Switching Sim Cards with AT&T

[slstein]

So I have a Note 5 which I love but I'd also like to get an 6s +.
I like apples new way on selling the phone without service.
If I buy an apple iphone will I be able to just switch the sim card from the Note 5?
Then use whichever I feel like using?

 

[Lspice]

Yes. That's correct.

 

[slstein]

Yes. That's correct.

That's what I thought also, but AT&T tech support told me the iphone won't work properly because the sim is set up for the android Note 5???

 

[0007776]

That's what I thought also, but AT&T tech support told me the iphone won't work properly because the sim is set up for the android Note 5???

They want you to pay the activation fee instead of doing it yourself so they tell you that, but as long as it is the same size SIM (I'm not sure what size the Note uses) it should work.

 

[slstein]

The Note 5 is now using the smaller size sim card , I understand the the 6's also use it .
My note 4 had the larger, standard size sim.

 

[0007776]

The Note 5 is now using the smaller size sim card , I understand the the 6's also use it .
My note 4 had the larger, standard size sim.

Then you'll be fine.

 

[Epyon790]

You can walk into an AT&T store and ask for a new SIM. Usually when I get my iPhone, the previous one trickles down the ladder of my family.
They have never given me a hard time for a new SIM card

 

[MuGeN PoWeR]

That's what I thought also, but AT&T tech support told me the iphone won't work properly because the sim is set up for the android Note 5???

at&t tech support just want to earn money.

 

[George Knighton]

You might not be able to create a hotspot.

That's the only thing I can think of off hand.

 

[Cergman]

You might not be able to create a hotspot.

That's the only thing I can think of off hand.

If ATT will allow you to use mobile hotspot then you will have no problem on either phone. the aim is tied to service, and has absolutely nothing to do with the phone that it is in.

 

[rigormortis]

the only argument i have to offer about simply putting in a new sim card versus AT&T activating you is AT&T go phone.

we have had issues with AT&T unable to unlock the phone, because the phone was not used with a previous account when we simply moved the sim card over.

when we went to the AT&T store to formally ask that the new imei # gets put on the account, they looked at me like i was crazy

after this was done the unlock request was immediately granted.

prior to walking into the store i was denied 2 times, for the same reason, no activity tied to a previous AT&T account. i went to the AT&T store, made them put the imei on our account.
that same day we submitted a new unlock request and it was granted in 2 days


if you move the sim card over, see if you can log on to your account and see if the new imei is on your account.
if it is, then you will get credit for using this phone on their network for an unlock in the future.


the story about how you don't need to pay for an activation fee and you can simply move the sim card over may have consequences when its time to unlock your phone.

^^ this post was limited to how AT&T go phone tried several times to screw me out of an unlock and is not to meant people with postpaid service

 

[stephen1108]

If ATT will allow you to use mobile hotspot then you will have no problem on either phone. the aim is tied to service, and has absolutely nothing to do with the phone that it is in.

No he's right.

If you just take the SIM from your Note and stick it in your iPhone, you will get data and be able to make calls, but you won't be able to do FaceTime over cellular, or use Personal Hotspot regardless if you can create a hotspot on your Note 5 without issue. How do I know?

I had the same issue myself. I purchased a Galaxy S6 in August and changed my plan over to the regular smartphone data plan thinking I wouldn't have any issues. When I went back to my iPhone I was wondering why all of a sudden I could no longer set up a personal hotspot, or use FaceTime over cellular. It took me a month before I figured out I was on the wrong plan, and I needed to be on the specific iPhone plan for those features to work. I literally just resolved this exact issue this past Tuesday.

Long story short OP, once you pop the SIM in the iPhone, just change your plan from the regular smartphone data plan over to the iPhone data plan with VVM. It should come at no extra charge.

 

[slstein]

OK, I fully understand...
But my original point was can I switch it back and forth without any issues.
The sim is currently in my Note 5.
I will use it in the 6s, what happen when I want to use the Note 5 again and place it back in there?
Again, I want to be able to use BOTH when I feel like using one or the other?

 

[Nhwhazup]

I have the 6 Plus currently with ATT and want to upgrade to the new S Plus without losing my current old unlimited plan. I know I'll have to pay full price for the new phone But can I just switch my SIM card or do I need to go through ATT for activation? I don't even mind paying an activation fee but I don't want to lose my plan.

I can do a trade in to Best Buy without a SIM card, correct?

 

[George Knighton]

If ATT will allow you to use mobile hotspot then you will have no problem on either phone. the aim is tied to service, and has absolutely nothing to do with the phone that it is in.

I was speaking from personal experience.

My Moto X nano-SIM can create a hot spot in the Moto X but the option is not available when that nano-SIM is put into an iPhone the nano-SIM for which allows hotspot creation.

Both nano-SIM will create a hot spot in the Moto X.

 

[George Knighton]

OK, I fully understand...
But my original point was can I switch it back and forth without any issues.
The sim is currently in my Note 5.
I will use it in the 6s, what happen when I want to use the Note 5 again and place it back in there?
Again, I want to be able to use BOTH when I feel like using one or the other?

I switch back and forth with no problems except those kindly described by stephen1108 in his post above.

 

[rigormortis]

whenever you think you have missing features, like wifi hotspot, visual voice mail. VolLTE for any reason, reseedng the sim card may bring them back. this has been my experience.

turn off iPhone
maybe wait 2 minutes
remove sim card
turn on iPhone
wait for iPhone to power on fully
wait for iPhone to unlock and come to the home screen
wait for iPhone to say no sim

insert sim card

this causes the iPhone to update the sim card, and update its preferred roaming tables, and causes the sim card to tell the iPhone what stuff to turn on

I've done this with t-mobile and missing hotspot, and verizon with missing voice mail and VoLTE and
reseeding the sim card always brought stuff back up

reseeding the sim card is the equivalent of picking up a cdma only verizon phone and dialing *223