I recently setup my niece with the iPhone 5 and StraightTalk Wireless. I bought the StraightTalk Bring Your Own Phone Kit at Walmart for $65. The kit included a $45 Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data Nationwide Anytime card for 30 service days and three SIM cards: one full size T-Mobile SIM, one full size AT&T compatible SIM card and one AT&T compatible microSIM card.
The process of getting the iPhone working for StraightTalk is essentially the same as Net10. If fact, Net10, StraightTalk, and Tracfone are all prepaid mobile services owned parent company América Mvil.
I’ll do a full guide on setting up StraightTalk with the AT&T compatible iPhone soon. But I wanted to do a post to comment that the setup process is almost identitcal . One thing I noticed is that the StraightTalk is cheaper, its $45 a month rather than $50 a month. That’s 10% cheaper, $60 a year, or even an extra 1.3 months of service. I’m not sure why I should stick with Net10 when I can get the essentially the same service cheaper.
Also, unlike Net10 advertises that they offer the iPhone. You can go to Walmart and buy an iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, or iPhone 5 and sign up for StraightTalk service. I’ll have a post about this as well.
I have an iPhone 3GS with IOS 4.2.1, I setup straight talk just like the support like told me to. Which is visiting iapntfdata.straighttalk.com on the iphone and installing that APN profile. However, I still cannot send MMS or get on internet using data. Could anyone help me with this issue?
Hi Michael,
The APN profiles will only set up data, not MMS. Look up your APN. Use Android 4.0 & 4.1 for your device type.
http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/support/apn
What is it? Straight Talk uses 3 APNs, you can find the correct profile here
http://smartphonematters.com/st-apns/
Let me know your APN, setting up MMS is tricky and it depends on your APN.
I have at mobile iphone5 I purchased the straighttalk byop kit and used the AT&T nano sim my phone will not allow me to send pic messages or receive is there anything I can do to fix this ??
Hi Melinda,
Tap Settings General Reset Reset Network Settings
test data and MMS
if it doesn’t work see
How to Setup Straight Talk Wireless Data and MMS for your iPhone running iOS 7
Regards,
bob
i tried what u said do n i still cant send pics or get on internet
Hi Steve,
You left your comment on an article with no instructions, so it not clear to me what you did. Which iPhone are you using? What verison of iOS and what did you do? Let me know and perhaps I can help you.
Regards
Bob
I think I have a iPhone 3. I do know the iOS is 6. Something. But I still cannot get mms or picture message. I do gave Internet though.
If you have ios it’s a 3GS.
See How to Setup Straight Talk Wireless Data and MMS for your iPhone running iOS 6
Regards
Bob
I am looking to get an iPhone through Straight Talk, but I’m not willing to shell out the $500 to do so. I’ve been looking on Amazon, and they seem to be cheaper there. I don’t have a carrier at the moment. All I have is tracfone. When I got the phone I have now, I bought my phone online and went from straight talk to tracfone. Anyways. My question is. Should I just buy a phone online? And if I get an unlocked one from AT&T, does it need to be activated? Or would my best bet be to get a straight talk phone? Thank you to whoever replies.
Hi Amber,
See I Want an iPhone but I Don’t Want to Pay $500!
Regards
Bob
Please send me the solution to this. I have a 3GS from AT&T and net10 sim. No mms
How to Setup Net10 Web, Data, and MMS for your iPhone running iOS 6
Hi. I am going to move to straight talk but see there are a lot of issues people have with pic and video texts. I want to purchase an iPhone.
1. Which model (3gs or 4 or 4s) is easiest for the transition to run smoothly? I understand the sim cards are different and can find all of these phones almost new (AT&T) but they are not jailbroken or unbroken.
2. I read that the MMS problem people have only effects your video and pic texts if you are sending to non-iphone users. Is this true?
3. Speed: is 3g available to Straight Talk users most of the time? or is 2g
Thanks, lots of info here on your forum.
Hi Jennifer,
It was a good move to research this first. I usually tell people to review their current phone and service to make sure they make a informed choice switching to Straight Talk or another prepaid wireless company so they can make an informed choice. To answer your questions…
1. If you want to move to the iPhone, buy the best phone your budget allows. the iPhone 3GS will work, but its a bit old. It doesn’t run iOS 7, the latest software, so it’s not getting new updates. Both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s run iOS 7, but the 4s is a way better phone. faster, better camera, better network support. Are you buying a used phone? You don’t need a jailbroken iPhone. An unlocked iPhone is best. Yith the iPhone 4 and 4s, you want to stay away from Verizon iPhones. Look for an ATT unlocked or factory unlocked. You can consider a Sprint iPhone, but don’t buy one without careful consideration.
2. Yes. Many people have problems with MMS picture messages and group texts. I have never had a problem with them, but look through the comments on my site. I speed way too much time helping people with MMS problems. If you get an iPhone 4,4s, 5, 5c, or 5s. MMS might just work for you. If not, you may need to follow one of the guides on smartphonematters.com. MAny getting working after following the guide, some after asking me for help, but unfortunately some never get it working correctly.
3. The most important consideration regarding speed is to understand which wireless services work well where you live, work, or plan to use your phone. Straight Talk uses the AT&T. T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint networks. Their AT&T. T-Mobile, and Sprint networks support 4G LTE. Their Verizon network is only 3G. Which network is best or worst in your area? ask your friends and neighbors what they use. If you live in an area with only decent Verizon coverage, being on Straight Talk’s ATT or TMobile network is going to be disappointing.
Please let me know if you need more help or have more questions. I wanted to get a reply out to you. I can assist you with this process.I set up this website after I went through this process myself.
Regards
Bob
Bro ihave a sprint iphone 4s which sim card do i put in to the phone
Hi Keith,
There are two ways to use a Sprint iPhone 4s on Straight Talk, the first is to register it on Straight Talk’s Sprint network. You do not need a SIM. Seehttp://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/h/byop/registration
If you want to use it with the Straight Talk ATT or TMobile SIM you need to get a GPP SIM adapter, I am not sure the GPP’s support ios 7 yet.
Regards
Bob
I have an iPhone 4s running 6.1.3 I recently brought over to Straighttalk from AT&T. Service is as expected with the exception of MMS text messaging. I have lost the ability to receive picture text messages, and to send group messages.
I had a T-Mobile SIM on hand and was able to easiliy follw your instructions for configuring my APN settings. Following which my data worked fine for accessing web pages over the 4G network. However, it did nothing for addressing my issues with MMS text messaging. Not sure what to try next.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Hi Jim,
MMS Picture messages on the iPhone with Straight Talk have always had problems. I have an FAQ in which I recommend some alternative MMS proxy and MMSC values.
See Net10 Data, Internet and MMS APN Frequently Asked Questions.
About a month ago, many Straight Talk customers using all sorts of different phones started reporting problems receiving MMS picture messages.
see I Can’t Receive MMS Picture Messages Using Straight Talk or Net10 on My iPhone Using iOS 7.0.4
I don’t know why this is. Some readers, who rely on MMS started testing a number of MMSC and MMS Proxy combinations. Check out this article and the look through the comments what other readers reported to work. The results seems to be pretty hit or miss.
Oh, and group texts don’t use SMS. They use MMS. So it is not surprising you are having a problem with both.
Take a look through those posts. Let me know if I can help.
Regards
Bob
Hi. I recently bought a virgin mobile phone and decided I wanted to switch to Straight Talk. So I bought a sim card for my phone from Straight Talk online. But when I tried to use it with my virgin mobile phone, it wouldn’t work on it. I have an lg optimus f3. And I don’t know if the phone is locked or unlocked. I need help.
Hi Pablai,
If bought your LG Optimus f3 from Virgin Mobile, I think it would be for the Sprint network. Sprint owns Virgin Mobile. Do you know if the model number is LS 720? You may be able to use this phone on the Straight Talk network, but not with one of the Straight Talk SIM cards. Those SIM cards are for phones that use the T-Mobile and ATT networks.
You may be able to bring the phone over to Straight Talk using their CDMA network.
Go to this page and see if your phone is compatible.
http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/h/byop/registration
I am not sure why you want to leave virgin, if it is because of poor signal or coverage where you live, work, or use your phone, you may have the same issue using Straight Talk.
If you do go to Straight Talk, you may want to talk to their billing and support to see if you can transfer the credit from the SIM you activated to your CDMA phone.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Regards
Bob
Looking for some help!!!
Recently activated an iphone4s with Net10 and my data is extremely slow. My phone says T-Mobile. I have yet to see a 3g speed on the screen regardless of where I am at. I have called the service number numerous times with no luck on the fix. I also bought a net10 at&t sim card off of ebay but was told that it was invalid and that option was not available.
Starting to think that I maybe net10 is not for me.
Hi Jun82,
In most cases, the net10 tmobile sim is not the best choice for the iphone. See Is Using Straight Talk Wireless With Your iPhone a Good Idea?.
You should be able transfer your existing service to a net10 att sim from the net10 web site. I am not sure what the issue is with the sim you bought on ebay. You can order a sim from net10 directly.
It’s unfortunate that they don’t make it easier to choose the correct sim.
Let me know if you need more help.
Regards
Bob
do you have a guide for setting up an Iphone 3G running 4.21 on straight talk, its GSM att phone with Att sim card.
I have downloaded an apn profile that has now allowed internet to work…but mms still doesn’t work, and I don’t seem to receive group messages from anyone.
Hi Brenda,
Take a look at the second section of the iOS guide. You might be able to SIM swap on iOS 4 as well. I have an old 3G here and I will check.
Try it if you have a T-Mobile sim lying around
Let me know if you want to try the SIM swap on iOS 4, that way I will remember to reply to you again.
Regards
Bob
CAN I USE A VERIZON IPONE4S ON STRAIGHT TALK OR DO I HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE JAILBREAK THING??? THERE ARE SOOOOO MANY DIFFRENT WEBSITES ITS HARD TO TELL WHICH ARE HELPFUL. I NEED TO USE THE VERIZON NETWORK DUE TO THE AREA I LIVE IS ONLY SUPPORTED BY VERIZON.
Zoe,
If I understand your question, you want to move your Verizon iPhone 4s to the Straight Talk Verizon network. It might be possible. Do you have the iPhone in question? Are you already using it on the Verizon network?
Start on this page. http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/h/byop/registration
They say they won’t register iPhones, you can put in your phone’s serial number a see what thee next screen says.
Give it a try and let me know, we may be able to find you another company that uses the Verizon network.
Regards
Bob
I have an iphone 5 from AT&T and dnt even know how to start to activate it through Straight Talk or if I even can.
They asked me if it had a SIM slot???? I have no idea!!!
Please Help!!!!
Hi Andrea,
Are you using this iPhone 5 with AT&T now? Do you know if the iPhone is locked? You can activate it with Straight Talk, it will require a little effort on your part. And yes, you do have a SIM slot, they should no that.
Let me know
Regards
Bob
will an iPhone 4 or4 s from verizon work with straight talk?
Possibly.
Does your iphone 4 have a sim slot?
Do you like Verizon service in your area. Would you be interested in using them on straighttalk on the Verizon network? This might be possible. Are both phones still active on Verizon?
Regards
Bob
question,
i bought my friends iphone 5 while still on contract, he shut off the service for it and got a new phone. anyways, i want straight talkservice on this t-mobile phone. i bought a sim and $45/month card, i have already cut down the sim to nano. what do i do to get this phone working?
Hi
I replied to you by email.
Regards
Bob
emailed back thank you
I switched the apn settings but still dont let me on the internet how do I get the internet I got a iphone4 att but switched it to straight tlk
Hi Chris,
I have a guide on smartphonematters.com that shows you how to set up you iPhone. Check out How to Setup Straight Talk Wireless Data and MMS for your iPhone running iOS 6 and let me know if you have any questions.
Regards
Bob
Please help!
Hi Elizabeth,
What are you looking for help with?
Regards
Bob
I have a question I have an Iphone 4 with At&t and I switched to Straight Talk everything went smoothly my data an text are working but not my picture messaging can you help?
Hi Brittany,
You are in luck because I have a guide on my web site about that.
http://smartphonematters.com/guides/how-to-setup-straighttalk-wireless-data-and-mms-for-ios-6/
You should read this too
http://smartphonematters.com/is-using-straight-talk-wireless-with-your-iphone-a-good-idea/
as well as this
http://smartphonematters.com/straight-talk-is-offering-att-sim-cards-again/
Let me know how it goes.
Regards
Bob