Need Cell Phone advise..

ACRucrazy · 02-18-2005

Well, I need a new phone.
I go through T-Mobile, and need a new phone, I have an old Samsung S105 now, but the screen goes black radomly, then the vibrate quits working.
I need an unlocked phone.

I like the flip open style phones, and would like one with a camera now.
T Mobile uses a Sim card, so I need something that works with that, Ive been looking on EBay, but theres just SOOOO MUCH to look at, confusing the hell out of me.
I dont want to spend more then $200 at the most.

How come some phones on ebay, work with T-mobile, Cingular, etc etc...
Are some "Do it all phones", do other companys use Sim cards?
Here are few that caught my eye, but again, I hate phone shopping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...751329884&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...752997167&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...752239475&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...753078933&rd=1

Any suggestions?

dylan · 02-18-2005

Only advice I can recommend is that you make sure they have near perfect ratings. My buddy got one from a guy that said it was unlocked and worked perfectly, turns out it wasn't unlocked and did not work anything near perfect.

**1ViciousGSX** · 02-19-2005

My advice, don't get one. It's nice to not be "connected" at times with the rest of the world.

**scheides** · 02-19-2005

http://www.mobilebee.com for some cool phones, some for decent prices.

You can get a discount by extending your current contract for another year or two. This can be done at any mall/cell phone retailer, though.

Jana · 02-19-2005

I would never buy a cell phone off ebay, but that's just me. You run the risk of things happening like what dylan posted.

TheBlizzard · 02-19-2005

I didn't even look at the links to Ebay, but I agree that you should not buy one off Ebay so I don't even have to look. I have the Motorola T720 flip phone and I have had it for over two years and it still works prettys good. I am surprised considering what it has been through.

Doesn't your wireless provider have phone upgrades for pretty cheap? Usually they will give existing customers good deals on phone upgrages.

CRAIG

Khadgar · 02-19-2005

I don't see a problem buying a phone off ebay as long as your are careful about it. I bought my last phone and ended up saving quite a bit of money and it came NIB as advertised. Almost all the new phones come with sim cards except for some of the really cheap models. Otherwise most of my friend just renew their contract and get heavy discounts that way and that seems to work quite well.

Alpine TSi · 02-19-2005

I'll pipe in for Chris here, he can't go and upgrade through T-Mobile as he is participating in a Best Buy discounted plan. Now that Best Buy no longer carries T-Mobile if he were to go and get it upgraded they would notice that he is on a plan that they should no longer honor. Hence his desire to get a phone through different means.

I have had good luck with the few phones I have gotten off of EBay, just pay attention to their feedback, and use a credit card, that way if you get punked on it you can go to your CC company and they will go to bat for you, only as a last resort though.

mukapahnpy · 02-19-2005

Try going through some of the malls, stores such as The Mobile Company and others will often have "Free" upgrades, just requires you to extend your contract for another year. One of their reps said that you are allowed to upgrade "Free" every 11 months or something. I have one of the old blue models from T-Mobile, I've been thinking about upgrading the phone forever, but am just to lazy. Instead I just bought a new MPx220 with 2 year contract from Cingular via the Web. My cost up front was $300 but I will get the money back, rebates. So basically, free with a new contract. Do a little research for free phone deals.

TheBlizzard · 02-19-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by mukapahnpy

Try going through some of the malls, stores such as The Mobile Company and others will often have "Free" upgrades, just requires you to extend your contract for another year. One of their reps said that you are allowed to upgrade "Free" every 11 months or something. I have one of the old blue models from T-Mobile, I've been thinking about upgrading the phone forever, but am just to lazy. Instead I just bought a new MPx220 with 2 year contract from Cingular via the Web. My cost up front was $300 but I will get the money back, rebates. So basically, free with a new contract. Do a little research for free phone deals.

Did you read alpinetsi's post? He can't upgrade through his wireless provider because he has and old cell plan and he doesn't want to start a new contract because I bet he has a good plan that is 'grandfathered' in.

CRAIG

mukapahnpy · 02-19-2005

I did read it, I'm just saying that it doesn't hurt to go and ask. They may or may not honor the plan, but you never know until you ask.

AJ · 02-19-2005

Umm even if he gets another phone he's still gonna have to call T Moblie to have it programmed for their system and his number. They are going to see his account info and plan anyway so I am sure it's a hit or miss on him keeping the plan.

Khadgar · 02-19-2005

If you have a sim card it's just plug and play...you may have to manually enter in some settings but you shouldn't have to call TMobile.

desolate · 02-19-2005

up 2 u

**scheides** · 02-19-2005

yup, just get an unlocked phone or one locked to tmobile's network & you're set--as long as your old phone has a sim card in it.

ACRucrazy · 02-20-2005

Yes, my phone has a sim card, and the same card that fits Cingular as I found out today.
It works in a Cingular phone, I just need to unlock it.
I havent purchased a phone yet, but will shortly, more then likely the E-bay route.
I wont go to a T mobile store, as I am "granfatherd" in on my old $4.99 a month plan from 1998 when I signed up with Ariel.. or was it Voice Stream.. No wait.. You get my point! LOL.

Another co worker "HAD" the same plan, needed a new phone, it went out, went to a t mobile store and they "found out" that he was on this plan and canceled his service within 48 hrs.

Thanks for the advice everyone, still hate cell phones!

Jakey · 02-20-2005

How many minutes do you get for $4.99/month, 6?

mukapahnpy · 02-22-2005

@ $4.99/month that truely is "granfatherd"

TalonFiero · 02-23-2005

The ariel plan for $5 a month is for only a couple hundred minutes, but who cares if you go over the limit a bit when you are only paying $5.

When I worked at Best Buy years ago, they took that plan away from everyone who wasn't working in the "mobile" department. I was in the tech department and they eventually cancelled my plan. Somehow my buddys plan didn't get canceled who worked along side me. To this day he still has the $5 plan and hasn't worked for Best Buy or any retailer in the past three years. Lucky SOB.

BTW, my buddy was in the same situation you are in right now. His original phone went out so he bought one off ebay. Too bad it was a PacBell phone, he had to buy a cable off of ebay that allowed him to unlock it via his computer. As long as you buy an actual tmobile phone, you should be fine. I have bought numerous tmobile phones off my friends over the years and have been able to use them as soon as my sim card was installed in the phone.

You could also buy one of those new GSM simcard nokia video phones from over in Europe. A friend of mine bought one of these new & unlocked from the UK, not one that T-mobile USA even knows about. Once he installed his sim card it was up and running with t-mobile. He uses it as a modem for his laptop everyday and t-mobile doesn't even know about it. I have no idea how that works but I do know he isn't being billed for it.