From what I've read, it seems I'll need a new SIM in order to activate with my number rather than the number I bought the upgrade on. I'm assuming the AT&T store will be swamped on launch day so I was wondering if they carried them normally so I could go get one the day before.
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Do AT&T stores have nanosims yet? I'll need a new one to activate...
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Can't you just call AT&T before you activate the phone and they'll change the number is activates for?
Yes. When I bought my '4', there was a white packet in the box with the fancy 'paperclip' tool to open the access panel AND the sim was right in there with the phone. They installed it and kept the tool, I found out later when I got it home.
my local AT&T has the rudest and most uninformed employees i've ever come across unfortunately.
You are not alone in this. Whenever I call ATT, I feel like I know more than the employees themselves. It's a disgrace.
Yes, AT&T confirmed this on their site, but I forgot the link.
1) Charge Device Call 800-330-0500 or 611 from a different phone. At the prompt, enter the wireless number that you used to ORDER the phone.
2) Choose Option 2 to activate your phone on a different number and an AT&T rep will help you.
3) Only after finishing with the rep, turn on your iPhone and follow the instructions.
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I am in the same boat as you. I use my wife number to upgrade. Since she uses mine to upgrade hers to iphone 4s when it came out. But with lphone 5 using nano sim. It is not simple as switching sim. So I might end up going to the store. Back in the days before iphone. All you have to do is call customer service read them the IMEI number
Of your sim and they can transfer it to you.
Of your sim and they can transfer it to you.
What TheBama says above is what's being recommended by AT&T. The full text of what AT&T communicated is here:
http://www.att.com/esupport/iphoneupgradesupport.jsp?source=ECSAFBFAC00D1000S
http://www.att.com/esupport/iphoneupgradesupport.jsp?source=ECSAFBFAC00D1000S
This is what I did last year with the 4S. No need to waste time at the store. Surprisingly I got through within 5 minutes of being on hold on launch day of last year.
Made a purchase in an AT&T store just last night, asked them if they had nanosims and they didn't
I think the key here is calling AT&T before turning the phone on. I know their policy is to issue a new SIM card if you have one that's currently activated on another line, or has been used for a different number in the past. I called my local store to ask also, and they couldn't have been any more rude. The lady I talked to tried telling me there's no such thing as a nano sim. I really hope I don't have to go in there to get my phone activated.
Does this method only work if you ordered an iPhone straight from AT&T?
For instance, if I purchased mine at Walmart and did a cross upgrade, would they be able to replicate these steps to activate the iPhone on my line at the store?
It's a carrier based process (meaning AT&T) so it shouldn't matter, so long as you go through the process as instructed on that site. In other words, DO NOT under any circumstances let the Walmart employee even power up the new iPhone. If they say they must activate it in the store, then you're pretty much screwed unless they have extra nano sims lying around.