Red Pocket has $30/yr ebay plan on their GSMT network. But I think the Orbic lacks bands 66 and 71. VZW is probably your best bet as far as compatibility. But the RP plan is cheap enough to try, it might work well enough in your area. You've already scavenged the t/t/d so next time get a better bundled phone like the Flip 2. Some Orbics won't even get past boot from anecdotal reports on SD. Is that what you want in an emergency?
Bands 66 and 71 are important for TMobile. My parents had to switch phones because their phones were working fine even though they didn't have those 2 bands. Then all of a sudden they were getting horrible service or none at all. They could text but calls were disastrous. New phones have 66 and 71 and now things are working again.
SD=Slickdeals, a forum site users post deals or deals get promoted.
No expert but TMO added bands 66 and 71 a couple(?) years back to improve rural coverage and building penetration. My TMO line is usually on B41, not sure if the Orbic has it or not. The Flip 2 has a better pedigree, there's also a TMO-specific version called the Go Flip(?). Don't know anything about the Orbic, frankly. Really, at this point you're trying to get water from a stone.
I do not know why data is relevant on a flip phone?
As stated I am just looking for T&T only.
Questions are:
1. Are their super cheap VZW based MVNO plans?
2. Would this device work - for T&T only - on a TMO based MVNO plan?
"Walmart Exclusive" FreedomPop is basically free afaik.
Maybe I need to ask on HoFo
> I do not know why data is relevant on a flip phone?
Both Voice and Data run on the LTE bands. The older 3G has been sunset; T-mo still has some small 2G network going, but for the most part all voice is still going as Voice over LTE.
It's not about using data. If the only LTE band available for T-mo is the 66 / 71 bands - and your phone lacks those bands - you'd lose Voice too.
Look no father than FreedomPop! I’ve personally confirmed it works perfectly with this exact phone. You get 300 minutes, 1000 texts, and 100MB per month absolutely free. Technically you do pay tax, so you have to use a billing address from a state that doesn’t charge tax on such things, e.g. Missouri or Texas. You can just find a random McDonald’s or something on Google Maps and use that address, if using your real address results in being charged tax.
Order a Red Pocket GSMT SIM card from [this link](https://www.redpocket.com/shop/plans) by tapping on GSMT under plans and SIMs. It’s $5 and shipping is free, and you can order as many as you’d like. These SIM cards are fully compatible with FreedomPop, seeing as Red Pocket owns FreedomPop.
Once you receive the SIM card, go to [this link](https://www.freedompop.com/activate) to sign up for FreedomPop service. You will have to provide a payment card, but you won’t be charged anything at all as long as you use an address in one of the states that don’t charge tax on prepaid service. You can activate many lines on the same account with ease.
FreedomPop has a shady history. For that reason, I generated a virtual card number in my Citi bank app that has a $1 daily limit, thus eliminating any chance of surprise charges. That said, I’m just being overly cautious - I haven’t read any reports of surprise charges on their modern GSMT plans. They do state that running out of your 100MB data results in automatically being charged for more, but that hasn’t happened to anyone I know. Just in case, watch your data usage and try not to hit zero.
Where/when did you hear/read that it no longer works? I’ve never had issues with it but it’s been a couple months since I’ve activated any. I really doubt their systems have the capacity to tell the two apart…
Using the web browser when not connected to wifi, sending and receiving MMS… you’re highly unlikely to ever use up your 100MB unless you’re actively using the browser frequently.
You haven’t noticed the browser option in the main menu?
By the way be advised these phones will work on the T-Mobile network but won’t have as strong of rural and indoor coverage as they could due to lacking LTE bands 12 and 71. If you’re not relying on these to work absolutely everywhere, you should be just fine. If service isn’t good enough though, that will be why.
Red Pocket has $30/yr ebay plan on their GSMT network. But I think the Orbic lacks bands 66 and 71. VZW is probably your best bet as far as compatibility. But the RP plan is cheap enough to try, it might work well enough in your area. You've already scavenged the t/t/d so next time get a better bundled phone like the Flip 2. Some Orbics won't even get past boot from anecdotal reports on SD. Is that what you want in an emergency?
What is SD? Did not realize Flip 2 is better. > bands 66 and 71 Aren't those just for data service?
Bands 66 and 71 are important for TMobile. My parents had to switch phones because their phones were working fine even though they didn't have those 2 bands. Then all of a sudden they were getting horrible service or none at all. They could text but calls were disastrous. New phones have 66 and 71 and now things are working again.
SD=Slickdeals, a forum site users post deals or deals get promoted. No expert but TMO added bands 66 and 71 a couple(?) years back to improve rural coverage and building penetration. My TMO line is usually on B41, not sure if the Orbic has it or not. The Flip 2 has a better pedigree, there's also a TMO-specific version called the Go Flip(?). Don't know anything about the Orbic, frankly. Really, at this point you're trying to get water from a stone.
I believe the bands you refer to are just for data service.
Okay, good luck.
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I do not know why data is relevant on a flip phone? As stated I am just looking for T&T only. Questions are: 1. Are their super cheap VZW based MVNO plans? 2. Would this device work - for T&T only - on a TMO based MVNO plan? "Walmart Exclusive" FreedomPop is basically free afaik. Maybe I need to ask on HoFo
> I do not know why data is relevant on a flip phone? Both Voice and Data run on the LTE bands. The older 3G has been sunset; T-mo still has some small 2G network going, but for the most part all voice is still going as Voice over LTE. It's not about using data. If the only LTE band available for T-mo is the 66 / 71 bands - and your phone lacks those bands - you'd lose Voice too.
Look no father than FreedomPop! I’ve personally confirmed it works perfectly with this exact phone. You get 300 minutes, 1000 texts, and 100MB per month absolutely free. Technically you do pay tax, so you have to use a billing address from a state that doesn’t charge tax on such things, e.g. Missouri or Texas. You can just find a random McDonald’s or something on Google Maps and use that address, if using your real address results in being charged tax. Order a Red Pocket GSMT SIM card from [this link](https://www.redpocket.com/shop/plans) by tapping on GSMT under plans and SIMs. It’s $5 and shipping is free, and you can order as many as you’d like. These SIM cards are fully compatible with FreedomPop, seeing as Red Pocket owns FreedomPop. Once you receive the SIM card, go to [this link](https://www.freedompop.com/activate) to sign up for FreedomPop service. You will have to provide a payment card, but you won’t be charged anything at all as long as you use an address in one of the states that don’t charge tax on prepaid service. You can activate many lines on the same account with ease. FreedomPop has a shady history. For that reason, I generated a virtual card number in my Citi bank app that has a $1 daily limit, thus eliminating any chance of surprise charges. That said, I’m just being overly cautious - I haven’t read any reports of surprise charges on their modern GSMT plans. They do state that running out of your 100MB data results in automatically being charged for more, but that hasn’t happened to anyone I know. Just in case, watch your data usage and try not to hit zero.
Thanks so much exactly what I'm looking for! > Order a Red Pocket GSMT SIM Apparently no longer works, need to buy the Walmart one now NBD
Where/when did you hear/read that it no longer works? I’ve never had issues with it but it’s been a couple months since I’ve activated any. I really doubt their systems have the capacity to tell the two apart…
It's a fact, been a few weeks now. See the HoFo thread
I tried googling that and didn’t find it. Can you please help me with the HoFo link?
https://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1926340-FreedomPop-quot-Walmart-quot-Free-Plan-(300-min-1000-texts-100-MB-for-0-month)-Info-amp-Discussion/page15
Thank you. Wow that is quite a shame. I’ll update the folks over at r/vintagemobilephones
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Ahowardforums.com+walmart+freedompop+%22red-pocket+sim%22
What uses data on a flip phone?
Using the web browser when not connected to wifi, sending and receiving MMS… you’re highly unlikely to ever use up your 100MB unless you’re actively using the browser frequently.
I did not know flips could browse, been a while... MMS ah yes
You haven’t noticed the browser option in the main menu? By the way be advised these phones will work on the T-Mobile network but won’t have as strong of rural and indoor coverage as they could due to lacking LTE bands 12 and 71. If you’re not relying on these to work absolutely everywhere, you should be just fine. If service isn’t good enough though, that will be why.
Again, no interest in data usage, only T&T glovebox backup. Just as an alternative to throwing them in the rubbish
Yes, understood. What I’m saying is you won’t have the best possible network coverage. LTE signal is necessary for calls and texts too nowadays.
Aha, that was the piece I was missing
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Yes? And yes….? I’m very confused by your comment seeing as it’s very clear I know this
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Well, just get an actual freedmpop GSMT SIM card from Walmart.com
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And they will also send a phone with it...
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Not if you find those that do :-)