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Mom getting 3GS - can I swap SIM cards with her and take her phone?

ero87

ero87

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 17, 2006
1,196
1
New York City
Hey friends,

My mom is convinced she needs an iPhone, and we're going to the Apple Store today to get her a 3GS. The question is this: after we buy it, can I swap SIM cards with her, and she'll just use my 3G (after I wipe the data)? She doesn't want or need the cool new features, so this way we both get new phones :). Logistically, does that work?

Thanks!
 
why would you do that to your mom?

seriously? if i bought a new iphone, i wouldnt want my kid to want me to swap with him and then get his old phone

you even said she wants it. let her have what she buys and im sure shed MUCH rather have the new iphone for 2 years than paying the same for a used 3g from you and them being stuck with that for 2 years
 
fireshot91 said:
Buy it on her line, swap SIMs, live.
;):D
Click to expand...

Sorry I'm not sure I understand what this means...

And I wasn't really asking for ethical permission dukebound85 though I appreciate your concern. My mother is totally behind this idea.

The question is, will it work? Is there a possible technical hiccup that I'm not anticipating?
 
dukebound85 said:
why would you do that to your mom?

seriously? if i bought a new iphone, i wouldnt want my kid to want me to swap with him and then get his old phone

you even said she wants it. let her have what she buys and im sure shed MUCH rather have the new iphone for 2 years than paying the same for a used 3g from you and them being stuck with that for 2 years
Click to expand...

I'd hate to be your kid LOL. It part of the parents job to make sacrafices, especially on technology! ;)
 
No technical hiccups whatsoever as long as you do this:


Buy a 3GS on her line
Go home, Activate (With HER SIM CARD)
Put your SIM card in the 3GS- Activate through iTunes
Put her SIM card that came with the 3GS into your 3G- Activate through iTunes


This shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes after you get home.
 
ero87 said:
Sorry I'm not sure I understand what this means...

And I wasn't really asking for ethical permission dukebound85 though I appreciate your concern. My mother is totally behind this idea.

The question is, will it work? Is there a possible technical hiccup that I'm not anticipating?
Click to expand...

if shes behind your idea then go for it! i thought you were gonna ninja swtich them without her knowing

follow fireshot's steps and it will work
 
I cracked my screen today on my 3gs. I called the Apple store and told me it would be $199 to repair it. I asked what a NEW iPhone would cost. Darned if it wasn't $199... They told me it's AT&T's policy. I asked how much to cancel my contract. They told me it would be $150 to cancel it. I asked if that made sense to them. I could SAVE $50 if I cancel my AT&T contract and went to verizon!!! Businesses are so stupid sometimes. Instead of actually trying to keep my business, they actually make it EASIER to leave AT&T. Perhaps a trip to the Verizon store for a Droid is in order...

So... Here's my question;
Can I buy a NEW 3GS at the discounted price of $199 and NOT activate it (and commit to ANOTHER 2 years) but just change the SIM card? Or do I need to get a Droid? If I'm going to spend $199 I'd just as soon a have a new phone.
 
silvasp said:
I cracked my screen today on my 3gs. I called the Apple store and told me it would be $199 to repair it. I asked what a NEW iPhone would cost. Darned if it wasn't $199... They told me it's AT&T's policy. I asked how much to cancel my contract. They told me it would be $150 to cancel it. I asked if that made sense to them. I could SAVE $50 if I cancel my AT&T contract and went to verizon!!! Businesses are so stupid sometimes. Instead of actually trying to keep my business, they actually make it EASIER to leave AT&T. Perhaps a trip to the Verizon store for a Droid is in order...

So... Here's my question;
Can I buy a NEW 3GS at the discounted price of $199 and NOT activate it (and commit to ANOTHER 2 years) but just change the SIM card? Or do I need to get a Droid? If I'm going to spend $199 I'd just as soon a have a new phone.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure that it's the businesses that are stupid...first of all, the 199 replacement is a COURTESY that is offered to you by Apple. Secondly, cancelling your contract with ATT, getting a new phone on Verizon, that's another few hundred dollars.

You buy a heavily subsidized phone, break it, and when they don't give you a new one for nothing, you act all high and mighty like you're owed something. I'm thankful for the 199.
 
Either answer my question or please remain quiet. I did not ask for an opinion. It's a "COURTESY"?? How much of a "COURTESY" would it be if you're windshield on you car broke and the dealer wanted MSRP for the vehicle to replace it???

For everyone else...
I'm not asking for a free phone. I would just like it repaired at a reasonable price. If that's unsuccessful, then another method of swapping SIMS would be considered if it's possible.
 
silvasp said:
I cracked my screen today on my 3gs. I called the Apple store and told me it would be $199 to repair it. I asked what a NEW iPhone would cost. Darned if it wasn't $199... They told me it's AT&T's policy. I asked how much to cancel my contract. They told me it would be $150 to cancel it. I asked if that made sense to them. I could SAVE $50 if I cancel my AT&T contract and went to verizon!!! Businesses are so stupid sometimes. Instead of actually trying to keep my business, they actually make it EASIER to leave AT&T. Perhaps a trip to the Verizon store for a Droid is in order...

So... Here's my question;
Can I buy a NEW 3GS at the discounted price of $199 and NOT activate it (and commit to ANOTHER 2 years) but just change the SIM card? Or do I need to get a Droid? If I'm going to spend $199 I'd just as soon a have a new phone.
Click to expand...

the discounted price only applies if you are up for an upgrade (aka after your 2 year commitment)



buuuut you do realize that if you pay the att etf of 150, the droid isnt free right? the droid is 200 itself ontop of a new 2 year contract that will have a 350 etf fee if you break it

its cheaper to
1) fix your iphone
2) buy a used phone and swap your sim

it is not cheaper to go to verizon by any means however
 
You do not have to ask for my opinion when you post yours in a public forum. You just didn't like it, there's a difference there. Also, I didn't call you a name...I just said you sucked. Which I believe is rather tame, considering you "want the phone repaired at a reasonable price" what is a reasonable price to you? Do you know how much the parts cost? Where to get them? How to install them? There's labor in that process.

The iPhone is worth...what, 700 dollars or so unsubsidized? Sure, it sucks that your screen broke, believe me, but I just believe your attitude is poor. What do you want them to do? You threaten to leave the company because you broke your screen, and it's cheaper to get out of the contract than it is to repair the phone? Are you insinuating that the ETF is too cheap? I can't see you logically arguing that point. They don't have to do anything for you, if it broke of your fault only. I feel for you that your phone broke, but that's life.

Also, I don't understand your question. No, you cannot buy a new 3GS for the contract price of 199.99. That's heavily subsidized, as ATT covers the other 500 or so because they'll make it up over the life of the contract.

So, no, you cannot scam ATT and Apple out of a "new" phone (especially since the refurb units are often of better quality than the "new" units)
 
dukebound85 said:
the discounted price only applies if you are up for an upgrade (aka after your 2 year commitment)



buuuut you do realize that if you pay the att etf of 150, the droid isnt free right? the droid is 200 itself ontop of a new 2 year contract that will have a 350 etf fee if you break it

its cheaper to
1) fix your iphone
2) buy a used phone and swap your sim

it is not cheaper to go to verizon by any means however
Click to expand...

Thanks for your civil answer. Yes, I understand that by going with another service it's going to cost more. But the only way we can tell the carriers we're unhappy with them is with our wallets. I am tired of the service (and customer service) provided by AT&T. I love the iPhone, but it's just about the final straw with AT&T.
A used phone may be the way to go until my contract is up. Thanks for the response.
 
dukebound85 said:
if shes behind your idea then go for it! i thought you were gonna ninja swtich them without her knowing

follow fireshot's steps and it will work
Click to expand...

The funny thing is I considered doing this EXACT same thing when my dad got his. But then I started to listen to my conscious and just upgraded to the 3gs and extended my contract.:)
 
dukebound85 said:
the discounted price only applies if you are up for an upgrade (aka after your 2 year commitment)



buuuut you do realize that if you pay the att etf of 150, the droid isnt free right? the droid is 200 itself ontop of a new 2 year contract that will have a 350 etf fee if you break it

its cheaper to
1) fix your iphone
2) buy a used phone and swap your sim

it is not cheaper to go to verizon by any means however
Click to expand...

Don't you love old threads that you posted in, but then totally forgot about, that get revived? :D
 
silvasp said:
Thanks for your civil answer. Yes, I understand that by going with another service it's going to cost more. But the only way we can tell the carriers we're unhappy with them is with our wallets. I am tired of the service (and customer service) provided by AT&T. I love the iPhone, but it's just about the final straw with AT&T.
A used phone may be the way to go until my contract is up. Thanks for the response.
Click to expand...


The final straw was YOU breaking your iPhone. Don't blame AT&T for that.

Also your "businesses suck" line is ignorant.
 
Why are you unhappy with AT&T though? Its not the carriers fault you broke your phone. They have rules and regulations they have to follow like every other business. Just because you got yourself in a jam and threaten to leave and go to Verizon they wont be like oh please stay we'll beg you. Its our fault you broke your phone and we'll give you another one at a subsidized price again so you dont leave. If that was the case they'd be losing money each time someone threatens to leave them. They have to go by the contract rules that you agreed to and signed.
Why not do the right thing and take responsibility for your action and pay the price for your accident.
Its not AT&T's fault or bad customer service if they dont tell you what you want to hear. They told you what your options are and paying an ETF was one of them along with paying Apple for a repair or replacement. AT&T has no controll over what Apple charges for that.
You can find many places online that will replace the cracked glass cheaper than Apple. Maybe thats something to look into if you're comfortable with sending off your phone for a week or whatever long it takes.
I still dont get how its AT&T's fault. Some people think they can argue and fight while they're in the wrong and they will get their way because they have the false sense of the saying "The Customer is always right"


silvasp said:
But the only way we can tell the carriers we're unhappy with them is with our wallets. I am tired of the service (and customer service) provided by AT&T. I love the iPhone, but it's just about the final straw with AT&T.
A used phone may be the way to go until my contract is up. Thanks for the response.
Click to expand...
 
silvasp said:
Either answer my question or please remain quiet. I did not ask for an opinion. It's a "COURTESY"?? How much of a "COURTESY" would it be if you're windshield on you car broke and the dealer wanted MSRP for the vehicle to replace it???

For everyone else...
I'm not asking for a free phone. I would just like it repaired at a reasonable price. If that's unsuccessful, then another method of swapping SIMS would be considered if it's possible.
Click to expand...

You do realize the MSRP for the iPhone 3GS is $599/699, not 199/299, right? The 199/299 figure is subsidized when you sign a new 2 yr contract.
 
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