They will provide a "subsidy unlock" code after 3 months of continuous service if you explain you'll be using the phone in another country while on vacation.

They will also provide a T-Mobile SIM Activation kit for $10 retail ($7 web price) if you have an unlocked handset (or a handset locked to TMO), something Canadian carriers refuse to do. http://bit.ly/b99TfO

Cheapskate said:

I have a T-Mobile phone on their prepaid service (a Nokia 2610) and T-Mobile will not unlock this after 3 months - it appears the subsidy is too great. But it is not a great phone anyway and I really don't want to use it elsewhere.

I just "online chatted" T-Mobile again and here's their response
===============
Me: I lived chatted with someone else and was told that after 3 months, if my acct is in good standing, I could request my phone get unlocked. But I've been reading out there on the net, that T-Mobile won't do that for prepaid phones? which is correct?
~Norman L: As long as the phone is not the Nokia 2610P we can request the unlock code providing that the account has been active for 90 days and there has been a refill completed in the past 30 days.

Cheapskate said:

I have a T-Mobile phone on their prepaid service (a Nokia 2610) and T-Mobile will not unlock this after 3 months - it appears the subsidy is too great. But it is not a great phone anyway and I really don't want to use it elsewhere.

Go to net10.com and click on buy phones and more. enter the zip code where you will be using the phone. then proceed . There will be a list of phones that will work that area. Regular rates are 10 cents a min. for all calls in the US. and 15 cents amin. for calls to Canada. The phone comes with 300 mins airtime or 60 days of service upon activation. Note these phones only work in the US. these phones are locked to the sim that comes with the phone.

I would buy a reconditioned phone that comes with an additional 300 min airtime card if you are planning to be there for more than 3 months and cut your costs in half.

You can save an additional $8.00 by using promo codes 44477 and 34567
note these codes are per order and must be entered separately.

For just calling this acn't be beat.

I do not know if they will ship to Canada but you can contact them.

Good luck.

ggg

If I read it right, after 3 months of owning a T-Mobile phone, I can request an unlock for it. I wonder if it applies to their prepaid phones/service. Anyone out there try this?

SIM Unlock:

T-Mobile branded phones operating on the T-Mobile network may only use T-Mobile SIM cards. To use a T-Mobile branded phone on another wireless carrier's network with a non-T-Mobile SIM card, you must first request a "SIM Unlock" code from T-Mobile. Conversely, if you have a phone from another North American wireless carrier, you may need to request a "SIM Unlock" code from that carrier before being able to use a T-Mobile SIM card on the T-Mobile network.

SIM Unlock Requests:

T-Mobile customers must meet the following eligibility requirements before contacting Customer Service to request your SIM Unlock code.

The following restrictions apply to all account types:

T-Mobile can provide SIM Unlock Codes only for handsets sold by T-Mobile USA, with the exception of Danger Sidekick devices. T-Mobile can obtain SIM Unlock Codes for companies acquired by t-Mobile USA (VoiceStream, Aerial, Omnipoint, SOL, Digiph, PCS One, and Powertel).
SIM Unlock Codes will only be provided after your account has been active for 90 days. Only one unlock code may be provided per customer every 90 days.
No SIM Unlock Codes will be provided within the 14-Day Buyer's Remorse period. Customers who purchase phones in CA California or via Amazon.com are granted a 30-Day Buyer's Remorse Period.
SIM Unlock Codes are not always available from the Manufacturer. However, T-Mobile will make a dedicated effort to obtain the SIM Unlock code. Note: Other restrictions may apply depending on account type.

I have just joined Voip.ms (CDN company) which has all sorts of capabilities after you have something like a t-mobile. I will pay$1.49 a month plus 3.2 cents a minute plus 1.13 cents a minute when I am in the states and the calls that people make to my toll-free (yes, no cost to caller) will be forwarded to my home phone or to my cell phone anywhere in North America for those costs. So a Canadian or American can call me through the toll-free # I have (1-866-...-.....) if I am anywhere in the US or Canada and I pay the $1.49/month plus 4.33 cents a minute, plus of course regular t-mobile air time. But that's a pretty good rate for anyone in NA to call me anywhere in NA.
People are using this service for voip phones for home and business and are happy, but you can use the call forwarding function and not get your computer involved in the phone process.

NOW if you have a good laptop and wireless in your travels you can phone through a headset and your laptop with a softphone for just the 4.33/minute rate and people can call you and you can answer through the laptop/wireless (say in the evenings) just by shutting down the call-forward for that evening or whenever you are near your laptop long-term.

Hope this is clear enough. It's not stricly cell phone useage but the cell phone can be forwarded to and used with the service.

Added benefit is that if this works well for you you can cancel your long distance plan with your home telco, keep basic phone service, make your long distance from home calls through the soft phone and laptop and home network. It is working well for me and I am seriously getting ready to cancel long distance service at home.

Hope this is a good read!

I have heard good discussion about the T-Mobile plan. You have to look at ALL the pros and cons. You have to look at everything, especially coverage. Having a plan like that is great, but what good is it if the phone can't get a signal? Definitely research the coverage. Where you are going T-Mobile coverage may be even better than AT & T's, it definitely is possible, but look at all the factors.

Whoever you are going to go with, check the coverage, wherever you are headed. Where I have been in the USA, Speak Out USA (which uses the AT & T GoPhone network) is greatly superior to T-Mobile's coverage.

noway1234 said:

I do know that both Net10, and Tracfone sims are locked to their phone (to keep track of airtime). So you are tied to the phone they give you.

a T-mobile or US 711 speakout sim will be able to work in a Cdn Speakout handset.

Meaning the phones are locked then or the SIMs are somehow locked (physically?) to the phone? If yes, then I'm leaning towards T-Mobile or US SO. I want the ability to use the SIM in my own unlocked GSM phone.