Straight talk + iphone question

[dabuddha]

So I've had a Nokia E-71 for the last 1.5 years with Straight Talk and a buddy of mine loaned me his old Iphone 3G (he used it on the AT&T network). I popped in my sim card into this iphone and it's asking me for an unlock code. According to Straight Talk, I have to purchase an AT&T sim card:

http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpd...=&zip=17325&market=SIMGSM41&locale=en&lang=EN

in order to get the phone to work. My 2 questions:

1) Is there a way around this?

2) Let's say I purchase this sim card and transfer my existing number to it. If later on down the road I decide to purchase a droid unlocked phone, will I be able to pop this sim card into the new phone (again, assuming the droid phone will be unlocked). I'm asking this in case I decide I don't like the iphone and want to get something else, I'd hate to be out $15.

I do know my current sim card (from the E-71) works in an unlocked phone (I popped it into an old unlocked Nokia phone I had laying around).

TIA!

 

[ImDonly1]

The unlock code, it might need to be activated via iTunes on the new SIM card. Try factory default and re-activate via itunes. You should not need an att iphone to be unlocked. The E71 SIM should work with any att phone, something else seems wrong.

If you end up just buying the SIM for $15 and not using the e71 trick, you can change the sim into any gsm phone, whenever you want. It can be locked to att or unlocked it does not matter, but it can't be locked to a different company (t-mobile, bell, rogers, etc). It has to support the right 3g freq (850/1900).

 

[bearxor]

It sounds like you have a TMobile network SIM from StraightTalk. That won't work with a locked iPhone, because it is tied to AT&T's network.

If your friend had it on his account, and he upgraded, and his account was in good standing with the big T, have him call and have the iPhone unlocked. Then you can use your SIM in it.

Otherwise, buy the ST AT&T SIM. You'll be able to use it on other phones in the future (provided said future device is a full-size SIM and not a mSIM) but you'll be on AT&T's network, not TMobile's.

 

[dabuddha]

Thanks for the info! I'll just bite the bullet and get the ATT sim. Cheaper to spend 15 bucks now than $350+ for a new phone

 

[kaerflog]

Yeah sounds like you have a T-mobile Straight talk SIM card which is why the iPhone 3G is asking for an unlock code.
2 solutions.
- That 3G is very easily unlockable. You can do it yourself or someone in the know how will do it for you. But you will only get EDGE for data.
- Get an ATT sim card instead. This is a better solution as your iPhone 3G will able to use ATT 3G.

 

[ImDonly1]

If he is using E71 and taking his SIM out from the E71 and putting it into the iphone, it is using the ATT network not t-mobile. Unless I read the OP wrong, not sure why he would have a t-mobile sim?

 

[dabuddha]

I got my replacement sim card last night and popped it in. 30 minutes after starting the transfer, it was activated with my old number. Love it!

Now a side question, what's a good contact manager? I need something that'll let me type up all my contacts on my PC and then upload it to my phone.

 

[TheStu]

I got my replacement sim card last night and popped it in. 30 minutes after starting the transfer, it was activated with my old number. Love it!

Now a side question, what's a good contact manager? I need something that'll let me type up all my contacts on my PC and then upload it to my phone.

What OS are you using? I am fairly certain that iTunes on Windows will connect to Outlook for contact data, but I am not positive. It also should with with the built in Windows 7 contact manager.

 

[dabuddha]

IOS 5.1.1 and windows 7. I went ahead and added all my contacts in outlook 2k10 and was able to sync it with itunes just like you said, thanks for the info!