as long as i order it from straight talk, i should get the LTE card? I need to order two and wanted to make sure before i do it.
Currently have the older card and i'm not getting LTE on TMobile. After reading through this thead, sounds like the newer cards will do it.
thank you,
-D
bucd said:
Ok cool. So as long as i order it from straight talk, i should get the LTE card? I need to order two and wanted to make sure before i do it.
Currently have the older card and i'm not getting LTE on TMobile. After reading through this thead, sounds like the newer cards will do it.
thank you,
-D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah if you order it from them you should get the newest sim cards.
edd247 said:
Just got the T-Mobile sim yesterday and can confirm that LTE is working on straight talk. I'm getting great speeds too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download/install LTE settings app. Run your test and look at the app. You can see this in your settings about phone status as well. What does it say you're connecting at?
---------- Post added at 06:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------
Zandeer said:
Just curious if anyone here has been cutoff by straight talk. I read the small print, and you are only unlimited on their web space. So technically they can cut you off if you use too much data.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my personal experience, I can confirm you get throttled/data cut off on ST-AT&T sims.. It happen to me, but has never happen to me on a ST-Tmobile sim.
BUT YMMV...
clockcycle said:
Download/install LTE settings app. Run your test and look at the app. You can see this in your settings about phone status as well. What does it say you're connecting at?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is what I get
edd247 said:
Here is what I get
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks promising, you must be in a test area.
First let me start this post by explaining my situation.....
I am on my parents AT&T family plan as a $10 add on dumb phone. Previously I have been using other networks (T-Mobile) smart phones to get around having to pay for a data plan. This has worked for the last several years but I have just now upgraded to a phone with a micro SIM (Nexus 5 if course).
Now to the real reason I am posting...
Will AT&T give me a micro SIM without a smart phone plan? I'm not quite sure, but I am fairly certain micro SIMs are only in smart phones. So logically they would require a data plan to get a micro SIM. I have already cut my regular sized SIM to fit, but I botched the cut a little and while it works I'm afraid it may end up falling into if the tray and getting stuck inside the phone.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I wouldn't worry about it falling into the phone. The tray should keep it where it should be. But you can always go to the at&t store and ask. Just don't give them your name and number until you know they won't charge you. Otherwise you could ask for a new Sim card and try the cut again.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Since AT&T doesn't have a full IMEI listing of Google's Nexus 5 in their databases, it' unlikely that they care or would bother to check - you just won't have access to mobile data - roaming or "home" since the account or line isn't provisioned for it - I used to have a line on Gophone but now keeping one on T-Mo's PAYG only, and, T-Mo doesn't recognize or "identify" it as a Nexus 5 under "My Account" - I just get redirected to the Data Plan web page to sign up or switch plan. WiFi on the N5 functioning well & I'm using Talkatone to call out while sitting in the living room.
Can you request a new micro-Sim over the telephone & switch your line to it instead of making a trip to the store, have your "folks" call - if necessary, you can pop the new micro-Sim into an full-size Sim adapater, and get it activated/working on a "non-smart" or dumb phone first. Then, move it to the N5 to use - those of us with multiple GSM unlocked phones do the moving around all the time and AT&T WS really never give me any hassle, you just won't have access to unpaid for Mobile Data, whether it's 4G LTE, 3G/HSPA or + or 2G/Edge, etc. etc.
Or if your current Sim is truly screwed, order a Sim cutter online, bring an old dumb phone to the store and ask for a new regular Sim and then cut it using the Sim cutter they are less than $5 and they are really easy to use. I've cut quite a few without any issues
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
mlopes1988 said:
I wouldn't worry about it falling into the phone. The tray should keep it where it should be. But you can always go to the at&t store and ask. Just don't give them your name and number until you know they won't charge you. Otherwise you could ask for a new Sim card and try the cut again.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sure? When I went I asked about that and he said the nexus 5 imei showed up in the database.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
sluflyer06 said:
You sure? When I went I asked about that and he said the nexus 5 imei showed up in the database.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know personally since I use LTE. But from what I hear the imei doesn't register. I would take anything the store says with a grain of salt. They want to charge you more if they can.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
nexus 4 was detected by at&t
nexus 5 will be as well, especially since it'll be sold by t-mobile (t-mobile phones are detected on at&t, the two carriers probably share IMEI lists)
some people have luck by first adding a data block (no MMS though) on the line while using a dumbphone, then switching SIMs (but you'll need to keep that data block)
I don't think they share lists. I have been using a LG G2X for the last three years without them detecting it. Even when they did detect a smart phone (used a HTC inspire for a while) I just popped my SIM in my old flip phone called them up, gave them imei from the dumb phone and had the data plan dropped.
Sounds like I just need to go to an AT&T store and try my luck. Think I will stick my SIM in my old phone before I go.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
If u don't want to ask for a new Sim just cut your dumb phone full size down to a micro (see YouTube). Whether they change your plan is a gamble based in on the imei. Since they do not sell the n5 like tmo and sprint then chances are it's not on their list as a smart phone.
RubiconJoey said:
I don't think they share lists. I have been using a LG G2X for the last three years without them detecting it. Even when they did detect a smart phone (used a HTC inspire for a while) I just popped my SIM in my old flip phone called them up, gave them imei from the dumb phone and had the data plan dropped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go read this thread. a lot of t-mobile phones are detected... those who aren't are either lucky or didn't get caught in the sweeps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1446373