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fixxer12

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 10, 2020
2
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Hello all. Apologies if this isn't the correct place for this.

I'm a Cricket user. In the past, I've just always bought the unlocked version through Apple directly and used their financing option. Looks like that no longer the case, as you have to use ATT/Verizon/TMobile now.

Question is - if I buy the ATT version so I can still do the monthly payment option, will that phone work on Cricket since Cricket uses ATT service?

Thanks!
 
If you purchase an AT&T phone then it is going to be on the AT&T service, you don't have any choice.

I'm guessing that you are wondering if you can use it on Cricket because the monthly plans are less expensive. Answer to that question is that if you purchase an 'AT&T phone' then you'll be locked into an AT&T plan until the phone is paid off.

If you have a phone to trade in then financing with a carrier may be beneficial. Or you can always pay cash for the phone, or if you don't have the cash then possibly a small loan from your local bank or S&L would give you the ability to purchase an unlocked phone so that you could use it with Cricket and benefit from their plans - the savings in monthly cell phone charges might be more than what the financing charges would be.
 
Looks like that no longer the case, as you have to use ATT/Verizon/TMobile now.
I was curious so just went through the process of choosing an iPhone 15, at apple.com. In the “Connectivity” section, there is a box/choice that says “Connect to any carrier later”.. this is the next step right after the Payment option.
 
Last edited:
I was curious so just went through the process of choosing an iPhone 15, at apple.com. In the “Connectivity” section, there is a box/choice that says “Connect to any carrier later”.. this is the next step right after the Payment option.

If you want to do the Apple CC financing option, they verify that you're a customer of one of the big three. If you're just paying for it full and up-front, you can "connect to any carrier later".
 
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If you want to do the Apple CC financing option, they verify that you're a customer of one of the big three. If you're just paying for it full and up-front, you can "connect to any carrier later".
Oh, I see now.. I was failing to take into account the financing options. Thank you for helping me learn something new!
 
Hello all. Apologies if this isn't the correct place for this.

I'm a Cricket user. In the past, I've just always bought the unlocked version through Apple directly and used their financing option. Looks like that no longer the case, as you have to use ATT/Verizon/TMobile now.

Question is - if I buy the ATT version so I can still do the monthly payment option, will that phone work on Cricket since Cricket uses ATT service?

Thanks!
I think you will have to provide your ATT postpaid account info to do this. Which you don't have. So I don't think this will work.
I've seen people claiming to go the T-Mobile route, then not activate with T-Mobile. Sounds risky to me.
 
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