Can a cricket phone be used on T-mobile?
By
HuutiMoney
This blog post will answer the question ” Can a cricket phone be used on T-mobile?”.It covers the topics like networks used by cricket wireless, What are the prerequisites before using a cricket wireless phone with T-mobile? and How to switch to the theT-mobile carrier?
Can a cricket phone be used on T-mobile?
Yes, you can use your cricket phone on T-mobile If the cricket phone is unlocked and compatible then it should work with T- mobile. Most latest phones from cricket wireless are compatible with T-mobile, this is because cricket uses AT&T’s GSM technology, and T- mobile also works on GSM. But you must check the compatibility with the T-mobile network.
What is cricket wireless?
Cricket Wireless network is an American wireless service provider, presently owned by AT&T. It was founded in March 1999 by Leap Wireless International.
AT&T acquired Leap Wireless International in 2014. Before the acquisition, there were only 4.5 million subscribers. Now, it provides network services to ten million subscribers in the United States.
Key features of cricket wireless
- It makes use of the AT&T network. AT&T is the second-largest network provider in the USA.
- It provides some affordable phone plans.
- It offers international calling and texting.
- Some plans offer unlimited video messaging.
- It allows messaging of shortcodes.
- It provides options for three-way calling.
- Availability of 5G network.
Why prefer a T-mobile network?
T-Mobile is the 3rd-largest wireless network provider in the USA. T-Mobile is a German telecommunication industry and it has some investments in other mobile communication industries in the United States.
T-Mobile USA has a network sharing agreement with Cingular Wireless, an American mobile operator. Due to this, T- mobile has access to some top markets in the USA.
Key features T-mobile
● Monthly installment plans are offered for T Mobile phones.
● More priority is always given to the T-Mobile subscribers on the network over Metro
pcs subscribers. This is a prime important factor in case of network congestion.
● T mobile offers some better additional options, for example, international talk and
data add-ons
● T mobile network providers have an excellent customer service record.
● Some extra perks are offered only for T-Mobile subscribers.
Perks for T- mobile subscribers
T mobile offers the following parks for their subscribers.
- On every Tuesday, Magenta and Magenta Plus subscribers are eligible for freebies. It may include movie tickets at discounted prices or free food.
- For family unlimited plans, if any one of the family members is not using the full data, then T-mobile offers an account credit.
- T mobile offers a “digits program “, where you can use one number on multiple devices, and subscribers with two or more lines will get a free Netflix subscription. T-mobile plans
- T- Mobile provides three unlimited data plans namely Essential plan, Magenta, and Magenta Plus plan.
- You will get some premium data on the Essentials plan. Magenta Max plan is the best plan for those who need huge amounts of data. It is unlimited and there is no slow down problem.
- For the magenta max family plan if you add one line then the cost per line will be reduced by $15. If you go on adding more lines, then you can bring the cost down to $40 per line.
- It’s a really good offer for totally unlimited and high-speed data. Speed up to 30 Mbps or even more can be obtained.
- T-Mobile offers its prepaid plans. The range of prepaid plans is from $45 to $75 per month.
- You can avail 4GB of LTE data for $45 and 10GB of data for $50. At the higher end,
- T-mobile offers unlimited data plans for $75.
5G network coverage
On average, the T-Mobile network provides much faster 5G speeds compared to AT&T. If you have a 5G mobile with a T mobile network, you can expect internet speeds of about 85 Mbps. While having 5G on AT&T network internet speed over just 52 Mbps. So, for 5G mobile phones, the T-Mobile network is much faster than AT&T mobile network.
Step to use cricket phone on T-Mobile
The following steps are used to use cricket wireless phones on T-Mobile.
- Gather your current network account information that includes your account number, password or PIN, and Billing zip code.
- Make sure that your phone is active with straight talk.
- Check that your phone is unlocked.
- Make sure that your phone is compatible with T- mobile.
- Choose an appropriate phone plan from T-Mobile wireless network.
- Activate the new plan and cancel out the previous plan with straight talk.
Eligibility criteria to unlock cricket phones
One can unlock cricket phone devices provided that the following criteria are satisfied.
- The cell phone must have been active for at least six months.
- The cell phone should not be reported as blocked or lost.
- An account concerned with the device must be active. If it is not active, you need to reactivate it before unlocking it.
- Depending upon prepaid or postpaid plans, the device should satisfy all necessary unlock requirements.
- All your bills must be clear.
How can you unlock a cricket wireless phone?
You can contact the cricket wireless customer service and request for unlocking your cell phone. You can also use the online chat option. You can visit the cricket store to get an unlocking code. You need to provide the pin code of the account billing.
How can I unlock a cricket phone online?
Use the following steps to unlock the device online.
- Sign in to “My Account”.
- Open “Account settings’.
- Select the option “Get code”.
- Locate the cellphone number that is to be unlocked.
- Click on the “Request unlock” option.
- The unlock code will be displayed on the screen. You will also get a text message.
How to use Mobile Unlock Service?
- Outside of carrier service to unlock your phone, there are different paid services to unlock it for you.
- If you do not meet the carrier’s eligibility criteria, you can go for these paid unlock services. Though these services are legal gray areas.
- These services are hassle-free, you just need to provide them with your IMEI number(International mobile equipment identifier).
How to use “My cricket app”
If you get an unlock error while using “My account” then you can use “My cricket app”
- Sign in to “My cricket app”
- Click on the option “Unlock device”.
- Click on the unlock button.
- After unlocking your device, restart it.
How can you unlock iPhone devices manually?
Following are the steps to unlock different phone devices manually.
You can use the back and erase method to unlock your iPhone device.
- Firstly, create a backup of your phone in iCloud.
- Erase the phone device.
- Restore the device using backup files.
Unlocking iPhone using iTunes
Even after satisfying all eligibility criteria, your iPhone may be still not unlocked. In this case, use the following steps to unlock the iPhone using iTunes.
- First, complete the iTunes backup.
- Reset your iPhone.
- Once the welcome screen gets opened, reinstall the backup files by connecting the iPhone to iTunes.
- Try this using Unlock features.
How to check whether the cell phone is unlocked?
Some network carriers provide cell phones which are already unlocked. To check whether your cell phone is already unlocked or not there are some simple methods.
- Call your current network carrier and ask for the information, whether your cell phone is locked or unlocked.
- If you have a GSM cell phone then the simplest technique is; to remove the original sim card, insert another SIM card and check whether you can make calls or send a text. if you are in a position to make a call or send a text then your phone is unlocked.
For the iPhone, make use of the following steps to check whether your phone is unlocked or not.
- Go to the “settings” and click on the “connections” option.
- Select mobile network.
- Select “network operator”.
- Click on the “search now” option.
How to check the compatibility with T-mobile?
Even if you have an unlocked phone, you need to check the compatibility of your device on the T-Mobile network. Use the IMEI number to check whether your device is compatible with T-Mobile or not.
What is International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)?
IMEI is a special identifier associated with Global Mobile Communications System (GSM) phones IMEI is used to identify a device on a cellular network. GSM phones are assigned with 15–17-digit identifiers. It is your device’s social security number. It identifies the device uniquely and the network it is being used on.
How can you get the IMEI number of your phone?
The simplest way is, you will get an IMEI number on the label of the mobile battery. If it is not clear then use the following steps to retrieve the IMEI number of your phone.
- Dial *#06# on your phone device.
- Click on the “settings” and then click on “General”.
- Click on the “change device” link then select your device and enter “find IMEI number”.
- The article will be displayed for your device, follow the instructions.
How does IMEI help service providers?
GSM uses subscriber identity module cards to store subscribers’ information. Customers can easily switch the SIM card from one device to another and start making calls without any problem. It helps operators identify valid customers and disable the devices from their end if reported lost or stolen.
IMEI is hardcoded by the manufacturer; it helps the carrier understand the capabilities of the device; it helps the provider to get the device to a nearby tower for connection.
If you lose your phone or if it gets stolen, IMEI will help you make sure the person who stole it won’t be able to use your device. The device can be denied service to any cellular network even if the SIM is changed.
What is PUK?
PUK stands for personal unlocking key. suppose you are using the native security feature of the cell phone and accidentally you have locked your SIM card. In such cases make use of PUK to unlock the SIM card.
You need to call all the customer care support to get a PUK code. Once you will retrieve it, enter the code to unlock the SIM card.
You will have to enter this code correctly because if you enter it incorrectly many times, then the SIM may be permanently locked.
Are all iPhones compatible with T-mobile?
Almost all iPhones are compatible with T-mobile. But depending upon the model of your iPhone, some features may not work. The following table shows a summary of some iPhone models.
| iPhone model | Network | Band |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 7 and 7plus | 3G and 4G | 66,71 |
| iPhone 8and 8plus | 3G and 4G | 71 |
| iPhone X | 3G and 4G | 71 |
| iPhone SE | 3G and 4G | 71 |
| iPhone 11 | 3G and 4G | 66,71 |
| iPhone 12 | 3G and 4G | 66,71 |
Can you continue the current phone number and select the T-Mobile phone plan?
Yes, you can keep your old phone number when you transfer to T-Mobile. The next step will be to select a suitable phone plan.
T-Mobile phone plans
Under this category, we will consider the following significant plans
- Unlimited plans
- Family plans
- Prepaid plans
Unlimited plans
It is a plan which gives unlimited text and voice for the entire month. It also includes unlimited data. But after reaching a specific data limit, the data speed is affected, and it is reduced.
Technically, these plans are unlimited, but the fact is that speed gets reduced as you go on using premium data.
Family plans.
T-Mobile network providers give reasonable offers for family plans. If you add lines, then the cost per line will get reduced. For the magenta max family plan, if you add one line, the cost per line will be reduced by $15. If you add more lines, you can bring the cost down to $40 per line. It’s a perfect offer for totally unlimited and high-speed data. Speed up to 30 Mbps or even more can be obtained.
Prepaid plans
T-Mobile offers its prepaid plans. The range of prepaid plans is from $45 to $75 per month. You can avail 4GB of LTE data for $45 and 10GB of data for $50. At the higher end, T-mobile offers unlimited data plans for $75.
How to activate SIM with T-Mobile?
To activate your SIM card, use the following steps.
- Log in to your T-Mobile account.
- Provide the security verification details.
- Select the option either SIM or eSIM.
- Enter the EID number of your phone. It is the serial number of your device.
Below are other Cricket Wireless articles you may be interested in:
Can you use a T mobile phone with cricket?
Is cricket compatible with T-mobile?
Conclusion:
This blog post addressed the topic, “Can a cricket phone be used on T-mobile?
We understood that if a cricket phone is unlocked and compatible then it can be used on T-mobile. This article outlined the unlocking steps for cricket phones. It also covered compatibility checking with T-mobile.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs): Can a cricket phone be used on T-mobile?
Are all cell phones locked?
All cell phones are not locked. The cell phone purchased from a carrier under contract is locked. However, if you purchase a phone directly from the manufacturers, it is unlocked. In this case, you can easily switch from one carrier to another.
What do you mean by a locked phone?
A locked phone is a mobile device tied up with a particular mobile carrier network. If you purchase a new cell phone under some contract, it is locked.
How to set up your iPhone with T-Mobile?
- Check out the compact ability of your phone.
- Check out whether your phone supports the frequency band of T-Mobile carrier.
- Use “online SIM is checker” to find out which SIM card is suitable for your device.
- Set up and configure your iPhone.
Which network is used by cricket wireless service providers?
Cricket Wireless is a prepaid service provider. Cricket wireless makes use of AT&T’s network, which means it offers the same coverage as that of AT&T.
How to check IMEI?
To check the IMEI number of your device following steps are used.
- From the Home screen, select Main Menu.
- Scroll to and select Settings.
- Scroll to and select Phone Settings.
- Scroll to and select Phone info.
- Scroll to and select Version info.
- Scroll to and view the IMEI.
Is Unlocking your phone legal?
- Yes, it is legal but there are some restrictions.
- The cell phone should not be reported as blocked or lost.
- An account concerned with the device must be active.
- Depending upon prepaid or postpaid plans, the device should satisfy all necessary unlock requirements.
References:
How do I bring my own phone from Cricket to another carrier?
03 May 2018
By Lauren Hannula WhistleOut
Can I use my Cricket phone with T Mobile?
January 18, 2021, Joe Dassin
ON 06/09/2020
CONTRIBUTING
Can you switch a Cricket phone to T-Mobile?
Cricket Wireless Device Unlock Policy
Revised December 13, 2019,
Can I use a Cricket phone on T Mobile?
By: Myriam KaabarUpdated: April 16, 2021,