Expert: Denny Adams - 1/13/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello, and thanks for your time, I had this nokia 6555 b for 3 years, then suddenly stop working, I claim the insurance and they send me the replacement, at home somebody spill water on it and stop working. I'm not eligible yet for an upgrade and I need the phone. My question is Can I Use the smart chip from this phone on another that I'm planning to buy from E-bay? will It work?
Do I need to tell at&t my intentions?

ANSWER: Ivan, you do have the ability to make another insurance claim to replace your phone.  Unless you've already done two claims in the past 12 months.  Otherwise, if you want to buy a phone from ebay, make sure the technology is GSM, and that it runs on quad band(4 frequencies). All that should be listed in the description of the item on ebay.  Make sure the description also says that it is fully unlocked or that it was used for ATT.  You also do not need to inform att of your intentions.  if you buy an unlocked phone, and you use the internet and texting, you more then likely will need to adjust the settings in an unlocked phone.  you can call customer care, or visit a company owned store in your area.

Hope that helps.
Denny

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry to bother again, what kind of phone do you recommend, I use my phone just for the basic communication, no text, no Internet, just talk, I like one "durable"

Answer
Ivan, no bother at all.  Being that you have att, they have 2 durable phones, the samsung rugby, which came out a few months ago, and the motorola tundra, which came out last week.  both are as durable as they come and either will work just fine.  Being that you're not able to upgrade, you will need to buy one from ebay or elsewhere, as they will both be expensive in a store.  How far away from upgrading are you?

Denny