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Nextel Prepaid Wireless

by Don
(Boston)

Boost Mobile Starter Kit

I've heard, and seen people with Nextel phones that are on a prepaid wireless plan. But when I go into the Sprint Nextel store asking for Nextel prepaid wireless, they just tell me that it's not available. When I explain that I've seen others that have it, they just tell me that it's not authorized, and that they can't help me. Do you have any tips, tricks, or comments about this?

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Nextel Prepaid Wireless

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Mar 06, 2010

128K SIM
by: Oliver

Most of the Boost Sim cards are still 64k and the I-930 needs a registry hack to address the new SMSMC.

Mar 05, 2010

128K Boost SIM
by: PrepaidWirelessGuy

Good info Oliver; thank you. 128K starter kits are available for $10 I believe, and sometimes you can find them for less. A Sprint store should be able to help transfer contacts from to the new SIM. You may lose the phone number though (unless you port it out to another carrier and then back in), and there's typically a $15 reactivation fee.

Mar 04, 2010

I-930 on Boost
by: Oliver

The issue with this particular phone is based on the Boost Sim Card. You can't use their 64k sims on a phone that requires 128k SIM cards. There is no fix for the I920 or I930 unless you have a 128K SIM

Mar 04, 2010

Boost Text Issues
by: PrepaidWirelessGuy

My understanding is that using an unlocked Nextel phone with Boost service can experience issues, particularly as it relates to MMS services. Unless someone responds with a fix, I would suggest calling Boost, as this is a known issue. Have you tried a master reset?

Mar 03, 2010

Not getting text on i930 with boost sim
by: Hayley

I noticed that some of you have the i930 and use it sucessfully on Boost. I would like to know how you get your texts? I am using the i930 with a BOOST Sim card and I can not get any text messages. Please help!

Jul 27, 2009

Reboot system after driver installation
by: Oliver

Make sure to reboot your system after you install the Motorola drivers so your system will fully recognize them. If you can disable wifi, please do because it may have priority and you would have to disconnect first before logging on via Nextel/Boost.

Also the speed is not broadband (24KB) but you can't beat the reliability of THE network.

On another note, if you use Outlook and want to continue your home ISP's email service, please make sure to change the SMTP outgoing port from 25 to 587 and check secure log-on for your SMTP server. NO ENCRYPTION!

Enjoy the "ride" on BOOST UNLIMITED.

---

P.S. Boost CDMA is your best bet if you need speed.

Jul 27, 2009

Using Boost for internet
by: Lucious

Oliver, help me out!!! I took a Boost i465(clutch) and hooked it up to my laptop with Vista. I did what you said, left the username and password blank, and S=2 for the phone number. It authenticated fine and after a couple of tries I got local AND internet in my lower left hand corner. However no matter what I tried, I could not get an internet browser to open. I ran network diagnostics and they did not help. If you can, call me at 803-446-8050.

Anybody help!!!

Lucious
Midland PCS

Jul 16, 2009

IM240
by: Oliver

The IM240 data card is really a big help in the daily urban jungle plus the price is unbeatable. Sure I own a Sprint USB modem but in the car, for simple email or web surfing. Plus it works just fine in Mexico (Baja) with BOOST.

Now do the math:

Boost Mobile Internet is about Dial-up speed but you don't really care for the price:

According to the Boostmobile.com website they charge you $.35/day for web access. In reality it's free because they don't track your traffic. I used to pay about $10/month for the data card and deactivated the web access for a few days while away on business in Europe. I returned and forgot to reactivate the web access on the website and guess what, it still works. So instead paying $10 for about 30 days, I pay now $10 every 90 days or about $3.33 per month.

The only issue I have sometimes with the Nextel network is that you can't use all websites that use HTTPS like sprint.com or some Bank sites. All other sites work just fine for me.

The only problem with the IM240 is the availability of the card. You have to look on ebay for some time before you find one.

I got my card about 4 months ago and have been looking for some additional cards for backup but not much luck. You can also use the IM1100, which is the other data card available for Nextel but that card needs to be charged and you can't use it 24/7 like I use my BOOST / Nextel card.

But even if you don't use a data card and got one of the new Nextel / Boost phones, the Internet is available to you for free! Just connect the phone with your PC (Windows XP may require the free Motorola driver - Vista works just fine) and you are almost done. All you need is to connect the phone via USB cable and establish a new dial-up connection. Leave username and password blank and the phone number will be: S=2 and welcome to the Internet.

Not even MetroPCS, Cricket and Co can beat Nextel / Boost, especially since MetroPCS in Los Angeles is just 1x and not even EVDO.

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Jul 16, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Oliver

Title

Comment
The IM240 data card is really a big help in the daily urban jungle plus the price is unbeatable. Sure I own a Sprint USB modem but in the car, for simple email or web surfing. Plus it works just fine in Mexico (Baja) with BOOST. Now do the math: Boost Mobile Internet is about Dial-up speed but you don't really care for the price: According to the Boostmobile.com website they charge you $.35/day for web access. In reality it's free because they don't track your traffic. I used to pay about $10/month for the data card and deactivated the web access for a few days while away on business in Europe. I returned and forgot to reactivate the web access on the website and guess what, it still works. So instead paying $10 for about 30 days, I pay now $10 every 90 days or about $3.33 per month. The only issue I have sometimes with the Nextel network is that you can't use all websites that use HTTPS like sprint.com or some Bank sites. All other sites work just fine for me. The only problem with the IM240 is the availability of the card. You have to look on ebay for some time before you find one. I got my card about 4 months ago and have been looking for some additional cards for backup but not much luck. You can also use the IM1100, which is the other data card available for Nextel but that card needs to be charged and you can't use it 24/7 like I use my BOOST / Nextel card. But even if you don't use a data card and got one of the new Nextel / Boost phones, the Internet is available to you for free! Just connect the phone with your PC (Windows XP may require the free Motorola driver - Vista works just fine) and you are almost done. All you need is to connect the phone via USB cable and establish a new dial-up connection. Leave username and password blank and the phone number will be: S=2 and welcome to the Internet. Not even MetroPCS, Cricket and Co can beat Nextel / Boost, especially since MetroPCS in Los Angeles is just 1x and not even EVDO.

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Jul 16, 2009

Getting Nextel Prepaid Wireless Service
by: PrepaidWirelessGuy

Oliver - Your post is extremely useful; thank you! I hadn't heard of the IM240 data card. Do you still find it pretty useful despite it not being high speed broadband? I expect you do or you wouldn't have said you're still using it ;-).

SIM swapping definitely is a good suggestion. I believe that Boost will also allow you activate an old Nextel handset using a Boost starter kit. You can get these from dealers (or from their website). They come with $10 of credit. It's actually a good deal for Boost b/c they get a new activation without having to subsidize the purchase of a new handset. Even for zero subsidy phones, it's a lower cost of acquisition for them.

One thing to note, however, is that depending on the Nextel phone you have, and how it's provisioned, you may experience some issues with certain features. For example, my understanding is that MMS won't work properly on some Nextel handsets, and the message may not be deposited in the expected folder. You'll also be missing shortcuts to certain prepaid services like replenishment, etc., but I would expect you can probably live with such things.

But overall, the good news is that although Sprint doesn't directly sell Nextel prepaid wireless, you certainly have ways available to you to essentially get that service!

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Jul 16, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: PrepaidWirelessGuy

Title

Comment
Oliver - Your post is extremely useful; thank you! I hadn't heard of the IM240 data card. Do you still find it pretty useful despite it not being high speed broadband? I expect you do or you wouldn't have said you're still using it ;-). SIM swapping definitely is a good suggestion. I believe that Boost will also allow you activate an old Nextel handset using a Boost starter kit. You can get these from dealers (or from their website). They come with $10 of credit. It's actually a good deal for Boost b/c they get a new activation without having to subsidize the purchase of a new handset. Even for zero subsidy phones, it's a lower cost of acquisition for them. One thing to note, however, is that depending on the Nextel phone you have, and how it's provisioned, you may experience some issues with certain features. For example, my understanding is that MMS won't work properly on some Nextel handsets, and the message may not be deposited in the expected folder. You'll also be missing shortcuts to certain prepaid services like replenishment, etc., but I would expect you can probably live with such things. But overall, the good news is that although Sprint doesn't directly sell Nextel prepaid wireless, you certainly have ways available to you to essentially get that service!

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Jul 16, 2009

Nextel Prepaid
by: Oliver

Sprint Nextel is directly not selling any prepaid accounts but their subsidiary BOOST MOBILE does. However, BOOST MOBILE is not activating all old Nextel phones (like i930 or IM240 Data Card) but you can circumvent this problem easily. As long you can get your hands on an BOOST labeled phone, you will be able to activate your SIM-card. After the activation, you can swap your SIM-card into the phone of your choice.

I have one i930 on BOOST and I use with another SIM a IM240 data card for backup Email. Both work well and I have a stable network. Best is that BOOST is not charging for data (don't check the daily Internet) for some reason. Could be that their SMS traffic is running on their packet system and they don't register the traffic.

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