Activating the $30 Walmart/Tmobile data plan

[mikeford]

My first data plan, bought a Samsung T399 off ebay, should be here Tuesday, so I want to run down the details of activating the phone with the $30/mo Walmart / Tmobile 100 min voice, unlimited text, 5GB data plan.

Issues so far;

Walmart doesn't stock the sim and activation kit in SoCal, showing 10 days ship to store.

Tmobile has the sim kit for $10 (FREESIM code doesn't work on prepaid plans), but shows several days to ship.

Tmobile tells me a normal sim won't work with prepaid, and specifically I've seen reports of people unable to activate the Walmart plan, never shows as an option on the tmobile site during activation, so they have to go back to the Walmart and buy another kit and have Walmart send in some code.

Can Tmobile CS do anything if there is a problem?

Tmobile normal sims are free with the FREESIM code, is it pointless to get one and attempt prepaid activation?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Yeah, not much options. Unfortunately picking one up from a T-Mobile store really doesn't work, I made this mistake. Unfortunately they can't seem to just hand you a sim, they have to activate it and that screws it up and makes it uneligiable for the $30 pre-paid plan.

Best bet is ordering the pre-paid activation kit from T-Mobile and waiting for it to arrive.

 

[cpacini]

T mobile has prepaid SIM cards on sale for a penny, code is SIMDEAL

http://www.fatwallet.com/T-Mobile-coupons/t-mobile-prepaid-sim-card-activation-kit-9/77692-3/

 

[mikeford]

T mobile has prepaid SIM cards on sale for a penny, code is SIMDEAL

http://www.fatwallet.com/T-Mobile-coupons/t-mobile-prepaid-sim-card-activation-kit-9/77692-3/

Thanks done, funny to have a 1 cent charge, but that gives them a credit card number for later charges or something I guess. Opted for standard free shipping since I think the sims will ship a day or less away first class mail.

OTOH tracking says my phone is "out for delivery" getting it a day early. Charge and play with it as much as I can without a sim, none of our existing phones have a micro sim.

 

[salvorhardin]

Even with free shipping they are usually sent through ups. I ordered 2 microsims last week and received them in 2 days. You can activate that plan online, just follow the instructions and it'll show up as an available plan to choose from.

 

[yhelothar]

Yeah, not much options. Unfortunately picking one up from a T-Mobile store really doesn't work, I made this mistake. Unfortunately they can't seem to just hand you a sim, they have to activate it and that screws it up and makes it uneligiable for the $30 pre-paid plan.

Best bet is ordering the pre-paid activation kit from T-Mobile and waiting for it to arrive.

I was able to get my Walmart plan working with a Sim from the T-Mobile store. I asked for the prepaid Sim card. When I activated the Walmart plan, it was just $30 of pay as you go. I called T-Mobile and they quickly switched it to the unlimited data monthly plan.
YMMV.

 

[mikeford]

Sim arrived within two days, I forget if it was UPS or Fedex, charge was 1 cent. Took my time charging the phone etc, then carefully did the signup step by step, and all seems golden. $30/month recurring CC charge for 100 min voice, unlimited text and data (5GB at up to 4G lte speed),

Slowly adding stuff, still waiting on screen protectors to arrive before it leaves the house. Next two steps; getting wifi hotspot working free (different thread), and cleaning all the junk off the phone.

Thanks to all for the help and suggestions.

 

[mikeford]

Wifi hotspot seems to work with the $30 walmart data plan on this phone with no special service plan or app needed. More in the hotspot thread when I find it.

 

[paperwastage]

Wifi hotspot seems to work with the $30 walmart data plan on this phone with no special service plan or app needed. More in the hotspot thread when I find it.

100mb of tethering is officially included

Come back when you tether more than 100mb