Unused but active unlimited data sim?

[Cutwolf]

If I were to purchase an unlimited data sim off of ebay, is there a window where I have to put it in an iPad before it's canceled or anything?

Might be a silly question, but I don't have my 3G iPad 2 yet, and since I think unlimited data sim prices will only go up (and will become harder to find), I wanted to purchase it now and keep the plan active until I can get my hands on the iPad.

Anything to worry about?

 

[schmoopy.design]

Pretty sure payment can't lapse or you're SOL.

 

[Cutwolf]

Pretty sure payment can't lapse or you're SOL.

I can manage payment online.

I just want to make sure that as long as I'm paying for it, it will stay active even if not in a device (ie I don't want them to say, at the end of my billing cycle, "this sim is not being used. you can no longer renew it.")

 

[JeffMorse]

Cutwolf,

Be careful here. As I understand it, there is more to it than just plugging in the sim. You'll need 2 numbers from the old ipad (the IMEI and another number) and will need to call AT&T to do the swap.

Also, once the plan lapses it's over and done with.

 

[Cutwolf]

Cutwolf,

Be careful here. As I understand it, there is more to it than just plugging in the sim. You'll need 2 numbers from the old ipad (the IMEI and another number) and will need to call AT&T to do the swap.

Also, once the plan lapses it's over and done with.

According to http://via.pulsene.ws/15vCQ , sim swapping is the official way. This is also confirmed by Apple's support article http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4582?viewlocale=en_US

I'm not planning to let the plan lapse. I plan to upload all of my billing information to the website as soon as I purchase the sim. I just want to make sure I can do that, even if the sim might not be used for a month.

 

[schmoopy.design]

Might also want to check this thread since a user did buy an unlimited sim off eBay.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1120973/

 

[JeffMorse]

Fantastic. I'm glad it is easier.

 

[Cutwolf]

Anyone know about my original question?

 

[Night Spring]

Anyone know about my original question?

No idea, really. On the one hand, AT&T might just keep billing you until you cancel, and on the other hand, they might detect that the SIM is not being used and cancel your plan. Basically, you have a 50/50 chance your plan will work.

 

[mcdj]

No idea, really. On the one hand, AT&T might just keep billing you until you cancel, and on the other hand, they might detect that the SIM is not being used and cancel your plan. Basically, you have a 50/50 chance your plan will work.

I have an unlimited plan. In the past 12 months, I've gone at least a month straight without using any 3G data at all. My account was always auto paid and remains so even though I sold my iPad 2 weeks ago (took the sim out).

 

[Cutwolf]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

So your sim isn't currently in an iPad?

 

[mcdj]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

So your sim isn't currently in an iPad?

If you're talking to me, no, it is currently in my wallet.

 

[JeffMorse]

I'm quite sure AT&T will happily let you continue to pay them for using no data.