Expert: DebiN - 8/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi i bought a used nextel i880 boost mobile cell phone off ebay and i went out and bought a 25 dollar sim card with 5 dollars worth of minutes on it.  the guy activated it for me at the store but the phone is saying no service on the screen. do you know what it could be?  did i buy a lemon phone off ebay?
please help
thanks
kristina

ANSWER: You likely didn't buy a lemon phone, you may have purchased a GSM SIM card and that will not work in an iDEN phone. What type of service did you purchase prepaid, i.e., who is the carrier?

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

QUESTION: Hi i purchased a boostmobile 25 dollar simcard and the simcard came with 5 dollars worth of minutes so the plan i have is pay as you go...prepaid I guess.  boost mobile          please tell me what i need to do.

Answer
The SIM and service you bought will work with a Boost prepaid phone, but won't work with a SIM locked Nextel phone. Even though both use the same technology, they are not interchangeable, so you will want to either purchase Nextel service or return the phone and get a Boost phone instead. In my opinion, it's not worth getting the Nextel phone SIM unlocked (there's a cost and you have to find someone to do it for you). Hopefully, you can return the phone and get a Boost prepaid phone instead. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN