AT&T/Sprint/Verizon & T-Mobile Alternative Carriers & Plans for All iPhone Users

[Rajincajuns]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

Please note Verizon & Sprint iPhone 4S is CDMA & GSM Compatible but Verizon and Sprint Lock their GSM Portion of the iPhone 4S (Sprint also does this with iPhone 5 but Verizon due to FCC rules & Regulations cannot so the Verizon iPhone 5 GSM portion is Unlocked meaning you can use it on any GSM Network in USA, Canada and world wide! whereas Sprint and Verizon iPhone 4S can only be used on International GSM networks as they have purposely put a block on all USA GSM Carriers)

Verizon iPhone 5 since it comes with its GSM Portion Unlocked can be used on AT&T and T-Mobile out of the box, But will not get LTE on AT&T due to not having the required bands.

Spring iPhone 5 will only work on International GSM Carrier networks meaning anywhere outside of USA.

Also what I meant was that there is no Network that you can run your iPhone 4S on which uses Verizon towers. Straight Talk uses AT&T and T-Mobile towers to provide its customer service. When you start digging in there is tons of information most people don't know about so I don't blame you and its a bit confusing at first.

Aww ok. Thanks for the explanation! That clarifies a lot!

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by Rajincajuns

Aww ok. Thanks for the explanation! That clarifies a lot!

yup np

[Rajincajuns]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

yup np

But if I bought an iPhone 4S thru apple the. It's unlocked and can be used on a GSM. It a Verizon phone. Is this correct?

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by Rajincajuns

But if I bought an iPhone 4S thru apple the. It's unlocked and can be used on a GSM. It a Verizon phone. Is this correct?

Nope that is not correct. Even though you bought your iPhone 4S from apple, its not the factory unlocked version. It is a Verizon CDMA/GSM iPhone 4S with Domestic GSM Network block on it, Only allowed to use/access International GSM Networks.

You may have purchased it at full price or upgrade. But Note to anyone, just because you buy a iPhone 4S/5 at Apple Store does not automatically make it Factory Unlocked, You still have to request it to be unlocked from the carrier that its for when you purchase it by telling Apple Store associate that you are looking to be using it for Verizon, Sprint or AT&T. Its different if you tell them you want to purchase a Factory Unlocked GSM iPhone to use on xyz network.

[dinggus]

I've been wanting to ditch AT&T, but I have unlimited data and don't want to lose it. Now that I know I don't need an unlocked iPhone and can use straight talk, I'd like to at least try out the service for a month.

[daniel86bm]

I have t-mobile and i Pay 148 a month for 3 lines but i have everything unlimited and i mean unlimited no data caps no nothing i currently have an iphone 5 and the 1900 MHZ refarm is almost done in my area the average speed i get in my area is 11.99 Mbps I'M very happy and won't switch for nothing, AT&T Verizon and Sprint are a ripoff Go t-mobile!!!

[kolasin]

Hi, I have a problem with straight talk and this is the internet, which 3g is not so fast. was 3 to 4 mb and now it is 0.20 to 0.30 MB. for 1 month of use and I noticed that my internet is very slow. I used it only for surfing. and sorry for bad english pl help

[Satnam1989]

Has anyone cut down a Straight Talk Micro SIM or Straight Talk standard SIM to nano sim for their iPhone?

I am looking to get straight talk on my iPhone 5 and wondering which one I should get to cut down? Please advise and if you can include a picture and any extra info I should know/be aware of before proceeding. Thanks

[ml.sail1]

I don't use straighttalk, But I do use net10 which offers the same deal. I started the 1st if this month and so far everything is going well, unlimited talk/text/data. Contrary to the straighttalk unlimited terms which are very vague on specific limits and such, net10 puts it in clear terms, they give you 50,000 minutes a month for talk/text/data. Obviously, calls deduct from that on a minute by minute basis. Texts use 0.5 minutes I believe, and data I haven't quite figured the conversion, it may just be mb to minute. In case you didn't look it up out of curiosity, there are only something like 43,000 actual minutes in a month, so you should be good.

As of today (12-31-12) I used 8:39 of talk time and about 2.5 GB of data with no problems. I got the Net10 package which came with 3 sim cards-a Standard ATT sim, a Micro ATT sim, and a Standard T-Mobile sim. I cut the Standard ATT sim down by hand following a guide here and make sure you print out the template on A4 sized paper if possible.

This sim card pack can be bought from Target locally as well as Best Buy (Note I have no affiliation with either, nor with Net10. I am just a happy customer)

Also posted below are a few speed tests from the Pittsburgh PA area as well as all the way down to Orlando FL (Vacation Drive).

Hope this helps!

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by ml.sail1

I don't use straighttalk, But I do use net10 which offers the same deal. I started the 1st if this month and so far everything is going well, unlimited talk/text/data. Contrary to the straighttalk unlimited terms which are very vague on specific limits and such, net10 puts it in clear terms, they give you 50,000 minutes a month for talk/text/data. Obviously, calls deduct from that on a minute by minute basis. Texts use 0.5 minutes I believe, and data I haven't quite figured the conversion, it may just be mb to minute. In case you didn't look it up out of curiosity, there are only something like 43,000 actual minutes in a month, so you should be good.

As of today (12-31-12) I used 8:39 of talk time and about 2.5 GB of data with no problems. I got the Net10 package which came with 3 sim cards-a Standard ATT sim, a Micro ATT sim, and a Standard T-Mobile sim. I cut the Standard ATT sim down by hand following a guide here and make sure you print out the template on A4 sized paper if possible.

This sim card pack can be bought from Target locally as well as Best Buy (Note I have no affiliation with either, nor with Net10. I am just a happy customer)

Also posted below are a few speed tests from the Pittsburgh PA area as well as all the way down to Orlando FL (Vacation Drive).

Hope this helps!

Ok so Net10 sends you 3 different sim cards in a package?

Also Thanks for all the info, and Net-10, Straight Talk are all owned by Tracfone (They are all the same company)

[ml.sail1]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

Ok so Net10 sends you 3 different sim cards in a package?

Also Thanks for all the info, and Net-10, Straight Talk are all owned by Tracfone (They are all the same company)

That is correct 3 sim cards in one package, and they are yes all owned by Tracfone, though they differ in certain policies (especially their unlimited offerings as stated above).

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by ml.sail1

That is correct 3 sim cards in one package, and they are yes all owned by Tracfone, though they differ in certain policies (especially their unlimited offerings as stated above).

Can I activate all 3 sims? say for two different phones and get 2 different numbers? I can just buy a "Nano Sim Cutter" from ebay and cut the standard sim to nano and then activate the "Micro SIM" for my iPhone 4S. let me know. thanks

If possible could u post a pic of the standard SIM? just want to see the size of the gold chip on the SIM and if its cuttable for nano. thanks again for your quick replies!

Happy New Year to all of you on Mac Rumors!

[ml.sail1]

Originally Posted by Satnam1989

Can I activate all 3 sims? say for two different phones and get 2 different numbers? I can just buy a "Nano Sim Cutter" from ebay and cut the standard sim to nano and then activate the "Micro SIM" for my iPhone 4S. let me know. thanks

I would imagine there should be no problems doing this, though I cannot speak from experience on this one. Just remember that two of them are ATT sims (presumably you would want to use these - especially with an iPhone) while the third is a T-Mobile sim.

In my sim card package each sim has a separate EMEI # (I think that is the name of it, but regardless) which is used in activation, so you should be able to activate each one separately with the different numbers.

Happy New Years! (Soon or already depending upon your location)

[Satnam1989]

thanks again, im definitely going to pick up net10 sim package as its cheaper than straight talk sim(1 vs 3 for $14.99).

[ml.sail1]

Glad I could help!

[Satnam1989]

I have added GoSmart Mobile(New T-Mobile Prepaid Service), Net10, Virgin Mobile USA and Cricket Wireless to the Poll so select your carrier!

[kolasin]

im going to bay iphone 4s at&t so can i use Straight Talk or i need to unlock ...

[powers74]

Any prognostications on whether the uber-cheap T-mob plans will stick around when the iPhone officially lands? I'm still on contract with ATT until about the time iPhone 5S is rumored to supposedly maybe launch (possibly spring / late spring / early summer?)... Anyway I was wondering if I should do something like this and lock in the $40 awesomeness, but if the plans are sticking around I have no problem waiting.

I sort of get the feeling the iP5S is still a ways off and I'll have a window in which to get the good deal, but you never know.

[cheezeit]

Originally Posted by kolasin

im going to bay iphone 4s at&t so can i use Straight Talk or i need to unlock ...

No need to unlock, it works automatically.

[Knockoutjosie]

I went to Verizon and asked if I can unlock my phone but they told me the iPhone 4S is already unlocked. Is there any way I can use my 4s on straight talk? I heard you have to buy a Gevey Turbo SIM for it to work. Can anyone help me? I'm running iOS 6.0.1. Thanks In advance
Edit: is anyone on #3? How fast is 3G on straight talk vs #3. I can't Remeber the name haha

[Satnam1989]

Originally Posted by Knockoutjosie

I went to Verizon and asked if I can unlock my phone but they told me the iPhone 4S is already unlocked. Is there any way I can use my 4s on straight talk? I heard you have to buy a Gevey Turbo SIM for it to work. Can anyone help me? I'm running iOS 6.0.1. Thanks In advance
Edit: is anyone on #3? How fast is 3G on straight talk vs #3. I can't Remeber the name haha

Data on Choice # 3 (H2O Wireless & Red Pocket Wireless) is about the same as Straight Talk if not exactly, but all depends on your area and how good the coverage is as all Straight talk, H2O Wireless & Red Pocket Wireless all run off of AT&T towers/network.

Also for Verizon iPhone 4S you will need a Gevey Turbo Sim for it to work on Straight Talk since Verizon (as well as Sprint) lock/block their iPhone 4S against Domestic (within USA) GSM Network use. I would personally sell off the Verizon 4S and just pick up a AT&T 4S....its so much better and less hassle to enjoy your contract free plans

[Dominicanyor]

Alright, I have an I phone 4s and I no longer have a contract with sprint. My wife ask me if I wanted to change carriers from sprint to AT&T. I'm not sure if I leave sprint and go to AT&T will I have to start a hole new contract even though I will be added to her line.

[Palacedog]

I had AT&T unlock my i4 last month and have yet to get any cellular data service from Straight Talk. I resorted to the T-Mobile sim swap method, which allows me to input all the correct APN info, but it will not save. The phone reverts back to "phone" under APN and the AT&T info in the MMSC field. I've been on the phone with ST csrs several times and they keep telling me the phone is not unlocked, blah, blah, blah.... I've triple checked with both AT&T and Apple and the phone is definitely unlocked.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Love saving $40 a month, but without cellular data, I may have to bite the bullet and go back to AT&T.

Thanks in advance.

[Satnam1989]

Anyone on Go-Smart mobile yet? If so how are the Data speeds in the 3G - Reaffirmed areas of T-Mobile?

[Knockoutjosie]

So can I use my ip4s verizon on pay as you go?