Thanks for the update! That's good to know, especially for folks who aren't existing Tello customers.
Tello hasn't publicized it much, but existing Tello customers can get a free GSM SIM anytime they want to migrate over from the old Sprint network to the T-Mo network. (Just sign in to your account and go to the "Bring your phone" tab and fill out your information.) They have several shipping options depending upon how quickly you need to get the new SIM, but I got mine with free delivery via USPS in only three days.
One other "plus" with the GSM SIM cards is that if you ever swap phones you can use the same SIM... a nice change from all the different SIMs Sprint used to require.
Tello FAQ indicates GSM sim expires in 3 years:
(under CDMA sim card section)
What's the expiry date of a Tello GSM SIM?
The SIM is valid for 3 years since purchase date, so you can activate it anytime in this period. Still, we advise you to activate the SIM card as soon as possible in order to enjoy Tello's advantages & savings.
This is, pretty much the standard for any TMO network SIM I've used. In most cases, TMO network SIMs have an "Activate By" date on the credit card sized plastic from which one snaps the SIM out.
Suppose I sign up for Tello's current 50% off promo on their cheapest plan. I will get their GSM sim. Suppose I cancel the plan in one month but hold on to the sim. Will I be able to activate this same sim on Tello sometime in the future? Or will I have to get a new sim?
TIA.
Edit - I am not a Tello customer currently. Don't have any lines with them.
It depends. In the past, I've rectivated previously active TMO proper and Republic Wireless T-Mobile network SIMs. Both needed to be reactivated within 20 days or otherwise needed to be replaced. A Ting TMO network SIM and Mint Mobile SIMs were one and done and once deactivated needed to be replaced. Like you, I'm not currently a Tello customer, so maybe its different.
I will need to do that next week. Finally, after using my LG Tribute HD as my primary phone going back to 2016 on R+, then Tello, and as my only activated phone as of now, I finally ordered 2 new phones:
2019 Moto G7 Plus GSM unlocked phone from Amazon for $120 - this is to move my Tello service to from the LG.
2020 Moto G Power that comes with 1 year Tracfone 1500/1500/1500 service, locked to Tracfone for a year, from HSN for $100.
If I get a GSM SIM card as a new line/customer, does the billing start on the date the SIM card was ordered (since a plan has to be chosen at order time too) or when the SIM card is activated?
How long can one keep the SIM card (usable) without activating it?
I've read a bunch of comments over the last few years with both incoming calls and text being unreliable with T-Mobile. It seemed problems were more severe early in T-Mobile's VoLTE period (for voice), and might (?) still be sometimes related to the particular phone and T-Mobile's VoLTE and WiFI calling implementation
(A side-note for T-Mo voice calls. Some years ago, T-Mobile got in hot water over their practice of intentionally not connecting calls that entailed a higher inter-provider interconnect charge, and spoofing the ring tone so the call appeared to be unanswered, rather than not-placed. Kind of put a different light on 'uncarrier'. At least they don't do that anymore.)
Thanks for the answer.
I feel this likely the issue. I am following the instruction on the website and set "cellular preferred" under wifi calling.
The incoming calls are going through now.
Wifi calling suppose to help but did the opposite...
FYI if you order a sim and plan and wait to activate it appears that they will terminate the line after 45 days. You get a warning email about a week in advance. I assume the sim will still work but you will need to buy a new plan. You could probably get a refund for a terminated plan since you never used it.
I got a Moto G7 Plus from Amazon for $120 about a month ago, Tello sent a SIM for no charge, and I installed and got a good signal at my home.
Unfortunately, it looks like my sister will not be able to move from her Tello Sprint service to T-Mobile as its usability was even worse than her already poor Sprint service, at least when testing with my Moto G7 Plus. I don't have an AT&T SIM to try there to see if AT&T service would be acceptable there, but my Tracfone Verizon Moto Power G worked well there. That Tracfone plan would not work out for her. Unlike me, she really needs more data and unlimited throttled data as she has with Tello. Maybe a Red Pocket Verizon plan would be best for her, but she won't be able to use the same $120 Moto G7 Plus phone that I bought since it won't support Verizon.
Net10 rewards seem to mirror TF for the most part (no double dip that I am aware of) so she'll have $60+ to add some data if she goes over and needs more full speed occasionally.
Of course this assumes she/you are OK with paying for a year up front.
Thanks. That would be fairly good for a year at that pricing, with a little more data than her Tello plan. She goes through her LTE data allotment so quickly, it doesn't look like the 8 GB Red Pocket monthly plan paid a year up front will even have enough LTE data to last her through a full month - which of course is why she needs unlimited throttled data as well. I'm trying to think about 3 years out for her. I hate for her to get locked in to Tracfone/Net10 a year down the road with a phone. She seems content to hold out for now.
From what I read, the Tracfone (Moto G Power that it available for under $100 like what I just bought) will be locked to Tracfone / Tracfone Brands unless used with the original SIM shipped with it for 1 year. If that's true, switching from the Tracfone SIM to the Net10 SIM & plan, you would not be qualified to unlock after a year. So that's what I would like to avoid for her. I'm thinking it might be better for her to purchase an unlocked phone and get her on the Red Pocket 8 GB plan on Verizon which gets her closer to her data usage (e-bay prepaid for 1 year). She doesn't have home internet. Unfortunately, the unlocked Moto G Power has been running $180+ for "new", so I'm watching for deals for her on compatible phones that have 3GB RAM minimum / 32 GB storage minimum, which I've seen for as low as $150. But she's got some time. I might have a chance to test AT&T there before she needs to make a move.
Just for a test, I put my Tello GSM SIM in my Tracfone Moto G Power, and it said, "Network locked SIM card inserted." No go - no surprise. Put it back in my Moto G7 Plus and all was good.