I have several TracFones, which is all I use. According to what I have read on this board T-Mobil offers a good choice.

I bought an unlocked GSM phone and a T-Mobil SIM card with $10 starter units/minutes/dollars or whatever they are called. I tried to activate on the phone and was automatically transferred to a live person. He was in Arizona so that is one up on TracFone.

Long story short the system was slow according to Tony. He said to leave the phone on and I would get a text message with my new number. 2 1/2 hours and waiting. :lac:

I got my text message several hours later, but my phone was activated within a half hour or so. They gave me my new phone number right on the phone when I called to activate it, she asked if I wanted it then or did I want to wait, I wanted it right away, and got it.

I'm happy with T-Mobile, and am happy with Tracfone too.

You might want to call Tony back after 6 hours if it's still not activated. What kind of phone did you buy?

Both my prepaid phones were activated and received the SMS within 15. I went through an automated system though, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it.

My phone was activated in about 1 hour. I gave them my real ZIP code and asked for a 973 area code. Tony gave me a 773 area code, missed by 1/3 of the country. I e-mailed them and got an e-mail back that they would get back to me in 48 hours.

I bought an unlocked C261 TracFone and paid $10 for a SIM and $10 service. I got 30 minutes and 90 days with the card.

I am having a hard time getting the web browser to work. I signed up for it and got a text message saying it was activated. I set up the browser manually and the screen showed I had data service. I get network down when I try to connect. After a day the icon that showed data access disappeared.

You need to go to the T-zones data configurator page on Unsupported Browser 's website and have the settings sent to your phone (for free). You'll have to input your phone number to do that. It's normally included with a T-Mo phone, but since you bought unlocked, you need to do this to get T-zones.

Yeah, 773 isn't that far from me, but definitely far from your swamp! They should be able to fix that for you - the guy probably just miskeyed it when he was inputting your information.

How do you like your C261?

I like the C261 for the price. The C261 isn't listed for OTA programming. I set it up manually. I get the icon that I'm data capable but I get Network down every time I try to connect.

Try posting this question in the regular T-Mobile forum here - what you're looking for is WAP access, and I can't help you with that. Color me clueless... ;-)

I have it working; both WAP and MMS. I left out a *.* in the set up. :innocent1: The T-Mobil web offering is comparable to TracFone’s and is free. Totally free of any charges both air time and cost of the service.

They also have a free MySpace type of web page for ring MMS messages.

So you're a happy camper now? Glad to hear it! I always sweat a little when I recommend something to someone, because I'm scared they won't like it and then they'll blame me for their dislike... ;-)

I love it; of course where I live I have 363 towers within 8 miles of my house. I get 5 bars in my house from all carriers, in my teeth.

T-Mobil does not offer roaming for pre paid as they do for post paid. It will be unavailable or cost 45 cent a minute PLUS long distance. If I am wrong don't blame me I RTFM.

It sounds like the manual might need to be updated because T-Mobile DOES offer free roaming for prepaid and on almost the exact same coverage maps as postpaid. In your swamp, it's very likely that you won't need to roam. In my sand dunes, I can roam on Centennial, and they claim I can roam on Cingular, but the Cingular part is a myth. Cingular allows roaming by T-Mobile in VERY FEW places in reality. I did find a spot in Southern Indiana that my T-Mobile prepaid phone would roam on Cingular. Everywhere else I've tried, it says "no network access" when I try to force roaming.

I am not at all familiar with the c261, either locked or unlocked, so I can't tell you the steps to take to test roaming, but on my 6030 and my 6101 and my 1100, you can force roaming by going to Settings >> Phone >> Network Selection >> Manual >> choose carrier. If your chosen carrier is allowed in your specific location, choosing it will give you access to roaming for free. There is NO surcharge for using roaming in this manner on a T-Mobile prepaid phone.

Sorry for being so longwinded, but this is a misconception about T-mobile that really irks me.... ;-)

International calling is a different matter - if you want to call internationally, stick with Tracfone!

If you want to call 411 or information (xxx-555-1212), again, stick with Tracfone!

With the Moto C261 there is a Network setting. I have access to two GSM networks, T-Mobil and Cingular. If I force Cingular the screen says emergency only also if I force 850 I get the same emergency only.

According to T-Mobil for pre paid subscribers if they roame off T-Mobil's network the charge is 45 cents a minute PLUS long distance charges.

For post paid customers roaming is free.

The best deal for T-Mobil pre paid is wap access; it is free of air time and monthly charges. One is limited to T-Mobil’s web but is as good as TracFone's. TracFone charges $9.95 a month plus 50 cents to connect and 1/2 unit a minute.



I RTFM and is says this about pre paid customers.
GSM domestic roaming costs $0.49 per minute plus applicable long-distance charges.
What is 850MHz roaming?
850MHz roaming allows T-Mobile postpaid customers to access roaming service in areas that previously were not accessible. Currently 850MHz roaming is not available for T-Mobile To Go customers.

Earl, Good news on roaming on T-Mobile, I just found this information on my phone. When you go to T-zones, under the first thing that says 'My account' if you scroll through the list, it has 'FAQ's & Info', enter that, and browse 'FAQ topics', scroll down to 'About Service Area', enter that, then scroll down until you get to 'How much will is cost to roam', enter that, and it says Roaming in the US is included in your prices.

Hope that answers some of your questions about roaming, I got an email from T-Mobile that didn't really answer mine, but this is on the phone in the t-zones.

I haven't been to an area that was not served by T-Mobil's own network.

I read that as saying if one is pre-pay and roaming where no T-Mobil network is available the extra charges apply.