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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
I just purchased a used Photon 4G. The phone works great but it did not come with the sim card. I would like to be able to use it overseas so I need the sim card. I went to my Sprint store and they told me they do not sell the sim cards.... I talked to Motorola and they told me to talk to Sprint... There are sim cards on the Internet, but I have no idea if they will work with the Photon. So.... Where can I buy the OE sim card for my Photon?
It's an unlocked sim port, so any provider sim will work, but keep in mind that at&t & t-mobile frequencies are blocked from being seen by the radio. Hopefully a dev will be able to rewrite the radio to pick them up.
So this one will work?
blakkheartt12 said:
It's an unlocked sim port, so any provider sim will work, but keep in mind that at&t & t-mobile frequencies are blocked from being seen by the radio. Hopefully a dev will be able to rewrite the radio to pick them up.
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprint-GLOB...140599083921?pt=SIM_Cards&hash=item20bc5bc391
So would this card work if, (when), I take my phone out of the country?
What are you trying to do? If you want to use the phone out of the USA for voice/data or mixed for inexpensive..Then purchase a pay as you go number and Sim in the country. If you want to use your USA number for very expensive then use that card.
Very simple.
DetroitFlyer said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprint-GLOB...140599083921?pt=SIM_Cards&hash=item20bc5bc391
So would this card work if, (when), I take my phone out of the country?
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That would def work but imo you are better off getting a prepaid sim from the country your going to. Costs would be A LOT lower
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Now this may be a stupid question but i just want to know why my photon has a sprint sim card in it? If i remove it the phone functions fine while the sim card is out..
Sent from my rooted mofo running on sprints 4g network
Thought some one said it was 4G wimax ???
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I always assumed that it was used if you went abroad and were roaming on GSM/UMTS (which requires SIM cards) -- so that those roaming charges would be charged to your Sprint account.
The phone is an international model with GSM capabilities. The SIM card is only used when roaming internationally.
goaliemn said:
The phone is an international model with GSM capabilities. The SIM card is only used when roaming internationally.
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...and can be swapped out for a local SIM card (which will get you a local number and cheaper rates) from whatever country you are in.
AGiLiT said:
...and can be swapped out for a local SIM card (which will get you a local number and cheaper rates) from whatever country you are in.
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I thought I heard that you needed to get Sprint to unlock it or root your phone in order to be able to use your own simcard, though.
menehune said:
I thought I heard that you needed to get Sprint to unlock it or root your phone in order to be able to use your own simcard, though.
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Nope; from what I've seen on numerous other forums, people have reported no problem in using pre-paid SIM cards overseas and it doesn't require any intervention by Sprint. The only issue is that it works for voice only; not data.
From the notes of the Feb. Sprint Advocacy Call:
What is Sprints policy of using pre-paid SIM card for international phones. (certain international phones such as the Photon does not save APN settings that do not use Sprint's MCC/MNC 310 and 120. This stops any attempt to use a pre-paid SIM for data in the Photon for example). Sprint claims it’s a Motorola issue and Motorola claims its a Sprint issue). The use of data for a business traveler or the occasional international traveler is important.
1. I actually brought this up to Art when I got my Photon, and the response he got from the product team was "Sprint does not lock phones". I've heard from several people who have traveled overseas that, yes, you can use a foreign SIM card for voice (you use the Sprint card if you want people to reach you on you normal Sprint phone #), but data does not work because of the reasons stated. The problem is that Sprint blames Motorola and Motorola, of course, blames Sprint. Data is important, so some resolution (or a better explanation) is needed.
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I believe that you need to contact Sprint to activate their sim card.
Sent from my Epic Touch running Blazer Rom via xda premium
deedscreen said:
I believe that you need to contact Sprint to activate their sim card.
Sent from my Epic Touch running Blazer Rom via xda premium
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Yes; if you're using your Sprint number, you will have to call Sprint to activate international roaming. The question though was about using a SIM card from an oversees carrier in the Photon.
AGiLiT said:
Yes; if you're using your Sprint number, you will have to call Sprint to activate international roaming. The question though was about using a SIM card from an oversees carrier in the Photon.
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Yes, the card if for calling internationally. The phone comes unlocked and you can put any international Sim in it. I can also confirm that it is quad band. I am currently using the phone in turkey with a local sim and didn't require unlocking
Sent from my Photon
I am using mine in Sweden on prepayed sim and voice and data works great
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I am completely stock:::: International sim cards work by simply"putting into the slot; nice and easy " thats what she said!! ..i used a telcel sim in Mexico with no issues for voice or text issues ( of course this depends on what type of service they offer with their sims. I was not able to use outgoing calls until i called their customer service and activated it) Also i was not there long enough to activate data ( nor did i find out if i could) but i was informed that you would need an apn app that can be found in the market such as APN global
Sent from the crapper
Because it's a world/international phone when you leave the us you don't have to buy a new phone!
Photon
Last fall I went on a vacation to Turkey and Bulgaria, I bought local sim cards and had no problems at all. However, photon sucks at auto detecting the apn which is used for 3g data. For that just find the apn codes by downloading the app "tweakker apn internet mms" or google what it is. Usually its easier finding it yourself because when I was in Turkey it wasn't that easy for me to find a tech guy at the cell phone store, especially one that read english.
it works fine in India (Voice and 3G Data) and I love this phone
As noted, the SIM card in the Photon is for international roaming use only.
It is not used to provision CDMA service. The two large US CDMA carriers (Verizon, Sprint) have made a decision not to use SIM cards to provision wireless service for their subscribers. Instead they essentially use the phone's serial number and associate it with an account and phone number.
up up.
china telecom's Uim card is Modified before they can be used for Photon 4g.
odd question, but can i activate the Sprint sim card and use it inside the US instead of internationally? then put said sim card in another gsm phone? and use current sprint plan, not international plans
eyeb said:
odd question, but can i activate the Sprint sim card and use it inside the US instead of internationally? then put said sim card in another gsm phone? and use current sprint plan, not international plans
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I don't think the Sprint SIM card will work inside the US.
I'm using a SIM card in Peru, voice and 3g data work without a problem. You just have to goggle search the APN settings of the operator that you are gonna use.
I'm looking to flash to straight talk using a donor phone, but I can't dial anything because I lack a SIM card. Is there a way to bypass the SIM check and just use cdma and 3g?
What is necessary to make this happen? If it's impossible without a SIM, do I just need a Verizon SIM card?
I really want to use this as my phone, but until I can get it to dial I'm dead in the water.
I have my fascinate on St right now, but have a brand new donor phone as well if I need it.
Anyone here who can help? I have the software, I just need to get over this hurdle as I've no idea where to find a previously activated SIM card.
Note, I need to use Verizon towers because of my area, so I must be on cdma.
straight talk uses sim cards. And you do need that for this phone to act as a phone. I mean you should be able to get their sim edit your apns if needed and be ready to roll.
MunkinDrunky said:
straight talk uses sim cards. And you do need that for this phone to act as a phone. I mean you should be able to get their sim edit your apns if needed and be ready to roll.
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Straight talk sims are for ATT/Tmobile network access. However, they do offer a CDMA code to access that network:
http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/shop/sims#.UwSs90JdXtF