Buying an unlocked phone when you have an AT&T contract? (T-Mobile, 3G)

[HoustonTexas1]

So I had a phone that broke a couple months ago. I put my SIM card in my old phones (which already had problems) and used those until they broke for good. I'm thinking about buying a new unlocked phone from Best Buy. If I buy on unlocked phone will I just have to put my SIM card in and it will work? I share a contract with another family member and I'm wondering if there will be any activation fees if I buy an unlocked phone?

[southgeorgia]

No just put your sim card in the new phone.

I did have an issue once where I went from an LTE to a "4G" hspa+ device, and when I went back to the LTE, I had to get a new sim card. For some reason, the handset downgrade caused my sim to lose its ability to connect to the LTE network.

[Mr. Lee]

Originally Posted by HoustonTexas1

So I had a phone that broke a couple months ago. I put my SIM card in my old phones (which already had problems) and used those until they broke for good. I'm thinking about buying a new unlocked phone from Best Buy. If I buy on unlocked phone will I just have to put my SIM card in and it will work? I share a contract with another family member and I'm wondering if there will be any activation fees if I buy an unlocked phone?

Depending on the service you are with, yes for most gsm services but no for TracFone. The other issue would be, to make sure the phone has the correct frequency for the service you are using, not all phones have all frequencies. Check HERE for the GSM chart or check with your provider so you buy a phone that will do what you need and wish it to do.

Beside Best Buy, Target online, Walmart online, Newegg and Tiger direct all sell unlocked phones.

There should be no activation fee as they would probably not even know you changed phones, I do it all the time with T-Mobile and AT&T..

[HoustonTexas1]

If I buy an unlocked phone will that extend my AT&T contract another two years?

[zeppelin171]

Originally Posted by HoustonTexas1

If I buy an unlocked phone will that extend my AT&T contract another two years?

Nope.

[Mr. Lee]

Originally Posted by HoustonTexas1

If I buy an unlocked phone will that extend my AT&T contract another two years?

No.

It might be best to buy an unlocked branded AT&T phone. For instance you can shop for unlocked phones on Newegg and they will show which phones are AT&T, such as THIS ONE or THIS ONE that way you will know the phone is compatible with AT&T. Another way is to search on Newegg for carrier phones, HERE is what they list for AT&T but I believe most, or all of those will be locked to AT&T only.

Otherwise just be sure to match up the frequencies the phones have for the services you intend to use, such as 3g or 4g because those will be different on different phones depending on what provider they had been made to be used on.