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Carrier Activate Verizon iPhone on T-Mobile?

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freak99

macrumors member
Original poster
if I have a Verizon iPhone 7 can I just pop in my T-Mobile sim before booting up the phone? How does that work exactly?

I bought the Verizon version in he Apple Store so I'd have access to cdma bands if needed in the future.

Thanks for the help.
 
It will always work with T-Mobile. Literally just pop your SIM in and you are good to go.

The sprint and Verizon model will work with all carriers. The sprint one will only work on Verizon if you have service currently. Verizon would not activate a new line with anything they than a Verizon or SIM free phone.
 
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mattopotamus said:
It will always work with T-Mobile. Literally just pop your SIM in and you are good to go.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Just wanted to be sure I didn't need to boot the phone up first or anything before putting in the T-Mobile sim. I managed to screw up two SIM cards one year by mistake, so I figured I'd ask. Lol.
 
freak99 said:
Thanks. Just wanted to be sure I didn't need to boot the phone up first or anything before putting in the T-Mobile sim. I managed to screw up two SIM cards one year by mistake, so I figured I'd ask. Lol.
Click to expand...

It will try to activate with tbe Verizon SIM once you boot up, but it won't go past that screen. I am using the sprint version on cricket as we speak.
 
freak99 said:
Good to know.

Is the sprint version the same as Verizon? It is, right?
Click to expand...

Correct. The only reason you would want Verizon over sprint is if you do not currently have Verizon and wanted to change to them. They hard hardcore about phones they activate on their network.
 
mattopotamus said:
Correct. The only reason you would want Verizon over sprint is if you do not currently have Verizon and wanted to change to them. They hard hardcore about phones they activate on their network.
Click to expand...
I see. That makes sense. I'd heard that about Verizon.
 
freak99 said:
if I have a Verizon iPhone 7 can I just pop in my T-Mobile sim before booting up the phone? How does that work exactly?

I bought the Verizon version in he Apple Store so I'd have access to cdma bands if needed in the future.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

How and where did you make this purchase? I thought apple required that you pre-activate in store.
 
aka777 said:
How and where did you make this purchase? I thought apple required that you pre-activate in store.
Click to expand...

If you buy out right they do not. In store you can buy any phone for full price and walk out without even opening the box or have it activated.
 
mattopotamus said:
If you buy out right they do not. In store you can buy any phone for full price and walk out without even opening the box or have it activated.
Click to expand...

I wonder why the make you activate for their IUP... It's not like the carrier has anything to do with it
 
If you buy a verizon iPhone 7, can that be activated later on the sprint network? I've heard mixed thoughts about using sprint on a verizon iPhone
 
I was told at the Apple Store that in order to buy a Verizon phone you needed a Verizon account even though I was paying full price. Has anyone been able to buy a Verizon phone at full price without a Verizon account?
 
mrmike316 said:
I was told at the Apple Store that in order to buy a Verizon phone you needed a Verizon account even though I was paying full price. Has anyone been able to buy a Verizon phone at full price without a Verizon account?
Click to expand...

Yes. Multiple people. I bought the sprint phone only because they were out of Verizon ones. No issue at all. I told them I was paying full price and they gave me the phone sealed and unactivated.

I use cricket for service.
 
mrmike316 said:
I was told at the Apple Store that in order to buy a Verizon phone you needed a Verizon account even though I was paying full price. Has anyone been able to buy a Verizon phone at full price without a Verizon account?
Click to expand...

Bought one yestreday. No big deal.
 
Abs_p said:
Bought one yestreday. No big deal.
Click to expand...


So you were able to buy the Verizon iphone 7 without no Verizon account or number? I'm confused why did they say I can only buy the ATT version at full price because I didn't have a Verizon account.
 
mrmike316 said:
So you were able to buy the Verizon iphone 7 without no Verizon account or number? I'm confused why did they say I can only buy the ATT version at full price because I didn't have a Verizon account.
Click to expand...

I have no idea why they would say that. Just tell them you want to buy it full price. I usually just tell them I am getting it for my mom on her bday.(And her bday being in late september means I dont have to lie that it's her bday in a few days lol)
 
mattopotamus said:
It will always work with T-Mobile. Literally just pop your SIM in and you are good to go.

The sprint and Verizon model will work with all carriers. The sprint one will only work on Verizon if you have service currently. Verizon would not activate a new line with anything they than a Verizon or SIM free phone.
Click to expand...

I'm currently using an iPhone 6 that was bought for ATT, and unlocked, on Verizon. They have relaxed their system.
 
kevink2 said:
I'm currently using an iPhone 6 that was bought for ATT, and unlocked, on Verizon. They have relaxed their system.
Click to expand...

Did you activate new service with verizon using that phone? If you already had verizon service it works, but typically they will not activate new service with a non-verizon or official SIM free phone.
 
mattopotamus said:
Yes. Multiple people. I bought the sprint phone only because they were out of Verizon ones. No issue at all. I told them I was paying full price and they gave me the phone sealed and unactivated.

I use cricket for service.
Click to expand...

Bought Verizon IPhone 7 plus today - reserved online via upgrade program link - paid full price when I got to the store. Popped in an ATT sim and everything seems to be working fine. Thanks to the people on this forum that have provide so much information on their experiences. And thanks to the person that posted this link yesterday. It was super helpful!

https://reserve.cdn-apple.com/US/en_US/reserve/iPhone/availability?channel=1&iPP=U
 
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