Telstra Essential Smart (2019-2020) Questions & Answers

Thats a strange one. And I don't think it is the phone itself. This is either the network or the SIM configuration. The handset itself doesn't filter. You are using a Telstra SIM? Is the SIM new or the one you have had forever? I can ask a mate that is in Telstra what could be going on in the mean time.

It is a Telstra SIM, and one that I've had for probably 5 years or so!

What are you setting up? PIN is not required for any setup I can think of. Unless you are meaning the setup Wizard and then if you are going to setup a PIN then it is what you choose yourself. Some more detail will help solve this.

Thanks so much. I will pass that on. Makes sense

Hi, Sorry but the issue is not clear. If you are using the phone on the Telstra network then you don't need to unlock it. Unlocking it doesn't add frequencies to the handset so it will not be a great or even working experience if you try it on Optus or Vodafone networks, but on Telstra or an MVNO that uses the Telstra network like Belong, Aldi etc it would be fine. But if you are using a Telstra SIM card you don't need to unlock the phone.

That's exactly right. It's a Telstra phone trying to be activated on the Telstra network. You still have to pay $80 to unlock. I want to know why!

did you find what you were looking for? If not, I just saw this one on Amazon that sounds perfect for what you described
https://amzn.to/33dk7Rn

Got it but having trouble putting the SIM in. Waiting for info from their support.

If it is the Telstra Essential Smart 2 then look for the thumb nail slot on the side of the device low down that lets you peal the back cover off. From memory as I don't have that phone now.

thank you, cheers Rick .

All Telstra Prepaid handsets are locked to Telstra. They own the unlock codes. If you contact them and are nice about it, sometimes they help out and unlock for free, but approach them any other way and they will respond in kind. The thing is Telstra have subsidised the Prepaid devices so they own the unlock codes.
The cost to unlock reduces with time / age of the device so contact Telstra and see what the real cost is if any.

Once unlocked it should work on Spark / Skinny networks.

I had that problem with my old ZTEZIP. If you go to Setting Data Usage and somewhere in there you can turn off data roaming. send your question to help at end of this page

Id like to know the answer to this also. I’m looking at this exact phone for the exact same reason. Staff at Big W suggest it’s not possible from iPhone to android?? But if someone at an actual store such as Telstra or JB could actually provide customer service they MAY have a better idea.

You are using a Telstra SIM with it? It sounds like you have an Optus SIM in a Telstra device. Just need to confirm that the right type of SIM is in the device.

My mother just bought this phone for my nephew and he cant call out on it either. Telstra SIM in the phone too

Hi Melissa, Yes is the the simple answer. You just need to get it ported to Telstra or a MVNO who use the Telstra network (ie Boost, Aldi, Beyond etc) and you will get a new SIM card that can be either a standard (2FF), micro (3FF) or Nano (4FF) depending on the size card you need for your new device. The Telstra Essential Smart was replaced with the Telstra Essential Smart 2 and I am sure another new model will be coming.

Cheers,

Also this process works when changing to any carrier and not just Telstra.

Yes. If you connect it via Bluetooth to another device like a headunit or earpiece etc it worked for me.

No they are locked and they are designed frequency wise to work on the Telstra network frequencies. So If your carrier has 3G 850MHz for Voice and LTE 700MHz for VoLTE then it should work. You would also need to setup new APN's for data, MMS etc as well.

Not likely as most of the low cost Telstra models only have the Telstra frequencies and nothing like the frequencies or in some cases the radio technology that is used in the USA. Your best option is to purchase a cheap handset when you get a local USA SIM when you are in the USA. Go to best buy (basically the JB HiFi of the USA) and you can purchase both the handset and a SIM. But do look at where you are going to be travelling in the USA and pick the carrier that covers where you will be as the networks are not full coverage and once you know the carrier then pick a handset that will work for their networks. I have driven across and up / down the USA and even with my tech background it took some planning to try and have a mobile solution for the family.

is the phone a 4 g

testra essential smart a 4g phone

Possibly if that is all you need from it. Coles, Woolies and Auspost have them currently according to what I have seen online and shopping for them for neighbours to pickup... Key thing for all of us is the Reception as we all live in the country and need phones that actually can work with the low signal levels that we live with.

Thanks Teggie

Tricky. Had a mate do this and if you reset the device from recovery mode you will still need to know the code to get into the device as it is protected this way to stop thieves being able to get into or use a stolen Android handset. The only way into the device is to send it to the manufacturer for what they call Google Unlocking and you will need to provide Proof of purchase.

Thanks sounds good might give it a try can’t hurt