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Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/9/2008 3:46:53 PM
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Chrystal-J-007
Posts: 660
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Detroit
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Could someone explain to me the difference between a locked and unlocked cell phone? I want to buy a phone on-line and I need to know what type I should get.
Also--I currently own a pay-as-you-go phone. Can I keep my phone number if I switch to a different phone with the same company?
Thanks!
_____________________________
Worry looks around, Sorrow looks back, Faith looks up
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The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...timing is everything!
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/9/2008 8:20:44 PM
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RamiRedeemed
Posts: 2628
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A locked phone means that it cant be used on another company. You can get most of them unlocked but it costs a little bit, usually like ten dollars, and they usually do that at the cell phone accesory places in the mall.
Depending on the company though having it unlocked won't matter. If the phone uses a sim card, AT&T and T Mobile do, those two companies will be interchangable with their phones, assuming you get it unlocked.
But, you can't take a sim card phone and use it with a company that does not use a sim card.
Is this all making sense?
As for the prepaid cell number, I'm not sure about that. When I worked for AT&T a few years ago I don't believe we could port their numbers to a monthly plan but that may have changed.
_____________________________
Some people talk because they have something to say.
Others talk because they have to say something.
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ramireconciled.blogspot.com
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/9/2008 9:39:47 PM
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Chrystal-J-007
Posts: 660
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Detroit
Status: online
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Thanks for the info! I think I understood most of it--I'm not computer savvy...lol.
I want another phone where you buy time cards at the store. (That's what I have now.) My phone is so old, I really need a new one--but, I don't feel like giving out a new number to everyone.
I was hoping that I could keep my number if the new phone was the same company as the old.
_____________________________
Worry looks around, Sorrow looks back, Faith looks up
~~
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...timing is everything!
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/9/2008 11:00:51 PM
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RamiRedeemed
Posts: 2628
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Can I ask what company you use?
_____________________________
Some people talk because they have something to say.
Others talk because they have to say something.
-------------------------------
ramireconciled.blogspot.com
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/9/2008 11:58:14 PM
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Chrystal-J-007
Posts: 660
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Detroit
Status: online
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T-Mobile
_____________________________
Worry looks around, Sorrow looks back, Faith looks up
~~
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...timing is everything!
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/10/2008 12:06:24 AM
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RamiRedeemed
Posts: 2628
Joined: 10/13/2008
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Check under the battery and see if there is a SIM card. It's about the size of a penny and it's rectangular in shape. If there is you'll be able to buy any other tmobile cell phone and just take your SIM out of your old phone and put it in the new one. :)
_____________________________
Some people talk because they have something to say.
Others talk because they have to say something.
-------------------------------
ramireconciled.blogspot.com
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/10/2008 12:48:34 AM
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RamiRedeemed
Posts: 2628
Joined: 10/13/2008
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Have you consulted ebay for a new phone? Sometimes you can get a good deal there and still not have to sign a contract.
Glad I could help. All those days of relentlessly lying to people to make a sale on a 2 year contract finally paid off. haha.
_____________________________
Some people talk because they have something to say.
Others talk because they have to say something.
-------------------------------
ramireconciled.blogspot.com
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/10/2008 12:56:29 AM
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Chrystal-J-007
Posts: 660
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Detroit
Status: online
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I've checked out e-bay and Amazon.Com. I saw a few on e-bay that I liked. I'm gonna look for a little while longer before I buy (a Christmas present to me! lol).
My next door neighbor said they called his house trying to get him to re-new on a 2 year contract--with a 3 year one! He said contracts have been getting longer and longer. He's going with Metro-PC (pay as you go). I would do that, but sometimes I don't use that much time and some of those phones are $55 a month. (I don't text either.) But, he says he wants to go with them cuz he can quit anytime with-out penalty.
_____________________________
Worry looks around, Sorrow looks back, Faith looks up
~~
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...timing is everything!
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/10/2008 1:25:17 AM
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RamiRedeemed
Posts: 2628
Joined: 10/13/2008
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Yeah the penalties are ridiculous. Most people dont know though that if you already have a phone you can get a regular monthly plan without a contract.
_____________________________
Some people talk because they have something to say.
Others talk because they have to say something.
-------------------------------
ramireconciled.blogspot.com
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RE: Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones - 11/10/2008 1:33:08 PM
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Chrystal-J-007
Posts: 660
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Detroit
Status: online
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That's interesting. I was wondering about that too. Cuz the main thing with the contracts are the "free" phones. Once you pay for the phone I don't see any reason for them to have a contract with you. I had a contract phone once (back when they would let you have one year contracts). Once I realized how little I used it, I never got another one. Now, I just grab a time-card once every couple of months at the gas station and I'm good to go.
Thanks for the info!
_____________________________
Worry looks around, Sorrow looks back, Faith looks up
~~
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...timing is everything!
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That'll be great. I've been wanting a new phone for such a long time. I found one at a store near my house that I like, but didn't want to change my number. The only down side is that you pay so much more for the phone when you're not on a contract. But, I don't want to be "tied down". I like the freedom of putting as much time on my phone as I like. Sometimes a $50 time card will last me 2 months. I don't want to pay for time I don't use. (I like to chat on the net, not on the phone..lol)
