Lost Phone. Now what?

[BigDude]

I am an ATT wireless coustomer. Cingular plans can't match what I have so I don't want to switch over. Tech dufus. Can I replace my phone by buying a used one on ebay? I have GSM. What about SIMS? What must I know to buy a replacement?:

[fb]

Same situation (sort of). On a family plan that Cingular cannot touch. One phone is lost, along with its chip.

We have old phones that will accept a chip. I purchased some ATT SIMs on eBay for not too much. If you are more comfortable, I believe ATT sells the chips themselves, but for more.

You need to get an ATT branded phone or an unlocked GSM phone, either through a store or through eBay. You can call ATT to have the SIM activated. Pop it into the new phone, and you are good to go. The phone cannot be locked to anyone else, or else the chip will not work.

Do realize, though, that purchasing a new phone without contract is more expensive than a phone with a new contract.

I agree, though, that Cingular plans cannot touch some of the old ATT ones.

I am looking for a decent unlocked GSM phone myself, as the older ones my parents had did not have a good reception.