Anyone know a lot about cell phones/carriers?

[dan_Vt]

After a break from being reachable everywhere and all the time, I'm getting a cellphone again. I'm wondering if any people here may know the answer to this question before I go store to store:

What carriers allow you to purchase an unlocked phone to use? (I think some carriers you have to buy one of theirs)

Thanks for any help, rep will be added.

D

 

[dgridley]

Your best bet is to hit a cell phone forum and start asking questions.. me, I prefer a non-contract phone and they have some nice ones. Then it boils down to coverage and reception so it really is a multi-faceted decision. I have the Virgin Mobile Switchback and love it!

 

[dan_Vt]

Thanks Dave. Does Virgin run on their own network, or buy time on another?

 

[dgridley]

They're on Sprint.. so coverage may be good in your area, or not.. tends to run along major highways tho the plans are good.

Thanks Dave. Does Virgin run on their own network, or buy time on another?

 

[MNADomains]

After a break from being reachable everywhere and all the time, I'm getting a cellphone again. I'm wondering if any people here may know the answer to this question before I go store to store:

What carriers allow you to purchase an unlocked phone to use? (I think some carriers you have to buy one of theirs)

Thanks for any help, rep will be added.

D

dan,

Currently carriers are only selling locked phones for their service. You can get unlocked phones in the secondary market to use on any carrier you choose.

There are discussions now where the FTC wants carriers to sell unlocked phones, but because of exclusives with manuf's this is an issue.

Cheers

 

[dan_Vt]

They're on Sprint.. so coverage may be good in your area, or not.. tends to run along major highways tho the plans are good.

Thanks Dave.

dan,

Currently carriers are only selling locked phones for their service. You can get unlocked phones in the secondary market to use on any carrier you choose.

There are discussions now where the FTC wants carriers to sell unlocked phones, but because of exclusives with manuf's this is an issue.

Cheers

Hmm, I'm not sure that's true. I think I read somewhere that some carriers only allow access to their networks from certain phones, so if you buy an unlocked phone that's not a model they support it won't work. I could be wrong...

 

[dgridley]

This is the phone I have.. for prepaid you can't beat it.. they also have ths phone on several other carriers:

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/phones/phoneDetail.do?skuId=VMK612

 

[Broker]

Dan, if you go the plan route I have tried many of the popular carriers and have now been with t-mobile for 3 years. Not one complaint and very affordable.

 

[E-Thunder]

Hi Dan,
I'm not sure how the service is in your area in VT but GSM carriers support unlocked phones including T-Mobile, Cingular, and possibly Unicell if in VT. Sprint and Verizon use CDMA which is not compatible w/ unlock GSM phones. Hope this helps.