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T-Mobile Nano Sim Questions

Z

zstaley

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 12, 2012
4
0
I really want to buy the iPhone 5 unlocked and use it on T-Mobile most likely. Im not sure if I should preorder right away though (if the unlocked is even available right away), because I'm not sure if T-Mobile, or any other carriers that don't officially have the iPhone 5, will have nano sims.

Does anyone here know if T-Mobile is planning to get nano sims for use with the iPhone 5?

Or if it would be possible to cut a micro sim down to nano sim size? despite them being thinner than micro sims too.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
MaxPower49 said:
T-Mobile will have nano sims in mid October.

http://support.t-mobile.com/thread/32485

You might be able to cut down a micro sim. There have been some reports of people doing that successfully (search the forum).

But it looks like you won't be able to preorder an unsubsidized iPhone 5.
Click to expand...

You won't be able to cut the micro to a nano. Look at the pics comparing the sim card sizes. The nano's chip is smaller than the micro's.
 
Glad I found this thread. Im canadian and I use t-mobile when I go state side.

I might try cutting down my t-mobile micro sim just to try it out when I get my iPhone 5.
 
Thanks for the quick replies.

I have also read that if you preorder a full price AT&T iPhone without a contract, that it works on all GSM carriers, but is just branded AT&T. Is there any truth to that?
 
rockyroad55 said:
You won't be able to cut the micro to a nano. Look at the pics comparing the sim card sizes. The nano's chip is smaller than the micro's.
Click to expand...

The nano chip itself is smaller but the contacts are the same. You can trim off the plastic ends of the microsim, sandpaper 0.1mm, and it becomes a nano sim...in theory :cool:
 
zstaley said:
Thanks for the quick replies.

I have also read that if you preorder a full price AT&T iPhone without a contract, that it works on all GSM carriers, but is just branded AT&T. Is there any truth to that?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, likely due to LTE regulations or just not being able to support all formats in one chip, there are 2 GSM models of the iPhone 5, (3 total with the CDMA version), one works with US & Canada, the other works in 7 countries, but NOT US & Canada.:(
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
 
T-mobile sold me a nano sim card on 9/12

Yesterday (9/12) I called 1-800-T-Mobile (1-800-866-2453) and specifically ask if they have nano sim card for iPhone 5. To my surprise the rep said they do have the nano sim card with activation kit for a promotional price of 99 cents. I ask if that kit is available at local tmobile store and the answer was "yes, but it'll cost you more than $20". So I ordered it.

However, I was later learned that they won't release the nano sim until mid-october from this link. I guess what I ordered is probably a micro instead of nano. :mad: What do you think?

I'm in North Carolina, USA.
 
twrx350 said:
Yesterday (9/12) I called 1-800-T-Mobile (1-800-866-2453) and specifically ask if they have nano sim card for iPhone 5. To my surprise the rep said they do have the nano sim card with activation kit for a promotional price of 99 cents. I ask if that kit is available at local tmobile store and the answer was "yes, but it'll cost you more than $20". So I ordered it.

However, I was later learned that they won't release the nano sim until mid-october from this link. I guess what I ordered is probably a micro instead of nano. :mad: What do you think?

I'm in North Carolina, USA.
Click to expand...

Yes, the rep doesn't know the difference between nano and micro.
 
twrx350 said:
Yesterday (9/12) I called 1-800-T-Mobile (1-800-866-2453) and specifically ask if they have nano sim card for iPhone 5. To my surprise the rep said they do have the nano sim card with activation kit for a promotional price of 99 cents. I ask if that kit is available at local tmobile store and the answer was "yes, but it'll cost you more than $20". So I ordered it.

However, I was later learned that they won't release the nano sim until mid-october from this link. I guess what I ordered is probably a micro instead of nano. :mad: What do you think?

I'm in North Carolina, USA.
Click to expand...

It's probably a micro sim. Unless they frequent tech blogs and online news sites, the T-Mobile reps have no clue about what's going on yet since this information has not yet been pushed down the pipes.
 
forcetactic said:
The nano chip itself is smaller but the contacts are the same. You can trim off the plastic ends of the microsim, sandpaper 0.1mm, and it becomes a nano sim...in theory :cool:
Click to expand...

rockyroad55 said:
True, but it might be better off to just ask the carrier for a nano sim.
Click to expand...

Trimming larger sims is really only for people who can't get nano sims from carriers. For example, people who are waiting until mid-October for their new sim (see above).

I'm going to test with some free pay and go sims that I've picked up before I do it with a sim that matters.
 
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