Lumia 640 T-Mobile USA

[WaverunningGeek]

Called Walmart today and it's still 0/0/0. May 30 makes sense since B&H is estimating May 29. Still kind of weird that Tmobile can't post a date so close to launch. Maybe they think it's building anticipation, but in reality it's just frustrating people to the point of buying other devices.

Also, called two different Tmo stores and they said they spoke to Microsoft reps yesterday who would not provide a launch date. So whoever commented on the front page is making things up.

 

[MBY]

I saw the email from MS today hyping the 640 - "It's here!" - and got excited. It is now available unlocked from MS but for something like $250. Hopefully TMo will follow suit!

 

[perpleSlerp]

I saw the email from MS today hyping the 640 - "It's here!" - and got excited. It is now available unlocked from MS but for something like $250. Hopefully TMo will follow suit!

$250??? What are you talking about? There is no way on earth the 640 costs $250 unlocked!

 

[essinger]

I saw the email from MS today hyping the 640 - "It's here!" - and got excited. It is now available unlocked from MS but for something like $250.

Hmm, I got the same email, but when I clicked the link I saw $129 for Cricket.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[MBY]

$250??? What are you talking about? There is no way on earth the 640 costs $250 unlocked!

There was a listing I found on Amazon. Right now it's more than the Blu Win HD LTE - probably not going to stay that high.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WT9R5FI...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUvbUpU3099690

 

[perpleSlerp]

There was a listing I found on Amazon. Right now it's more than the Blu Win HD LTE - probably not going to stay that high.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WT9R5FI...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUvbUpU3100274

That's sold by a third party stealer: FGS Trading. It's not the official price, the phone is not even released in the U.S, yet. I'm guessing the phone will be under $100 when/if released in the U.S. very few people are going to pay much more than that for that phone. It has fairly low end specs and a fairly low end look, though I'm sure it's built well. That's my opinion anyway. If the 640 XL is priced under $200, that might sell ok. I'm giving MS another week or so, if the 640 XL isn't available for sale yet, it's Zenfone 2 here I come. That phone for $200 is the best deal in brand new 2015 smartphones right now.

 

[Harry Wild]

Hmm, I got the same email, but when I clicked the link I saw $129 for Cricket.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

Yeah I got the same email and it say something about a 2 year contract in small print so I just skip and purchased a 735 RM-1039! I paid a little more then double compare to the cost of a Cricket 640 $129 but then it unlocked and I don't have to have a 2 year commitment!

 

[mark233]

...and purchased a 735 RM-1039!

You got yourself a fine device. The 735 is pretty awesome.

 

[onysi]

I personally drove to two wal-marts in my area.
Here's something I uncovered.

The barcode above shows the release date of the item, but both stores in my area are out of stock that means they may receive shipment sometime next week.

If you want to call before you go, give them the SKU # so they can search it faster. faster than saying "Can you find out if you have Lumia 640"

Good luck!

 

[Eric J F]

The tag on the hanger in the south Florida Walmart says '5/18/15,' so we're past that day. From what I understood from the department manager, that may be the target date for the display changeover.

 

[Elitewolf]

It's crazy how hard it is for people to get this phone. I can't help but lol. It's very unprofessional of tmobile.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

I've read this whole thread, having just become aware of the "pending" 640 yesterday. Not one poster seems to have taken into account that T-Mobile has to make this phone work with Wifi Calling. That feature is listed on their "Coming Soon" page.

Having said that, yes, MS and TM have this project on the very back burner. Yes, it's annoying, but you may remember a word not much heard of anymore: patience. Wah! Wah! (I think impatience got fully sanctioned with the "I want my MTV" ads a generation ago.)

Why so much space is wasted in this T-Mobile issue talking about buying Cricket phones, or Asian phones, or getting an unlocked phone, is beyond me. I've found the Asian ones on eBay for about $250, wow such a deal if the price eventually become $100-$130 as it appears it will.

I'm perfectly happy with my 810 except it doesn't have WFC, always a good phone card up the sleeve. I'm fairly happy with my 925's exept they SUCK as phones, very poor reception even after three visits to Nokia Repair. Even the WFC doesn't work right, when I dial out, I can't hear people answer or respond. And, yes, I have all the very latest updates. I'll presume that these issues have been fixed in the 640, and to get back the removable battery and a microSD card, it's all I need and want.

Better sell my 925's pronto!

 

[Musicman247]

Searched Walmart's website for Lumia 640 and came up with lots and lots of cases for the device, so hopefully the actual phone will be in stock soon. I too love my 925, but as a two year old device it's starting to show its age a bit. Wouldn't mind dropping $100 on this to hold me over until the new flagship launches this Fall. (Plus I doubt T-Mo will get the flagship anywhere close to launch.)

 

[bsipe9]

My wife just called said she found them at our local Wal-Mart. She's buying four for our family (replacing 810's, three of which our suffering issues). I'll Let you all know in a few hours when she gets home from her shopping "spree".

Edit: They're $99.97

Edit 2: Nevermind, this is what I get for trusting the wife. They didn't actually have them out, just the placeholders. She asked an employee for them and he said sure, went back to get them and brought out the 635's. Of course my wife doesn't tell me this originally, just says "hey, they've got them in stock and I'm in the process of buying four of them"...

 

[anon(6078578)]

I've read this whole thread, having just become aware of the "pending" 640 yesterday. Not one poster seems to have taken into account that T-Mobile has to make this phone work with Wifi Calling. That feature is listed on their "Coming Soon" page.

Having said that, yes, MS and TM have this project on the very back burner. Yes, it's annoying, but you may remember a word not much heard of anymore: patience. Wah! Wah! (I think impatience got fully sanctioned with the "I want my MTV" ads a generation ago.)

Why so much space is wasted in this T-Mobile issue talking about buying Cricket phones, or Asian phones, or getting an unlocked phone, is beyond me. I've found the Asian ones on eBay for about $250, wow such a deal if the price eventually become $100-$130 as it appears it will.

I'm perfectly happy with my 810 except it doesn't have WFC, always a good phone card up the sleeve. I'm fairly happy with my 925's exept they SUCK as phones, very poor reception even after three visits to Nokia Repair. Even the WFC doesn't work right, when I dial out, I can't hear people answer or respond. And, yes, I have all the very latest updates. I'll presume that these issues have been fixed in the 640, and to get back the removable battery and a microSD card, it's all I need and want.

Better sell my 925's pronto!

Well there is patience and then there is trying everybody's patience. This is more a case of trying everybody's patience. While a windows phone enthusiast may be willing to wait (and you can see it's trying even them), the average T-Mobile customer won't. This is supposed to be a phone to sway people from Android phones, but if customers keep seeing Lumia phones being announced and then only appearing months later, they'll think twice about getting one as it only adds to the impression that Lumia phones are a last thought, and soon they'll be abandoned. After all, T-Mobile have already launched a new low end LG phone in the time space since the announcement. The Lumia 640 may be superior but that won't matter to most people because of the app store and the fact that all their friends have Android. I'm curious though, does Wifi calling take longer to test and implement on a Lumia than it does on an Android phone?

I do agree with you that its silly buying a phone from a third party for double the price, especially when it's not 100% compatible feature-wise and will soon be on T-Mobile, even if it does seem like forever. I can understand for a device that is never going to be on T-Mobile, but not when it's going to be and especially at that price, but each to their own I guess.

Mind you, it also certainly doesn't help that the tech media always gives the impression (rightly or wrongly) that Microsoft is going to give up and drop Windows Phone at some point. I am willing to bet that this is probably a big part of the reason for the reluctance of customers to buy them. That and the fact that apps keep getting withdrawn from the app store only adds to this impression. Of course the apps being withdrawn isn't Microsoft's fault but the average customer won't see it that way.

I am really hoping Microsoft are able to turn the tide, as I'd hate to see Windows Phone disappear, but then again a while back I thought things were finally looking up when the app store was finally on it's way, only to find that it's seemingly going backwards now with apps being pulled.

Still there is light at the end of the tunnel, if what I am reading about a Walmart actually having sold a couple of Lumia 640 phones is true. If the Lumia 640 does become successful, what Microsoft and/or T-Mobile need to do this time is to actually have a follow up model ready this time. That was the problem with the 521 in that I remember there wasn't another low to mid range to jump to so the momentum was lost. Sure we need a flagship too, but remember a lot of users can't justify a high end device.

 

[Musicman247]

You're giving the average customer way too much credit. Most of the time when they go in for a new phone, unless it's been on TV a lot, they don't know what they want. They'll just say, "What do you have?" Not that many people are waiting for the 640 in the grand scheme of things.

 

[mary beth hale]

You're giving the average customer way too much credit. Most of the time when they go in for a new phone, unless it's been on TV a lot, they don't know what they want. They'll just say, "What do you have?" Not that many people are waiting for the 640 in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately I'd have to agree with you.

 

[Guytronic]

You're giving the average customer way too much credit. Most of the time when they go in for a new phone, unless it's been on TV a lot, they don't know what they want. They'll just say, "What do you have?" Not that many people are waiting for the 640 in the grand scheme of things.

I agree here...

Thing is for the Microsoft phone fan people particularly on this very forum we are privy to what may be on the horizon.

Remember when Mr. Elop took the stage there at the MWC 2015 then held the 640 up high above his head and continued about the phone and free 365 for all for a year?
We all thought we felt the resurgence of Microsoft Mobile and were supposed to drop to our knees knowing that the "flagships" were soon to follow.

Fast forward to now...the Microsoft fan people in the US are still being held hostage desperately waiting for a low end sub $200 dollar device.
We all know the carriers are the evil side in this debacle and I'm not sure who's tail needs to be kissed to fix this.

For me I vote with my money and if T-Mobile, AT&T or Microsoft refuse to kiss my tail to get it then I guess I'll look to the companies that don't mind kissing the tail of the consumer.

 

[anon(9435020)]

My wife just called said she found them at our local Wal-Mart. She's buying four for our family (replacing 810's, three of which our suffering issues). I'll Let you all know in a few hours when she gets home from her shopping "spree".

Edit: They're $99.97

Edit 2: Nevermind, this is what I get for trusting the wife. They didn't actually have them out, just the placeholders. She asked an employee for them and he said sure, went back to get them and brought out the 635's. Of course my wife doesn't tell me this originally, just says "hey, they've got them in stock and I'm in the process of buying four of them"...

LOL, you can't trust Walmart employees to know what they are talking about. I went in the other day and asked where the Windows phones were (they were redoing their displays) and the employee said "I don't think they sell those anymore".... ROFL

 

[KeegdnaB42]

As annoying as waiting for this thing is, we all have to remember it's still a budget device. It's a bigger deal to us because we've had a lack of good new WP devices for awhile, but in the grand scheme of things it's not really any different than any run of the mill cheap Android device. It's not being released with fanfare and TMobile isn't going to devote resources to holding to some exact set launch date.

​If we end up in the same situation when the new flagships launch, there will be cause for concern. However, I'm optimistic that won't be the case because Microsoft will put up the money to see the launch go off without the carriers messing things up.

For me personally, it just needs to be available by the 2nd week of June because that's when my sister will be in town and my family can switch from Verizon and I have to buy it direct from TMo in order for them to pay the switching costs.​ At this point in time, it sounds like they'll meet that deadline. I'm really only getting it as a stopgap until the 940 since we aren't waiting that long to switch but it'll be a good long term replacement for my mom and dad's 8X and 822