We have a Droid Bionic that's getting pretty old (for a cell phone) and I was reading a post here in the Technology Forum regarding upgrading hardware.It's my understanding that I can still purchase a phone for full retail, and transfer my current (unlimited) plan to that phone. Please correct me if I have that wrong.What does it mean when the phone is advertised as "unlocked"?I've been reading about simply swapping SIM cards, but I don't know how this works and what it accomplishes.We use PDAnet (paid version) and would have to have a phone that can run this software.I'm only interested in a phone with a removable battery, and one that has an HDMI port. It appears that I could purchase a phone from Amazon, Costco, or Verizon. Are there other vendors that are reputable? One last question, we're planning on traveling to Italy next year, when a phone is listed as "International" does that mean that it would work in Europe?I'm leaning towards the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, but I will look at all suggestions. This Bionic has been a great phone, but it's time to upgrade.Thank you in advance for your time.

I bought my current phone (LG G2) at Best Buy and they were able to activate it on my Verizon account without it affecting my unlimited data plan.As for which phones work with PDANet/FoxFi, here's the list: PdaNet+FoxFi Usage GuidantThe Samsung Galaxy S4 you mentioned is on the list!

Pda net is pretty much dead. All new smart phones have hot spot turned on. Swapping Sims is a simple matter. Heck the retailer you buy your phone from should be able to swap them in less than a minute. To do it open back remove battery slip Sim and phone card out slip them into the corrosion sing slots in new phone. This is for Android phones only.

strollin wrote:I bought my current phone (LG G2) at Best Buy and they were able to activate it on my Verizon account without it affecting my unlimited data plan.x2 for Best Buy. They were able to set me up, also with a G2 on Verizon, without altering my very old service plan. I think I paid $99 for the phone and $35 for activation, far less than the $600 retail price for the phone.Unlocked refers to GSM phones... T-Mo and AT&T subsidized phones (free / cheap on contract) are locked phones, so you can't switch between carriers while on a contract. Once your contract is done, the carrier must unlock the phone at your request (and they can charge for that unlock.)If you're on Verizon, the phones are not locked per-say, they're just proprietary to the Verizon network - the fancy features like 4g data, video calling, etc will only work on Verizon's network. Many of their high end phones have an unlocked GSM module as well, mainly for international usage. For example I can pop an AT&T sim into my Verizon phone and use it on the AT&T network (also works in Canada.)

donn0, you typed: "Pda net is pretty much dead. All new smart phones have hot spot turned on"I'm don't understand why Pdanet would be dead, can you add more info? Thanks, we have a Best Buy about four hours from here.

How much data do you actually use?

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strollin
Explorer
Jun 12, 2015
I bought my current phone (LG G2) at Best Buy and they were able to activate it on my Verizon account without it affecting my unlimited data plan.

As for which phones work with PDANet/FoxFi, here's the list: PdaNet+FoxFi Usage Guidant

The Samsung Galaxy S4 you mentioned is on the list!
donn0128
Explorer II
Jun 12, 2015
Pda net is pretty much dead. All new smart phones have hot spot turned on. Swapping Sims is a simple matter. Heck the retailer you buy your phone from should be able to swap them in less than a minute. To do it open back remove battery slip Sim and phone card out slip them into the corrosion sing slots in new phone. This is for Android phones only.
GordonThree
Explorer
Jun 12, 2015
strollin wrote:
I bought my current phone (LG G2) at Best Buy and they were able to activate it on my Verizon account without it affecting my unlimited data plan.

x2 for Best Buy. They were able to set me up, also with a G2 on Verizon, without altering my very old service plan. I think I paid $99 for the phone and $35 for activation, far less than the $600 retail price for the phone.

Unlocked refers to GSM phones... T-Mo and AT&T subsidized phones (free / cheap on contract) are locked phones, so you can't switch between carriers while on a contract. Once your contract is done, the carrier must unlock the phone at your request (and they can charge for that unlock.)

If you're on Verizon, the phones are not locked per-say, they're just proprietary to the Verizon network - the fancy features like 4g data, video calling, etc will only work on Verizon's network. Many of their high end phones have an unlocked GSM module as well, mainly for international usage. For example I can pop an AT&T sim into my Verizon phone and use it on the AT&T network (also works in Canada.)
Bull_Rider
Explorer
Jun 12, 2015
donn0, you typed:

"Pda net is pretty much dead. All new smart phones have hot spot turned on"

I'm don't understand why Pdanet would be dead, can you add more info?

Thanks, we have a Best Buy about four hours from here.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 12, 2015
How much data do you actually use?
Executive45
Explorer III
Jun 13, 2015
I have Verizon with unlimited data. I just purchased my new phone off eBay. $250 vs $700. I pulled the sim out of my old phone, transferred all the data etc. from old phone to new phone, put the SIM from the old phone into the new phone and all is good. Logged onto Verizon's site and the new phone is already listed....data plan is not affected....Dennis
larry_barnhart
Explorer
Jun 13, 2015
I use pda net when we travel using my HTC 4 g Verizon cell phone. I lost the unlimited data after the tech told me I would be able to keep unlimited. The 2 Gigabytes work ok but not for full timing use.

chevman
Bull_Rider
Explorer
Jun 13, 2015
2oldman: Not much when we're at our home, but when we travel in the winter we use 30-40 gigs a month. So I want to keep the unlimited.

Thanks Larry.

Thanks Executive, never though of ebay.
guidry
Explorer
Jun 13, 2015
Ditto for Best Buy. I didn't want to chance a Ebay or Craigslist phone. I paid full retail but it's a business write off anyway. We also use my hotspot when camping, Foxfi works great.
Klueck
Explorer
Jun 13, 2015
I recently bought a new phone from e-Bay. I got the same exact phone which may have been factory refurbished or may have been brand new. I believe it was brand new. All I had to do was move the sim card from the old phone to the new one. I was able to do that because I purchased the exact same phone, but if you get a different phone you may have to get a new sim card. I was told Verizon would do this for you free of charge. I have not lost my unlimited data.

BTW. Pda Net is not dead...at least it wasn't 2 weeks ago.

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