Is Cricket is GSM or CDMA ? Know Details Before Switch

An efficient network forms the foundation of an informed society. This is what makes Cricket Wireless so popular among American people. All mobile phones run on either GSM or CDMA networks. However, before you enter a new carrier, it is good you know what technology they operate on.

The reason many people get into Cricket Wireless is its affordable plans. Also, their services are worth admiration compared to their competitors. But is Cricket Wireless GSM or CDMA? Cricket is a subsidiary of AT&T mobile. So, before you know it runs on GSM or CDMA, it is good you understand the difference between the two. After that, you will then get a clear understanding of which technology it operates on.

What are GSM and CDMA?

These are the two primary technologies used by U.S carriers. They two control the use of phones in the whole county. There are limitations on you crossing from one carrier to another because of them. GSM stands for “Global System for Mobile” while CDMA is “Code Division Multiple Access”.

These are the radio systems that every phone use. As the name suggests, GSM is global while CDMA is specifically owned by the company Qualcomm. Besides, CDMA is more controlled than GSM. The phones that run on the GSM network have a lot of freedom than the CDMA network. You can easily interchange and swap out on GSM phones. The unique feature that distinguishes GSM is use removable SIM card. On the other side, CDMA does not require removable SIM cards.

Is Cricket Wireless GSM or CDMA?

Now that you know what GSM and CDMA are, the question is what Cricket Wireless is. The answer to your question is, Cricket is a GSM carrier. However, those who used it before 2015 will tell you it was a CDMA network carrier.

This was before it merged with AT&T in 2015 when it migrated to GSM. As a GSM carrier, Cricket has more advantages than those who buy a plan with it. Cricket LTE speeds are fast because it is a subsidiary of one of the largest GSM networks in the United States.

About Cricket Wireless Network

As mentioned above, Cricket Wireless is an AT&T subsidiary. That means that it uses AT&T network. AT&T uses both GSM and LTE networks to deliver their services. GSM is one of the most used networks across the Globe.

In the past, GSM provided internet speeds of 3G which was very fast and reliable for almost a decade. However, there was a discovery of LTE networks. This brought a revolution in the telecommunication industry across the Globe. The 4G LTE made the browsing, downloading, and uploading content superfast.

AT&T adapted the technology and so did Cricket Wireless. So, currently, both GSM and LTE are networks that Cricket Wireless is running on. Note that Cricket Wireless does not have any association with CDMA networks. This is because it is fully owned by AT&T which isn’t associated with Verizon Wireless in any way.

Cricket Wireless offers 2G, 3G, and 4G, 5G connectivity. However, AT&T has plans to shut down all its GSM networks and migrate fully to 4G & 5G bands. So, to alert you when buying a new phone, get a phone that is 4G or 5G compatible.

You will have all the benefits that 4G & 5G networks are coming with. Besides, AT&T is providing the services and so you will get the support if you are its customer. You will be able to call and surf the internet at the same time with VoLTE. Another advantage is the internet speeds are high with no cases of dropped calls.

Pros and Cons of Cricket Wireless Network

When you get a Cricket Wireless service, you are likely to get some merits and demerits. Despite the demerits, Cricket Wireless stands out to be one of the best GSM and LTE service providers. Below are the pros and cons of Cricket.

If You Are Interested To Switch Cricket Wireless, Here is The Process

Cricket Wireless has one of the simplest processes of switching to its services. This depends on whether you want to Bring Your Own Phone or you want to buy a new phone. The advantage is that you can conduct the whole process online. Here are the steps that you can follow when switching.

1. Checking the Phones Compatibility

You will take this step if you want to Bring Your Own Phone. This is because, as discussed above Cricket Wireless supports GSM networks. This means that you will need a phone that is compatible with the GSM network. This is like those phones in AT&T and T-Mobile. So, if you want to check your phone’s compatibility with Cricket Wireless, follow this;

• Find your IMEI by dialing *#06* on your phone. Also, you can navigate and check it in your phone settings.
• Go to Cricket’s compatibility checker page and enter the IMEI

After checking the IMEI, cricket will let you know if your phone is compatible or not. If it is not compatible, they have plenty of phones that are compatible. The phones are affordable to many.

2. Pick a Cricket Plan

After you are set with the phone, you will choose a plan from Cricket Wireless. They have very cheap plans available that start at $25 per month. Note that all plans have unlimited talk and text. Use WhistleOut’s comparison engine to compare the different Cricket Wireless plans. This will let you see the prices and features for a specific cricket plan. Also, you can add other features on top of your plans. This includes phone insurance, mobile hotspot, and even extra data.

3. Transfer Your Number or Choose a New One

Now the decision to bring your current number to Cricket Wireless or get new is yours. If you decide to port it, you will have to provide the following to Cricket.

• The wireless account number with your current carrier
• Your current password.
• The billing zip code to your current account.
• The last four digits of your Social Security number.

There are two options you may likely use, a new phone or your old phone. If any works with the Cricket network, there is an option to bring your number or get a new one. So, if you want to port, you will enter it during the transfer process. This lets Cricket begin the transfer process. However, if you want a new number, punch in the ZIP code and Cricket will generate a fresh local number for you.

4. Activate Your Cricket Service

When you buy a plan, Cricket will contact the current carrier to start the switching process. At this point, your current phone and plan are working. So, in the next few business days, you will receive your phone or Cricket SIM.

If it was a phone, you will need to start using it immediately. This is because Cricket will have set it for you. In the case of Cricket SIM, insert it into your phone and start using it. Once you are set, cancel the account with the other carrier.

Benefits of Switching to Cricket Wireless

The reason you are looking for Cricket Wireless benefits is maybe you heard of it. Another reason you are getting frustrations with your current carrier. So, Cricket Wireless has more benefits once you sign up with them. Here are some of the benefits you will get.

• There are no contracts.
• It runs under AT&T network which has wide network coverage across the country.
• You can Bring Your Own Phone as long it is compatible.
• It runs under 4G LTE which has fast download and upload speeds.
• It gives you a lot of data at a cheap price.
• There are no additional fees.
• It has 4,300 stores across 50 states.
• It has enough varieties of phones that you can choose from.

So, those are some of the benefits that you can get from Cricket Wireless. If you had difficulties with your current carrier, Cricket is the solution to the problem.

The Devices are Compatible With Cricket Wireless

As long as your phone can use GSM or LTE network, then it is compatible with Cricket Wireless. The advantage of Cricket is you can Bring Your Own Phone if it meets the requirements. If you want to Bring Your Own Phone make it meets the following;

• You should make sure the phone is not locked
• Made in the United States.
• It should not be a stolen or lost phone.

If it meets the above requirements, then you are free to use it on Cricket Wireless. However, you will need to check the compatibility using the procedure we discussed. So, here are the companies that you can bring your phone from. Also, Cricket has its phones available on its online store. You can as well buy the same phones there. The companies include;

• LG
• HTC
• Apple
• Samsung
• Nokia
• Motorola

If you want to get more varieties of these phones, go to Cricket’s Wireless online store and buy a phone there. There are more varieties that we have not mentioned above.

People Also Ask

Can Cricket Allow CDMA Compatible Devices?

This is only possible if Cricket Wireless could contract Verizon for its networks. However, this is not possible because Cricket is fully owned by AT&T mobile. Also, only the devices that work under GSM and LTE networks can work with Cricket Wireless. So, if your device is not compatible with the two networks, plan to get a phone that can work with them. There are several stores where you can get such phones at affordable prices.

How many phones can you have on Cricket Wireless?

There are two types of customers and this determines how many lines you can get. If you are a current Cricket customer, you can add up to five lines. To the existing customers, you can add up to eight lines. This will bring your total lines to six and nine respectively.

Can I buy an AT&T phone to use Cricket Wireless?

Yes. Customers with AT&T phones can switch to Cricket Wireless. This works under Bring Your Own Phone program. This program allows you to keep your current phone number. It is good to note that you will need to unlock your device before it is eligible with Cricket Wireless. This is so if you will want to use also with all other GSM carriers.

Should I switch from AT&T to Cricket Wireless?

The decision to switch from AT&T to Cricket wireless is with you. It maybe you do not like much terms of customer service from AT&T mobile. Also, if you are willing to do data speed reduction, then it will be worth switching to cricket wireless. However, many will opt to stay with AT&T because of many reasons. One of the reasons is Cricket runs under AT&T and so AT&T sponsors more of its services more than Cricket. This is because Cricket Wireless is just a subsidiary of AT&T.

How do I know if my phone is compatible with Cricket?

It is very easy to check if your phone is compatible with Cricket Wireless. This is possible using their compatibility checker. What you will do is to open your phone and dial *#06* on your phone. You will see a 15-digit number. That is the IMEI or device ID. Note and add it to your Cricket Wireless compatibility checker. After that, Cricket Wireless will notify you if the phone is compatible or not. Also, you can get your IMEI on your phone’s settings app.

Can I put my Cricket SIM in another Cricket phone?

Yes, it is possible to switch phones as you like. The only requirement is that the phone should be compatible with Cricket Wireless. Mk,If you meet those requirements, then you can move your SIM card and it will operate without problems.

Can I use my iPhone on Cricket?

If your phone is compatible with the GSM network, then you should not worry. To those who are using iPhone 5 or later, you are free to use Cricket Wireless. This is because it supports the GSM networks. Also, you can bring your iPad or data-only Apple devices.

Final Recap

From the information above, you can clearly see how good Cricket Wireless Network is. Since merging with AT&T, its services are of great help to millions of customers across the country. After the merger, it started providing services on the GSM network till when LTE emerged. It also started providing both services on GSM and LTE. We have a lot of cell phones in the market.

So, it is good you get the difference between CDMA and GSM and the advantages of the two. Generally, Cricket Wireless is a GSM. It has good services with 24/7 customer support. We hope now you will not subscribe to Cricket Wireless blindly because you now know more about it and its advantages.