I purchased a Galaxy s5 outright. It's locked. I don't have a Straight Talk account. I'm starting brand new. Can I take my phone to Walmart, purchase the Straight Talk Activation kit for Galaxy s5 and have the associate get my phone working? The activation kit costs $60. I presume that includes the SIM card I will need for it to work in this phone. Or, do I have to get an AT&T account first in order to unlock the phone so it can be used with Straight Talk? Please be as specific as possible when answering because i am new at this and need all the help I can get! Thank you!
just moved FROM straightalk myself to verizon.
1. not sure if S5 is even supported... maybe
2. check the straightalk website for BYOP (bring your own phone). you input your IMEID number or whatever and itll tell you if the phone is useable.
3. you have to have an "unlocked" phone
4. not sure about the activation kit; sometimes they are like $7, no 60... but i could be wrong.
5. walmart folks are not ST folks, so no, i would not count on them assisting you; you could try the phone, but service will vary depending on who you talk to; be prepared to talk to like 8 different people: i had to just to port my number over, very frustrating.
I've been on ST for about 2 years, using 99% iPhones, which were very hard to set up (back when ST started). Now, I have S5 Active and iPhone 5 and both work very well.
You don't need no $70 BS activation package. Just go to http://www.straighttalkbyop.com click Option 2 and buy yourself an AT$T compatible SIM card, assuming you have an AT$T S5. The SIM card is LTE ready, costs $6.99 and ships FREE via FedEx 2-day service.
1. If you're getting a new phone number, register your sim at www.straighttalk.com when you receive it and system will assign you a new number.
2. If you are porting your old phone number you can still do it from straighttalk.com (you'll need your old carrier account password or access PIN for that). Avoid calling ST, they have horrible CS. It will take an hour to set it up and this is if you understand what CS rep says 100% of the time which is close to impossible Their website is easy to navigate, you'll figure it out.
Now, pop the SIM in and enjoy your new $45 *unlimited* service. You will need to create a new APN entry for ST. Here you can get the right APN settings.
Related
This is my first phone in America so don't really understand the system but:
I just received my DVP (on pre paid.) I put the sim card it came with in, phoned up t-mobile to try and activate it and they asked for the activation code on my welcome pack (which I didn't receive? should I of done?) and they were saying that I would need to buy a new sim card (which she quoted $30) to get it to work as my current sim is useless.
So I try dell and they won't respond to me so I'm a bit lost now.
How do I activate this thing?
Do I just need to push dell to send me a new welcome pack or do I not need it and can I activate through another way.
Thanks
senior800 said:
This is my first phone in America so don't really understand the system but:
I just received my DVP (on pre paid.) I put the sim card it came with in, phoned up t-mobile to try and activate it and they asked for the activation code on my welcome pack (which I didn't receive? should I of done?) and they were saying that I would need to buy a new sim card (which she quoted $30) to get it to work as my current sim is useless.
So I try dell and they won't respond to me so I'm a bit lost now.
How do I activate this thing?
Do I just need to push dell to send me a new welcome pack or do I not need it and can I activate through another way.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took mine into a physical T-mobile store, and they activated the SIM for $10.
O ok thanks, will try that then.
Just seems strange you're given a simcard which you can't use without paying more. You would of though the companies would want as many people on thei network as they can get.
The best thing for you to do is stop by a Tmo store. But if you are using pay as you go, you might need to buy a sim. FYI, my DVP worked fine with my old sim.
TechMan-2012 said:
The best thing for you to do is stop by a Tmo store. But if you are using pay as you go, you might need to buy a sim. FYI, my DVP worked fine with my old sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to get them to activate the SIM that came in the box, on a pay-as-you-go plan. The in-store rep just has to call into headquarters, charge you $10 for activation, and ask you what plan you want.
benjaminries said:
I was able to get them to activate the SIM that came in the box, on a pay-as-you-go plan. The in-store rep just has to call into headquarters, charge you $10 for activation, and ask you what plan you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all I did was put in the new SIM and make a call. I was immediately redirected to tmo. I was asked new or existing number. I said existing...gave them the number off of the sim. We disconnected, and in 5 minutes everything was running.
Thanks guys.
In the end I just bought an activation kit off ebay for like $3 and it worked a treat.
I had assumed the simcard would come with everything required to activate it and mine was missing.
Hello Folks
Would love your feed back on following questions:
1) I came across a Unlock Galaxy Tab International Version and I was wondering if I would be able to use it with a pre paid sim card to get voice and text messaging on ATT network without modifying the stock rom on it?
2) If I choose to modify the rom, what would you recommend I use. I read the newbie guide but not sure it has reached a conclusion on what works best for both voice and data?
3) If I want to be able to access data and voice, what would be the "economical" plan prepaid or postpaid that you would recommend?
If you would like link other thread that might answer my questions, your help is much appreciated
Thanks in Advance
Regards,
i own a us tmobile tab which i was able to unlock, i went out and bought an att prepaid card just to test to see if the tab was actually locked, i started with the $25 prepaid and all i can tell you is that it all the funds disappeared in less than a day, i have no clue why, i was only able to test it with 2 phone calls and about 3 tries to go online. not sure if its worth it so you might have to go with a contract but then again not sure if you want that as att is a pain in the ass and giving customers with the tab a big hassle.
I don't see why not. You can use it on both Att and Tmobile.
Tmo has prepaid service including voice and sms for about $0.13 per minute. If you pay in advance $100 you will get $0.10 per minute good for whole year.
Att likes to charge you evry month.
Hello,
Just wanted to update my original post.
1) I picked up the international version of Samsung Galaxy Tab, and it seems to have capability to join either CDMA or GSM network, which I was pleasantly surprised to find as it gives options of network providers.
2) Popped in my prepaid sims from Puretalk USA which uses ATT network but Edge Network for prepaid calling and after going into settings and picking the network, I was able to make and receive calls on it
3) The phone came unlocked, but its not rooted so not sure if I should root it?
Please advice on point 3
Regards
Rooting is not necessary unless you want full control over your Tab.
You will be able to
- remove apps and services you are not using,
- install firewall,
- make full backup of your Tab
- upgrade to a better firmware yourself etc.
Basically, you will gain ability to do whaterver you want including bricking it.
It is a matter of choice and absulutely not mandatory. Typically stock software is not bad.
I want to purchase the Galaxy Note unlocked. I have many questions that I hope someone could answer. I will need a SIM card and was planning on using Straight Talk pre-paid. I will use the note most of the time with a wi-fi connection at home and work. I will not have a phone number to transfer to it. My basic question is will i get a functioning phone (text, talk, and data) by purchasing the Note unlocked, a SIM card and some kind of pre-paid plan for around 50.00 per month?
lostbutnotfound said:
I want to purchase the Galaxy Note unlocked. I have many questions that I hope someone could answer. I will need a SIM card and was planning on using Straight Talk pre-paid. I will use the note most of the time with a wi-fi connection at home and work. I will not have a phone number to transfer to it. My basic question is will i get a functioning phone (text, talk, and data) by purchasing the Note unlocked, a SIM card and some kind of pre-paid plan for around 50.00 per month?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if the note is unlocked... whatever sim you decide on will work with whatever stuff comes with it... you will have to set up the apn to get the mms and internet to work... theres threads all over this forum with the settings..
So, yesterday I said goodbye to Sprint and the account is activated and I have till 1-7-13 to port the number out or they will charge for another month of service rates. I have ordered a Nexus 4 and will be here in 6-7 weeks, patience is a virtue. In the meantime I am using an old flip phone with AT&T pay as you go for $25.00 I want to port my sprint number but, do not have the new phone before 1-7-13 when the account will be closed.
Questions:
1-I ordered a Tmobile prepaid micro sim card and should get it tomorrow. Should I go ahead and activate the sim card and port the number even though I do not have the Nexus 4 yet?
2- If I activate online, can I port the Sprint number online or should I call TMobile to do it?
3-Can I buy a cheap TMobile prepaid phone, activate it and then switch the sim card to the Nexus 4 when it comes in? Doing this will allow me to test TMobile in my area before I get the phone or since it is a cheap phone I should wait to get the beast?
4-What is the advantage of porting the number to Google Voice? If I am possibly going to be testing TMobile and ATT Straight Talk plans for a month each. I do not want to lose my 13 year old phone number and have to notify all my contacts of a new number from either ATT or TMobile.
I am just trying to make a smooth and simple porting of the phone number from Sprint asap since the account will be closed on -7-13 before the Nexus 4 gets to me. Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
It is a bit confusing when the Walmart employee tells me that the TMobile sim cards with the phones they sell are tied to those phones and you can not switch to the Nexus 4. She also told me that the $30.00 plan on TMobile only applies to Walmart purchased phones. When I questioned TMobile on this, they stated that was not true and since I am not buying the phone from Walmart, I can order the TMobile prepaid sim card and activate it online and still get the $30 plan. Then, to call TMobile and they would port my number over.
Thanking in advance,
Ian B
1) Unless you have a phone in which you can activate the MicroSIM card you plan to use in the N4, wait. The setup process asks for an IMEI, and while I don't think it matters, you wouldn't have your Nexus 4's IMEI yet.
2) When you activate the T-Mobile MicroSIM, the process will include having them transfer the number from Sprint. Just have your Sprint account info handy.
3) The advantage of using Google Voice is that it adds some flexibility in how it's used, without using "minutes". This is popular on, for example, the $30/month T-Mobile plan, since it only has 100 minutes of talk.
Ajfink said:
1) Unless you have a phone in which you can activate the MicroSIM card you plan to use in the N4, wait. The setup process asks for an IMEI, and while I don't think it matters, you wouldn't have your Nexus 4's IMEI yet.
2) When you activate the T-Mobile MicroSIM, the process will include having them transfer the number from Sprint. Just have your Sprint account info handy.
3) The advantage of using Google Voice is that it adds some flexibility in how it's used, without using "minutes". This is popular on, for example, the $30/month T-Mobile plan, since it only has 100 minutes of talk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AJ;
Thanks for the info but, as you can see the account will close on 1-7-13 before the Nexus 4 gets to me at the end of January 2013. I could get the cheapest prepaid TMobile phone to activate the sim card and get the Sprint phone number ported over before I lose it on 1-7-13 which I do not want to lose.
What do you think on buying the cheapest prepaid TMo phone idea?
Thanks again,
Ian B
Mr Ian B said:
AJ;
Thanks for the info but, as you can see the account will close on 1-7-13 before the Nexus 4 gets to me at the end of January 2013. I could get the cheapest prepaid TMobile phone to activate the sim card and get the Sprint phone number ported over before I lose it on 1-7-13 which I do not want to lose.
What do you think on buying the cheapest prepaid TMo phone idea?
Thanks again,
Ian B
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't need a device to activate your sim card through Straight Talk (i'm on it now with AT&T). The only thing it will ask for is your straight talk SIM Card information and the phone number you want to port.
https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/Activate - Select "Transfer my number from another company"
It will walk you through the steps, I did this with both my wife and I account (both coming from Verizon).
Porting for my wife took only 30 minutes while mine took close to 8 hours. It will still port even though you dont have it in a device. From what I remember you can only confirm the port was successful is when you use the SIM (it shows as HOME instead of No Service).
If you want to ask straight talk directly, best to use their twitter feed as they respond better there.
ibegary said:
You shouldn't need a device to activate your sim card through Straight Talk (i'm on it now with AT&T). The only thing it will ask for is your straight talk SIM Card information and the phone number you want to port.
https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/Activate - Select "Transfer my number from another company"
It will walk you through the steps, I did this with both my wife and I account (both coming from Verizon).
Porting for my wife took only 30 minutes while mine took close to 8 hours. It will still port even though you dont have it in a device. From what I remember you can only confirm the port was successful is when you use the SIM (it shows as HOME instead of No Service).
If you want to ask straight talk directly, best to use their twitter feed as they respond better there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Ibegary;
I will hold off on buying a prepaid phone then. I called earlier Straight Talk customer service and had a hard time understanding them. I don't use Twitter but, your link is pretty self explanatory. I think is the same issue with TMobile. They just shipped my sim card today and once it comes in, I can port the number to them without having a device and activate the sim card. They told me I have 120 days to get money into the account.
Ian B
ibegary said:
snip.....It will walk you through the steps, I did this with both my wife and I account (both coming from Verizon)....snip...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About Verizon -- Do you know how the Verizon billing process comes into play. I am currently with Verizon, on contract. Waiting and preparing for the N4. Received a shipping confirmation today, for the Straighttalk ATT microsim card. Will I need to call Verizon and cancel my service, after ST ports the number from my Verizon account? If the number is ported in the middle of the Verizon billing cycle, do I get nicked for the whole billing period? Or, are Verizon charges suspended, automatically, once ST takes control of the number? I would like to avoid the charge for a whole month of Verizon, if the N4 arrives on or shortly after the start of a new billing period. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Bill M
First question: Do you plan to use Google Voice?
If NO, then hold off on activating the SIM until you have your phone in hand.
If YES, then this is the perfect time to port your number to Google Voice from Sprint (as I did) so you get to keep the same phone number and use VOIP to make and receive your calls, plus all the benefits of Google Voice. It will take 24 hours exactly until the number port is complete. It will take a day or two more until you can receive text messages through Google Voice. When you finally have your Nexus 4 phone in hand, activate the SIM per the included instructions in conjunction with the IMEI number on the new phone. You DO NOT want to port your number to T-mobile during the activation, just get a new number. You can quickly forget about this new number. There are guides already on how to setup VOIP with Google Voice + Pbxes.org using SipDroid to do all the configuration for you, then you can delete the SipDroid app off your phone. You DO want to install CSipSimple on your phone and configure it to connect to Pbxes.org (which is already wired to use GTalk and Google Voice by now). CSipSimple will integrate with the android stock dialer, or you can use CSipSimple as your default dialer. One more thing, I got tired of Android asking me if I want to make a VOIP call using Pbxes or Cell (T-mobile minutes) that inside CSipSimple I made a rule that ALL calls be made by Pbxes. So, I just use my phone as normal and CSipSimple makes the call and answers my calls. It really really is wonderful when I look at my T-mobile minutes, but none have been used and I get great call quality.
Antebios said:
First question: Do you plan to use Google Voice?
If NO, then hold off on activating the SIM until you have your phone in hand.
If YES, then this is the perfect time to port your number to Google Voice from Sprint (as I did) so you get to keep the same phone number and use VOIP to make and receive your calls, plus all the benefits of Google Voice. It will take 24 hours exactly until the number port is complete. It will take a day or two more until you can receive text messages through Google Voice. When you finally have your Nexus 4 phone in hand, activate the SIM per the included instructions in conjunction with the IMEI number on the new phone. You DO NOT want to port your number to T-mobile during the activation, just get a new number. You can quickly forget about this new number. There are guides already on how to setup VOIP with Google Voice + Pbxes.org using SipDroid to do all the configuration for you, then you can delete the SipDroid app off your phone. You DO want to install CSipSimple on your phone and configure it to connect to Pbxes.org (which is already wired to use GTalk and Google Voice by now). CSipSimple will integrate with the android stock dialer, or you can use CSipSimple as your default dialer. One more thing, I got tired of Android asking me if I want to make a VOIP call using Pbxes or Cell (T-mobile minutes) that inside CSipSimple I made a rule that ALL calls be made by Pbxes. So, I just use my phone as normal and CSipSimple makes the call and answers my calls. It really really is wonderful when I look at my T-mobile minutes, but none have been used and I get great call quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A couple of questions, Straight talk and TMobile prepaid do not handle mms, correct? If that is so, can I get mms through google voice?
Your set up sounds too complicated for me and I only average about 40-60 mins of talk time per month so not worried about the 100 mins in the $30 TMob plan.
Thanks,
Ian B
P.S.---if someone in the Austin, Cedar Park area w a Nexus 4 with ST or TMob prepaid, send me a pm so you can call me and I can pick your brain on this stuff.
bmoke said:
About Verizon -- Do you know how the Verizon billing process comes into play. I am currently with Verizon, on contract. Waiting and preparing for the N4. Received a shipping confirmation today, for the Straighttalk ATT microsim card. Will I need to call Verizon and cancel my service, after ST ports the number from my Verizon account? If the number is ported in the middle of the Verizon billing cycle, do I get nicked for the whole billing period? Or, are Verizon charges suspended, automatically, once ST takes control of the number? I would like to avoid the charge for a whole month of Verizon, if the N4 arrives on or shortly after the start of a new billing period. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Bill M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not call Verizon in fact you do not need to talk to Verizon at all
What will happen is straight talk will take your account number and billing pin and start the port for you with Verizon once the port is complete Verizon will close the line for the account
About 2 to 3 weeks later you will receive your final bill from Verizon that will include any ETF charges and any credit for the remaining of your billing cycle where there was no usage
So for example if your billing cycle is on the 29th and you ported on the 14th then you'll be charged for 14 days of service and then you'll be credited the other 14 or 15 days
Hope this helps
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I recently bought the phone brand new - Verizon version XT1609 but I intended to use a postpaid SIM card with it. Did not activate the SIM card that it came with. Now, using a postpaid SIM card, I can send messages but cannot make or take calls, or even use data. When I check the cellular network state (under SIM status in About Phone), it tells me that I am disconnected. It's my first time buying a prepaid-compatible phone so I'm not sure what the best solution is. I'm guessing Verizon is trying to block my SIM card because it's supposed to work with a prepaid SIM card?
Appreciate any input from you guys. Thanks!
VZW is blocking you. You *may* get lucky and get a friendly tech support agent that would be willing to activate the phone post paid. I was able to do this with an old moto E, but then failed again with a moto g4. Your sim likely also has a lock on it now, you you will have to call VZW for your sim to work in a prepaid phone.
Give them a call and play dumb, you may get lucky.
Same
Hey yeah,
Same this happened to me. It literally took a week to get a support agent to fix it. When I got him though it took all of 20 minutes. Most agents will insist it cannot be done but it can. Just keep asking for a supervisor. Although, the guy who did fix it wasn't a MOD. I was given bad info from the original chat support agent I spoke to when I asked if I could do this in the first place. That dude was yeah it's no problem. But it actually is a huge issue. However, keep at it and it can be done. Hope this helps.
I wasn't very lucky.
My postpaid SIM card really was blocked. They said I had to activate the phone on a prepaid card first and then pay for 1 month (I couldn't even find the 30 dollar plan anymore.. so sneaky) before I can have it used for postpaid. I might as well have gotten it unlocked lol. Thanks everyone!