Straight Talk is an MVNO offering a variety of unlimited text, talk time, and data plans. This also includes the ones with unlimited data caps. Straight Talk also sells phones, or you can Bring Your Own Phone to their services (BYOP). These are the two options you get for a phone in the Straight Talk network. MVNO are known to provide similar services as their major carrier but at a lower cost.
The company also offers to Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. So, you like your new phone but wish it was a little less expensive every month? Straight Talk can be beneficial for you. This article assesses the viability of Straight Talk BYOP and all its related information.
As we said earlier, Straight Talk is a Mobile Virtual Operator. That means they don’t have their own network towers. So, the wireless network runs on AT&T as their main carrier. Although, unlike most MVNOs that run on one carrier, Straight talk uses all the four main carriers. These include Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.
Can You Put A Straight Talk SIM Card On Any Phone?
You can put a Straight Talk SIM card on any phone and work if it meets certain conditions. These include;
- The phone is already using AT&T or T-Mobile network.
- If the phone is compatible with Straight Talk service.
- If the two phones both new and previous have the same SIM size.
So, the key thing to use a Straight talk SIM card is the compatibility feature. If the phone meets all the listed conditions above, you can definitely use the SIM card. If not, it won’t be possible to use the same Straight Talk SIM on any other phone.
Process To Bring Your Own Phone To Straight Talk
Straight Talk already has very low rates on its plans. So, if you want to save even more money, you can bring your phone to Straight Talk rather than buying a new one. This will save you hundreds of dollars that you could use to buy a new phone. The benefit of BYOP plans is that you can keep the phone you use when enrolling in a Straight Talk plan.
Here are the steps to follow to take advantage of BYOP plan by Straight Talk;
1. Leaving the Previous Plan
Make sure you leave your current carrier before bringing your phone to Straight Talk. Mobile phone contracts are not popular nowadays. So, mostly you are not tied to your current carrier. If you are paying for your phone with your current carrier, you will have to pay off the outstanding balance. This should be before you can switch carriers.
If you owe a lot of money to your current phone, it will probably inconvenience you. You will have to settle all the pending bills with your previous carrier first. So, you need to factor in that before abandoning your current carrier.
2. Unlock Your Phone
Note, if your phone is locked to your current network, you won’t be able to switch carriers. So, if your phone is locked, you might want to check first whether you can unlock it. Note carriers will need you to meet their requirements before you unlock the phone. It is good to check your carrier’s website to know if you satisfy all of them. Other companies may unlock their phone automatically after 60 days. A good example is Verizon.
It’s typically as easy as asking your carrier’s customer service reps to unlock your phone for you. Some companies will also let you unlock your phone using an app on your phone or via the internet. So, make sure you unlock the phone to be compatible with the Straight Talk.
3. Coverage and Phone Compatibility
The good news with Straight Talk is that their services are compatible with many phones. Actually, they operate on all four major carrier networks. Before signing up for their plan, check to ascertain that your phone is compatible with their services. Prepare to reach the IMEI of your devices.
The key thing for communication to happen is network coverage. You need to make sure you have network coverage in your location. So, in this scenario make sure you have Straight Talk coverage. Thankfully, Straight Talk covers the majority of the States in the US. However, you can double-check the coverage in a specific place you want to use your phone just in case.
4. Activating
You can choose one of their plans when you are already set for Straight Talk. Straight Talk ensures that you receive the appropriate activation kit for your phone. After that, you should be able to start activation by entering your new SIM card number on their website.
How To Work Straight Talk SIM Card With Metropcs Phone?
Yes, you can put your Straight Talk card on your Metro PCS phone. Straight Talk offers SIM cards that use a combination of several networks. This is for its wireless service from other cellular providers.
All the phones that operate on GSM-based T-Mobile network can connect to Straight Talk. However, the handset must be unlocked. This will make the phone compatible with Straight Talk since it also uses the T-Mobile network.
Process To Unlock A Metropcs Phone For Straight Talk
If you want to unlock your phone, simply call customer service for MetroPCS. Before calling, make sure you have all the necessary information about the phone at hand. Such include things like;
- The phone number of the phone you want to unlock.
- The Metro PCS account full name.
- The account PIN.
- The account email address.
When they complete the unlocking process, you will receive an email from MetroPCS. The email has the unlocking code for your device. Enter the code in your new SIM card into the MetroPCS phone then Follow the instructions provided.
You can also head to a local retail store and ask for an unlocking code. Note Straight Talk will validate your phone’s network. With the compatibility control of the carrier, you can enter the IMEI to ensure it works.
Other options involve getting help from third parties. However, you may have to pay for such service which is not less than $10.
How To Work Straight Talk SIM Card With Verizon Phone?
Verizon normally unlocks their devices 60 days after activation. After elapse of this period, Verizon unlocks the phone automatically. Additionally, the Straight Talk SIM card has a CDMA LTE SIM card for Verizon-compatible smartphones. The phones are either on 4G or LTE or both.
If you want to use your Straight Talk on Verizon devices, install the SIM in the devices. You will also have to install it along with the network’s access code. Straight Talk uses four major networks as mentioned earlier. They include Verizon, AT &T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. But all four networks are not available in every area across the country.
Process To Unlock A Verizon Phone For Straight Talk
Unlocking your Verizon phone for Straight Talk is very simple. Many sources will tell you Verizon does not unlock phones. This is almost near the truth. However, here is a simple condition you should meet for you to unlock your phone;
- Activate your Verizon phone and make sure the account remains active for 60 days.
- Make sure your phone does not have bills in the last 60 days. Also, make sure the phone is not listed as a stolen or lost phone. Finally, ensure the phone does not have any fraud associated with it.
- After the 60 days are over, Verizon automatically unlocks your device. If your phone remains locked even after 60 days, contact customer service for help.
Why Switch To Straight Talk
There are several reasons why you may want to switch to Straight Talk. These include;
- It is cheap. There is stiff competition in prices in the big four networks. But Straight Talk has very reasonable terms of prices. This can help you reduce your monthly expenditure when you switch to Straight Talk.
- Straight Talk does not have contracts on its services. So, you can terminate your services with them anytime you want.
- Another unique service is they allow customers to come with their current phones. This is if it is compatible with Straight Talk. This is possible through Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program.
FAQ – Frequently Ask Questions
How much is the Straight Talk bring your own phone (BYOP) kit?
Straight Talk program allows you to get unlimited texts, calls, and data. You can get the program kit from Amazon stores at $4.75 on Amazon. However, this price may slightly vary because of the shipping fee.
Can I put my Straight Talk SIM card in an unlocked phone?
Yes, you can put your Straight Talk SIM card on any phone as long it is not locked. The phone should also be compatible with Straight Talk. If you want to unlock your phone, you can liaise with your carrier to get it done. There are carriers that unlock their devices automatically after a certain period. For instance, Verizon unlocks phones after 60 days.
Can I keep my phone number with Straight Talk?
Straight Talk allows you to keep your phone number when switching. You only need to make sure that the line was active with the previous carrier. Then you’ll be free to port your old number in your new carrier.
Are straight talk phones from Walmart unlocked?
There are a variety of unlocked phones you can find in Walmart both new and refurbished. However, you do not need to get scared when the phone is not unlocked. The Straight Talk can unlock the phone for you at no extra cost.
Conclusion
Straight Talk BYOP is one of the best services you can get from an MVNO service provider. It will help you save money that you could otherwise spend buying a new phone. The program has very few demands. One, your phone should be unlocked and compatible with Straight Talk.
If the phone is not unlocked, you can contact your carrier to unlock it for you. Also, you can use the available compatible phones to access the services by straight Talk. Finally, get a plan that suits your pocket and you are good to go.
