我是AT&T的長期用戶，每隔一段時間合約到期前就去簽新約，享受幾乎免費的新手機
從幾年前開始，AT&T的合約都是每次兩年，而滿20個月就可以享受新手機優惠來續約
所以每一年又8個月，我就會去辦(幾乎免費的)新手機
之前都是去華人的手機行，但是我注意到deal越來越差
以前華人手機行會提供免費解碼，但後來AT&T願意免費提供unlock/subsidy code，所以不再需要華人手機行的幫助就能免費解碼。
而華人手機行的確常常有特別的優惠，例如買一送一，但都是free/cheap after rebate
以我這次想辦的手機為例，辦兩隻Sony w760a或兩隻LG Shine號稱只要$50
但是必須當場付$150，幾個月後再收到$100的mail-in rebate
而且必須以$250的原價付消費稅，所以每支要再花$22左右
還要參加data/message plan (每個月最少多付$10，至少付6個月才能取消data plan)
總之，有太多的限制和太多的隱藏缺點
後來我又去AT&T的直營店，發現情況類似:
我有興趣的手機每支約70~120，如果參加data plan則降$20，也有$50的mail-in rebate，也要原價加稅
後來去到Costco，發現有好一點: 手機款式不多，但價錢是$0~$70，不必參加data plan，以打折價$60~$120的價錢加稅 (不是以$250的原價加稅)。
最厲害的竟然是Walmart! 手機也有好幾款，最神奇的是LG Shine和Sony W760a(只有賣一種顏色)竟然是$0! 而且是以$0加稅，所以總支出是$0
所以我就立刻敗了兩支
LG Shine有2MP的相機及閃光燈、microSD卡槽
Sony w760a有3MP的相機、FM收音機、內建GPS、加速度計(可以搖晃換曲)、M2卡槽
兩支都有3G上網，不過我不使用手機上網的功能，所以已經想辦法關掉 (以避免3G耗電以及不小心按到上網紐)
我已經上網買了Sony特殊規格的USB傳輸線及FM耳機，到時候可以把手機de-brand，移除AT&T的特製firmware
就能恢復一些GPS相關的原廠功能 (例如測量每天活動範圍、活動距離等)
另外我發現Sony w760a並沒有被AT&T鎖碼，而LG shine就有
過兩天打算打電話AT&T去取得unlock code
我的所有手機都一向是買來就馬上解碼，才能確保回台灣之後可以用
現在四頻機很普遍，我也都選四頻機，回台灣才能用900/1800雙頻，比較不會有1800單頻的收訊死角問題
過去幾年我們夫妻拿過的免費手機: Motorola V180, Motorola V551, Nokia 3120, Panasonic GD55, Nokia 3100, Nokia 6102, Nokia 6126, Motorola V3xx，幾乎全部都是3頻/4頻機
我快要可以開二手手機專賣店了 (事實上有好幾支都借給家人/朋友，因為用不完)
回台灣用四頻機搭配預付sim卡真的非常方便
15 comments:
smart & useful! :D
I now use a Motorola C139 GSM GoPhone. I want to decode it and use T-mobile $6 USD prepaid card + another T-mobile SIM in the future.
Can you let me know how?
Is it very complicated?
http://www.blurtit.com/q466706.html
http://www.motounlocknow.com/
My IMEI:011323002302753
http://www.motounlocknow.com/imeiunlock.htm
The thing is...must I purchase the unlock code? $25USD is more expensive than my Motorola C139=$20USD
which I think is not worth it. Is there another way?
http://www.amazon.com/Cell-Phone-Decoder-Ring-OConnell/dp/0979269202
Thank you so much for offering your insights, which saves a lot of my time & money & energy. :D
sincerely.
Moto C139這種$20的廉價手機根本不值得unlock
如果你非用T Mobile不可，就去買一個新的package，都有附$20左右的廉價手機，甚至比C139功能還好
我是不知你為何要用T Mobile，它是有一個plan還蠻適合某些人
prepaid一般我會推薦用net10，每年$200可以用2000多分鐘，手機也是免費 (LG300G,價值$30以上)
每年只用1000分鐘以下的人可以用T Mobile或tracfone (後者也有滿坑滿谷的$10手機deal)
價值$50以上的中高階手機才有unlock的意義
Thank you so much for your suggestion. I think I'm a poor student and not earning any $, so as long as it can function I'm fine with it haha! I don't care about other features, the main concern is to provide others a way to reach me for emergency, so the more $ I can save, the merrier.
Skype seems to have even lower rate. Have any one of you tried the cordless phone for skype?
http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/cordlessphones/
but seems like those cordless phones are all very expensive, except corded phones are of only around $25 USD.
I'm almost hermit like and never chat over 10 mins on the phone, so I think Go phone is kind of a waste paying $1 USD for a day's activation....hm..can you give me some suggestion given you're an expert in this field?
Thanks!:)
cordless phone是家用無線電話，不是行動電話，只有在家裡才收得到訊號(就是家用市內電話的一種)
它可以讓你在你家裡走到哪打到哪，還可用skype撥國際電話。一離開家裡(極小一段距離)就收不到囉。
你顯然選錯計畫了，AT&T Go phone有另一種計畫是沒有日費的，每分鐘一律都是$0.25; 你如果很少用，應該選這種。(但還是不建議，理由如下)
總之，你如果一個月只講80分鐘以內，應該用T Mobile或tracfone，每年$100，找不到更便宜的了; 每個月講160分鐘以內的話應該用net10，每年$200
AT&T的go phone是最貴的，不建議使用。
每年也至少$100，但只有250分鐘，
不像T mobile/tracfone有800~1000分鐘，若選正確的plan的話，也不會有日費的問題
I signed up the T-mobile $100 plan you suggested already! It is definitely way better than ATT for me, except I heard that T-mobile has lower reception rate in Mountain area??? Is it so?
Btw, do you know Roaming?
I have some confusions. Does North American GSM roaming means "out of my area code"? Which means I have to pay $0.49/min for calling # of area codes other than my own, even my rate plan is $10C/min ?
...I'm too lazy to ask them online now, it takes more time than asking you XD
=================================
Roaming is a feature that allows T-Mobile customers to use their GSM phone outside of their home service area.
Currently, there are two types of roaming: North American GSM and International GSM.
* North American GSM roaming allows subscribers to use their T-Mobile phones on a GSM network outside of their home service area. It costs $0.49 per minute plus applicable long-distance charges. All of your GSM calling features will work when roaming except: First incoming minute FREE, state-wide toll-free, weekends FREE, America Toll-Free, and T-Mobile to T-Mobile discount.
* International GSM roaming allows customers to use their T-Mobile phones on another country's GSM network.
um...
I thought what you mean is:
corded phone = with cord
cordless phone = 家用無線電話
WiFi Phone = Make and receive Skype calls wherever you have WiFi access
so, unless I purchase WiFi Phone + buy Verison Wireless/any wireless service
=> I can have the benefit of both cheap skype rate & convenience of a cell phone.
=> the problem is that costs even more...maybe in the future they will make it cheaper this way??
However, I think corded/cordless phone w/skype can be even a replacement for my land phone. I just moved so I don't even have a land phone. XD
thanks for your help!
你誤解了
各家的prepaid，都包含nationwide roaming and long distance; 我不知道你從哪裡抄來那一段話，顯然你弄錯對象。
既然你買了，你就不用管收訊好不好了，再爛你也得用，所以討論這個就沒有意義了。
你沒弄懂什麼叫Wi-FI，它是電腦使用的無線網路 (機場/咖啡店上網的方式); Wi-FI phone就是使用這些電腦網路來進行網路電話(例如skype)，其實就是一個不使用電腦來撥接的網路電話
所以如果你所在的地方有免費或低價的無線電腦網路，那麼你就可以使用電腦或wi-fi phone來打網路電話
電腦網路的含蓋範圍遠低於手機的收訊範圍，所以你不必想太多
cordless phone就是landline phone的一種; 你如果沒有landline phone，那麼當然不可能使用cordless phone
I drive in Mountain Area alone often and I have both ATT & T-mobile phone. So I think I can use ATT in mountain Area when necessary. :)
Isn't VerZion a type of WiFi service?
According to what you said, must I get a landline phone in order to use cordless phone? hm...are you sure? :O?? I thought as long as my PC is on and I connect the corded phone to PC, or set up the cordless phone provided from skype, then I don't need to set up landline.
http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/cordlessphones/
http://shop.skype.com/phones/philips-usb-corded-phone.html
Otherwise, if I still need to set up the landline what's the point of buying it right? :P
You just don't get it.
Skype就是網路電話，要使用網路電話就必須要有電腦網路。不論是家用網路還是外面的無線網路(wi-fi)
你欠缺VoIP的觀念:VoIP就是用網路來傳電話。
有很多不同VoIP的業者。
要使用VoIP，家裡必須有寬頻網路 (電腦不一定要開著，看設定方式)
有了寬頻網路，再買一個VoIP adapter，才能把landline(corded or cordless)電話接到網路上
你說的Skype cordless phone是內建skype的cordless phone，它必須和家裡的VoIP基地台連結才能收到訊號 (最遠通常300公尺)
不論如何，cordless phone依然是landline的一種。而landline有傳統式或VoIP式，後者現在很流行，但一樣要交月費，有一定的營運成本，也可以取得一個landline的門號，也和所有landline電話相容。
所以你想省錢沒有這麼簡單，VoIP式的landline也是一個額外成本。
同時維持at&t和t mobile兩個預付門號不是很划算。每年要至少100+100=$200美金的成本
oh...我以為你說的Landline strictly 只指舊式傳統電話，現在我懂了
謝謝! :D
依照定義一般的電話只分兩種:
landline(家用電話) vs Mobile (行動電話)
不使用行動電話塔台的都是landline
是使用家裡的電纜線的資源來傳電話
不論是用傳統式的，還是VoIP，都得靠家裡的電纜，所以都是landline
我現在上雅馬遜網站先買
$70 T-Mobile Prepaid SIM Card Unlimited Talk, Text, & Web
十月到那裡可以用嗎？
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