A question about purchasing a phone on Ebay that is already set up with Cingular

If I were to purchase a phone on Ebay that is already setup on the
Cingular network would I have any problems with taking it in to
Cingular and having it activated to use my plan that I am currently
on? In other words I want to replace the phone I have now with the
phone I would buy on Ebay and I am already a Cingular customer but
because of the contract "rules" I am not eligible for an upgrade yet.

"creative user" <none@mail.com> wrote in message
news:mdp2tvopijf1jpp8tbuufqoh8hbfaci8gs@4ax.com...
| If I were to purchase a phone on Ebay that is already setup on the
| Cingular network would I have any problems with taking it in to
| Cingular and having it activated to use my plan that I am currently
| on? In other words I want to replace the phone I have now with the
| phone I would buy on Ebay and I am already a Cingular customer but
| because of the contract "rules" I am not eligible for an upgrade yet.

Depending on the phone/plan you have now, it will likely be as simple as
swapping out the SIM card. If the phone is on the same technology as the one
you currently have, you won't even have to call Cingular and tell them you
have the new phone, simply swap the SIM card out and go.

I appreciate the replies. The phone I currently have is an Ericsson
t60 and the one I am looking to purchase is the t616.

Why don't you purchase an "unlocked phone" on Ebay?


"creative user" <none@mail.com> wrote in message
news:mdp2tvopijf1jpp8tbuufqoh8hbfaci8gs@4ax.com...
> If I were to purchase a phone on Ebay that is already setup on the
> Cingular network would I have any problems with taking it in to
> Cingular and having it activated to use my plan that I am currently
> on? In other words I want to replace the phone I have now with the
> phone I would buy on Ebay and I am already a Cingular customer but
> because of the contract "rules" I am not eligible for an upgrade yet.

"creative user" <none@mail.com> wrote in message
news:n1t3tvcc2p290h9n55eo46ljfgi98abohv@4ax.com...
| I appreciate the replies. The phone I currently have is an Ericsson
| t60 and the one I am looking to purchase is the t616.

You may want to look into Best Buy for that. Just upgraded to a T616 two
nights ago for 49.99 there with only a one year contract instead of the two
Cingular wants. Cingular also wants 99.99 (after rebate), unless of course
you are still in contract or just wanting to stay out of contract.

"creative user" <none@mail.com> wrote in message
news:n1t3tvcc2p290h9n55eo46ljfgi98abohv@4ax.com...
| I appreciate the replies. The phone I currently have is an Ericsson
| t60 and the one I am looking to purchase is the t616.

Also, just so you know, the T60 is a TDMA/Amps phone, where as the T616 is
GSM. Make sure you have GSM in your area first

Wow how were you able to get that phone for so cheap? Is that being a
new customer or are you already an existing customer? I currently am
a customer with Cingular and didn't think I had much hope of upgrading
until the "allowed" me to. What area of the country are you in that
you were able to get that price? I am in Dallas and I will go to Best
Buy tomorrow to check out my options with them. Thanks for the post.

"creative user" <none@mail.com> wrote in message
news:18d5tvs134avvo3p4c3togtbqdfj5rg1de@4ax.com...
> Wow how were you able to get that phone for so cheap? Is that being a
> new customer or are you already an existing customer? I currently am
> a customer with Cingular and didn't think I had much hope of upgrading
> until the "allowed" me to. What area of the country are you in that
> you were able to get that price? I am in Dallas and I will go to Best
> Buy tomorrow to check out my options with them. Thanks for the post.

I am a current customer. The phone was 149.99 plus $100 in rebates. That
puts it $50 cheaper than buying straight from cingular. The big kicker is, I
only had to do 1year contract extension buying the phone through Best Buy,
but would have had to do 2 years through Cingular. Win win situation for me.
Also of note if anyone is interested, my wife got an S307 at the same time
for 129.99-$50 rebate (79.99 when all is done), also with only one year
extension instead of the 199.99 and 2years Cingular wants.

You must have gotten lucky then because I went to the Best Buy here in
Dallas today and they said they couldn't let me have the rebate on the
phone. They said that Cingular makes them charge and extra $150 for
any current Cingular customer who trys to go through Best Buy to get a
new phone so the best they could do is just sell me the phone at
regular price and waive that charge. So I have given up for the
moment and I guess I will wait until the Ericsson t630 comes down in
price on Ebay since that seems to be a better phone anyway. Thanks
again for those who have helped.

"creative user" <none@mail.com> wrote in message
news:v9l7tv43hmd2e3kcerl3c7gnekb0lmb0vg@4ax.com...
| You must have gotten lucky then because I went to the Best Buy here in
| Dallas today and they said they couldn't let me have the rebate on the
| phone. They said that Cingular makes them charge and extra $150 for
| any current Cingular customer who trys to go through Best Buy to get a
| new phone so the best they could do is just sell me the phone at
| regular price and waive that charge. So I have given up for the
| moment and I guess I will wait until the Ericsson t630 comes down in
| price on Ebay since that seems to be a better phone anyway. Thanks
| again for those who have helped.

Bummer, sorry to hear that. Actually, the deal with the $150 is actually
Best Buy making the money. The associate there must have been misinformed.
Cingular pays it's independent retailers $150 for each new customer or
contract extension they sign. At any rate, the T630 should be a bit better,
especially since it will have the TFT instead of STN. If you are in no
hurry, I don't blame you for waiting.