Tracfone and the Blu Studio Energy Phone

[Ethere]

So a phone like this:

http://www.amazon.com/BLU-Studio-En...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU4240148

"Tracfone" is in the list. I'm not familiar with how Tracfone operates, but I know my father buys minutes for his current phone. I told him about this phone because it listed Tracfone compatibility. Of course, he buys the phone, and now they say they cannot do anything with this phone. Why would they list Tracfone if it's not compatible? Any other people using this company have any suggestions for a good Android phone my father can get that would work?

 

[B. Diddy]

For future reference, here's the phone compatibility site for Tracfone: BYOP and switch to TracFone Today | Bring Your Own Phone | TracFone Wireless

This article may also be useful: TracfoneReviewer: Tracfone BYOP Phone List

Tracfone uses CDMA phones, which is incompatible with GSM phones (which is what AT&T and T-Mobile use). I wonder if they meant Straight Talk (which is owned by Tracfone), which uses both CDMA and GSM phones: SIM Cards, Bring Your Own Phone: StraightTalk Wireless.

 

[Ethere]

Not wanting to start a battle here, but looking on Wikipedia (not that this is the end all be all) it shows they've used GSM for some time:

TracFone Wireless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Until late 2013, TracFone service was limited to TracFone-branded handsets (all TracFone handsets are pre-programmed by the manufacturer; therefore, the handset is locked including its latest GSM models). Other unlocked GSM handsets will not accept TracFone SIM cards, because Tracfone SIM cards are locked to the handset to which they are programmed. Additionally, on most handsets, some features like USB and Bluetooth have been modified by the manufacturer to prevent direct transfer of user files. In December 2013, TracFone unveiled "Bring your own phone," which allows customers to use an unlocked CDMA phone on the TracFone network.

But I see what you're talking about. It looks like the only phones that my father would be able to use would be the ones that Tracfone decides to put out or buy a phone that's a CDMA phone and he could BYOD.

 

[lsmithreads]

Greetings:

I'm sorry to hear about the issue you are having. I think I can help. So don't rush out to ditch the phone just yet. The phone has zero resell value so lets see if we can get it going for you. I would hate to know you were out all the money.

My daughter uses the same phone. The problem with compatibility more than likely lies with in the sim card. We had to purchase new sim card in order to get the phone to work. It requires the new nano sim card.

Hope this helps!

~Lisa

 

[Stymie56]

Thanks for mentioning the sim card. When I read their problem I was thinking the same thing.....sim card.
Tracfone now accepts most CDMA and GSM phones as long as you buy an activation sim from them, which are pretty cheap.
Just have to make sure you order the right size sim card for the particular phone.