Expert: DebiN - 10/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have an unlocked AT&T phone with blue sim card which is working fine now. If the card should go bad will I be able to find a replacement sim card? I like my phone plan and AT&T will not allow me to keep it on a new network.

ANSWER: You will not be able to get a replacement SIM card for your old AT&T Wireless SIM and even if you are able to find someone on line who wants to sell you an old Blue blank SIM card, AT&T will not activate it for you so there is no point to even try to find one. When that SIM card dies, you will have to change to a new AT&T plan, SIM card and device. It's not really about AT&T "allowing" you not to keep it, it's that they are letting you keep your grandfathered plan, etc. until you need a new phone. It's been close to 4 years now since Cingular bought AT&T and you have been able to keep your old plan for this long. That's pretty good in the grand scheme of things. But to tell you the truth, you would benefit far more by moving to a new plan, SIM card and phone so that you can take advantage of the 3G network, features, functions, rollover etc. With today's AT&T network, you are much better off with a new 3G SIM and plan, etc. It's well worth it and what you think you are saving, I think you would be surprised that you really aren't. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN

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

QUESTION: It's just that the new plans are so much more expensive. On a family plan now, I have 1250 anytime and evening minutes start at 7 p.m. for 59.99 and  10 for the extra phone. Why don't  you see the various networks offering large minute amounts for fair price anymore?

Answer
The new AT&T Family Plan is $79.99 for two phones and 1400 minutes without earlier evenings, so you are correct that the plan is $18.99 more expensive than what you have today. However, this new plan has rollover minutes and if you contact AT&T and upgrade your phone and tell them that you really need the early evenings (before you do that, figure out if you really use them or not) for no charge and that if they give you this, you will upgrade, they will likely do this for you. Then, the cost is actually only $10.00 more a month, but you will be getting 150 more minutes and rollover (which is actually a big deal and in my opinion, better than early evenings). If they won't give you early evenings for free, see if they were give you some free minutes and if not, try not getting early evenings and I think you may see that you don't really need them. You will then get brand new phones for free or very low charge and they now have free calling to 10 numbers (of your choosing) that are not on the AT&T network. If you have AT&T home service, you can get the Unity Plan instead where calls between AT&T landline or Mobile numbers are free. What I'm trying to point out is that there are many benefits that you may not be aware of. If you are interested in any of this, there is an unlimited plan for $99.99 and if you are interested in moving to another carrier, T-Mobile offers an unlimited plan for only $60.00 and Sprint's unlimited plan includes internet and text messaging for only $99.99 for the first line and $89.99 for each additional line. There are many options including regional carriers who offer unlimited plans for as low as $50.00 a month. Just remember that if the service doesn't work where you live or travel, the cost is irrelevant. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN