Flashing a phone VS Buying a new phone

Do I flash the phone I have with my current carrier or is it better for me to buy a new phone when I switch my service to Cricket? This is a very good question and it honestly depends on your needs. First, let me explain what flashing a phone means, then we will cover what factors we should consider when making this decision.

Flashing a phone is simply programming your phone so it looks for Cricket's towers instead of your current carrier's towers. When the programming is complete you should be able to dial *228 and your phone will go to Cricket Customer service. There are two types of flashing: Basic and Full. Basic flashing enables you to talk and text only. Full Flashing enables you to talk, text, send/receive picture messaging, and have internet access

The Pros of getting your phone flashed:

• You get to keep the phone you are familiar with. 
• You save a considerable amount of money switching services because you don't have to purchase a new phone You either pay $25 for the basic flash or $45 for the full flash plus tax.
• In most cases when you get a phone flashed you don't have to worry about losing your contacts or your settings on your phone. 
• You get most of the features on your current phone that all the other Cricket customers enjoy such as roaming, bluetooth, voicemail, call forwarding, three way calling, etc. 
• You get full support of your current phone as far as the flash is concerned. At Ring Ring Wireless our reps have knowledge of most of the phones on the market whether they are from Cricket or another carrier. 

The Cons of getting your phone flashed:

• You will not have insurance on your phone. If you lose your phone or it gets damaged, you will have to purchase another phone.
• No warranty on your phone. The flash is all that is guaranteed. If something happens and your phone is defective you will have to purchase a new phone.
• If you do a lot of traveling, you will be roaming even if you are in some Cricket Markets. For example if you are in Chicago, your flashed phone will be roaming. This is because Cricket uses the Triband technology in the Chicago market. 

When making this decision I usually advise customers it all depends on what you use your phone for and the funds you have available when making this decision. If you only use your phone for talk and text and use it primarily in Lincoln or Omaha, your best choice would probably be getting the basic flash for $25. This means you pay around $70 total to switch to Cricket. 

We are happy to answer any questions you might have concerning flashing or anything else. Just leave a comment here or give us a call at 402-438-0616.