switching over and unlocking

[ppolicherla91]

So I travel around a lot and i was on verizon but i realized that on verizon phones even if i were to unlock them they won't work with any of the networks in asia where i travel(CDMA vs GSM). Sooooooo I decided to switch to at&t. I am kinda on the fence about grabbing one of the smaller company phones like one plus or the nexbit, but i am also really (and more likely than not going to get) into the nexus 6p and the lg g5. My question is if i were to go and sign up with at&t for my contract and get the phone from them would i be able to unlock the phone at the same time or do i need to wait a couple of months. And if so does anyone know if i could get the 6p or g5 pre unlocked from the company websites and then bring it in for activation???? 

[niccaa23]

usually you need to be a customer for a few months with (any) carrier before they will grant an unlock. but most times they will look the other way and do it anyway.

 

in order for at&t to unlock the device will need to be fully paid outright. don't get at&t next or monthly installments!

 

also, if you happen to live in a metro-area why not go with t-mobile? they have really nice roaming agreements.

 

http://www.t-mobile.com/optional-services/roaming.html

[ppolicherla91]

3 hours ago, niccaa23 said:

usually you need to be a customer for a few months with (any) carrier before they will grant an unlock. but most times they will look the other way and do it anyway.

 

in order for at&t to unlock the device will need to be fully paid outright. don't get at&t next or monthly installments!

 

also, if you happen to live in a metro-area why not go with t-mobile? they have really nice roaming agreements.

 

http://www.t-mobile.com/optional-services/roaming.html

I live in metro detroit but you know tmobile doesn't have the best rep for coverage at least here. I have used at&t before and had little issue but switched to verizon for a family plan. but if t-mobile works i don't see why not. Also does that mean i need to have paid off the phone in full before i can get it unlocked?

 

[niccaa23]

2 minutes ago, ppolicherla91 said:

-snip-

Also does that mean i need to have paid off the phone in full before i can get it unlocked?

 

Sadly, yes.

 

I had tmobile back when they were a regional carrier "Voice Stream" (01'-04') and I totally understand what you mean by their rep for "coverage".

 

Switch to At&t (05'-13') with an grandfathered unlimited data plan. From experience they wanted you to be a customer for at least 12+ months before they would let you do an unlock. ~Not to confuse you. This was before tmobile forced all the carriers to change their pricings and terms. But I know they do unlocks if the device is fully paid for.

 

Anyway, I switched to tmobile about 2 years ago and was amazed how much better their infrastructure is now! Rural areas I knew that had weak bars actually have stronger LTE coverage than At&t.

 

Tmobile branded phones even come with Wifi Calling which is pretty nifty when you're abroad and don't want to pay 20¢ a minute. it was hit or miss when it was first introduced but they've fixed the bugs.

 

Among the many other features, tmobile has become quite the little carrier.

[ppolicherla91]

1 hour ago, niccaa23 said:

Sadly, yes.

 

I had tmobile back when they were a regional carrier "Voice Stream" (01'-04') and I totally understand what you mean by their rep for "coverage".

 

Switch to At&t (05'-13') with an grandfathered unlimited data plan. From experience they wanted you to be a customer for at least 12+ months before they would let you do an unlock. ~Not to confuse you. This was before tmobile forced all the carriers to change their pricings and terms. But I know they do unlocks if the device is fully paid for.

 

Anyway, I switched to tmobile about 2 years ago and was amazed how much better their infrastructure is now! Rural areas I knew that had weak bars actually have stronger LTE coverage than At&t.

 

Tmobile branded phones even come with Wifi Calling which is pretty nifty when you're abroad and don't want to pay 20¢ a minute. it was hit or miss when it was first introduced but they've fixed the bugs.

 

Among the many other features, tmobile has become quite the little carrier.

what about their regular call and text coverage??

[niccaa23]

29 minutes ago, ppolicherla91 said:

what about their regular call and text coverage??

works like how it should. never had an issue with dropped calls or delayed texts.

[ppolicherla91]

19 minutes ago, niccaa23 said:

works like how it should. never had an issue with dropped calls or delayed texts.

what is their unlocking policy???

[niccaa23]

8 hours ago, ppolicherla91 said:

what is their unlocking policy???

 

https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588

Quote

Unlock eligibility for monthly phones, tablets, and mobile internet devices

• The device must have been active on the T-Mobile network for at least 40 days on the requesting line.
• If the device is financed using T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan (EIP)or if it's leased through JUMP! On Demand™, all payments must be satisfied and the device must be paid in full.
• If the device is on an account that is under a service contract term, at least 18 consecutive monthly payments must have been made or the account has migrated to Simple Choice no contract rate plan.
• If the device is associated with a canceled account, the account balance must be zero, including all pending charges

 

[Donut417]

On 2/28/2016 at 5:48 AM, ppolicherla91 said:

I live in metro detroit but you know tmobile doesn't have the best rep for coverage at least here. I have used at&t before and had little issue but switched to verizon for a family plan. but if t-mobile works i don't see why not. Also does that mean i need to have paid off the phone in full before i can get it unlocked?

 

I live in metro Detroit and get great service. With exception at my friends house it drops to 2G. But that could be because of the Airport. Also Tmobile has policies about unlocking too. You have to be a customer for so long and your phone has to be paid off if you got it through them. 

 

Unfortunately Verizon has the best network out of the bunch. However I feel Tmobile is only getting better.