So I guess I lost my phone or it was stolen. I've had the same 'plan' for 10 or 12 years. It's really cheap but I guess it's antiquated for data. I don't really use texting, TV or even the internet very much, So I am pretty ignorant about the technology. I redid my contract and got an LG Vu a few months ago and hated it. The touch screen was always locked when you needed it and then went and did stuff on it's own like turn on the TV (though I had no service). 1. Am I going to get hammered on price because I already updated my contract? Is buying a phone at a discount place the way to go? 2. My friend has a Samsung Alias on Verison that I really like but it is not offered for ATT. The magic pad keyboard is great. What phone should I be looking at?
To answer #1.... it depends on what kind of phone you want.... But yes, you're probably not going to get the subsidized price for a cell phone from AT&T if you just signed a contract recently. I'm not sure what you mean by discount place (ebay? or something like that?) but I mean if it's legit and you can get the phone, why not get it? It's cheaper... To answer your second question... I don't really know of any phones similar to the Samsung Alias on AT&T.. but if you want a good solid QWERTY keyboard.. I recommend one of the blackberry phones that AT&T offers. If you prefer touch screen keyboards.. there's a few that AT&T has.. the iPhone... HTC Fuze... just to name a couple.
I got the Vu at Radio Shack for $29 and a contract. I thought Sam's or Walmart sold phones. If I bought a phone off Ebay, how do I activate it for my phone number?
E-bay. I dropped my phone and it broke so instead of re-upping the contract or having to deal with some outrageous replacement fees (see below), I just purchased my same phone on E-bay. The ad should state which company the phone is compatible with. Since most phones made only for one company it's easy, stick the Sim in, and you're good. A couple of years before that, I thought I had lost my phone and I went to the AT&T store to get a new one. The salesman told me not to worry about my contract, just buy a new phone at full sales price. BS LIE! Fortunately, I found my phone and returned the new one. That didn't stop AT&T from billing me for not fulfilling my contract. I was able to get that charge dropped. Apparently new phone new contract.
craigslist is also a good place to buy an inexpensive phone as with all purchases you have to be careful.
If you don't care about what kind of phone you get. Go to Walmart, buy one of the cheap At&T Go Phones and take it to get it activated at the local At&T store. I did this just recently when i lost my cheap nokia and At&t wanted to charge me 200 something dollars for a phone i got for free when I signed up for their service.
No... don't do that. Call AT&T customer service and tell them you lost your sim.. they'll tell the AT&T store to give you one for free and you can go pick it up. Activation can be done over the phone if needed... FOR FREE.. unless you get an iPhone.. then it's like $18.
