Can I sign up for sprint in May and get a loner phone until the EVO?

[Scincidae]

I am supposed to be switching my Family Plan to Sprint come May. Right now I have an AT&T contract until 7/11/10. My plan is to sell my iPhone 3G before the new iPhone comes out and the price drops for 3Gs on Ebay (they are still going for $250-350 right now). I was going to sell my iPhone and use that money to cancel my AT&T 2 months early then buy the EVO. The problem is the EVO comes out in June, at least most likely, and I (plus my family) couldn't go without a phone plan for a month.

Is there any way I could get a loner phone(like they give you when your phone is being repaired) or something from Sprint until the EVO comes out? Or any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Scincidae

 

[MannyZ28]

I would call Sprint and ask them about it. If the first customer service rep won't cooperate, call again until you find one that will. If all that doesn't work out, then PM me.

 

[Jerzey McNasty]

you will most likely have to pay full price on the EVO given that you would be an existing customer, and that would far exceed the $ loss on selling the 3G iphone close to the newer release. Be patient grasshopper My 2cents

 

[Scincidae]

you will most likely have to pay full price on the EVO given that you would be an existing customer, and that would far exceed the $ loss on selling the 3G iphone close to the newer release. Be patient grasshopper My 2cents

Patients isn't really the problem. I am not getting the EVO earlier than I would be if I sold in after the EVO came out.

 

[tojoe616]

If you purchase your phones from a Best Buy Mobile you have the option to exchange the phone within 30days. So depending on release dates you could sign up in may and have until that date in June to exchange to an Evo. I would get on the pre-order list when they announce that information. So in May you could get a Hero for a few weeks, return for it your Evo when it comes in. The main issue around this is the timing of the release of the Evo and when you need to switch to sprint. Also keep in mind that this varies on what markets will be selling the Evo. They have not told us wether or not all Best Buys will be carrying them.

Just my 2 cents for ya, also there are instant rebates at our stores so you don't have to deal with any mail in rebates.

Good luck with what ever you do, I am a current Hero user on sprint and love the price plans, and the 3g coverage for my area.

 

[Scincidae]

Thanks for the tips. I know Print has great 3G coverage here plus there is 4G here too (Though for the next two years I will be spending 70% of my time about an hour north of my current location so I hope 4G expands further).

 

[ragnarokx]

I know you're counting on getting the Evo on time, but that's not a guarantee. What if it's delayed, or sold out for weeks/months? Your best bet would be getting Boost Mobile in the interim. They have cheap phones, cheap no contract plans and you would be on Sprint's network. Then when the Evo comes out you can get new customer pricing on it for sure.

 

[Scincidae]

I may just stay AT&T until the EVO comes out or til my AT&T contract ends because my friend has a older AT&T touchscreen phone from before his own iPhone that he said I can have. Either way though staying with AT&T is $40ish a month more than Sprint for me so I am still on the edge about what to do.

 

[jhamilton3#CB]

I'm actually contemplating dumping AT&Ts high prices for the cheaper Sprint plans too.

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

Really, if coverage is not an issue (as in both carriers have good coverage), the one thing you give up is traveling to other countries and using your phone. The thing though is that the SIM in ATT phones is locked anyway. Sprint's service works in 40 other countries including Mexico and Canada.

 

[Duvi]

I'm actually contemplating dumping AT&Ts high prices for the cheaper Sprint plans too.

Muahaha! Come on bro; you know you want to come back to Android. Drop that iPhoney!

 

[Duvi]

You could sell your iPhone before the 4th gen gets introduced and get a prepaid device until your contract is up. This way, you don't have to pay an ETF and you can use all of the money towards the phone and accessories.

I'm going to sell mine too. Not sure if yours is unlocked and/or jailbroken, but that would increase the value.

 

[ttkk1]

switch and then pick up a cheap used sprint phone on craigslist to hold you over. I have bought and sold several this way. just make sure it has a clean esn number, verify before you by, always call sprint and run the number.

 

[jmyadagod]

why not just use a cheap at&t phone until evo comes out??

 

[r-nice]

Sprint doesn't do loner phones anymore.

 

[JayMunOne]

I can tell you that you absolutely can do what you're wanting to, with one proviso.

Since Labor Day of last year, I have "tried" a Palm pre, Touch Pro 2, Samsung Moment and HTC Hero. Each time, I have returned it within 30 days and incurred no penalty.

However, I had an old Sprint phone to go back to. Here's the deal: Sprint allows you to do this, but you have to wait 3-5 days in order to "sign up" again. In my case, there was never any service interruption, as every time I returned to my old Moto Q9c. Since you don't have one, you would be SOL for 3-5 days. However, it may require 3-5 days for renewals (my case) only, and not for new sign-ups (your case).

My suggestion would be to run to Best Buy, bag an HTC Hero for 79 bucks, sign up for the contract, and get used to the OS and the all touchscreen. Stay posted to Evo release date, then return the phone accordingly on a particular day, at least 30 days before.

However, you MAY be able to return and sign up again (with the Evo) on the same day as a new sign-up. Since the latest realistic date we're hearing is June 13, you'd be safe to sign-up with a Hero in a few weeks and not risk it. Worst case scenario (if you sign up now) is that you'd be without cell service for a few weeks. Or you could always re-sign with your old provider and your old phone for a few weeks (provided they don't require a new contract, which they likely won't since you are not buying a new phone from them.)

I'm on the ball with this stuff because I just returned the Hero last monday and I am considering "buying" it again for another 25 days or so to keep me on the better OS. God Windows Mobile is terrible.

 

[Scincidae]

Turns out half my campus of the college I am transferring to for the Fall is roaming for Sprint so I will have to switch to Verizon instead. Because I was looking to save some cash on Sprint's cheaper plan, I will no longer have the money to buy a Android phone right away on Verizon so I am stuck on AT&T with a non-picture flip phone. Fun times until finals are over and I can start working again.

 

[Minx]

I would buy a cheap temporary picture phone from Craigslist or Ebay for AT&T and then see what new phones are coming out for Verizon and then when they release sign up so that you get the new customer discount.

Too bad Verizon doesn't offer that 30 day guarantee like Sprint is doing. Good luck.

 

[Angelworks]

Really, if coverage is not an issue (as in both carriers have good coverage), the one thing you give up is traveling to other countries and using your phone. The thing though is that the SIM in ATT phones is locked anyway. Sprint's service works in 40 other countries including Mexico and Canada.

That isn't even an issue - just drop into any second hand electronics/video game store - find a gsm phone you like (most likely a nokia smart phone or something), then drop by a convenience store and get a sim card.