Different phone than plan?

Question

is it possible to use a phone other than those specifically listed in plan options by a certain carrier? like if i wanted to buy a nokia phone directly from the manufacturer, but still use a certain plan from something like at&t or sprint.

Answer 1

Yes. You can buy from any phone directly from manufacturer and choose any plan from any service provider.

Only thing you have to make sure that the technology used in the phone matches that of the technology used by the service provider.
For example:
AT&T and T-Mobile uses GSM technology.
Sprint & Verizon uses CDMA technology.
So any GSM phone can use AT&T/T-Mobile and any CDMA phone can use Sprint/Verizon and service plan under that service provider.

Answer 2

Hi erodreus2,

You need to know the type of service the carrier has. For example ATT is GSM so you must have a phone capable of using the GSM network.

I believe Verison uses TDMA.

At any rate if you get a phone that will work on the type of network your provider has you can use it on their network.

I bought a phone off of eBay and I am using it with Cingular (ATT) service.

Norm

Answer 3

close but not quite.

att wireless and t-mobile use gsm
verizon and sprint use cdma

u would have to unlock a gsm phone for it to work with both att and t-mobile

U cannot unlock cdma phones so u cant use verizon phones on sprints network or vice versa

GSM is the world standard so if u do a lot of traveling u would want GSM.

Answer 4

You can, but must make sure you are purchasing a phone compatible with your carrier. ALL cell phone sites will list cell phones by carrier. Look for your carrier first, then the phones they have available.