Basically you can just buy a unlocked phone, AT&T carrier locked phone, or a T-Mobile Carrier locked phone and order a sim (either unlocked for an unlocked, AT&T for AT&T, or T-Mo for T-Mo). I'm not sure exactly but some people say you need to input an apn which may only be applicable to unlocked phones maybe someone else can help more.
You dont need to buy unlocked unless you are going to use a ATT sim in a T Mobile phone, or a TM sim in a ATT phone. If you have a ATT phone and want to get a ST/ATT sim for it you can use any ATT locked phone, same for TM and TM locked phone will work with the ST/TM sim.
Normally unlocked phones cost a little more so you can save by buying a locked, unless you are switching providers.
Only the ST Nokia smartphones have unlocked sims that can be transferred to other AT&T phones.
If you have one of those Nokia smartphones you can run the sim on any locked AT&T phone, you do not need to get a unlocked unit.
I think maybe I misunderstood your question. If you are asking if you can use the Nokia sim in a prepaid AT&T phone the answer is yes. I use my E71 sim in a LG Thrive which is one of their prepaid phones, my phone is not unlocked and it works just fine.
If you want to use your Nokia sim in a TMobile phone, that phone will have to be unlocked, AT&T sims will not work in TMobile phones otherwise.
Last edited by androidfonefan; May 4th, 2012 at 01:52 PM.
Only the ST Nokia smartphones have unlocked sims that can be transferred to other AT&T phones.
If you have one of those Nokia smartphones you can run the sim on any locked AT&T phone, you do not need to get a unlocked unit.
I think maybe I misunderstood your question. If you are asking if you can use the Nokia sim in a prepaid AT&T phone the answer is yes. I use my E71 sim in a LG Thrive which is one of their prepaid phones, my phone is not unlocked and it works just fine.
If you want to use your Nokia sim in a TMobile phone, that phone will have to be unlocked, AT&T sims will not work in TMobile phones otherwise.
Your info is actually outdated. You can now buy a sim card and put it into an att locked, T-Mobile locked, or normally unlocked phone. Also, if you do choose the unlocked sim, ST should choose the sim with the best coverage in your zip. So technically there are only two Sims.
The ST sim card system is a different thing.
Of all the ST phones that are sold. Only the Nokia phones have unlocked sims.
Buying the sim cards from the ST web sight is far cheaper and a better way to get the sim. But my information is not outdated.
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Sorry for asking a separate question in this thread, but it is related and I didn't to clutter the forum's with another topic.
Anyway, I'm considering going with straight talk service. I want to buy an unlocked phone, HTC ONE S if anyone cares. My question is can I select AT&T in the SIM card purchasing options even if my phone is unlocked? If I could, then I could choose which carrier I get and not let Straight Talk decide. What may be best in my home area, may not be best where I travel.
I hope someone knows or better yet, has done this and can give me some feedback before I take the plunge.
Sorry for asking a separate question in this thread, but it is related and I didn't to clutter the forum's with another topic.
Anyway, I'm considering going with straight talk service. I want to buy an unlocked phone, HTC ONE S if anyone cares. My question is can I select AT&T in the SIM card purchasing options even if my phone is unlocked? If I could, then I could choose which carrier I get and not let Straight Talk decide. What may be best in my home area, may not be best where I travel.
I hope someone knows or better yet, has done this and can give me some feedback before I take the plunge.
Thanks,
Chuck
You'll be fine if you choose. The unlocked option actually just chooses the best coverage. So it's really just two options. Whatever you go with, make sure the bands are compatible and you have good coverage where you are or where you travel for your case and you'll be all good
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Does anyone know of a good tutorial for teaching people how to unlock phones that are locked by getting the MEID and using a calculator to formulate the unlock code? I see alot of people doing it on craigslist and I am very curious to how this is done... thanks in advance.
When you're buying your sim card you're given some choices.
Phone is a CDMA (i.e. Verizon, Sprint, Metro PCS), TracFone, SafeLink, NET10, Straight Talk or BlackBerry
Unlocked Phone (Phone must operate in 850 and 1900 MHz bands)
AT&T Compatible Phone
T-Mobile Compatible Phone
I have a unlocked T-Mobile HTC Amaze 4G and I went for the "Unlocked" option. This put on the at&t 4G network.
The at&t 4G network TOTALLY BLOWS in my area.
I'm pretty sure your on the ATT 2G network, I don't think the Amaze has the right bands. The T-mobile SIM will put it on the T-mobile network with full speeds.
ATT coverage is better in my area than T-Mobile. Where do I look to find a good ATT phone with front facing camera? Unlocked or locked? Just need where to buy (Amazon, ATT)? Thanks for the great help!
Last edited by jeffj318; July 8th, 2012 at 10:03 PM.
Go on ebay; search for unlock code for the carrier your phone is locked to; pay for it; fill the imei and whatever they request, and in two hours you'll get the unlock code. Turn off your phone; put new sim you wish to use; turn on; then when prompted input the code get from ebay seller and voila your phone will work with new carrier. Very simple, cheap, convenient and safe. I did it and I have no issue at all.
I have a tmobile phone I am not using, The phone has no service on it right now. I am wanting to go to straight talk. Will I be able to purchase the sim card and use that phone again ? Its an android. I wont have to unlock anything ?
I have a tmobile phone I am not using, The phone has no service on it right now. I am wanting to go to straight talk. Will I be able to purchase the sim card and use that phone again ? Its an android. I wont have to unlock anything ?
Correct, you don't have to unlock it. Just purchase the tmobile sim and activate it.
This may be a stupid question but I'm going out of my mind trying to figure this out and I have looked a very long time. I have an iPhone 4 and my daughter has an HTC EVO inspire that we had through AT&T. The bill became to be outrageous so needless to say, my service is cancelled and we were thinking of going to ST. Someone told me that since ST offers AT&T sim cards, I don't have to unlock either my iPhone or her EVO. Is this true?
This may be a stupid question but I'm going out of my mind trying to figure this out and I have looked a very long time. I have an iPhone 4 and my daughter has an HTC EVO inspire that we had through AT&T. The bill became to be outrageous so needless to say, my service is cancelled and we were thinking of going to ST. Someone told me that since ST offers AT&T sim cards, I don't have to unlock either my iPhone or her EVO. Is this true?
Correct, they'll give you a special sim card for non straight talk phones that are gsm without unlocking them. Per sim card is $30 I do believe.
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Use code RMNST for free shipping on purchases over $19.99. If you buy a 30 day unlimited card/code with the SIM you'll meet the $19.99 requirement (you'll need the card/code anyway). Note: This is a recent offer, but I'm not sure if it's still valid.
Correct, they'll give you a special sim card for non straight talk phones that are gsm without unlocking them. Per sim card is $30 I do believe.
okay i believe my question is about the same. i have a htc hd7 from tmobile. and i am wanting to go to straight talk. all i gotta do is buy a sim card off of straight talks website and select T-Mobile Compatible Phone when i buy it and im good? do they activate the sim when i buy it or do i gotta do it after
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Re: unlock phone to straight talk
I kinda have a similar question, im buying a xperia ion to use on st, could I use the sim that comes with the phone and just get it activated without buying a sim through st? Being that its already an att phone would this work?
No you need the straight talk att compatible sim card to get service through ST.
And gamerbob you select the t-mobile sim and you'll need to purchase time either through them or somewhere else. When you receive your sim you'll have to activate it and at the same time use the month of time you bought. Its really simple and easy to do.
i am thinking about buying a new phone and switching from metro to st. is this a good idea? i wan the oppo find 5 if anyone cares. it seems to me that itd be better to get the tmobile sim as there are less issues with internet cancellation issues. on the oppo website, it says the find 5 is compatible with tmobile, att, and simple mobile, so for st, i could get either the att or tmobile sim and either would work without unlock or anything? i would get full speed data connection? (i would get tmobile as it has good service in my area and the internet cancelation issues with att). also, would i need to do anything with apn?
any thoughts on if its worth switching from metro to st?
i know its a lot of questions but the st forum is tiny and not may answers.
realized all my questions dont apply to this thread so i started a new one please reply there thank you.
Last edited by Bigbj; January 20th, 2013 at 02:20 AM.
It seems most people use AT&T or TMobile with ST. Is anyone using Verizon? Someone told me he could only find one phone available for purchase to use with the Verizon ST network, but I saw a listing on Ebay for $100 to remotely flash to the phone I have (HTC Inc 2) using a ST LG phone you have to purchase (for around $50).
Does anyone know if this is legit, or if there is another way I would be able to use my current phone with ST? My contract w/Verizon isn't up until May, but my screen is cracked and I'd like to just replace it with another Inc 2 since I like the phone, but I am seriously considering switching to ST in May so that wouldn't make sense if I end up having to buy a new phone for ST.
The reason most people use ATT or Tmo is because they use SIM cards so its just a matter of getting either the appropriate GSM phone or unlocking a GSM phone and you're good to go. To use Verizon's network on ST there is only one ST phone that uses Verizon's network and so not many people choose it.
Don't know if the flashing thing is legit or not, but personally for me its not worth it. Unless you absolutely need Verizon's coverage I'd think the long run benefit would be to get a GSM phone, then you have carrier freedom.
The ST sim card system is a different thing.
Of all the ST phones that are sold. Only the Nokia phones have unlocked sims.
Buying the sim cards from the ST web sight is far cheaper and a better way to get the sim. But my information is not outdated.
So I can't use my current ST sim in a new unlocked phone? I need to buy one of the ATT ST Sims?
It seems ST and AT&T have something going on right now..........????????????
ST has taken all references to AT&T off their website and are not selling AT&T BYOD sim cards any more. What all this means is not known as i type this. I am sure we will all have a better idea in the near future though. Lots of "thoughts" about this on other forums but a huge lack of solid info right now.
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Re: unlock phone to straight talk
Quote:
Originally Posted by flfungal
I just ordered a SIM card from ST....With my zip code and an unlocked phone that I don't have yet, it gave me T-Mobile?
How do I transfer my contacts when I activate the new phone?
Thanks!
If your old phone is an Android, and your contacts are associated with your Google account, just login to your Google account on the new phone and they'll automatically sync.
Thanks Uncle Mike, but my phone is not android. I contacted ST and they informed me to save my contacts to my current AT&T SIM card, which I've done. Apparently, when I get my new Sony unlocked phone I can download the contacts from my current SIM card to the new phone before switching services?
i am confused. I have st/at&t right now. If i want to upgrade my phone, should i get att locked phone, or att unlocked phone? Can i just move my current sim card to the new phone or do i need to get another sim card? If i have to get a new one, will i have to move over to the t mobile network? Should i get locked or unlocked t mobile phone instead?
You can just move your Straight Talk AT&T SIM card to another phone, which can either be locked to AT&T, or unlocked.
they said sim card is locked to phone. Plus, if you go more than few months w/o service or port your number out and then return, you need a new sim. So, best to use unlocked phone, and if you really want to stay on att , you can get a net10/att sim. Cost is $5 more per month, but you can cut that with auto pay or with net 10 family plan. Since tracfone/net 10/st is 25% owned by at&t, it just goes to show how dumb and greedy the att management is. At&t had a 41% profit margin last year while verizon was around 50%. Share plans with those two mean data charge rip-off, so share your paycheck/income!!!!
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unlock phone to straight talk
Which phone to choose using ATT coverage?
Tmobile
