Ok, so I'm totally used to CDMA, obviously, but I've lived abroad and appreciated the beauty of just swapping SIM cards in when you're in a new country.
Is it possible to just swap SIM cards like GSM cards, or do you still have to call Verizon to activate? The reason I ask is, my father and I were going to swap Thunderbolts, but I didn't have time to call Verizon and do the ESN swap thing. Could we just have swapped SIM cards?
SIm card
SIM cards are for GSM technologies.... Verizon LTE is a GSM tech... And yes thats the theory, with Verizon announcing some day you will be able to use other networks LTE SIM cards in VZW phones. Sim card in your fathers phone gives you access to his google account and contacts.. unless you have transferred all google contacts to your SIM card.
It will only work with the sim you are given for the TB.
yareally said:
It will only work with the sim you are given for the TB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it. So the SIM is tied to the ESN somehow? Either way, they don't work like GSM sims.
they would most likely if the phone were entirely gsm, but since it's not. Like if you ruin the one you have, the only way to get a new one is directly from verizon and they can only be activated for the phone they are first put into.
dude no one here knows what they are talking about. if you swap sims with your dads phone then it should work fine. the phones will activiate with the respective phone number tied to your sim card. that is how you activate a replacement device as well. i just took my sim from my old phone and put it in the new phone and that is it. works JUST like GSM
ddarvish said:
dude no one here knows what they are talking about. if you swap sims with your dads phone then it should work fine. the phones will activiate with the respective phone number tied to your sim card. that is how you activate a replacement device as well. i just took my sim from my old phone and put it in the new phone and that is it. works JUST like GSM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that was true, I wouldnt have to replace my SIM card both of the times Ive sent my phone in for repairs. My service is still on, just switched to a different phone. The verizon rep I spoke with yesterday(One of the few that actually know what she was talking about) confirmed that the moment that a phone gets disconnected the sim card gets retired. I dont know why, and I dont understand it, but thats the way VZW is rolling with it for now. As long as I dont have to pay for it, IDC. lol.
McLabia said:
If that was true, I wouldnt have to replace my SIM card both of the times Ive sent my phone in for repairs. My service is still on, just switched to a different phone. The verizon rep I spoke with yesterday(One of the few that actually know what she was talking about) confirmed that the moment that a phone gets disconnected the sim card gets retired. I dont know why, and I dont understand it, but thats the way VZW is rolling with it for now. As long as I dont have to pay for it, IDC. lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that must be because whoever is disconnecting the phone is killing the sim also for some reason. i have used the same SIM card in 2 thunderbolts and a samsung charge.
McLabia said:
The verizon rep I spoke with yesterday(One of the few that actually know what she was talking about) confirmed that the moment that a phone gets disconnected the sim card gets retired.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's just it. That rep doesn't know what they're talking about. If you get a replacement TB, nothing should be changed on the account - no phone gets "disconnected." You simply move the SIM to the new phone. Sounds like that rep thinks it should be like a CDMA phone, where the account is changed to reflect that the phone's ESN has been changed when swapping phones.
"the SIM card is portable and can be used in any Verizon Wireless-certified 4G device." - Verizon 4G SIM FAQ
mike.s said:
That's just it. That rep doesn't know what they're talking about. If you get a replacement TB, nothing should be changed on the account - no phone gets "disconnected." You simply move the SIM to the new phone. Sounds like that rep thinks it should be like a CDMA phone, where the account is changed to reflect that the phone's ESN has been changed when swapping phones.
"the SIM card is portable and can be used in any Verizon Wireless-certified 4G device." - Verizon 4G SIM FAQ
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive dealt with three separate reps on this issue and the result has been me getting a new sim card BOTH times Ive sent my phone in for repairs.
McLabia said:
Ive dealt with three separate reps on this issue and the result has been me getting a new sim card BOTH times Ive sent my phone in for repairs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you activate an old phone while waiting for repairs? That's really the only way your SIM would be deactivated.
knave68 said:
Did you activate an old phone while waiting for repairs? That's really the only way your SIM would be deactivated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did. Im still unsure of why they retire my sim though. All in order to send me another one that will sit here till my phone gets back. Why not just put it on hold or put it on temporary hold?
Sim cards work in any phone that will take them.
Just to put this one to bed--they work just like GSM SIM cards. I swapped my SIM between another Thunderbolt and a Charge, and it worked perfectly every single time.
Related
I bought my Vibrant off-plan, then swapped in my SIM from my G1.
This means Android doesn't know my phone number. Does anyone know how to set this? Apps like Nimbuzz complain about the missing number.
What? Are you not able to make calls? I took my SIM card from my G1 to a Vibrant and worked fine. What happens when you try and put your SIM card in your G1? Does the # appear again?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=760222
maybe. he say in settings -> about phone -> status-> my phone number. i have my off plan too n i have some problems with some applications that say. idont. have a phone number
smerff said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=760222
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, that's it. I'll try the OTA activation message thing. Thanks!
I had this problem on my MYT3G. TMO support was not able to assist.
I finally found a solution here on XDA. (cant find the link right off hand)
I removed my SIM,
powered up the phone
shutdown the phone
installed SIM and voila.... My number now shows up on the phone.
I had this a couple of years ago with my G1. I called T-mo, let them know... 5 minutes and a reboot and it was showing up, no problem. Just call T-Mo...
Thanks again smerff, that worked and the T2 support lady fixed my friend's missing number on the same support call. Can't argue with that!
Mine had always been like this, in my old G1 and now. Figured it was my sim card, I never looked into it though. Maybe I'll call Tmo and see what they day.
Sent from my SGS Vibrant
This was like this for me with my old SIM card (had it since the days of the first PocketPC Phone Edition from like 2002). Replaced the SIM for other reasons with a brand new one and now my phone number shows up. Don't know if that was the reason or not.
The tmobile rep told me that they were duplicating old sim data to new sim cards for issues just like that. Don't know how that would affect anything or why. Just an idea.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
my thunderbolt similar just went bad when switching between my thunderbolt and incredible. I did not hit *228 on my thunderbolt which makes your similar bad. the tech support Guy said once you activate another phone, the similar goes bad. is this true? if not l, what's the easiest method to do this?
What's a similar
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
1234567188 said:
What's a similar
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My guess is he means Sim [card] and it's autocorrecting to similar
To OP: You're stuck, at least as it comes to your 'bolt, for the time being. You CAN activate another phone on your plan (like your inc) but the only phone on VZW that uses a sim right now is the 'bolt, so you will have to take it in and get a new SIM card, or have VZW send you one.
I don't have personal experience, as I haven't switched back from the 'bolt to a non-LTE phone yet.
So with the new SIM card, it is my understanding there is no need for activation anymore, correct? I had to have my first 'bolt replaced due to mic issue, and when I popped the SIM in the new phone, it just worked. I have never activated it. Any info if this is the case with all phones that will have a SIM. If it is I am so totally getting an Xperia play, if it has a SIM slot.
madfatter said:
So with the new SIM card, it is my understanding there is no need for activation anymore, correct? I had to have my first 'bolt replaced due to mic issue, and when I popped the SIM in the new phone, it just worked. I have never activated it. Any info if this is the case with all phones that will have a SIM. If it is I am so totally getting an Xperia play, if it has a SIM slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right - the SIMs, as they stand, are interchangeable between 'bolts. No more activation or other things, but it won't work with just any phone - it has to be a Verizon network phone because the tech for 4G is different (it's not like when people could swap sims between ATT and TMo phones) - so, right now, since the Thunderbolt is the only 4G phone on Verizon, swapping SIMs will only work with other Thunderbolts
VZW explained it to me this way .... when going from a 4G LTE device to another 4G LTE device there is no activating anymore, you simply drop in your sim card. But, if you activate a non 4G LTE phone on your account that will deactivate your sim card and will require you to return to the store for a new sim card. This was in response to me asking them if I could switch between my Droid and Bolt.
For once VZW was very helpful in store. I normally don't go to the brick and mortars but being new to 4G I had questions I needed answerd.
The SIM doesn't get "destroyed" and can be re-used.. but... you have to call Customer Service for them to enter the SIM number...
here is what I did...
When I first got my TB, VZW was having network issues, and it took well over an hour for my "activate device" request to "clear the switch" and the TB to become active.
Having intermittent data issues over the next week, I decided to swap back to my INC, wait, and later return to the TB... I thought maybe due to the network issues, the TB didn't get all its programming info "over the air" or something.
When trying to return to the TB via the Activate Device link on the My Account web site, after entering the MEID/IMEI... I got prompted about needing a SIM... so I enter the SIM number and got...
"The SIM associated with the SIM ID you entered cannot be activated at this time. Please contact Customer Service at 800-922-0204 for assistance."
CS rep couldn't help... she had me on hold while she got Tech Support...
They had to manually add the SIM number back on the account.
Moral of the story... if you activate an LTE device and remove it from your account to use a 3G device.. you'll have to call back in and manually switch devices if you want to go back to using the 4G device.
spyderman09 said:
Right - the SIMs, as they stand, are interchangeable between 'bolts. No more activation or other things, but it won't work with just any phone - it has to be a Verizon network phone because the tech for 4G is different (it's not like when people could swap sims between ATT and TMo phones) - so, right now, since the Thunderbolt is the only 4G phone on Verizon, swapping SIMs will only work with other Thunderbolts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The real reason you can't put your SIM in an ATT or Tmo phone would be the tech. ATT and Tmo use the GSM/UMTS/HSPA (3GPP) family for "2G"/"3G"/"3.5G" where as Verizon uses CDMAone/CDMA2000/EVDO (3GPP2). SIM cards are only on Verizon now that they're using LTE which is the next step in the 3GPP family but not quite 4G. Any phone made for AT&T or Tmobile is a "GSM" phone using the 3GPP family radios which are incompatible with Verizon's 3GPP2 network (towers). On top of that, they all use different frequencies. That's why unlocked iPhones can only use "2G" on Tmobile.
KidJoe said:
The SIM doesn't get "destroyed" and can be re-used.. but... you have to call Customer Service for them to enter the SIM number...
here is what I did...
When I first got my TB, VZW was having network issues, and it took well over an hour for my "activate device" request to "clear the switch" and the TB to become active.
Having intermittent data issues over the next week, I decided to swap back to my INC, wait, and later return to the TB... I thought maybe due to the network issues, the TB didn't get all its programming info "over the air" or something.
When trying to return to the TB via the Activate Device link on the My Account web site, after entering the MEID/IMEI... I got prompted about needing a SIM... so I enter the SIM number and got...
"The SIM associated with the SIM ID you entered cannot be activated at this time. Please contact Customer Service at 800-922-0204 for assistance."
CS rep couldn't help... she had me on hold while she got Tech Support...
They had to manually add the SIM number back on the account.
Moral of the story... if you activate an LTE device and remove it from your account to use a 3G device.. you'll have to call back in and manually switch devices if you want to go back to using the 4G device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your help, looks like i gotta call them in the morning .
Originally Posted by KidJoe
The SIM doesn't get "destroyed" and can be re-used.. but... you have to call Customer Service for them to enter the SIM number...
here is what I did...
[snip]
CS rep couldn't help... she had me on hold while she got Tech Support...
They had to manually add the SIM number back on the account.
Moral of the story... if you activate an LTE device and remove it from your account to use a 3G device.. you'll have to call back in and manually switch devices if you want to go back to using the 4G device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jamezelle said:
Thanks for your help, looks like i gotta call them in the morning .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were they able to re-add your sim to the account? I had a Thunderbolt which I traded for another phone, and switched to a couple of 3G phones in the interim. The Verizon store person told me my sim would be good for 90 days if I got another Thunderbolt. So I did, popped in the sim, and called support to switch over from my Fascinate to the new Thunderbolt. They got tech support on the line, and I was told that switching to a 3G device from a 4G device causes the 4G sim to be "retired" and that I needed to have them send me one, or go pick up one at the store. So the story was different from what happened to KidJoe and I wonder what your experience was.
A couple possible reasons why my situation was different: It was not the same Thunderbolt the sim was originally in. Also it's possible in playing around with the new Thunderbolt, I may have done a *228 just to see what would happen. Someone else suggested that would tank the sim.
I plan to go the store tomorrow and see if they can resuscitate my old sim, or if they give me a new one.
I had activated my thunderbolt when I got it with no problems. I decided to switch back to my incredible for a day and the sim was deactivated. Vzw gave me the run around between going to the store and calling customer service for a few days then they finally said they would have to send me a new sim because as soon as I switched to the inc my sim was "retired".
droidmark said:
Were they able to re-add your sim to the account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. They were.
I did my switches only a few hours apart... (i.e. switched to INC, waited an hour, switched back to TB). And used the same phone and SIM. Not sure if that had anything to do with it.
There obviously is an inconsistency in VZW's system somewhere... the message you get when using "Activate Phone" on the my account web page to switch away from the TB says the SIM will be deactivated after 90days. But its being deactivated IMMEDIATELY. Either that message needs to be changed, or VZW's system isn't set up correctly.
droidmark said:
Were they able to re-add your sim to the account? I had a Thunderbolt which I traded for another phone, and switched to a couple of 3G phones in the interim. The Verizon store person told me my sim would be good for 90 days if I got another Thunderbolt. So I did, popped in the sim, and called support to switch over from my Fascinate to the new Thunderbolt. They got tech support on the line, and I was told that switching to a 3G device from a 4G device causes the 4G sim to be "retired" and that I needed to have them send me one, or go pick up one at the store. So the story was different from what happened to KidJoe and I wonder what your experience was.
A couple possible reasons why my situation was different: It was not the same Thunderbolt the sim was originally in. Also it's possible in playing around with the new Thunderbolt, I may have done a *228 just to see what would happen. Someone else suggested that would tank the sim.
I plan to go the store tomorrow and see if they can resuscitate my old sim, or if they give me a new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea that's what they told me, I ended up having to get a new sim from the store
I recently messed up my HTC Incredible and thinking about getting this phone off ebay/craigslist. My question is, is it easy to change the CDMA from phone to phone? I wasn't able to really see any instructions online specifically for these phones. Also, am I obligated to get a 4G enabled on the phone from Verizon?
Thanks
nocode99 said:
I recently messed up my HTC Incredible and thinking about getting this phone off ebay/craigslist. My question is, is it easy to change the CDMA from phone to phone? I wasn't able to really see any instructions online specifically for these phones. Also, am I obligated to get a 4G enabled on the phone from Verizon?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and yes.
Thanks - are there any tutorials on changing CDMAs? I'm having a hard time finding anything through Google.
What exactly do you mean by "changing CDMA's?" Do you mean switching the phones out on your line?
Yeah - I want to switch my line from the old incredible into a new phone. Should I just go to Verizon and have them program the new phone?
nocode99 said:
Thanks - are there any tutorials on changing CDMAs? I'm having a hard time finding anything through Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CDMA != GSM
I believe you might be confusing swapping out a SIM card for transferring your number to another phone. You can get the phone off of eBay or CL, go to your local VZW store, and just have them transfer your number to your new phone. I believe the TB should come with the 4G LTE SIM card (has nothing to do with a GSM SIM card). If not I'm sure when you go to VZW to activate the phone that they will give you one there.
g00s3y said:
CDMA != GSM
I believe you might be confusing swapping out a SIM card for transferring your number to another phone. You can get the phone off of eBay or CL, go to your local VZW store, and just have them transfer your number to your new phone. I believe the TB should come with the 4G LTE SIM card (has nothing to do with a GSM SIM card). If not I'm sure when you go to VZW to activate the phone that they will give you one there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd recommend going to Verizon because you need to get a SIM card to activate the device anyway. Head over there and tell them that you're switching your DInc out for the Thunderbolt and that you need a SIM for it. They can activate it on the spot for you.
Even if he did get a SIM card with it, that SIM is not tied to his number. I'd still suggest going to Verizon and letting them handle the situation.
As someone who just purchased a TB this way I can confirm: just walk into a corporate Vzw store and they'll give you a new sim (free) and activate your phone.
Kind of annoying having a sim like that, we used to be able to change equipment on he fly through Vzw.com or over the phone.
VZW's 4G phones still use ESN numbers too. The sim is just to get access to the 4G network. You will want to make sure the phone you are buying has a clean ESN number. If VZW has it flagged as stolen or something, they wont activate the phone for you and there's nothing you can do.
Got a lot of conflicting info on this.
1.Are different sims given for smart vs dumbphones? 3G vs 4G? Etc
Ie: will a smartphone not access 4g on a GoPhone sim?
2.Can a Rep on the phone identify your phone by the imei?
Thank you for any enlightening!
I may be wrong but I think the gophone sim works differently than a regular sim, there are att sims that say 3g but they work just the same as the new sim cards att is using, as far as the rep being able to tell ur phone make and model by the imei that's a yes for sure, they can detect what phone you have without you giving them that info and slap the $25 2gb data plan on your account.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
To put it simply- if the network system knows that X phone has X IMEI or even model code it shows when it connects (I777 vs say I9100) and its endorsed by them, then they'll know what it is.
Do you want to know this to avoid paying ridiculous data fees? If so, get an international unlocked/unbranded phone that your carrier never had/in their system. I've been milking dumbell data rates on my Nokia E series phones for years now and not because I use the balls out of the data, but to have that unlimited/cheap peace of mind.
When I upgraded from my Captivate to the SGS2, the AT&T clerk said I needed the 4G sim card and installed one.
retnuh said:
When I upgraded from my Captivate to the SGS2, the AT&T clerk said I needed the 4G sim card and installed one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I received the same treatment. With my last five phones, I've only been able to swap out the SIM cards twice — once because I bought a phone on Craigslist.
Really? I'm still on my, what is it, 4-5 year old 3G sim and no problems whatsoever.
Skv012a said:
Really? I'm still on my, what is it, 4-5 year old 3G sim and no problems whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on my old 3g Sim card as well but when i got the sgsii it wouldn't connect to the "phone" APN, i had to use the old "wap.cingular" APN. The old 3g Sims aren't provisioned on AT&T's network to access hspa.
Before getting a new Sim card, i would never get over 3Mbps down. Now i average 5 and on good days it'll peak to 7-10.
to answer the question about different Sim cards for smart phones or dumb phones; pretty sure they use the same card because when i went the other day to get a new Sim, the rep just grabbed one from a stack and activated it, there was only one stack. Also it would cost more and bee more confusing for them as company to do that.
And at&t can identify a phone over the network only if that phone is familiar to them. So if you bought an AT&T sgsii off craigslist/ebay/friend and plug in your Sim card, they'll be able to tell.
If you buy a phone that isn't sold/recognized by AT&T, most of the time they can't tell what the device.
A good check is after you put the Sim in your phone, wait a couple hours then log onto your account online and if it shows a picture of the phone your using, they can detect it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
I have this as a gophone. They gave me a normal sim card not the go phone sim card. It has hspa + also.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Well sim doesn't really determine what your plan allows you to do, so sims are dime a dozen. I may consider upgrading my sim if they'll be able to put my current number on a newer sim, else I'm not really concerned too much. (and, for your laughs, I'm still only using Edge to avoid having gutter battery).
bbubel said:
as far as the rep being able to tell ur phone make and model by the imei that's a yes for sure, they can detect what phone you have without you giving them that info and slap the $25 2gb data plan on your account.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is only partly true. IF you have a att phone they can detect what type of phone you have by your IMEI #. that number is cataloged in their systems however if you have a European phone or a unlocked phone from another carrier then no they cannot tell what phone you have.
as for sims there are 2 different types of sims (go phones I dont know) there is the regular sized sims and the micro sims. Micro's for att are used for iphone 4 and up and I believe they are the only phone for att that uses the micro sim. As for functionality of the sims no the old sims (3G) work with thier HSPA+ just the same.....
retnuh said:
When I upgraded from my Captivate to the SGS2, the AT&T clerk said I needed the 4G sim card and installed one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing when I upgraded. But my sim was a few years old and pretty scratched up from being put in different phones so I figured even if it would work it was time to be replaced anyway.
When I bought the sgs2 the clerk was surprised I still had my Cingular Sim card and suggested I get the new one. I got to keep my Cingular relic.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
The only problem I've run into is my mms stopped working a few days after using the phone and I'm on a gophone account. My inspire works fine. Not sure if they ran an imei sweep and the sgii doesnt play nice with gophone accounts. They still had my imei as an old nokia flip phone. You don't have to have data on a gophone, but if you want internet you'll need to buy a gophone data package.
You mean you need an unlimited $50 type GoPhone account right? No one needs a data account above and beyond that.
I bought a cheap GoPhone $50 plan today...using that sim in my Note AI get tomorrow.
gadget069 said:
The only problem I've run into is my mms stopped working a few days after using the phone and I'm on a gophone account. My inspire works fine. Not sure if they ran an imei sweep and the sgii doesnt play nice with gophone accounts. They still had my imei as an old nokia flip phone. You don't have to have data on a gophone, but if you want internet you'll need to buy a gophone data package.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To swap back and forth from one Rezound that I'm using to a spare Rezound, is all I have to do is swap the sim from one to the other??
that is correct
Via my HTC Rezound
According to Verizon that will brick the SIM card because the SIM is tied to the phone, the line the LTE phone is on, as well as the LTE system security, unlike GSM SIM cards which can be swapped around. When we bought my wife's rezound just changing the line it was on required a new card.
Also replacing any LTE phone with a 3G phone temporarily will kill the SIM card when you restart the LTE phone. I wanted to do this for kayaking, but no go.
You can of course put in a real GSM SIM card from another provider and then put the Verizon LTE card back in later. In this case Verizon doesn't "see" the phone on their network while you have the other card in place. When you put the LTE SIM back in it only looks like the phone has been off to Verizon
You'll get different answers from many Verizon emplyees because they are still learning the rules. Even the brochure the SIM comes on has a misstatement.
So I will need a new sim card for the second phone??
Sim
I switch my sim back and forth between my Rezound and Thunderbolt all the time. No problems works fine. I researched it your sim card can be used with any Verizon compatible device including tablets.
So you just swap cards, fire it up and you're good to go??
That's what I was hoping to do.
Correct. Just swap Sims. I do it all the time.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Yes it will connect to the, 4g soon as you boot
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
Yep I got a replacement from Verizon swapped my sim and was all good
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
hankvb said:
According to Verizon that will brick the SIM card because the SIM is tied to the phone, the line the LTE phone is on, as well as the LTE system security, unlike GSM SIM cards which can be swapped around. When we bought my wife's rezound just changing the line it was on required a new card.
Also replacing any LTE phone with a 3G phone temporarily will kill the SIM card when you restart the LTE phone. I wanted to do this for kayaking, but no go.
You can of course put in a real GSM SIM card from another provider and then put the Verizon LTE card back in later. In this case Verizon doesn't "see" the phone on their network while you have the other card in place. When you put the LTE SIM back in it only looks like the phone has been off to Verizon
You'll get different answers from many Verizon emplyees because they are still learning the rules. Even the brochure the SIM comes on has a misstatement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, don't know who lied to you.
When I bought my rezound, I swapped the sims of my tbolt and rezound and both worked, wife took the sim out of her bolt and put it into the backup bolt and it worked fine. After I fixed her phone, put it back in her original bolt and it worked as well.
The only time you kill the sim is if you activate a 3g device on that line. That will deactivate the sim.
nrfitchett4 said:
yeah, don't know who lied to you.
When I bought my rezound, I swapped the sims of my tbolt and rezound and both worked, wife took the sim out of her bolt and put it into the backup bolt and it worked fine. After I fixed her phone, put it back in her original bolt and it worked as well.
The only time you kill the sim is if you activate a 3g device on that line. That will deactivate the sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a vzw store probably told him that so they could keep charging him money for a sim card, lol
I have had my rezound replaced thru asurion and they sent me a replacement sim card also. I never even activated it I just took my old one and popped it in my replacement and turned it on no activation calls or nothing. So your sim should work just fine in swapping phones.