Swap upgrade with someone else on Family Plan?

[saDeRmac]

So I'm planning on doing the whole "loophole" thing as well.

However, I was under the impression that if I just had my 3GS shipped to me, that I could swap out the SIM cards between my mom's non-iPhone that I'm using to get the upgrade, and my 3G SIM card.

So is that not the case? I have to actually take it into an ATT store to get activated rather than doing it via iTunes?

You can do that but you would have to make sure that the IMEI for the other phone is switched back to the original one or even if you take the data package off it will attach itself back during the monthly audit. To avoid hassles I would recommend going to a COR store.

Okay so here's a twist on this same question. Let's say that you have a 3G phone and your spouse who has an old dumb phone wants it.

Can I get a 3GS on launch day for my wife (who is eligible upgrade) and simply swap the SIM cards between the two phones with NO INTERVENTION from AT&T so that I wind up with the 3GS with my old SIM card and my wife has my old 3G phone also with an iPhone plan?

I'm asking because my iPhone is a corporate line and it's going to be murder trying to get them to do anything with it.

You are cool. Cause the data package is the same for the 3GS. I would recommend updating the IMEIs through customer care though.

If ya'll have any further questions don't hesitate to PM me.

 

[Iron Chef]

You can do that but you would have to make sure that the IMEI for the other phone is switched back to the original one or even if you take the data package off it will attach itself back during the monthly audit. To avoid hassles I would recommend going to a COR store.

Will they say anything if I ask to switch my IMEI? Can they actually tell me no?

You know I noticed there are a lot of questions about the whole "upgrade loophole" question.

Maybe if someone posted an idiots guide to upgrade swapping, with step by step details of what exactly you need to do - both at home and at ATT, that would be really helpful.

 

[saDeRmac]

Will they say anything if I ask to switch my IMEI? Can they actually tell me no?

You know I noticed there are a lot of questions about the whole "upgrade loophole" question.

Maybe if someone posted an idiots guide to upgrade swapping, with step by step details of what exactly you need to do - both at home and at ATT, that would be really helpful.

Its not a loophole. Its actually a term that we use: Upgrade Swap. We have a process that makes sure that everything goes to plan. Customer Care should help you when you ask to change your IMEIs. I would recommend going to a COR store anyway because we can see the phone and everything.

Step by step:

Home:
1) Activate your iPhone 3GS by following the instructions included.
2) Call Customer Care for the upgraded line and explain that you are doing an upgrade swap to a iPhone 3GS on a different line. Explain that you need switch the old IMEI back.
3) Call Customer Care for the upgrade swap line and make sure the new IMEI of the iPhone 3GS is on your account.
4) Thats it.

This helps prevent problems with warranty issues and so on and so forth.

Store:
The rep will know what to do for everything. If he/she doesn't know what you are talking about don't be afraid to ask a manager.

 

[Iron Chef]

Its not a loophole. Its actually a term that we use: Upgrade Swap. We have a process that makes sure that everything goes to plan. Customer Care should help you when you ask to change your IMEIs. I would recommend going to a COR store anyway because we can see the phone and everything.

Step by step:

Home:
1) Activate your iPhone 3GS by following the instructions included.
2) Call Customer Care for the upgraded line and explain that you are doing an upgrade swap to a iPhone 3GS on a different line. Explain that you need switch the old IMEI back.
3) Call Customer Care for the upgrade swap line and make sure the new IMEI of the iPhone 3GS is on your account.
4) Thats it.

This helps prevent problems with warranty issues and so on and so forth.

Store:
The rep will know what to do for everything. If he/she doesn't know what you are talking about don't be afraid to ask a manager.

Thanks a lot. This is eases a lot of worry. I kept thinking of "stories" to tell the ATT rep just in case something went wrong and I was doing something against policy.

So let me see if I have it right.

I will receive my 3GS by FedEX as scheduled next Friday. I will activate using my mom's upgrade line via iTunes. I will then stick in my 3G SIM card into the 3GS. I will then go to an authorized AT&T store, and tell them I want to do an upgrade swap on my newly activated 3GS. They will switch the IMEIs for me. I can leave happy.

Sound correct?

 

[Justinf79]

I know that I'm able to upgrade my Motorola Razr to the 3Gs for $299(32gb) with a added price of $30 for the iphone data plan and $5 for the 200msg a month addon. I'm on a AT&T family plan too.

 

[saDeRmac]

Thanks a lot. This is eases a lot of worry. I kept thinking of "stories" to tell the ATT rep just in case something went wrong and I was doing something against policy.

So let me see if I have it right.

I will receive my 3GS by FedEX as scheduled next Friday. I will activate using my mom's upgrade line via iTunes. I will then stick in my 3G SIM card into the 3GS. I will then go to an authorized AT&T store, and tell them I want to do an upgrade swap on my newly activated 3GS. They will switch the IMEIs for me. I can leave happy.

Sound correct?

Yes sir!
As always I am available via PM for specific questions.

 

[Rat-Boy]

When you connect your iPhone 3GS to iTunes it will ask you if you want to restore from a back up. Pick the most recent back up that you did. I recommend synching your 3G before you set up your 3GS.

So it wont matter that it is a different model of phone?

I guess it wouldn't so long as I put OS 3 on my 3G.

I just hope ALL App Data is backed up. (Is this up to Apple, or the App Vendor on a app by app basis?)

 

[saDeRmac]

So it wont matter that it is a different model of phone?

I guess it wouldn't so long as I put OS 3 on my 3G.

I just hope ALL App Data is backed up. (Is this up to Apple, or the App Vendor on a app by app basis?)

3.0 recognizes any backups. it doesn't matter if its 2.2.1 or earlier. It's iTunes that does it anyway not the phone.
Your safe as long as the app saves the data into the specific folder for apps that is backed up. I know that some apps save the data within the app so that might be lost. For the majority most apps save to the app prefs folder.

 

[Rat-Boy]

3.0 recognizes any backups. it doesn't matter if its 2.2.1 or earlier. It's iTunes that does it anyway not the phone.
Your safe as long as the app saves the data into the specific folder for apps that is backed up. I know that some apps save the data within the app so that might be lost. For the majority most apps save to the app prefs folder.

Thanks man.

And I would HOPE that someone developing a Checkbook application would have it backup to the normal spots and what not.

I would hope.....

 

[iranintoavan]

Thanks man.

And I would HOPE that someone developing a Checkbook application would have it backup to the normal spots and what not.

I would hope.....

If you're worried about losing data, do what I do and take screen shots of everything important just in case you do have to re-enter data or what not. I always do this when updating/restoring, just to be sure. It has come in handy in the past.

 

[danieljacobj]

Yes sir!
As always I am available via PM for specific questions.

saDeRmac,

I ordered a 3G S using my girlfriend's account which was eligible for the $199/299 pricing. She has a separate account, not a line on mine and an original iPhone. Can I take my 3G sim card when I receive the 3G S and activate using iTunes on my account? Will it affect her account since I'm using my sim? Please note my girlfriend will be out of town until the following weekend at least and need to still be able to use her phone. When she does come home, will it be as simple as putting the sim that came with the 3G S into my 3G and activating to her account? Please let me know.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

saDeRmac has been extremely helpful in this thread. Thanks so much!

I was hoping I could do it all through the OLAM by add/remove features but I have no problem going into the store. I shouldn't have to wait in a whole line if I already have the 3GS on me.

Thanks again.

EDIT: Someone sticky this thread

 

[danieljacobj]

saDeRmac has been extremely helpful in this thread. Thanks so much!

I was hoping I could do it all through the OLAM by add/remove features but I have no problem going into the store. I shouldn't have to wait in a whole line if I already have the 3GS on me.

Thanks again.

EDIT: Someone sticky this thread

I agree, saDermac has been very helpful, thank you!

 

[Rat-Boy]

If you're worried about losing data, do what I do and take screen shots of everything important just in case you do have to re-enter data or what not. I always do this when updating/restoring, just to be sure. It has come in handy in the past.

I will probably do that for most apps.

But a Checkbook app tracking 15 accounts would make that a tad, er, difficult?

 

[Rat-Boy]

I agree, saDermac has been very helpful, thank you!

I agree too.

And I PMed him or her and told them as much.

 

[jmpage2]

You are cool. Cause the data package is the same for the 3GS. I would recommend updating the IMEIs through customer care though.

If ya'll have any further questions don't hesitate to PM me.

Thanks very much for the info. I'm still not sure I would be able to update the IMEI. Don't you need account information to upgrade or swap the IMEI between two handsets?

In this case I have a corporate provided line and never even see the statements, but I still want to do the above swap with an iPhone I have currently and a new 3GS I would get on my wife's activation.

Thanks!

 

[saDeRmac]

saDeRmac,

I ordered a 3G S using my girlfriend's account which was eligible for the $199/299 pricing. She has a separate account, not a line on mine and an original iPhone. Can I take my 3G sim card when I receive the 3G S and activate using iTunes on my account? Will it affect her account since I'm using my sim? Please note my girlfriend will be out of town until the following weekend at least and need to still be able to use her phone. When she does come home, will it be as simple as putting the sim that came with the 3G S into my 3G and activating to her account? Please let me know.

You see the problem is when you activate the 3GS on her line they give you a new SIM and you will have to activate the 3GS with that new SIM unless you upgrade through a Corp Store where they can have her keep her original SIM. e.g. her phone will be inactive until you give her the new SIM. I would reccomend canceling the order and preordering through a COR store so that you can have your new phone right away and she won't lose service.

saDeRmac has been extremely helpful in this thread. Thanks so much!

I was hoping I could do it all through the OLAM by add/remove features but I have no problem going into the store. I shouldn't have to wait in a whole line if I already have the 3GS on me.

Thanks again.

EDIT: Someone sticky this thread

Thanks so much for the kudos. I wouldn't mind being a moderator for the forums if someone wants to recommend me! lol

 

[danieljacobj]

You see the problem is when you activate the 3GS on her line they give you a new SIM and you will have to activate the 3GS with that new SIM unless you upgrade through a Corp Store where they can have her keep her original SIM. e.g. her phone will be inactive until you give her the new SIM. I would reccomend canceling the order and preordering through a COR store so that you can have your new phone right away and she won't lose service.


Thanks so much for the kudos. I wouldn't mind being a moderator for the forums if someone wants to recommend me! lol

I guess what's jamming me up is the fact that I don't want to activate the 3GS on her line at all. I just want to stick my current sim into it and activate via iTunes if possible. Then when she comes home, put that new sim into my old 3G and let her activate. Is this possible? Or does the new 3GS need to be activated on her line/account?
Thanks!

 

[saDeRmac]

I guess what's jamming me up is the fact that I don't want to activate the 3GS on her line at all. I just want to stick my current sim into it and activate via iTunes if possible. Then when she comes home, put that new sim into my old 3G and let her activate. Is this possible? Or does the new 3GS need to be activated on her line/account?
Thanks!

Please PM me if you can't I will try and answer as best I can publicly.

 

[danieljacobj]

Please PM me if you can't I will try and answer as best I can publicly.

I can't PM yet, but I can wait until I can send PMs or try to answer on here. Whatever you think is best.

 

[Iron Chef]

Please PM me if you can't I will try and answer as best I can publicly.

Can you PM the response you give this poster as well. This is something that I wanted to do as well. I'd like to just stick my 3G SIM into the 3GS before I activate it through iTunes.

Would that prevent the activation of another data plan?

 

[xanatos]

I currently have tmobile. I DO NOT want to go to ATT everyone in my family has it and they say its horrible.
How do I get the phone without having to sign up with them.
Could I have an eligible family member buy the phone not activate it, just sign a new two year deal and then hand me over the phone to do whatever I like with it. like unlock it to work on tmobile. Or is there some like contract obligation that it has to be activated. or the whole concept is just getting a two year deal out of the customer?
And is it really easy to unlock 3g to work for tmobile or would I just be wasting everyones time??

 

[saDeRmac]

I can't PM yet, but you can email me: (Email addy) or I can wait until I can send PMs or try to answer on here. Whatever you think is best.

Daniel please delete your previous post so you don't get spammed. I will email you as soon as I can get an answer at work tomorrow. I do have your email.

Can you PM the response you give this poster as well. This is something that I wanted to do as well. I'd like to just stick my 3G SIM into the 3GS before I activate it through iTunes.

Would that prevent the activation of another data plan?

I will PM you the answer as soon as I get it. If you prefer I can also email it to you also but please PM me your email so you don't get spammed as well.

I currently have tmobile. I DO NOT want to go to ATT everyone in my family has it and they say its horrible.
How do I get the phone without having to sign up with them.
Could I have an eligible family member buy the phone not activate it, just sign a new two year deal and then hand me over the phone to do whatever I like with it. like unlock it to work on tmobile. Or is there some like contract obligation that it has to be activated. or the whole concept is just getting a two year deal out of the customer?
And is it really easy to unlock 3g to work for tmobile or would I just be wasting everyones time??

In my opinion (not just because I work for AT&T) I think its more of a hassle and there is no guarantee that the 3GS is even un-lockable at this point. I would wait until the DevTeam jailbreaks it to see.

This post is nowhere near recommending jail-breaking your phone due to the stability to the software and the legal ramifications of breaking the contract terms.

As always any specific questions can be answered by PM

saDeRmac

 

[danieljacobj]

Thanks, I have a feeling you/AT&T are going to "recommend" that you activate with the sim it comes with. I am hoping that as long as its a 3G sim card it should work with the 3GS since thats what people are saying AT&T CSRs and saDeRmac are saying that you can switch phones between lines on the same account. I really appreciate the help.

 

[saDeRmac]

Thanks, I have a feeling you/AT&T are going to "recommend" that you activate with the sim it comes with. I am hoping that as long as its a 3G sim card it should work with the 3GS since thats what people are saying AT&T CSRs and saDeRmac are saying that you can switch phones between lines on the same account. I really appreciate the help.

No problem my friend. ASAP I will email you the information.