Just got mine Gnex + tmo $30/5Gig plan

**hertz088** · 07-20-2012, 02:31 PM

ordered Gnex and sim on sunday 7/15 and got them both yesterday 7/19
had it up and running within couple of hrs
all went smoothly

first impression : WOW

screen is gorgeous

**epsilon3** · 07-20-2012, 11:10 PM

I'm getting mine tomorrow. Can you please elaborate on how you set it up? I prefer to do it locally rather than ordering online and waiting.

Can I get an activation kit/SIM at Walmart or T-Mobile? How do I coordinate this with getting the $30/5GB plan? Is there a TMO link I can order this plan online from or do I have to go to a Walmart store?

Porting my old number is not a requirement (I can port it to GV) but if it's doable via an extra step, I'd like to know about that too.

Thanks.

**adam1991** · 07-20-2012, 11:58 PM

you can order this plan online, no problem. When you activate online, it will take you to where you choose what plan you want.

Can you get just an activation kit locally? I've never seen that. Certainly the t-mo retail store has zero interest in you, as you're doing nothing to pay their rent. You cannot--repeat cannot--get the plan you want from the retail store regardless.

If you go to walmart.com you'll see that they sell, online only, this:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-N...n-Kit/20710699

for $87.50. ???? WTF???

Of course, you can wait and get one from t-mo for 99 cents:

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/p...Activation-Kit

Your best bet is to try the retail store for an activation kit. It's free to ask. But they can't sell you the plan. You have to buy it online.

The whole Wal Mart thing is a marketing thing. At WM you can buy a phone and activate it on that plan all at once and walk out of the store completely ready to go, as a matter of convenience. But no part of this *must* be done at Wal Mart.

Number portability is completely separate from activation. Activate and validate the phone and service functionality first, then you can call anytime later and ask to port a number in.

**hertz088** · 07-21-2012, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by epsilon3

I'm getting mine tomorrow. Can you please elaborate on how you set it up? I prefer to do it locally rather than ordering online and waiting.

Can I get an activation kit/SIM at Walmart or T-Mobile? How do I coordinate this with getting the $30/5GB plan? Is there a TMO link I can order this plan online from or do I have to go to a Walmart store?

Porting my old number is not a requirement (I can port it to GV) but if it's doable via an extra step, I'd like to know about that too.

Thanks.

OK

I ordered Gnex from Google just like you
Activation kit online from Tmobile for $0.99 , after tax $1.07 w/free shipping
I guess you can get that from Tmo store or Walmart but I think they are more $$$(not sure about this)

4 things that you need
phone
sim (will need the number from the card it came from too)
activation code from that activation kit
phone serial number (on the phone and the box)

make sure battery is full (but I think it was almost full out of the box )
do NOT start the phone
put Sim in the phone
go on the tmo web site ( I cant leave links )
new monthly 4g plans>monthly plans>activate> (bottom of the page ) activate
fill all the sections ( very easy stuff )
1 set phone
2 set account
3 select plan
4 review selection
5 fund your account
one of the options when choosing the plan is $30/5G (it said "internet only" and its highlighted) cant miss it

once you done with that , you'll get your phone number

start the phone

enjoy

**adam1991** · 07-21-2012, 12:47 AM

...which is exactly what the instructions in the activation kit say.

**hertz088** · 07-22-2012, 03:12 PM

Update

got Jelly Bean the other day
was avaliable via wi-fi out of the box but wi-fi was not avaliable to me

testing that Google Now new feature, so far it looks good

did get a case for the phone too ( gotta think about resale )
it's Otterbox commuter , I like it

thinking about getting that mini usb to hdmi cable
anybody tried it ?

**Gumbochief** · 07-22-2012, 03:45 PM

Regarding Google Now, it works better if you go into google maps, click in the upper left, and select Location History.

Click the 3 dot menu, and set your home and work address

**hertz088** · 07-22-2012, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by Gumbochief_00

Regarding Google Now, it works better if you go into google maps, click in the upper left, and select Location History.

Click the 3 dot menu, and set your home and work address

already done
I have found good tutorial about setting up GN
http://www.androidauthority.com/how-...gle-now-98749/
so that's how I set it up

was little worried about gps, wi-fi and other services being on all the time because of battery life
after couple of days, no problems
battery life is good so far

**epsilon3** · 07-23-2012, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by hertz088

OK

I ordered Gnex from Google just like you
Activation kit online from Tmobile for $0.99 , after tax $1.07 w/free shipping
I guess you can get that from Tmo store or Walmart but I think they are more $$$(not sure about this)

Originally Posted by adam1991

If you go to walmart.com you'll see that they sell, online only, this:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-N...n-Kit/20710699

for $87.50. ???? WTF???

This price difference is what confused me, making me think that the WM "activation kit" was not the same as the $0.99 SIM from T-Mobile. I ordered the latter and we'll see what happens.

Thank you both for the useful info, I'll report back once I receive the SIM and follow the instructions.

**overthatscreen** · 07-24-2012, 09:08 PM

Here's what I did.

I bought Samsung Dart package from Wal-Mart, activated online with T-Mobile Galaxy S2 and then returned the Dart.

All I wanted was the Activation Code that came with the Dart for $30/5GB.

You don't have to return the sim because you own it and already put money into it.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using HowardForums

**adam1991** · 07-24-2012, 09:27 PM

huh?

You bought a package (phone plus sim) but returned only the phone, and they gave you full credit?

All that just so you don't have to spend 99 cents on an activation kit??

Or did you do this because you thought this was the only way to get the $30/5GB plan? Of course, it's *not* the only way to get the $30/5GB plan...

**overthatscreen** · 07-25-2012, 02:10 PM

Yes, I bought the package and returned it without the Sim. The store said it was mine because I already put money in the account.

You can order a Sim too. But I went to the store because I needed it that day. So its a solution for fast service.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using HowardForums

**aurora40** · 07-25-2012, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by overthatscreen

You can order a Sim too. But I went to the store because I needed it that day. So its a solution for fast service.

It's a little bit scummy, you are buying something you know 100% you will return, and in a way that they can't just put back on the shelf.

**adam1991** · 07-25-2012, 07:14 PM

exactly what I thought.

Here's the modern-day entitlement attitude in full bloom. "I want it NOW, and I don't care who I screw over!"

**hertz088** · 07-28-2012, 06:23 PM

Update

little concern , but not an issue ........yet

it does get warm , on back around camera area (from just paddling pages on internet , like this forum)
I know it's a thin phone , so for now just keeping eye on it (probably normal )

Stock browser, kind of slow to open some pages ( like this forum

)
once it does open it , loads it fast
so I'm trying some other browsers and so far Dolphin is awsum

Google Now, works great
getting notifications about traffic conditions , weather etc (when NBA starts probably that too

)

Oh , yea
the fingerprints on screen

( I know , just about every phone )
and if you have pattern opening for the screen lock,
soon will be visible

Tmo so far is ok, coverage good, data good
got their app off the market , you can check ur minutes and data usage there , or pay
your next month, switch plans etc.

all in all
very happy with this phone and tmo plan