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I bought mySE Z200 unlocked in Hong Kong and want to use it in the US with a US provider. I thought that it would be simple to sign up for service with T-Mobile, and just put the T-Mobile SIM card into my unlocked phone and there you go.
But on the phone, the T-Mobile rep insisted that I had to take a free phone with my 1000 unlimited minutes/1 year contract package. I said I didn't want a phone, just the SIM card, but she said they didn't sell SIMs separately. I said, ok, as long as I can take the SIM card out of your T-Mobile phone and put it into my Z200, no problem.
But then she said: Oh, before you can use our SIM card in your phone you have to go to a service center and get your phone re-programmed.
WTF??? This makes no sense. My phone is unlocked I should be able to pop in any GSM SIM and get service, correct? If I bring it to a T-Mobile service center, will they try to lock my phone to their network? There's no way I'm going to agree to that, since the whole reason I am signing up with T-Mobile is so I can swap out SIM cards when I travel abroad, instead of changing phones.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is the T-Mobile rep misinformed?
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Posted: 2004-02-23 14:06:45
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Yes, they are full of it. All my phones are sim free phones and i can pop in my sim to any one. Some of the se phones have problem loading the t-zones homepage (like z600, t39) but otherwise it's no problem.
This message was posted from a Z600
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Posted: 2004-02-23 15:14:32
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rdnymllnsktr Posts: > 500
Don't know why, considering my tagline, but I will just confirm GSM1's post. I was
afraid at first that my unlocked phone wouldn't work with another SIM card, but it did. As long as when you check the SIM lock, it's unlocked, it will work.
Ethan
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Posted: 2004-02-23 15:32:39
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Thanks for the responses. I was worried because, frankly, the US cell phone providers really seem shady in their practices compared to the providers I've used in Asia and Europe. Over there, most people buy the phone unlocked (in HK if you tried to lock a phone before selling it you'd have a consumer riot!), then buy the SIM. Straightforward, easy, and if you don't like the service, then you swap SIMs and try another provider.
Over here, on the other hand, you have to thread your way through a myriad of plans and fine print and "unlimited long distance nationwide" deals that, on closer inspection, aren't all that they seem to be. (ATT Wireless, f'instance) It makes me an extra-wary consumer, for I feel like all the companies are in some way trying to slip something over on the customer. (Like T-Mobile's "Easy Pay", in which they automatically sign you up to debit your fee out of your credit card, unless you make a separate call to them to turn this auto-pay off.)
So when the person from T-Mobile suggests I'll have to go to a service center to get my (own! unlocked!) phone tweaked to work on their network, I automatically assume the worst.....
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Posted: 2004-02-23 15:49:05
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rdnymllnsktr Posts: > 500
Eh, what do they know? Or, how much are they not telling us? I would love to tell them to screw off. Once, I went into an AT&T store, and was purchasing a phone for my friend (he had a "GoPhone"), and the rep there had the audacity to tell me that he couldn't, and that I couldn't buy it for him, because the new phone wouldn't work with a "GoPhone" plan. IDIOT!!!
So anyways, I just went in there and bought it for myself, saying it was a replacement.
Ethan
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Posted: 2004-02-23 16:02:44
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If you go into a store you probably would be able to get just a SIM card without the a phone as well. I've had to replace my SIM card a couple of times, so they have seperate SIM cards available. Just tell them you have a phone already. I would ask them to try one of their activated SIM cards just to double check there are no problems as well. I did that when I had an old SIM card that wouldn't work with one of my phones. I asked to try out the new SIM before changing it to the new one.
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Posted: 2004-02-23 16:07:16
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rdnymllnsktr Posts: > 500
No no no, I know that they sell separate SIM cards. What I'm bugged about is that they won't sell a separate phone, without a plan.
Ethan
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Posted: 2004-02-23 16:12:45
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We need some more independent cell phone stores here in the US. I'm sick and tired of the Cingular stores, T-Mobile stores etc that doesn't know jack about unlocked phones.
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Posted: 2004-02-23 21:12:08
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I couldn't agree with you more, Amagab!
Scr*w the providers and their retail stores, we need independent retailers. Fortunately, I live in NYC and I can't even begin to tell you what a difference the presence of small retailers make.
First, they give you incredible deals on the phones (like a free T610 + $150 rebate), and then, you can choose what phone you want - you want Z200, fine, they get it for you and put it on the desired plan altogether with the discount/rebate. They can also adjust your plans and do all sorts of things retail stores can't do, not to mention that many of them really know their job and can be really helpful.
@ z200user: don't fret, if your phone is unlocked, there is NO way in hell your T-mobile SIM will not work in it. You don't need any reprogramming of your phone, so kindly decline that. What I don't understand is... why the hell don't you take the free phone? What is wrong with you?
See if you can get one of those tri-band phones (T300, V66, R225, E105, etc.)
Take it and put it in a drawer. After three months give them a call and request a SIM-unlock, then unlock your phone and then do one of the following things:
1) Use it as a spare phone (even when you travel abroad)
2) Run it over with your car and see if it remains functional
3) Give it to a relative or a friend (especially if they happen to live abroad)
4) Sell it! (even if you get $20 for it, it's a $20 gift from T-Mobile)
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Posted: 2004-02-23 22:07:20
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Thanks moodswinger....yes, you can't beat small business when it comes to customer service. Wish there was more of those independent stores here on the West Coast. You know, over here it's all big business and franchises. It sucks!!!
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Posted: 2004-02-24 03:09:06
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