Tracfone SIM Card, How are They Special?

What is a Tracfone SIM Card?
A SIM card is the tiny little card you put in or is installed in the back of your phone.  It is only used in GSM cell phone systems.  It is normally installed under the battery.  It holds the information on how your phone will communicate with the cell phone tower, and the phone company that owns the tower and Tracfone.

SIM Cards
With most GSM phones you can move SIM cards from phone to phone and they will work fine.  To do this your phone must be Unlocked.  All of the information in dealing with the Cell phone Tower and the billing is on the SIM card.

This picture shows the SIM card where it fits under the battery.

How are Tracfone SIM Cards Different?
Tracfone SIM cards are different than other SIM cards.  The Tracfone SIM is locked to the phone that it is activated in.  You cannot move an activated Tracfone SIM card from phone to phone.  Before being activated you can put any Tracfone SIM card into any Tracfone GSM phone.

Can I use my T-mobile or AT&T Sim card in a Tracfone?
No You cannot use a different companie’s SIM in a Tracfone without a complete reprogram of the phone.  Even after reprogramming you will probably not be able to get a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM card to work in a Tracfone.

Can I use a Net10 Sim card in a Tracfone?
Before the SIM has been activated I believe you could use a Net10 Sim in a Tracfone or a Tracfone SIM in a Net10 phone but I am not positive.

You cannot move an activated SIM from either a Net10 or Tracfone Phone and get it to work in any other phone.  That is why after activating a Tracfone if you want to change the phone number Tracfone will send you another SIM card to activate, they will not reprogram the current one to another number.

This picture shows the Motorola W376, LG 225, and Motorola C126. All of these phones are GSM phones with SIM cards.

Are All Tracfones GSM Phones?
No, most Track Phones are GSM phones but in some areas they also sell CDMA Phones.  This normally is only in areas where the GSM networks of AT&T and T-Mobile do not work.

Buying Minutes Online
I always buy minutes online from Compare-prepaid-cell-phones.com.  Buying from this website allows me to both add minutes and check for bonus Tracfone coupon codes at the same time.  If one bonus code I try does not work then I can try another one.

How to Buy a Tracfone
I always recommend buying a Tracfone online to get the best deal.  The best deal on a phone will always include buying a DMFL phone and minute card at the same time.

Buy an LG 225 phone with One year card, 800++ minutes and free shipping at Tracfone.com!

You can also check out this regularly updated page to find the best Tracfone Deal.

How does Tracfone Prepaid Wireless Work?
Three steps.  First you purchase a Phone, activate it and then add a Prepaid Tracfone Card.  It is really simple.  You need to add a new phone card every ninety days to continue your phone working.  If you run out of minutes or service time your Tracfone Wireless phone will no longer work.  If you let Tracfone phone service expire or use every last one of your minutes, you will lose your number.  If you have given your number to a lot of friends this can be a major hassle.