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General discussion

Do I need a new Sim card?

Mar 10, 2005 3:04PM PST

I poked around for a while trying to find the answer for this, but didn't see it.

I currently have a Cingular phone. my contract ended last November, and I want a better phone, so I'm considering switching to T-mobile. i'm planning on buying everything online (phone/new plan). Do I need to buy a new SIM card or will one come with the new phone? Can I use my old Cingular sim card or is it pretty much dead to me now? i'd appreciate any help on this--i'm kind of confused about sim card locking and unlocking and whether it would be t-mobile to call to unlock my new phone or cingular to unlock my sim card. (i probably have it all wrong..) thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Sim Card
Mar 11, 2005 12:23AM PST

If you order new service with T-mobile you will receive a new sim. If oyu wish to keep your same number then you can port the number or to T-Mobile but then you will still receive a new Sim Card. Sim's are sensitive to the company you are with and only work with the company that you are with. But once you set up your sim, you then will keep all your information no matter what phone you go with, but it must be transfered to a phone within the same network.

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New SIM
Mar 11, 2005 3:01AM PST

If you stay w/ Cingular and upgrade the phone, you can keep the same SIM card. If you transfer your number to another carrier, you will need a new phone and new SIM card, but you will keep the same phone #.

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Another consideration
Mar 11, 2005 5:44AM PST

You may want to consider the following also. If you are switching carriers just because of the phone, you may be able to buy the phone you want from a third party - UNLOCKED - and then you can just transfer your current SIM card to the phone. This way you do not need to enter into a contract nor switch carriers. You will continue your Cingular service month to month. The phone will cost you more but you are not tied down to any carrier nor to any contract. Just worth considering!