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08-23-2007, 05:49 AM
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#1
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Six Flags Over Stupid
Model: 8100
Carrier: TMobile
Posts: 17
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Asking a ? for a friend
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She's on TMO and has lost her old cell phone. Her old phone doesn't use a SIM card.
She would like to upgrade to a 8100 or 8800, but doesn't want to extend her contract with TMO by ordering a new phone.
Can she purchase a TMO phone and a TMO SIM card and call TMO to activate said phone and SIM card on her account and avoid extending her contract or paying an outrageous amount for a phone? I realize TMO will probably give her a phone for $49.99 but she will have to sign a new 2 yr contract for that.
TIA for your advice!
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08-23-2007, 08:14 AM
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#2
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Seattle
Model: 8320
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 96
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Wirelessly posted (7105t: BlackBerry8100/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)
Just curious how she was using a phone without a sim card? T-mobile is, and at least in the US always has been, a GSM carrier, which requires a sim. So assuming she had a sim at one point, she can call t-mo for a replacement sim without a contract extension, then buy an 8100 from eBay and add the blackberry data plan (also without a contract extension).
Not to argue with your friend here, but she had to have a sim of some kind, even if it was by some chance the old school business card sized one (which is doubtful). T-mo has never operated a TDMA network here in the states, or rben a very old school gsm.
-olly
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08-23-2007, 08:27 AM
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#3
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Six Flags Over Stupid
Model: 8100
Carrier: TMobile
Posts: 17
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I don't know. Her old phone didn't have a SIM card. She didn't have a PDA phone, just a plain old phone.
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08-23-2007, 09:39 AM
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#4
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Francisco
Model: 9700
OS: XP, 7
PIN: HEAD
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 2,345
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One can go to eBay, buy a used Pearl, which may or may not include a SIM [make sure the phone does not have any unpaid bills].
If the Pearl does not have a SIM, you can get one on eBay for $5.
She can then contact T-Mo and activate the phone, without a contract. In fact, I have always simply inserted the SIM and the phone fired up, without having to contact the carrier.
T-Mo, like all the carriers, have incentives to get her to agree to a contract. Since she will not be getting a new phone for cheap or free, they will try to entice her with special pricing, etc. But she does not have to agree to that.
Most plans offered on T-Mo's site do NOT require a contract, it's the phone for free that kicks in the contract requirement.
That's how I understand things with T-Mo.
Last edited by SanFrancisco; 08-23-2007 at 09:41 AM..
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08-23-2007, 09:46 AM
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#5
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Francisco
Model: 9700
OS: XP, 7
PIN: HEAD
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 2,345
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As an example, I gave an ex-girlfriend one of my old 7100t phones. We simply took the SIM out of her old T-Mo phone, put it in the 7100t and it fired right up. Did not have to contact T-Mo.
Any SIM, including those on eBay for $5, will activate a phone. I have two extra SIMs on my emergency phone shelf. In the event I lose my Pearl, and since I don't have a home land line, I can insert one of those SIMs into a 7100t and be back on the air, so to speak.
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08-23-2007, 09:49 AM
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#6
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Francisco
Model: 9700
OS: XP, 7
PIN: HEAD
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CurvyGurl
I don't know. Her old phone didn't have a SIM card. She didn't have a PDA phone, just a plain old phone.
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When my ex-girlfriend and I were discussing giving her a 7100t, she swore that her phone [which looked like about a year 2000 phone. It was monochrome, etc.] did not have a SIM card.
When I got over her place I took out the battery and there was the SIM slot and SIM card. From the outside, however, the phone did not look like it could have had a SIM, but it did.
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08-23-2007, 09:50 AM
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#7
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Six Flags Over Stupid
Model: 8100
Carrier: TMobile
Posts: 17
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I've asked her what model her old phone was. Maybe she didn't realize it comes with a SIM. Then she can ask for a replacement and procure a phone from another source and all will be hunky dory.
If it is an older model likely obselete phone, could she still order a SIM from TMobile and use a phone bought from another source?
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08-23-2007, 09:54 AM
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#8
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Six Flags Over Stupid
Model: 8100
Carrier: TMobile
Posts: 17
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Every time I have purchased a phone with TMO it has extended my contract. I'm trying to avoid that with the Curve but I don't want to pay $300 for a phone I can get for $199 at some point.
I've sent her your useful information, thanks much!
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08-23-2007, 10:31 AM
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#9
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Six Flags Over Stupid
Model: 8100
Carrier: TMobile
Posts: 17
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I'm a dork. her phone is lost... that's why she doesn't have a SIM card to slap into a new phone. DUH.
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08-23-2007, 10:39 AM
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#10
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BBF Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2005
Model: Z30
OS: 10.2.1.x
PIN: s & needles
Carrier: AT&T
Posts: 34,720
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Purchase a TMobile branded phone from anywhere you like, call TMo for a replacement sim card. You can also purchase an unlocked phone from another carrier, as well.
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08-23-2007, 10:48 AM
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#11
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Francisco
Model: 9700
OS: XP, 7
PIN: HEAD
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CurvyGurl
I've asked her what model her old phone was. Maybe she didn't realize it comes with a SIM. Then she can ask for a replacement and procure a phone from another source and all will be hunky dory.
If it is an older model likely obselete phone, could she still order a SIM from TMobile and use a phone bought from another source?
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If she gets a phone from T-Mo they will try to sell it to her at a discount and require a contract extension. But they also sell them for retail at T-Mo too. But better way to go is almost new on eBay [make sure they have high feedbacks, a 99.5 rating or above and that there are no unpaid bills attached to the phone].
Or she can just buy a low end phone from T-Mo for full retail. Any phone from T-Mo typically comes with a SIM since she has an account. With a lost SIM I believe she just needs to disclose that and they will replace it.
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08-23-2007, 11:50 AM
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#12
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Model: 8700g
PIN: N/A
Carrier: T-Mobile USA
Posts: 9
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Yeah, if she's on a monthly plan, they should be able to send her a replacement SIM at little/no cost Then you can purchase an unlocked phone anywhere. I went from a RAZR V3 (still on contract till Feb 08) to an 8700g that I bought through a forum sale. Once you get the replacement SIM, you should be able to put it in any unlocked GSM or T-Mo branded phone.
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08-23-2007, 12:10 PM
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#13
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Six Flags Over Stupid
Model: 8100
Carrier: TMobile
Posts: 17
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Good to know! thanks so much!
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08-23-2007, 12:17 PM
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#14
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Francisco
Model: 9700
OS: XP, 7
PIN: HEAD
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CurvyGurl
Good to know! thanks so much!
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If she goes through T-Mo tell her to be very careful. T-Mo is not shifty, but they are like any other carrier. Mistakes in communication can occur.
Tell her to make sure she is paying retail for the phone, NOT at a discount.
When and if she gets a phone from T-Mo, tell her to check the invoice to make sure she paid retail and that the contract was NOT extended.
The sales reps are supposed to clarify with a canned speech that one has agreed to extend their contract in return for a discounted phone. But there's always a chance she will get a new or aggressive sales rep who will negligently or intentionally sell the phone at a discount and extend her contract. I have never had a T-Mo rep forget the canned speech, but there's always a first time.
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