Buy Outright?

[TheSolsticeBare#AC]

Hello,

So my plan is to purchase the Atrix, unlock it, and use it using my current service provider and number.

Just in case you guys are curious, the reasons I want to do this are as follows:
1 - I live in Winnipeg, Canada and Bell does not operate within my province.
2 - I have an amazing plan with Fido that I was able to negotiate through Retentions and I do not want to give it up. Even if I pay outright for the phone I save money in the long run over three years.

So anyways, my question relates to purchasing the device outright (from either Bell or AT&T). Do either service providers require you to be an account holder in order to purchase the device? Basically - do I have to sign up with either provider in order to even be eligible to buy the phone (even if I pay the full price)?

 

[tpbklake]

Hello,

So my plan is to purchase the Atrix, unlock it, and use it using my current service provider and number.

Just in case you guys are curious, the reasons I want to do this are as follows:
1 - I live in Winnipeg, Canada and Bell does not operate within my province.
2 - I have an amazing plan with Fido that I was able to negotiate through Retentions and I do not want to give it up. Even if I pay outright for the phone I save money in the long run over three years.

So anyways, my question relates to purchasing the device outright (from either Bell or AT&T). Do either service providers require you to be an account holder in order to purchase the device? Basically - do I have to sign up with either provider in order to even be eligible to buy the phone (even if I pay the full price)?

For AT&T, you should be able to purchase the phone outright without being a customer. The trick will be getting the phone unlocked. You more than likely won't be able to get the unlock code from AT&T so you will have to rely on a third party unlocking service.

 

[textiaac]

For AT&T, you should be able to purchase the phone outright without being a customer. The trick will be getting the phone unlocked. You more than likely won't be able to get the unlock code from AT&T so you will have to rely on a third party unlocking service.

You could also buy from a company like wirefly or amazon wireless and then 3rd party unlock.

 

[zhelf]

i know best buy allows you to purchase outright without being a customer for at&t

 

[vietalogy]

For AT&T, you should be able to purchase the phone outright without being a customer. The trick will be getting the phone unlocked. You more than likely won't be able to get the unlock code from AT&T so you will have to rely on a third party unlocking service.

I think AT&T requires you to have an account to purchase a phone at any price.


iPhone Tapatalk

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

i know best buy allows you to purchase outright without being a customer for at&t

+1. Not sure about AT&T, but you can buy phones directly from Best Buy for full retail without needing an account anywhere.

 

[IceDree]

+1. Not sure about AT&T, but you can buy phones directly from Best Buy for full retail without needing an account anywhere.

Do u need to unlock it later (via 3rd party) ?

 

[stoli412]

Do u need to unlock it later (via 3rd party) ?

Yes. Best Buy will sell you a phone without a contract, but it's still locked to the carrier.

 

[vietalogy]

You can get unlock codes cheap on ebay.

 

[TheSolsticeBare#AC]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

With regards to unlocking - yes I plan on using a 3rd party unlocking service. I don't forsee it being an issue.

My only issue was whether or not I could even purchase the device without being an account holder. I had read that Verizon requires this (re: the Galaxy Tab), so I wasn't sure about AT&T.

Unfortunately neither Best Buy nor Amazon Wireless will ship outside the US... so it looks like I'll likely pick up the device next time I drive down to the US. Thankfully Grand Forks is only about an hour and a half away...

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

You have to be careful with a lot of those, though. A good majority of them are rip-offs.

 

[TheSolsticeBare#AC]

You have to be careful with a lot of those, though. A good majority of them are rip-offs.

There are a few reputable sites that I've dealt with and I haven't had any issues in the past. Thanks for the heads up though. If only I could buy the device factor unlocked like I did with the N1... much less headache...

 

[IceDree]

Does the Off-contract phones comes without AT&T branding ?

 

[TheSolsticeBare#AC]

Does the Off-contract phones comes without AT&T branding ?

I would assume not.

 

[zhelf]

No the off contract device is no different just means your paying more and not extending ur contract

 

[scrounger]

Unfortunately neither Best Buy nor Amazon Wireless will ship outside the US... so it looks like I'll likely pick up the device next time I drive down to the US. Thankfully Grand Forks is only about an hour and a half away...

Radio Shack may also carry it. I do not know if they will ship.

 

[textiaac]

You can get it on ebay.

Have you looked to see if wirefly.com ships internationally.