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Prepaid Plan?

I have a question, because a lot of people here seem to do it. How exactly do you go about getting an international version of a phone(GS3 or HTC One X) and using it with a prepaid plan? Do you just go out and buy cards or what? Also what prepaid plans are worth using and which aren't so hot?

it's a good question, I would like to know it too

There are a few good plans out there. Not sure about the phones you listed as I have the GT-N7000 but Straight Talk is probably on of the best prepaids that I have ran across. Unlimited everything for $45/mo (data is not truely unlimited though read others about it).
You can buy the sim card only from their website straighttalksim dot com and it states "Use any compatible or unlocked GSM phone – including smart phones".
May be worthing into for you.

+1 on the Straight Talk. I've used it on a Euro Pre3 as well as a German market Omnia7. The speeds are the same as AT&T and if you behave on the usage you won't have any problems. They frown on streaming so keep it at less than 50 megs per day (it's actually in violation of their T&C's). Same goes for tethering, I tether on a daily basis but I keep it limited to emails and attachments of less than 10 megs. For $45 a month, we can't really complain about the limitations. You could always go legit, but you will be seeing your proctologist on a regular basis.

fatclue said:
The speeds are the same as AT&T
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No.
I do not believe they have LTE.

sitizenx said:
No.
I do not believe they have LTE.
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Not the LTE speeds but there 3G speeds. I'm averaging ~3mbps to 9mbps depending on where I'm at. It works for everything I do including light streaming.

sitizenx said:
No.
I do not believe they have LTE.
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I'll amend my statement for clarity. Based on the devices I've owned and used on Straight Talk, the speeds are the same as AT&T. This includes H+ on the Pre3 which is advertised as 4G. I've never tried on any LTE device so I can't, or won't, comment on it.

So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?

hawkeye2188 said:
So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?
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Any AT&T branded phone or any unlocked GSM phone works on Straight Talk. Just need to change the apn and MMS settings for data to work. Voice & text work without modification.

hawkeye2188 said:
So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?
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Yes. I am currently using ST on my International Note but like above, any GSM phone should work.

fatclue said:
Any AT&T branded phone or any unlocked GSM phone works on Straight Talk. Just need to change the apn and MMS settings for data to work. Voice & text work without modification.
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How is this done?

hawkeye2188 said:
So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?
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The Nexus also works on the t-mobile, $30, 100 minute, 5 gig data, unlim text plan. However, most "new" phones are coming without the 1700 band, hence won't get hspa+ on t-mobile (unless you buy it straight off them).

Check properly before doing anything.

[Q] Galaxy 3 now a Global phone

I just downloaded the jelly bean update on my verizon galaxy 3 phone. There is a setting now available that makes it a global phone, lte/cdma phone or a gsm/umts phone. It is located in settings,more settings,mobile networks,network mode. Is it now possible to unlock this galaxy 3 change it to gms and use a tmobile or AT&T SIM card in the USA.

I don't think so, but it would be cool if you can then i may really consider switching to a pre pay plan.
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galaxy global phone
Since you can use a gsm sim card overseas I would think it should be possible to do it here in the USA. I guess time will tell.

Markuzupan said:
Since you can use a gsm sim card overseas I would think it should be possible to do it here in the USA. I guess time will tell.
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It does work... I just put my platinumtel mobile card in and it works for calls, still trying to edit APN's to get mms and data working

This works. I am using prepaid T-Mobile plan. SMS works, Data works, but limited to EDGE connectivity, and MMS doesnt work as for me.
T-Mobile have stated that they are merging towers with Verizon, or at least have compatibility of Verizon phones, so we can see a boost in our data to up to 3.5g possibly by the early Q1 of 2013.
MMS on the other hand still doesn't work. Boo

Everything works for me just get APN manager pro and set your carriers APN and there you go you have data and mms
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jtdo said:
This works. I am using prepaid T-Mobile plan. SMS works, Data works, but limited to EDGE connectivity, and MMS doesnt work as for me.
T-Mobile have stated that they are merging towers with Verizon, or at least have compatibility of Verizon phones, so we can see a boost in our data to up to 3.5g possibly by the early Q1 of 2013.
MMS on the other hand still doesn't work. Boo
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Yes edge only speeds only in the USA.
Do you have a link I can read about tmobile getting compatibility to Verizon phones? I havent heard of this. Can someone verify this?

Verizon Note edge on Metro pcs?

I have a Verizon Note edge, it's currently on my mom's Verizon plan but I have no data, she took off on me so I need to switch carriers.
I'm running lollipop. Is there a way for me to use metro pcs fully with lte and all?
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All recent verizon phones with LTE should be unlocked.
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I keep reading that, however I've been doing a bunch of searching and have found a bunch of issues with people not getting them to work.
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Anyone?
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So after calling Verizon, calling metro and T-Mobile. I'm still left without a straight answer. But from what I'm hearing it's not going to work.
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Bump
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Just to report in on this, I went out and bought the SIM kit, got a spare phone just in case, activated it and everything. It does not work.
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Will this not work because my phone is still on contract with Verizon?
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Huge update. This phone is now working 99% on Metro. Even still being associated on my mom's Verizon account. It is using my metro service, on a tmobile apn. Full lte, working mms, voice, text, data, everything. So happy to have resolved this.
Future reference, it won't work if you add your imei via the metro website, you would have to call metro or in my case use the online chat support.
The only thing not working is the hotspot built in. I have yet to test if a third party hotspot app will work or not.
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Why not hop on Page Plus Cellular while your Verizon Note Edge esn is still clear. Maybe they'll let her/you pay off the phone or it's already out of contract and you won't have to worry about a blacklisted esn, or if all else do a basic bare minimum plan with it on Verizon keeping the esn in good standings.
But I believe their sim's are usually international use only and metroPCS isn't CDMA anymore, so you'd get spotty coverage as it'd only be dependent upon the sim cards coverage which my not meet the specifications for metro's coverage, but with Page Plus Cellular you'd get the coverage that works for your phone model and carrier and you'd also get LTE with it.

I've never heard of page plus here in Tampa bay area. Metro is huge here, and $60 for unlimited LTE ain't a bad deal lol. I need the unlimited LTE also.
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Nickdroid86 said:
I've never heard of page plus here in Tampa bay area. Metro is huge here, and $60 for unlimited LTE ain't a bad deal lol. I need the unlimited LTE also.
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Yea man I'm on metroPCS too T-Mobile Note Edge. haha! I work for Cricket wireless too and the owner is always 24/7 trying to convince me to switch. LMAO
I didn't see your post before mine, that's cool though it's all working good, yea I was using PPC before I switched back over to metroPCS: They're a Verizon MVNO https://www.pagepluscellular.com/plans/ another good company of Page Plus Cellular reseller is http://kittywireless.com they're always doing special promotions and extra plans.
Not sure exactly how that would work with the phone still being under contract. If ya have walgreens drug stores there look at the wireless cards section you'll probably see a Page Plus Cellular card.

Hey, HOW DID YOU GET THE PHONE TO WORK ON METROPCS NETWORK????! I have a note edge on verizon and want to switch it over to metropcs. I called verizon and they said the phone was unlocked so I took it to metropcs for activation. They put a metropcs sim card and turned my phone on but it wouldn't read the metropcs sim card and the phone stated that the sim card was not a verizon sim card. What do I do now? Any help would be much appreciated!

I am just starting with MetroPCS with my NoteEdge which I had been using with Verizon. I am having the same problem when trying to use the MobileHotSpot.
Any luck finding an answer or solution?
Thanks in advance

volant007 said:
Hey, HOW DID YOU GET THE PHONE TO WORK ON METROPCS NETWORK????! I have a note edge on verizon and want to switch it over to metropcs. I called verizon and they said the phone was unlocked so I took it to metropcs for activation. They put a metropcs sim card and turned my phone on but it wouldn't read the metropcs sim card and the phone stated that the sim card was not a verizon sim card. What do I do now? Any help would be much appreciated!
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A little different for me. I have a USC and put a StraighTalk sim in and it works. Just edit the apn. To verify what I read about the 6.0.1 update. I downgraded back to Kitkat and got "Invalid" sim. Might be worth a try and nothing really lost...

Pixel on MetroPCS

I purchased the Pixel from the Google store, and I'm pretty sure it will work on MetroPCS, I'm just hoping someone who knows a little more about how that aspect of the network works can give me a little more insight.
I'm getting a little sick of paying $130 a month for 1 phone with 16 GB of data, and that is after a 22% discount through work...

twiztidmn said:
I purchased the Pixel from the Google store, and I'm pretty sure it will work on MetroPCS, I'm just hoping someone who knows a little more about how that aspect of the network works can give me a little more insight.
I'm getting a little sick of paying $130 a month for 1 phone with 16 GB of data, and that is after a 22% discount through work...
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I'm confused if you're paying that much why don't you just switch to their parent network(T-Mobile). You'll get much more incentives on a better network for a lower price.

buzzy3970 said:
I'm confused if you're paying that much why don't you just switch to their parent network(T-Mobile). You'll get much more incentives on a better network for a lower price.
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the $130 is my price on Verizon. MetroPCS is $60 a month flat for unlimited data, and it doesn't throttle you down after a certain amount used. My biggest concern was T-Mobile customers having priority on the towers over MetroPCS customers during high congestion. but my friend who has MetroPCS used his all day at the Minnesota State Fair, data, calls, whatever, and never had an issue. That's 200,000+ people in a little over a square mile area, if he wasnt having priority issues then, I doubt I ever will.
It's mostly a question of since I bought the Google version of the Pixel instead of the Verizon version, will I be able to just stick a MetroPCS simcard in it and and have it work.

Oh I see. Was very lost with pricing lol, but yes seeing that metro pcs is a true gsm carrier all the bands for their network should be on the pixel...

It should work just fine. My experience with metro in one of the largest cities in the country (Houston, TX) has been great. I haven't noticed any slower data performance or call drops than when I had TMo proper, and you still get all the TMo perks, like not charging for data for popular apps like Youtube and Spotify (I don't pay for unlimited).

rocketpanda40 said:
It should work just fine. My experience with metro in one of the largest cities in the country (Houston, TX) has been great. I haven't noticed any slower data performance or call drops than when I had TMo proper, and you still get all the TMo perks, like not charging for data for popular apps like Youtube and Spotify (I don't pay for unlimited).
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I'll be doing unlimited so that I can use Playstation Vue mobile without issues, and to watch Red Zone once I find another cheap alternative (Going to hate giving up my $1.99 a month access to it through Verizon. Vue charges $39.99 for 6 months). I watched an hour of the Olympics while mobile once and used about 4 GB of data...

I am thinking about going this route... but want to be sure that the Pixel will work with all of the TMobile bands so i'll have good service as well as the Wifi Calling work. Anyone with MetroPCS and a Pixel able to confirm?

** BUMP **
anyone know for sure ? Wifi calling?

Jaws4God said:
** BUMP **
anyone know for sure ? Wifi calling?
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Should work just fine on both WiFi calling and even voice over LTE. The only band the pixel doesn't have is Band 71.

dia_naji said:
Should work just fine on both WiFi calling and even voice over LTE. The only band the pixel doesn't have is Band 71.
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Do you know how important Band 71 is?
I ask because I first had a Verizon Branded V20 and brought it to T-Mobile.. The reception was fairly poor around my house.. would barely get 4g .. and seemed to be bouncing towers... but when I sold it and got a T-Mobile Branded V20.. the reception is tons better.. works great. So i just want to make sure Band 71 isn't a primary one and i'll go back to having bad service with a Verizon / Unlocked Pixel version.
Thanks!

Jaws4God said:
Do you know how important Band 71 is?
I ask because I first had a Verizon Branded V20 and brought it to T-Mobile.. The reception was fairly poor around my house.. would barely get 4g .. and seemed to be bouncing towers... but when I sold it and got a T-Mobile Branded V20.. the reception is tons better.. works great. So i just want to make sure Band 71 isn't a primary one and i'll go back to having bad service with a Verizon / Unlocked Pixel version.
Thanks!
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Band 71 is only for extended LTE. Really isn't that big of a deal. Verizon branded phones are different they have bands that are sometimes locked for Verizon. The only real difference between the Verizon pixel and the pixel from google was the unlock able boot-loader. As for band 71 it's not deployed in some cities and depends on where you live. Th most important band is band 12 which the google pixel has. I've had the pixel for Verizon and never had any problems with service or even download speeds. As for band 71 not even the pixel 2 or the iPhone x have it so you really don't need to worry about it. It should work on Metro pcs, but i believe you need update your imei through the Metro pcs website.

I just picked up a pixel 1 in great condition yesterday and did carrier swap this morning by phone and it works very well. Go for it

Yep! The wife bought me one! So I was able to get it up and running on Friday... been using it all weekend! So far it seems to be working wonderful!

Unlocked s8 with old verizon unlimited data plan

I know it's a long shot but I am wondering if anybody had gotten unlocked model with unlimited data plan the old one not new one is able to tether with no limit. Just curious.

Hey, I have the old Verizon Unlimited Data plan. Yes, it will use Mobile Hotspot with no problem; you don’t even need Foxfi. Can't anyways with Nougat.
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I second the poster above. I picked up the S8 unlocked vrn grandfathered udp today for the reason you are considering. Confirmed. It tethers no problem. Yes!

S8+ unlock works with grandfather unlimited data plan!!!
unlimited data plan. All I have to do is just press the hotspot bottom on the top menu and it turn on automatically.
Question for the other s8+ users in the same boat than me. Have you done the update and the hotspot still works for grandfather Verizon users.

I got an unlocked Model at Best Buy last week, so not a once Verizon then unlocked but started unlocked and it didn't do phone and data at same time, under any plan. Verizon even swapped Sims a few times with no improvement. I had to take it back with a $35 restock fee. BB and I are in discussions as after it was figured out Samsung suggested they swap it with a Verizon model and the sales guy chose not to. It appeared the software that lets the phone do proper VoLTE "Advanced Features" is not there and doesn't show up when you insert a Verizon Sim like expected. There is a VoLTE option that seems to do nothing however (under Verizon). There is no patch or update at this time to resolve. Was about to make a post about it in the root so others won't have same experience when I saw this one.

Marco_ANTONIO30 said:
unlimited data plan. All I have to do is just press the hotspot bottom on the top menu and it turn on automatically.
Question for the other s8+ users in the same boat than me. Have you done the update and the hotspot still works for grandfather Verizon users.
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An unlocked model I don't think gets the hot spot feature stopped, only Verizon provisioned s8/s8+
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---------- Post added at 03:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:23 AM ----------
puterdoc said:
I got an unlocked Model at Best Buy last week, so not a once Verizon then unlocked but started unlocked and it didn't do phone and data at same time, under any plan. Verizon even swapped Sims a few times with no improvement. I had to take it back with a $35 restock fee. BB and I are in discussions as after it was figured out Samsung suggested they swap it with a Verizon model and the sales guy chose not to. It appeared the software that lets the phone do proper VoLTE "Advanced Features" is not there and doesn't show up when you insert a Verizon Sim like expected. There is a VoLTE option that seems to do nothing however (under Verizon). There is no patch or update at this time to resolve. Was about to make a post about it in the root so others won't have same experience when I saw this one.
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With unlocked phones, you should use an ACTIVE SIM, not a sim that isn't active. Since its unlocked, the IMEI number probably isn't in the Verizon data base, so an inactive sim can't help, but if you have an active sim (like I had/have), it will work. volte works, just no wifi calling or visual voicemail.
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SEVENEDGE said:
An unlocked model I don't think gets the hot spot feature stopped, only Verizon provisioned s8/s8+
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---------- Post added at 03:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:23 AM ----------
With unlocked phones, you should use an ACTIVE SIM, not a sim that isn't active. Since its unlocked, the IMEI number probably isn't in the Verizon data base, so an inactive sim can't help, but if you have an active sim (like I had/have), it will work. volte works, just no wifi calling or visual voicemail.
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I agree that it should have but didn't. I used an active Straight Talk SIM (Verizon) no luck with talk and data together, then went to a Verizon corp store and they inserted an active sim to test and it still refused to do both data and talk at same time. Spent an hour and a half on phone with tech support first. They even conferenced Verizon who said the network was right and the phone/acct was provisioned.
I don't know if this is just the Best Buy batches or not. I think I will just try and get a Verizon phone that's been unlocked like my S5 I reverted back to. But information and suggestions are appreciated. I don't want to think that I returned a phone I could have gotten working, esp since the deal ended last week and they refused to sell me another for same price. But between the SIMs and going right to Verizon, I am not sure what else I could have done, unless the phone itself was bad.
Thanks

OMG THANK YOU! I never even thought of that when I bought the unlocked version of the 8+. I just tried it and WIFI and BT tethering both work flawlessly.

gottahavit said:
OMG THANK YOU! I never even thought of that when I bought the unlocked version of the 8+. I just tried it and WIFI and BT tethering both work flawlessly.
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You don't even need unlocked version of S8+. Just flash the international firmware and you're good to go. No throttling on hotspot nor video.

I bought an S8+ at Best Buy last night ($150 off - Black Friday, whoohoo!) and was planning on rooting the hell out of it so that I would have my mobile hotspot on my grandfather UL plan. Didn't have to. The sucker just works.
That leads me to the obvious question: does Verizon know about it and will I be charged for it?

nswenson said:
You don't even need unlocked version of S8+. Just flash the international firmware and you're good to go. No throttling on hotspot nor video.
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Wait is this confirmed that unlocked phones do not get throttled on video? I've wondered why I haven't gotten throttled but guessed it was because I'm still in contract for another year with my Unlimited Plan from 2011.

Rafy186 said:
Wait is this confirmed that unlocked phones do not get throttled on video? I've wondered why I haven't gotten throttled but guessed it was because I'm still in contract for another year with my Unlimited Plan from 2011.
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Not true. I'm grandfathered, but I do get throttled when watching 4k or 1080p 60 fps or 60fps or 1080 hdr (I think). The solution? A VPN. I bought Express VPN. It's 99 I think for a year, but I did ask for an additional 3 months, which is a promotion they had or have had before.
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puterdoc said:
I agree that it should have but didn't. I used an active Straight Talk SIM (Verizon) no luck with talk and data together, then went to a Verizon corp store and they inserted an active sim to test and it still refused to do both data and talk at same time. Spent an hour and a half on phone with tech support first. They even conferenced Verizon who said the network was right and the phone/acct was provisioned.
I don't know if this is just the Best Buy batches or not. I think I will just try and get a Verizon phone that's been unlocked like my S5 I reverted back to. But information and suggestions are appreciated. I don't want to think that I returned a phone I could have gotten working, esp since the deal ended last week and they refused to sell me another for same price. But between the SIMs and going right to Verizon, I am not sure what else I could have done, unless the phone itself was bad.
Thanks
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What was the resolution to this issue? I'm experiencing the same thing with an unlocked S8 purchased at Best Buy. Thanks.

Guys...have a friend or family that has a VERIZON PHONE, put your sim and activate the SIM in a VERIZON PHONE. After the Nano sim is active, but in the Unlocked S8, S8 Plus or Note8. I've used my unlocked S8 Plus on Verizon without getting provisioned for tethering. I got a Note8 now, verizon model, but flashed U1 firmware. I still am able to tether....
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