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cmtrev · 03-08-2005, 4:40 PM

Seems to me that the phones they try to sell with the prepaid service leave a lot to be desired. I'm no kid, so the games & ringtones don't blow my hair back -- I want a real phone!

Can I purchase a compatible (read GSM, CDMA, etc.) phone and SIM card of my choice and use it as a prepaid?

What's the best way to do this? Shop eBay? Go to a service center (please, no, anything but that!)?

Andy · 03-08-2005, 5:11 PM

You can get any unlocked GSM phone, off ebay or anywhere else, that has the 800/1900 bands on it, and purchase a prepaid SIM card, and everything should work fine. It's gonna cost $$$, but it's possible.

cmtrev · 03-08-2005, 6:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy84094

You can get any unlocked GSM phone, off ebay or anywhere else, that has the 800/1900 bands on it, and purchase a prepaid SIM card, and everything should work fine. It's gonna cost $$$, but it's possible.

What is your opinion of the phones that come with the prepaid plans? Again, I'm after quality reception & clarity.

Audiovox 8500 (Virgin)
Kyocera K7 (Virgin)
Kyocera K9 (Virgin)

Nokia 3595 (TMobile)
Nokia 6800 (TMobile)
Motorola v300 (TMobile)
Seimens CF62T (TMobile)

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Gideon H · 03-08-2005, 11:19 PM

The Audiovox 8500 with Virgin is horrible... I have had it and it was the worst phone I ever owned. And there's no use in getting the K7 when there's the K9, and both are good phones. If you to the Tmobile pre-paid way, I reccommend the Nokia 6800. If you have any specific questions about the phones (I am willing to give a full review

), please ask!

cmtrev · 03-09-2005, 8:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon H

The Audiovox 8500 with Virgin is horrible... I have had it and it was the worst phone I ever owned. And there's no use in getting the K7 when there's the K9, and both are good phones. If you to the Tmobile pre-paid way, I reccommend the Nokia 6800. If you have any specific questions about the phones (I am willing to give a full review

), please ask!

This reply was the most helpful one I've had yet . . . thanks!

Do you have any opinions on Virgin vs TMobile? If wishes were horses, I'd go with Verizon prepaid, but as of yet, they charge a buck a day whether you use the phone or not, so why go prepaid? I'm looking for emergency (or at least urgent) & travel use, so maybe analog signals should be part of the mix. What do you think?

wgray8231 · 03-09-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmtrev

This reply was the most helpful one I've had yet . . . thanks!

Do you have any opinions on Virgin vs TMobile? If wishes were horses, I'd go with Verizon prepaid, but as of yet, they charge a buck a day whether you use the phone or not, so why go prepaid? I'm looking for emergency (or at least urgent) & travel use, so maybe analog signals should be part of the mix. What do you think?

They charge 99 cents a day to have the IN option and 99 cents a day to have the unlimited N&W option. If you want either, you may as well go with a regular $39.99 plan and get both.

Analog is becoming less important. The only place I would regularly need it is along US-331 between Montgomery, AL and the gulf twice a year (trip down & trip back).

03-08-2005, 4:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
cmtrev Fresh Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grand Rapids Posts: 10 Phone(s): working on it Provider(s): working on it Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Prepaid service + quality phone -- just a dream? Seems to me that the phones they try to sell with the prepaid service leave a lot to be desired. I'm no kid, so the games & ringtones don't blow my hair back -- I want a real phone! Can I purchase a compatible (read GSM, CDMA, etc.) phone and SIM card of my choice and use it as a prepaid? What's the best way to do this? Shop eBay? Go to a service center (please, no, anything but that!)?

03-08-2005, 5:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Campione, Italy Posts: 10,283 Phone(s): HTC 6900 Touch, Motorola RAZR V3i Provider(s): VZW, Vodafone D2, Solomo, Swisscom Mobile Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Prepaid service + quality phone -- just a dream? You can get any unlocked GSM phone, off ebay or anywhere else, that has the 800/1900 bands on it, and purchase a prepaid SIM card, and everything should work fine. It's gonna cost $$$, but it's possible.

03-08-2005, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gideon H Quase Três Anos Com WA! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Higienópolis, São Paulo Posts: 2,234 Phone(s): Motorola E398 Provider(s): TIM Brasil Devices: Palm Tungsten E2, iPod, Presario V2311, HS850 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Prepaid service + quality phone -- just a dream? The Audiovox 8500 with Virgin is horrible... I have had it and it was the worst phone I ever owned. And there's no use in getting the K7 when there's the K9, and both are good phones. If you to the Tmobile pre-paid way, I reccommend the Nokia 6800. If you have any specific questions about the phones (I am willing to give a full review ), please ask! __________________ *Sem fronteiras... esse é como eu quero morar minha vida.*

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