Purchasing an iPhone 3g for Monthly4G plan (COMPLETE NOOB! Fresh off VMobile)

[ShannenCoughlin]

Hi everyone!

I've decided to cancel my Virgin Mobile plan due to the service severely degrading with every passing month (I was literally receiving text messages HOURS late and phone calls would go straight to my voicemail! I got in so much trouble at work!)

So I decided to pay the extra bit of money to try out Tmobile's Monthly4G plan where everything is unlimited for $50 a month. However, I need a phone to do this so I've decided to purchase an unlocked iPhone 3g from Ebay!

Though I have a couple of minor questions, I've tried searching around but could not find anyone who had my particular problem or were as specific as I need lol.

• Does the iPhone 3g work with TMobile's Monthly4G? I understand that I will only get 2g (edge) speeds but I'm very concerned if I will beable to use this plan with my iPhone 3g?
  
• When I go to Tmobile's website to purchase a sim card, it asks me to also pick out a plan. However, the Monthly4G plan is not available to pick. Does this mean I need to purchase a no-contract sim card?
  
• Can anyone please (in great detail) explain to me the process of getting the Monthly4G plan on my iPhone 3g? Is it as simple as: Steps:
  1) Buy no-contract sim card from Tmobile site.
  2) activate no-contract sim card online by making a Tmobile account.
  3) Select and purchase Monthly4G plan
  4) Put sim card in unlocked iPhone 3g
  5) Add $50 to my Tmobile account and activate my plan & service?
  

I apologize for needing such baby steps but this transition I'm making is literally costing me near $200 when everything is totaled up so I want to make sure I make no mistakes. Thanks so much for reading this and replying if you decide to

[nitrous9200]

Can't help you withe the iPhone specific questions (you will need to unlock the phone & change the APN to get internet access) but you need to order the SIM online from the prepaid store.
When you receive it, there will be a card with an activation code that you need to enter online along with the SIM serial number and the phone's IMEI. You will then choose your plan.
I should warn you that sometimes the activation codes will be invalid; mine was and I've read many other reports of others with the same issue. You'll need to call customer service and give them the information over the phone, including what plan you want. (I also had to call back twice because the first guy never started my activation)
You'll get a text message on your phone with your number, and then you will be able to log in to my.t-mobile.com and submit a payment.

[ja5219]

You can purchase a prepaid monthly 4G SIM card for like $2 the only thing is those are full size cards and you need a SIM cutter for it to fit on your iphone. Amazon sells those for $6.

If you can find someone to cut your SIM I'd recommend it if not id say you could go to a tmobile store and purchase one.

Also yes with the current system tmobile has set up you will only get. Edge speeds of about 150kbps. They are in the process of refarming their spectrum which will bring their 4G network to the iphone. That will take time so at the moment edge only.

[ShannenCoughlin]

Can't help you withe the iPhone specific questions (you will need to unlock the phone & change the APN to get internet access) but you need to order the SIM online from the
When you receive it, there will be a card with an activation code that you need to enter online along with the SIM serial number and the phone's IMEI. You will then choose your plan.
I should warn you that sometimes the activation codes will be invalid; mine was and I've read many other reports of others with the same issue. You'll need to call customer service and give them the information over the phone, including what plan you want. (I also had to call back twice because the first guy never started my activation)
You'll get a text message on your phone with your number, and then you will be able to log in to my.t-mobile.com and submit a payment.

Thank you I will definitely be aware of the sim card activaction issue some are having. Thanks for warning.

You can purchase a prepaid monthly 4G SIM card for like $2 the only thing is those are full size cards and you need a SIM cutter for it to fit on your iphone. Amazon sells those for $6.

If you can find someone to cut your SIM I'd recommend it if not id say you could go to a tmobile store and purchase one.

Also yes with the current system tmobile has set up you will only get. Edge speeds of about 150kbps. They are in the process of refarming their spectrum which will bring their 4G network to the iphone. That will take time so at the moment edge only.

I've Googled around (and I could be wrong) but I read only the iPhone4 uses the mini-sim card, is this correct? Or does the 3g also use it? Also, is the Monthly4G simcard a completely different sim-card than the one that can be purchased through Tmobile for $1.99?

[Chop-Chop]

There is approximately 1 million iphones in tmos network. So 1 million people think edge is good enough. Your mileage may vary. Granted not everyone may be using data but you get my drift.

[QE2]

I'm not 100% on this but I think you also have to jailbreak your iPhone so you can change the APN settings.

[CBlak]

The 3G uses a full size sim card. You don't have to jailbreak to change the APN settings.

[luther349]

t-mobile also sells the micro sim cards as well now.

[adam1991]

The t-mo $50 monthly plan is unlimited data. The first 100MB is at 4G speeds, which is irrelevant with an iPhone.

[ThaKizzle]

You have to get get iphone unlocked I know that personally! Best bet is to buy a factory unlocked 3gs. Yes they still sell brand new 3gs

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[jimxx200]

You have to get get iphone unlocked I know that personally! Best bet is to buy a factory unlocked 3gs. Yes they still sell brand new 3gs

Sent from my R800at using HowardForums

Yes, the 3GS uses the full size SIM. I have 3GS and love my T-Mo service and $50. plan. The data allowance is more than enough for me. Yes, limited to EDGE, but run wifi at home, Starbucks, etc. I suggest you contact At&t for the unlock..mine took 2 days after I called them and then download to save it to iTunes in the event I need it or change iphones. MMS (pic mail) works well..easy APN setup. Check Craigslist as I see new ones going for $150-$170.

[Sepurb]

I may be wrong but I think you will need to bypass the iTunes activation screen.