Cell Phone Question
#1
09-24-02, 04:31 PM
Cell Phone Question
I received a free cell phone a few years ago from the phone service provider. I no longer have a contract with the company and would like to know if the phone can still be used with another company's SIM card, or is the phone now forever useless? If it can be used by inserting another SIM card, how/where do I get one? Thanks.
#2
09-24-02, 06:53 PM
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Some cellular companies no longer use SIMMS chips in their phones. You may want to check and see if there are any other carriers that still do. I know that in the Las Vegas area they use simms chips in their phones (Cingular).
Kay
Kay
#3
09-24-02, 10:50 PM
SMS Card
As far as I know, SMS cards are still used on cell phones for ID purposes. A card provided by Cingular can only be used on a Cingular phone. Put this card on a t-mobile phone or any provider and it won't work. Why keep an old phone when you can virtually get a new phone, and it's free?
#4
09-25-02, 06:55 AM
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Way back when...
When I got my first cellular, it was through PowerTel and I could purchase a simms chips from say, BellSouth Mobility (now Cingular) and use it in there, etc. Later on, they abandoned that approach and you could only use powertel in powertel phones, etc. They wanted you to purchase powertel memphis chips, then powertel xxx city where you travelled chips, etc.
I think that the swapping of the chips was simply a prelude to roaming abilitlies that weren't present at the time with all providers. Which seemed pointless to me since as jun54e stated, the phones were practically free anyway (I paid a whole $5 for my first phone).
This last time I heard of simms chips was after my son moved to Vegas in June. I was going to have his phone transfered out there but they have the simms system in that area for Cingular.
You do have to watch the free phone deal today. Most aren't worth the cost of the box they come in. Cingular offers a buy one get one free for shared minutes, but the phone sounds pretty much like the old kid can to can wired communications in tree houses, just minus the rope.
Kay
When I got my first cellular, it was through PowerTel and I could purchase a simms chips from say, BellSouth Mobility (now Cingular) and use it in there, etc. Later on, they abandoned that approach and you could only use powertel in powertel phones, etc. They wanted you to purchase powertel memphis chips, then powertel xxx city where you travelled chips, etc.
I think that the swapping of the chips was simply a prelude to roaming abilitlies that weren't present at the time with all providers. Which seemed pointless to me since as jun54e stated, the phones were practically free anyway (I paid a whole $5 for my first phone).
This last time I heard of simms chips was after my son moved to Vegas in June. I was going to have his phone transfered out there but they have the simms system in that area for Cingular.
You do have to watch the free phone deal today. Most aren't worth the cost of the box they come in. Cingular offers a buy one get one free for shared minutes, but the phone sounds pretty much like the old kid can to can wired communications in tree houses, just minus the rope.
Kay
#5
09-25-02, 07:34 AM
Go out to www.thescreensavers.com. They had a discussion about this subjact last night on Tech TV
#6
09-25-02, 07:36 AM
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Check into donating it to a charity. Check with local domestic abuse shelters. If I'm not mistaken there are programs to take old cell phones and make them exclusively "911" capable for potential abuse victims to carry.
#9
09-25-02, 06:27 PM
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the pagers may be a goodwill deal. i know in memphis that pagers are pretty much free game as far as providers go. i've seen signs saying that if you have a pager, they can provide service.
kay
kay
