Straight Talk is not a perfect but cheap cellular service provider. This network can be purchased exclusively from Walmart, although you can top up your plan if you are already a customer of this service. Unlike other prepaid carriers, Straight Talk lets you choose a virtual network from all four national carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. That means you can choose the network that Straight Talk supports for your current phone – in fact, for almost every phone on the market today. So, for example, if your Verizon bill has become too big for you to justify, but it’s the only network in your area that receives any semblance of a signal, you can switch to Straight Talk using the carrier you think is the best in your area.
This is an impressive offer in itself, since the price is tens of dollars a month lower than when you connect through, for example, Verizon, and the network capacity is the same. Unfortunately, Straight Talk loses in two areas: data capacity and family rate plans. So it’s hard for a family of four to justify switching to Straight Talk from Verizon or AT&T. Although one subscriber could save hundreds of dollars a year on data usage alone.
But, if you suddenly want to leave Straight Talk for a carrier with higher data levels or better options for your family, what do you do with the phone you already have? Can you unlock devices purchased through Straight Talk, or are you stuck with the carrier forever? So, here is about Straight Talk phones and how can you use them.
What is the difference betwen locked and unlocked smartphone
The biggest difference between an unlocked and locked smartphone is that you can use devices on other carriers after you insert a compatible SIM card into the device. This is really the only difference between a locked and unlocked device. Locking or unlocking makes no difference to installing apps or performing normal smartphone tasks such as texting, making phone calls, and browsing the Web. However, there are a few other differences between an unlocked and a locked device. While Apple updates all of its phones directly, Android updates are usually sent out by the carrier after the manufacturer has finished building the software for the device. This means that sometimes OS updates for Android devices can get hung up in “carrier testing,” while unlocked devices and devices from other carriers have already received the update.
Because there is no long-term contract, you’ll never be stuck with Straight Talk. You can switch plans every month. You can upgrade to an unlimited plan. If you’re struggling with money and want to save money on your phone plan, you can switch to a basic plan and cut your bill in half. No long-term contracts, credit checks, or age requirements. If you can go to Walmart or go online, you can buy a phone and connect to the network. There are no setup fees or cancellation fees.
Are Straight Talk phones locked
If you purchased your phone through Straight Talk, your phone is locked by default by your carrier based on the agreement you signed with the company when you purchased the device. However, Straight Talk has an unlock policy, and if your phone can be unlocked, Straight Talk will honor the request if you follow these guidelines:
- You must request a phone unlock, which is free for current and former Straight Talk customers, but may require a fee from non-past customers.
- Your phone must have been activated in the Straight Talk network for at least 12 months, along with a service plan.
- The phone should not be reported as stolen or lost.
After unlocked, you can use this device on any carrier your phone supports. Check which bands your device supports before trying to use the phone with another carrier.
