(2016) Samsung Galaxy J7 $99.00 -OR- $FREE with In Store Port-In @ MetroPCS, Deal Includes ZTE ZMAX Pro

Just called up a couple corporate stores, and they are denying Google Voice now too. A rep at the 3rd party store I went to also said they got an email yesterday (3/14/17) saying to deny all VoIP numbers.
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PSA CAUTION: METRO CORP STORE HAS CAUGHT ON WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO MOVE NUMBERS FROM VIRTUAL NUMBERS ie VOIP numbers. I know a metroPCS manager and he/she has told me they will deny the port. Your best luck might be with a dealer. The manager says they will still do google voice ports but not other VOIP numbers. -DEEE

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pros/Cons (Note that MetroPCS sells the 2015 styled version of J7, and not 2016):
+ NFC
+ ANT+ support
+ Removable battery
+ More LTE bands supported
+ Front-facing camera has flash
+ Rootable (but will trip samsung knox, you cannot reset knox to original state thus voiding your warranty)
- No ambient light sensor
- No fingerprint reader
- No gyroscope
- 720P display

ZTE ZMax Pro Pros/Cons:
+ Fingerprint reader
+ 1080P screen
+ 32GB ROM
+ 6" screen
+ Gorilla Glass III
- No NFC support
- No ANT+ support
- Non-removable battery
- No way to root

Con:single band wifi <- this is incorrect. The MetroPCS version of J7 has dual band support. http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/...00tzwatmk/

Pro:supports band 12 (the 700Mhz Extended Range LTE)


Need a Phone Number to Use for the port-in credit? Two easy methods below...

>>For Google Voice it's a free phone number and $3.00 to unlock it.

*Some stores won't accept VOIP numbers from Google, even though they WILL successfully port-in. They prefer to port-in a number from another cellular carrier.

1.) Visit Google Voice and Sign Up
https://voice.google.com/about

2.) Transfer your number out of Google Voice

Your Google Voice number is automatically locked to prevent it from being transferred without your approval. Before you can port your Google Voice number to another service provider, you need to unlock it first

There is a one-time $3 fee to transfer your number out of Google Voice. For users who ported their mobile numbers into Google Voice, the fee is waived.
Unlock your number

Go to the Google Voice unlock settings page. Sign in to your Google Voice account if you aren't already signed in.
If you only have one Google Voice number, place your mouse by your Google Voice number, and click Unlock my number. If you have more than one number, from the dropdown menu, select the number you want to transfer, and click Unlock my number.
Click Continue.
To complete the transfer process with Google Voice, pay with your Google Account on payments.google.com.

Once you're done, your Google Voice number is ready to be transferred out.

With your new service provider: You can start the transfer process with your new service provider. Keep in mind that you shouldn't provide your Google account password to your new service provider. If you start the transfer process before unlocking the number, it won't work, and we'll email you with the unlocking instructions.

Google Voice
Account Number: Your ten Digit Google Voice Phone Number no spaces or dashes.
PIN: The PIN you set up to access voicemail.

Note: *** Google Voice - does not transfer instantly to the MetroPCS phone, so there may be upwards of 3-5 days delay in receiving calls or texts associated with a GV number.


>>Or go through TextNow:

(Updated ***TextNow is a MVNO of the Sprint Network***)


1.) Visit https://www.textnow.com

2.) After you sign up and confirm your email, the phone number will be active.

3.) Your Account Number will be "1" + the 10 digit phone number you get. The account code will be the last 4 digits of the phone number. This is what you will need to bring in for port-in information.

Example: if the phone number assigned by textnow is 444-555-6666, then your account number will be 14445556666 and the pin be 6666*. Textnow states that the official pin for porting out is "1234" , but it seems like using the last 4 digits of the phone number works fine.

4.) If they ask for a ZIP Code at MetroPCS during the port in for textnow, it's 80304.

5.) Textnow Numbers will port-in, just make sure to sign up for the number on the website first, and not through the Android/iOS app. You can install the app after signing up if you want.

6.) Forum posts indicate that this method of getting a port-in number, although completely free, does not transfer instantly to the phone, so there may be a couple days delay in receiving calls or texts associated with a textnow number.


>>>alternatively,
if you (or anyone) has an unused (can be super old 3g) sprint phone, you can sign up for ting through any of the $25 referral links (you can find online looking for ting referral on google) with the sprint phone,
get a new # and port 5 minutes later.
Ting account should show no charge and you should still have your $25 credit... rinse and repeat (plus your sprint phone will already be listed as inactive and you can just activate and get new number if you need to do again later that day or the next day).

Remember, for this you need a old/dead sprint phone ESN.



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Search MetroPCS.com for dealer locations, check for "corporate" stores and try visiting them first! But if you only have authorized dealers in you area, make sure you are prepared...

A few updates on what to expect in store if the dealer wants to be difficult (heads up)...

Since a majority of MetroPCS stores are authorized dealer franchises and not corporate, they are going to have different ideas of what will fly and not fly. Some are saints and some are snakes.

For the INSTANT rebate, it requires only the basic $30 service, the dealers and salespeople probably make a better commission and spiffs when they sign people up for the $40, so that's what they are going to push, even though that's not required by MetroPCS. Dealers have to make a profit so this is understandable. If you really want the push the issue, have them check the rebate details while you're at the store and mention that it doesn't say anything about any service minimums on MetroPCS's website with regards to the rebate. (It just requires a number port-in)

You don't have to buy any accessories like cases or screen protectors or handset insurance to qualify for the INSTANT rebate.

*Update* For TextNow port-ins, it's easier to tell them the provider is Sprint (Prepaid)
Some dealers aren't accepting Textnow phone numbers for the port in credit because of the company name. TextNow is an MVNO of Sprint. Tell the rep the carrier is Sprint MVNO when giving them the information for the port in. If the sales rep wants to debate, have them visit the Textnow website while in the store, so they can confirm first hand that Textnow legitimately offers Talk/Text/Data packages as well as offer phones at their website. If you install the textnow app on your phone, they can call your Textnow number while you are in the store. Textnow port-ins 100% will go through if the rep enters it correctly.

Taxes are going to vary county to county. Some places will charge and others won't.

There's a limit of 5 rebates per account and the offer is good until April 4th, or when stock runs out. You have a couple weeks to try other stores or stock up on hardware, if your in-store experience initially sucks.

Cash is KING! Walk in with a couple of 20's and 5's so you can be prepared to tell them "All I have is $30/$35/$40" etc. That will put a hard stop on the price.

And finally, worse case, while the lowest has been $25, it seems like the highest out-the-door price has been about $50, which is still an incredible value, since it includes a month of service and a really decent phone!

[Some have reported higher out-the-door prices - e.g., I paid $64: $30 monthly plan + $30 activation fee + tax. #MetroSupport told me that stores are allowed to charge activation fees.]

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