Straight Talk - Sim Cards Not At (at least all) Walmarts - Nexus 4 General

Anyone who is thinking that they'll swing by Walmart and grab a Straighttalk sim card/activation kit once their Nexus arrives: they don't appear to sell them, or at least not at mine. There was every permutation of everything else they sell there, but no sim cards, so order now!
Although I did find a promo code to get the sim free online, so I guess it wasn't a total lost trip.
That's what I get for putting it off. Now I might have a nexus that isn't a phone for a day. Oh, the humanity.

For those that don't know, using the promo code SIMSAVE on the $45 monthly plan will give you a free SIM card!

I won't be buying the Nexus 4 right away, probably a month after release once the kinks are worked out, but can anyone explain why the straight talk coverage has two seperate coverage maps?
One is for non-android (and the coverage is great)
Another is for android (and the coverage is barren)
http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage
Also does Straight Talk use T-mobiles network? I thought it was just ATT but it says right on there website here : http://www.straighttalksim.com/ : that you can "Bring your T-Mobile compatible 4G phone and keep your 4G service" Of course the Nexus 4 is pentaband, but thats a rarity and not all phones are so how would they give other T-mobile phones 4G service?

ap3604 said:
I won't be buying the Nexus 4 right away, probably a month after release once the kinks are worked out, but can anyone explain why the straight talk coverage has two seperate coverage maps?
One is for non-android (and the coverage is great)
Another is for android (and the coverage is barren)
http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage
Also does Straight Talk use T-mobiles network? I thought it was just ATT but it says right on there website here : http://www.straighttalksim.com/ : that you can "Bring your T-Mobile compatible 4G phone and keep your 4G service"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Straight talk will use whomever is best in your area. Be in AT&T or T-Mobile. The reason the maps are so different is that the Non-Android one is for voice/2G the Android is 3G+. Basicly it is saying Basic coverage is almost everywhere, but data isnt.

You choose either an at&t or T-Mobile sim card at checkout.

Or you can pick up a net 10 sim kit at best buy. Kit costs $15 and you get 3 Sims (at&t normal size, at&t micro, and T-Mobile normal) all with seperate activation codes. They have the exact same unlimited plans straight talk does but there $50 a month. Just putting another option out there
Sent from my A100 using xda app-developers app

vita10gy said:
Anyone who is thinking that they'll swing by Walmart and grab a Straighttalk sim card/activation kit once their Nexus arrives: they don't appear to sell them, or at least not at mine. There was every permutation of everything else they sell there, but no sim cards, so order now!
Although I did find a promo code to get the sim free online, so I guess it wasn't a total lost trip.
That's what I get for putting it off. Now I might have a nexus that isn't a phone for a day. Oh, the humanity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. Buy it online. Ships in a few days.

lowrider262 said:
Or you can pick up a net 10 sim kit at best buy. Kit costs $15 and you get 3 Sims (at&t normal size, at&t micro, and T-Mobile normal) all with seperate activation codes. They have the exact same unlimited plans straight talk does but there $50 a month. Just putting another option out there
Sent from my A100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looking a bit online net10 seems like the way to go! Why am I just now hearing about it? I was getting nervous from straight talk horror stories...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

v3rk said:
Looking a bit online net10 seems like the way to go! Why am I just now hearing about it? I was getting nervous from straight talk horror stories...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Though be advised that net10 is owned by the same company as straight talk. I personally have straight talk and can attest that their cs sucks more than att. But I've only had to call them once. Never had an issue with throttling but I stay under that hush hush of 2gb a month

I never heard about them in the bring your own phone game either until last week, I was going to every store trying to buy a straight talk sim for my nephews at&t phone, then I ran across this at best buy. Best part is the 3 Sims, you can try one service and if you don't like it, you could switch the same day:thumbup:
Sent from my A100 using xda app-developers app

coverage maps
ap3604 said:
I won't be buying the Nexus 4 right away, probably a month after release once the kinks are worked out, but can anyone explain why the straight talk coverage has two seperate coverage maps?
One is for non-android (and the coverage is great)
Another is for android (and the coverage is barren)
http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage
Also does Straight Talk use T-mobiles network? I thought it was just ATT but it says right on there website here : http://www.straighttalksim.com/ : that you can "Bring your T-Mobile compatible 4G phone and keep your 4G service" Of course the Nexus 4 is pentaband, but thats a rarity and not all phones are so how would they give other T-mobile phones 4G service?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding Coverage and providers, you get to pick which Service Provider to use, as in T-Mobile or AT&T, it ultimately depends on where you live. You may not get the option for both depending on coverage and your location. I did not get the option to choose T-Mobile when I got my Straight-Talk Sim and Plan. However I am sure you could plug in a different Zip Code and get the Service of your choosing.
You can look at a Carrier's Coverage map for areas they SHOULD cover. During my Evaluation of T-mobile and AT&T, I found using the Root Metrics Coverage Map and the Sensorly Map helped out quite a bit. Many times I ended up using the apps to record coverage in areas I or my Family frequented.
http://www.rootmetrics.com/
http://sensorly.com/map

Have a few months left on my AT&T contract so I am going to pop into an official brick and mortar store and ask for a micro sim. Will I run into any troubles?

dcarpenter85 said:
Have a few months left on my AT&T contract so I am going to pop into an official brick and mortar store and ask for a micro sim. Will I run into any troubles?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They really don't sell ST SIMs in Walmarts. Only with phones. So just buy it online...

Straight Talk doesn't offer T-Mobile micro Sims...just fyi.

ap3604 said:
I won't be buying the Nexus 4 right away, probably a month after release once the kinks are worked out, but can anyone explain why the straight talk coverage has two seperate coverage maps?
One is for non-android (and the coverage is great)
Another is for android (and the coverage is barren)
http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage
Also does Straight Talk use T-mobiles network? I thought it was just ATT but it says right on there website here : http://www.straighttalksim.com/ : that you can "Bring your T-Mobile compatible 4G phone and keep your 4G service" Of course the Nexus 4 is pentaband, but thats a rarity and not all phones are so how would they give other T-mobile phones 4G service?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those coverage maps are for straight talk's own phones. The non-Android map you see is Verizon's coverage which their cdma non-android phones use. The android map is for sprint which the majority of their android phones use, they actually have a few android phones that use Verizon's network now. Again, those maps are for their own branded phones, if you bring your own phone obviously those maps don't apply

Related

Best/cheapest way to use the Note in the USA?

So I'm thinking of buying a Note but I'm wondering what's the best way to use it in the USA.
I hear using it on T-Mobile only provides EDGE-level speeds but using it on AT&T Straight Talk or whatever gets you 3G speeds (maybe even 4G HSPA+?).
correct, went from tmobile to straight talk, getting HSPA+ speeds
PolishDude said:
correct, went from tmobile to straight talk, getting HSPA+ speeds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice.
How do you use it with straight talk btw?
Would it be possible to just buy a sim card like this:
http://www.amazon.com/AT-3G-SIM-Card-Unactivated/dp/B001ONWGMC
Activate it through the ATT site, choose plan and then have it work on my Note?
The straight talk thing seems very cool but I don't have the money to shell out for a $250 phone.
I bought a refurbished E71 for 100 bucks shipped straight from straight talk, activated straight talk using the e71 then just took the sim card out of the e71 and put it into my note...thats it, super easy. You do have to keep the e71 since the sim is registered with the phone so if you sold it and someone tried to get a new sim card for straighttalk it would disconnect your sim card but honestly I am now paying $45 bucks a month versus $85 a month so the savings more then makes up for it
Where did you purchase the Note?
okstate95 said:
Where did you purchase the Note?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine through Expansysusa.com. It was pricey.
I am disappointed with AT&T. There are no HSPA or 4G towers within 25 miles of my house so I am getting smail pace data connection. I get 3 of 4 bars signal strength, but the slowest data, and yes I setup the APN like it should be using "phone". Even my wife's Galaxy S II Skyrocket which is LTE is so slowwwww, so know it is not just my Note.
Straightalk SIM only purchase announcement
If case no one knows. Straight Talk Wireless announced on Feb 7 a SIM only purchase plan for their $45 unlimited talk, text and data. No Straighttalk phone needed to activate.
Check it out.
StraightTalk SIM Purchase Plan
access.denied said:
If case no one knows. Straight Talk Wireless announced on Feb 7 a SIM only purchase plan for their $45 unlimited talk, text and data. No Straighttalk phone needed to activate.
Check it out.
StraightTalk SIM Purchase Plan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did. I missed the delivery of my Sim card Friday so will have to get it tomorrow. My International Note should be here late this week or early next week.
EndlessMike133 said:
Would it be possible to just buy a sim card like this:
http://www.amazon.com/AT-3G-SIM-Card-Unactivated/dp/B001ONWGMC
Activate it through the ATT site, choose plan and then have it work on my Note?
The straight talk thing seems very cool but I don't have the money to shell out for a $250 phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Straight talk now had a "bring your own phone" online selection. It ill just cost you like 15 for the SIM and then 45 for unlimited data, talk, text! Check out the website! No need to buy a phone!
EDIT: I did not see the posts above... sorry for the double or triple post on Straight talk!
Is the ST plan faster than the t-mobile I'm on now? If so I'm Gona switch
From the Beast : Galaxy Note
sprintuser1977 said:
Is the ST plan faster than the t-mobile I'm on now? If so I'm Gona switch
From the Beast : Galaxy Note
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are getting edge for data, yes ST will be faster.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App
What is the speed in and around NYC using Straight Talk, please post the speed test?
Do they throttle after 2gb, 5gb or it is really unlimited?
Any call disconnect like in AT&T. I am with T-mobile Unlimited Even More Plus Plan. They don't offer this anymore. I don't want to switch if Straight Talk sucks. Straight Talk allows number porting?
On ATT my speedtest scores really vary here in Chicago (2500-11,000kbps)...but I probably average 4000.
Do you see average scores likethat on straight talk...seriously.
If consider switching if this generally was the case. I've heard differently.
Thanks
][/B]
PolishDude said:
correct, went from tmobile to straight talk, getting HSPA+ speeds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(
Moved To Q&A​
All questions belong in the Q&A section!​
$50 unlimited everything- ATT gophone
may want to check this thread i just created. it's working good for me.

No more ATT Compatible SIM on Straight Talk

Im already on ATT straight talk but i tried to order another sim cause I talked someone else into it....There is no ATT compatible sim buy option anymore. Anyone know whats the scoop? They need to have the ATT sim version for their N4...
The unlocked gsm would probably be for at&t. It may have something to do with it being illegal to unlock carrier locked phones now. That's just a shot in the dark though.
Sent from my Google Nexus 4 using xda premium
lyall29 said:
The unlocked gsm would probably be for at&t. It may have something to do with it being illegal to unlock carrier locked phones now. That's just a shot in the dark though.
Sent from my Google Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats is a plausible theory. But it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Someone with a phone locked and has just finished their 2 year agreement with AT&T is now unable to use straight talk service. Their could be numerous reasons why ST is no longer selling AT&T sim cards. It could be because they dont want to or something as simple as they are all out, who knows. Hopefully some news will come to light. The biggest question that comes to mind for me is what is going to happen to those of us who are using AT&T on ST? T-mobile is terrible where I live, i only get edge service and the coverage is even worse. AT&T is the way to go in Vermont.
Android802 said:
Thats is a plausible theory. But it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Someone with a phone locked and has just finished their 2 year agreement with AT&T is now unable to use straight talk service. Their could be numerous reasons why ST is no longer selling AT&T sim cards. It could be because they dont want to or something as simple as they are all out, who knows. Hopefully some news will come to light. The biggest question that comes to mind for me is what is going to happen to those of us who are using AT&T on ST? T-mobile is terrible where I live, i only get edge service and the coverage is even worse. AT&T is the way to go in Vermont.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly man. Right there with you.
It is most probably that tmobile now offers compatibility with 1900, give mvno better bang for the buck, and most importantly offer "unlimited" data without hidden random throttling like ATT does.. Thus coinciding with their offerings..
I think it's simple. AT&T probably got too expensive for them.
well thats unfortunate. It makes me nervous because im using ATT on straight talk so whats stopping ST from canceling my service!
I doubt they'll cancel their current AT&T customers (yet) - they'd lose too many of them. Over the next year or so they'll probably slowly force people to switch or leave, though. Who knows.
Just click unlocked gsm
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Censura_Umbra said:
Just click unlocked gsm
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that frequency band uses ATT HSPA network.
doesn't the unlocked gsm also say global phone?
that would be AT&T, T-mobile hasn't re-farmed 1900 everywhere yet so it should be the same as the at&t option and less confusion for most consumers that have no clue
From a little Google in what I found makes me think unlocked gsm encompasses both. At&t is 850/1900mhz and Tmob is 1700/2100mhz. Unlocked gsm is 850/1700.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
Not looking good at Walmart.Com either...
Both the micro-sim and micro-sim/1mo plan combo are out of stock
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Straight-Talk-Post-Paid-Micro-SIM-AT-T-Bring-Your-Own-Phone-Card/21550826
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Straight-...icro-SIM-w-45-AirTime-Card-5-Savings/21923981
I wonder if it has something to do with their plan to offer the iPhone prepaid: http://www.phonenews.com/straightta...long-with-4-walmart-to-offer-financing-22129/
That does seem odd that it is gone. I'm glad I have the AT&T sim now. T-Mobile is much faster, but I get better coverage with AT&T. Hopefully this is just a tempoary thing. I'm not sure if there is anyone else that is a MNVO for AT&T. Most I've seen are tmo only.
NexusIncarnate said:
That does seem odd that it is gone. I'm glad I have the AT&T sim now. T-Mobile is much faster, but I get better coverage with AT&T. Hopefully this is just a tempoary thing. I'm not sure if there is anyone else that is a MNVO for AT&T. Most I've seen are tmo only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Net10 uses att and the same apns as straight talk att. Pretty funny and from what I heard they don't throttle. Idk someone please clarify. But upon searching for a replacement just in case straight talk and att doesn't work our anymore I will be jumping ship.
magicriggs said:
Net10 uses att and the same apns as straight talk att. Pretty funny and from what I heard they don't throttle. Idk someone please clarify. But upon searching for a replacement just in case straight talk and att doesn't work our anymore I will be jumping ship.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Straight Talk and Net10 are both owned by the same company.
Android802 said:
well thats unfortunate. It makes me nervous because im using ATT on straight talk so whats stopping ST from canceling my service!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
c0LdFire said:
I doubt they'll cancel their current AT&T customers (yet) - they'd lose too many of them. Over the next year or so they'll probably slowly force people to switch or leave, though. Who knows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have sudden data throttling to take care of that problem..
---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------
Censura_Umbra said:
Just click unlocked gsm
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am willing to bet the gsm unlocked sim will yield a tmo sim now instead of att.
A tmo sim would now offer more compatability with most gsm phones.
Unlocked gsm sim only guaranteed voice and text, you got Edge for data, no 3G+ data compatibility.
clockcycle said:
They have sudden data throttling to take care of that problem..
---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------
I am willing to bet the gsm unlocked sim will yield a tmo sim now instead of att.
A tmo sim would now offer more compatability with most gsm phones.
Unlocked gsm sim only guaranteed voice and text, you got Edge for data, no 3G+ data compatibility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, if you go through the buying process, where you actually choose the Sim, the only option is T-Mo.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
I just called straight talk. They said they they are just out of stock on the att cards. He assured me they will be in stock 'within a couple of weeks'. We'll see. My VZW contract is up in march so I won't be switching for a while and can wait, but was disappointed when I jumped on the nexus 4 today and then couldn't get a sim. Worst case I'll get the t-mobile one and cut it and if I don't like the service jump to another pre-paid that uses att.
buffalowolff said:
I just called straight talk. They said they they are just out of stock on the att cards. He assured me they will be in stock 'within a couple of weeks'. We'll see. My VZW contract is up in march so I won't be switching for a while and can wait, but was disappointed when I jumped on the nexus 4 today and then couldn't get a sim. Worst case I'll get the t-mobile one and cut it and if I don't like the service jump to another pre-paid that uses att.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your going T-Mo in the meantime just get the $30 plan direct from T-Mobile then switch to the ST AT&T when you drop Verizon. I don't believe the T-Mo plan on ST even has micro sim cards, you have to cut one of the standard ones down. With the T-mobile $30 plan you can order the micro sim activation kit directly from their website. I tired T-Mo out first and the reception sucked so I switched to ST AT&T two weeks later and then dropped Verizon once I saw I had good reception.

Straight Talk CS woes

So Straight Talk has been trying to get me to switch to a T-Mobile SIM for a while now, so I finally convinced them to send me one for free. I got it today and tried to activate it, and they're telling me that it's not available in my area (after nagging me for weeks to switch). I called in and they're trying to tell me that it's because the Nexus 4 is an AT&T phone and not a T-Mobile unlocked. I kept trying to tell her that the Nexus 4 is GSM unlocked, so it should work for anything GSM, but they disagreed and said it had to be either AT&T or T-Mobile. Then she got really mad and put me on hold while she talked to her boss.
She came back and wanted to charge me for a full month, I explained that I was only switching because they recommended it. She's now talking to her manager again to see if it's possible to switch my number without me paying again and forfeiting the rest of my month.
This service is awful. I wish they would have just stopped nagging me and let me keep AT&T.
EDIT
She also said that my birthday was incorrect and that I had the correct month and year, but the incorrect date. I said that I must have made a typo and that I could provide other information if that would work, she told me she'd hold while I logged in online and corrected my info. So she sat there in silence while I updated that info, then said that it wasn't coming through so I'd have to call back tomorrow. I asked her if she'd refreshed her page and she said no, then refreshed it and said it had updated and that she could continue helping me now, but I still had to confirm my birthday again. *sigh*. I've now been on the line with them for an hour.
T-Mobile service sucks in Kalamazoo (I'm a former customer so its from experience), very spotty coverage, and it pretty much sucks everywhere in Michigan as I travel a lot. So your a lot better off with AT&T. I just left StraightTalk AT&T as I hate their customer service, sitting an hour on hold is common, and at $50 it made more sense to just go with one of AT&T's own GoPhone plans for the same price (250 talk minutes, unlimited texts, 1 GB data). AT&T's customer service is far superior to StraightTalks.
thunder2132 said:
So Straight Talk has been trying to get me to switch to a T-Mobile SIM for a while now, so I finally convinced them to send me one for free. I got it today and tried to activate it, and they're telling me that it's not available in my area (after nagging me for weeks to switch). I called in and they're trying to tell me that it's because the Nexus 4 is an AT&T phone and not a T-Mobile unlocked. I kept trying to tell her that the Nexus 4 is GSM unlocked, so it should work for anything GSM, but they disagreed and said it had to be either AT&T or T-Mobile. Then she got really mad and put me on hold while she talked to her boss.
She came back and wanted to charge me for a full month, I explained that I was only switching because they recommended it. She's now talking to her manager again to see if it's possible to switch my number without me paying again and forfeiting the rest of my month.
This service is awful. I wish they would have just stopped nagging me and let me keep AT&T.
EDIT
She also said that my birthday was incorrect and that I had the correct month and year, but the incorrect date. I said that I must have made a typo and that I could provide other information if that would work, she told me she'd hold while I logged in online and corrected my info. So she sat there in silence while I updated that info, then said that it wasn't coming through so I'd have to call back tomorrow. I asked her if she'd refreshed her page and she said no, then refreshed it and said it had updated and that she could continue helping me now, but I still had to confirm my birthday again. *sigh*. I've now been on the line with them for an hour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why did they want you to switch from ATT? Were you using heavy data? If they are proactively pushing people to TMo I'll take my business direct. MVNO not worth it.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
kzoodroid said:
T-Mobile service sucks in Kalamazoo (I'm a former customer so its from experience), very spotty coverage, and it pretty much sucks everywhere in Michigan as I travel a lot. So your a lot better off with AT&T. I just left StraightTalk AT&T as I hate their customer service, sitting an hour on hold is common, and at $50 it made more sense to just go with one of AT&T's own GoPhone plans for the same price (250 talk minutes, unlimited texts, 1 GB data). AT&T's customer service is far superior to StraightTalks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do ever head south? I am down in Sturgis and was curious about tmobile. Att has been pretty good, three rivers is only edge data speed.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Kinz1980 said:
Do ever head south? I am down in Sturgis and was curious about tmobile. Att has been pretty good, three rivers is only edge data speed.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work in Three Rivers and barely got a signal outside with T-Mo and nothing indoors. In fact the entire drive down 131 from Kalamazoo I would get no signal. AT&T is Edge2 down here but at least I get a good signal and can use the phone most of the time. In Sturgis I doubt you would get any signal as you're too far away from I-80. I had T-Mo for 2 years, 2003-2005 and drove to Virginia every other month. Only had a signal on major interstates and once I got off had no service. I figured after 10 years their service should have gotten better but after 2 weeks on the $30 plan I gave up.
Kinz1980 said:
Do ever head south? I am down in Sturgis and was curious about tmobile. Att has been pretty good, three rivers is only edge data speed.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never did head very far south. I had the $30 t mobile plan for about 20 days before getting my ST SIM, the most traveling I did was up to Lansing. The signal in Lansing was a bit spotty, but good voice coverage.
I think that they were pushing it because I had asked a question about it earlier. I asked if getting a t mobile SIM would allow me to roam on at&t service if I went to a 0 service area. They told me that it wouldn't, but that I could easily switch between them if I wanted.
I have been happy with St att here in Sturgis and northern Indiana by Middlebury and Elkhart areas. Three rivers does have slow speeds. I guess I won't bother with getting another similar card then.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

getting ATT to give you service?

Now that I know my Droid 3 will work, I tested it with a ATT gophone SIM after doing the radio flash and such but now I'm trying to get real service with a dataplan and it is hell.
They say I need a certain sim card (W7 sim card) and they seem to think it is a micro sim which the droid 3 doesn't have that. the phone support told me they could not mail me this type of card and the store people can't seem to bring up my information from the phone order and keep saying I need something else.
Keep getting the 'its not going to work' thing but obviously it will.
Did any one else in the states run into this trying to get your D3 on ATT with service other than gophone service? Trying get a 550 sharte plan and 3gb data plans for 2 phones, both are Droid 3s
bigbacon said:
Now that I know my Droid 3 will work, I tested it with a ATT gophone SIM after doing the radio flash and such but now I'm trying to get real service with a dataplan and it is hell.
They say I need a certain sim card (W7 sim card) and they seem to think it is a micro sim which the droid 3 doesn't have that. the phone support told me they could not mail me this type of card and the store people can't seem to bring up my information from the phone order and keep saying I need something else.
Keep getting the 'its not going to work' thing but obviously it will.
Did any one else in the states run into this trying to get your D3 on ATT with service other than gophone service? Trying get a 550 sharte plan and 3gb data plans for 2 phones, both are Droid 3s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy sim adapters fairly cheap, if they sent you a micro sim, grab an adapter on ebay for a few bucks (usually comes in 3 packs for micro mini, and standard). Don't ask any customer service/corporate if it'll work, as by 'stock' the D3 does NOT support ATT (the mnc block Verizon has in the radio prevents this).
I have Straight Talk's BYOP service using AT&T's network on my Droid 3 and it works just fine (albeit hating ST ). If you want a go-phone plan, your cheapest option would be grabbing an ATT SIM from ebay (I bought one for a penny, trolol free shipping), and activated it on gophone awhile back when I was just first testing the radio swap, worked great, but I never tried doing much beyond a 10 dollar card for talk/text while away.
If you're trying to get on a contract, etc etc, I'd suggest you just don't tell them you have a verizon droid 3, tell them you just have an unlocked GSM phone, and if they bug you about it, tell them it's an XT860 4g or an XT883.
EDIT: You can also try just buying a SIM on ebay (make sure to get the newer orange ones) and just activating that on your AT&T account.
I had a free or discounted feature phone / dumb phone with them, with the 2 year contract, and I've used that SIM in subsequent phones with no problem... the SIM had 3G branding. Currently that same SIM and same account are working fine in my XT860 from Bell Canada (unlocked).
If you don't mind a contract, go with the simplest 3G feature phone you can get from them, and add Media.net Unlimited if they still offer it. Sell the feature phone or keep it as a backup.
I ran into the problem also with them saying I can't transfer my line because I now live in a different state. So I was give nthe option to go and sign up in that state OR send the sims to someone in that state....
what a pain. I never thought it was would be so difficult. If I'm going to get into a contract, I'll just get a new phone, I just fear that even though it seems to work with the ATT gophone SIM that once I pop a normal SIM in there, it won't work and I'll be switching to a contract and paying the 'upgrade' charge (which is really jut anoher way to make you pay the activation again)
That was my main fear.
I'm hoping they will let me just test a sim from another device at the store. I was going to show up with our phones radio flashed and ready to go for GSM and then see what they will do for me. I hope they;ll let me test it some how and/or let me sign up month to month and if it doesn't work, let me switch to contract and wave the upgrade BS.
thats the only thing I'm unsure of if I reflash to the GSM radio, take out my verizon SIM and show up with no sim. new build prop and it set to GSM before I show up if it will work or not.
bigbacon said:
I ran into the problem also with them saying I can't transfer my line because I now live in a different state. So I was give nthe option to go and sign up in that state OR send the sims to someone in that state....
what a pain. I never thought it was would be so difficult. If I'm going to get into a contract, I'll just get a new phone, I just fear that even though it seems to work with the ATT gophone SIM that once I pop a normal SIM in there, it won't work and I'll be switching to a contract and paying the 'upgrade' charge (which is really jut anoher way to make you pay the activation again)
That was my main fear.
I'm hoping they will let me just test a sim from another device at the store. I was going to show up with our phones radio flashed and ready to go for GSM and then see what they will do for me. I hope they;ll let me test it some how and/or let me sign up month to month and if it doesn't work, let me switch to contract and wave the upgrade BS.
thats the only thing I'm unsure of if I reflash to the GSM radio, take out my verizon SIM and show up with no sim. new build prop and it set to GSM before I show up if it will work or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the world of AT&T! Where they win worst in customer satisfaction 3 years running by consumer reports.
"Each year, Consumer Reports ranks all manner of U.S. wireless carriers based on customer satisfaction in a number of different categories. AT&T ranked dead last in the customer satisfaction survey for the third year in a row. It was hit with the worst rankings for any major carrier in value, voice quality, and customer support."
I'd suggest you go with a prepaid like Page Plus. I've used them, good flexible plans, friendly customer support, free ESN changes via online chat, no bull. Any Verizon phone outside of 'new' inpulse and blackberries can be activated (I've got Page Plus on my CDMA side and a *shudder* Straight Talk AT&T SIM on GSM in my Droid 3)
If you call customer service, you can usually get it activated for free, or find a 3rd party page plus dealer (I have a couple that do free instant activations). They're an MVNO of Verizon, so same network, but very much lower price. Verizon prepaid smartphone plan; 70USD for unlim talk/text and 1GB data. PagePlus? 55USD For unlim talk/text and 2GBs data, or 69.95 for 5GB of data, and buying online, no taxes either.
Anyway, luck to you. If you decide to go in-store, make sure your phone is completely GSM ready, leave the Verizon/Vodafone sim at home. Tell them it's GSM unlocked and it works on AT&T's network (mention you tested it, or let you test a SIM. I've *yet* to find a store that lets me test a sim though.)
The Droid 3 supports up to HSPA 14.4 on AT&T's network, I can get ~5.5Mbps, but I have noticed it's not as stable as Verizon, and calls drop, due to CDMA having better hand-off than GSM (CDMA actually connects to multiple towers at once for seamless handoff, GSM has to toss between the towers). Been awhile since I've really read into it, and I'm likely getting a bit technical...
for me, I can't even use verizon at home or anywhere with in a 30 mile+ radius. The ONLY carrier that has coverage out here is ATT and oddly, they have 4g coverage. My neighbors use them and the signal strength and data speeds are superb. There isn't another carrier.
I know straight talk and such might use ATT towers but I worry about the so called unlimited data and everything that really isn't unlimited.
I guess if one of those carrier actually use ATT towers then I guess I'm ok but how would I know without trying them out some how?
looks like straight talk no longer does ATT
net10 seems like you can still get ATT sims
I'm in WV and, again, ATT is the only provider that has voice and data coverage out here.
bigbacon said:
looks like straight talk no longer does ATT
net10 seems like you can still get ATT sims
I'm in WV and, again, ATT is the only provider that has voice and data coverage out here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Net10 at least came out and said there was a 1.5gb cap now on att. Albeit net10 and straighttalk are the exact same company. Outside of that, most any mvno of att is expensive, att itself is expensive, but you gotta use what you have to. Any that run on att will work on the d3 once modified to do so. Net10 and Red Pocket are the only two that come to mind at the moment, but do a bit of research and find a good one that fits your needs.
I have to search for a list since I'm reading now that some services like Net10 and such may use the ATT gohpone service area or they may use the normal service areas.
Can anyone confirm if Calls, SMS, MMS, and full Data and 3G coverage all work correctly on AT&T on the Droid 3 once unlocked?
think I'm going to try net10. $85 bucks a month to use the postpaid ATT network for 2 lines is alot better than 120 going with ATT and we don't use a lot of data. Looking back at our Verizon account over 6 months, we've never used even 1gb worth of data in a month. I can't find a chart or anything that shows which ones use the postpaid ATT network as I am up for other carriers other than net10 if they do.
seems like moving my number might be an issue though since I am no longer in PA.
braambo said:
Can anyone confirm if Calls, SMS, MMS, and full Data and 3G coverage all work correctly on AT&T on the Droid 3 once unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Bell Canada XT860, unlocked, and I use all of those except MMS, which I'm pretty sure would work too... I have the APN settings for it.
I am using a Droid 3 on At&t with the Medianet plan that only costs $10(if you're on an unlimited text plan).I'm getting speeds of
up to 5.5mb down and 1.5mb up. The speeds are better at night though.
If you want to use a prepaid GSM,the cheapest I've seen is Red Pockect that uses AT&T's network.They have unlimited talk,text &MMS.
PassingThruLife said:
I am using a Droid 3 on At&t with the Medianet plan that only costs $10(if you're on an unlimited text plan).I'm getting speeds of
up to 5.5mb down and 1.5mb up. The speeds are better at night though.
If you want to use a prepaid GSM,the cheapest I've seen is Red Pockect that uses AT&T's network.They have unlimited talk,text &MMS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the XT860 or XT862?
I would be all over the XT862 if Jellybean was available in a ROM (100% working)
redsrule2500 said:
Do you have the XT860 or XT862?
I would be all over the XT862 if Jellybean was available in a ROM (100% working)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have an xt862 that i flashed with the chinese radio. I love it honestly,especially since I can have a decent android phone with keyboard + a cheap data plan.
id love to see ICS on the droid 3 but i know it wont happen,the phone is going on 2 years into its lifespan and that kind of age means DEATH in the phone industry .
PassingThruLife said:
i have an xt862 that i flashed with the chinese radio. I love it honestly,especially since I can have a decent android phone with keyboard + a cheap data plan.
id love to see ICS on the droid 3 but i know it wont happen,the phone is going on 2 years into its lifespan and that kind of age means DEATH in the phone industry .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah, that's my goal here in looking for a replacement for my Milestone 1. I just know that I won't be able to take full advantage of the device without the newer Android OS versions available, and that's too bad because everything else is perfect with this phone. So I'm basically sticking w/ the Milestone 1 on CM7 until something better becomes available. (Weird part is even my Milestone 1 can run JB 4.1 100%...!)
I honestly have no phone to get that meets my upgrade specifications for AT&T (JB, keyboard, global phone), aside from attempting the PhotonQ SIM Card Mod, which is a huge risk since I don't know if it will work on AT&T. Blah.
redsrule2500 said:
Oh yeah, that's my goal here in looking for a replacement for my Milestone 1. I just know that I won't be able to take full advantage of the device without the newer Android OS versions available, and that's too bad because everything else is perfect with this phone. So I'm basically sticking w/ the Milestone 1 on CM7 until something better becomes available. (Weird part is even my Milestone 1 can run JB 4.1 100%...!)
I honestly have no phone to get that meets my upgrade specifications for AT&T (JB, keyboard, global phone), aside from attempting the PhotonQ SIM Card Mod, which is a huge risk since I don't know if it will work on AT&T. Blah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL I have spent some time thinking about the Photon Q,you can buy one with a bad ESN for around $120... but I am not that handy and taking apart the phone kind of scares me.
I'd be happy with a Photon Q for a while tho.
PassingThruLife said:
LOL I have spent some time thinking about the Photon Q,you can buy one with a bad ESN for around $120... but I am not that handy and taking apart the phone kind of scares me.
I'd be happy with a Photon Q for a while tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that's so tempting. Didn't realize they would be that cheap.
It could be a fun project, as long as I don't screw it up completely....but I also would feel bad about owning a device which was most likely stolen.
redsrule2500 said:
Wow, that's so tempting. Didn't realize they would be that cheap.
It could be a fun project, as long as I don't screw it up completely....but I also would feel bad about owning a device which was most likely stolen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well "bad ESN" doesnt always mean stolen,could also mean the person owes money and the phone is blacklisted till they pay it.
My Droid 3 had a bad ESN but it was because I lost my job and couldn't afford to pay Verizon's ridiculous prices. My income was literally cut in half.

Nexus 4: Straight Talk T-Mobile USA Thread

Sorry if there is an post like this but I didn't see one already.
I was a Verizon customer for years before smart phones and got my first smart phone through them (Droid X). I've had to keep buy used phones to keep my grandfathered in unlimited data plan (Thunderbolt and Samsung Galaxy Nexus). My monthly bill was about $80 with government discount, Unlimited data, 1500 text, 450 talk. Their customer service went south imo and my 4G speeds were only getting slower (was about 20 mbps now around 10 mbps). I grew tired of paying so much money and worrying about my mins and text.
I just recently bought a Nexus 4 and switched to Straight Talk (t-mobile). I did my homework a lot on where to go so I started porting my Google Voice over from Verizon yesterday and waiting for that to complete. I was going to got to Solavei or the $30 month t-mobile plan but I figured I'd try out Straight Talk.
So far I'm impressed with the service I get. T-mobile has really matured over the years and I see them becoming the new Verizon but I hope they don't follow their path of locking all their phones and trying to control everything they can. I literally don't notice a difference in my area (Chicago) as the places I don't get signal my Verizon phone gets and the places the Verizon phone doesn't get ST gets.
I'm going to stay with ST for as long as I can and keep an eye on the data cap limit rumors although I don't think I'll see any with my usage being under 3 gigs per month (at the very most), won't even risk tethering, and if the coverage stays this good.
I love seeing unlimited everything and only paying $45, I can't believe it as it seemed it was too good to be true but after trying it and seeing it myself I'm sold.
What made you guys pick Straight Talk?
What do you like about it?
What don't you like about it?
Would you rather switch providers for this phone and enable 4G?
Should I post the steps I took to help others out interested in doing this?
FYI I get no points or a cheaper bill for making this post or anything. I'm just excited and surprised that something usually like this is to good to be true.
Not sure how they are with tmobile sims, my girl has the at&t one and never got a complaint but she I'd no days hog.
I'm about to try out metro pcs they launched byop in the Phillie area so sixty for unlimited, gotta check if there's no catch. Also how plans stack
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I have a Google Nexus 4 with a T-Mobile micro sim with an account that allow me 3G. I would like to know how you were able to get a ST micro sim as they told me there were none yet. How did you get you T-mobile micro sim to work and does the sim restrict the speed or the network. I am a noob on the subject.
BertSP said:
I have a Google Nexus 4 with a T-Mobile micro sim with an account that allow me 3G. I would like to know how you were able to get a ST micro sim as they told me there were none yet. How did you get you T-mobile micro sim to work and does the sim restrict the speed or the network. I am a noob on the subject.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy a sim cutter on ebay for less than $5 or look for a template on google and cut it with scissors on there. Either way it functions the same after being cut as it would a regular sim.
Sent from my Nexus 4

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