I'm doing this same thing. Don't activate the phone when you get it, call AT&T and have them switch the data plan from the upgrade line to your line, and then swap SIMs and activate. I've called customer service 3 times to verify this will work.
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Swap upgrade with someone else on Family Plan?
- Thread starter iranintoavan
- Start date
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I am confused.
So I have a family plan, one with an iPhone 3G and the other one with a cheap phone.
I ordered the iPhone 3GS from the cheap phone and it comes on Friday.
I just call AT&T and tell them I am going to do an "upgrade swap"
Do I need to have the cheap phone on hand or can I just use the IMEI of the cheap phone. Do i have to change SIM cards or can the cheap phone stay with the old SIM and can the iPhone 3GS stay with the new one but acitvated to my line?
So I have a family plan, one with an iPhone 3G and the other one with a cheap phone.
I ordered the iPhone 3GS from the cheap phone and it comes on Friday.
I just call AT&T and tell them I am going to do an "upgrade swap"
Do I need to have the cheap phone on hand or can I just use the IMEI of the cheap phone. Do i have to change SIM cards or can the cheap phone stay with the old SIM and can the iPhone 3GS stay with the new one but acitvated to my line?
does AT&T send out the txt message that the line has been upgraded to all lines on the account? Or just the line that upgraded?
Activate the new SIM and swap them, and yes you will need the IMEI from the old phone.
It will work but the contract will not go through causing problems in the future. Please follow my instructions posted earlier. I don't want people to have problems.
Not sure what you mean...
As always if you have any specific questions don't hesitate to PM me.
Regards,
saDeRmac
Did you miss the part where I said "I've called customer service 3 times to verify that it will work"?
Using another line's upgrade will push back BOTH line's eligibility??
I just stopped into an ATT store and was told the following:
If I use an upgrade on my family account other than mine to get the subsidized pricing, then when I activate the phone on my line the upgrade eligibility date for BOTH LINES will be pushed back.
In other words, my current upgrade date is Dec 08, my brother's is today. I am using his upgrade to get the new iPhone. Instead of just pushing his date back, this person told me his date AND my Dec 08 date will be pushed back!!
Is this correct? Does this make any sense??
I just stopped into an ATT store and was told the following:
If I use an upgrade on my family account other than mine to get the subsidized pricing, then when I activate the phone on my line the upgrade eligibility date for BOTH LINES will be pushed back.
In other words, my current upgrade date is Dec 08, my brother's is today. I am using his upgrade to get the new iPhone. Instead of just pushing his date back, this person told me his date AND my Dec 08 date will be pushed back!!
Is this correct? Does this make any sense??
GfPQqmcRKUvP
macrumors 68040
Did you miss the part where the informed guy from ATT who's been helping us this entire thread said NOT to do that? It causes problems with contract switching even though it will result in both phones working. The ideal solution is to activate the phones on whatever plan you bought them on (meaning the one you used the upgrade on), then switching the SIM cards, then calling ATT to explain to them the IMEI change.
oghowie
macrumors 6502a
Yeah, that doesn't make sense at all. Definitely not worth the $200 saved if this was the case.
oghowie
macrumors 6502a
What if we don't have the upgrading line's IMEI at the moment?
My dad uses the line I'm upgrading every time he is back in the USA, but has his own international GSM phone that he got in China. Can I just give them any GSM IMEI from a phone I have laying around the house?
just came from an att store and yes there is already fan boys camping outside. They said yes, this will be fine as long as there is an eligible upgrade on the account somewhere, whatever line is not important.
Also, dont be mad I called you a fan boy because i plan on going up there at like 4am
Also, dont be mad I called you a fan boy because i plan on going up there at like 4am
I have a family plan on my account with a total of two iPhones. The primary can upgrade and the discounted price (32gb - $300). But the second line can't be upgraded till March 2010. If I were to activate a third line on the family plan can I just swap SIM with the 2nd line to the 3rd line? Is it that easy? If so I am willing to pay the EFT on the 3rd line and the first month's bill in order to get a reduced price. Any input on this?
I was told by my local ATT store that both lines' contracts would be extended for another two years, but wouldn't affect the full subsidy eligibility dates.
For example, my wife is eligible for full subsidy right now, where as I'm not till Jan next year. If I used her line to upgrade my phone now, my wife wouldn't be eligible for full subsidy for 18 months, but I will still be eligible in Jan 2010. Both of our lines' contracts would be extended for two more years, though.
Sadermac, do you have any insight on this?
This makes much more sense.
The ATT rep also told me that everyone who receives an iphone through the mail has to take it to an ATT store to 'un-brick it.' When she saw the look on my face, she checked with her manager and said she was wrong about that...but that the upgrade dates would definitely be pushed back on both.
Anyway, thanks for the info...
GfPQqmcRKUvP
macrumors 68040
I really don't think it pushes back the upgrade eligibility on both lines. I believe that's illegal.
jcdDigix
macrumors member
I talked to an ATT Rep yesterday. My wife's phone is upgradable. Thus the only way for me to get the 32G is thru "Swapping". My 3G S 32G is on the way. I'm starting to love that SWAPPING thing 😀 . That lady told me I'll still be able to get another 3g S on Dec 18 this year!
Kadman
macrumors 65816
Through your steps, the term SIM swap isn't clear to me given that I'll have 3 SIMs once the new phone shows up. Just to confirm:
Situation
I have 3G, wife has old Samsung
Ordered 3GS under her renewal
Steps
1. 3GS shows up, I activate the 3GS under her number with the SIM that came with the 3GS
2. Take the new 3GS SIM (has her number now) and move it to her old Samsung.
3. Put the SIM from my 3G into the 3GS.
4. Call AT&T and tell them about the upgrade swap. They will assign the IMEI of wife's Samsung to her new SIM and assign the IMEI of the 3GS to my old SIM. The old SIM from her Samsung is dead (has been since activation of the new SIM).
5. Any instructions needed to give the CSR to ensure the iPhone data plan is removed immediately from her line during this call?
**Edit to add: As an alternative, can't I have them activate the 3GS on her old SIM, without the SIM ever leaving her Samsung? That way I wouldn't even have to swap SIMs around? Or is the swapping of the SIM cards key to this going smooth?
Also, one point of clarification: Activating the 3GS as her phone number would require connection to iTunes right? If so, is it going to synch my old stuff to it at that point? Then when I swap my 3G SIM into it, will it freak out the sync process, thinking it's yet another new phone?
Sorry for the confusion. I'm just trying to think this through step by step down to a detailed level.
Situation
I have 3G, wife has old Samsung
Ordered 3GS under her renewal
Steps
1. 3GS shows up, I activate the 3GS under her number with the SIM that came with the 3GS
2. Take the new 3GS SIM (has her number now) and move it to her old Samsung.
3. Put the SIM from my 3G into the 3GS.
4. Call AT&T and tell them about the upgrade swap. They will assign the IMEI of wife's Samsung to her new SIM and assign the IMEI of the 3GS to my old SIM. The old SIM from her Samsung is dead (has been since activation of the new SIM).
5. Any instructions needed to give the CSR to ensure the iPhone data plan is removed immediately from her line during this call?
**Edit to add: As an alternative, can't I have them activate the 3GS on her old SIM, without the SIM ever leaving her Samsung? That way I wouldn't even have to swap SIMs around? Or is the swapping of the SIM cards key to this going smooth?
Also, one point of clarification: Activating the 3GS as her phone number would require connection to iTunes right? If so, is it going to synch my old stuff to it at that point? Then when I swap my 3G SIM into it, will it freak out the sync process, thinking it's yet another new phone?
Sorry for the confusion. I'm just trying to think this through step by step down to a detailed level.
deannnnn
macrumors 68020
Has everyone had success with this now that the 3GS has been released?
I'm planning on attempting it on Monday.
(I'm just finishing up an extremely intense film class at NYU and if I get the new iPhone today then I know I won't get any work done on my final project which is due Monday 😉 )
I'm planning on attempting it on Monday.
(I'm just finishing up an extremely intense film class at NYU and if I get the new iPhone today then I know I won't get any work done on my final project which is due Monday 😉 )
I went to the local ATT store and there was no line (at 9AM). I told the guy that I wanted to use another line's upgrade eligibility. He looked up the account (I'm the account holder) and got it working. I took the SIM out of my current 3G and put it in the 3GS and everything worked fine.
deannnnn
macrumors 68020
Well that's good to hear.
So I should go to an AT&T Corp store as opposed to an Apple store?
Also, did you need the phone for the line you are taking the upgrade from with you at the AT&T store?
Because I'd be taking the upgrade from my grandpa, but he's in Florida and I'm in New York.