Can I swap iPhones and not tell verizon

[jimmybcool]

OK, maybe a weird question. I own an iPhone 6 and want the new X. I definitely want an unlocked phone as I spend time in thailand and remove the Verizon sim from my iPhone 6 and put a Thai carrier sim in it. Works fine.

What I am curious about is if I buy an iPhone x from apple and just put my Verizon SIM in it, would they know or would they care?

I most assuredly want the X but I want to continue doing what Ive been doing for years and need an unlocked phone. Conversations/chats with various Verizon contacts always leave me thinking they just said yes to whatever I ask and don't really know.

If it is simpler I am happy to do the Verizon upgrade and carry on.

 

[riverfreak]

What are you trying to avoid, the upgrade fee?

Currently you can't buy a phone from Apple without it being associated to a carrier. So yes, they will know you have a new phone.

Regardless, yes, you can still pop out your SIM and use your Thai SIM (may I suggest AIS) if you so choose. Even if it is purchased on a device payment plan through Apple or Verizon.

 

[Blondie&Dagwood]

What are you trying to avoid, the upgrade fee?

Currently you can't buy a phone from Apple without it being associated to a carrier. So yes, they will know you have a new phone.

Regardless, yes, you can still pop out your SIM and use your Thai SIM (may I suggest AIS) if you so choose. Even if it is purchased on a device payment plan through Apple or Verizon.

Not true, you can buy a Verizon iPhone from Apple, and it now gives you an option to "activate with your carrier later", so you don't need to input in Verizon acc details before purchasing.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Not true, you can buy a Verizon iPhone from Apple, and it now gives you an option to "activate with your carrier later", so you don't need to input in Verizon acc details before purchasing.

This is correct. Only stipulation is you have to purchase the phone outright, no Apple IUP or Verizon IUP

 

[Blondie&Dagwood]

OK, maybe a weird question. I own an iPhone 6 and want the new X. I definitely want an unlocked phone as I spend time in thailand and remove the Verizon sim from my iPhone 6 and put a Thai carrier sim in it. Works fine.

What I am curious about is if I buy an iPhone x from apple and just put my Verizon SIM in it, would they know or would they care?

I most assuredly want the X but I want to continue doing what Ive been doing for years and need an unlocked phone. Conversations/chats with various Verizon contacts always leave me thinking they just said yes to whatever I ask and don't really know.

If it is simpler I am happy to do the Verizon upgrade and carry on.

Not weird at all. You can purchase the iPhone X from Apple, and there is now an option (after selecting Verizon) to "Activate with your Carrier later". You just take it home, switch out the sim card with your existing sim card, and it will activate. Apple will detect that you have an iPhone X, but they won't care and won't charge you that upgrade fee.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Not true, you can buy a Verizon iPhone from Apple, and it now gives you an option to "activate with your carrier later", so you don't need to input in Verizon acc details before purchasing.

Apple will not sell you the phone without making sure you have a legit Verizon account. You must give Apple your phone number and passcode to the account (if any). Doesn't matter if you pay in full or not. I bought two iPhone Xs in full, but it required all my AT&T account information and the phone number for each line. Until SIM free is available, it goes through carrier.

Yes you can activate later, but Apple will not sell it to you unless its tied to a phone number. And you must activate it with the number you purchased it before you swap out SIM cards. Its a new "security" measure Apple has added to prevent scalping. I had to activate my X with my phone number before giving it to a family member. Just inserting the family member's SIM card was not enough to "activate" the device. It must be activated with the SIM card it came with and the number it was purchased with.

 

[Rayban]

I bought my iPhone X with my Verizon account info and I was told there would be an upgrade fee. Before turning it on I swapped out the SIM card with my old phone and I didn’t pay an upgrade fee. According to Verizon, they’re still waiting for me to activate the “new” SIM card that came in the phone.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I bought my iPhone X with my Verizon account info and I was told there would be an upgrade fee. Before turning it on I swapped out the SIM card with my old phone and I didn’t pay an upgrade fee. According to Verizon, they’re still waiting for me to activate the “new” SIM card that came in the phone.

Did you buy it from Apple? If so, that SIM card will automatically activate after 60 days. I was specifically told that at the Apple Store. Maybe thats only an AT&T thing, but I'm assuming its an Apple thing.

 

[Rayban]

Did you buy it from Apple? If so, that SIM card will automatically activate after 60 days. I was specifically told that at the Apple Store. Maybe thats only an AT&T thing, but I'm assuming its an Apple thing.

Yes from Apple.
I guess we’ll see what happens on my next bill

 

[Blondie&Dagwood]

Apple will not sell you the phone without making sure you have a legit Verizon account. You must give Apple your phone number and passcode to the account (if any). Doesn't matter if you pay in full or not. I bought two iPhone Xs in full, but it required all my AT&T account information and the phone number for each line. Until SIM free is available, it goes through carrier.

Yes you can activate later, but Apple will not sell it to you unless its tied to a phone number. And you must activate it with the number you purchased it before you swap out SIM cards. Its a new "security" measure Apple has added to prevent scalping. I had to activate my X with my phone number before giving it to a family member. Just inserting the family member's SIM card was not enough to "activate" the device. It must be activated with the SIM card it came with and the number it was purchased with.

Nonsense. This was true initially for in-store-pick-ups when ordering online and for online with delivery, but not since a couple of weeks ago where you have this 2nd option to ""Activate with your carrier later". Go to the Apple store app right now, and give it a try when selecting a Verizon carrier phone. In addition, if you did in-store walk-in's, they would always sell you the Verizon phone without making sure you have a legit Verizon account or without having to provide a number. Thats why "foreign speaking families" were lined up outside the Apple stores in NYC every day. Please check your facts before posting in future.
[doublepost=1512420154][/doublepost]

that SIM card will automatically activate after 60 days.

Not true either. A SIM card does not just activate automatically, especially if its not even inserted in a phone. Nonsense

 

[riverfreak]

Nonsense. This was true initially for in-store-pick-ups when ordering online and for online with delivery, but not since a couple of weeks ago where you have this 2nd option to ""Activate with your carrier later". Go to the Apple store app right now, and give it a try when selecting a Verizon carrier phone. In addition, if you did in-store walk-in's, they would always sell you the Verizon phone without making sure you have a legit Verizon account. Please check your facts before posting in future.

Oy vey. Why do these upgrade fee threads always get so contentious so quickly?

His facts aren't wrong. Verizon is/was requiring activation with the provided sim. I'd love to see the OP buy a phone, throw away the original SIM, stick in his True or AIS SIM, then power up the phone and see what happens. What's your guess?

 

[Blondie&Dagwood]

Oy vey. Why do these upgrade fee threads always get so contentious so quickly?

His facts aren't wrong. Verizon is/was requiring activation with the provided sim. I'd love to see the OP buy a phone, throw away the original SIM, stick in his True or AIS SIM, then power up the phone and see what happens. What's your guess?

Not a guess, I can give you a certain answer. If he purchases a phone through Apple, selects the "Activate with your Carrier later", pays full price, and then swaps out his SIM card, it will activate just fine. I am so confident in this.

 

[jimmybcool]

Thanks all. I didn't mean to stir up trouble. I'm not even aware there is an upgrade fee to the new phone I was just trying to get a new iPhone my AIS sim card will work in and thanks riverfreak I believe I have my answer. I see no reason to not just go online and get a new iPhone X from Verizon as it should do everything I want it to.

 

[riverfreak]

Thanks all. I didn't mean to stir up trouble. I'm not even aware there is an upgrade fee to the new phone I was just trying to get a new iPhone my AIS sim card will work in and thanks riverfreak I believe I have my answer. I see no reason to not just go online and get a new iPhone X from Verizon as it should do everything I want it to.

Hey, no prob! Heading east soon myself.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Nonsense. This was true initially for in-store-pick-ups when ordering online and for online with delivery, but not since a couple of weeks ago where you have this 2nd option to ""Activate with your carrier later". Go to the Apple store app right now, and give it a try when selecting a Verizon carrier phone. In addition, if you did in-store walk-in's, they would always sell you the Verizon phone without making sure you have a legit Verizon account or without having to provide a number. Thats why "foreign speaking families" were lined up outside the Apple stores in NYC every day. Please check your facts before posting in future.
[doublepost=1512420154][/doublepost]

Not true either. A SIM card does not just activate automatically, especially if its not even inserted in a phone. Nonsense

Maybe you should check your facts before calling my post nonsense. Apple THEMSELVES has said the SIM card that comes WITH the device will automatically activte after 60 days if you do not activate that SIM. This is something NEW as of this year. It’s to prevent people buying phones under their line then selling it. If you buy a carrier phone it will automatically activate that SIM supplied with the phone after 60 days. Funny that you think the SIM needs to be in the phone to be activated. The ICCID number is replaced the the carriers server thus activating the new one and deactivating the old one.

You might be new around here still, but you should watch your attitude.

 

[kevink2]

Well, it has been less than 60 days since Apple has started selling the X with the option to activate later, so we don't know for sure yet. They started it just under a week before I ordered my phone, and so I didn't know about it. So I bought mine through Best Buy and signed up for the DPP (on ATT, since I was planning to change, and was on Verizon Prepaid). I wanted the CDMA compatible in case I changed my mind.

 

[HallStevenson]

Many of these responses are just silly. Verizon doesn't force you to activate a new phone when you buy one. You can also buy it on one line and activate it on a different line (you do have to call and do an equipment swap).

How do people think it works when you don't walk into a VZW store and buy a phone and activate it right there ? I just bought our son a new phone (through Best Buy) and VZW knew we ordered it but they didn't do anything except wait for us to go further.

 

[Shadowbech]

Yes you can activate later, but Apple will not sell it to you unless its tied to a phone number. And you must activate it with the number you purchased it before you swap out SIM cards. Its a new "security" measure Apple has added to prevent scalping. I had to activate my X with my phone number before giving it to a family member. Just inserting the family member's SIM card was not enough to "activate" the device. It must be activated with the SIM card it came with and the number it was purchased with.

Okay let me rephrase this and make it a bit more clearer and I know how this works. When the apple store at my area showed available for pick up for the color I wanted on 11/4/17. I went and entered my carrier info on apple.com and proceeded with the order and and choose pick up option. When I went to pick up my order, yes you are given the option to activate now or you can activate later. Which I choose activate later. Meaning I still am able to use my current phone I had.

Now typically if you choose "Activate Later", it does ask you to enter your account info and that you must use your sim card that it comes with. Last year when I asked the apple associate about this and what happens is that after 30 days, it will activate it self (I'm not entirely sure how this actually works because even though I choose activate later, I activated it later when I got home that day).

However, it's no longer the case as of 11/22/17. Apple has changed that option on apple.com (see attached screenshot). You now have the option to "Activate with your Carrier Later" now if you choose this option, it will no longer ask you to enter your carrier info and it bypass that. You can simply now add to bag and then pick it up in store or have it delivered to you. With this option, it simply acts as if you are buying a sim-free model.

But now that sim-free model is out. no need to buy carrier model unless you plan on financing it.

I hope this clarifies the "Activate Later" confusion

 

[1981d]

Wow, didn’t start as a troll thread but getting there quick

 

[Martyimac]

Apple will not sell you the phone without making sure you have a legit Verizon account. You must give Apple your phone number and passcode to the account (if any). Doesn't matter if you pay in full or not. I bought two iPhone Xs in full, but it required all my AT&T account information and the phone number for each line. Until SIM free is available, it goes through carrier.

This must be new. Last year when I bought my 6s I was not required to give apple any information about my account, none.

 

[Shadowbech]

Not true either. A SIM card does not just activate automatically, especially if its not even inserted in a phone. Nonsense

Actually it is true. Last year, when I purchased the 7 plus via iUP. I choose the "Activate Later", and I asked the apple associate helping me how long I had, and their P.O.S device message came up stating that it will activate it self in 30 days if not activated. Store manager at the Apple store confirmed as well

 

[Mlrollin91]

Okay let me rephrase this and make it a bit more clearer and I know how this works. When the apple store at my area showed available for pick up for the color I wanted on 11/4/17. I went and entered my carrier info on apple.com and proceeded with the order and and choose pick up option. When I went to pick up my order, yes you are given the option to activate now or you can activate later. Which I choose activate later. Meaning I still am able to use my current phone I had.

Now typically if you choose "Activate Later", it does ask you to enter your account info and that you must use your sim card that it comes with. Last year when I asked the apple associate about this and what happens is that after 30 days, it will activate it self (I'm not entirely sure how this actually works because even though I choose activate later, I activated it later when I got home that day).

However, it's no longer the case as of 11/22/17. Apple has changed that option on apple.com (see attached screenshot). You now have the option to "Activate with your Carrier Later" now if you choose this option, it will no longer ask you to enter your carrier info and it bypass that. You can simply now add to bag and then pick it up in store or have it delivered to you. With this option, it simply acts as if you are buying a sim-free model.

But now that sim-free model is out. no need to buy carrier model unless you plan on financing it.

I hope this clarifies the "Activate Later" confusion

Thank you. So when I purchased mine in early November, everything I said was correct but now it has changed. Also thank you for confirming the automatic SIM activation.

 

[iosuser]

Apple will not sell you the phone without making sure you have a legit Verizon account. You must give Apple your phone number and passcode to the account (if any). Doesn't matter if you pay in full or not. I bought two iPhone Xs in full, but it required all my AT&T account information and the phone number for each line. Until SIM free is available, it goes through carrier.

Yes you can activate later, but Apple will not sell it to you unless its tied to a phone number. And you must activate it with the number you purchased it before you swap out SIM cards. Its a new "security" measure Apple has added to prevent scalping. I had to activate my X with my phone number before giving it to a family member. Just inserting the family member's SIM card was not enough to "activate" the device. It must be activated with the SIM card it came with and the number it was purchased with.

What

I purchase an X on release day. Stood inline for 3 hours, right behind one of the Apple reps that works in that store. No shortcut even for their own lol. When it was my turn, I told them I wanted the Verizon version and that I’ll be using it on TMo. I paid and left with the phone without giving them any info, no questions asked.

 

[Mlrollin91]

What

I purchase an X on release day. Stood inline for 3 hours, right behind one of the Apple reps that works in that store. No shortcut even for their own lol. When it was my turn, I told them I wanted the Verizon version and that I’ll be using it on TMo. I paid and left with the phone without giving them any info, no questions asked.

Then you got very lucky and the rep was doing you a favor. It’s against their policy. It’s been this way for years. It’s to prevent scalping.

 

[fred98tj]

And how would that be scalping ?