The old Straight Talk thread was dead so...does anyone know if you can use your Verizon phone for Straight Talk? I have an HTC Incredible 2 on Verizon and am no longer under contract. I currently have unlimited data, but the new data plans will basically bump my bill up $20 for less data. Just looking for a good alternative.

8/7/2012 12:38:22 PM

i don't see why you couldn't as long as the phone's ESN is clean

http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/131152-verizons-new-data-sharing-plans-a-great-reason-to-switch-to-prepaid-cellular

8/7/2012 1:10:55 PM

straight talk through walmart is GSM and uses ATT towers. is the incredible 2 a global phone that supports GSM? usually verizon phones with GSM support don't connect to use providers or bands

8/7/2012 5:07:39 PM

Holy shit. I read the article and took a look at Verizon's prices (I have them now). I pay $70/month for unlimited data, 450 minutes and 200 text messages/month. My bill will be going up to $87/month for 2 gb of data though unlimited talking (don't care) and unlimited messaging (don't care).

When the iPhone 5 comes out, I assume it will be the same price as the iPhone 4S. If I buy it, in 10 months, I would have made up the cost of buying a 32 gb iphone 5 (about half a year) that is unlocked!

My only concern is coverage. I looked at the coverage map for Android, and there is almost no coverage anywhere.

http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage

Am I going to be fucked on coverage? I live in Western NC, and it looks like I'll be border line.

8/7/2012 6:15:40 PM

It looks like maybe buying an iPhone off Craigslist and then getting straight talk might be the way to go. Didn't realize android coverage was so crappy.

8/7/2012 7:20:34 PM

Straight talk works for Verizon, ATT, Sprint and T-Mobile phones. It is not just a GSM network. You can go to straight talk.com and activate your Verizon phone with no problems.

My fiancee and I moved to straight talk a month ago. I'm using the Lumia 900 and getting 4G (hspa+) speeds and she is using the iPhone 4S and getting great 3G speed.

I will say that any smartphone on straight talk is not a super simple process.

To get everything setup and working on the iPhone I ended up jailbreaking it (to get the MMS settings to stick). On the Nokia Lumia's fortunately the Network Config app just came out in the US so that was much less of a hassle. And you'll need to roll your own alternative to visual voicemail. I use google voice on the Lumia, and we are using YouMail on the iPhone.

8/7/2012 8:11:16 PM

ahh. I did some research. If you bring in a GSM phone (like you would be), you would be using AT&T's towers, so you'll get there coverage.

8/7/2012 8:19:08 PM

^^
Is this something that an employee at Walmart could do? I don't want to make the commitment to switch until I know my phone will work. I want to transfer my current phone number so if for some reason it won't work with my phone, I won't have service until I can buy a compatible one.

8/8/2012 1:55:44 PM

your phone will almost undoubtedly work as at least a phone

i've never heard of trouble with data services, but my experience is limited

8/8/2012 5:10:49 PM

lnp your number to google voice first

8/8/2012 5:41:23 PM

It will work. go to http://www.straighttalksim.com and follow the instructions. As long as your ESN is clean for a Verizon or Sprint phone (aka the phone isn't stolen) you can activate the phone and port your number.

8/8/2012 7:53:52 PM

i ordered my sim last night, thought I could buy it at walmart with the cards . will have my galaxy nexus today and will use my att sim from work until my last day and I activate the straighttalk sim

8/9/2012 7:58:35 AM

^Yeah I learned the hard way that if you do a BYOP (Bring your own phone) you HAVE to do it online. I walked into Walmart and asked where to get my sim card, the guy in electronics just gave me a blank expression followed by "Uh, I don't know what a sim card is, but I can sell you a phone".

Whoops.

8/9/2012 12:49:50 PM

Even if Straight Talk customer service tells me that my phone won't work with their service, you're saying it will? I guess I just have to decide if I want to purchase the sim and try it in my Incredible 2 or buy a used iphone and purchase the mini sim.

8/9/2012 1:33:47 PM

You'll need to call Verizon to have the GSM side unlocked which is free if you've been a customer for at least 6 months and are in good standing. Can also purchase unlock codes online. Probably won't get 3G though.

8/9/2012 1:38:03 PM

You are thinking about Page Plus Cellular.

You can use pretty much any CDMA phone besides a blackberry on page plus cellular. (except for sprint devices)

Visit http://www.howardforums.com for more info.

8/9/2012 6:01:39 PM

Can people post success and failure stories for Straight Talk here?

I am currently on ATT with the grandfathered unlimited data and unlimited text/talk and pay about $97/month. Obviously it is scary to me to go to a system that costs $45/month for similar service. I am under the impression that ST uses ATT towers. I just don't understand the downside and am very skeptical about deals that seem too good to be true.

9/26/2012 12:59:35 PM

My Internet searches have lead me to believe that straight talk on smartphones only works with gsm besides a few specific android phones, is that not the case?

My hometown has zero AT&T coverage, not even voice. Only carriers I can get are Verizon, us cellular, and Carolina west. Sprint also works but it roams on Verizon's network.

I want a new phone (possibly iPhone) but would rather not pay Verizon prices if possible.

9/26/2012 1:49:59 PM

I have been using an iPhone 3G with straight talk for the last 2.5 months. I had no service when I went to the mountains (anywhere between asheville and boone). Though my friends with ATT didn't have service either.

I am extremely interested in using a Verizon phone with straight talk. However, I was not able to figure out how one could do that. Would someone please enlighten me. Thanks!

9/26/2012 2:23:14 PM

Somewhat carried over from my iPhone5 GSM post, but I was under the assumption that you could not take over VZW/Sprint/USCC phones -- and any of the pentaband devices lock down domestic GSM functionality; getting it unlocked for being a good standing customer only works overseas. Is this not correct?

For instance, Photon4G is a world phone and if I called Sprint they would unlock it for me. I could use a SIM from the UK but couldn't just go pick one up from ATT and suddenly have GSM coverage in NC.

Where are you guys getting your information that you can take any CDMA phone with a clean ESN over to Straight Talk?

[Edited on September 26, 2012 at 7:25 PM. Reason : ]

9/26/2012 7:24:55 PM

Are the speeds and service on straight-talk the same as AT&T?

If I already have ATT what is the downside?

9/27/2012 8:57:57 AM

so is a iphone4 with a straight talk sim card on the verizon network then?

9/27/2012 10:18:43 PM

answers, i need them to fill my curiosity.

10/4/2012 3:41:58 PM

i have experienced only upside to going to straighttalk from ATT, especially with a pentaband phone as I can connect to att or tmo, whichever has better reception

10/4/2012 7:58:58 PM

Quote :

"Can people post success and failure stories for Straight Talk here? I am currently on ATT with the grandfathered unlimited data and unlimited text/talk and pay about $97/month. Obviously it is scary to me to go to a system that costs $45/month for similar service. I am under the impression that ST uses ATT towers. I just don't understand the downside and am very skeptical about deals that seem too good to be true."

Well, you'll only be at 3G speeds and have an unadvertised bandwidth limit of 2GB. All of this is easily available through Google.

Quote :

"My Internet searches have lead me to believe that straight talk on smartphones only works with gsm besides a few specific android phones, is that not the case? "

If you buy a smartphone from ST, you'll be on Sprint's network from what I can tell on their coverage map.

Quote :

"Somewhat carried over from my iPhone5 GSM post, but I was under the assumption that you could not take over VZW/Sprint/USCC phones -- and any of the pentaband devices lock down domestic GSM functionality; getting it unlocked for being a good standing customer only works overseas. Is this not correct?"

This is true. You'll have hell of a time trying to get a CDMA phone that didn't come from ST to work on ST. Just like you'll never get an iPhone 4S from Verizon to work on Sprint, as those phones are locked directly to the carrier.

And I suppose it may depend on where you're going, but a guy at work went to Germany. Bought an iPhone 4 from Verizon (it was CDMA ONLY) and had to buy a cheap flip phone that had a SIM card. He has been with Verizon for years as well...

Quote :

"For instance, Photon4G is a world phone and if I called Sprint they would unlock it for me. I could use a SIM from the UK but couldn't just go pick one up from ATT and suddenly have GSM coverage in NC."

If the SIM slot is unlocked, you should be able to use it with ATT, unless they did like Apple did with the iPhone 4S and kept it totally locked out from US carriers even if it were unlocked for International carriers. However, with the iPhone 5, the reports I have read have indicated that it is not locked out of US carriers if you buy it from a CDMA carrier to use on their network (Sprint/Verizon).

Quote :

"Where are you guys getting your information that you can take any CDMA phone with a clean ESN over to Straight Talk?"

I would like to know too. I haven't been able to find any indication of this at all. Their bring your phone plan is only for GSM phones.

Quote :

"so is a iphone4 with a straight talk sim card on the verizon network then?"

What would make you think that? The iPhone 4 is not a world phone. It is available as two separate versions, a CDMA or GSM (SIM card) version. The CDMA Verizon phone can only be used on Verizon. You can't even take it to Sprint and use it.

If you're looking at using Verizon's network for $45/month with Straight Talk with an iPhone, you're not going to.

Quote :

"answers, i need them to fill my curiosity."

http://www.google.com

That's what I used.

10/4/2012 9:28:19 PM

i don't want to make a new thread, especially since this one might offer the best solution

my parents don't have smartphones, though my dad is thinking about getting one

they and my brother are currently on a legacy alltel plan (no data) with verizon and out of contract (they pay about $100/month for all 3 phones with 10 my circle numbers, 1200 minutes, no text/data)

with the following details/stipulations, what is the best (well, cheapest) option for them (and thoughts on what it will cost)?

1.) keep same phone numbers
2.) don't care whether it's CDMA or GSM (though not needing to buy two new dumbphones would be nice)
3.) my dad will not use more than 2GB of data per month...he likely won't even come close to 1GB
4.) need to buy at least a smartphone, buying 2 new "dumbphones" is possible if necessary

10/12/2012 10:33:02 PM

straight talk with a galaxy nexus from google.com/nexus for your dad will be 365 up front and $48.80/month after tax

walmart t-mobile prepaid at $25/month. dumb phones in store for 20-30 each

10/13/2012 4:42:09 AM

Quote :

"straight talk with a galaxy nexus from google.com/nexus for your dad will be 365 up front and $48.80/month after tax"

do you know if that's CDMA or GSM? it's GSM

any good reason not to go with something cheaper like the samsung exhibit II: http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-Samsung-T679-Exhibit-II-4G-Prepaid-Android-Smartphone/17420426

i ask because it's got decent reviews (4/5 stars), 4G, and is only about $200 after tax (so it's almost half the cost the nexus)...what advantage does the nexus have over something like the exhibit II for someone who isn't tech savvy?

and i know that's not straight talk...i assume this $50/month plan would work: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-50-Wireless-Airtime-Card/15443360 (only the first 100MB is at 4G speeds, not that that matters)

there's also the samsung galaxy proclaim (around $200 after tax and 4.5/5 stars): http://www.walmart.com/ip/Straight-Talk-Samsung-Galaxy-Proclaim-Prepaid-Cell-Phone/20933054

and it uses straight talk ($45/month)...but as far as i can tell, there's no 4G access: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Email-Delivery-Straight-Talk-Unlimited-Text-Talk-and-Web-Access-30-Day-Service-Card/15443344

Quote :

"walmart t-mobile prepaid at $25/month. dumb phones in store for 20-30 each"

and that $25/month is unlimited everything but data?

i can't seem to find it on wally world's website

[Edited on October 13, 2012 at 9:17 AM. Reason : .]

10/13/2012 8:56:39 AM

i suggest the nexus because it's actually updated and reasonably secure by phone standards because of this. it's also pentaband so it gets 3g+ on tmo and att towers. big screen too

[Edited on October 13, 2012 at 10:43 AM. Reason : looks like the tmo plan isn't around anymore - $20/30 virgin mo might be the way to go]

10/13/2012 10:34:02 AM

^ good point

so numbers can be easily ported to straight talk/t-mobile/virgin?

10/13/2012 12:10:26 PM

^Yep. If you're getting a GSM phone, you do it through the web on straighttalksim.com

10/13/2012 5:10:33 PM

Someone recommended porting your hone number to google voice first. Realize that if you do this you can't receive mms messages, you won't even know when someone is trying to send them and they won't know that you aren't receiving them. You will only be able to receive mms from sprint users and it will show up in an email.

10/13/2012 8:02:39 PM

i actually get mms messages every once in a while on google voice and they come as email but it's DAYS later

10/14/2012 1:47:56 PM

My neighbors were saying when they had straight talk(~year ago) that it was not truly unlimited. Is that true? Did something change?

10/21/2012 7:08:43 AM

yes, this is true. If you go online you can see that they have an unadvertised cap of about 2 GB of data. While I'm sure you can go over it, you may run into problems if you go way over it, or if you do it all the time.

10/21/2012 12:01:56 PM