Do I Have To Buy My Phone From Verizon
You bring the phone, Verizon supplies the plan. Through the BYOD program, you can activate a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE or compatible unlocked phone on a monthly plan. Be sure your device is unlocked if you are transferring from another carrier.
do i have to buy my phone from verizon
An unlocked phone is not tied to a specific phone carrier. The Sony Xperia 10 Plus, OnePlus 7 Pro and LG G7 Fit are examples of unlocked phones that have been certified to work on Verizon. Visit our Unlocked Page to learn more.
"BYOD" means "bring your own device". If your device is unlocked and compatible with the Verizon network, you can bring it to us and activate it on a new or existing Verizon plan.You can BYOD with smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches you bought from Verizon, a third-party seller, another phone carrier or manufacturer.Check your device's compatibility for BYOD.
I currently have Verizon Wireless service with a non-smartphone. My two-year contract has long since expired. I am considering a Samsung Galaxy or an Apple iPhone. I'm willing to pay full price for it, but I'd like to get a good deal if I could. I'm thinking of buying the phone on the open market instead of from Verizon. Maybe I could get a better deal that way? I would also like the phone that I buy to be able to be used on other carriers, should I have a falling out with Verizon.
But popular phones like a new Apple iPhone 6 or Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ likely won't be any cheaper unlocked than they would be from your carrier. Still, there are plenty of budget-friendly smartphones on the market, such as new devices from Motorola and from a slew of Chinese manufacturers that will offer you some big savings. These phones come unlocked out of the box, and you can get great deals on them over more expensive models, like the iPhone or Galaxy smartphones.
Verizon has traditionally made it difficult to use an unlocked phone bought from a company other than Verizon. This is in stark contrast to operators like AT&T and T-Mobile, which have made it easy to bring unlocked devices to their networks for years. But things are changing at Verizon, according to Albert Aydin, a spokesman for Verizon. The company is making an effort to make it much easier to use some unlocked phones, such as the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and Nexus 6 on its network, even if it's a version of the device that wasn't made specifically for Verizon. Customers can visit Verizon's website and check the ID, such as the IMEI number, on their device to see if it will work unlocked on the carrier's network.
The company's move to make it easier to use non-Verizon devices on its network comes as the result of a couple of important trends in the wireless industry. First, demand for unlocked devices is growing. And after years of pressuring lawmakers to do something to force operators to remove the software preventing them from being used on competitors' networks, wireless operators struck an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission earlier this year to abide by a code of conduct for unlocking devices. As part of this code, carriers have promised to allow customers to unlock devices that they've already purchased in full.
The other major trend is that the wireless industry is moving away from contract service plans that offer subscribers a low-cost device in exchange for signing a two-year contract. Now, operators are starting to require subscribers to pay for new devices in full or in monthly installments with no contract or obligation to continue service. T-Mobile got rid of its contract plans more than two years ago. Earlier this month, Verizon announced the same move. AT&T and Sprint give customers the option to forgo contracts, but they have not eliminated them yet.
That's all changing, and it's good news for consumers, especially savvy shoppers like yourself. Now, the cost of your service will be separate from the cost of your device. You can still buy a new phone from your carrier, but you'll either pay full price for it upfront or you'll finance it.
The other option, as you have suggested, is that you can bring your own device. This means you can use a phone that you already own, buy a used or refurbished smartphone, or shop around for a less expensive device from a lesser-known manufacturer.
Both of these trends are likely why Verizon is changing its policy and finally embracing unlocked phones on its network. But there is a catch. Not every device will work on every carrier's network. This is especially true for Verizon and Sprint, which have based their traditional voice and data networks on technologies that are not deployed globally. To make certain the smartphone you buy will work with your carrier, you must look at the device specifications to ensure it supports the radio frequencies and network technology that is compatible with your carrier.
The wireless world is quickly moving to the next generation of network technology known as 4G LTE. Right now LTE is the technology used to provide broadband-like Internet speeds to wireless customers. Even though all major wireless carriers throughout the world, including the four major carriers in the US, are using the same 4G technology to deliver high-speed Internet access to smartphones, they don't all use the same radio frequencies. This means that the device you choose needs to include radios that can tune into the frequencies that your carrier is using for its 4G LTE network. If it doesn't have radios that are compatible with its LTE frequencies, you may not get data service at all or you will get service that is substantially slower than is advertised for a 4G LTE Network.
This issue may soon go away as device makers include more frequency bands in all the devices they make. This has already begun happening with devices from Apple, Samsung and Motorola, which are building devices that can be used across multiple carriers. But for now, it's something to consider when shopping for a new unlocked phone. It's still important to read the specs to make sure the bands match up to the carrier.
Getting an unlocked phone that wasn't specifically made to work with Verizon on its network is tricky. The CDMA/voice issue pretty much ensures you need a device that's made for Verizon. There are a few exceptions. And some of those are the phones that Verizon has already certified to be used on its network. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as the Nexus 6 can be purchased unlocked and used on Verizon. Unfortunately, many of the low-cost devices from China won't work on Verizon, not just because they aren't "certified" by Verizon, but because the technology is not compatible.
If you plan to stick with Verizon as your service provider, I suggest just getting a smartphone made for Verizon. This doesn't mean you have to purchase it from Verizon. You can still get a used or refurbished phone that was made for Verizon. You will be able to save some money if you do that. The reason I suggest buying a Verizon 4G LTE smartphone is because it will work optimally while you are a Verizon customer. And if you do decide to leave Verizon, it will most likely work on either AT&T or T-Mobile. It's a win-win for you.
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.
After I check out Amazon, I look at other online retailers online because online shopping is easiest. You can compare many options from almost anywhere including your current cell phone service provider.
Let's say you have a newer phone. Not even a year old. But you're just not crazy about your network. Set it up with Verizon, activate the new Verizon plan and get the best of both worlds: Keep your phone and phone number, plus get a better network and plenty of data. Here are five things to know about making the switch!
Bringing your device over to Verizon saves you from having to transfer everything from your old phone over to a new one. Your contacts. Your pictures. Videos from that trip to the petting zoo where the goat bit your finger. They all stay on your phone without having to do anything at all.
... Like the fact that bringing your own device doesn't come with any crazy fees buried in a contract. Some people with compatible devices from another carrier may still need to unlock their phone before they can activate it. But all you have to do is call your previous carrier and they'll take care of it.
And if your device actually isn't compatible, it still may have some value. You're probably asking yourself, "Wouldn't device trade-in be perfect for that?" Good question. And yes, it definitely is. Your device may be eligible to trade in for a Verizon gift card. Put that gift card toward a new Verizon phone or one of their lower-priced pre-owned phones and you'll be up and running in no time.
For a limited time, customers who switch to T-Mobile from an eligible carrier can bring their eligible phone and we will reimburse up to $800 per line on remaining device payment balance (up to 5 voice lines) via virtual prepaid card (card usually takes 15 days). So you can keep your new 5G phone, keep your number AND get the 5G your phone deserves on America's largest, fastest & most reliable 5G network.
Phones have unique software and in some cases hardware for each wireless network. We've already done the work to check that these phones work great when they're brought to T-Mobile. We will continue to work with phone manufacturers to enable more devices to easily move between networks and still deliver the awesome experience T-Mobile is known for.
If you purchased your phone BEFORE 11/1/2022: No, your UScellular phone is automatically unlocked after 120 days from activation if your account is in good standing. You can request a device unlock from UScellular Customer Service before 120 days if you pay your device off in full and your account is in good standing. 041b061a72