Using own phone but changing cell providers

[val2525]

Can I do this? Or are phones still proprietary to the cell provider?

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 that will be paid for when I pay my bill this month. I'm wondering if I can use it should I switch from Sprint to Verizon. I really don't want to pay for a new phone until I know if the Verizon service is better here than Sprint.

[Deleted]

I would stop by a verizon store and ask. I don't think the phones you buy are locked anymore, but I would check first.

The site also has a chat option, but you may have to have an account to use it.

[Pantlandia]

Unless a phone specifically says it's unlocked, it's going to be locked to the provider. Meaning, you simply cannot take a Verizon phone to Sprint. Some providers will offer to unlock it for a fee so you can bring it over. Some run on totally different systems so you couldn't use it anyway.

Each is different, you're really going to want to call to see what your options are. I haven't used a contract provider for 10 years now. I use Virgin Mobile and will be switching to MetroPCS next month.

Just FYI. I found an article that says even tho Sprint and Verizon are both CDMA network phone, you can't transfer phones between these two carriers. 

[SA]

I don't think so. Reasons that Jeremy said.

You can, however, go to Verizon, get a phone and I think you have 2 weeks to try it out. If you don't like it, you can cancel and return your phone.

PS--I always price compare phones. Best Buy normally has the best deals, giving gift cards with purchases, $$ off, etc with new service. And to me, they're much easier to deal with than Verizon.

ETA:  And they might, maybe, buy your phone from you too.  Sure, you might get a couple more dollars for it on eBay, but I just trade mine in because it's just easier.
ETAA:  I have been with Verizon for 8 years.  I have been extremely happy with them.

[SA]

OK, and I'm going to be a thread hog

If you decide to get a new phone, don't go contract.  They don't tell you this, but if you purchase a phone, you only pay $15 access fee for the line.

Each line is $40, but what they don't tell you is you get a $25 per line discount if you're not under contract.

Right now, we have 4 lines.  We pay $60 for the lines, and $60 and change for 10G shared data (it was a promotion and don't think it's that cheap anymore)

So, for $120, we have 4 lines and 10GB data.  Not sure if that is expensive or right on with other carries, but it works for us and I'm happy with the service.

[Deleted]

There was something about regulations and 4G LTE phones needing to be open (or unlocked). I would check with Verizon. If you can't use your phone or they don't offer a good trade, then I would wait for a sale. Verizon has good coverage but they tend to cost more, even with their discount for not being under contract.

[val2525]

Something to think about, it seems. I may just stick with Sprint then. I can get a better deal on phone and service. The 4G upgrade is finally done here and the service is much better. My rental is in a dead area despite being close to 3 towers. If I stay with Sprint, I either need a new phone that can do wifi calling, or get a booster thingie of some sort for home use. Hmmmnnn. Guess I'll do some homework next week.

[Deleted]

You can probably jailbreak it and unlock it. I'm not exactly sure of the steps but know someone that does this all the time. The ways to do it are searchable online and some have a fee.

There is something else out there now about requesting the carrier unlock it. I don't know if they charge you though.

You can search "jailbreak" and your phone to see about the code to unlock or jailbroken and your phone to see what they sell for used and jailbroken already.

[Deleted]

Does Sprint not allow wifi calling with your S4 or has your wifi on the phone gone out?

[val2525]

According to the tech at the sprint store, no, mine doesn't do wifi calling. However, according to the internet, it DOES do wifi but there is something I have to add to my account and then download whatever is needed. I have my doubts about the tech I talked with at the store last time - he didn't really impress me.

[Deleted]

I have no idea about Sprint - but that sounds strange to me. All of the Galaxy phones are capable of wifi calling. We've had/have just about every model (including 3 S4's) through T-Mobile. Wifi calling has always been included in our service, not something we had to pay extra for or download anything. Maybe it's an add-on with Sprint?

[SA]

Check your Google App store. I'm sure there's a free/low cost wifi calling app you can download!

[Deleted]

I have a S4 on Straighttalk and even it does wifi calling so I'm pretty sure they have some kind of block on yours. I've never seen a S4 that doesn't wifi call. All I have to do is turn on wifi and mine automatically uses it. As far as boosting your signal I know T-Mobile will give customers in bad coverage areas free boosters to use so they don't have to spend $150 on one. You may call customer service and tell them how low of signal you experience inside your house, tell you do not want to have to change providers and ask if they provide their customers with boosters.

We had T-Mobile but we were "on the edge" meaning we couldn't even get 3g here so even a booster wouldn't help at our house so we eventually had to drop them. Absolutely loved their CS and their prices but at our house the coverage was so bad we never knew if we'd have a signal or not. One day I needed it for an emergency call and didn't have a signal, luckily it wasn't a life or death call but that was it for me. With straight talk we pay more but have excellent coverage. Put in a $15 home phone with them too.

[val2525]

Well that was a fun walk down technology lane.

I have a single band, original Galaxy S4. It can be wifi enabled but only via push (?) and has to be on the Sprint Spark network.

And of course, my city is not in the Spark network.

Why am I not surprised?

If I had a slightly newer triband (I think I have that right), it would have been wifi capable since the last big update.

Grrrr.

[Pantlandia]

Val - who is your internet provider?

[val2525]

Sprint.

My phone does not have an option to select wifi enabled calling.

Which makes it kinda useless whether I stay with Sprint or switch. So...i'll just wait until I move and see how the signal is at the new place and then decide.

Kinda annoys me though. Almost $600 phone down the drain.

[SA]

Will your phone support a wifi calling app?

[Deleted]

Push = update. So it's a Sprint thing & they didn't include the necessary software for it & probably have no plans to send out an update (in order to "encourage" sales of newer phones). That stinks.

As mentioned above, maybe there's an app for that?

Peek - if you ever want to change, you might check out T-Mobile again. We are just outside of town & barely had a signal here. But in the last couple of years, they've added a bunch of new towers & now every little teeny-tiny podunk town around has 4GLTE. I don't think we have any dead spots at all anymore (around here.) Maybe they've upgraded in your area too?

[Deleted]

I checked the T-Mobile coverage map a while back and it still showed us as a dead spot. I'll pull it up again. I haven't seen any new towers going any anywhere around. I wish they would put some in. On their network I could afford for the kids to have their own phones, can't do that on straight talk. I just buy a card if one is going on a trip and put on one my extra S4 for them to take with them. Would love to get back to where they each have a phone to carry, especially when summer gets here and everyone heads different ways. I hate not being able to check in with everyone or have them let me know when they made it some where safely.

[Deleted]

Hmm well it does show that we have 4g lte now instead of the 3g lte edge. But that there are still huge areas near us without any coverage. Our house is in a an area that has a mix of good and fair coverage, though it shows excellent coverage just across the highway so I guess the cows can use their cells LOL The upside would be now that it shows 4g available here we would qualify for one of the free in house boosters so we might get a strong enough signal with it to use it. The downside would be there would be a lot of area we'd be driving through that we'd have no coverage at all so if we needed to call in those areas we'd still be out of luck.

Think we better wait until they fill in some of those massive gaps before we change back over.

[val2525]

Push = update. So it's a Sprint thing & they didn't include the necessary software for it & probably have no plans to send out an update (in order to "encourage" sales of newer phones). That stinks.

Sprint is updating, but my city isn't on the list. Which doesn't surprise me. This is not a tech wanting, tech using city at all. I can't really blame Sprint for this one. The city and county leaders are really pushing for tech upgrades so we can compete for companies with better jobs. Right now all we seem to get are call centers.

[dutchjazz]

Val - I have an iphone 6s. Prior to this phone, I had an iphone 5s (it was a 5 something). Anyways, with the 5 I could never get service. I thought that would change with the 6, but not so. (Way to go Apple!)

My husband had an LG and now he has a Galaxy 6s. He never has had any problem with service with either phone and uses his phone all the time. I had to use the landline all the time. It was so frustrating when someone would call my cell and nothing. I would have to hang up and call them on the LL.

I just got a reach case which has a built-in antenna. Got it at Best Buy. When I got it I really didn't have high hopes for it. I was wrong. I can now use my iphone at my house.

It's not pretty, just a black case. I slide out the antenna which is on the back of the case when someone calls.

It's so nice to finally be able to use my phone at my house after all these years.