Need ideas on the next Unlocked Phone? Switching Carriers!

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I’ve Pretty Much Decided!

I’m going to probably go buy an Unlocked Cell phone from Amazon.  They have some Great selections of phones unlocked Cell Phones for under $200 (Amazon Affiliate Link).   I still have my old AT&T straight Talk sim that was used for the HTC Inspire 4g Phone.   Even though the LG Optimus F3 is not a bad phone, I was tempted to unlock it fully to use with Straight Talk.   I honestly thought it was better to go buy an unlocked phone that can be used for any carrier that I choose to use it with.

I’ve loved Android phones since, I started using them and will continue to use them but I have yet to enjoy the idea of Virgin Mobile US reducing my speed by a half to 2g speeds.   I’m really not happy with the idea of reducing my speed to that extent and I’ve been one of those that love Unlocked Cell Phones and no contract plans.   If the Sim from the HTC inspire can’t be used, at least Straight Talk still has options available to buy new sim cards for!!

Which Phone!

I’m calling all readers on which phone I should buy under a 200$ and I’m really interested in which one you want me to review on this site!   Please leave a comment and tell me what you want to see me review.   I’m like the Motorola Moto G that is nice!  I am up in the air on this but I will have to decide soon! ;)

How to move your number to another cellular service!

Portabilitly is required!

When the FCC made the rule LNP (Local Number Portability), it gave consumers the right to keep your number as long as you are staying in the same area.   So if you have decided to move to another cellular phone service, then you are in luck.   

I was in Walmart, and I heard one person tell the Walmart service employee that they needed to get another phone because they wanted to keep their number.   I interjected because I was curious as to why they wanted to keep with their current service if they did not have the phones they wanted.  I also suggested they could easily go to Virgin Mobile US and still keep their number.   They were quite surprised because the service they were using never told them they could keep their number.

Although this is a common ploy by any cellular phone company, because they want you to spend money on them and not pay another service that could be better or even worse.

The Steps to move your number!

It isn’t hard to do but I guess some people just don’t understand how to do it!

• Call the new service and find out what you need to have to move your number to their service!
• Until you have decided to move your number please DO NOT cancel your current service!
• If yout terminate your service from a contractual wireless phone company, then you may need to pay for the early termination fee. If you want to go with No contract phone companies here are a few that might work!
  • Straight Talk Bring your own Phone Plan
  • Virgin Mobile US
  • T-Mobile
  • MetroPCS

As you can see there are a several few Cellular Companies that you can use to pay as you go and not have to worry about any contracts!  It can take up to one day to move the number to the new service but don’t worry, if it is important you may want to tell people to call someone who can get a hold of you in case of an emergency but I don’t see that happening!

Unlocked Cell Phones

Having an unlocked cell phone will make the process much easier and thus you may not need to buy a new cell phone.   You will however have to find out from the new service provider if you will need to buy a new phone from the new carrier.   I always tell people you should buy an unlocked cell phone and that will make it easier to move from one provider to another if you so choose to!

If you do these things you should not have any problems.   If you do have problems you can always file a complaint with the FCC online.   It will help if you provide all the important information to give to help you solve your problem.

Unlocking Your Mobile Phone to work with Straight Talk! [Affiliate Link]

First Things First!

If you want to use your Blackberry, Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung phones with Straight Talk, you will need to have phones that have GSM capabilities.   You will also need them to be able to use a SIM Card.   If it doesn't have a SIM card to begin with then you might as well look somewhere else.   Straight Talk doesn't do phones that can't have a SIM card in it.  I already talked about the the Difference between GSM and CDMA, So you just have to figure out if it will work with your phone.

A Great Service!

I found a Great Service that you should try.  Unlock any Nokia, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola or Samsung Phone! Remove carrier restrictions and unlock your phone within minutes![Affiliate Link]  If your like me, and you want to use a used phone with Straight Talk, this would be the best possible option for you.   You can unlock your phone within minutes and be able to use your phone on any carrier such as a MVNO like Straight Talk. They've offer to unlock your phone for a really small fee but it is worth it than going to go buy a new phone.

The one reason you'd want to unlock your phone is to use it with any Carrier Like T-mobile, AT&T and a Few others.  It is  worth the money because I like the way I can pay 45$ for an unlimited phone usage and other such things.  I'm not saying that the price is worth more than the phone but it does allow you to keep you favorite phone and contacts and take it with you to your next carrier.

Using Straight Talk!

If your like me, you want to use Straight Talk.   I'd suggest getting the AT&T SIM card, and using my instructions from my website to set up the APN for your new unlocked phone! You can use the APN setup for your phone if you plan to use Straight Talks SIM card.   Some of you have been asking to use other phones with Straight Talk.  

I've also been asked how to unlock my phone without rooting it?  

This is one way you can unlock your phone and not worry about breaking your phone.  If your uncomfortable with rooting your phone, this is the next best option for you.   They got some excellent customer support and an Guarantee if you find a lower price only they refund the difference!  I'd be willing to bet that you will be happy with your phone being unlocked.  Give it a try and see the difference! 

See if Your Phone is on their LIST! [Affiliate Link]

Paul Sylvester

How to figure out which Straight Talk Sim to buy!

So you have an Unlocked Phone!

Just because you have an unlocked phone and can use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) doesn't mean it will work with Straight Talk.   Let's face it, not all phones are going to be compatible with Straight Talk service.  I talked about How I did it with  my HTC inspire 4G phone, but I am sure some of you have tried and failed at this because of the phone in question.   So what phones work with Straight Talk?   I'm here to help, I might not know all the answers but I will at least give you the important details and point you in the right direction.

It is about the Cell Carriers!

Knowing how some carriers only will work in certain areas can help you determine which SIM card to buy.  It however isn't always going to help.   There may be more than 4 to 5 Cell Carriers in your area and thus you might not know which phones will work with any particular Cell phone.  So I've decided to break this down into small parts and thus maybe then you can figure out if it will work with your phone!

The Data Speed of the Phone!

It isn't really the amount of data that we are worried about but which version of antenna your phone is using. Some phones use Code division multiple access (CDMA) and others use Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and thus if your try to use a CDMA on a GSM network which really are incompatible with each other.   So I will tell you which ones the major providers use:

• AT&T uses GSM
• Sprint uses CDMA
• Verizon Wireless use CDMA
• T-Mobile USES GSM

This is just a short list of providers but these are at least the major players in the USA, so you can see it is a split between CDMA and GSM!  

Now that you figured that out!

You've figured it out now, you've can know if your cell phone will work with Straight Talk.   If you have a CDMA phone you will not be able to use it with Straight Talk, but if your have a GSM.  You now have to ask find out which Frequency your phone uses!  Many GSM phones will use different frequency, some use 800 mhz and others use 1900 mhz spectrum.   You have to choice the right SIM card from Straight Talk but you also have to have the right Phone.   I suggest buying an Unlocked GSM phone [Affiliate Link]and then picking the SIM card.  

This should help you determine if your phone will work with Straight Talk but you can always go buy a GSM Unlocked Phone [Affiliate Link]to be sure!  Nothing is a guarantee when it comes to phones though!

Paul Sylvester

Buy an Unlocked GSM PHONE [Affiliate Link]