So in theory, I could buy it using a friends number/sim, even activate it on verizon. then pop in my sim and be good to go.
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Activating An iPhone 7 on Verizon
- Thread starter krawfo
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Im not 100% since I never did the Apple upgrade program.
I wonder if they will just let you use someone elses Verizon phone number to put the payment program through.
With IUP once they input the phone number his existing phone gets removed from the account. Technically they are activating the new phone awaiting you to finalize the process once you turn it on but the old phone is disconnected. You would also have to be an authorized user on his account in order to make all the changes necessary to his account. Sounds kind of messy.
Yep, its a pain.
You would need to make changes to someones account and deactivate their sim possibly.
So how do Verizon customer swap sim cards between phones they already own?
What do you mean deactivate their sim? I'm with my brother. His iphone is verizon. I take the new phone to his house, he puts in his sim, the new phone is ready to rock. He removes the sim and puts it back in his phone. It still works. And I am free to do what I want with the new phone.
Or they include a sim, he activates it in the new phone. He removes the sim and puts it back in his old phone. I take the new phone and put the TMO sim in it. Should be fine.
I've only done the IUP process twice in store so I'm not sure about your scenario. Worst case if you can't do it is just returning the phone and there may be an activation fee on the account.
This is a good point and another loose end. If I have an existing line with VZW, and I am given a phone, can't I just put my sim in the new phone without issue? Similarly, does VZW activation fee apply toward phones purchased directly through apple either outright, through payments, or through the IUP?
You can just install the SIM and you're done, assuming the phone is unlocked and works on Verizon's network.
Regarding VZW activation fee, does this apply to phones purchase directly through apple?
Those are good questions.
If your brother is there with his device Im sure they can figure it out at Apple and make it work I hope.
FINALLY !! Thanks Edlex (and all others who took time to reply). I went into a Verizon store. They put a new SIM in the phone & voila. I'm not sure I understand exactly what happened but the phone is working & I'm a happy camper.
Happened what I told you above.
Your phone is unlocked, you just needed a verizon sim to stick in
I was with AT&T for over 10 years. I made the switch over to verizon 2 months ago and I couldn't be happier. Great coverage/speeds and most importantly customer service.
Unlocking my Sprint IPhone 7+ called sprint 48 hours latter they called back and said my iPhone was domestically and internationally unlocked , so I called AppleCare to confirm and was told to back up my phone wipe it clean then restore it , then they verified it was unlocked!
However itunes or the settings menu gives me no confirmation how do I know for sure it's unlocked??????
Thank you
However itunes or the settings menu gives me no confirmation how do I know for sure it's unlocked??????
Thank you
Verizon is perfectly willing to let you use a phone they didn't sell if it is truly compatible with their network (e.g., don't try to activate an iPhone 7 with an Intel modem), and has no encumbrances. I suspect the OP shows a financial obligation on their phone (as someone else has already suggested), and that is why VZ won't activate it.
Just for fun, I tested my no-longer-owned iPhone 6 Plus in the VZ BYOD checker. It was an AT&T designated model, part number MGAU2LL/A, bought directly from Apple. Here's a screenshot. Note how it says both that the phone can be used, and that it is recognized as a non-VZ iPhone.
Just for fun, I tested my no-longer-owned iPhone 6 Plus in the VZ BYOD checker. It was an AT&T designated model, part number MGAU2LL/A, bought directly from Apple. Here's a screenshot. Note how it says both that the phone can be used, and that it is recognized as a non-VZ iPhone.
The only 100% way to test it is stick another carrier sim for a minute.
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Correct, you can definitely use it. It has nothing to do with financial obligations or anything like that.
Verizon will not let you start an account with that phone for some reason. Once you have an account and an active sim you can then put it inside that phone and use it.
And some features as Volte and HD voice and a few other things will not work since its a non-verizon device and you can fight them but they will not whitelist it and add it to their system. So you will not get all the features and options a verizon device would get.
Well you can get all the features, EVENTUALLY, after they work on it for a while. Forget about whitelisting though. Keep in mind, this is only true of the 7's. The 6's and prior will show as compatible on the online BYOD page.
On Monday I changed my plan to the Verizon UDP from the 12gb plan and it wiped all my features out again. Fortunately they were able to get HD voice put back right away but I'm still waiting on the NBA League Pass. I can't wait until my September upgrade to an actual Verizon phone and be done with all this crap.
I hear you, I cant remember if it was you or another member that was going back and forth with Verizon tech support for weeks and was not getting anywhere.
Its a pretty sad that they're making it that hard for their customers.
Yep it was me alright
Took a FCC complaint to finally get executive relations to get involved but it got done. Never got it whitelisted but everything works.
In this thread, didn't you say you got the phone through the Apple upgrade program?Yep it was me alright
Took a FCC complaint to finally get executive relations to get involved but it got done. Never got it whitelisted but everything works.
Why not just have Apple switch the phone for one that isn't encumbered by whatever it is that happens when the phone gets used on Sprint and breaks Verizon compatibility? Or did you try that?
Well my switch from Sprint to Verizon happened last November, before any swap program was discussed for AT&T iPhone 7's. Secondly the Sprint IUP iPhone 7/7+ has identical hardware to the Verizon version so Apple may not find it necessary to swap them out. Either way I only have 6 more months before I upgrade again, this time to a Verizon iPhone.