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09-19-2012, 03:18 PM
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#1
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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Question Regarding "Unlocked" iPhone 4/4S
Hi all. I want to switch to Cricket for my cell phone provider as they offer $55/month unlimited everything with the iPhone 4/4S. Is there a difference between "factory unlocked" and "user unlocked" iPhone 4/4S? If so, would it make any difference when trying to activate that phone on Cricket?
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09-19-2012, 03:22 PM
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#2
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Moderator
SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones PCs
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,567
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Step 1: Cricket is CDMA, so you'll need a Verizon or Sprint iPhone to start.
Step 2: Get your iPhone flashed over to Cricket's network. Find a reputable Cricket dealer in your area and they'll flash your phone for a fee.
You don't need an unlocked GSM iPhone for Cricket because it isn't compatible with their network.
Personally I would go with Straight Talk's pre-paid $45/month unlimited everything plan instead. $10 less, it runs on AT&T's nationwide post-paid network (which has better coverage and speed than Cricket), and you can use any AT&T locked or unlocked device on it (including iPhones).
www.straighttalksim.com
www.straighttalk.com
__________________
Nate Silver Is God
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09-19-2012, 03:27 PM
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#3
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Super Moderator
Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Posts: 6,952
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I agree with everything jpeyton wrote... including the last paragraph. 
Usually when people talk about unlocked iPhones, they mean GSM-network compatible unlocked iPhones. You don't want one of those, you want a Verizon/Sprint iPhone which has been flashed to Cricket's network.
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09-19-2012, 03:36 PM
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#4
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,852
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What data speed does straight talk have? Is it edge or do they limit speed after 1gb etc? Their site sucks.
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09-19-2012, 03:37 PM
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#5
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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I'm confused now ... should I get a CDMA or a GSM phone for straight talk? Does it matter? Or do both CDMA and GSM have the $45/month deal? I guess I'll go poke around on the sites.
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09-19-2012, 03:42 PM
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#6
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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OK ... I think I get the gist of it. Echoing jpeyton...
1) I buy an AT&T compatible (GSM) iPhone 4/4S
2) Go to StraightTalk and port my number from VZW.
3) Profit?
At this point, does having it unlocked even matter?
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09-19-2012, 03:42 PM
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#7
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,034
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Straight Talk is basically a 2gb cap. Only GSM smartphones will work.
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09-19-2012, 03:43 PM
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#8
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Moderator
SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones PCs
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,567
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Quote:
Originally Posted by God Mode
What data speed does straight talk have? Is it edge or do they limit speed after 1gb etc? Their site sucks.
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It's everything but LTE, so that includes HSDPA if your phone supports it. Everything is routed through Straight Talk's proxy, but speeds are typical 3G/pseudo-4G.
__________________
Nate Silver Is God
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09-19-2012, 03:44 PM
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#9
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Moderator
SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones PCs
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,567
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Nick
At this point, does having it unlocked even matter?
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Nope, it doesn't matter. Just order the AT&T-compatible microSIM from straighttalksim.com and pop it into an AT&T branded phone.
__________________
Nate Silver Is God
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09-19-2012, 03:46 PM
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#10
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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Thanks for suggesting StraightTalk too, jpeyton... I never knew about it
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11-07-2012, 11:35 AM
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#11
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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Hey guys, I just bought a 4S from a good dude here on AT. I don't need to bring my phone to the store for them to "activate" it, right? I can just order the SIM online??
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11-07-2012, 11:37 AM
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#12
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Lifer
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 12,975
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order a sim and service card
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11-07-2012, 12:13 PM
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#13
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Golden Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,875
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Nick
Hey guys, I just bought a 4S from a good dude here on AT. I don't need to bring my phone to the store for them to "activate" it, right? I can just order the SIM online??
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Straight Talk doesn't have stores really. They sell their refill cards and phones at walmart, but they don't have real stores for support.
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11-07-2012, 01:59 PM
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#14
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ImDonly1
Straight Talk doesn't have stores really. They sell their refill cards and phones at walmart, but they don't have real stores for support.
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Right, that's what I meant (bring it to Wal-Mart). I can't buy the SIMs at Wal-Mart?
Edit, no worries now. Just bought the micro SIM and service plan on the site.
Last edited by Saint Nick; 11-07-2012 at 02:19 PM.
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11-07-2012, 11:46 PM
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#15
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Golden Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,875
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Nick
Right, that's what I meant (bring it to Wal-Mart). I can't buy the SIMs at Wal-Mart?
Edit, no worries now. Just bought the micro SIM and service plan on the site.
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FYI, you could have used the coupon simsave and got the SIM and a $45 refill for a total of $45. This makes the sim free and only pay $45 for the refill.
Might be a little late now.
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11-08-2012, 08:22 AM
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#16
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ImDonly1
FYI, you could have used the coupon simsave and got the SIM and a $45 refill for a total of $45. This makes the sim free and only pay $45 for the refill.
Might be a little late now.
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Actually I did use that coupon as I googled for a few before purchasing Cheers Donly
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11-08-2012, 09:26 AM
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#17
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Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Land of Ooze
Posts: 17,339
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Sounds like I'm going to have to do some trickery to make it work great with Straight Talk. Apparently MMS doesn't work unless the phone is jail broken.
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11-08-2012, 06:06 PM
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#18
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Lifer
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 12,975
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