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ret5hd

(20,499 posts) Mon Jun 25, 2012, 07:58 AM Jun 2012

A stupid cell phone service question:

So I have this old old flip phone, the only cell phone i have owned. I have service thru Virgin Mobile where you buy minutes, which was way cheaper since i hardly ever use it.

It has finally died. When I go to the cell phone store how do I get my phone number transferred to the new phone?

12 replies

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Highlight:

A stupid cell phone service question: (Original Post) ret5hd Jun 2012 OP

They do it for you... Phentex Jun 2012 #1

Ahhh...thnx ret5hd Jun 2012 #2

Don't feel like it's a stupid question, I'm cell phone challenged too. I've asked raccoon Jun 2012 #3

FYI, the number can't always be transferred. bigwillq Jun 2012 #4

buy a refurbished off the internet Kali Jun 2012 #5

Before you buy another 'pay as you go' look over what you've spent LynneSin Jun 2012 #6

I had a pay-as-you-go service and rarely used it. RebelOne Jun 2012 #11

With Virgin Mobile, you can go to their web site to switch to the new phone. Liberal Veteran Jun 2012 #7

If you are keeping Virgin Mobile service, AND MicaelS Jun 2012 #8

What do you mean by "unlocked"? ret5hd Jun 2012 #9

"Unlocked" means that phone is not tied to a specific carrier. MicaelS Jun 2012 #10

When you buy a new phone and activate it, Zavulon Jun 2012 #12

Phentex

(16,334 posts)

1. They do it for you...

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 08:02 AM

Jun 2012

it's magic.

I don't know how they do it but they "port" the number for you. I guess there are cases where they won't but I have never had the problem.

ret5hd

(20,499 posts)

2. Ahhh...thnx

Reply to Phentex (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 08:10 AM

Jun 2012

raccoon

(31,111 posts)

3. Don't feel like it's a stupid question, I'm cell phone challenged too. I've asked

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 08:45 AM

Jun 2012

about cell phone issues here before.

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)

4. FYI, the number can't always be transferred.

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 08:58 AM

Jun 2012

Sometims it is, sometimes it's not.
So prepare for both.
Good Luck.

Kali

(55,014 posts)

5. buy a refurbished off the internet

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 10:02 AM

Jun 2012

then call customer service and tell them you have a "new" phone you want to activate on your old plan

since you pay as you go you might not have an actual plan - but you should have a customer service number that you can call to see if it is possible to keep the same number.

I have bought from replaceyourcell.com and gooverstock.com with satisfactory results.

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)

6. Before you buy another 'pay as you go' look over what you've spent

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 10:09 AM

Jun 2012

I can understand that people cringe the concept of contracts but you might find that there are some good deals out there. I have my parents on a plan that is $30/month thru AT&T where they get 250 anytime minutes and 1000 nights & weekends. The bonus is that they can call anyone on AT&T for free (which the rest of us have).

Not discounting the 'pay-as-you-go' system, but I've seen people spend way more for that then if they just got a cell phone plan.

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)

11. I had a pay-as-you-go service and rarely used it.

Reply to LynneSin (Reply #6)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 01:18 PM

Jun 2012

It you do not use up the minutes you purchased, you lose them. That why I switched to Great Call. It is only $21.95 a month. No bells and whistles, but texting is included, but I don't use it.

Liberal Veteran

(22,239 posts)

7. With Virgin Mobile, you can go to their web site to switch to the new phone.

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 11:24 AM

Jun 2012

I've done it a couple of times.

MicaelS

(8,747 posts)

8. If you are keeping Virgin Mobile service, AND

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 12:44 PM

Jun 2012

You're staying with Pay As You Go, all you may have to do is buy another Virgin Pay As You Go phone, and swap the Sim Card. You may not even have to go to the store. Call Customer Service and find out.

Radio Shack has some No-Contract Virgin Mobile Phones as cheap as $14.99, and there's probably a location near you.

If you want to switch carriers, I recommended T-Mobile prepaid. I have been with them for 5 years and couldn't be happier. They don't don't charge you a daily fee just to use the phone. T Mobile is GSM, while VM is CDMA. Unlocked GSM phones are more more widely available than unlocked CDMA phones.

Radio Shack link: link:http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=4314708&allCount=41&fbc=1&f=PAD%2FPrepaid+Type%2FVirgin+Mobile&fbn=Prepaid+carrier%2FVirgin+Mobile&filterName=Prepaid+carrier&filterValue=Virgin+Mobile

ret5hd

(20,499 posts)

9. What do you mean by "unlocked"?

Reply to MicaelS (Reply #8)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 12:52 PM

Jun 2012

MicaelS

(8,747 posts)

10. "Unlocked" means that phone is not tied to a specific carrier.

Reply to ret5hd (Reply #9)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 01:11 PM

Jun 2012

So if you buy an unlocked GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phone, which is essentially the worldwide standard, you can use it on any carrier anywhere in the world (not just the US) that uses GSM service

All you do is buy another SIM card, some airtime and switch cards. The SIM card is located in the back of phone, most often under the battery.

CDMA, (Code division multiple access) the other standard in US is more problematic. You might have problems with an unlocked CDMA phone if you switch carriers.

Amazon FAQ about unlocked phones.

Switching SIM cards.

List of United States wireless communications service providers

The top 8 wireless telecommunications service providers in the United States, from largest to smallest by the number of current subscribers, are:

Verizon Wireless (108.7 million)[1]
AT&T Mobility (103.2 million)[2]
Sprint Nextel (55 million)[3]
T-Mobile USA (34 million)[4][5]
TracFone Wireless (19 million)[6]
MetroPCS (9 million)[7]
U.S. Cellular (6 million)[8]
Cricket Wireless (6 million)[9]

Of these, AT&T and T-Mobile use the GSM standard, while the other providers on the list, with the exception of TracFone, use CDMA. TracFone uses a combination of both GSM and CDMA. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile each operate nationwide wireless networks which cover most of the population in the United States. The smaller carriers provide native network coverage across selected regions of the United States while supplementing nationwide coverage through roaming agreements with other carriers.

Check out this comparison of carriers. http://cell-phone-providers-review.toptenreviews.com/

Zavulon

(5,639 posts)

12. When you buy a new phone and activate it,

Reply to ret5hd (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 02:49 PM

Jun 2012

you will be asked if you have a number you want to transfer to the new phone. Follow the prompts, which will ask for the number of your old phone and your passcode, and it's done in minutes. No effort required on your part other than listening and pressing buttons.

BTW, I noticed your words "the cell phone store." Don't go to a store that sells only phones and phone accessories, you'll be ripped off. Best Buy, Target, Rite Aid and other stores sell phones, too. The phone I'm using now is one I bought from CVS; it would have been $15 more expensive had I bought it at the nearest store specializing in cell phones.

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