Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Can i buy an HTC and put in my 3 pay monthly sim card and browse the internet etc, or do i need a data plan?

Just looking an HTC on Ebay, but am worried if i buy it i wont be able to use its full capabilities because ill not be using a data plan and simply just putting in my pay monthly sim card - I do get 1GB data on my current pay monthly sim card plan.Can i buy an HTC and put in my 3 pay monthly sim card and browse the internet etc, or do i need a data plan?
You won't be able to use the SIM card on your HTC. That won't make the phone work on your plan. Each cell phone has a unique identification code, and when you buy a new phone, your service provider needs to know that number so they can associate it with your account. Then when you turn that phone on, they know that the signal belongs to you and your account.

Putting the SIM card in a different phone will not make that happen. It probably won't even fit in the HTC phone anyway. When you add an internet-capable phone to your account, you will be required to upgrade your service plan to accommodate it. It's more expensive but it's really for your own convenience - smart phones can use a LOT of data really fast, and overages are expensive!

Soooo if you want a smart phone, what you really need to do first is call your cell provider or go in to the store to discuss your options. If you're thinking about buying from an outside source like ebay, make sure you discuss that as well, and that you understand exactly how it will affect your plan and what kind of phones you are able to use.

Good luck!


edit: corrected - 1GB is actually more than I was thinking. On my HTC Hero I've used about 1/4 of that amount in my last bill. Still, if you are not paying attention, it is easy to use a very large amount of data without realizing it. Choose a plan carefully. Mine is unlimited data.

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