Are you thinking about switching carriers but worried that it’s going to be a hassle? It might feel like a lot of work, but at US Mobile, you’ve got nothing to worry about!
Of course, moving from one carrier to another requires some decision-making, so we calculated and short-listed 6 important questions for you to make an informed decision!
Can I keep my number when switching carriers?
The most crucial and most asked question of all time! Can you keep your number when moving from another carrier to US Mobile? The answer is YES!
If you’ve had your number for several years you probably want to keep it even though you’re switching carriers. We totally understand that getting a new number can mean adding up to the hassle, notifying all your connections about it and so on.
According to the FCC, you have the right to keep your existing phone number if you remain within the same geographic area. It’s fairly easy to switch (also known as porting) your phone number over to your new carrier. Most carriers can guide you through the porting process. All you have to do is, get hold of your account information consisting of a pin and an account number, which only your previous carrier can provide you with.
The process can take up to 3-5 business days but we get it done faster with our 24/7 customer support!
Read about how to port your number to US Mobile in our porting guide.
Can I bring my own device (BYOD)?
What exactly is BYOD?
Switching carriers but remaining within the same type of network usually means that you can BYOD (bring your own device).
If you have a personal device that you want to keep using, figure out if your phone is compatible with the new network and then you can easily BYOD. In the US carriers operate either on the CDMA or GSM networks.
Phones like the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and newer are designed to work on both CDMA and GSM. These phones are usually called global phones. We recommend Will My Phone Work to check if your phone is compatible or not.
It doesn’t end there though. Sometimes carriers block phones from being used on other networks. If you’re not in contract or are still paying for your device, most carriers will however offer to unlock your phone.
US Mobile operates on the GSM network and if you want to BYOD we can give you credit for bringing an unlocked cell phone over or our customer support can help you with it. Generally phones from AT&T and T-Mobile, and 4G LTE phones from Sprint and Verizon will work on US Mobile.
Does leaving my carrier come with a cost?
You can leave your carrier at any time but it may cost you. If you’re free of a contract, because your plan has ended or you didn’t buy a subsidized device, switching carriers shouldn’t make a difference. But if you’re in a contract, you will usually be the subject of an Early Termination Fee which depends on remaining time and/or device payments.
Some carriers will reimburse you for some of the switching costs. Other carriers will have different offers. A common catch with this is that they force you to switch devices, which means that you end up on a new subsidized device plan, thus locking you in for a certain period.
US Mobile doesn’t offer subsidized phones but we don’t lock you into a contract. You can come and go as you please on a monthly basis. Check out our unlocked phones here!
If your carrier has given up on you or discontinued your favorite plans like Rok Mobile or Pix Wireless, you can always consider us as we have zero activation/porting costs!
Prepaid or Postpaid?
Prepaid and postpaid both have their advantages and disadvantages. Transfer your number and try out the prepaid plans, they offer more feasibility in comparison to post-paid lines!
| Benefits of Prepaid | Benefits of Postpaid |
|---|---|
| No commitment in terms of a contract | Usually cheaper phone upfront |
|
No overage charges, only pay for what you use
|
Flexibility to use more than your plan (but there are overage charges) |
| No credit check | Sometimes added benefits like free music streaming or rollover minutes |
US Mobile is a Prepaid carrier, set up on a monthly basis.
Is there coverage in my area?
One of the most fundamental questions before switching carriers is if there is coverage in the area where you’ll spend most of your time. In general, all carriers have a coverage map on their website which you can look up and check if you’re covered. This is helpful but we encourage you to ask around from other people who are already using the network you’re considering. You can ask friends or use forums like Reddit and/or Quora.
If you can’t find the coverage in your area, don’t hesitate to reach out to our 24/7 customer support with your address including zip code. They will do it for you!
US Mobile offers a 14 days risk free trial for new cell phone plan customers. If, within 14 days of service, you’re not completely satisfied with our service and wish to cancel, we will refund you your money.
What phone plan should I get?
Finally, the reason why people switch and one of the most crucial aspects to consider when porting your number is: what value am I getting out of the new carrier with its plans?
When researching plans and carriers, make sure you check if there are any “hidden” fees. Some carriers charge an activation fee, which may or may not include the cost of the SIM card, most carriers charge a monthly service fee and sometimes you’re even stuck paying a restocking fee if you trade in a device when upgrading to a new one. US Mobile doesn’t charge your credit card for any hidden fees!
If you’re on a post-paid plan, you will also be charged for exceeding your plan or using additional services like international calling. Make sure you know what the true total cost comes down to before switching carriers.
Many carriers love to offer unlimited option, but use caution, unlimited plans may not always be what they seem. It helps if you monitor your data usage before choosing a plan. We’re big believers that the best plan for you is the plan that you can make yourself. US Mobile is known for its custom phone plans that you can design according to your usage and demand.
Some people realize that they barely talk but use a lot of texts, thus a 1000 texts and 100 minutes plan would be better for them than an unlimited talk and text plan. If you decide to go the prepaid route, you can always adjust your plan as needed.
At US Mobile you can choose between 252 different plan combinations of talk, text and data. Our starter kits cost only $3.99 (unless you’re a student) and we only charge a $2 monthly service fee. There are no activation fees or other hidden fees. Not just that, we have also introduced our new unlimited plans. Don’t forget to check them out!
Often when you change networks, it sometimes requires you to configure your phone settings. For example, when you switch to US Mobile’s network you might need to change APN settings to ensure internet and MMS work perfectly. But don’t worry about that either, we can easily walk you through it with our co-operative customer support!
At the end of the day, if you’ve tackled these questions, you’ve probably realized that switching carriers may be a small inconvenience, but will yield larger savings. Plus, we offer you a risk-free trial so there’s no harm in trying, right?
It’s great that you talked about how it’s important to ask about hidden costs when you’re switching carriers. In my opinion, every business needs to have the best telecommunications provider. Otherwise, they could lose clients and business partners, so if their current provider it’s not giving them the service they need, they should definitely replace it. I think you did a great job explaining what to consider before switching phone services.
I’m glad you talked about how when changing phone companies, you’re allowed to keep your same number. One of my uncles works in the real estate industry, and the other day he mentioned he was worried about his company’s communications services. Since the company is expanding, they’re having trouble keeping up with more people calling daily. That’s why I think he might need to change his phone company, and I believe this article will be helpful for him, so I’ll be sure to share it. Thanks for the information about what you need to know when you’re changing from your old phone communications company.