Confirmed working - Verizon iPad sim (data only plan) in iPhone5

[tasset]

On top of LTE, you still have access to 3G. Same as the Verizon iPad3 when not in an LTE area. Think of it now as an iPad nano.
There is a guide on Lifehacker to cut the SIM card. But to be honest, all you have to do is trim off every bit of the non-gold chip area. Then create the slight angle in one corner. You might have to shave a tiny bit more into the gold area but not so much as to do any damage.

 

[MacVault]

Any success getting tethering to work?

 

[tasset]

Any success getting tethering to work?

No, but what I think might work is (before I turn data off for my standard iPhone line) is change the data plan to the 4gb for $50 which includes tethering. Once it's enabled, then switch sims.
Otherwise I guess it would take a jailbreak someday.

 

[MacVault]

How can one modify the account settings associated with the SIM? I know on an iPad you can order / modify the pay-as-you-go data plans right on the iPad. But with the SIM in the iPhone I don't think the iPhone iOS has this feature. So can the plan be modified via some sort of account control panel on verizon.com? Or at least by phone call to cust srv? Or would you have to put the SIM into an iPad, modify it, then put it back into iPhone?

 

[tasset]

How can one modify the account settings associated with the SIM? I know on an iPad you can order / modify the pay-as-you-go data plans right on the iPad. But with the SIM in the iPhone I don't think the iPhone iOS has this feature. So can the plan be modified via some sort of account control panel on verizon.com? Or at least by phone call to cust srv? Or would you have to put the SIM into an iPad, modify it, then put it back into iPhone?

Correct, there is no way to modify the account from an iPhone. I imagine it will be a minor nuisance if a plan change is necessary, as you mention by calling customer service or putting the sim in an iPad. You can log into your account and change address or credit card info on the website though, just not change data plans.

 

[ronkuba]

Correct, there is no way to modify the account from an iPhone. I imagine it will be a minor nuisance if a plan change is necessary, as you mention by calling customer service or putting the sim in an iPad. You can log into your account and change address or credit card info on the website though, just not change data plans.

Interesting that when I log in online it shows I'm using a iPhone 5 instead of the iPad. So Verizon knows what I'm doing.

 

[tasset]

Interesting that when I log in online it shows I'm using a iPhone 5 instead of the iPad. So Verizon knows what I'm doing.

I'm sure they can see, and perhaps they could do 'something' about it if they wanted to. As someone posited on the first page though they might be bound by FCC spectrum requirements to allow any device to sim swap. I used to have a link to Verizon's own FAQ page stating they allow it.
Regardless, I have a hard time understanding why the SHOULD care. If you are so inclined to do this, it isn't like you are getting service that you aren't paying for. You are still likely using an iOS device much as the data only plan is intended. So a carrier should have a problem with you using a device that has a 4" screen that fits in your pocket rather than a 10" tablet? You can use much the same apps on either device. The real problem is they don't want too many people figuring out they can do without the standard phone/sms service cash cow that props up their business model. They are trying to ease into the future with their shared data plans, is what they're doing.

 

[MacVault]

Verizon SIM FAQ

Lines 7 & 11 seem to support using an iPad SIM in an iPhone...
http://support.verizonwireless.com/faqs/VZAccess/4g_sim_card.html

 

[Haswell]

Before explaining, I realize this scenario may not be a good fit for everyone. To each their own.

I had a Verizon LTE iPad for a few months, sold it, but deactivated the data plan for a couple of months. Verizon or AT&T let you freeze an account and restart as needed, since it is a prepaid data access plan. I have found the $20 1gb plan to be sufficient in my case since both home and work I have wifi access.

To try this, I called Verizon and reactivated the $20 plan. I cut down the microsim to a nanosim with an exacto knife which was very easy. Then I put my iPhone5 in airplane mode, swapped sims, turned airplane mode off, and voila data-only prepaid access!

If you make alot of calls this may not be for you. If you use alot of cellular data, it may not be for you. Or if you are not in an LTE area it may be substandard. I happen to have all my calls and texts routed through Google Voice, Skype, and iMessage so data only works great for me. And VOIP calls work just great (hey simultaneous voice and data!).

Just wanted to pass along to those looking for a barebones prepaid plan.

Would the person who bought your iPad run into problem if they tried to add a data only plan to the iPad?

 

[ElleRose]

Thank you for your post and thread ...

I am very interested in this because I live in an area with little service and don't have a need for a phone unless traveling ... I have a few questions for you, please respond.

1. Can you put the iPad mini card in the iPhone 5?

2. Do you need to activate the card (prepaid verizon tablet plan) on an iPad mini or could you do so on the iPhone 5 directly?

Thanks for your time.

 

[jaewonlim]

Very interesting.

Thank you for your post and thread ...

I am very interested in this because I live in an area with little service and don't have a need for a phone unless traveling ... I have a few questions for you, please respond.

1. Can you put the iPad mini card in the iPhone 5?

2. Do you need to activate the card (prepaid verizon tablet plan) on an iPad mini or could you do so on the iPhone 5 directly?

Thanks for your time.

1. Yes you can. I have done it myself. My iPhone 5 SIM suddenly does not get recognized saying Invalid SIM, No SIM Installed. So I decided to test whether the iPhone 5 is bad or the SIM is bad. I happen to have a Verizon iPad mini with nano SIM with prepaid $20 1GB data plan. So I popped in my Verizon iPad nano SIM into my iPhone 5. Voila! It works like charm! SIM is recognized and Verizon LTE data working fine without me changing any settings on the iPhone 5.

Now, here is the interesting part. Not only the LTE data works, the phone works off of the data phone number that was given when I activated iPad and Personal Hotspot feature works perfect. I've checked the Phone feature by calling 1-800 Verizon number. OMG it works! (I didn't want to be banned by using prepaid data SIM to make other # calls) I called Verizon asking my Verizon iPhone 5 SIM is not working so the service rep told me where nearest Verizon store is to get my SIM replaced.
I decided to go further, checking SMS feature. (Again, I didn't want to be get banned so I used free Verizon usage check SMS feature. #DATA) Voila! It works, I got the reply instantly about my iPad data SIM usage.

Indeed, Verizon LTE data prepaid SIM works just fine in Verizon LTE iPhone 5. But I am pretty sure it is unauthorized to use as a Phone or SMS because it is not included in the prepaid data plan. I had to pop in Verizon iPad SIM into iPhone 5 to check whether my phone was bad or the SIM was bad. I had to try to make a call to Verizon 1-800 because I do not have a home phone so I used prepaid data SIM to make calls to Verizon 1-800 asking for my SIM replacement. (I do not condone using this loophole as to make fradulent free calls to get some free minutes) In my case, it was an emergency and I didn't mean to harm Verizon but rather used in a way of contacting them as a customer in a desperate need.

Anyway, I went to Verizon store the rep told me and got my faulty SIM replaced for free. I had to get a new activation for new nano SIM card. Took about 5 minutes. No harms done, and no harms intended to Verizon.

2. I haven't done it that way. Because I had Verizon iPad mini and got mine activated through iPad. But I am sure you can get your SIM activated by putting in a Verizon 3G/LTE iPad.

 

[JOSE891]

I laugh when I read things like this.

its called iPhone, if your not going to use the PHONE part, just get an ipod touch or laptop. makes zero sense to eliminate a huge variant of the product cuz your cheap.

I'm sure if Apple would of made a 4G iPod Touch people wouldn't have to resort to this. And Verizon 3G/LTE is pretty reliable so I see many people like myself doing this and using VOIP Calling and Texting. And with an iPod you would always have to be on Wifi for anything including having your phone on speaker talking to people. Your comment makes absolutely no sense. Freedom pop has a similar set up with there phones.

 

[redzep]

Activating data only SIM without iPAD

Hi all--

Thinking of taking the plunge, but I don't have an ipad. SO: If I terminate my VZW cell phone plan (iphone 5s)...

I've heard I can then

1) borrow someone's ipad for the IMEI (true even if already activated?)
or
2) buy a new ipad for the IMEI (and then return it)

and pop a new nano sim in there (got from VZW presumably? or can I use my deactivated iphone 5s sim?) and then activate a data-only ipad plan associated with that nano sim, which I can then pop back into my iphone for a data-only iphone.

My question is: can I do that? Can a single IMEI be used to activate multiple sims?

I have found VZW devices for sale on ebay, with the IMEI numbers clearly visible in the pictures, if I used one of those to activate my SIM, would that render them useless for anybody who eventually buys ebay device?

I have no interest in screwing over some unsuspecting ebay seller, but if the IMEI numbers are just to tell VZW what kind of plan you want...

thanks!!