WirelessAdvisor.com

glstan01 · 02-15-2007, 11:51 PM

My Cingular phone is functional, but damaged and no ins. Is it possible to buy a gophone at WalMart or Radio Shack and drop in my regular Cingular SIM card?

Thanks in advance,
Greg

hme83 · 02-16-2007, 12:26 AM

Absolutely! Your account/plan information are tied to your SIM so they will follow your "regular" SIM when you move it to the Go Phone.

Get the "pay as you go" plan - either don't activate the SIM that comes with the Go Phone or if it comes with a credit for activating the prepaid SIM you may want to go ahead and activate it to use to purchase ringtones, etc. rather than letting it expire unused.

SmArTeStChIlD421 · 02-18-2007, 12:09 PM

smart thinking!

he's right........you can activate the SIM card and get the activation credit if there is one and use it to download ringtones on your phone that you want then put in your regular SIM

walkguru · 02-18-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

smart thinking!

he's right........you can activate the SIM card and get the activation credit if there is one and use it to download ringtones on your phone that you want then put in your regular SIM

yep, they are so right. gsm rules

hf1khal · 02-18-2007, 5:14 PM

A warning, the Wlamart ones if used on other than the pre-pay coudl end up being disabled and a call to cingular might be needed if this happens. I think radio shack is the same too.

dmapr · 02-18-2007, 5:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hf1khal

A warning, the Wlamart ones if used on other than the pre-pay coudl end up being disabled and a call to cingular might be needed if this happens. I think radio shack is the same too.

I heard that about all third party resellers — so keeping the receipt is very important. I believe it was done as an anti-theft measure.

hf1khal · 02-18-2007, 6:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmapr

I heard that about all third party resellers — so keeping the receipt is very important. I believe it was done as an anti-theft measure.

If you buy it from cingular it will not happen, and if you buy from a small 3rd party that is safe too. The big third party sellers want to protect their income, I wonder if they get a peice of the refils for a certain period of time like the post paid.

SmArTeStChIlD421 · 02-19-2007, 9:50 AM

i'ms sure there is some commission invloved...........they are in it for the pretty penny

TehJoE234797 · 02-21-2007, 12:06 AM

Post-Paid SIM will work in prepaid phones, though randomly audits are done that search for IMEIs of prepaid phones. Then the line will be suspended and you'll have to see about a replacement, but it'll work for the time being if you're not long away from an upgrade..

P.S. always keep insurance.

Blue4Life · 02-21-2007, 9:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

Post-Paid SIM will work in prepaid phones, though randomly audits are done that search for IMEIs of prepaid phones. Then the line will be suspended and you'll have to see about a replacement, but it'll work for the time being if you're not long away from an upgrade..

P.S. always keep insurance.

I wasn't aware that any North American carrier had the ability to do random IMEI scans since none of them have an Equipment Identity Register (a very expensive piece of eqipment). I imagine if Cingular did have this capabilty, they would also be able to blacklist stolen handsets based on the IMEI like many European carriers do.

I have heard that Go-Phones purchased at Walmart will disable the phone after 15 minutes if it is not scanned correctly (or stolen). It was my understanding that this was implemented as a theft deterrent, and nothing more. Other than this, I haven't heard any one else having problems with using a "Go-Phone".

Fire14 · 02-21-2007, 1:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

Post-Paid SIM will work in prepaid phones, though randomly audits are done that search for IMEIs of prepaid phones. Then the line will be suspended and you'll have to see about a replacement, but it'll work for the time being if you're not long away from an upgrade..

P.S. always keep insurance.

I have never heard of this either & if they are doing Pre-Paid phones, then they must be doing post-paid accounts, so if you have an unlocked/unbranded phone does that mean they would suspend them as well?

SmArTeStChIlD421 · 02-21-2007, 6:57 PM

yeah itd be nice if they started using that over here.............unfortunately we are Americans.........we are lazy

hf1khal · 02-21-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire14

I have never heard of this either & if they are doing Pre-Paid phones, then they must be doing post-paid accounts, so if you have an unlocked/unbranded phone does that mean they would suspend them as well?

No they can not do that at all, I beleive the law is there to protect the consumer for this. But the pre-paid, well I think this was something that was asked for by the retailer to protect its investment.

SmArTeStChIlD421 · 02-21-2007, 11:36 PM

it makes sense.........nobody wants to get stolen from

Fire14 · 02-22-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hf1khal

No they can not do that at all, I beleive the law is there to protect the consumer for this. But the pre-paid, well I think this was something that was asked for by the retailer to protect its investment.

I can see where they would do this then for Pre-Paid for the resellers, as long as they don't try & do it for post-paid, but I don't see that happening from what your saying.

walkguru · 02-22-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire14

I can see where they would do this then for Pre-Paid for the resellers, as long as they don't try & do it for post-paid, but I don't see that happening from what your saying.

i have bought several prepaid phones from walmart and sam's. and gave them to friends that had messed up there phones. no proublms yet. just be sure they get scanned at the check out.

SmArTeStChIlD421 · 02-22-2007, 5:22 PM

i have a friend who went to like Boston for a trip and while he was there he bought about $100 in Top Up cards for his Virgin Mobile phone............when he got home he tried to top up his phone and Virgin told him that the cards were never activated.........he called that Best Buy and they said that they were having trouble with the sstems that communicate with Virgin and a few of the other companies and the cards were never registered as activated even though he purchased them........they said if hew wanted them activated he had to go back to that branch.............wat a waste of $100

Fire14 · 02-23-2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

i have a friend who went to like Boston for a trip and while he was there he bought about $100 in Top Up cards for his Virgin Mobile phone............when he got home he tried to top up his phone and Virgin told him that the cards were never activated.........he called that Best Buy and they said that they were having trouble with the sstems that communicate with Virgin and a few of the other companies and the cards were never registered as activated even though he purchased them........they said if hew wanted them activated he had to go back to that branch.............wat a waste of $100

I can't believe he couldn't go to a Best Buy by him and have them call the store where he bought them to get them activated. Maybe he should call Best Buy Corp. and see what they can do for him.

dmapr · 02-23-2007, 2:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire14

I can't believe he couldn't go to a Best Buy by him and have them call the store where he bought them to get them activated. Maybe he should call Best Buy Corp. and see what they can do for him.

And if he paid with a credit card, I'm pretty sure this is grounds for a chargeback.

hme83 · 02-23-2007, 2:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmapr

And if he paid with a credit card, I'm pretty sure this is grounds for a chargeback.

Yeah - I would say so. Just dispute the charge with the credit card company. The few times I've done this it has definitely been instrumental in getting resolution from the provider.

SmArTeStChIlD421 · 02-23-2007, 4:11 PM

he was P.O.'d but he wasnt that mad.........

hf1khal · 02-23-2007, 4:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

he was P.O.'d but he wasnt that mad.........

The he is a one calm person. I woudl not take it litely when some one sells me soemthing and then tells me that tehy ahd an issue and to go back to teh location especialy when one is not near that location. They should have at least gave him better guidance as to what others way hes can go about to get the issue respoved especialy when it is a corporate owned large retail center like Best Buy. They should be able to acitivate it from any store and shoudl be able to get confirmation from teh main selling store that yes that did happen. other wise they are legaly responsible for his cost on the purchase and should give him a refund.

02-15-2007, 11:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
glstan01 I made my first post! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: KY Posts: 1 Provider(s): Cingular Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Go Phone as replacement? My Cingular phone is functional, but damaged and no ins. Is it possible to buy a gophone at WalMart or Radio Shack and drop in my regular Cingular SIM card? Thanks in advance, Greg

02-16-2007, 12:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
hme83 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 564 Phone(s): Nokia E70-2 & 6820, SE W580i Provider(s): at&t Thanks: 2 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? Absolutely! Your account/plan information are tied to your SIM so they will follow your "regular" SIM when you move it to the Go Phone. Get the "pay as you go" plan - either don't activate the SIM that comes with the Go Phone or if it comes with a credit for activating the prepaid SIM you may want to go ahead and activate it to use to purchase ringtones, etc. rather than letting it expire unused.

02-18-2007, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
SmArTeStChIlD421 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 3,661 Phone(s): Motorola RAZR V3m (Red) Provider(s): Sprint Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? smart thinking! he's right........you can activate the SIM card and get the activation credit if there is one and use it to download ringtones on your phone that you want then put in your regular SIM

02-18-2007, 5:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
hf1khal Who am I to judge Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ashburn VA Posts: 1,832 Phone(s): iphon3G,Tilt,BB8800,Razr2, BB Pearl & Moto A780 Provider(s): AT&T Mobility, MTC, Wataniya Devices: MP3, GPS & PDA Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? A warning, the Wlamart ones if used on other than the pre-pay coudl end up being disabled and a call to cingular might be needed if this happens. I think radio shack is the same too.

02-19-2007, 9:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
SmArTeStChIlD421 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 3,661 Phone(s): Motorola RAZR V3m (Red) Provider(s): Sprint Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? i'ms sure there is some commission invloved...........they are in it for the pretty penny

02-21-2007, 12:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
TehJoE234797 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 383 Phone(s): Samsung D807, Samsung a727, Samsung Blackjack Provider(s): Cingular/at&t Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? Post-Paid SIM will work in prepaid phones, though randomly audits are done that search for IMEIs of prepaid phones. Then the line will be suspended and you'll have to see about a replacement, but it'll work for the time being if you're not long away from an upgrade.. P.S. always keep insurance.

02-21-2007, 6:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
SmArTeStChIlD421 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 3,661 Phone(s): Motorola RAZR V3m (Red) Provider(s): Sprint Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? yeah itd be nice if they started using that over here.............unfortunately we are Americans.........we are lazy

02-21-2007, 11:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
SmArTeStChIlD421 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 3,661 Phone(s): Motorola RAZR V3m (Red) Provider(s): Sprint Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? it makes sense.........nobody wants to get stolen from

02-22-2007, 5:22 PM	#17 (permalink)
SmArTeStChIlD421 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 3,661 Phone(s): Motorola RAZR V3m (Red) Provider(s): Sprint Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? i have a friend who went to like Boston for a trip and while he was there he bought about $100 in Top Up cards for his Virgin Mobile phone............when he got home he tried to top up his phone and Virgin told him that the cards were never activated.........he called that Best Buy and they said that they were having trouble with the sstems that communicate with Virgin and a few of the other companies and the cards were never registered as activated even though he purchased them........they said if hew wanted them activated he had to go back to that branch.............wat a waste of $100

02-23-2007, 4:11 PM	#21 (permalink)
SmArTeStChIlD421 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 3,661 Phone(s): Motorola RAZR V3m (Red) Provider(s): Sprint Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Go Phone as replacement? he was P.O.'d but he wasnt that mad.........

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