Expert: DebiN - 5/11/2011

Question
I am just trying to pu a cheap phone that will use my AT&T sim card, but also have it be at least 3G, bluetooth, etc. I don't necessarily need the whole data pkg, but want to make sure I can access sms & mms msgs from the phone. My dilemma is that how will I know this phone I am looking at will work in my area (Alamogordo, NM) as they just got 3G here recently & they took over the ALTell store (AT&T).  Apparently some of the newer 4G's won't work in this area.  Next, do you think AT&T can unlock the Tmobile G! phone I am looking to purchase so that my sim card will work with my current AT&T service? Pls advise.  Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Trish -

AT&T can't and won't unlock your T-Mobile phone, so if you want it unlocked, you will need to have T-Mobile do that for you and they will only do that if you have an account with them and that phone is associated with your account. Otherwise, you would need to find a third party to do this. Regarding 4G phones - all newer phones can drop back to work on the 3G network, so there's no worry if you have a 4G phone and there isn't any 4G where you are. Here's my recommendation, if you are with AT&T, then get your phone from AT&T. I honestly wouldn't try to get a phone from somewhere else and unlock it and try to program it, etc. Just get a phone from AT&T. It's actually less expensive to get a free phone, sign a two year agreement and if have to leave before the 2 years are up, pay the early termination charges. For a regular phone with AT&T today, the charge is only $150.00 minus $4.00 a month for every month you have had service. The phone will be under a 12 month warranty, if it doesn't work properly for you in the first 30 days, you can return it, etc. Honestly, don't bother with trying to make something else work. In the US, I would always recommend getting your phone from your carrier. Hope this helps.