I've got an unlocked Nexus on Telus and was wondering if anyone has recommendations as to how to get data functional in the US as a Canadian with this phone? Is it possible to just pick up a prepaid gift credit card and use it to get a prepaid SIM somewhere like Walmart or Target?
I haven't run across any big stores that sell a SIM alone.
For my GSM Gnex, I went to wal-mart and bought a $18 TMobile phone, took the SIM out of it, and activated it in the Nexus. I was impatient. You can buy a sim for TMobile online, OR at one of their stores. Tmobile has some $2 - $3 per day "unlimited" sim card plans... which is just about perfect for a vacation.
You can also go to AT&T and get a prepaid GOPhone SIM, but they have HORRIBLE pricing.
if you are staying longer than a week or two, it might be cheaper to order a sim and just pay for a month:
http://www.straighttalksim.com/
I'd go with the "AT&T Branded SIM", they have better data coverage overall... but it gets a bit spotty in NYC/SF
Thanks for the tip!
Related
Hey. I'm a TMO US N2 owner. Unfortunately, we dont have ay signal here in our area of NJ after sandy passed through. Actually, we still have no power and no internet, and so no phone as well prompted me to get a prepaid sim card fro AT&T.
I originally purchased the $65/mo prepaid plan with 1GB of data. But it appears the sales lady punched in the $50/mo unlimited (no smartphone) plan.
Has anyone used this prepaid plan with their note 2s? I still see 4G in my status bar (i was able to install skype, maildroid and gmail are working as well). But if I turn on mobile hotspot, it won't turn on.
Should I stick with this plan (and save $15) or go back ad tell them they gave me the wrong plan?
Please advice.
Thanks
bump anyone?? much appreciated.
Yes it does work. I just got mine in today. I used my gophone sim that I purchased with a gophone earlier this year. One little thing though is that I had to chop up the sim card with a knife for it to fit.
I was selling my T989 SII because I have the SIII and someone asked me if this phone is usable with the Tmobile Prepaid plan, and I think it will work but you just have to get the Prepaid Sim Card. Is this correct?
Thanks
You can definitely use the T989 on T-Mobile's prepaid/monthly plans (I'm using it on the $30 100 minutes/5 GB unthrottled plan). I'm less sure about having to get the extra sim.
I know I did if only because getting on the plan I have required a "new" activation and the code that comes with all of the prepaid sim cards. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a way to call a T-Mo rep to try to get the existing sim to work on a new prepaid plan, but it's probably easier to just buy a new one.
jontyl said:
You can definitely use the T989 on T-Mobile's prepaid/monthly plans (I'm using it on the $30 100 minutes/5 GB unthrottled plan). I'm less sure about having to get the extra sim.
I know I did if only because getting on the plan I have required a "new" activation and the code that comes with all of the prepaid sim cards. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a way to call a T-Mo rep to try to get the existing sim to work on a new prepaid plan, but it's probably easier to just buy a new one.
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Great thank you.
I'm on the $30 prepaid plan. Can I just walk into a Tmobile store, give them my current number, pay cash for the phone, and start using it with the prepaid plan, or do I have to go through the "get a new plan and cancel" routine?
productivity ighlking
I never succeeded in buying the phone outright, not even from their website. Got mine from Newegg, shipped to my door in less than 24 hours.
$695.99 + $9.99 next day shipping, didn't even charge me tax in CA.
Yup, I know from experience.
Ugh, that doesn't sound good. The models listed on Newegg do NOT sound like they support Tmobile 4g.
Maybe I'll get the Google version. Sigh....
RobertR3750 said:
I'm on the $30 prepaid plan. Can I just walk into a Tmobile store, give them my current number, pay cash for the phone, and start using it with the prepaid plan, or do I have to go through the "get a new plan and cancel" routine?
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T-Mobile, as of now, won't sell an S4 unless you get a new plan.
The only way to get an S4 from a T-Mobile store is as follows:
Get the $50 plan and pay for the phone fully up front.
A day or two after, cancel the plan.
Go to a T-Mobile store and buy a new SIM activation kit for $10.
Activate the new SIM card on their website and select the $30 plan.
IMMEDIATELY, call T-Mobile and get them to combine your old account(the one with your phone #, not the one you just canceled) with the new one and make sure they keep your old number, the new plan, and change nothing else.
If you port your # to Google Voice, or don't care about losing your old number, then you don't need to do the last step.
thehelios said:
T-Mobile, as of now, won't sell an S4 unless you get a new plan.
.
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I'm on prepaid - not even the $30/month prepaid but the 10 cents/minute prepaid. Of course, I don't get data but wifi is avail. most of the places I go - and if I really need data I pony up for the $3/day plan. Then switch back to 10 cents/minute plan before midnight. I really enjoy paying only ~$150/year for service. Anyway.
I Walked into the local T-Mobile store on May 15th, told them I was prepaid and wanted to buy it outright. They first rung it up for $659, but I reminded them they quoted me a price of $629 a few weeks before. They also went over to the display model - and sure enough it says $629 - so they changed it. I bought a D30 screen protector and case. They said I could get any other accessory of equal or or less value for free. They transferred my account to the micro-sim card for free and I was out the door. No hassles.
I had a similar experience buying the S3 last year in another local T-Mobile store. They both seemed happy to take my money and help me with a sim transfer even though I was prepaid.
I don't see why they wouldn't allow you to buy the GS4 full price and put it on prepaid. that is what I am planning on doing
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
bthurber said:
I'm on prepaid - not even the $30/month prepaid but the 10 cents/minute prepaid. Of course, I don't get data but wifi is avail. most of the places I go - and if I really need data I pony up for the $3/day plan. Then switch back to 10 cents/minute plan before midnight. I really enjoy paying only ~$150/year for service. Anyway.
I Walked into the local T-Mobile store on May 15th, told them I was prepaid and wanted to buy it outright. They first rung it up for $659, but I reminded them they quoted me a price of $629 a few weeks before. They also went over to the display model - and sure enough it says $629 - so they changed it. I bought a D30 screen protector and case. They said I could get any other accessory of equal or or less value for free. They transferred my account to the micro-sim card for free and I was out the door. No hassles.
I had a similar experience buying the S3 last year in another local T-Mobile store. They both seemed happy to take my money and help me with a sim transfer even though I was prepaid.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing your experience. It seems the best strategy will be to attempt what you did (perhaps at more than one store) and resort to getting a new line as a backup plan.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda app-developers app
RobertR3750 said:
Ugh, that doesn't sound good. The models listed on Newegg do NOT sound like they support Tmobile 4g.
Maybe I'll get the Google version. Sigh....
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Yea, they do, I just bought one days ago. You select T-Mobile and pick your phone.
jkuczy16 said:
I don't see why they wouldn't allow you to buy the GS4 full price and put it on prepaid. that is what I am planning on doing
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
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I wish I knew. I called 6 of the nearest T-Mobile stores in my area and called in to customer service and they all said they couldn't sell me an S4 unless I got it with one of their post-paid plans. For y'all who were able to do it w/o getting a post-paid plan, you lucky dogs! It makes the process of getting an S4 so much easier.
thehelios said:
I wish I knew. I called 6 of the nearest T-Mobile stores in my area and called in to customer service and they all said they couldn't sell me an S4 unless I got it with one of their post-paid plans. For y'all who were able to do it w/o getting a post-paid plan, you lucky dogs! It makes the process of getting an S4 so much easier.
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Click to collapse
You get one here: http://wireless.newegg.com/eCommerce/SpecialOffer.aspx?cid=35159_80ed17d885e9458f9c935fbee930efc4 and select "replacement device" or buy one on ebay. Then you grab a t-mobile micro sim from their prepaid website for $10 and activate it on the $30 plan boom you got a GS4 on T-Mobile's Prepaid $30.
jrccomputer said:
You get one here: http://wireless.newegg.com/eCommerce/SpecialOffer.aspx?cid=35159_80ed17d885e9458f9c935fbee930efc4 and select "replacement device" or buy one on ebay. Then you grab a t-mobile micro sim from their prepaid website for $10 and activate it on the $30 plan boom you got a GS4 on T-Mobile's Prepaid $30.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, that certainly sounds hassle-free. Since I'm already on the $30 plan, can I safely assume I could simply put my current sim in the phone and be good to go?
RobertR3750 said:
Thanks, that certainly sounds hassle-free. Since I'm already on the $30 plan, can I safely assume I could simply put my current sim in the phone and be good to go?
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What phone do you have now? The gs4 uses a micro sim which might be different then your current sim. If you have a micro sim your good to go.
Sent from my SPH-L300 using Tapatalk 2
jrccomputer said:
What phone do you have now? The gs4 uses a micro sim which might be different then your current sim. If you have a micro sim your good to go.
Sent from my SPH-L300 using Tapatalk 2
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I was thinking I could use a micro sim cutter to cut my current sim down to micro size, but maybe it would be easier and safer to just get a new micro sim. Only cumbersome part would be having to call Tmobile to cancel the old sim and transfer my current number to the new sim, presumably.
RobertR3750 said:
I was thinking I could use a micro sim cutter to cut my current sim down to micro size, but maybe it would be easier and safer to just get a new micro sim. Only cumbersome part would be having to call Tmobile to cancel the old sim and transfer my current number to the new sim, presumably.
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Yeah, thats a good idea just pick a sim cutter up off amazon. They are safe and work very well.
Sent from my SPH-L300 using Tapatalk 2
This one looks nice and sturdy.
http://dx.com/p/micro-sim-card-cutter-black-126906
Yes. I would grab that one. Should work just fine.
Sent from my SPH-L300 using Tapatalk 2
ive bought the phone outright the day the order page went up. i even choose one of the new plans on the site. got it next day, threw out the sim card that came with it and put in my prepaid sim. ive been on the prepaid 30$ plan since i go the phone and have had absolutely no problems.
the best way to get it onto the prepaid plan is to do it all online, because the service reps have no clue what they are talking about 90 percent of the time
At one of T-Mo stores in my area they said I could get it for $690 + tax without a postpaid plan. At another store, they didn't have it in stock but told me it would be around $660.00 + tax. So I just went to Walmart and purchased the one they sell for the Family Mobile Plan for $629.99 + tax. Since that Family Mobile Walmart plan is powered by T-Mobile, my prepaid microsim worked right away. I did have to buy the $25.00 starter kit buy I returned it the next day.
pilot_xphile said:
At one of T-Mo stores in my area they said I could get it for $690 + tax without a postpaid plan. At another store, they didn't have it in stock but told me it would be around $660.00 + tax. So I just went to Walmart and purchased the one they sell for the Family Mobile Plan for $629.99 + tax. Since that Family Mobile Walmart plan is powered by T-Mobile, my prepaid microsim worked right away. I did have to buy the $25.00 starter kit buy I returned it the next day.
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Fascinating way to get around the Tmobile nonsense! Thanks! BTW, can you check to see if LTE works?
I bought D851 from swappa and its coming Thursday this week, I would like to know if MetroPCS would work if the phone is locked tmobile..? Do I need to get it unlocked? I wanted to use it on $60 plan
Any reason why you wouldn't do the T-Mobile prepaid?
Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk
Why would you choose metro over t mobile?
Because I'm born deaf then got hearing aid implant, I rarely talk on the phone so I text and use data more. $60 seems good for me rather than $30 plan 5GB since I am out of the house a lot. I'm not used to being on the phone and talk to people because they say something and I don't hear them well so I always needed someone by my side for it. I've been testing on MetroPCS and I was seeing if $30 5GB was good for me but I don't know. I'm sorry if its a bother. Its first time buying a unlocked phone I've saved up for outside of my family's contract plan.
I'm on the MetroPCS $60 Plan. I had no problems using the phone. I was coming from Sprint.
The first t mobile store I went to wouldn't sell me the phone unless I signed up for T-Mobile service. I even got corporate customer service on the office with them, telling them that I could buy the phone without contract.
I ended up leaving, went down the street to a car toys store, and bought the phone for $50 less then the T-Mobile price.
I went into a mwtropcs branch, paid $10 for as sim card, and ported my number from Sprint.
Great coverage in my area (metropcs uses t Mobile towers).
The t mobile phone comes unlocked, so you shouldn't have any problems. Only thing to note is that each version of the g3 has different radios. So the t mobile version might not have as good of coverage on at&t's network.
Braaainz said:
I'm on the MetroPCS $60 Plan. I had no problems using the phone. I was coming from Sprint.
The first t mobile store I went to wouldn't sell me the phone unless I signed up for T-Mobile service. I even got corporate customer service on the office with them, telling them that I could buy the phone without contract.
I ended up leaving, went down the street to a car toys store, and bought the phone for $50 less then the T-Mobile price.
I went into a mwtropcs branch, paid $10 for as sim card, and ported my number from Sprint.
Great coverage in my area (metropcs uses t Mobile towers).
The t mobile phone comes unlocked, so you shouldn't have any problems. Only thing to note is that each version of the g3 has different radios. So the t mobile version might not have as good of coverage on at&t's network.
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Thank you SO MUCH for your reply, I was worrying a lot but you gave me a relief. I bought the T-Mobile G3 in mint condition for good price without original box as the seller have good ratings on swappa, but it hasn't even arrived today because USPS wasn't updating much on the phone tracking and got all the way to Florida passing my state from New York. I live in Virginia and I gotten really upset, I was like never again with Swappa.. I never had any issues with eBay but I was wary about that.. Thank you so much for your reply though. Both of my phone case and sim card coming in now I will have to wait for it tomorrow tomorrow or the weekend, sigh. :crying:
Alright....I'm sold on this phone......It will be my new phone.
I'm currently finishing out my contract on Verizon (ugh, moving on). In the meantime, I'd like to purchase this one NOW just to get everything setup. I want to flash/tinker/optimize it to my liking. Will I run into any issues doing this with no Sim Card in the phone? Once my contract finishes out, I'll leave Verizon and pop a sim card from somewhere else (maybe T-Mobile).
Stupifier said:
Alright....I'm sold on this phone......It will be my new phone.
I'm currently finishing out my contract on Verizon (ugh, moving on). In the meantime, I'd like to purchase this one NOW just to get everything setup. I want to flash/tinker/optimize it to my liking. Will I run into any issues doing this with no Sim Card in the phone? Once my contract finishes out, I'll leave Verizon and pop a sim card from somewhere else (maybe T-Mobile).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you will not have any problem at all. Just connect to wifi during initial setup! Congrats for finally leaving VZN, glad I did. Who all are you considering. Right now I am using Straight Talk with AT&T's GSM sim; unlimited talk text, and 5 gigs of data (after that 2g) for 45$/month. I can up it to 10 gigs for just 55$/month. Data speeds are insane like 80MBPS down. Service has been great just seeing if there is any other prepaid or contract plans to consider.
Harry44 said:
No, you will not have any problem at all. Just connect to wifi during initial setup! Congrats for finally leaving VZN, glad I did. Who all are you considering. Right now I am using Straight Talk with AT&T's GSM sim; unlimited talk text, and 5 gigs of data (after that 2g) for 45$/month. I can up it to 10 gigs for just 55$/month. Data speeds are insane like 80MBPS down. Service has been great just seeing if there is any other prepaid or contract plans to consider.
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Click to collapse
Woah! That Straight Talk deal sounds amazing........I want that! I can't beat that with what I've researched. Where you live? Wondering how good Straight Talk is (considering its a 2nd-tier Carrier)
Stupifier said:
Woah! That Straight Talk deal sounds amazing........I want that! I can't beat that with what I've researched. Where you live? Wondering how good Straight Talk is (considering its a 2nd-tier Carrier)
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Yeah it really is a great deal from ST. I currently live in Northern VA in the suburbs outside of Washington, DC. Using the AT&T GSM sim your data is not throttled until you reach either the 5gig or 10gig mark according to your plan. ST also has SIMS for VZN (won't work with this phone, and DL speeds are capped at 5mbps), T-Mobile not sure if the speeds are capped, since we have the second sim tray I am going to throw a T-Mobile sim in it. These are no contract plans however you can setup autopay and get a discount. Most of us buy our phones unlocked or off contract now a days anyways so we are getting the same phones and coverage for a discount.
As a long time Verizon customer, then Fi for a year, I have seen no issues with Straight Talk with AT&T.
Harry44 said:
Yeah it really is a great deal from ST. I currently live in Northern VA in the suburbs outside of Washington, DC. Using the AT&T GSM sim your data is not throttled until you reach either the 5gig or 10gig mark according to your plan. ST also has SIMS for VZN (won't work with this phone, and DL speeds are capped at 5mbps), T-Mobile not sure if the speeds are capped, since we have the second sim tray I am going to throw a T-Mobile sim in it. These are no contract plans however you can setup autopay and get a discount. Most of us buy our phones unlocked or off contract now a days anyways so we are getting the same phones and coverage for a discount.
As a long time Verizon customer, then Fi for a year, I have seen no issues with Straight Talk with AT&T.
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Click to collapse
Wow....I live in Alexandria VA! So, your testimony would be exactly what I'm looking for! Small world. I'll definitely be getting this Straight Talk plan. FYI, just ordered my OnePlus 3.
Did you Order your Straight Talk nano sim card online or did you walk into a WalMart or something?
Stupifier said:
Wow....I live in Alexandria VA! So, your testimony would be exactly what I'm looking for! Small world. I'll definitely be getting this Straight Talk plan. FYI, just ordered my OnePlus 3.
Did you Order your Straight Talk nano sim card online or did you walk into a WalMart or something?
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Always nice to meet a local XDA-er and android enthusiast. I picked up one from WalMart because I couldn't wait after I got my 1+. However the one at WalMart was ~$69.99. It came with Verizon sim cards, ATT sim cards, T-Mobile sim cards and a month of 45$ service. If you just ordered your OP3 i'd say just order your sim online its like 99 cents I think and you have some time to wait .
Any chance you were able to pick up a Dash Car Charger with your order? Still showing as out of stock for our area
Harry44 said:
Always nice to meet a local XDA-er and android enthusiast. I picked up one from WalMart because I couldn't wait after I got my 1+. However the one at WalMart was ~$69.99. It came with Verizon sim cards, ATT sim cards, T-Mobile sim cards and a month of 45$ service. If you just ordered your OP3 i'd say just order your sim online its like 99 cents I think and you have some time to wait .
Any chance you were able to pick up a Dash Car Charger with your order? Still showing as out of stock for our area
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Click to collapse
Straight Talk sim online seems to require 1st month of service along with the 99 cent Sim Card order.......My contract with Verizon isn't up until October.
Stupifier said:
Straight Talk sim online seems to require 1st month of service along with the 99 cent Sim Card order.......My contract with Verizon isn't up until October.
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As far as I know the service won't be activated until you choose to do so. I mean it's either $55 now or $55 a month from now lol.
tmobile next month is $70 unlimited data with higher data speeds, if you want a lil faster dl speeds i would check that out plus look at the maps for the area you live in and hangout in.