I know this probably has been asked hundreds of times beforehand but I guess I will ask and hope that I won't get flogged. I am a CSpire customer and bought my IPhone 4S from them. My 2 year contract with them expired last month, so I am free and clear. I am looking at switching to T-Mobile's 30 dollar pre-paid plan, which is apparently a Walmart & T-Mobile online special. Anyway, I have been with CSpire/Cellular South the entire time that I have had a cell phone (going back to the latter part of the 90s). I have never switched a carrier and actually don't know what all it entails. I like my IPhone 4S and see no reason to buy a new phone, so I would like to take it and my current number and make the switch. CSpire has the best coverage in my area (Central Mississippi) but T-Mobile's coverage (going by their map) looks to be acceptable. I am definitely hoping so. I figure if worst comes to worst, then I leave T-Mobile and go search for another carrier.
From reading online, here is what I think it would entail:
1. Get my IPhone 4S unlocked. From reading online, it appears that CSpire does not offer this to customers. I imagine they recognize that it would allow them to leave for another carrier and want to make switching difficult. So, I would have to find someone who would be able to unlock the phone. I am guessing a cellphone service provider or an Apple store. I am guessing they would charge me for the service, if they were willing to do it at all. I am thinking this is the hardest part of the deal.
2. Order the correct T-Mobile SIM card online or in a T-Mobile store for my IPhone 4S.
3. Buy the pre-paid service/sign up for the T-Mobile $30 dollar pre-paid plan. I am assuming it is just a refill card that you purchase from Walmart for 30 bucks and that gives you 100 talk minutes, unlimited text and unlimted data for 30 days.
4. When T-Mobile SIM card comes in, pop open up my IPhone and take out the old CSpire SIM card and install the new T-Mobile SIM card.
5. Turn on IPhone4S and use T-Mobile $30 dollar refill card (again, I am assuming that it is refill card) to start T-Mobile service.
6. Once T-Mobile service is active, contact CSpire and cancel service.
I am thinking those are the steps involved. If I am missing a step or am misunderstanding part of the process, then I hope someone here can clarify it and lead me in the right direction. The one part of the process that I absolutely don't understand is how I keep my same cell number. The T-Mobile $30 plan appears to be just a refill card, so I don't know how T-Mobile would even know what number ot associate with my phone. Is that done when I purchase the SIM card from T-Mobile (either online or via a T-Mobile store)?
I appreciate whatever help you guys can give me.