<SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

I did some searches and didnt find an answer so I wanted to ask.

Im familiar with SIM Cards in phones for use in keeping your Subscriber info intact. I.e. Pull the sim card out and slide it into another phone and you can use that phone as your own. Useful for when you do upgrades.

So now the question is. Is this how sprint is using it? Is the sprint SIM already unlocked or do I need to get OliPro's unlocker? Why would I want it unlocked? What are the benefits of this?

Do I need to unlock it to travel internationally (im planning a trip to japan and would like to use my TP2 there)

I guess in the long run, aside from the basic purposes of a SIM Card, Im not familiar with how they are in relation to sprint as I have never had a sim card before.

If there is anything else you can think of that would be useful about it, by all means please add that. Heck, maybe we can make a sticky "All About Sim Cards" LOL

Thanks!

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

for the sprint verizon u do not need the sim unlocker for international travel! u only need it if u plan on using domestic carriers(us gsm)

Verizon on the other hand needs the sim unlocker unless they got it for free from verizon like myself!!

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

If I dont like sprints prices then, I would need it to say, rent a sim card there and use it, correct?

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

Ya after you SIM unlock you phone


posted in irc but maybe others can use it.....http://www.myworldphone.com/storeite...cc=prepaid-sim

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

Gotcha, ok. Makes sense now.

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

You do not need to unlock your phone. Sprint is Sim-unlocked. meaning any sim will work with the phone. Sprint is Radio Locked to restrict use of the US based GSM towers. Since you are going to Japan then you can pick up a card there or use the Sprint service... You only need to Sim-unlock the Sprint phone if you want to unlock the radio for use on the US based GSM towers with a US GSM carrier.

Hope this sheds some light.

James

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

Ok, just make sure I have this straight.

Sprint TP2 works in other countries (specifically Japan)
Sprint TP2 is unlocked as far as using another countries SIM card. So I dont *need* to buy the OliPro Simcard unlocker.

So Essentially i am good to go without having to change anything.

So this brings another question... Is there an advantage to unlocking the US GSM radio?

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

You can always buy a pre-paid sim card and use U.S. GSM network, but you have you buy one or have a service with one.

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

From my understanding This is true. It will work in another country with their sim card. There was another post on here that proved that it worked in no US countries.

As far as the benifits for being Sim Unlocked for sprint is you can use the Unlocked radio where you can lets say put in a T-Mobile sim or At&T sim and use the US towers. Why you would want to do this not a reason at this time that I can think of except Prepaid sims here in the US just in case you cancel your account forget your bill ect you can buy a prepaid sim and use it. Me personally I dont plan on travelling out of the country any time soon. Wont ever switch to or use GSM towers. IMO there really is no point.

James

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

Why would I want to do that, or are saying that for japan. Sorry if I seem like a noob. Well.. I guess I am a noob as far as GSM and international stuff goes. First time ive had a phone that would do it, and first time Im traveling internationally.

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

Mybad, I was saying in the U.S. say you have horrible service...maybe at your job. You want service but can't with sprint. You can buy a pre paid sim card and if you get service say from tmobile, you can use that sim card to have service where you didn't/don't with sprint/cdma. If you are going to just japan and have great service where you are now then all you need to do is buy a prepaid sim card from or in japan, pop it in your phone and your good to go. But I also heard to use data you have to set it up some how. I haven't been out of the country but from what I have seen you would have to set data up

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

This all makes sense, but WHY does sprint provide you with a SIM card? If I pull it, my phone still works. What is the point of the sprint SIM card??

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

Since you have a Sprint TP2 you do not need to do anything to be able to use a Japanese GSM sim card with your phone in Japan. Just pop out the Sprint one and pop in a Japanese one. Simple as that.

However, from my understanding I thought part of Japan used CDMA?

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

FYI:

I just got back from China. The phone worked just fine "as is". Just be sure to call sprint and explain what you are doing. They had to enable the international capabilities for my account (not the phone). Doesn't cost anything, they just did it.

Calling home was expensive, $2/min. I thought about buying a sim card in China, but never got around to it, I was to busy.

Data worked fine also, but it was $.002/kb.

Gotta go eat Thanksgiving dinner with the family, or I'd explain a little more. Sprint customer service was very helpful when I called them. I wanted to be sure everything would work BEFORE I got there and everything did just like they said.

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

uh you don't even need a sim card for your TP2 or any CDMA phone to roam internationally in Japan.. They use CDMA over there too...

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

But what is the purpose of the Sprint SIM card?? Is there any need for it at all?

Re: <SPRINT> SIM Card question
 

To make money off you!!! Also some corporate clients have deals with Sprint where they pay a lower rate (than us regular folks) when they roam abroad. Basically meaning Sprint has made some deals with international GSM carriers so the Sprint GSM card picks up their signal. Sprint then charges you "international roaming" rates they set. This probably works well for frequent international business travelers who go all over the world on short trips (buying GSM cards for every country would be a pain).

When I go to China/Hong Kong I just but a disposable GSM sim card (only a few bucks) that I fill up (similar to pay as you go services in the U.S.).

The best thing about the TP2 is you don't have to call Sprint or anything if you want to just use your own GSM sim card internationally. Just put it in and go!