Nexus 5 owners with T-Mobile $30 Prepaid Plan Thread

[jairusz]

Just did a new activation on the Nexus 5. Pretty painless but don't do it on the phone itself. Stupid mobile browser won't show the "next" button on the activation screen so I had to activate it on my desktop. Does anyone know the APN settings for 4G LTE?

Nevermind! Looks like they automatically put the high speed APN upon activation.

 

[androidpirate]

there's a tutorial thread on xda that shows step by step instructions on how to switch to this prepaid plan. ignore the micro sim mod stuff.
[Tutorial] How to get $30 prepaid plan with T-Mobile new activation - xda-developers

 

[kellynj]

One of the many disgruntled/angry switchers from VZW - I'm still using a DINC2 nonrooted so I already know the software etc will be huge learning curve, but I've also never done a GSM phone or other networks. With this plan, if I don't have a SIM card, does that come with the WalMart purchase or do I need to get that somewhere else? 2 different purchases (one SIM card & one $30 plan, both at WalMart, @TMo, both or can this be done in one shot?) I want to clarify - I can either take a new number entirely (and port my VZW # over later once I test the TMo network) or set the phone up with my GVoice number initially?

Also, can someone point me to any threads about the apps for the WiFi calling/txting stuff? I see it mentioned fairly randomly in threads, but not sure if there are dedicated ones. Thanks!

 

[dammitcubs]

I just signed up for this.

Now i have an att phone (work)
Verizon (G2 ...Soon gone)

T-mobile 30 dollar pre-pay (N5)

 

[Sentrix]

For those asking, you don't have to call T-Mobile customer service to update the IMEI if you're already on this plan and doing a hardware swap.
Just installing the SIM should work. Updating the IMEI with TMo is optional but keeps them up to date on the device you have. I do it because it only takes a few minutes.

 

[phippsy84]

I plan on picking up a Nexus 5 and using this T-Mobile prepaid plan. Does it require a micro or nano SIM?

Sent from my XT1056 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[mintirish]

I plan on picking up a Nexus 5 and using this T-Mobile prepaid plan. Does it require a micro or nano SIM?

Sent from my XT1056 using AC Forums mobile app

micro SIM.

I ported my number over from Sprint to tmobile yesterday. Pretty painless. The switch hadn't occured after two hours so I called tmobile to confirm they had all the right Sprint info - he told me it was in the system and that when I got service I need to power cycle my phone. I just power cycled both my Nexus 5 and my sprint phone and I was up and running. I probably would have had the switch done a lot earlier had I just power cycled my phone after 10 mins.

 

[EnigmaticPsychotic]

One of the many disgruntled/angry switchers from VZW - I'm still using a DINC2 nonrooted so I already know the software etc will be huge learning curve, but I've also never done a GSM phone or other networks. With this plan, if I don't have a SIM card, does that come with the WalMart purchase or do I need to get that somewhere else? 2 different purchases (one SIM card & one $30 plan, both at WalMart, @TMo, both or can this be done in one shot?) I want to clarify - I can either take a new number entirely (and port my VZW # over later once I test the TMo network) or set the phone up with my GVoice number initially?

Also, can someone point me to any threads about the apps for the WiFi calling/txting stuff? I see it mentioned fairly randomly in threads, but not sure if there are dedicated ones. Thanks!

I think I can help. I ordered a micro SIM from T-Mobile and then did an online activation. It was fairly painless. Less so to me than actually going to Wal-Mart *shudder*. That said, you can go the Wal-Mart route if you so choose. Or another option is to simply walk into a T-Mobile store, purchase a SIM and have them activate it there. There is a catch to this I'm afraid as they will not set it up for this particular plan (at least not where I live). But you can simply call customer service and they can set it up for you in a matter of minutes.

As for VOIP options (calling or texting over data and WiFi as opposed to cellular) I've tried several options from GrooveIP to Talkaphone, and my personal favorite is the Vonage app. It won't work for recieving calls, but it will allow you to make unlimited calls to any number as long as you're connected to WiFi. I work in a factory and this works well for me. I also have my number routd through Google Voice and I use that for SMS.

 

[androidpirate]

I think I can help. I ordered a micro SIM from T-Mobile and then did an online activation. It was fairly painless. Less so to me than actually going to Wal-Mart *shudder*. That said, you can go the Wal-Mart route if you so choose. Or another option is to simply walk into a T-Mobile store, purchase a SIM and have them activate it there. There is a catch to this I'm afraid as they will not set it up for this particular plan (at least not where I live). But you can simply call customer service and they can set it up for you in a matter of minutes.

As for VOIP options (calling or texting over data and WiFi as opposed to cellular) I've tried several options from GrooveIP to Talkaphone, and my personal favorite is the Vonage app. It won't work for recieving calls, but it will allow you to make unlimited calls to any number as long as you're connected to WiFi. I work in a factory and this works well for me. I also have my number routd through Google Voice and I use that for SMS.

Doesn't the paid version of GrooveIP & free version of Talkatone lets you make calls over carrier data instead of cellular?

 

[EnigmaticPsychotic]

Yes it does. I just found the call quality of both of those lacking.

 

[Elle S]

If I have an AT&T Galaxy S2 and I want to transfer all of my sim info over to a new sim for the Nexus 5, can the AT&T store do that? Will they charge? ;-)
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Amy wineBerry]

I'm going to be picking up a T-Mobile sim in the near future after I decide when to let this second line I have with AT&T go...

Good to know that there are no issues in getting the prepaid plan up going.

 

[flipoff]

Anyone having any issues getting onto the $30 plan? I registered and tried to port my number over around 8 hours ago, still hasn't gone through. Also when I try to use any data I get a "this data plan isn't compatible with this device" error.

 

[mintirish]

Anyone having any issues getting onto the $30 plan? I registered and tried to port my number over around 8 hours ago, still hasn't gone through. Also when I try to use any data I get a "this data plan isn't compatible with this device" error.

No problems for me. I would first power cycle both your Nexus 5 and your old phone to see if the change takes. If not, call Tmobile and find out what the deal is.

 

[DefinedByClass13]

So I'm getting impatient waiting for my sim card to arrive in the mail and I already have my Nexus in hand. Target sells the Brightspot micro sim card for $10 in store. Does anyone have experience or believe that these will work to activate the $30 prepaid plan on my phone?

 

[Elle S]

I think I can help. I ordered a micro SIM from T-Mobile and then did an online activation. It was fairly painless. Less so to me than actually going to Wal-Mart *shudder*. That said, you can go the Wal-Mart route if you so choose. Or another option is to simply walk into a T-Mobile store, purchase a SIM and have them activate it there. There is a catch to this I'm afraid as they will not set it up for this particular plan (at least not where I live). But you can simply call customer service and they can set it up for you in a matter of minutes.

As for VOIP options (calling or texting over data and WiFi as opposed to cellular) I've tried several options from GrooveIP to Talkaphone, and my personal favorite is the Vonage app. It won't work for recieving calls, but it will allow you to make unlimited calls to any number as long as you're connected to WiFi. I work in a factory and this works well for me. I also have my number routd through Google Voice and I use that for SMS.

How much does it cost to activate online? I was just in a TMO store and they wanted to charge $10 for a sim activation kit even though I already had a sim card. They said it's not really the card, it's the activation that costs $10. Is that true?

 

[DefinedByClass13]

I called them and they said they'd charge me $20 for the sim card since I'd be activating my service over the phone, since technically one cannot select the $30 plan in store.

 

[EnigmaticPsychotic]

How much does it cost to activate online? I was just in a TMO store and they wanted to charge $10 for a sim activation kit even though I already had a sim card. They said it's not really the card, it's the activation that costs $10. Is that true?

They didn't charge me for the activation on the phone. I had to pick up the bare minimum in the store to have it activated. I then called and changed it.

 

[Elle S]

I don't know if this is still working but this is showing free sim activation kits.
T-Mobile Prepaid Phone SIM Card Activation Kit (Full, Micro or Nano Size) Free + Free Shipping - T-Mobile Deals, Coupons and Promos

 

[npark2012]

How do I transfer from one sim to another? I have the Gnex gsm and it doesn't use the same sim card as the nexus 5 so how do I go about just transferring my plan and number to the new sim?