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General discussion

Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.

Oct 27, 2004 6:22AM PDT

I was wondering if I have to wait for my contract to run out before I can buy a new phone.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 27, 2004 7:09AM PDT

No, you don't HAVE to wait for your contract to run its course to buy a new cell phone BUT you will not be eligible for any specials or special pricing on a new phone. You will have to pay full price for a new phone if you are still in a contract period. It is BEST if you can finish out your contract and then you will be eligible for "special pricing" and rebates on the cell phone when starting up a new contract.

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 27, 2004 7:24AM PDT

If you have to buy a new phone anyway, I recommend buying an 'unlocked' GSM phone from a third party. This way, when your contract is up you can just switch the SIM card to the new phone and continue month to month without commiting to a new contract.

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 27, 2004 11:13AM PDT

If I bought an unlocked gsm phone now could i switch the sim card out and not wait for the contract to run out.

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 27, 2004 12:31PM PDT

Yes absolutely. I think it is a total sham that we have to be locked into these 1-2 year contracts, but you can have several unlocked GSM cell phones and switch the sim card between them.
Also. people that have a PDA/Cell phone (such as a Treo 600) can have a second phone fot the times they do not need to carry a bulky phone with them.
When your contract is up, you can continue your existing plan on a month to month plan and have your own cell phone.
Check out eBay - they have lots of auctions on brand new unlocked GSM cell phones. You will get an idea.
You can also use them abroad, by buying a prepaid sim card in the country you are visiting. Cheaper way to have a cell phone there and pay local rates.
You can thank me later.......just kidding!

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 28, 2004 6:01AM PDT

can i buy a phone locked to cingular and still not have to wait for da contract to runout.

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 28, 2004 6:19AM PDT

Yes you can, but for about $20 -30 the phone can be unlocked in the future by a technical person.
If you are going to buy a phone from a third party, you might as well get it unlocked, you will have a much larger selection of phones to pick from.

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 28, 2004 8:37AM PDT

Can anybody recommend where to take ur locked cellphones and get it unlocked?

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Re: Cingular Contract Question Regarding New Phone.
Oct 28, 2004 1:54PM PDT

i think u can get it done at a store for whatever carrier you may have. Like if you have cingular, you go to a cingular store. verizon, go to a verizon store.