I am buying an iPhone 5s (eBay) I know it is an AT&T iPhone and I was wondering if it is able to activate with Straight Talk (I know that unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile iPhones work but the description doesn't say if the phone is unlocked or not)? The ESN is good as well...
iPhone 5s, iOS 8
Only AT&T can tell you if the iPhone is unlocked, and only AT&T can perform an unlock if it is not already unlocked.
NO, you will not be able to do that because AT&T is a GSM carrier and StraightTalk is a CDMA carrier, being part of or at least using the Verizon network and you cannot use a GSM phone on a CDMA network.
Do not buy the phone, especially if you don't know whether it is unlocked or not and also if you purchase it on E-bay it is likely that you may not be able to use it at all as you may come up against the activation lock and then you will have paid money for a phone that you will never be able to use.
It is never a good idea to purchase second hand phones from E-bay. If you want to buy one then go somewhere else.
Honestly straight talk is not just a CDMA network, it doesn't even have it's own network first of all , it can support and does support CDMA and GSM networks such as Verizon Sprint AT&T and T-Mobile,
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011/12/how-to-get-tracfone-net10-or-straight.ht ml
retrojustin wrote:
I am buying an iPhone 5s (eBay)
You need to make certain that Find My Phone is not activated on the device. If the seller cannot say for certain, and give you a guarantee that Find My Phone is turned off, you may wind up with a brick.
Yeah find my iPhone is off and not iCloud locked, (I know a thing or two about buying used iPhones actually, so maybe I have answered my own question, because I have bought previous iPhones from AT&T for Straight Talk...)
I know a thing or two about buying used iPhones
Good. But it's the third thing that will jump and bite you in the posterior vertical smile. 🙂
It's true that StraightTalk offers both CDMA and GSM service, however, so far as the iPhone is concerned, they are not a supported carrier for GSM iPhones. They are only supported as a CDMA carrier, meaning you would need a phone sold specifically for use on StraightTalk. you may be able to make it work, however, there are lots of reports of being unable to get Data and MMS messaging working among other things. You would have to work with StraightTalk to resolve those issues if it's possible.
Working with a carrier (MVNO) owned by Wal-Mart, I don't see a lot of joy coming out of that.
In addition, if the phone you're looking at isn't already unlocked, I wouldn't touch it. If you're not a customer, AT&T is under no obligation to unlock it for you.
As long as the IMEI is not blacklisted and the phone is being sold without an iCloud lock, you're set.
Contact the seller for verifying/proving the phone is ready for use.
Insider secrets about Straight Talk service.
You can buy an At&t ST SIM card (blue) at walmart and most grocery stores.
Insert the SIM into the phone and everything should automatically provision and register once you've paid for service. (No need to worry about an APN either.)
I should also emphasize that the phone does not have to be unlocked to work on the Straight Talk network.
But if you want to request an unlock for international use, go here - https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/
I Had an AT&T iPhone 5c working great with straight talk until I broke my 5c (oops)
Ethmoid wrote:
NO, you will not be able to do that because AT&T is a GSM carrier and StraightTalk is a CDMA carrier,
Well you're completely wrong about that,
Hey, so just an update, the iPhone works great now.
KiltedTim wrote:
Working with a carrier (MVNO) owned by Wal-Mart, I don't see a lot of joy coming out of that.
Oddly enough I will disagree, setting up a used IP5S (locked, ex Verizon) on Straight Talk for an acquaintance I found ST's directions lacking and their Customer Service non existent. So I took it to Walmart where a young but confident sales assistant yelled at ST (on my behalf) and sorted it all out in about 30 minutes.
Depends where you go I guess.
AT&T iPhone 5s to Straight Talk
