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Net10 - Bring Your Own Phone Program
Topic Started: February 3, 2012, 1:29 am (2,049 Views)
BobbyLee
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* Use this Topic to discuss and post info about Net10's 3G/4G LTE (GSM CDMA) Bring Your Own Phone Program.
* Also, try and keep all things related to these Net10 BYOP's, that you want to talk about, right here in this Topic.


I ran across this elsewhere and thought the folks who depend primarily on Turk Forums could use the information.
Net10 and Straight Talk are opening up their "Bring Your Own Phone" service if you go with their unlimited plans.
They'll provide the SIM card for your AT&T, T-Mobile, or unlocked GSM phone. Tracfancier had already posted the
following links on another board which provides all the details:

Net10's: http://www.net10sim.com/ .......... Straight Talk's: http://www.straighttalksim.com/
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Dr.M
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Its a step in the right direction... I'll be interested when TracFone allows it on a per minute prepaid basis.
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KLM
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WOW! I had to check my calendar to see if it was April 1! That's another thing folks have asked about from time
to time and we all felt we'd never live to see it. Were starting to see a lot of bring your own device offers and also
carriers (namely Sprint of late) allowing new virtual network operators to come along and possibly clog up their
networks. Any thing for a buck I guess.

But, I'm with Doctor M.....When something like this his Tracfone, it will be interesting.

I wonder what will happen to your iPhone once you plug a Net10 SIM card into it, and some day you choose to
switch away from Net10? I mean, will your iPhone be all locked down permanently, with features like using the
camera for other things like bar code scanners, and augmented reality apps, and Safari (Apples web browser)
be suddenly limited to web pages less than 300k in size? Or how 'bout with Google maps you still can't get any
maps and only a list of directions work. Oh, wait that is normal for Apple anyway... I guess i should have picked
another phone as an example. :D

I can see folks calling Net10's regular support line as to why SIRI in my iPhone won't talk to me any more.
I wonder if Net10 CS will get to say: " You're not holding it right. " Though the phone was not bought through
Net10, you know people will call CS thinking it's their problem.

I may be kidding, but I would not want to the the fist one to buy into this and then find out what happens to my
phone when I want to bail out....

Still, I hope Net10 and ST go through with it as this could get entertaining!

(Update) I plan to look for the fine print....I want to know just how they are going to serve up that 'unlimited data'.

In looking at the Net10 support page (following a link from BobbyLee above to the Net10 site) - I see the APN
settings are still the same old, same old as what's in our prepaid phones now.

Uh oh, I knew I'd find this....Blackberrys won't work. Sorry Turk ;( Not America Movil's fault.

It mentions not all services will work with all phones....Like I said, I would not want to go first.

Check out the Net 10FAQ's: http://www.net10sim.com/support.php
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BobbyLee
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KLM
February 4, 2012, 1:05 am
I can see folks calling Net10's regular support line as to why SIRI in my iPhone won't talk to me any more.
I wonder if Net10 CS will get to say: " You're not holding it right. " Though the phone was not bought through
Net10, you know people will call CS thinking it's their problem.
All good points, had me chuckling! They can't solve problems for the phones they do sell now.

KLM
February 4, 2012, 1:05 am
It mentions not all services will work with all phones....Like I said, I would not want to go first.
Check out the Net 10FAQ's: http://www.net10sim.com/support.php
They just mean things like making calls, texting, connecting to the internet. :D
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Tracfancier

The data use experiences of those using the ST Nokia AT&T SIM`s in their choice of smartphones is the perfect
indicator of what to expect when using the $14.99 AT&T buy-a-sim. It would seem to be a good bet that the ST/NT
Samsung 2X Android T-Mobile SIM will be the same as the T-Mobile buy-a-sim... T-mobile`s data restrictions are
unknown at this point. Tracfone will surely continue their dual policy of withholding pertinent info, while dispensing
an unlimited supply of mis-information through their CSR`s.

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KLM
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BobbyLee
 
They just mean things like making calls, texting, connecting to the internet.
Oh, is that all? Well then I guess my concerns were not warranted. :D :D :D

...Again I'm not taking the plunge first! ! !

...And Tracfancier has very good points too. This why I can't wait to see how customer service is going to handle this.
Just think, we'll get to read all new CS horror stories right here on Turk Forums. :D

Also, for some reason I have always been confused about T-Mobiles data services period. Go to T-Mobile
to find out exactly where 4G service is. You don't get a map. Instead you are told their 4G is in 191 markets.
http://t-mobile-coverage.t-mobile.com/ (see 'Where is 4G available'). I know there is no 4G in my home area.

Okay, so do they have at least 3G in my area?.. I recall something like T-Mobile hasn't had 3G for very long,
which is creepy.
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Tarkio101

Tracfancier
February 4, 2012, 9:06 am
The data use experiences of those using the ST Nokia AT&T SIM`s in their choice of smartphones is the perfect
indicator of what to expect when using the $14.99 AT&T buy-a-sim. It would seem to be a good bet that the ST/NT
Samsung 2X Android T-Mobile SIM will be the same as the T-Mobile buy-a-sim... T-mobile`s data restrictions are
unknown at this point. Tracfone will surely continue their dual policy of withholding pertinent info, while dispensing
an unlimited supply of mis-information through their CSR`s.
Withholding pertinent information, while dispensing an unlimited supply of mis-information through their CSR's ---
Why in the world would they change that? That's part of their charm and mystique. lol
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Turk
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* Hey, thanks guys for this information / topic .... it's hard to believe they finally came out with this idea.

* I think it's a great idea, especially if you already use the Unlimited Plan on these two services.

* Unfortunately, I don't use the unlimited plans, so this counts me out, which sucks.. :ermm:

* If I did use the unlimited plans, and if you can use an iPhone on this, I'd be looking for an iPhone asap! (lol) ;)


iTurk B-)
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Tracfancier

Start ordering: http://www.net10sim.com/shop.php

(don`t forget 15% cashback sites = $12.75 final price)
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Masked Superstar
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Masked Member
This is such a good move in the right direction for Net10 and Straight Talk ... Too bad it's only for their unlimited
package. My wife and I would go for this but we don't use the unlimited deals, and too bad Tracfone doesn't pull
something like this with their regular airtime cards or we would be all over it. :)
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KLM
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What if...
Imagine for a moment, that Tracfone gives the people what they think they want. Bring your own phone to be
used with currently available airtime cards, and triple minutes. Lets see how it goes....

KLM buys a 200 minute card for $39.99 and applies it to the triple minutes smart phone registered with Tracfone.
So that's 600 minutes of voice or 1200 units of data and texting. KLM feels that if more than $40 needs to be spent
on service, it's time to look at other offers elsewhere.

KLM month in and month out feels he is a light data user compared to some, runs a tightly configured phone,
and opts for WiFi when possible. But for 12 hours, WiFi is not available to KLM .

And so we look at a 12 hour period on a typical day, of what KLM has done voice and 3G wise.
Typical signal reception is between -85 to -90dbm down.

* Voice - 5 minutes. 5 Tracfone units used.

* Texting - 3 SMS received and 3 SMS sent. 2 Tracfone data units used.

* News reader app downloads from 8 news sources - 10MB downloaded, took 4 minutes to download, plus
about 2 dozen additional data requests, each one taking any where from a second to 15 seconds, depending
on site. 20 minutes may be spent actually reading from the 8 news sources. Being the app stayed pretty busy
web access wise, will lump it together and say 12 data units were used.

* Web browsing - Only 2.5MB about 15 seconds total download time. The web was accessed 2 times, both on
separate occasions. That's 1 data unit used.

* E-mail (push) with a idle refresh of 24 minutes. 2.3MB downloaded, 49kB uploaded. 17 messages, all coming
in one at a time. Polling is periodic through out the day. KLM receives numerous messages per day. Something
like 23.5 data units used that at least is known.

* Three information gathering apps. Only 1MB total in a 12 hour period that periodically access the web throughout
the day
. (The 3 apps poll once hourly.) In a 12 hour period that would be up to 18 data units used.

* Four system apps you can't turn off or you have a crippled phone. Only 400kB downloaded in a 12 hour period
and can access the web in the background when they feel like it. (and they do!) - This would mean data units are
being deducted at random. Who knows how much data used.

* KLM , unlike most Android users, never uses 'market', nor any google background data syncing stuff, gmail, social
networking, streaming, or youtube. One can only guess how much all those consume per day if WiFi is not available.
0 data units used.

That's about 61.5 known Tracfone data units deducted, used in a 12 hour period when WiFi is not available (in a
24 hour day). KLM would use about 1,845 Tracfone 'units' in 30 days.

Also note we're not counting that 20. Additional Access Charges for Data Services as found in the terms of
service, where .5 unit is deducted just for connecting to the internet each time the phone needs to before any
data is transferred. This alone could very well price you out of having a smart phone on Tracfone!

A Tracfone $40, 200 minute card with triple minutes that would offer a max of 1200 data units, just wouldn't cut it.
For $10 more a month on the given Net10 unlimited plan ($50), and KLM wouldn't have to worry... It looks like
Tracfone/Net10 knows what they are doing.

Perhaps you won't be away from WiFi 12 hours a day like KLM , but maybe you'd keep the browser, or social
media apps busier than KLM would. Streaming?

Even though you do think you wouldn't use much data, or you try not to use certain apps while WiFi is not available,
data access happens anyway without you knowing it.

To limit your data access so you don't run out of Tracfone airtime (in our little fantasy here), you'd have to micro-
manage by way of:

- Configuring select apps to only use the web when WiFi is available (Not all apps have this. Or use some firewall
app to enforce WiFi access only).

- Stopping an app for the time being while away from WiFi, and hope the app does not restart without you knowing
(some do).

- Doing completely without an app.

- Or...just keep 3G disabled.

Compromises like these diminish the smart phone experience. And so, I can understand why the bring your own
phone program is only for Net10 and Straight Talk and with an unlimited plan.

An unlocked phone coupled with a Tracfone MNVO SIM wouldn't work on the current access charge scheme of
deductions. Tracfone, as in the company, would have to keep track of your usage and then send a signal to cut
the phone off when you run out of time... Presently, Tracfone does not appear to be set up to handle this nor will
the underlying carrier put up with having to report your usage back to Tracfone (adds to cost).
- - -

I think what Tracfone customers really want is a Tracfone bring your own phone program with a new type of air
time card, something like $20 every month unlimited. :D
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deepsouth

Just found out about the Net10 SIM card program when I was on Net10 putting my card in reserve for the
next month, has anyone done the SIM card routine yet? .. it seems like a good idea, Craigslist always has
phones pretty cheap, it seems everyone is always upgrading lol, just wondering if it would be worth it to pick
up a older (six to 12 months old) android phone and give it a shot just don't know, my 900g is working fine,
but would be nice to have a newer cheap phone that can do a lot more.
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ShadowDancer
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Thought this was an interesting development . . . So, does it mean that if a person wanted to spend a hefty $399 for
this phone, that they could use it with an unlimited Net10 or Straight Talk plan? Moreover, if Google does decide to
offer additional unlocked devices that are not tied to a specific carrier contract, could the Google Play Store then be
come a source for additional phones that could use Net10 or Straight Talk?

Unlocked Galaxy Nexus Available from Google for $399

Tuesday, 11:09 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Google today made the GSM variant of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus available for purchase directly through the
Google Play Store for $399. The device is being sold unlocked and without a carrier contract. The GSM version
is compatible with the networks run by AT&T and T-Mobile USA ... It is listed in a new section of the Play Store
labeled "devices." It is not clear if Google will populate this section with more devices over time.

Here's the link to the phone on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=galaxy_nexus_hspa


ShadowDancer :)
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Turk
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ShadowDancer:
 
Unlocked Galaxy Nexus Available from Google for $399.
Thought this was an interesting development . . . So, does it mean that if a person wanted to spend a hefty $399 for
this phone, that they could use it with an unlimited Net10 or Straight Talk plan? Moreover, if Google does decide to
offer additional unlocked devices that are not tied to a specific carrier contract, could the Google Play Store then be
come a source for additional phones that could use Net10 or Straight Talk?
* ShadowDancer ... I am not too familiar with this new bring your own phone program - but I am guessing you could?

* As long as it is GSM using AT&T or T-Mobile, I would say yes? (if I am wrong, someone can correct me)

* Why do you ask... are you planning on buying me this phone for my Birthday!? :) .. (lol) .. ;)


The Turk Program B-)
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AKmaro1
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Snoozer:
April 13 2012
Turk moved this Topic here -- "Phone 3g Etc - Unlocking by AT&T ?"

I read an article that AT&T are now with icustomers with accounts still active unlocking iphones 3G 3S etc
so that you can insert another SIM to use on a different carrier using AT&T's or T-mobile's network.

According to the article AT&T has allowed this to happen!

Anyone had AT&T to unlock your phone to use on either Straight Talk or Net10 and are you successfully
using one of the two services? If so how's the service call text and sms wise?
Snoozer & ShadowDancer,
All I can add to this is a similar post I posted under the "iPhone 3G etc unlocking by AT&T" post in this same area.
My friend recently did just the same thing basically ... He used the Straight Talk bring your own phone program to
successfully activate and use for two iPhone's. One's an iPhone 3GS, and the other is a newer iPhone 4. Both were
obtained used BTW, 1 was purchased, and the other was donated by a co-worker who didn't need it anymore. He
simply contacted Straight Talk and they shipped him the SIM card overnight with his current phone number on the
SIM (an AT&T one btw), then he ran an app that allowed the "VPN mirroring" I believe, then the phone was up and
running for $45 per month on their unlimited plan. The only area that doesn't work right is the MMS Picture messaging,
but beyond that he's very happy with the phones and the program.

So whether that works on Android I don't know, but if it can work on Apple's products with their tougher restrictions
on what can run on their phones, then I don't see where it wouldn't with Google's "open source software".

Hope that helps. :)
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ShadowDancer
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AKmaro1,
Thank you for sharing your friend's experience using his iPhones with Straight Talk's Bring-Your-Own-Phone plan!
It's helpful to read of someone's first-hand experience to know that the plan is largely satisfactory. I do not need an
unlimited plan, but I have friends who are trying to decide what to do, so I will pass your information onto them.
Thanks again!

And, Turk . . . for your birthday?!? Hahahaaaa! :D ... I'm afraid I haven't won the Powerball just yet! ;)

If Google successfully adds more phones to its Play Store, that would offer at least a better choice of more upscale
GSM phones to some Net10 and Straight Talk users. But, I was wondering why Google would even take this step
as it seems to me that Google could end up accomplishing nothing more than antagonizing the major carriers of its
Android phones. So, I dug a little deeper to try to discover Google's reasoning for adding unlocked and no carrier
contract phones to its store. Here's what various sources feel is Google's reasoning for this strategy. First, Google
apparently wants to create an Android experience that is comparable to the Apple experience, and it feels that adding
devices to its Play Store, if successful, will be a step in the right direction. At the same time, Google is more than a
little irritated with major carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon for providing their customers with something less
than a stellar Android experience. Apparently, AT&T and T-Mobile are glaring examples of an Android distribution
problem which angers Google, and Verizon, of course, has become notorious for corrupting the Android experience
by disabling phone features and holding back updates. Consequently, this current move by Google essentially opens
up the GSM version of its premier Samsung Galaxy Nexus to more than 200 carriers worldwide which include
America Movil, and of course, America Movil owns and controls Net10 and Straight Talk which are now offering the
"Bring Your Own Phone Program" for GSM phone owners.

So, if Google is successful in getting around AT&T and T-Mobile, I can't help but wonder what Google will try to do
to get around Verizon, and what, if anything, this will mean for CDMA Android phones, which, unlike GSM phones,
do not use SIM cards and are not widely used outside of the United States. And further, I wonder if Google's plans
would ultimately have any effect on the use of CDMA Android phones on Net10 and Straight Talk or even Tracfone.
I guess only time will tell . . .


ShadowDancer :)
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AKmaro1
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ShadowDancer, you are welcome... I hope it helps your friends and even you as you said... Good luck! :)
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ShadowDancer
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Here's a professional review of the Net10/Straight Talk "Bring-Your-Own-Phone Program" . . .

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/04/17/straight-talk-review-affordable-pre-paid-wireless-for-smartphones/


ShadowDancer :)
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tugalodan

There is only one comment on an iphone 3 and it is old. Any new info out there that would be helpful for a
person not to savvy about phones but likes the no contract of Net10.
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mharris127

tugalodan
June 25, 2012, 5:53 pm
There is only one comment on an iphone 3 and it is old. Any new info out there that would be helpful for a
person not to savvy about phones but likes the no contract of Net10.
I haven't used the ST unlimited service, but from what I can gather, voice will work by just inserting the mini-SIM
(assuming it is activated). Text should also work with most compatible phones. Data may require reprogramming
the phone to use ST's APN, you would probably have to jailbreak the phone in order to have any chance of re-
programming it (jailbreaking is an iPhone only problem).
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tugalodan

I got a new SIM for an iphone 3 and everything worked fine except picture msg and internet.
Net10 said to go to Youtube and it would explain how to unlock my phone so I could enter the APN and other info.
Well now my phone will not power up. Have I made myself a brick as it's light to be a boat anchor.?
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mharris127

Tug,
I don't know what the You-Tube video said to do, but it does sound like either your battery ran out during whatever
you were doing with the phone (which would require recharging of the battery), the phone just happened to go kaput
at the time you were attempting to modify the phone or you did something to mess the phone up... As I don't have an
iPhone I really can't help much but I would call a cell phone repairman (preferably one that is independent of the cell
phone companies) if recharging the battery does not taken care of the problem.
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tugalodan

I had to go to the iphone web page and reprogram the phone... anyone know a good jailbreak source?

Thanks to all for the help.

jim
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ShadowDancer
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Tug,

I don't have any experience with jailbreaking, but have you checked These Phone Forums regarding jailbreaking?

http://www.thesephoneforums.com/content.php

Since that Forum supposedly has over 1 million members, perhaps someone has posted some reliable information
there that you can use. Or, you might even think about posting a request yourself for jailbreaking information regarding
your iPhone 3. . . . Somebody must know something!

Just a suggestion . . .

ShadowDancer :)
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tugalodan

There is so much info out there that makes no sense to me, I don't know which way to turn.

Guess I'll try Net10 forum and see what they say.

Thanks... jim
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Turk
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* I was at one of my Best Buy stores the other day, and I happened to see that they are now selling this...

* The Net10 BYOP SIM Card Kit -- Price was $15 -- it can also be bought on Best Buy's website as well.

* I wonder if Walmart stores will ever start selling the Straight Talk BYOP SIM Card Kit?


Turk B-)
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ShadowDancer
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Net10 Rolls Out Verizon BYOD First, Still No ETA On Straight Talk Availability

Tracfone has apparently decided that Net10 will be the first brand to roll out Verizon BYOD service, despite
previous proclamations from Straight Talk reps that the service addition would roll out on its side.

Net10 has opened up its dedicated page for the service at: http://net10byop.com/shop-cdma.php

and is selling the required Network Access Codes to activate Verizon CDMA phones for $14.99, plus the cost
of airtime at either $50 or $65...

http://www.phonenews.com/net10-rolls-out-verizon-byod-first-still-no-eta-on-straighttalk-availbility-22770/


ShadowDancer :)
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ShadowDancer
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Par for the course . . .

Verizon CDMA BYOP for Net10 and Straight Talk Delayed, For Now

Within the last week and a half, those that have been attempting to take advantage of Net10's recently launched
BYOP CDMA program powered by Verizon Wireless were met with non-functional pages or even blank pages...

http://www.phonenews.com/verizon-cdma-byop-for-net10-and-straighttalk-delayed-for-now-22838/


ShadowDancer :)
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The Sweeper
Bad To The Bone.
Found today at my local Wal-Mart...

Posted Image
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Turk
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* Sweeper ... thanks for the pic ... I moved your picture here, to this topic where I thought it fits better, hope you don't mind.
* Ok, it looks like Net10/StraightTalk Reps are now trying to do damage control since our pictures have shown up on here.
* I received this PM message from my online girlfriend SaraST telling me that the CDMA BYOP program is now not dead.
SaraST
May 18 2013
Our Bring Your Own Phone program is now supporting CDMA phones. Customers will be able to bring their
CDMA compatible phone to Straight Talk, NET10, or Telcel America by purchasing a Network Access Code.
However, phones from Sprint and MetroPCS are not included. Phones that are 4G LTE technology, branded
Straight Talk, TracFone, NET10, SafeLink and Telcel America phones are also not included.
In addition, BlackBerry handsets, tablets, iPads and iPhone devices are also excluded on this program.

TurkST B-)
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ShadowDancer
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Looks like Tracfone Wireless, Inc., AT&T, and APPLE finally developed a fix for iPhones on the BYOP Plan.
About time ...

New iOS Carrier Update 15.6 Fixes Data and MMS on iPhones Using Net10 and Straight
Talk SIMs


It looks like Apple, AT&T and TracFone have finally fixed the bug that caused data and MMS not to work with
iPhones using Straight Talk or NET10 AT&T SIMs ...

http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2013/10/new-ios-carrier-update-156-fixes-data.html


ShadowDancer :)
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Turk
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* I was at one of my Radio Shack stores the other day, and look what I saw out for sale, for the first time ever, I think!?

* The new 4G SIM Card Kits for Net10's Bring Your Own Phone -- I don't know if these are for 4G LTE of just 4G?

* I think the Blue kit was for AT&T -- I think the Pink kit was for T-Mobile -- and I think the Red kit was for Verizon?


Turk B-)
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Turk
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annepani
July 25 2015
Net10 SIM Sale $.99 - Limited Time

Net10 has the GSM SIM card and CDMA Access Code on sale for $.99. .. Limited Time Offer

http://www.net10byop.com/shop.php
* annepani .... thanks for the information above ... I decided to bring it here as well ... thanks.

* Yeah, this is a good deal for these SIM cards ... that'd be great if Tracfone would sell their new SIMs so cheap.

* If they did, I'd maybe buy a few extra ones just to keep on hand. (I bet these SIM cards cost pennies to make too)


Turk B-)
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