Nexus 5 on MetroPCS

[jerethi]

I'm currently a Verizon subscriber and am seriously considering the prepaid unlocked phone route. Has anyone activated and used their Nexus 5 on MetroPCS? Can you share your experience with it?

Posted via my Nexus 7

 

[tech_head]

I presume a Nexus 5 will work since they say a Nexus 4 will work.
They claim you can bring an unlock GSM handset.
Remember Metro PCS is no part of tMobile

 

[jerethi]

I presume a Nexus 5 will work since they say a Nexus 4 will work.
They claim you can bring an unlock GSM handset.
Remember Metro PCS is no part of tMobile

Thanks for the reply. I was doing some searches on this topic and found this thread over at Google Groups. It looks like there have been mixed results activating the N5 on MetroPCS. Probably just need to give them some time to get everything sorted out, since it's a new phone and all.

 

[Videoman87]

I made the switch to metropcs from Verizon. So far it's been good. I live in NYC and the calls sound really good, and texting works normally. I dip in and out of LTE areas but it's not a big deal for me since I don't use much data. At my apartment where I had been getting full service bars with Verizon, I only get 1 bar on metropcs. The call quality is still great however and if anything calls sound better on the new phone, even with less signal strength. Running a speedtest when connected to LTE I only get about 4-5 MBPS. But for $40/month and the $100 mail-in-rebate, I can't complain.

 

[jerethi]

@Videoman87: Thanks for the response. Are you using the Nexus 5? If so, did you have any difficulty activating it?

 

[Shilohcane]

I'm currently a Verizon subscriber and am seriously considering the prepaid unlocked phone route. Has anyone activated and used their Nexus 5 on MetroPCS? Can you share your experience with it?

Posted via my Nexus 7

Yes, took my Nexus 5 into Metro PCS last Tuesday and after I showed them where the Sim card went I walked out the door with everything working in about three minutes. Cost $35 which was $20 for Sim Card and $15 to add it to Metro PCS network. The N5 is really hosted on T-Mobiles service since the towers changed from my old Metro PCS only phone that was CDMA. Works great on Metro PCS that is $10 cheaper than it's parent T-Mobile per month for the same network. I have Metro PCS family plan with two phones and unlimited everything for $35 per phone since we get $5 off for each extra phone. Also, taxes are included in that $35 fee.

 

[Ryan Callihan]

Really? That's great! I'm considering doing this for my Nexus 5 when I get it. I couldn't find the answer anywhere. Thanks for posting your confirmation!

 

[Michael Farese]

I'm glad it worked for you... Technically, the N5 is not supported by Metro PCS under their BYOD program... which is completely lame. The hottest handset to come out in recent memory, actually cheap enough for people to purchase it, and it's "not officially supported".

Nothing is ever just easy, is it?

 

[nickp300z]

I'm using my nexus 5 on metro byod plan no complaints and I was using the T-Mobile gs4 before the nexus 5 I get the same service as T-Mobile I get as much as 37 Mbps down on the LTE and the APN went in automatically. So it doesn't matter if it says its not supported when I put the s4 it said it wasn't supported but still worked no problem.

 

[Shilohcane]

I'm glad it worked for you... Technically, the N5 is not supported by Metro PCS under their BYOD program... which is completely lame. The hottest handset to come out in recent memory, actually cheap enough for people to purchase it, and it's "not officially supported".

Nothing is ever just easy, is it?

True the Nexus 5 isn't in Metro data base yet that tells you to check back since they are always adding new phones. However in the fine print it says;

Nationwide MetroPCS service is with any unlocked compatible GSM phone. If your current GSM phone is from another carrier, you may need to contact them to have it unlocked. Not all Android phones and iPhones compatible. Use may affect your rights and obligations.

Metro PCS only wants GSM phones not CDMA phones since Metro is moving to T-Mobiles GSM network by the end of 2014. T-Mobile sells and supports the Nexus 5 and Metro PSC is putting you on T-Mobils' GSM cell towers not on Metro PCS' CDMA towers that are going away. However where you live T-Mobile may not have the coverage in your area. Metro PCS has VoLTE so if you live in a area that Metro PCS has good LTE service but poor T-Mobile service they may can still fit you in. VoLTE is the plan that is helping bridge the gap between the old Metro CDMA phones and T-Mobiles until all Metro customers get GSM phones. This is what Metro says;

2 percent are in locations where T-Mobile’s network doesn’t completely overlap with Metro’s old CDMA footprint, Keys said. But once T-Mobile brings networks online in those areas, Metro will become entirely a GSM shop.

 

[ShinSam]

Would you mind sharing which MetroPCs dealership did you go to in New York?

 

[dan1431]

A close friend was rebuffed @ a Corporate MetroPCS store as she was told the N5 is not certified by Metro yet.

We went approx 1/4 mile down the road to an authorized Metro retailer and walked out with a SIM in about 5 minutes.

Dan

Posted via Android Central App

 

[E_Rosas]

Might be a late response but I just activated the Nexus 5 on MetroPCS and it works amazingly. I had originally tried swapping my older sim card and it did not work but I found out that the sim was not compatible. I ended up having to buy a new sim card from MetroPCS and in under 5 minutes I was up and running. I paid $25 for the sim card and $10 to activate it.

 

[jimmiekain]

I'm late to the party...

Am I to understand that when you take an unlocked GSM phone to Metro PCS you are actually using T-Mobiles network and not Metro PCS? Or does this only occur in some areas?

 

[JChKins]

I activated my unlocked Nexus 5 on MetroPCS about a month ago. There were no problems getting a micro-SIM from my local MetroPCS store in Bergen County, NJ even though the Nexus 5 isn't under their BYOD deal. I mainly use the phone in the NYC area (Queens, Bronx, and northern NJ) and Westchester County, NY for work. Coming from Virgin Mobile, I would say MetroPCS reception is far superior in these areas.

 

[Kavan Mavati1]

Yes man I just activate nexus 5 it work perfect

 

[Shilohcane]

I'm late to the party...

Am I to understand that when you take an unlocked GSM phone to Metro PCS you are actually using T-Mobiles network and not Metro PCS? Or does this only occur in some areas?

Depending on where you live. There are some places that Metro had towers that T-Mobile didn't have great coverage. I am in South Florida and I pay $10 less a month via Metro PCS and I am on the T-Mobile network. T-Mobile is trying to shut down all the Metro PCS services that were CDMA by the end of 2014. Then TMobile will re-task the old Metro frequencies to give them the fastest data network in the US. Right now I see Metro PCS is selling no contract phones for a low as $29 to help get people to move from CDMA to GSM so they can shut down the old Metro PCS services. Anyone that has a GSM phone will be using T-Mobile towers now. Metro PCS was the first network in the USA that had VoLTE and that has helped them move people to T-Mobile.
How to get on T-Mobile’s super-fast 150Mbps 20+20 LTE bandwagon | ExtremeTech

 

[saeiki]

Red Nexus 5 activated on 2/12/2014.
Location: New York City
Store: MetroPcs #9105
East Harlem
1861 Lexington Ave
Tel. (212) 360-6727
Micro SIM Card $10.00
ESN Upgrade Fee $15.00
Tax $2.23
Total $27.23

From back of plastic card:
PUK Code:3688xxxx
Barcode: NC128MICROSIM
Other Barcode: 8901260662949532xxxx