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Called again and was told same thing, go to att store. I bought the phone from apple and not att. They are not able to change sims if bought from other place than ATT. They were not impressed that i quoted that someone on the internet say they should and read what you highlighted. Again, this could be related just to this iphone 5 and security or something. I dont know.

But you will still call first, right?...because I haven't yet had ATT customer service be right about anything.
 
I called 611 on my phone and followed the prompts as listed in the AT&T link provided earlier in the thread.

Option #2 is to check minutes not to activate the phone on another number... Should I expect the options to change by the time I receive the phone?
 
Called again and was told same thing, go to att store. I bought the phone from apple and not att. They are not able to change sims if bought from other place than ATT. They were not impressed that i quoted that someone on the internet say they should and read what you highlighted. Again, this could be related just to this iphone 5 and security or something. I dont know.

Just like we're never impressed with what we hear from AT&T CS. :D

Here's the thing, the phone has a SIM in it. It doesn't need a new one. However, that SIM has an ICCID and the phone has an IMEI. I believe when you placed the order, one or both got associated with your wife's account so that when you turn it on and go through the activation process, it will setup that SIM for your wife's number. In the past, process is to call AT&T CS and they will re-associate the IMEI and ICCID with your number. You can then proceed with activation and it will activate on your number.

Unless they have skipped a step and already activated the SIM or there is something new and off with these SIMs, nothing should be any different. Ordering from Apple vs AT&T has made no difference in the past. I do this every year this way.

But you will still call first, right?...because I haven't yet had ATT customer service be right about anything.

This. Can't hurt to make a call one last time before going into the store.

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I called 611 on my phone and followed the prompts as listed in the AT&T link provided earlier in the thread.

Option #2 is to check minutes not to activate the phone on another number... Should I expect the options to change by the time I receive the phone?

Yes, because the system will recognize that you are calling from a phone that has not been activated yet.

Edit: And to answer your question, while I might be slightly annoyed because I don't understand what's happening, I'll also catch myself realizing that many customers are there to perform regular daily business and should not be too inconvenienced becuase a bunch of us have a mob mentality around getting our iPhones on launch day. The iPhone and the mob should not prevent or slow business as usual for other customers. Anybody who says otherwise, "we're customers too"...blah, blah, blah,.....they're being unreasonable.
 
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If I do everything right it shouldn't interrupt service on the line who's upgrade I used right? My father in law's phone isn't going to deactivate right as long as I don't activate the new phone under his number?
 
I had to do this last year. Don't worry about it, there is only a small window of time when they are swamped with "campers". Before that window, the campers are just waiting for the delivery truck to arrive, so you can cruise right up to the counter. After that window, the campers all have their iPhones or left in disappointment.

It is that short window of frenzied activity that you want to avoid. During that time, it may be hard to get service.
 
Oh, come on, Immanuel Kant.

ALL of theses stores will have an iPhone line and a regular line.

You think Apple's going to make you wait in a 4 hour iPhone line to buy a Macbook Air? Of course not. There will be people there to help you buy a computer. And why should anyone in the phone line be upset that someone else is buying a Macbook Air at Apple, or a Blackberry at Verizon, or a SIM card at AT&T?




And if you're spending 3 hours buying a car at a dealership do you get pissed that another guy comes in gets his oil changed in 20 minutes?

Some things are just not the same line, even if you're in the same store. Telling the oil change guy he has to wait 3 hours until your loan is approved before he can get his car serviced is ridiculous.

Same thing telling a laptop buyer or the SIM card guy that they have to wait for all the iPhone people.

Ok fair points, but we're talking iPhone launch day at an AT&T store, not some random Tuesday at a car dealership, and we're also not talking about an Apple store, with a considerably bigger and better trained staff than an AT&T store. Anyone who has walked into an AT&T store will tell you it's not the model of efficiency, and on iPhone launch day, all bets are off. In fact, in NYC, at my local AT&T store, all other business is turned away during the morning of the launch. Just sayin.
 
Every time I go into the store they greet you at the door and you have to sign in and wait your turn just like everyone else. I had to do this same thing recently.. Just go in for a sim but I still had to wait and it took a good half an hour. So dont expect special treatment. You can wait your turn just like everyone else.
 
They are telling you wrong. Others called and were told what I'm telling you. And then there is this.

http://www.att.com/esupport/iphoneupgradesupport.jsp?source=ECSAFBFAC00D1000S



Let's put it this way, it costs you nothing but a little time to try calling before you go.

Thanks so much for clarifying! I was thinking I was going to have to fight the crowds at the AT&T store after delivery because I'm doing the add-a-dummy-line thing but it's nice to know there's the option to attempt this over the phone. If it turns out I have to go into the store it's not a huge deal but I'll damn sure try over the phone first!
 
Ok fair points, but we're talking iPhone launch day at an AT&T store, not some random Tuesday at a car dealership, and we're also not talking about an Apple store, with a considerably bigger and better trained staff than an AT&T store. Anyone who has walked into an AT&T store will tell you it's not the model of efficiency, and on iPhone launch day, all bets are off. In fact, in NYC, at my local AT&T store, all other business is turned away during the morning of the launch. Just sayin.

If they really can't handle it, then yeah, I see your point.

My experience is with Apple stores where each iPhone employee is helping multiple iPhone people at once and they're basically all waiting for the carriers to approve their info and transfer their phone number. The customers are standing around taking up all the iPhone space just waiting...adding more employees wouldn't help speed anything up, so why not use the extra people to sell different products?

But, ok, I hear ya'. Perhaps other stores are not run that efficiently.
 
I would goto the store and simply ask one of the employee's. I went to the Apple store on the 4S launch day as I got my 4S via pre order delivered about 8:15am and wanted to see if they had any cases. I walked up to the front doors and they asked what I was here for, told them to look at a case, they let me in. No one in line said a word. I purchased a case, walked out. I don't think it would be a big deal personally, if someone in line says something just tell them your not there for the iPHone 5, your there for something else.

The line is setup for people waiting on iPhone 5's not anything else in the store. This is no different than however many people show up to buy an Android phone on Friday. They could care less about the line for the iPhone, the back up is caused by one product, not the entire store. Those in line choose to wait, they could have pre ordered. Not your problem you planned ahead and need something else.
 
If I was a rep selling in that location I'd be a littler upset that I'm handling a sim sale when I could be selling an iPhone, but that is part of the job. You take care of the customer first and foremost, so I wouldn't worry about making people mad especially not the sales people. And as a customer who pays their bill just like everyone else you shouldn't care about their feelings.

If you do not want to anger anyone then just go to the store on thursday and explain your situation. More likely then not they will give you some unactivated sim cards and you can call customer care of friday to get everything set. Then you don't have to even deal with the line.
 
Why are you more important? They are a customer just the same. Just because it's iPhone release day it doesn't mean all they are doing is selling iPhones. If someone needs a SIM swap, pay a bill, or buy a flip phone they have just as much right to service.

I'm not saying I'm more important. Or that all they are selling is iPhones. Please read more carefully. But the majority of sales on Friday WILL be iPhones. FACT! And the fact a sim swap is a quick simple job then they should have people dealing with that and other things like top ups, bill payments because every customer is just as important. If all you wanted to do was ask a question about your phone/contract would you be happy to wait for a hours because the staff are too busy selling iPhones and have no one else? Why are people who spent all night queuing up more important than everyone else? All I said was I would be annoyed if I was next and someone said they just needed a sim swap and they got served then instead of me
 
Yes, because the system will recognize that you are calling from a phone that has not been activated yet.

Edit: And to answer your question, while I might be slightly annoyed because I don't understand what's happening, I'll also catch myself realizing that many customers are there to perform regular daily business and should not be too inconvenienced becuase a bunch of us have a mob mentality around getting our iPhones on launch day. The iPhone and the mob should not prevent or slow business as usual for other customers. Anybody who says otherwise, "we're customers too"...blah, blah, blah,.....they're being unreasonable.

You better not be calling from a phone that has not been activated. If you turn on the iPhone 5, it will activate that SIM card to your wife's account. When i was at AT&T the other day, in the store, he said they did not have nano SIM's yet. I was trying to get one linked to my account to save some time this Friday. He also couldn't link a new SIM to my mom's new iPhone since her upgrade was marked for the iPhone 5. I first have to have the iPhone 5 in hand, get that switched to my number, then put the new SIM on my mom's phone. But once you turn on the phone, the SIM is linked to that number! They may or may not have more nano SIM's in the stores! I'd call AT&T. If that fails, you go to the store. That is what I'm planning to get mine working.
 
You better not be calling from a phone that has not been activated. If you turn on the iPhone 5, it will activate that SIM card to your wife's account. When i was at AT&T the other day, in the store, he said they did not have nano SIM's yet. I was trying to get one linked to my account to save some time this Friday. He also couldn't link a new SIM to my mom's new iPhone since her upgrade was marked for the iPhone 5. I first have to have the iPhone 5 in hand, get that switched to my number, then put the new SIM on my mom's phone. But once you turn on the phone, the SIM is linked to that number! They may or may not have more nano SIM's in the stores! I'd call AT&T. If that fails, you go to the store. That is what I'm planning to get mine working.

I think you missed the part where you select the option letting them know you need to activate it on another line.
 
I think you missed the part where you select the option letting them know you need to activate it on another line.

I thought as soon as you turned it on, it activates the SIM card to the number it was associated to in the pre-order... This is my first time doing this, so I'm just trying to be careful and do it right. My fear is activating the nano SIM on my mom's number and having to wait to get a new one. Hopefully AT&T gets more before/with the iPhones, but you never know.
 
Oh, come on, Immanuel Kant.

ALL of theses stores will have an iPhone line and a regular line.

You think Apple's going to make you wait in a 4 hour iPhone line to buy a Macbook Air? Of course not. There will be people there to help you buy a computer. And why should anyone in the phone line be upset that someone else is buying a Macbook Air at Apple, or a Blackberry at Verizon, or a SIM card at AT&T?




And if you're spending 3 hours buying a car at a dealership do you get pissed that another guy comes in gets his oil changed in 20 minutes?

Some things are just not the same line, even if you're in the same store. Telling the oil change guy he has to wait 3 hours until your loan is approved before he can get his car serviced is ridiculous.

Same thing telling a laptop buyer or the SIM card guy that they have to wait for all the iPhone people.

I never said that there wouldn't be another line did I? I am just saying that if you walk into the store and there is a line to speak to a rep you should wait in line. Your analogy makes sense but it's way off base with what I said.
 
I thought as soon as you turned it on, it activates the SIM card to the number it was associated to in the pre-order... This is my first time doing this, so I'm just trying to be careful and do it right. My fear is activating the nano SIM on my mom's number and having to wait to get a new one. Hopefully AT&T gets more before/with the iPhones, but you never know.

Nope, there are instructions included that step you through it.


If you are an existing upgrading customer who plans to activate your new iPhone from a mobile number other than the one used to upgrade:
Call 1-800-331-0500 from any phone, or 611 from an AT&T wireless phone.
Enter the wireless number that received the upgrade.
Choose Option #2 to activate your device on a different mobile number.
An AT&T Representative will assist you with the remaining activation process.

http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB93525&cv=820#fbid=LY4vU5OU7j-

Edit: one thing I didn't think of, you can't place a call from the non-activated phone anyway. :eek:. So yeah, call from another phone.
 
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