How to buy a new cell phone?

[ArkiStan]

Okay the title sounds a little stupid.

I just lost my T-mobile Razr phone. I need to get a new one. I still have several months left on my contract, so I just need to get a new machine and continue using my previous account (number). If I want to buy a used phone off eBay or something. What do I do once I get the phone? Do I just bring the phone to any T-mobile store and ask them to activate it? Or will stores only activate phones bought at that location? then where do I go?

I've never dones this before. Tips are appreciated.

Stan

p.s. Any good source for used phones other than eBay?

[_=DeltaForce=_]

login to mytmobile and you can extend your agreement and get a t-mobile sda, MDA or even the razr for cheap..

[ArkiStan]

hmm. didn't know that. That section of the website seems to be under repair at the moment, but I'll make sure to check it out.

If I do end up getting something separately rather than through T-mobile, what's the deal with all the "unlocked" phones on eBay? Are these phones that can be used with any wireless carrier? Are these legit?

[jstreet]

Since you're on t-mobile you'll need a new SIM card (since you don't have your old one). The neat thing about carriers like Cingular and T-Mobile is that you can just take out that little chip and put it in the new phone, and none of that activation mumbo-jumbo needs to happen. You can switch between as many phones as you like. That said, you do need that SIM card ;)

Not sure if T-Mobile mails a new one to you or if you can pick one up in the store, but probably the former.

As for "unlocked" phones, yep they are legit - and can be used on any network. The downside is that sometimes a carrier will customize a phone (with network settings that let you access the internet, send text messages, etc) and an unlocked phone may not have those settings. It should always let you do phone functions - make calls, receive calls - but it may not be able to do other things.

[Devhux]

....and if an unlocked phone doesn't have the settings for your carrier, you can always visit HowardForums (http://www.howardforums.com) to find out what those settings would be.

[bachviet]

Buy a new phone from eBay and get a SIM from T-Mobile. That was what my brother did when he lost his phone. Usually T-Mobile gives you the SIM for free. I would not extend the contract just to get a new phone. I got my SDA from eBay for $250.

[ArkiStan]

Yeah I was just at a tmobile store and apparantly I can only extend my contract by 2-year increments now. That's not worth it. One store even recommended changing my calling plan to the cheapest 19.99 for the 6 months I have left on my contract, just not use it, and open a new cingular plan and get a nice phone for cheap. But then I found out that was also a 2-year contract. I'm not in for long-term commitments.

Looks like the best deal will be to buy a nice new phone on eBay and popping a new sim card in.

I'm looking at this (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-UNLOCKED-SAMSUNG-D500-D-500-GSM-TRIBAND-CELL-PHONE_W0QQitemZ9711117056QQcategoryZ64355QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).

Just wondering. Is reception for Tri-band phones much worse than Quad-band phones? I was using the Razr before (I'm in manhattan) which i believe is a Quad-band and I wasn't too unhappy with the reception, but I wouldn't want it to get any worse.

[jstreet]

I'd stick with a Quad-Band if possible -- it opens up the most doors for switching between providers in the US and going abroad.

Tri-band won't hurt your reception with T-Mobile in the US as long as the phone supports their band -- I believe they are 1900 and the eBay "compatible networks" picture seems to confirm that.

Cingular does do 850MHz so if you ever thought of going over to their side, you would suffer in reception.

[ArkiStan]

Good. I'll probably be sticking with T-mobile, so a tri-band phone should be ok.

Does anybody know if online cell phone stores ever give rebates/discounts if I'm simply extending (not activating) my contract through them?

[bachviet]

The D500 is nice but for $220-$250, I rather get something else.

[ArkiStan]

I'm considering the D500, but I'm still keeping my options open. How do you like the SDA? I like it and it got great reviews, but I'm not sure how much I'd need the smart phone capabilities. Can you browse the internet on it for free? How much is it like a PDA?

[bachviet]

I love it but too bad I can't sync with Lotus Notes without buying software ($75 for mNotes). Pple are able to browse the internet using the T-Zones service ($5.99). It has WiFi so I could use it to access free hotspots. Beside having WM5, it's nothing like the PDA since there is no keyboard or touch screen. It takes longer to input data but it has all the capability of WM.

[jstreet]

I had the precursor to the SDA and a coworker actually has it -- love those phones.

It's PDA-like in that it has a calendar/contacts function (that syncs PERFECTLY with Outlook). After installing the syncing program (ActiveSync) you just plug in your phone and it syncs without you doing anything else. That in itself made it worth it for me.

Browing the internet isn't free -- you'd have to have some sort of data plan with T-Mob. Dunno how much that would cost -- on Cingular's side it was $24.99 for unlimited data.

The interface is a melding of computer and cell phone, so some computerish functions sneak in. You have to start worrying about memory, sometimes the phone gets sluggish, etc. If smartphone capabilities really aren't important, that might make you want to avoid it.

[ArkiStan]

Yeah it seems like too much power that it'll get in the way of my normal usage. Still looking. I'm not in too much of a rush cause finals are just around the corner and it's actually nice and peaceful not having a phone(not that I got many calls to begin with).

I'm starting to consider phones with SD card expansion slots. It would be nice to be able to listen to some music now and then, providing it doesn't drain the battery too much.

[jstreet]

I'd definitely recommend trying before you buy if music is important. The Windows Mobile phones do a great job - the system works a lot like Windows Media Player on the desktop, and it will sync with Napster if you use it (shameless plug - I do, and for the monthly fee you can copy over as much music as fits). It does a good job with MP3s too provided the tag information is somewhat accurate.

I say try before you buy because AFAIK, the interface on the Moto SLVR I have for music suck diddily ucks. I keep all my music on my Treo 700w instead.

[ArkiStan]

BTW, when my current 1-year contract is over, instead of extending my contract, can I cancel and then activate a new contract to get good deals on phones?

edit: hmm, thinking again that doesn't seem worth it. Because I don't have much of a credit history, I had to pay a huge deposit when I first signed up. Then you have the activation fees and such...I might as well get a decent phone and just roll with the service I have.

[jstreet]

I'd think not -- they've got your soc from when they ran your credit history. If you signed up again, you'd pop up in the system and the salesperson's eyes would narrow.

[Jane83]

ebay

[ArkiStan]

ebay

yes that's looking like my best option.

[ArkiStan]

Do I have to call customer service to order a new sim card from T-mobile? I've been trying to do it online. I've searched everywhere on the website and even google. No luck so far.

I've heard replacements cost $25. Has anybody gotten a replacement for free?

[jstreet]

I'd think you'd have to call them, yeah. They have to link it to your account information in their computers anyway.

Call them up and ask them how much it costs and then tell them you'd like a statement credit for that amount. You'd be surprised how often telling CSRs what to do works.

[ArkiStan]

Thanks again, Ben.
You seem to be quite knowledgeable in wireless technology. Could you recommend any good websites/forums where end users share their impressions of certain models?

[bachviet]

Call T-Mobile and they will give it to you for free.

[jstreet]

Thanks again, Ben.
You seem to be quite knowledgeable in wireless technology. Could you recommend any good websites/forums where end users share their impressions of certain models?No problem.

To be honest I really am not sure on the forums. I usually start at CNet for a review... they look at so much that they're a good standard... and then google for the rest.

Also google on the kind of features you're going to be interested in. For instance, I got a Motorola SLVR and when I choose a special ringer for a contact, it plays not just when they call, but when they send a text message, otherwise known as a horrific and abysmal non-standard design error.

Had I googled more about the SLVR before buying it (as I did with my other phones) I would've saved myself quite the headache, heh.

[ArkiStan]

Call T-Mobile and they will give it to you for free.

I can't believe how hard it is to look up a freakin number!!! I've tried 800-937-8997 number. I only get an automated voice-recognition system that keeps telling me how many free minutes I have left when I say "new sim card." I've looked on the T-mobile website, which tells me to "call customer care" but doesn't provide the number, I've googled to no success. Anybody have the number?? :confused:


Had I googled more about the SLVR before buying it (as I did with my other phones) I would've saved myself quite the headache, heh.

Yeah, l'm one of those people that employs and enjoys the rigorous research/comparison process before buying anything. Not only is there a higher chance of getting a "proven" product, but you also learn so much in terms of the general technology behind the product. But like your experience with the SLVR, sometimes there's just not enough information sometimes it takes a while for people to discover certain flaws, so sometimes it doesn't help that much. It happens to all of us. That's one of the reasons I tend not to be an early adapter.

[ramazank2]

I really disliked the D500 when I looked at it. When I replaced my SIM at Tmobile a few years back they charged $15 it didnt matter if I went to the store or ordered over the phone. So I went to the store and picked one up.
I chose a nokia 6170 over the D500. but doesnt have bluetooth. But it is a nice phone. http://cgi.ebay.com/Nokia-6170-Brand-New-GSM-Unlocked-Phone_W0QQitemZ9713816729QQcategoryZ64355QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[bachviet]

That's is the correct number. There should be a menu where you could choose to talk to a customer service.

[jstreet]

I usually alternate between mashing the '0' key and screaming obscenities. You can do both if you have speakerphone.

I swear that the computerized systems pick up obscenity and tone and realize they need to just do the transfer like I asked.

[Devhux]

Thanks again, Ben.
You seem to be quite knowledgeable in wireless technology. Could you recommend any good websites/forums where end users share their impressions of certain models?

I mentioned it above, but HowardForums (http://www.howardforums.com) is an excellent resource for this kind of information.

[ArkiStan]

I really disliked the D500 when I looked at it. When I replaced my SIM at Tmobile a few years back they charged $15 it didnt matter if I went to the store or ordered over the phone. So I went to the store and picked one up.
I chose a nokia 6170 over the D500. but doesnt have bluetooth. But it is a nice phone. http://cgi.ebay.com/Nokia-6170-Brand-New-GSM-Unlocked-Phone_W0QQitemZ9713816729QQcategoryZ64355QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I ordered mine over the pnone and they charged my $20. Losing stuff just sucks. I'm putting my new phone on a leash for chrissake.


I mentioned it above, but HowardForums (http://www.howardforums.com) is an excellent resource for this kind of information.

I actually looked at the link before, but I guess I overlooked the forums. Thanks!

[ArkiStan]

Damn. I just discovered they have brand new T-mobile sim cards on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-T-MOBILE-SIM-CARD_W0QQitemZ9125874167QQcategoryZ3310QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) for $5. Are these the same as those that T-mobile sends me? Maybe I can send mine back to T-mobile for a refund.

[ArkiStan]

BTW, also on eBay, I found 150-minute prepaid sim cards for $9 shipped. When my one-year contract expires, I might actually use these instead of my $60 ($45+tax) plan. Right now I get 1000 free minutes, but I never use even 10% of the minutes. Back when I got a phone I was in a long-distance relationship. Now I'm not, so it might be worth it. Speaking of which, I should change my calling plan to something cheaper until my contract expires. (Why didn't I think of that...)

Any particular disadvantages to having prepaid sim cards? Will I be able to keep my number?