I have been trying this for about a week now and can't get it to work. I restored my original iPhone and used a new sim card. I get past all the screens were I change my plan. Then it says processing activation wait up to 3 minutes. After 5 it says iTunes cannot process you activation. Anyone else having this problem ?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Unsuccessful atempts to get $20 unlimited data plan for iphone 2g
- Thread starter robleab
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Just curious
I have a question. I have the iphone 4, unlimited data (grandfathered) can I take that sim card, which I cut myself with a sim card cutter purchased on Amazon, put it in the ipad that I will get next week, get another sim from ATT and it be unlimited data also?
I have a question. I have the iphone 4, unlimited data (grandfathered) can I take that sim card, which I cut myself with a sim card cutter purchased on Amazon, put it in the ipad that I will get next week, get another sim from ATT and it be unlimited data also?
No, It won't work on the iPad. AT&T will send you a warning that SIM swapping between phones and tablets is not allowed, and eventually shut off the data.
Sure you can put your iPhone 4 Micro-SIM into your iPad but AT&T will know about it and send your SMS Txt messages or email depending on your AT&T profile settings. There is no need to cut your Micro-SIM they are the same size.
The next challenge is that you can't get another Micro-SIM your iPhone without deactivating your Micro-SIM you just moved to your iPad. Was your plan to put the new Micro-SIM in your iPhone 4? Your current active Micro-SIM is tied to your phone number so that's why you can't just get another one next week.
Dave
Hey, Im about to do this with my new 4s. I first off wanted to thank everyone for their contributions to this info. I've been disabled for the last few years and hence have been out of the loop, haven't even had a cell phone since i gave up my original iPhone and the service a few months after getting it.
The chase: i know most have said that i should go and get a new sim card before attempting this. I am simply wandering if anyone has had any success with this process using the sim card from their existing 4s/4/3gs etc. Thanks for the input.
The chase: i know most have said that i should go and get a new sim card before attempting this. I am simply wandering if anyone has had any success with this process using the sim card from their existing 4s/4/3gs etc. Thanks for the input.
I would suggest that you get a new Mini-SIM. You can even get one that is a combination Mini-SIM that snaps down to be a Micro-SIM to go back into your new iPhone 4S when you are done. 
Just ask for one at an AT&T store first, they have stacks of them. You can also purchase one of these combination SIMs on eBay or worst case directly from AT&T delivered to your door. This is for iPads but works just fine in any other AT&T device.
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/accessory-details/?q_sku=sku4530230#fbid=MlGLgPIiOad
Not worth the $15 to me but if you don't have any other options. Note the eBay ones are about $5.95 but would be free directly from AT&T.
Dave
Just ask for one at an AT&T store first, they have stacks of them. You can also purchase one of these combination SIMs on eBay or worst case directly from AT&T delivered to your door. This is for iPads but works just fine in any other AT&T device.
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/accessory-details/?q_sku=sku4530230#fbid=MlGLgPIiOad
Not worth the $15 to me but if you don't have any other options. Note the eBay ones are about $5.95 but would be free directly from AT&T.
Dave
Went to AT&T store and asked him for a new micro sim card. I told him that I damaged my old one. He would only give me the new sim if I show him my iphone 4 and will probably activate it which I don't want. Will try ebay.
What happens if I use the activated sim from my 4S for this trick? Why get new sim?
and will probably activate it which I don't want. Will try ebay.What happens if I use the activated sim from my 4S for this trick? Why get new sim?
The reason to use a new unactivated SIM is that's the way the original iTunes activation process was designed to work and it works!
You can try any other steps or combination you want but if you want the process to work. Keep it simple and don't try to skip any of the steps. That's why this thread is so long... some people just can't follow the simple steps
Dave
You can try any other steps or combination you want but if you want the process to work. Keep it simple and don't try to skip any of the steps. That's why this thread is so long... some people just can't follow the simple steps
Dave
Understood, I can appreciate that. I am concerned that if I ask for a sim they will load my account info onto the new sim they are Giving and I'll have the same issue, I guess I can just make it clear to the store rep that I spoke to a csr and they told me I need a new untouched sim to get my phone working. Am I right to worry that if they put any info on the sim before handing it to me than it won't work, right?Again thanks for the help and sorry for the redundancyThe reason to use a new unactivated SIM is that's the way the original iTunes activation process was designed to work and it works!
You can try any other steps or combination you want but if you want the process to work. Keep it simple and don't try to skip any of the steps. That's why this thread is so long... some people just can't follow the simple steps
Dave
Last edited:
Try another store
Yes, you are correct that you don't want them to do anything to connect the SIM to your account since that usually means that they will activate it.
Just tell the rep you are activating an original iPhone at home using iTunes. Hey they might offer to help you using iTunes right in the store. Some RSC are very helpful and depending on their experience they might even be able to do a manual activation of the original iPhone and get the $20 Unlimited iPhone Data plan. Some of the Customer Care reps also get it right but it is really a roll of the dice if you don't use the automated iTunes process.
Dave
Yes, you are correct that you don't want them to do anything to connect the SIM to your account since that usually means that they will activate it.
Just tell the rep you are activating an original iPhone at home using iTunes. Hey they might offer to help you using iTunes right in the store. Some RSC are very helpful and depending on their experience they might even be able to do a manual activation of the original iPhone and get the $20 Unlimited iPhone Data plan. Some of the Customer Care reps also get it right but it is really a roll of the dice if you don't use the automated iTunes process.
Dave
Thanks Dave. Much appreciated. Maybe I am getting greedy since I have access to an intelligent person who's been through this process, but am wandering if you had to call AT&T after iTunes activation? I noticed some people posted it had to be done to successfully add the unlimited data and others not. I'm assuming it's a case by case thing and guessing maybe those who had to call didnt follow the process through, just wandering which is the case for you.Try another store
Yes, you are correct that you don't want them to do anything to connect the SIM to your account since that usually means that they will activate it.
Just tell the rep you are activating an original iPhone at home using iTunes. Hey they might offer to help you using iTunes right in the store. Some RSC are very helpful and depending on their experience they might even be able to do a manual activation of the original iPhone and get the $20 Unlimited iPhone Data plan. Some of the Customer Care reps also get it right but it is really a roll of the dice if you don't use the automated iTunes process.
Dave
Good deal. Thanks a lot looking forward to it. I'll be doing the same when mine arrives.
Yeah mine should arrive by Nov. 2
I can't wait for this moment to get back my unlimited data plan.Attachments
I have to admit I'm pretty stoked as well, although I kind of feel entitled to it since I bought the original iPhone the day it was released and only lost it after a series of **** ups by Att, who claimed they were only doing apple's bidding, but I shouldn't get started. Yes, i plan to abuse the hell out of it, I haven't decided how to punish the network yet, maybe buy a new alarm clock and set it to go off every couple of minutes so i can keep refreshing the screen to allow a netflix stream to continute uninterrupted throughout the night as I sleep.Yeah mine should arrive by Nov. 2
But I'm still open to other Evil ideas as well. Somebody tell me what a piece of crap I am for doing this and how it will only hurt the collective, I dare you.I had a 200mb plan but didn't know how to take it off since you need a data plan with an iPhone. Now I have the same 200mb $15 data plan on my iPhone 2G. Did I screw myself or is there something I'm missing?
i have to admit i'm pretty stoked as well, although i kind of feel entitled to it since i bought the original iphone the day it was released and only lost it after a series of **** ups by att, who claimed they were only doing apple's bidding, but i shouldn't get started. Yes, i plan to abuse the hell out of it, i haven't decided how to punish the network yet, maybe buy a new alarm clock and set it to go off every couple of minutes so i can keep refreshing the screen to allow a netflix stream to continute uninterrupted throughout the night as i sleep. :d but i'm still open to other evil ideas as well. Somebody tell me what a piece of crap i am for doing this and how it will only hurt the collective, i dare you.
lol
I have seen it posted both ways(the instructions that is). It seems there are many things that are really a case by case basis. Success has been had both with both methods.More below.
Are you saying you had the 200mb plan and switched to the 2g, and did the activation process and re-selected the 200mb plan again instead of the unlimited plan. Yes you are missing something, or your leaving out a part of the process thats making me miss something. Did you follow the instructions. Post everything you did. If you activated through iTunes after restoring the 2g, you should have selected the unlimited plan. If you are saying you did that but did not get any options to select a data plan, at all, my best guess would be that you didn't use a brand new unactivated sim card and just popped your current sim card into the 2g before going through the process in iTunes, is that what happened? Im sure you missed something, or everything perhaps, what exactly i can't be sure of but will try to help you narrow it down if you post more details on exactly what your process was, to the best of my abilities at least considering i haven't done it yet.
----------
Sorry, also as far as the question about removing the data plan altogether, and if its necessary, and if so how to go about it when the iPhone requires a data plan.
First, in reference to if its necessary, i can only speculate, many people say yes and many say no, its not like you can only attempt the process once though. If you find you do need to do so or if you just decide to go this route, the way to do it is to take your current sim out of the iPhone and put it in a "dumb phone" that doesn't have a data requirement, and then go into the account settings page and remove data altogether. Then you can start with step one of the process after doing that. If anyone does this with an existing activated sim card and has success let me know, i know its been done, but haven't had a direct reply from anyone lately who has done it without going the new sim card route.
Its been a nightmare with me so far.
Im trying to add the unlimited data on one of my iphone lines that currently has the 2GB plan.
I got an iphone 2G, went and got a new unactivated sim from AT&T.
Plug it to itunes and follow the steps. The 2G will never activate.
It always errors out and tells me it has a network issues. I tried on 3 different computers. I been on the phone with AT&T for hours trying to activate this iphone 2G and still nothing. They are supposed to transfer the request to higher up tech support team and contact me within 2 days. Still havent heard nothing.
I thought I had every step in place. Maybe because I didnt remove the iphone 2G plan before I tried to activate the iphone 2G with itunes?
What a pain.
I wonder if I can get unlimited data on my Moto SLVR L7 and after that put the sim in the iphone 4 and be able to upgrade to the unlimited $30 data plan? Or do I have to stick trying to activate this original iphone?
After dozens of calls to Apple and AT&T Im getting tired of it.
Im trying to add the unlimited data on one of my iphone lines that currently has the 2GB plan.
I got an iphone 2G, went and got a new unactivated sim from AT&T.
Plug it to itunes and follow the steps. The 2G will never activate.
It always errors out and tells me it has a network issues. I tried on 3 different computers. I been on the phone with AT&T for hours trying to activate this iphone 2G and still nothing. They are supposed to transfer the request to higher up tech support team and contact me within 2 days. Still havent heard nothing.
I thought I had every step in place. Maybe because I didnt remove the iphone 2G plan before I tried to activate the iphone 2G with itunes?
What a pain.
I wonder if I can get unlimited data on my Moto SLVR L7 and after that put the sim in the iphone 4 and be able to upgrade to the unlimited $30 data plan? Or do I have to stick trying to activate this original iphone?
After dozens of calls to Apple and AT&T Im getting tired of it.
Go onto your account details on the website, and see what your data plan shows up as of this second. Let me know. THe moto L7 won't work,the whole smartphone as we define it thing gets in the way.
Thanks for you help.
Right now it still list the datapro 2GB plan for iphone.
So Im calling AT&T to remove it now. I cant do it online thru the website, there's no option to remove.
Ok, just removed the iphone 2GB data plan and im using the L7 right now with no data plan listed on my online account.
Last edited:
No problem, It seems to be one of those threads/topics that once people accomplish their goal they aren't willing to help anyone else do it and it should be obvious to anyone who wants to do it how, anyone who can't get it is inferior/stupid. This isn't the rule, a few people have been kind enough to help me out. From what I've seen the delayed activation issue has something to do with the IMEI's history on that particular phone. However if you get on the phone with someone, Instead of just having them remove the data plan for you, keep asking to speak to a supervisor or just a different associate even, someone knowledgable enough will be able to do the whole process for you.
edit:
are they telling you that the activation is delayed, they can see it in their system but it isn't getting completed, or they have no record of it, pointing to the activation process in iTunes failing really early on.
They asked me who was the owner of the particular iphone so I wonder if its an issue with the imei of this particular iphone 2G. I got it off ebay so who knows who had it or whatever.
I wonder if I should get another blank sim, restore the iphone and try the whole thing again? Now that I got the 2GB data plan removed.
Or maybe go to an AT&T or Apple store and have them do it there.
Seems like talking to reps on the phone is a waste of time. I talked to a bunch of them and they all had different answers and blames for the problem. 3 days later and I still cant activate the original iphone.