Sanyo 4900 - Where to get it and how to activate it?

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Comp625

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2000
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I've researched cell phones & services and have decided to go with Sprint PCS's $45 Free & Clear plan (500 Anytime minutes, Unlimited PCS to PCS Calling, Unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes & Included Nationwide Long Distance). After doing a little research on these forums and through asking various people in my city, they like Sprint PCS. You guys seem to like the Sanyo 4900 so that's the phone that I'm going to get this week. My questions are...

- Where do you "activate" the service? I am thinking of getting the 4900 from BestBuy ($150 - $50 IR - $100 MIR = Free). Do I activate the service right then and there at BestBuy?

- How long does it take for me to be able to actually use the phone?

- Can someone under 18 be under a cell phone contract? I don't think so...but someone said they could. I mean if not, my dad will activate the service under his name.

- Are there any other good deals on the Sanyo 4900 this week?

Thanks!
 
minendo

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
You activate the service by yourself by either calling *2 or going to sprintpcs.com. The phone is usually activated within a few hours, but you have to charge it first anyways.
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,127
616
126
Yeah. Bring it home and call up the 800 number on the box. They'll activate it right then and you should be up and running right away:) Enjoy your phone, it's awesome:)
 
M

m2kewl

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2001
8,263
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wow, that is nice!

i wish they made one with pocketpc and smaller profile ;)
 
C

Comp625

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2000
1,216
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When do I have to pay the activation fee? Right when I get the phone or is it tacked onto the first monthly bill?
 
F

fr

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
6,408
2
81
1. Just buy it from Best Buy and take it home. The serial number (ESN) is linked to Best Buy so they will get credit for the sale anyway. Charge the phone for a few hours and then dial *2. You might want to write down the ESN number behind the battery before charging in case they ask for it.

They may also want you to hang up and call from a different phone so they can give you instructions on how to program your 4900.


2. They used to say up to 12 hours, but it's never taken more than 1 hour for any of mine to be active. Just turn it off for an hour. Then turn it on and call the number. See if it rings.

3. I think you have to put down a deposit of $120 if you're under 18. Just say you are your dad and put it under his name (if he has good credit). They might want his SSN so have it available if needed.

4. You can't really beat free, but I don't think there are any offers that pay you to take the phone right now.
 
C

Comp625

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2000
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A couple more questions...

- Local calls: If I call someone in my local area, would it still eat away on my Anytime minutes? If someone calls my cell and they are in my local area, do they get charged for a "long distance" call?

- How much is the Activation Fee?

- How long does the 4900 take to charge the first time? I'm assuming overnight?

- How long does it normally take for the phone to charge?

- Do they really need the SSN? My dad is very weary of giving away his SSN.
 
F

fr

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
6,408
2
81
Originally posted by: Comp625
A couple more questions...

- Local calls: If I call someone in my local area, would it still eat away on my Anytime minutes? If someone calls my cell and they are in my local area, do they get charged for a "long distance" call?

- How much is the Activation Fee?

- How long does the 4900 take to charge the first time? I'm assuming overnight?

- How long does it normally take for the phone to charge?

- Do they really need the SSN? My dad is very weary of giving away his SSN.
Click to expand...

1. It depends on the area codes regardless of physical location (unless you are roaming). If you have a Stratford area code for your phone, you can go to a different city in your local coverage area and still call someone in Stratford and it will be a local call. Same if they call you.

Local calls DO take from your minutes.

2. Activation is $35.

3. First charge might be 3-5 hours. It varies a little on different models. I've never had a 4900.

4. Normal charge should take 2-3 hours.

5. I don't remember exactly, but they just wanted the last 4 digits. This was a few years back though. They might not need it anymore.
 
M

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: Comp625
A couple more questions...

- Local calls: If I call someone in my local area, would it still eat away on my Anytime minutes? If someone calls my cell and they are in my local area, do they get charged for a "long distance" call?

- How much is the Activation Fee?

- How long does the 4900 take to charge the first time? I'm assuming overnight?

- How long does it normally take for the phone to charge?

- Do they really need the SSN? My dad is very weary of giving away his SSN.
Click to expand...

1. Yes.
2. 35
3. Several hours
4. Several hours
5. Tell him to grow the fvck up. You have to give out your SSN on all kinds of crap.
 
E

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
5,481
0
0
they need the SSN to run a credit check, which they most definitely will do. And usually a driver's license (they copied/scanned mine), or at least that's what they wanted when I bought my phone from the Cingular store, although if you buy from Best Buy and activate over the phone, they might just ask you to read them the driver's license #.
 
C

Comp625

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2000
1,216
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0
A few more questions...

- I can Pricematch BestBuy's $100 phone at Staples (assuming if they have it)...correct? Remember, the BestBuy offer includes a $50 Instant Rebate ($150 - $50 IR = $100 before MIR).

---- BestBuy is about 6 miles away from me while Staples is right down the corner.

- Can someone give me a definite answer about the activation requirements? I am reading mixed/unsure answers about needing a SSN. I want to gather up all the necessary information before I go and buy the phone and activate it.\

- If I call someone out of the Sprint PCS network (say the person lives in the boonies of Idaho)...is it going to charge me extra for calling outside of their network? (Note: Please don't misread what I typed. I am NOT roaming. I am simply calling to someone who does not live in a PCS area).
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,127
616
126
Originally posted by: Comp625
A few more questions...

- I can Pricematch BestBuy's $100 phone at Staples (assuming if they have it)...correct? Remember, the BestBuy offer includes a $50 Instant Rebate ($150 - $50 IR = $100 before MIR).

---- BestBuy is about 6 miles away from me while Staples is right down the corner.

- Can someone give me a definite answer about the activation requirements? I am reading mixed/unsure answers about needing a SSN. I want to gather up all the necessary information before I go and buy the phone and activate it.\

- If I call someone out of the Sprint PCS network (say the person lives in the boonies of Idaho)...is it going to charge me extra for calling outside of their network? (Note: Please don't misread what I typed. I am NOT roaming. I am simply calling to someone who does not live in a PCS area).
Click to expand...

Nope. As far as the caller is concerned they're calling a land line. They pay the long-distance charge, if applicable, to your cell number.
 
M

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: Comp625
A few more questions...

- I can Pricematch BestBuy's $100 phone at Staples (assuming if they have it)...correct? Remember, the BestBuy offer includes a $50 Instant Rebate ($150 - $50 IR = $100 before MIR).

---- BestBuy is about 6 miles away from me while Staples is right down the corner.

- Can someone give me a definite answer about the activation requirements? I am reading mixed/unsure answers about needing a SSN. I want to gather up all the necessary information before I go and buy the phone and activate it.\

- If I call someone out of the Sprint PCS network (say the person lives in the boonies of Idaho)...is it going to charge me extra for calling outside of their network? (Note: Please don't misread what I typed. I am NOT roaming. I am simply calling to someone who does not live in a PCS area).
Click to expand...

No, it will not charge you. Maybe you don't need a cellphone. Not trying to be an ass.
 
C

Comp625

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2000
1,216
0
0
Originally posted by: Millennium
Originally posted by: Comp625
A few more questions...

- I can Pricematch BestBuy's $100 phone at Staples (assuming if they have it)...correct? Remember, the BestBuy offer includes a $50 Instant Rebate ($150 - $50 IR = $100 before MIR).

---- BestBuy is about 6 miles away from me while Staples is right down the corner.

- Can someone give me a definite answer about the activation requirements? I am reading mixed/unsure answers about needing a SSN. I want to gather up all the necessary information before I go and buy the phone and activate it.

- If I call someone out of the Sprint PCS network (say the person lives in the boonies of Idaho)...is it going to charge me extra for calling outside of their network? (Note: Please don't misread what I typed. I am NOT roaming. I am simply calling to someone who does not live in a PCS area).
Click to expand...

No, it will not charge you. Maybe you don't need a cellphone. Not trying to be an ass.
Click to expand...

Nah I do need a cell phone. I am away from the home phone alot (going to college). I probably am not going to use alot of long distance but I am going to college soon and phonecalls home/to HS friends are going to be expensive through the college phone system. I'm just making sure I know what I'm getting before I actually get it.

Can someone give me a definite answer about the activation requirements? I am reading mixed/unsure answers about needing a SSN. I want to gather up all the necessary information before I go and buy the phone and activate it.
 
C

Comp625

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2000
1,216
0
0
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,127
616
126
Yeah, I'm almost positive you'll need to give out your social. Its like getting a credit card. Quite being so paranoid about it. Its not like someone can't just get on the net and find it for themselves
rolleye.gif
Also, I guess these are valid questions since you don't have any experience w/ a cell phone but the best people to ask would be the Sprint CSRs since you'll be paying their salaries soon enough. That said, go get an 8100 instead;)

 
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