Carriers are companies that offer cellular phone connectivity services. They are also called telecommunication companies. Network strengths for different companies differ depending on the strength of their infrastructure. You can reach a point where the services of the current carrier do not please you at all. At such a point, you can decide to switch to another carrier. You will learn how to switch phone carriers and keep your phone shortly.
We have many reasons why one may want to ditch their current service provider. They include low network coverage, poor data connection, high costs of plans, poor customer service when you need their help the most. No one would like to have poor telecommunication services, especially if you depend on your phone to earn your living. A phone with a poor connection can let you down.
However, one thing that can prevent you from leaving a particular phone company is a contract with them. Let us say you got a free phone when you switched to a particular carrier and you have to subscribe to a particular plan for a particular period. You cannot leave the service before you complete the contract in such a scenario. Usually, the service provider locks your phone so that you cannot use another service provider’s services.
Factors to check before joining a particular carrier
To avoid inconveniences, there are things you should check to make sure that you do not enter into a contract with a company that is not suitable. They include the following.
i) Connection speeds
The speed of a connection is critical. If you are joining a carrier for data connection, you need high speeds to connect consistently. That means you can stream live coverage, download large files such as movies, and upload large files faster. Again, you need a carrier with clear calls and faster message delivery.
ii) Cost
It is always essential to spend the least on a quality product. That means you should find a carrier who will not charge you so much when it comes to connectivity. Various companies charge you differently for the services offered. However, as you look for the cheapest service provider, remember the quality of connections. The best plans are the ones that give you complete packages of data, voice calls, and text in one.
iii) Contract
I prefer a service provider with no contract whatsoever. If you get one, the better. For example, when you join a telecommunication company and get a free phone when you switch, you will likely enter into a contract. Remember that I mentioned how carriers usually subject you to a particular contract when they give you a free phone. You are forced to purchase a particular plan for a certain period for the phone to become yours ultimately.
However, if you join a service provider offering quality services, there is nothing to worry about.
iv) Coverage
It is good to do enough homework about the coverage of a particular carrier. Do not be lured by the fact that the service provider’s network is good in your locality. You may need to travel to other places, and still, you will need a network connection only to find that your carrier’s coverage is poor in that place. Therefore, a network with countrywide coverage is the best.
For example, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are some service providers that can be of great use since they have quality coverage. Again, these service providers have 5G network technologies that allow you to connect with terrific speeds.
v) Customer care
It is always crucial to check a carrier with excellent customer care. For example, you can get various channels of reporting issues such as social media, telephone, and in-app chatting. That way, you will report issues with your connections and get the necessary assistance.
For your information, customer care service should be a free cell phone service without paying anything. Some companies go ahead and provide toll-free numbers so that their customers can reach them even if they do not have airtime. That’s highly amazing!
Procedure to switch phone carriers and keep your phone
Most cell phone companies allow you to switch to their network without buying a new phone. That helps you save money that you could have used to purchase a new device. The following is the process of switching to a new service provider.
1) Check phone compatibility
Visit the service provider’s website and see if they support your current phone. Some companies support GSM phones, while others support CDMA ones. If you find that the device is supported, you can apply for your account.
2) Apply for an account
Most carriers require you to open an account online where you will be able to manage your plans. It is straightforward to open such accounts as you mainly require your identification document. Again, it takes minutes to complete your application.
3) Activate your service
Once your account is running, you can then activate your service. Most companies allow you to retain your phone number. They then liaise with your current carrier to move your services, which can take one or two days. In the meantime, you will be using the old service provider’s services as you wait for the transfer to complete. Your new service provider should tell you when everything is set. You will also begin seeing the name of your new carrier on the top of your phone.
To activate your service, you must purchase a plan to enjoy the services offered. There is free cell phone service for life with unlimited everything offered by almost all carriers. The plans include data, SMS, and voice call minutes all in one package. Usually, the data is unlimited, while the texts and minutes are unlimited for a month.
Methods of transfer files to a new phone
If you are not retaining your phone due to incompatibility or poor performance, you will need to purchase a new phone from the company’s website or phone retailers near you. In such a scenario, you can still retain your number. Once you have activated it, you will need to transfer your data to the new phone. You can do so in the following ways.
a) Use a memory card
A memory card allows you to store music files, videos, documents, and photos. You can copy all your files in your old phone in a memory card, then eject it, insert it in your new phone, perform the setup process to ensure that it is working in the new phone. Next, open your file manager, locate the SD card, then copy all data to your phone memory and ensure that your phone has a large memory to accommodate all those files.
b) Use online storage
There are various online storage sites that you can utilize to transfer your data. For example, you can utilize Google Drive to store your information. You can save photos, music, and documents in your drive, then log in to your new phone using your account and all your information is available in your new phone.
You can also back up your contacts in Google Drive and restore them in the new phone. Google Drive is for Android. If you are using an iPhone, you need to use iCloud to back up and restore your data.
c) Use sharing apps
There are applications you can use to share data between devices. We have Bluetooth, which is usually embedded in a phone. Other transfer apps include Flash Share, Xender, and SHAREit. However, sharing apps are tiresome as you need to send data in bits.
Carriers That I Can switch to
There are various plans that you can switch to as we speak. Some give you cell phone plans with free phones to enjoy their services. The following are some of the service providers you can utilize their services today.
1) AT&T
AT&T is among the largest service providers in the US. It offers various services such as data connectivity, voice call, and SMS. AT&T offers various plans such as the $30/mo. for 5GB of high-speed data with unlimited talk, text, and 5GB high-speed data, and $50 per month per line when you get four lines with unlimited talk, text, & high-speed data, among others.
2) Verizon
You can switch to Verizon, come with your phone, and enjoy plans such as the Get More Unlimited plan that gives excellent connections under the 5G network.
3) T-Mobile
T-Mobile is among the largest service providers in the US that you can join today and retain your phone. It has various T-Mobile plans such as Magenta® MAX, Magenta®, Essentials, Magenta® Military, and Magenta® MAX Military.
Final Thoughts
A carrier is a telecommunication company that offers cellular connectivity services such as texting, calling, and data connections. You can switch to a new service provider with your current phone and number or buy another phone, then transfer data from the old phone to the new one. When switching to a carrier, you should consider coverage, costs of plans, customer care, and connection speeds. The best carriers you can switch to include AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.