topic Re: Unlocked iPhones? in Electronics

Unlocked iPhones?

Forrest3 — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:36:43 GMT

For the past few years I've been dealing with Tracfones and generally have been happy. Having said that my latest LG just died. So I am considering getting an IPhone, however I can't stand the idea of paying $70+ a month with a contract. Does anyone out there have an unlocked phone and how does it work after you buy it? Do you have to get a SIM card from ,let's say Verizon and pay a monthly fee?

Forrest

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

glb613 — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:20:41 GMT

@Forrest3 wrote:
For the past few years I've been dealing with Tracfones and generally have been happy. Having said that my latest LG just died. So I am considering getting an IPhone, however I can't stand the idea of paying $70+ a month with a contract. Does anyone out there have an unlocked phone and how does it work after you buy it? Do you have to get a SIM card from ,let's say Verizon and pay a monthly fee?
Forrest

Part of the monthly fee is the price of the phone. iPhones run around $600 and higher. Cellular companies so longer give phones away for free. So, you can pay for it outright and have a lower monthly cost or have the price of the phone bundled.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

Nuttmeg — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:42:28 GMT

@glb613 wrote:
@Forrest3 wrote:
For the past few years I've been dealing with Tracfones and generally have been happy. Having said that my latest LG just died. So I am considering getting an IPhone, however I can't stand the idea of paying $70+ a month with a contract. Does anyone out there have an unlocked phone and how does it work after you buy it? Do you have to get a SIM card from ,let's say Verizon and pay a monthly fee?
Forrest
Part of the monthly fee is the price of the phone. iPhones run around $600 and higher. Cellular companies so longer give phones away for free. So, you can pay for it outright and have a lower monthly cost or have the price of the phone bundled.

Apple has a new iPhone on the market the SE. You should got to Verizon site and take a look.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

willdob3 — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:17:34 GMT

I use an unlocked iPhone with Straight Talk no-contract unlimited service for $45 a month. Works great.

With Straight Talk, you purchase a starter kit & it has the sim cards in it. I bought one & took it to the Apple Store the day I bought my iPhone & they set it up for me.

My first iPhone what purchased through AT&T & I had a contract. I broke the contract to try no-contract plans & set them up easily. You just need the right sim card installed.

I used a couple different no-contract plans before Straight Talk. ST suits my needs well.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

mima — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:12:34 GMT

I also use Straight Talk and love it. I am currently using an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 3. I want to upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy 7S, but they don't sell unlocked versions unless it is an international model, but the international models do not have a Samsung warranty in the US. I don't know what to do really.

With Straight Talk $45 you get unlimited talk, text and you get 5 Gb data. For $55 you get unlimited talk, text and 10 GB data. That is a steal compared to ATT prices.

The drawback with ST is that you have to buy your phone outright, but the monthly charges are great for what you get.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

Moonchilde — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:47:18 GMT

Assuming you're going to buy a current model iPhone, they truly are unlocked. But I learned the hard way that my 5S, despite Apple's claims of it being "unlocked", which you *assume* means able to be used on any carrier, is not.

I purchased the 5S when it was newly released, from the Apple store, and said I planned to use it with ATT. I reiterated at the time, But I can later switch to any carrier, right? and I was assured yes, I could.

Paid for the phone up front from Apple. Took it to ATT and they put an ATT sim card in. I had a PAYG plan for 2GB of data (it might be 3 GB now) that was $60, no tax.

I subsequently moved to an area where only Verizon has good tower coverage. Went to a Verizon store to exchange sims, only to be told that Apple mislead people. Yes the phone was "unlocked" but with the 5 and 5S models, the hardware involving the useage of the sim was different between ATT and Verizon, so my 5S was useless on Verizon. They started the universal compatibility with the iPhone 6.

So, I bought a new phone (this was an unexpected financial blow, so I partially paid/partially financed with Verizon). The PAYG price I pay is within $5 of what I paid with ATT including the phone payment.

So - yes you can buy a phone outright and go with any carrier, but only with phones 6 or 6S, not with a 5 or 5S. I don't know about the new 5E, but I assume it's universal - but for sure you should ask.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

Nuttmeg — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 19:36:20 GMT

@mima wrote:
I also use Straight Talk and love it. I am currently using an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 3. I want to upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy 7S, but they don't sell unlocked versions unless it is an international model, but the international models do not have a Samsung warranty in the US. I don't know what to do really.

With Straight Talk $45 you get unlimited talk, text and you get 5 Gb data. For $55 you get unlimited talk, text and 10 GB data. That is a steal compared to ATT prices.

The drawback with ST is that you have to buy your phone outright, but the monthly charges are great for what you get.

AT&T will have a promo on this phone. Check the site everyday.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

hckynut — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 19:44:39 GMT

Last year my wife bought a Samsung S 5, not Unlocked, however. She has it through Sprint with no contract. She pays $35 a month for: Unlimited Text/Unlimited Talk and 1(maybe 2)Gb Data. She has yet to use over 175mb of Data so has no need for the higher priced Data Plan.

Like myself, she had Tracfone for years. Then came the addicting(for her anyways)Texting. Tracfone no longer worked for her Texting addiction. Now I am all by my lonesome with Tracfone. Texting? I don't even want to get started on that ¶^©¢¿π.

hckynut(john)

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

cowboy sam — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 21:13:28 GMT

@hckynut

lol!

I am learning how to text on my new LG sunset trac fone...i love the keyboard on it but still need to improve my skills.

This is my first android..and i love it.!

But i need to find where on my home button letting me know how many minutes and service days i have ..also to find on /off button on front of phone.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

mima — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 12:35:21 GMT

John, I wish Sprint worked in our area, that plan would be perfect for both DH and I.

I also wanted to mention that DH has the exact sentiments as you regarding texting.

You two need to "get with it". LOL

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

zuzubailey — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 18:57:43 GMT

I couldn't find my minutes (etc) on my phone either....finally saw a tip online that said go to the phone (like you are manually going to dial someone) and dial *777*1#. It will sound like you are getting a text and the info (data, texts, minutes) will appear on your screen.

It does work. It may take fractions of minutes (so I don't do it often), but I keep checking and I don't notice anything gone. Hope this makes sense!!! It is the only thing I have been able to find and was kind of disappointed they do not have anything on the phone or at least tell you how to do this.

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

cowboy sam — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 19:07:25 GMT

@zuzubailey

It worked!.

thank you!!!

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

hckynut — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 19:57:25 GMT

@mima

Hi to you. You know I am an electronics nut, but?? When it comes to cell phones, once they are used for everything but talking? I just ain't the least bit interested.

I'll stick with all my other electronic gadgets and if I feel like typing to a friend I'll use my full size keyboard and send 'em an e-mail.

Sounds like me and your husband are pretty similar with this texting business. Is he an electronics geek like me?

Have a good weekend and give an "at-a-boy" to your husband for me. =^..^=

hckynut(john)

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

mima — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 22:17:12 GMT

@hckynut DH is not an electronics nut at all. I wish he was. If we get a new TV, guess who sets it up? ME I have to set up everything! Of course, I'm also the one that buys them to begin with. He also refuses to use a computer for fun. He will only use his one at work for looking up things he needs to know for work. That's it.

As for texting, one of DH's employees sends him texts just to aggravate him because his notifications sound will go off. He has me remove the text when he gets home. He doesn't even know how to find the text to delete it. LOL

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

SusieQ_2 — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 21:20:28 GMT

@cowboy sam wrote:
@hckynut

lol!

I am learning how to text on my new LG sunset trac fone...i love the keyboard on it but still need to improve my skills.

This is my first android..and i love it.!

But i need to find where on my home button letting me know how many minutes and service days i have ..also to find on /off button on front of phone.

@cowboy sam The phone package came with a quick start guide but you can view the full length user guide at the link below.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/tpassets.devicebits.com/pub/91840/docs/L33L%20UG%20English%20and%20Spanish.pdf

Re: Unlocked iPhones?

cowboy sam — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 21:33:38 GMT

@SusieQ_2

Thank you i will check it out.

I do know that in order to use certain apps ..i need to be connected to google and a e-mail account and i don't want to do that..but i will read that article.