AT&T/Verizon/Apple have extra nano SIM's laying around for cross upgrades?

[LeeNH]

Unfortunately, every one of you are wrong. Normally, you could just swap the SIM cards and be done with it. But since the new iPhone 5 has a nano SIM, you will need to take both phones into ATT and have them do the swap in their computers. OR call ATT from a line thats not involved in the swap and they can do it over the phone. But whatever you do, DO NOT ACTIVATE IT THROUGH ITUNES OR ON THE IPHONE FIRST! When talking to an ATT rep, mention "cross activation" and they should know what to do. This is a pretty common practice and there are many threads on this already.

Yes, I believe this is absolutely correct. I spoke with AT&T before the pre-sale to find out how to do a cross-upgrade as I'm doing.

AT&T said they will take care of everything in their computer as far as switching the new iPhone to my line (ordered under another line on my account).

DO NOT ACTIVATE your new phone if you plan on cross-upgrading.

 

[RSully]

I dont care what their official policy is. Im just saying what ATT reps tell me is the easiest thing to do. Its easier for them to switch over an unactivated phone than an activated one. The rep I spoke to last week called it a cross activation and specifically told me not to activate it first.

An AT&T rep told me the same thing. To call before activating, tell them I'm doing a "cross activation" and they'd know what to do.

 

[bitslap47]

...

I dont care what their official policy is. Im just saying what ATT reps tell me is the easiest thing to do. Its easier for them to switch over an unactivated phone than an activated one. The rep I spoke to last week called it a cross activation and specifically told me not to activate it first.

But that IS what their official policy is... I don't get your argument other than to argue for the sake of arguing.

Did you even READ it?

Again

AT&T has a support page dedicated to this specific issue: http://www.att.com/esupport/iphoneup...AFBFAC00D1000S

If anyone isn't sure of what they are doing or how the underlying activation process works, follow the policy. Deviate at your own risk.

I however have had success with in the past, and will be using an alternate method.

Edit:

Page for 5 is 404 now, here is the previous 4S page with the procedure: http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB411462#fbid=JNVjOceD2hC

 

[RSully]

I however have had success with in the past, and will be using an alternate method.

Could you go into some detail as far as other options? I'll be calling them since last time things got messed up, but I'd like to have some knowledge over the rep I speak to and weigh the options myself.

 

[bitslap47]

Could you go into some detail as far as other options? I'll be calling them since last time things got messed up, but I'd like to have some knowledge over the rep I speak to and weigh the options myself.

In the past I have picked up new sims from a local store. I drop those in the phone and when I connect to iTunes it asks what number since no number is associated. That's what i plan to do this time... there is risk that they changed the way it will work for iPhone 5 but it worked this way for 4, 4s. I am almost definite (99%) it will work this way for 5 as well for the simple fact that you can buy a phone outright without giving any account or mobile number information.

I will be doing this:

1) remove the sim that came with the phone.
2) dial CS and begin the waiting on hold process.
3) in the meantime, drop in one of the fresh sims I picked up at the store and plug the phone into itunes. Pick the number, verify my account with the last 4 of my social, and wait for activation.
4) if step 3 fails, turn the phone off, put the original sim back in and wait for cs. if step 3 works, hang up the cs call.

 

[LeeNH]

But that IS what their official policy is... I don't get your argument other than to argue for the sake of arguing.

Did you even READ it?

Again

AT&T has a support page dedicated to this specific issue: http://www.att.com/esupport/iphoneup...AFBFAC00D1000S

If anyone isn't sure of what they are doing or how the underlying activation process works, follow the policy. Deviate at your own risk.

I however have had success with in the past, and will be using an alternate method.

What the poster said is basically what AT&T instructions said. Call them and they'll do it.

And yes.. I read it.

 

[GraphicsGeek]

I've done this before. When the SIM isn't associated with a number, i.e. a virgin sim, and you plug the phone into itunes with a virgin sim installed, it allows you to type in the number to activate to. iTunes/Apple contacts the ATT servers and does the same thing CS will do but via the back end web services and systems.

If the SIM is already associated, you have to call CS to get it swapped, hence the need for a phone call. I confirmed with a local store that a virigin SIM should still work this way. We will know come Friday... but this is why I think it will work. It has before. It could have changed so YMMV.

As a side note it may not work for carriers other than ATT as well.

Also, I have tried calling into ATT on launch day before which is why I used this method for iPhone 4... it is near impossible.

In the past, i.e. iPhone 3G, I was asked to come back the following day because it was launch day. It is at the store staff's discretion. You can't force them to do it that day... they will just kick you out of the store if you cause a scene or get adamant they assist you.

Ill be perfectly honest, Ive never gotten a virigin SIM and dropped it in so that is new to me. But it is definitely good to know. As far as whether to activate or not before doing a cross activation is up to you. Ive read their official policy and Ive spoken to several reps. Every rep Ive spoken to says to leave it unactivated. They say its much easier for them to do it that way. I'm just the messenger.

 

[scorpio333]

I spoke to a Verizon rep just now. I used my wife's upgrade to order my phone. Verizon's iPhones do not have removable sim's. Their Android phones do. I was told to transfer the device ID before connecting to iTunes and everything will work out just fine.

 

[Geckotek]

I spoke to a Verizon rep just now. I used my wife's upgrade to order my phone. Verizon's iPhones do not have removable sim's. Their Android phones do. I was told to transfer the device ID before connecting to iTunes and everything will work out just fine.

Since "removable" is part of the nano-SIM spec and is necessary for LTE, I'd be HIGHLY surprised if that is true.

The portion about calling in and transferring the device ID is true though.

 

[astral125]

I was concerned about this, especially since my dumb phone line that I used the upgrade on is being used on the other side of the country. One wrong move and this turns into a huge problem for my mom

This is what I did: I called my local ATT store, they had no idea when they were getting nano sims. I printed out a template that shows you how to cut a nano sim down from a micro. I removed my micro sim from my 4s and cut it down with a scissors. I then placed all the pieces back together like a puzzle with the contacts facing up on the sticky side of a piece of tape. I cut the tape around the edges so it didn't have any excess and only held the sim card together in the original shape. I placed that back into the phone, and it works.

When my 5 gets delivered on Friday, I'll pop the sim back out, shave a little plastic off the back with a nail file to make it a little thinner (and maybe the edges if needed), and I'll swap it into the 5 and turn it on.

Before I started any of this, I made sure my local ATT store was open for a while in case I needed a new micro sim if I messed up.