[LaidOff]

Hi!

I was laid off about a week ago. I got to keep my company-issued Blackberry (carrier is AT&T). I called to get info on the plan, and i wonder if i can do better. For example, can I sign up with another carrier and keep the same phone number? Do i need to get a new phone if i do?

Thanks!

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› See More: AT&T Blackberry, laid off, want to change plans

[misterSelf]

Hi!

I was laid off about a week ago. I got to keep my company-issued Blackberry (carrier is AT&T). I called to get info on the plan, and i wonder if i can do better. For example, can I sign up with another carrier and keep the same phone number? Do i need to get a new phone if i do?

Thanks!

AT&T is a GSM/HDPA provider, so unless you switch to carrier that uses the same technology you will have to get a different phone. AT&T and T-Mobile are the two major GSM/HSDPA providers in the U.S. Verizon and Sprint both use CDMA, which is a different and incompatible technology than what AT&T/T-Mobile uses. As to your number, you can switch to another carrier and keep your number. I hope that helps.

[BigJames523]

This is true, however if the OP was laidoff, did the company keep your service on? If so, did they say you can port over the number? Or was the phone set up by you, and just paid by the company? If the phone number and account belonged soley to the company, they may not let you port over the number, and you have to be the account holder or authorized person on the ATT account, you won't be able to keep the number. The phone is yours, but you have to unlock it to use it on T-Mobile or any other carrier that will allow you to utilize the technology, only ATT will let you use the phone with out un-locking it.

[SAR0609]

The info in replies posted so far seems accurate. You can certainly keep the same number, and find out if TMobile (your only other GSM option) will let you use the existing device (assuming you like it). Also, find out if you still have to tied to any contract (I doubt it since employment terms have changed), and if not, you may be able to start from scratch and sign up with any carrier (including some prepaid plans, which are popular in this economy) for relatively low device prices with new contracts.