Straight Talk - Beater / Backup Phone

[aky01]

My wife and I just switched to Straight Talk after being with Verizon forever. We both got a Nexus and SIM cards from Straight Talk. I wanted a beater phone for the beach, biking, etc., and thought I could just get another GSM phone and switch the SIM between them. I got a refurbished Moto w418g flip phone from Straight Talk and have since learned that it is locked to the SIM that it came with and won't work with my existing Straight Talk SIM.

Any suggestions for an inexpensive backup phone? Is this even possible?

Thanks!

[alphamale-b]

any old att phone should work for at least talk and text. some more with the apn updated

[Shawn744]

AT&T F160 .....saw one on eBay for 14 bucks in mint condition and bought it. Lotta stuff I you do some research n

[mirayge]

If you want mms and data then a very inexpensive android is easiest to set up. Feature phones work for talk and text, but unless they are unlocked it can be almost impossible to change APN settings.

Sent from my R800at using HowardForums

[alphamale-b]

that is not true. att phone do not need to be unlocked to create or add a new apn so it can be used on att network.

[whacker]

To the OP, as you can see, you're being directed to find used AT&T phones. Your ST SIM will work in any AT&T phone (locked or unlocked). If you like something like the W418g you had, try to find a Motorola W490 or W510. Those are older but similar, with a sturdier, less plastic build. Very good audio and RF signal quality. Also look for any of the original Razr models; very good basic phones. But there are many others to choose from. CraigsList and eBay, maybe also pawnshops.

There is a caveat about old AT&T phones: In some areas, and probably eventually nationwide, AT&T is ending its conventional 2G coverage and making even basic phones they sell use the 3G frequencies, so that they can realign their network, reusing the old 2G freqs for newer high-speed service. So that may enter into things, and most of us would be hard-pressed to tell exactly where that's happening or what schedule AT&T may have in the changeover.

[Endeavor]

Any AT&T Prepaid (Gophone) should work just fine. For future proofing, you should make sure the phone is a 3G phone. The Z221 can be purchased for about $40.00. If you don't care about future proofing, i.e. the phone will only be used for about 2-3 years, the Samsung A107 or A157 are about $20.00. All these prices are from Amazon.

My wife and I just switched to Straight Talk after being with Verizon forever. We both got a Nexus and SIM cards from Straight Talk. I wanted a beater phone for the beach, biking, etc., and thought I could just get another GSM phone and switch the SIM between them. I got a refurbished Moto w418g flip phone from Straight Talk and have since learned that it is locked to the SIM that it came with and won't work with my existing Straight Talk SIM.

Any suggestions for an inexpensive backup phone? Is this even possible?

Thanks!

[alphamale-b]

echo.......