How to activate a T-Mobile G1 from home - no contract required

[Chris Davies]

T-Mobile has been turning several people away who are trying to purchase a G1 without signing a 2 year contract. T-Mobile stores have been instructed not to sell the G1 without at least getting a data plan contract signed because of the projected dem... Read more

[mZimm]

I can verify that this is possible. I didn't want to pay $300 plus tax and fees to add two years to my contract when my upgrade isn't elligible until February, so I ordered one from somebody who wasn't going to keep theirs. I received it and inserted my T-Mobile activated SIM and it has worked flawlessly. I also have not added unlimited data to my plan.

[weedee]

But you're a TMO customer. And you're inserting an unactivated TMO sim card. So you're still locked to TMO, no? I'm confused.

Basically, need to know if my UK sim card will work on this phone. thanks.

[mZimm]

Yes, I am a TMO customer. This method only works to activate the phone, it does not unlock it for use on other networks.

[TheMan42]

Not having the actual G1 data package will result in not being able to receive OTA updates for your phone.

[mZimm]

Originally Posted by TheMan42

Not having the actual G1 data package will result in not being able to receive OTA updates for your phone.

Yeah, I plan on adding it, I just have not called TMO to do so yet.

[Aze11]

Shouldn't T-mobile unlock the phone for you since you're already paying full price for it?

[BabieBoy2786]

Originally Posted by TheMan42

Not having the actual G1 data package will result in not being able to receive OTA updates for your phone.

Actually, The G1 can update over 3G and WiFi so it will not stop OTA updates unless you have no internet access. Since the phone is open source, the updates come from Android, not TMo...