Can I Switch My Straight Talk Service To Another Phone?

Straight talk has a few good deals on their locked phones (east.g. Moto G7 Optimo Maxx for $50, e7 for $40) right now. Only their service is expensive. People seem to say these phones will work locked on tracfone; and then

[1] Can I activate the phone on tracfone network with the (straight talk) sim that comes with the telephone?

[2] If reply to [i] is NO, tin can I activate the phone on tracfone with a tracfone sim? Would I be using a BYOP sim, or a sim that came with a tracfone phone purchase?

[3] if reply to [1] or [2] is yes, and I have a current tracfone line, can I replace my current tracfone phone with this one (as I would be able to with a uniform phone)?

Thank you!

Sean

Quote Originally Posted by snehne View Post

[1] Can I activate the phone on tracfone network with the (straight talk) sim that comes with the phone?

[3] if answer to [1] or [2] is yes, and I have a current tracfone line, tin I replace my current tracfone telephone with this 1 (as I would be able to with a uniform phone)?

[i] Aye.

[iii] Utilize Chat on TF spider web site so you don't accept to put up with the rep's accent, and have everything recorded in the conversation transcript. Inquire for remainder of your current telephone. Then enquire the rep to ACTIVATE your new (Straight Talk) phone WITH A TRANSFER from your existing TF phone.

I just activated a Straight Talk telephone with a transfer from my existing telephone. The chat CSR said it needed to exist a TF to complete the transaction but I asked if it could be rebranded and he said yep. The transfer/activation worked fast after that, the remainder transferred within a few minutes.

I created a thread about it.

Sent from my LGL64VL using HoFo mobile app

Quote Originally Posted by hpham View Post

[one] Yep.

[3] Use Chat on TF spider web site and so yous don't have to put up with the rep's accent, and have everything recorded in the conversation transcript. Ask for balance of your current phone. And then ask the rep to Actuate your new (Direct Talk) phone WITH A TRANSFER from your existing TF phone.

@hpham, did you see my question well-nigh the whole rebranding thing on @WheelieBoot other thread ?

When do you need to even mention rebranding? Seems one-time you lot need to tell the CSR and sometime you don't.

Thanks much!

Quote Originally Posted by hpham View Post

[1] Yes.

[3] Utilize Chat on TF spider web site then y'all don't have to put up with the rep'due south accent, and have everything recorded in the chat transcript. Inquire for residue of your current phone. Then ask the rep to Actuate your new (Straight Talk) phone WITH A TRANSFER from your existing TF telephone.

Super, thank you. So in [iii] I will be TRANSFER my existing TF account to the new phone/sim (i.e. the ST phone/sim will be used) correct?

Sean

Quote Originally Posted past WheelieBoot View Post

I just activated a Directly Talk telephone with a transfer from my existing phone. The chat CSR said information technology needed to be a TF to complete the transaction but I asked if it could be rebranded and he said yeah. The transfer/activation worked fast later that, the balance transferred within a few minutes.

I created a thread about it.

Thanks, found that thread. I am still curious what will happen if you just ask to replace your phone? Is the fact that the phone has never been activated on their network the problem?

Quote Originally Posted by snehne View Post

Super, cheers. Then in [3] I will exist TRANSFER my existing TF business relationship to the new phone/sim (i.east. the ST telephone/sim will be used) correct?

Sean

I used the SIM that came with the Straight Talk phone. Information technology'southward Verizon based and the phone I was transferring from has a TF/Verizon SIM. It seems to work best if both phones use the same underlying service.

Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using HoFo mobile app

Quote Originally Posted by snehne View Post

Cheers, found that thread. I am still curious what will happen if yous just ask to replace your phone? Is the fact that the telephone has never been activated on their network the problem?

I think it has something to do with the underlying carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T).

With Verizon every bit the underlying carrier the SIM can exist reactivated after it'southward been used before and deactivated. No new SIM needed.

With GSM carriers similar AT&T or T-Mobile I think once deactivated it requires a new SIM to activate it.

I'one thousand not certain why they'd pass up to activate a Straight Talk on TracFone without rebranding since they boot with the TF logo.

The APN or network settings are very probable the upshot. I recollect the APNs aren't the same between TF, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Net10, etc.

Perchance the CSR has to go permission to reset the APN and that's what rebranding really is. It might be more than that but the only difference I can find between the phones lies in the network settings.

Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using HoFo mobile app

Quote Originally Posted by snehne View Post

I am still curious what volition happen if you just ask to replace your phone?

"Supervene upon your phone" is kind of vague. Does it mean your phone doesn't work any more, and it's still under warranty, and yous want TF to supercede it? If and then, they volition transport you lot a replacement and y'all send the broken one back.

If your old telephone is tired, no longer meets required specs, or you want a utilise a improve one, then information technology's considered an "upgrade". In that instance, you lot actuate the new phone with a TRANSFER from your old phone. Your telephone number, service days, and saucepan balances will exist transferred to the new phone. If the new phone comes with arranged days/units, then those will exist added to the existing days/units.

Quote Originally Posted past rpz1 View Post

@hpham, did yous see my question about the whole rebranding thing on @WheelieBoot other thread ?

Sorry, I didn't read completely through that thread. It was too complicated and gave me a headache.

Quote Originally Posted past hpham View Post

Distressing, I didn't read completely through that thread. Information technology was also complicated and gave me a headache.

Thx, no problem. Happens to me allot besides.

Quote Originally Posted by hpham View Post

"Replace your telephone" is kind of vague. Does it mean your phone doesn't work whatever more, and it'due south still under warranty, and you want TF to supercede it? If so, they will send you a replacement and you send the broken one back.

If your sometime phone is tired, no longer meets required specs, or you want a use a meliorate ane, then information technology'due south considered an "upgrade". In that case, you activate the new phone with a TRANSFER from your erstwhile telephone. Your phone number, service days, and saucepan balances volition exist transferred to the new phone. If the new phone comes with arranged days/units, then those will be added to the existing days/units.

I vaguely recall a few years ago I was able to supersede a dying BYOP phone with another BYOP, by giving the CSR the IMEI of the new BYOP phone, and and then physically moving the sim to the new phone. That was what I meant past "replacing". Both phones were unlocked non-TF, and I recently learned that had the dying ane been a arranged telephone I would non exist able to do that (need a BYOP sim for the new not-TF phone). But I do non know if the aforementioned sim tin can be moved from one locked/bundle telephone to another. I guess not?

Anyway, my previous "understanding" (from the GSM world) that number/business relationship goes with sim and not telephone, and IMEI is just for VZN book-keeping, seems wrong, at to the lowest degree in the world of bundled TF phones.

Quote Originally Posted by snehne View Post

1. I vaguely recall a few years ago I was able to replace a dying BYOP phone with another BYOP, by giving the CSR the IMEI of the new BYOP telephone, and and so physically moving the sim to the new telephone. That was what I meant by "replacing". Both phones were unlocked not-TF, and I recently learned that had the dying one been a bundled phone I would not be able to exercise that (need a BYOP sim for the new non-TF phone).

2. But I exercise not know if the aforementioned sim can be moved from one locked/package telephone to another. I estimate non?

3. Anyhow, my previous "agreement" (from the GSM globe) that number/account goes with sim and not telephone, and IMEI is just for VZN volume-keeping, seems wrong, at least in the globe of bundled TF phones.

one. A BYOP TF/AT&T or BYOP TF/T-mo SIM is NOT tied to whatsoever IMEI. You tin swap it into whatever uniform phone at will. A BYOP TF/Verizon SIM is tied to the IMEI of the phone that was used to actuate the SIM. If you want to move that SIM to another phone, you should get the SIM paired with the IMEI of the new phone. That's what you lot did.

2. The SIM of a TF-branded phone is paired with the IMEI of its original phone in TF system. Swapping that SIM into some other phone volition work functionally but tin can crusade potential problems. Back in the days of non-smartphones, TF enforced that pairing more than strictly. Putting the SIM from one TF-branded dumb phone to another dumb telephone will consequence in the fault bulletin "Unregistered SIM" and the phone won't piece of work.

3. What said in [2] applies to all TF-branded phone, GSM and CDMA.

Quote Originally Posted by hpham View Post

1. A BYOP TF/AT&T or BYOP TF/T-mo SIM is NOT tied to whatsoever IMEI. You can bandy information technology into any compatible phone at will. A BYOP TF/Verizon SIM is tied to the IMEI of the phone that was used to activate the SIM. If you want to move that SIM to another phone, you should get the SIM paired with the IMEI of the new phone. That's what you did.

two. The SIM of a TF-branded telephone is paired with the IMEI of its original phone in TF system. Swapping that SIM into another telephone will work functionally but can cause potential problems. Back in the days of non-smartphones, TF enforced that pairing more strictly. Putting the SIM from one TF-branded dumb telephone to another impaired phone will result in the mistake bulletin "Unregistered SIM" and the phone won't work.

iii. What said in [2] applies to all TF-branded phone, GSM and CDMA.

Crystal clear! Thanks a lot.

I still think my pre-3G days when VZN did not even employ sims. I guess they somehow kept the tradition of authenticating phones equally opposed to but sims.

I but thought I would mention that if someone wants to activate a TF-TMO SIM on a non-TracFone, CS will inquire for the IMEI of the phone. It has happened to me twice, recently. They said it is to verify compatability. That is probably because T-Mobile at present wants to be sure a device is VoLTE-capable.

Information technology is not really a problem, as most of the more modern unbranded phones tin can practice VoLTE on T-Mobile. I fifty-fifty have an unbranded Moto G4 Play that does VoLTE on TMO, and an unbranded E4 that does both VoLTE and WiFi-calling on TMO.

Of course, as stated earlier, once a TF-TMO SIM is activated, it can be switched around without issues.