Straight Talk

The reason a Straight Talk phone on the Verizon network won't work in all of the Verizon places is fairly simple to explain. Straight Talk (thru Verzion), as well as MOST other Verizon Pre-Paid carriers (aka MNVOs) (Verizon Pre-Paid, Page Plus, Puppy Wireless, and others) uses the Verizon Pre-Paid Network. The co-worker standing next to you pays his bill to directly to Verizon and as a result, gets the entire Verizon coverage area, including roaming (Post-Paid). It is simply a matter of the Verizon Pre-Paid network versus the Verizon Post-Paid network. Go to the Verizon Wireless website and look at the normal coverage area, then click the button labeled "Pre-Paid". Those areas in GREY will not have cell coverage on most of the Pre-Paid MNVO networks.

You don't think this is significant? Here are some examples of the Pre-Paid vs Post-Paid areas. If you have a Verizon Pre-Paid phone with almost any Verizon MNVO, you will not have coverage from the KY/TN state line on I-65 going north until you get to the 100 or so mile marker (that is Bluegrass Cellular territory and Verizon is roaming). Also, I-81 from the VA/WV state line going north through Maryland to the PA state line, you will not have coverage (Verizon roaming). Last example, going west of Springfield,IL on I-72/US 36 into Missouri will have no signal on the MOST pre-paid Verizon MNVO networks because Verizon roams on the US Cellular network.

In all 3 areas mentioned above, if you have a Verizon Post-Paid plan, you would get service in all 3 areas.

To the best of my limited knowledge, the only Pre-Paid Verizon MNVO that you will have service at no additional cost (won't charge you to roam) is Selectel. For whatever the reason, when Selectel started, they were allowed use of the full Verizon network.

 

rabbi, can you explain how you are using a CDMA phone on a GSM network? I'm certainly not saying you can't do that, I just wondering how, as the network technology is completely different. The only ones I was familiar with was the 2 mentioned. I'm guessing it has to do with the 4G sim cards, but I'm not sure.