I am trying to get my first cell phone. The reason for that is I live in a small town in west Texas and we are just now getting good digital service. I want an Audiovox SMT 5600 smartphone.

I want to avoid the 2 year service agreement. So is it possible to get a Cingular plan with their cheapest phone (paid full price to avoid contract) and then take the SIM card out of that phone and put it in an unlocked SMT 5600? Sorry if this is a very basic question. Thanks for your help!

Kevin

 

It's better if you find a Cingular agent in your area that can use the credit you get from activation (1 year contract) towards the purchase price of an unlocked Audiovox SMT 5600. There's no point in you getting a cheap phone and then paying full price for the other phone.

I'm not sure what Cingular's policy is if you were to go without a contract.

You can post at howardforums.com if you can't find the answer.

 

Yes, you can do that. If you have the other phone around anyway, it's probably a good idea. Get the nicest phone you can for cheap/free from Cingular and then eBay it. Or send it to me and I'll eBay it

 

Cingular typically doesnt like to activate phones they do not sell, however it wont stop you from using one.

I do have one question, why that Audiovox?

 

I have an SMT5600 unlocked, PM if you are interested or have any questions.

 

look on line for a Cingular agent, it mostly dosnt matter where they are located.

gsm is not necessarly better if you only talk on the cell and dont use it as a modem for data.

 

Hey funny this thread came up.

I was looking for the smt5600 or razor phone also today, but Im an ATT customer. The local Cingular store told me I am not allowed to buy a Cingular phone without activation there. I called customer service they told I most definitley can buy a phone no matter what at retail price. BTW 3 managers and a resolutions specialist all confirmed that. Another store also told me no. Another one said yes and another said no.

Theres more, Customer care said they will help me unlock any phone they have on file to work with ATT, but the local store told me its not possible for a Cingular phone to work with ATT. BTW Im using a Cingular phone at the time being so I know damn well it will work.

Whats the deal with that? Customer care told me flat out they have no answer for me.

Any cingular agents here or lawyers? Im thinking about contacting one.

 

Cingulars policy is quite interesting, we have customers all the time want to use there existing phone when transfering service. Cingular has told them they would be happy to unlock the phone if the customer pays the early termination fee ($175)

The biggest question is what type of store did you visit? Was it a dealer/agent or a Cingular owned location?

Sorry to hikack, but I thought it might help both of you....

 

I disagree, GSM does have a better voice quality compared to CDMA or TDMA. Especially if the carrier has implemented AMR in the network.

 

My wife and I have Cingular, and both of us have the Sony Ericcson Z500a phones. Great phone: speakerphone, quick internet speed, good picture and movie quality, good reception, good battery life....etc.

They seem to be a fairly good deal, but we pay about $115-120 a month and I just don't like how high that price is.