Forum Discussion
Damaged Phone on Vacation
My phone accidentally got wet with salt water. Now it doesn't work. I am on vacation in another country and have no access to another phone to contact T-Mobile customer service. There are also no T-Mobile stores around. So I'm asking for help here.
If I go to a physical phone store and buy a new phone, can I switch that phone to my old phone number and account if I don't have another phone with which to contact a T-Mobile representative? Can I do it over wifi with my laptop?
Save that SIM card. Buy an unlocked phone and insert your SIM. If your phone is backed up to the cloud, it should restore over WiFi, provided it's the same ecosystem (Android vs iOS). You have two routes: 1) buy a cheap phone that will get you through your trip or 2) buy a replacement/upgrade for what got dunked. The choice is based on factors such as your pocket depth, possible insurance replacement, local tax rate and prices, and availability of US-compatible models. WRT the last, if you're buying a replacement/upgrade, you want to have bands N71 & N41.
Your phone is tied to the sim so buy an unlocked phone that is compatible with the Tmobile network.
