Flaw in my plan to get phone from Craigslist, switch to StraightTalk and use GV?

[cycleback1]

I moved to a much larger city and want to get a smart phone to have access to maps and email. Currently, I have two phone numbers; an ATT national plan with an ancient phone and a Tracfone on which I am almost out of minutes. Both numbers are in use and I slightly prefer the number on the Tracfone though I end up using the ATT number much more often. To keep my expenses down I am considering buying a used iPhone 4S or a Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Craigslist and switching to Straight Talk and using Google voice to keep my Tracfone number.

What I am planning is the following:

1) Purchase a used iPhone 4S or Samsung Galaxy Nexus from Craigslist

2) Port my ATT number to Straight Talk

3) Wait for Straight Talk Sim to arrive

4) Pop Straight Talk Sim into purchased phone

5) Port my Tracfone number to Google Voice


Questions:

A) Does my plan have any fatal flaws?

B) What is the best way to buy a phone off of Craiglist? How do I check if it has been stolen?

C) Has anyone ported a number back from Google Voice?

D) What have peoples experiences with Google Voice been? What don't you like?

E) Is there any reason not to port both numbers to Google Voice?

F) My personal and work email is handled through Gmail and my work calendar also uses google. Would an Android device be a better choice? I have never used one. I have an iPad but don't have iTunes on my computer.

 

[ImDonly1]

There is no current way of telling if it is stolen for ATT/T-mobile. Maybe at an ATT store/calling, but even then not sure. They can also sell you a legit phone, and claim it as lost the next day to get an insurance replacement. Not saying it's common, but craigslist sellers are a different bunch.

I would only buy a phone with all accessories and box to make sure it is not stolen. Until we get a IMEI database lookup tool.

 

[pm]

A. No, not that I can see. Make sure you are careful not to buy a stolen phone - they are getting blacklisted nowadays... which is new. The carrier's blacklisting stolen phones is probably a good thing, but it makes it scarier to buy used devices - particularly from anonymous places like Craigslist. I would ask the seller to provide the original box, or a receipt if you can. The whole blacklisting of cell phone IMEI's brings a new level of "caveat emptor" to buying cell phones on Craiglist, so just be careful because if you buy a stolen blacklisted phone, you don't have much recourse.

B. Ask for the original box or a receipt. If the buyer can't produce either one, move on. You can call AT&T while you are buying the phone and ask, but there's latency in the system so you can buy a phone that's been stolen, reported stolen, but doesn't get blacklisted or get marked bad until 3+ days later.

Ebay is likely a better proposition. First off there's the whole reputation system, and secondly, you have some recourse through the buyer protection plans offered by Paypal and lastly there's enough latency in the system that by the time you've received the phone it will likely be on the blacklist. I've had horrible experiences with the Paypal buyer protection system in the past, but I would imagine that having your phone blacklisted by a cell phone company would be a valid reason to qualify.

C. No. Haven't done this.

D. It's been good for me. Reliable and as advertised. The transcription of voicemails can be particularly hard to decipher, but aside from this, it works great.

E. Not that I can think of...

F. In my experience, no, it really makes no difference. You can get both to work equally well. Certainly Android is easier to set up though. And nowadays you don't need iTunes either - although it helps with loading content on.

 

[bearxor]

The Google voice integration on Android is better than iOS. But, it's my feeling like you want to use two different numbers at the same time and in that case, the experience on both iOS and android should be similar. Also, if you prefer the Tracfone number, that might be the one I would decide to port to straight talk and then port your AT&T number to GV, then I'd forward your phone calls from GV to ST, then wean your phone numbers off of it. I don't believe you can do two different google voice numbers on the same device at the same time. I'd think you need to constantly sign in and out.

As for Android v iOS, you're probably fine either way. A GNex might be a little bit cheaper than a 4S. They both handle the calendars pretty well. You don't need iTunes at all for an iPad or an iPhone.

I guess I might just watch a shitload of videos on the Galaxy Nexus. You have an iPad, so you have a pretty good idea of what a 4S will be like.

 

[ponyo]

c: It's simple to port your number out of Google Voice. All you have to do is unlock your number by signing into Google Voice and select unlock. http://support.google.com/voice/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1316844.
If you ported the number into Google Voice, the unlock and port out is free. If the Google Voice number was not originally ported in, then there's $3 charge to unlock and port out. I did this for my secondary Google Voice number before changing my mind and deciding to keep the secondary Google Voice number. You can have two Google Voice number on same account but you have to pay one time $20 fee to keep the second Google Voice number. All calls and texts to the second number will still come through but you can't call or text and have your secondary number show up on their caller ID, only the primary number. I paid the $20 to keep the second Google Voice number. It's small price to pay to have permanent 2nd number, and I like the number.

I use Google Voice for everything. I use Google Voice for all calls, local and international. I use Android phone (Galaxy Nexus) so the whole process is seamless, and I just use regular phone dialer and contact like normal. What I love about Google Voice is it stores and syncs all my call history, voicemails, and text messages across all my devices (pc, phone, tablets). I don't have to worry about backing it up or losing it. And what's great is I can receive and send text messages on any of these devices so if I'm using my Nexus 7 tablet or on my Win7 desktop, I can still see and respond to texts, and see and listen to my voicemails all without my phone. That's pretty powerful and important feature you can't get from regular phone texting messaging apps. You need your phone to see and respond to text and voicemails. Not with Google Voice. Also, you can block calls from any number. This is very powerful and useful feature as you can block any annoying caller.

As for the downside of using Google Voice: 1) you need data connection. But if Google Voice can't connect your call due to bad or weak data connection, it will prompt you the option of using your normal cell number to complete the call. At least that's how it is on Android. 2) It will take longer to call someone as your call first has to go through Google Voice. There's about 2-3 second delay for the rerouting. 3) No MMS, send or receive. It's not a big deal to me as I can use the stock messaging app and use my Straight Talk number to send MMS but I know it's a deal breaker to some.