Is the att plus the same as the tmobile plus?

[Appl3FTW]

Ok i'm currently on Att with my 6 plus and planning on switching with tmobile SOON.
1. I don't have to surrender the 6+ right inorder to get tmobile to pay for ETF right?

2. If i do the switch.. will i be able to unlock the att phone and then use it to tmobile? this way i don't have to purchase and wait for 6 weeks because tmobile have the plus on backorder.

3. what's the difference between the att and tmobile iphones? is there any network or spectrum that the tmobile iphone has that the att doesn't?

4. if you throttle at tmobile, is it 4g, 3g, or edge?

 

[T5BRICK]

Ok i'm currently on Att with my 6 plus and planning on switching with tmobile SOON.
1. I don't have to surrender the 6+ right inorder to get tmobile to pay for ETF right?

If you want T-Mobile to pay your ETF, you'll have to give them a smartphone.

2. If i do the switch.. will i be able to unlock the att phone and then use it to tmobile? this way i don't have to purchase and wait for 6 weeks because tmobile have the plus on backorder.

If the AT&T phone is unlocked, then you can use it on T-Mobile.

3. what's the difference between the att and tmobile iphones? is there any network or spectrum that the tmobile iphone has that the att doesn't?

They're the same phones.

4. if you throttle at tmobile, is it 4g, 3g, or edge?

I'm not sure on this one, but I'd guess slow 3G or EDGE.

 

[Appl3FTW]

thanks brick. anyone else want to throw their two cents in?

 

[deeddawg]

From what others have said you just trade in any old phone. So you'd be fine there. You also have to buy a T-Mobile phone, but again just buy the cheapest one.

Is your AT&T 6+ already unlocked? If not what will you use in the time between cancelling AT&T service and AT&T allowing you to unlock the phone? There are third party unlocks of course, but last I saw the legit ones were a bit pricey.

Only difference is the SIM the phone ships with. Otherwise identical model. I'm using a full-price TMO 6 on AT&T.

Check T-Mobile's website but I'm pretty sure they drop you to 2G once you've reached your high speed data allotment. Better than ATT/Verizon in a way since you still get some data; emails and imessage and other low bandwidth stuff. Browsing would svck though. I believe their unlimited is truly unlimited with no throttling; not 100% sure as I've not tried it myself.

 

[Appl3FTW]

From what others have said you just trade in any old phone. So you'd be fine there. You also have to buy a T-Mobile phone, but again just buy the cheapest one.

Is your AT&T 6+ already unlocked? If not what will you use in the time between cancelling AT&T service and AT&T allowing you to unlock the phone? There are third party unlocks of course, but last I saw the legit ones were a bit pricey.

Only difference is the SIM the phone ships with. Otherwise identical model. I'm using a full-price TMO 6 on AT&T.

Check T-Mobile's website but I'm pretty sure they drop you to 2G once you've reached your high speed data allotment. Better than ATT/Verizon in a way since you still get some data; emails and imessage and other low bandwidth stuff. Browsing would svck though. I believe their unlimited is truly unlimited with no throttling; not 100% sure as I've not tried it myself.

The phone is still locked with att since I just got it with a subsidy. that's what I was wondering, will they unlock it after I pay the whole bill off with the ETF and everything?

 

[deeddawg]

The phone is still locked with att since I just got it with a subsidy. that's what I was wondering, will they unlock it after I pay the whole bill off with the ETF and everything?

They should. You'd still need to figure out what you'll do to bridge whatever time it takes between porting out and getting the unlock.

See the details here: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/

 

[CEmajr]

thanks brick. anyone else want to throw their two cents in?

- If you get one of the plans that throttles after a certain amount of data is reached then you get throttled to 2G speeds after your allotment runs out. The unlimited data plan is totally unlimited with no throttling.
- If you want T-Mobile to pay your ETF then you have to trade in some type of smartphone and you also have to buy one from them. These can be the cheapest phones available or you could trade in your 6 Plus and buy another one.

 

[scaredpoet]

thanks brick. anyone else want to throw their two cents in?

I was able to get my ETF reimbursed without trading in a smartphone. I found this old Nokia in one of my drawers, and was able to use that as my trade in. No questions asked, didn't even need the charger. Of course I got no trade-in value for it either.

And when it came to fulfilling the "must buy a phone" requirement, they hooked me up with this sweet flip phone, which as soon as I got home, ended up in the same drawer as the Nokia was in. Then I popped in the nano SIM they gave me into my iPhone and I was good to go. Two months later, my ETF reimbursement came in the mail.

So, it'll cost you a little bit to get the cheap flip phone, but it'll be less than paying your ETF yourself, or the money lost in trading in and buying a new iPhone.

Lastly: Sign up for the basic Simple Choice plan with 1GB of LTE data, and then get hooked up with a referral (there's a thread on here, or you can PM me and I'll refer you). That way you get unlimited LTE data for a year, but don't have to pay the extra $30 a month for it.

 

[rugmankc]

The last time I had TMO and was throttled I am pretty sure it was 3g

Also, I didn't catch your reason for switching. TMO coverage in my area is horrible compared to ATT. YMMV

I would, if you haven't, find some way of verifying that. Don't go by the coverage maps.

 

[VapoChimmy]

Ok i'm currently on Att with my 6 plus and planning on switching with tmobile SOON.
1. I don't have to surrender the 6+ right inorder to get tmobile to pay for ETF right?

2. If i do the switch.. will i be able to unlock the att phone and then use it to tmobile? this way i don't have to purchase and wait for 6 weeks because tmobile have the plus on backorder.

3. what's the difference between the att and tmobile iphones? is there any network or spectrum that the tmobile iphone has that the att doesn't?

4. if you throttle at tmobile, is it 4g, 3g, or edge?

1. You're supposed to turn in the phone they're paying the ETF on. But I don't think they'll give you much trouble with that, t-mobile is way better than AT&T or Verizon or Spring when it comes to customer service.

2. You can buy unlock codes online if AT&T won't do it. AT&T should do it though. Try telling them you're traveling to europe and you need it unlocked so you can use foreign sims and avoid roaming charges. They will do it because they don't want to lose you as a customer. Obviously do this before you have t-mobile port the numbers (which cancels your AT&T service automatically).

3. functionally, the T-Mobile, Verizon, & AT&T ip6 is identical, except that the AT&T one is locked. (all verizon LTE phones are unlocked due to a deal w/ the gov when purchasing their wireless spectrum)

4. T-mobile throttles to edge or 3g, depending on stuff which I dont understand. Probably traffic and the area you're in. Unless you get the unlimited data plan of course, then no throttle.

Also T-Mobile offers unlimited 4G data for streaming music (pandora, rhaposdy, etc..) on every smartphone plan. So that data doesn't count.

 

[Appl3FTW]

I talked to ATT and here's what the customer rep recommended... she suggested I pay the ETF first, do the Unlock, and then Port the number.

this way, I can reuse the ATT iphone i have now to tmobile without purchasing a new one.

 

[VapoChimmy]

I talked to ATT and here's what the customer rep recommended... she suggested I pay the ETF first, do the Unlock, and then Port the number.

this way, I can reuse the ATT iphone i have now to tmobile without purchasing a new one.

That will probably work, but it is still up to AT&T.

here's their info on unlocking the phone
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/

 

[Appl3FTW]

That will probably work, but it is still up to AT&T.

here's their info on unlocking the phone
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/

now here's my question.. if i do pay my ETF first before the last bill gets generated. it won't show on the last bill. Will this be a problem when it comes to showing the last bill? tmobile says submit the last bill, since the ETF has been paid prior, it won't show on the last bill. will they still pay?

 

[nasty eggrolls]

You won't be able to pay the AT&T ETF until you cancel your service with them. It'll be included in your last bill. I just did the exact same process that you're trying to do with the 6+ moving from AT&T to T-Mobile and this is what you need to do:

1. Buy the cheapest working flip phone on ebay. I bought a old cingluar phone for $10.
2. Go to T-Mobile 2 days before your AT&T billing cycle ends. This is important because you won't get your ETF bill until your normal billing cycle is over, doesn't matter if you cancel service at the beginning of your cycle. T-Mobile paid me $25 for the junk cingular phone, forced me to buy their cheapest LG smartphone ($90) and ported my AT&T phone number over to the new LG phone.
3. When your billing cycle ends, AT&T will send you your final bill with the ETF. Once you pay that, wait 24 hours and submit an unlock request online. The only crappy part about this process is that you have to use the LG phone for a few days until you get your ETF and AT&T unlocks your phone.
4. Once AT&T confirms unlock, pop SIM into iPhone 6+ and it'll work. I had to swing by T-Mobile to get a micro-sim for the 6+ since the LG came with a bigger SIM, but they gave it to me for free.

One note on unlocking, the online tool did not work for me at first try so I had to open a case with customer support. It was resolved within 24 hours. Also, I am going to pay off the LG phone in my next bill and sell on ebay. They are going for around $75 on there so your net cost will only be around $20.

I am soooooo much happier on T-Mobile now. Using 15+ GB a month with free tethering and no throttling

 

[Appl3FTW]

You won't be able to pay the AT&T ETF until you cancel your service with them. It'll be included in your last bill. I just did the exact same process that you're trying to do with the 6+ moving from AT&T to T-Mobile and this is what you need to do:

1. Buy the cheapest working flip phone on ebay. I bought a old cingluar phone for $10.
2. Go to T-Mobile 2 days before your AT&T billing cycle ends. This is important because you won't get your ETF bill until your normal billing cycle is over, doesn't matter if you cancel service at the beginning of your cycle. T-Mobile paid me $25 for the junk cingular phone, forced me to buy their cheapest LG smartphone ($90) and ported my AT&T phone number over to the new LG phone.
3. When your billing cycle ends, AT&T will send you your final bill with the ETF. Once you pay that, wait 24 hours and submit an unlock request online. The only crappy part about this process is that you have to use the LG phone for a few days until you get your ETF and AT&T unlocks your phone.
4. Once AT&T confirms unlock, pop SIM into iPhone 6+ and it'll work. I had to swing by T-Mobile to get a micro-sim for the 6+ since the LG came with a bigger SIM, but they gave it to me for free.

One note on unlocking, the online tool did not work for me at first try so I had to open a case with customer support. It was resolved within 24 hours. Also, I am going to pay off the LG phone in my next bill and sell on ebay. They are going for around $75 on there so your net cost will only be around $20.

I am soooooo much happier on T-Mobile now. Using 15+ GB a month with free tethering and no throttling

thanks nasty.. lulz @ name.

so att doesn't prorate? they will still charge me for the entire month's bill regardless of whenever I cancel? let's say I cancel and port now half way thru my cycle, they will still charge me for the entire month?

I have a family plan I need to migrate over, but only 2 of the 3 has an ETF (the other one is ready for upgrade so no etf). I know you have to purchase and surrender your phone if you want your ETF paid, do I have to purchase another phone for that 3rd line?

do you guys recommend better to go to the store, online, or over the phone?

 

[nasty eggrolls]

I was told that AT&T won't prorate -- you should confirm with their customer support though. Really, the main reason to wait for the end of your billing cycle is due to the ETF. If you cancel at the beginning of your cycle, you won't get your ETF for a month and your iPhone 6+ will remain locked for that time.

You shouldn't have to purchase a 3rd phone for the line that has no ETF. Purchasing a T-Mobile smartphone is only a requirement if you want to be reimbursed for your ETF fee. So you could sign up that 3rd line and bring over your existing AT&T phone if unlocked, or buy a new phone from T-Mobile if you want.

I'd go to the store to do it. The employees are very helpful and I just feel more confident porting my phone number over in-person. Good luck!

 

[yukyuklee]

if the phone isn't unlocked you can go on eBay and purchase a unlock code I've done this numerous of times and I can say it works 100% of the time. Just pay and write a note giving them you IMEI# of the phone usually takes about couple hours depending on the time. Plug the phone into iTunes and it will tell you that your phone is unlocked.

I think that you have to pay the ETF first than T-Mobile will reimburse you with a gift card? Please correct me if I am wrong on the gift card

 

[Appl3FTW]

I was told that AT&T won't prorate -- you should confirm with their customer support though. Really, the main reason to wait for the end of your billing cycle is due to the ETF. If you cancel at the beginning of your cycle, you won't get your ETF for a month and your iPhone 6+ will remain locked for that time.

You shouldn't have to purchase a 3rd phone for the line that has no ETF. Purchasing a T-Mobile smartphone is only a requirement if you want to be reimbursed for your ETF fee. So you could sign up that 3rd line and bring over your existing AT&T phone if unlocked, or buy a new phone from T-Mobile if you want.

I'd go to the store to do it. The employees are very helpful and I just feel more confident porting my phone number over in-person. Good luck!

yea im leaning forward to doing in person.

if the phone isn't unlocked you can go on eBay and purchase a unlock code I've done this numerous of times and I can say it works 100% of the time. Just pay and write a note giving them you IMEI# of the phone usually takes about couple hours depending on the time. Plug the phone into iTunes and it will tell you that your phone is unlocked.

I think that you have to pay the ETF first than T-Mobile will reimburse you with a gift card? Please correct me if I am wrong on the gift card

yea I have to pay the etf first and then do the reimbursement via visa card.

 

[IrishVixen]

None of the carriers prorate service, from what I understand, and I know from personal experience that AT&T doesn't, as I just left them last month. Their CS confirmed that I should wait until a few days before the end of my billing cycle to port out, as I'd be paying for the full month either way. (Phone was already unlocked by a third party unlocking service last year, so that wasn't an issue in my case. T-Mobile did the port within an hour of a quick phone call, no problem.)