Anyone ever unlock a smartphone? Pissed with AT&T

pearsall001

Our phone bill with AT&T for 3 smartphones 6gig (4gig is right at the edge of our usage & only saves a couple bucks) data plan runs approx. $222.00 a month. I'm getting tired of paying that much for stinking phones. I read that if you unlock your phone you can pick a provider of your choice. Of course there's the early termination fee but it's probably worth it when you factor in the monthly savings. Has anyone gone this route?

I already did something similar when I dumped Comcast & their overpriced triple play plan. I went with Direct TV (much better plan) The HUB from Clear for internet (works great & is as fast or faster than Comcast) & MagicJack plus for the home phone (also works great). I'm saving about $60.00 a month over Comcast & getting a whole lot more (NFL Ticket along with MLB package & the Genie DVR is fantastic). So I am not afraid to pull the trigger & do it with AT&T. Any thoughts?

codyc1ark

I switched to straighttalk through Walmart and I'm using a google phone. I couldn't be happier with the service (AT&T) and mostly the price, 45/month.

badchad

Be careful going this route, as some phones aren't entirely compatible across all carriers.

Verizon and Sprint use a CDMA network, while AT&T and T-mobile use GSM. Thus, their phones aren't always compatible and its a hardware issue. I think more modern phones may be compatible with all carriers, but this is definitely something to look into.

Syndil

Yep if you unlock your AT&T phone the only major carrier you'll be able to take it to is T-Mobile. An AT&T phone will not work on Sprint or Verizon, unlocked or not. It's just not the right type of technology, as badchad pointed out.

I've switched to Virgin Mobile, which operates on Sprint's CDMA network (Sprint is what I had before I switched). For $35 a month I get 300 minutes and unlimited everything else (data, text, etc.). I don't talk much on the phone but I use it a lot for data so it's fine for me. For $45 Virgin gives you 1200 minutes, or for $55 you can get unlimited minutes. Note that on Virgin (like most prepaid carriers) there are no free nights/weekends, free mobile-to-mobile, etc. Every call uses minutes, even calls to check voicemail.

And when they say it's $35, it's $35 all-inclusive of any taxes, fees, etc. I have an "account" with Virgin that I put money into, and when a new month rolls around, they take $35 out of the account. Or I could set it up to where they just charge my credit card as needed, but I've been buying top-up cards at a discount, so it's cheaper to buy the cards. Last $60 card I bought cost me $51, which works out to my $35 monthly fee actually costing me $29.75.

monepolk

Yes I have done it just so I could have my phone unlocked. Since I had to have a code from TMobile their customer service kinda walks you through it. And I have also paid a early termination fee to get cheaper rates, doing the math it just made since.

zingo

What about a service provider like Ting?

exalted512

I have T-Mobile. I bought the Nexus 4 outright, so it's unlocked. I pay $53/mo with taxes/fees. I have 500 minutes, nights/weekends, no texting, but unlimited data.

I have Google Voice, so my texting is through that, which is data based, so it's free. Also, I bought this little gadget:
http://www.amazon.com/OBi110-Service-Bridge-Telephone-Adapter/dp/B0045RMEPI

It allows me to have an absolutely free home phone with google voice. All you need is an internet connection. So when people call my google voice number or my wife's google voice numbers, our respective cell phone rings as well as our home phone. Since the home phone is internet based, any phone calls I receive or make with the home phone doesn't count against my minutes.

I also have it set up to call my work line. So if I'm at work, it will ring my cell phone and my work phone. I can simply pick up my work phone and it doesn't cost my work anything, nor does it take away my minutes.

Unfortunately, 500 minutes is the lowest my particular type of plan will do. I'd love to half that if I could get it for cheaper. Since I'm at work or at home 90% of the time, most of my calls dont go against my minutes.
-Cody