Yes, I do it all the time. I just activate a new SIM for the number needing the iPhone and then give the customer another new SIM for the "dummy line". If they want to use it they can go buy an AT&T phone of some sort somewhere else if they want.
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Can someone who uses the extra phantom line upgrade strategy explain how it works??
- Thread starter snook911
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Yes, I do it all the time. I just activate a new SIM for the number needing the iPhone and then give the customer another new SIM for the "dummy line". If they want to use it they can go buy an AT&T phone of some sort somewhere else if they want.
Is it possible to set the phone number of the dummy line to the phone number that's now a prepaid phone on TMobile (I think that's the carrier, it's my wife's phone. I know it's not AT&T)?
When starting the new line during the pre order process you would probably be able to port over that number from tmobile. Although I am not sure you can port a prepaid # you could give it a try.
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I was told by an AT&T rep on the phone that the sim for the dummy line has to be inserted into a non smartphone for this to work. Otherwise the system will keep the IMEI number of the last phone it was in which was the iPhone and you will not be able to drop the data plan. Is this not true? Will a rep at the store to able to change the IMEI number to something that will allow me to drop the data line with actually buying a dumbphone?
I called my local at&t rep and answered my own question
You don't need to have a dumbphone for them to cancel the data plan if you do it in the store. They said they could set it up so that they could cancel the data plan for you and said she would give me a sim to use in case I decided to use the line.
Yes, you can start a port request while ordering the phone and it can be a prepaid. Just make sure you have the actual account number from T-Mobile, which is not the same as the phone number. Alhough many people think they are one and the same, they are not.
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I called my local at&t rep and answered my own question
Exactly.
Thanks. How long does it take before the phone number is moved to the new line? I don't want my wife to be left with no phone, since I presume once the port happens she can no longer use her prepaid.
We were planning on buying her a new phone at Best Buy & presumably cannot use the old phone in the interim since it's for TMobile, not AT&T. IAE, we need to time it right - have the new sim & phone in hand when the number is changed.
If necessary can we wait until some time after iPhone purchase to start the port process?
Thanks!
Dave
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Exactly.
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BTW, I was planning on purchasing the iPhone online from Apple & after receiving the phone going over to the local AT&T store. Can the port be requested at purchase even though I'm not buying from AT&T? I don't want to find out I screwed things up when it's too late to correct it!
Thanks.
Dave
Thanks. How long does it take before the phone number is moved to the new line? I don't want my wife to be left with no phone, since I presume once the port happens she can no longer use her prepaid.
We were planning on buying her a new phone at Best Buy & presumably cannot use the old phone in the interim since it's for TMobile, not AT&T. IAE, we need to time it right - have the new sim & phone in hand when the number is changed.
If necessary can we wait until some time after iPhone purchase to start the port process?
Thanks!
Dave
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Exactly.
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BTW, I was planning on purchasing the iPhone online from Apple & after receiving the phone going over to the local AT&T store. Can the port be requested at purchase even though I'm not buying from AT&T? I don't want to find out I screwed things up when it's too late to correct it!
Thanks.
Dave
If you submit the port request at the same time as ordering the phone then the port won't complete until you receive the new phone and activate it.
Got the message too late! I was in the Apple Store ordering my new phone as soon as the store reopened, and I chose not to select porting at that point to keep timing simpler. (Though I would choose to port it then if I were redoing it.)
So now I'm thinking I will ask for the port when I go in to the AT&T store to have my new phone activated, start family plan, swap iPhone 5 to original line, etc. Will this work? How long does the port take in this scenario?
Thanks for your help!
Dave
It shouldn't take too long. Yes, it'll work. You're probably looking at 30 minutes or so if the rep knows the easy way to replace an existing number. Otherwise the rep will have to call the porting department and have them do the port.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Did you verify that your wife's T-Mobile number was portable?
Go here and verify that it is portable to AT&T http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/transfer-your-number/
If you are porting on Friday, expect delays in the port completion process. Once the activation process is complete, the number will be able to make calls but inbound calls may not work for up to 24-48 hours do to the huge number of ports that will be processed on launch day.
Dave
I didn't know it might not be portable! But I checked it & it's portable.
Thanks again.
Dave
The only time I've seen a number not be able to be ported is when the number was not still active.
I'm thinking of adding a second line also. I'm not even eligible for early upgrade pricing. Apple's website is quoting me $749 for a 32GB model.
If my math is correct, it'll save me 500ish now but only save me roughly $272 after one year given the higher monthly payments. With AT&t, I'm on the lowest voice plan at 39.99 but will have to go up to 59.99. Though, having two lines should allow to me to get subsidized pricing every year.
I don't understand why they allow you to cancel the data plan if you swap numbers and go the dumbphone route... Aren't you effectively breaking the contract that allowed you to get subsidized pricing in the first place?
Another question, is there a difference between "family plan" and "familytalk"?
I'm thinking of adding a second line also. I'm not even eligible for early upgrade pricing. Apple's website is quoting me $749 for a 32GB model.
If my math is correct, it'll save me 500ish now but only save me roughly $272 after one year given the higher monthly payments. With AT&t, I'm on the lowest voice plan at 39.99 but will have to go up to 59.99. Though, having two lines should allow to me to get subsidized pricing every year.
I don't understand why they allow you to cancel the data plan if you swap numbers and go the dumbphone route... Aren't you effectively breaking the contract that allowed you to get subsidized pricing in the first place?
Another question, is there a difference between "family plan" and "familytalk"?
The main thing is you still have a line with a 2 year contract. The system allows us to make the change so it's all good. It's beneficial to the customer because they get a new phone sooner and it's beneficial to the sales rep because they get another gross add (new line activation), which we get commission on.
And yes, family plan and family talk are the same thing.