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General discussion

Rollin' the dice

Mar 20, 2014 6:05AM PDT

I'm not one to talk on the phone all day ,only a little here and there. I might us an hour a month and maybe 2oo text messages a month and really only use wifi once in awhile but almost no data from my monthly plan . My contract is up with Verizon wireless now and I want to lose that $96.00 a month phone bill. So I'm gonna go on the CHEAP and try this company called Ting I've been hearing about on the net. -> https://ting.com/r/glyde#homeBanner and wonder if anyone here has had any experience with them. I live in Chicago

Discussion is locked

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Sharing what I use.
Mar 20, 2014 6:21AM PDT

Kyocera Rise on Virgin Mobile at 35 a month. I used it on a trip with a GPS Real Time Tracker and never came close to it's limits. But it didn't work in Wyoming at all.
Bob

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I was in Wyoming
Mar 20, 2014 6:24AM PDT

about 15 months ago for an army buddy reunion and my Verizon didn't work either , huge spaces between cell towers there. Montana too

Digger

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Montana too.
Mar 20, 2014 6:28AM PDT

But our Tracfone did work. Very strange but Tracfone seems to have better coverage than I expected.

Virgin Mobile bill? 35 a month.
Bob

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Really rollin' the dice now lol
Mar 23, 2014 11:56AM PDT

I purchased an i5 iphone from ebay ,supposed to be in like new condition (yeah right) for $100 so when I get it , I'll give Ting a shot and let ya know how it turns out.

Digger

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(NT) Thanks for that. Always nice to compare notes.
Mar 23, 2014 1:31PM PDT
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Hopefully it doesn't have sand in it ;) [n/t]
Mar 24, 2014 2:15AM PDT

n/t

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Sand?
Mar 24, 2014 2:19AM PDT

Enlighten me sir

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nevermind
Mar 24, 2014 2:21AM PDT

I get it .You got me man ! Silly

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You haven't lived in Chicago long enough if...
Mar 24, 2014 3:42AM PDT

...you haven't also had 'guys in a parked white van' offer you a 'super deal' on speakers too (LOL).

Seriously though- you will definitely enjoy the 5 when you get it(!)

-P

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Ya just caught me off guard lol
Mar 24, 2014 3:52AM PDT

born here in 1955. Had a guy try to sell me a TV just last week.

Well, I hope it comes with a manual at least, if not I'll be buggin you guys.
I'm more curious about Ting . You know what they say about "If it sounds too good to be true" , we'll see Pepe.

Digger

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You should be fine
Mar 24, 2014 5:13AM PDT

As long as the parent, Sprint provides you w/ a signal in your part of Chi-town, you are good to go w/ Ting. They only thing they don't offer is data roaming, which a lot of (regular) Sprint network users rely upon when they travel nationally AFAIK.

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Thanks Pepe
Mar 24, 2014 5:19AM PDT

I'll let you guy's know how it turn out and let ya know after a month or so if I like Ting.
Digger

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Great
Mar 25, 2014 10:20AM PDT

Got the phone but without a Sim card so now I have to find a Sprint sim card somewhere and a special screw driver for these Dinky screws. It's not supposed to be difficult Shocked

Digger

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Ahh, no sim card for Sprint.
Mar 25, 2014 10:34AM PDT
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I just called them
Mar 25, 2014 10:41AM PDT

they said I can get the sim from a Sprint store or Best Buy. Ting is out of stock right now lol

Digger

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Try it this way. Could be free?
Mar 25, 2014 10:48AM PDT
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Bob.
Mar 25, 2014 10:56AM PDT

I see Digger said iphone 5?

Dafydd.

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SIM is a SIM
Mar 25, 2014 11:00AM PDT

No harm in asking for one. Although I haven't used a SIM on Sprint yet. Tells you how much the landscape changes.

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True.
Mar 25, 2014 11:06AM PDT

I read your link to Ting and it lists the i5 as compatible. But here's a man who doesn't own a mobile phone

Dafydd.

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I know it's compatible
Mar 25, 2014 12:14PM PDT

I talked to them before I purchased the phone. That's why I purchased it. The didn't happen to mention anything about a sim card though.

The phones a real beauty, not a mark on it. Turns right on and says gimme a sim card lol. Hooks right up to my wifi though.

We'll get her going. Just a matter of time.

Digger

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Did you know there are different iphone 5 model?
Mar 25, 2014 1:28PM PDT

I think the one that uses the GSM have sim card and the the one uses CDMA do not need sim card. Now I could be wrong but I think Sprint uses CDMA now and that maybe the reason it's hard to get a sim card and why some sales men don't know what you are talking about (they're just not familiar with that).

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didn't know that
Mar 25, 2014 1:48PM PDT

I never owned an Apple product before so I thought what the hell for a hundred bucks how could I go wrong, I'll see what all the hubub is about ...Now I'm on a wild goose chase looking for some stupid card lol. Laugh

I just paid my phone bill with Verizon for a month so I have plenty of time to find one, I don't care if it does cost me $30 , I'm done paying Verizon 96 bucks a month.

Digger

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Are you already a Sprint customer?
Mar 25, 2014 4:34PM PDT

If not, and you can't activate this phone with them then maybe you should consider changing provider. I know AT&T uses the GSM technology.

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lol
Mar 25, 2014 10:38PM PDT

maybe read the op .

Digger

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Chat won't talk
Mar 25, 2014 11:09AM PDT

to me because I don't have a Sprint phone number. Hmm , I might have to see if one of my friends uses Sprint.

Digger

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Hold on- yes, it does need a USIM
Mar 26, 2014 1:06AM PDT

For those reading this thread who don't know it yet, the Sprint version of the iPhone 5 contains both GSM & CDMA flavors under the hood. In addition, in order to use Sprint's LTE (highest speed data) network, a UICC chip (=nano-SIM card) is required. Either a Sprint store or Apple store can give you one, but likely for a fee since you are a prepaid customer. I suppose that's one drawback of working with a prepaid MVNO and buying a used phone from fleabay.

You don't need a screwdriver to open the nano-SIM slot, btw. Just a paper clip. There's a small hole on the side Wink

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Forgot to add one thing
Mar 26, 2014 1:14AM PDT

The GSM side of the Sprint branded iPhone 5 is locked for domestic use, so IOW, you cannot simply use w/ ATT or T-Mobile. .

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Thanks for that
Mar 26, 2014 1:24AM PDT

I'm glad I don't need a screwdriver for this , The head of the screws are so small that I can't even tell what kind of driver it takes , even with a mag glass. I need new glasses too LOL, too many years up in the tower crane squinting down to the ground I suppose.

I guess I'll go hunting for the elusive sim card today.

Digger

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Winner(!) ;) (n/t)
Mar 26, 2014 1:53AM PDT

n/t