620s now the better deal that 520

[inteller]

deleted

 

[mase123987]

Aiowireless has lowered the price on the 620 to $99. Now that it is the same price retail as the GoPhone 520 this is safely the better phone!

Is it locked to AIO?

 

[WanderingTraveler]

Well, you do have the issue of location, and for some people, the 520 is the superior phone.

...I got my 620 for $250.
I'm happy for those who go get it at this amazing price. *sobs*

 

[WanderingTraveler]

Is it locked to AIO?

Most likely.

 

[mase123987]

No, it is locked to ATT. Aio wireless is just their mvno brand

I understand that. Boost and Virgin mobile are both Sprint MVNOs that are owned by Sprint. Phones can't be exchanged between Sprint and those services.

I would to make sure you are speaking from actual knowledge and experience and not just an educated guess.

 

[rkin92]

I understand that. Boost and Virgin mobile are both Sprint MVNOs that are owned by Sprint. Phones can't be exchanged between Sprint and those services.

I would to make sure you are speaking from actual knowledge and experience and not just an educated guess.

GSM Main Carriers/MNVOs work differiently than CDMA ones.

With the 521, supposedly locked to tmobile, I was able to shove a PTel Sim in (TMO MVNO) and get full service except for picture messaging.

Not sure if this 620 is locked with AIO. The PTEL phones were unlocked... not sure about other MVNOS.

Im not sure though, throwing my two cents in.

Also, phones from Sprint work on TING. But the Boost/Virgin ones are locked to their respective cariers.


Also side note... I see that you own a IdeaPad Y560P. Have you been having graphics card issues with yours? I have a Y460P (the little brother) and my graphics card is giving me errors, now on a Chromebook

 

[mase123987]

GSM Main Carriers/MNVOs work differiently than CDMA ones.

With the 521, supposedly locked to tmobile, I was able to shove a PTel Sim in (TMO MVNO) and get full service except for picture messaging.

Not sure if this 620 is locked with AIO. The PTEL phones were unlocked... not sure about other MVNOS.

Im not sure though, throwing my two cents in.

Also, phones from Sprint work on TING. But the Boost/Virgin ones are locked to their respective cariers.


Also side note... I see that you own a IdeaPad Y560P. Have you been having graphics card issues with yours? I have a Y460P (the little brother) and my graphics card is giving me errors, now on a Chromebook

I am pretty sure that Net10 branded phones can't be used on true tmobile/att service. My point is the same: I would like someone to actually confirm that an AIO branded phone will work with AT&T plans.

The y560p isn't used much anymore. The drivers have never been great but they work. Linux has always had major battery drain because of the video card.

 

[mogelijk]

From what I know, it is specifically locked to AIO. I was seriously considering a 620 as I would prefer it over a 520. While I was in the store, I tried my AT&T SIM in a AIO phone (though not the 620) and it did not work. Unfortunately I only had a mini SIM with me, not the microSIM needed for the 620. I've heard it confirmed by others that the phones (or most of them) are specifically locked to AIO. AIO policy requires at least 4 months of service on their network before unlocking.

 

[Lumia2012]

So what's the final verdict?

 

[KitN]

Just to completely quiet the naysayers and provide peace of mind to the people looking to spend their hard earned money, can you snap a few pics of your 620 running with an AT&T SIM in it? Thank you.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 521

 

[mogelijk]

The amount of speculation and misinformation in this thread is astounding. I have my ATT ST SIM in my 620 right now working just fine. Boost and other true Sprint mvnos can block off sets of esns to work only with there service because they can...and which is why I'll never buy a cdma phone ever. Aio has to work on att, therefore the Sims have to identify as att, just like my St does.

please don't post on here and talk out your *** just cause someone found a good deal on a 620 and it leaves you butthurt. I post on here a good deal and everyone rushes to pooh pooh it.....that is just stupid.

Thanks for adding more misinformation. While GSM carriers do not (at least typically) limit phones by ESN, that isn't the issue. The issue is whether the phone is locked to AIO -- and that can be done on GSM. More to the point, from what I've read of AIO service, they actually run their own network through AT&T towers -- their phones are technically not running on AT&T's network. Although I saw an explanation of exactly what they are doing, I didn't have the time or inclination to read it (and, atm, I can't find it). In any case, the reason for their own "network" is so that your speeds on AIO are throttled (max of 4 Mbps on HSPA+, 8 Mbps on LTE). Since they are running on a "separate network", despite using AT&Ts towers, they can lock the phones to their network.

From what I've gathered, not all the phones are locked to their network. I've not seen an explanation of what phones are locked (at least to AIO rather than AT&T). I think the question is, are some phone models (like the 620) not locked to AIO and others are? Or is it possible that the earliest phones (manufactured prior to the AIO network going "live) are not locked to AIO? It is possible, as I believe that the 620 was the first phone announced (or at least in the first group) for AIO, that they are all (at least currently) not locked to AIO. If so, this is great news. OTOH, I still think I would take a cautious approach to buying a 620 from AIO.

And, again, as has been pointed out, it should cost at least $155 to buy the 620 -- not just $99 -- as you can only buy directly from AIO and they require that you purchase your first month's service with the phone (either a $55 or $70 plan).

 

[mogelijk]

Just an update, I went into an AIO store this morning and tried out my AT&T SIM in an L620. When the 620 booted up, it immediately went to a screen to enter an unlock code to use the SIM card. Granted, this doesn't mean all L620's at AIO are locked, it could just be the demo phone, but I wouldn't depend on the phone being unlocked. Additionally, apparently AIO is now charging an activation fee again, which they were waiving previously. So the cost to walk out the door with a 620 is around $190 plus tax ($99.99 for the handset, $55 for first month service, $35 activation).

 

[fatclue_98]

I don't know if AIO L620s are locked or unlocked, I do know that it is a better phone than the 521. I bought the 521 at Wal-Mart and popped in my Simple Mobile SIM. Everything worked except Internet Sharing. Since I need it, I went ahead and got a month's worth on T-Mobile and it worked immediately. I know that the 521 needs at least a month of service on T-Mobile and that's fine. The $50 plan is ok but speeds drop off into EDGE after only 250 megs which is nothing. For $5 more, I get 2 gigs of 4G on AIO and Internet Sharing works as well. Right now, they're $99 for the 620 + $55 plan + $25 activation. Even though the 620 has a smaller screen (3.8 vs. 4), it feels like a lot better phone and has a flash. Definitely snappier and a sharper display. Just my opinion anyway.

 

[mogelijk]

My issue with that is that the speeds on AIO are throttled to a max 4 Mbps (on HSPA+). For another $5 you can get a Gophone plan that gives you 2 GB unthrottled (on the 520, a theoretical maximum of 21 Mbps). And, if you don't need talk minutes, you can get 100 minutes talk, unlimited text and 5 GB unthrottled data on T-Mobile for $30. Not to mention all the T-Mobile MVNO's that offer "unlimited service" (with at least 2 GB of unthrottled data) for between 40 and 50 dollars. I just question if I could live with AIO, even if just for the few months to get the phone unlocked, when there are so many better options out there for a similar price.

 

[alexloe]

AIO Wireless Lumia 620 is locked to IMSI ranges:

310150
310980
311180101