Switching from Sprint

Hi all,

My Sprint contract has expired and I'm thinking of switching to T-Mobile. Right now I'm using a CO number but I'm in CA. I've gone to a few of the local cell phone shops (the ones that advertise really good deals with free phones...etc) and they told me that if I go through them, I'd have to get a new CA number. I've been using my number for 5 years and I don't want to change numbers.

I'm sure if I go to a T-Mobile store, they'd be able to set me up but the phone deal won't be as good. So I'm thinking of doing this on Amazon. Is there anything that I should watch out for?

Also, I would like to setup a family plan with my girlfriend. She's with T-Mobile and her contract will expire very soon. What's the best way to do this so we both can get (good) new phones?

Lastly, is T-Mobile good in the east coast (specifically, New York City)? If not, what are the good service providers for the east coast?

I'm sorry for the long post. Any input/suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

T-Mobile is easy going, so I'm sure they'll be on your side. But you have a CO number living in CA? You have to ask about what to do because you have a CO area code, and someone in CA might have a different area code but same last 7 digits, get what I'm saying?

As for phones, you should be able to do that no problem...thats not an issue.

And T-Mobile being good in NYC. I don't know. I am switching from VZW to T-Mobile. But Verzion does great over here, but they are expensive and I have not had a good time with their billing or cust. service...

Thank you very much for the reply. I'm not sure I get what you're saying:

I got my cell phone when I was living in CO and now I live in CA. I would like to keep my CO area code and number. I don't want to switch my number from, say, 303-123-4567 to 626-123-4567. Do these service providers give you that option? (hm... if they did, maybe I should consider it). Right now, I don't want to change my phone number.

No, that option is not available. It would be considered a vanity number and the FCC is really against that. As far as a possible family time plan with the girlfriend, and getting phones, you will get a (possibly free) phone with your activation, if she has been a good customer, meaning no suspensions for non-payment and on a qualifying rate plan of 39.99 or higher, then it is in her best interest to keep her account active as opposed to cancelling the account and activating a new one. Her prices will be better that way and she wouldn't have to pay another activation fee. You can put both lines on the same account and go with a FT plan after that, you just have to decide who's name to put everything under. If you activate through Amazon or any other outside company, make sure and thoroughly read the secondary agreement that they will have. I know that amazon basically says that you can't change you plan for 181 days or you pay them $250. If you activate at a T-Mo store, then there will be no second contract, and there are a few auth dealers that do not require them.

Nope, you can't do that. And I doubt you'll have the same number either way but with a different area code, you could inquire about it, but I don't think it's possible. They don't have that option at this day, maybe one day in the future though. But you moved to a different state, and you change your address, your license, your plates, just about everything, so changing your phone number pretty much goes along with that, I know it sucks, I'll be changing mine when I move out of NY in a year, maybe by then they'll be able to do it. Who knows!

Thank you all for the replies. Especially for the tip about Amazon. I didn't know that there was a second contract. I was thinking of signing up for individual service first (getting the phone through Amazon) and then changing to a family plan. Sounds like this would've cost me a lot since I would be changing plans.

Just doing my part. Glad I could help.

What about calling a TMo store in Colorado and opening an account over the phone and having them port your Colorado number over to a new TMo phone and mailing you the phone. I did exactly something like that a few years ago with AT&T Wireless. You might have to supply them with a Colorado address and if you do you could use a relative or friend's address for a couple billing periods and then change it to your California address after that.

Seems kinda a lot of work to keep a Colorado number in California unless you are thinking about moving back to Colorado sometime in the future. Good news is after you move to TMo, you'll never need to worry about any of this again because you'll be with a GSM carrier and will be able to change phones at any whim.

Good luck.