Bob

target had a few on sale last week for a tenner...don't know if still on sale though..

lofty79

This is the very phone i picked up a week or two ago from Radio Shack, for $19.99. It has absolutely no bells or whistles but is great for calling and texting - perfect for my needs. The lack of bells and whistles also means it's a very slim unit.

You should have no complaints with this hand-set.

meauxna

Late to the party.. but if that is so, I saw AT&T PAYG phones in OfficeMax yesterday for $15.

Elvira

Great - that's closer to me than either Target or Wally's!

RoadWarriorFromLP

Getting the PAYG handset and changing out SIM's sounds like a very good idea.

But I would first make sure that you aren't violating the terms of whatever agreement accompanies the PAYG phone by using a SIM card that is different from what was originally intended when they sold you the phone. At $15-20, the price of that handset is heavily subsidized, and AT&T might not be pleased if they figure out what you've done. (And yes, they can figure it out.)

Elvira

Thanks for the warning!

I've just seen this on the AT&T website:

Nokia 2610 (Refurb) - GoPhone® (Pay As You Go) for 10 bucks:
new = $159.99
Refurb Discount - $150.

Is this likely to work or might I have the same problem?

RoadWarriorFromLP

Will the handset function? Sure, no reason that it shouldn't. (Do note, though, that this is a dual-band phone, so it will not work in the UK at all, even if with the AT&T SIM card.)

Will you have an issue with AT&T? I don't know. I'm just raising the question because I could see them making an issue of this.

They are selling the handset at the low price with the expectation that you will use it for PAYG calls, for which they project a given revenue stream. If you use it for another AT&T account, it's pretty clear to them that you've taken their subsidy money but will not give them the benefit. So I would not be surprised if there is language in the PAYG contract that doesn't allow you to do it.

If you buy a handset from someone else, it isn't their business who you bought it from or what you paid for it. But buying it from them might be another matter. I'd read the PAYG agreement first, see what it says and hope that my suspicions are misplaced.

Philgr

Call AT&T customer services and ask them if they'll unlock an AT&T PAYG phone so you can use your existing monthly contract SIM. I suspect there will be no problem if you've had a contract with them for a while but I'm sure they'll tell you if there will be a problem.

From having done it the other way round (I bought a PAYG and wanted to use it in an AT&T locked phone that I had previously used on my monthly contract) you will have to get them to unlock it for you as you can't usually just swap the SIMS and have them work but it only takes a few minutes on the phone with them.

hobbes79

Isn't "PAYG contract" an oxymoron?

The whole point of pay as you go is that there is no contract...

Happy to be corrected however

My brother needed a replacement battery for one of his phones. New battery from Nokia was 20 quid. Pay as you go phone with complete sales package (inc battery of course)... 19.95. He bought the pay as you go phone, grabbed the battery, and sold what was left over on ebay for about a fiver

RoadWarriorFromLP

Sure, it's an oxymoron. But a $20 phone is probably going to come with strings attached. It was their subsidy that made it possible for you to pay only $20 for it.

The wireless carrier probably paid more than that, even at wholesale. It probably doesn't want to lose money on the deal.

There is an agreement that accompanies the purchase, because of the subsidy, something of which they are quite mindful. (This is one reason why they tack on huge penalties for early cancellation of contracts.) I would read whatever paperwork accompanies the phone before buying it, and act accordingly.

Philgr

It is a contract - it's just that the user has rights to immediate termination at will. I suspect you will find that any PAYG SIM and/or phone will come with terms of use that you show acceptance of just by using the phone. These will probably include not unlocking the phone without the carrier's approval as RoadWarrior points out. They probably also prohibit you using the phone for terrorist or other illegal activities to try and prevent the phone company getting sued if you do use it for this type of thing.

meauxna

I unlocked my own phone.. I didn't know I was so daring!

I'm pretty sure we've used SIMs from different carriers on it too.. I know for sure that I unlocked it for Mexico and my SIM from there works on it (gracias otra vez, Julio!) but I suppose it all depends on how, er, unorthodox you mind being.

Thydney

A Rabbit isn't a 'Tech toy'

ugacrew

Piss off

hobbes79

I got 2 free phones from AT&T when we signed on for new service, but didn't need them since we both had phones we liked. Sold them on ebay and made $250. Keeping an eye out of the window for the feds as I type.

You are entitled to buy a 20 buck subsidised phone and use it as a door stopper if you like