When the port completes your MetroPCS account will be cancelled and current days of service and any cash balance you have on the account will be lost. You need to activate a new MetroPCS SIM on a new number before you initiate the port so you will have a working phone to forward your Google Voice number to. A caveat is that the phone is still locked to T-Mobile.

Understanding the Context

What if you need to have it unlocked? I read the unlocking policies of both T-Mobile and MetroPCS and it seems both will refuse to unlock it, T-Mobile because it needs to be activated on their network for at least 40 days, MetroPCS because the phone is not one of theirs. MetroPCS - Anyone ported their MetroPCS number over to Google Voice ... The MetroPCS MSL calculator will let you put in your phone's unique ESN (electronic serial number) and gives you back your MSL (Master Subsidy Lock).

Key Insights

A subsidy is a cell provider, like MetroPCS. Anytime you see someone asking for an "unlock code" this is what they are talking about. There are many online businesses that offer this service at a ... Discuss flashing phones and PDA's from other CDMA carriers over to the MetroPCS network. I can't really find a better place to ask this so I guess it shall go here.

Final Thoughts

Can I bring a T-Mobile locked phone to MetroPCS? Would I have to go through the trouble of having the phone unlocked or can MetroPCS run it? The phone in question would be a iPhone 5C. Which one is MetroPCS since they have partnered up with T-Mobile, are they GSM or CDMA? Before they merged with T-Mobile, they were a CDMA/LTE carrier. After merging with T-Mobile, T-Mobile shut off their CDMA network and metroPCS is now a GSM/HSPA/LTE carrier (same network as T-Mobile).

Most phones (especially the new ones) sold by T-mobile/MetroPCS will work in Canada and Mexico. Of course the T-mobile phone needs to be unlocked to work on Metro, for some reason, but that's the way they have it set up. When purchasing a non-carrier specific/unlocked phone, as long as it works on T-mobile/MetroPCS, it will work in Canada and ...