A reader, Gary asks…

I have a straight talk $45 plan and just got a new Nokia lumia 920. I was told by someone that living in the area code I live in the phone was not compatible. With straight talk.my area code is 68847.he said the phone runs off at&t towers and we have no at&t services in this area.. This is not true is it? Thank you for helping me.  I bought it new from walmart.com assuming being came from Walmart it would be straight talk compatible.you ask me what companies serve this area? company’s that serve this area I live in 68847 are Verizon,US Cellular and viearo.that I know of anyways.I sure do thank you for taking the time to help me. and anxiously await your reply as to what I need to do.

 

I checked your zip code on the Straight Talk website and it appears that Straight Talk does not support the AT&T network in your area. It looks like they do support the Verizon network, or at least, Verizon compatible phones. If you want to use Straight Talk, you’ll need to return the 920 and buy a phone that uses the Verizon network.  Whats your budget for a phone? Are you tied to Windows phone? I could maybe recommend an alternative phone.  You can buy a phone from Walmart or used from another source. If you buy a used phone, you’ll need to check the MEID number of that phone to make sure it is eligible for use on Straight Talk’s Verizon network.

If you have your heart set on using the 920, it might work with Viearo. They have prepaid wireless plans see http://www.viaero.com/shop/plans/viaero2go-prepaid-plans. There plans are reasonable priced. If Viearo stores nearby, you can walk in and ask them to make sure your phone is unlocked and compatible.

I did want to offer you one note of caution about using Straight Talk’s Verizon network. In some areas of the country, Verizon partners with other wireless companies like US cellular to carry Verizon customers on the US cellular network, if the Verizon coverage is spotty in a given area. But these agreements are in place only to support Verizon post paid customers. If you use a Verizon prepaid phone or any other prepaid wireless company that uses the Verizon network. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you if this will be the case in your area. I just wanted to make you away of it.

Finally, I did want to point out that like, Vieara, US Cellular also offers prepaid wireless plans.See http://www.uscellular.com/uscellular/plans/showPlans.jsp?plan-selector-type=prepaid&type=plans#listing. Both Vieara’s and US Cellular’s prepaid plans offer less high speed data for the money than Straight Talk, but if you find that Straight Talk doesn’t work well for you these alternatives may be a better choice.

I hope this helps. Let me know how it goes.