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I generally understand how SIM cards work in the GSM world, but I am curious as to how it works within Verizon. I know Verizon uses both SIM/4G and CDMA in one phone.
So my question is, if anyone has two Thunderbolts handy:
Can you swap the SIM cards between the two units and will the phone number and data usage STAY with the SIM? Or will the phone number STAY and the data usage MOVE with the SIM? Or some other variant? Or will you need to get a new SIM and/or call Verizon to reactivate the SIM when you move it?
AND, are you swapping between two Thunderbolts on the same account or different accounts?
Thanks.
Verizon told me it works just like GSM.
Sent from my Thunderbolt
From my experience yesterday with swapping my dinc and bolt numbers you can not swap cards. Had to get a new sim card to swap numbers.
SIM card is assigned to your phone number, and not to the phone itself. If you exchange your phone, but you keep your phone number, you can use the same Sim with new phone. If you put your Sim into a different phone with different phone number, even on the same account, and even it would be a TB, it would not work.
I only believe half of what comes out of a VZW CSR and about 10% that comes from a sale rep at a VZW store.
Looking for hard examples.
youneek said:
Verizon told me it works just like GSM.
Sent from my Thunderbolt
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DINC doesn't have a SIM, but interesting info.
Looking for a hard example that is two Thunderbolts on the same account or separate accounts.
ripster said:
From my experience yesterday with swapping my dinc and bolt numbers you can not swap cards. Had to get a new sim card to swap numbers.
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The TB is there first sim card phone.
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I'm confused. At first you say the SIM is assigned to your phone number and not the phone. Later on you say the SIM in another phone with a different number, does not work.
"If you put your Sim into a different phone with different phone number"???
You can only have 1 SIM card in a thunderbolt at a time. Are you speaking from experience or is this what VZW told you?
fuzio1963 said:
SIM card is assigned to your phone number, and not to the phone itself. If you exchange your phone, but you keep your phone number, you can use the same Sim with new phone. If you put your Sim into a different phone with different phone number, even on the same account, and even it would be a TB, it would not work.
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Never said dinc has a Sim card. In order for me to change the number on the TBolt i had to get a new Sim card. So you can't swap cards like gsm.
ripster said:
Never said dinc has a Sim card. In order for me to change the number on the TBolt i had to get a new Sim card. So you can't swap cards like gsm.
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Click to collapse
Why does being unable to change your number without getting a new sim mean you can't swap the sim card into a different phone.
You can move your sim into whichever phone you choose, which as of now would be from one tbolt to another tbolt, no need to call verizon or anything. You will be able to simply move your sim from tbolt to the samsung droid charge or the bionic when they come out if you wish.
Actually you can swap the sim cards between phones, I have done it. The reason you had to call was to activate your number on the sim.
bunklung said:
So my question is, if anyone has two Thunderbolts handy:
Can you swap the SIM cards between the two units and will the phone number and data usage STAY with the SIM? Or will the phone number STAY and the data usage MOVE with the SIM? Or some other variant? Or will you need to get a new SIM and/or call Verizon to reactivate the SIM when you move it?
AND, are you swapping between two Thunderbolts on the same account or different accounts?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone number is tied to the SIM like GSM. I got a replacement shipped to me and swapping the SIM back and forth did all the activating.
When I got a new droid shipped to me I always had to call and tell them the MEID of my new phone before it would activate.
So, when you stick your SIM in another phone, that phone get's your phone number, data, etc. the same as a GSM phone.
bunklung said:
DINC doesn't have a SIM, but interesting info.
Looking for a hard example that is two Thunderbolts on the same account or separate accounts.
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Click to collapse
In other words.....he has dinc, and he wants his dinc ph number on his new TB. He never said, dinc had sim.....
bunklung said:
I'm confused. At first you say the SIM is assigned to your phone number and not the phone. Later on you say the SIM in another phone with a different number, does not work.
"If you put your Sim into a different phone with different phone number"???
You can only have 1 SIM card in a thunderbolt at a time. Are you speaking from experience or is this what VZW told you?
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Click to collapse
When you change the phone, you are "taking" your phone number from old one to the new one. Then, you don't need a new sim card, cus you still have the same phone number on your new phone. But, lest say, your friend has TB as well....if you put your sim into his phone (and vice versa), your sim will not be working. (it won't recognise his ph number as yours - the one it has been assigned to).
Morkai Almandragon said:
Actually you can swap the sim cards between phones, I have done it. The reason you had to call was to activate your number on the sim.
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Yeah, true!! But you have the same phone number on you new/next handset, right?
I switched from T-Mobile and a Nexus S to a TB hoping that the SIM card swapping works the same. A couple year ago Verizon had a press release about being more open to devices so I hope that it means the same deal as I used to be able to pop my SIM card to any upcoming LTE phone
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jinvox said:
I switched from T-Mobile and a Nexus S to a TB hoping that the SIM card swapping works the same. A couple year ago Verizon had a press release about being more open to devices so I hope that it means the same deal as I used to be able to pop my SIM card to any upcoming LTE phone
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No, T-Mo is a GSM, and VZW is CDMA. Verizon SIM is only for DATA.
Darn oh well
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
Have you tried this between two Thunderbolts or are you just assuming this works?
I assume it to work too, but I want to know if someone has actually tried this.
shaddix2 said:
Why does being unable to change your number without getting a new sim mean you can't swap the sim card into a different phone.
You can move your sim into whichever phone you choose, which as of now would be from one tbolt to another tbolt, no need to call verizon or anything. You will be able to simply move your sim from tbolt to the samsung droid charge or the bionic when they come out if you wish.
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Between two Thunderbolts?
Morkai Almandragon said:
Actually you can swap the sim cards between phones, I have done it. The reason you had to call was to activate your number on the sim.
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Click to collapse
Yesterday i called *611 CS and tried to swap numbers between my dinc and tbolt. He did in fact switch numbers but the sim in the tbolt was deactivated. He might have screwed up something but told me he could send me a new one or i can take it to a verizon store. I was still able to make calls with the tbold but didnt have any data until they program a new sim card.
Missed this one. Thanks for responding directly to my question.
My last question is, can you swap it between different accounts? The phone sent to you was to be activated on your account. Can you take any strangers phone and SIM swap?
ERIFNOMI said:
The phone number is tied to the SIM like GSM. I got a replacement shipped to me and swapping the SIM back and forth did all the activating.
When I got a new droid shipped to me I always had to call and tell them the MEID of my new phone before it would activate.
So, when you stick your SIM in another phone, that phone get's your phone number, data, etc. the same as a GSM phone.
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is the thunderbolt the same as older SIM card phones? where if a phone is stolen it cannot be deactivated? i understand that in order to activate a SIM card you have to also supply the esn number of the phone it will be paired with. but down the line when there are more LTE phones out, if someone had an activated SIM card, could they place it into a stolen phone to use it? or is there a way to blacklist a phone even if it uses a SIM card?
Are you saying that you have a stolen phone or is this just for knowing?
Take this with a grain of salt but the Verizon reps told me the SIM cards are not swappable with the LTE network. I've exchanged my phone 3 times now and they have to give a new SIM each time. They shred the old SIM.
They lied to you. I have exchanged phones never changing the sim.
Not for me 2 phones same sim, no issues here.
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Perhaps all of the LTE SIM cards are the same, and the only authorization is done through the ESN code like it always has been. That way, if someone loses their SIM card (how?) it wouldn't be a big deal, and if they lose their phone, it could still be given a bad ESN and not let anyone else register it.
edifus said:
Take this with a grain of salt but the Verizon reps told me the SIM cards are not swappable with the LTE network. I've exchanged my phone 3 times now and they have to give a new SIM each time. They shred the old SIM.
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I'm also on my 3rd Thunderbolt and still have the same SIM card I got on launch day.
pianoplayer said:
Are you saying that you have a stolen phone or is this just for knowing?
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i was just wondering how it worked in comparison to the SIM card on other networks i had used in the past. when i was with T-mo i know they couldnt lock down a phone like verizon can since they where on SIM cards. so was just wondering if that was the case for our phones now that we have SIM cards?
necosino said:
Perhaps all of the LTE SIM cards are the same, and the only authorization is done through the ESN code like it always has been. That way, if someone loses their SIM card (how?) it wouldn't be a big deal, and if they lose their phone, it could still be given a bad ESN and not let anyone else register it.
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yes, im wondering if this is the case? really im just curious if i lose my phone or it gets stolen. is it a paper weight once i report it? or is it up for sale to anyone with an activated SIM card?
3 phones same SIM for me...
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Just my two cents here. There is definitely an place in the Phone Identity portion of the settings menu that states the SIM Card ID, IMEI, and MEID. It seems to me that this would make it so you can still swap devices without extra hassle, but VZW should still be able to blacklist phones reported stolen via the MEID. I could be wrong, this just seems to be the case to me.
The sim card activates the phone, upon activating it communicates with verizon database. Pure and simple verizon can and will track the MEID and if the phone is stolen or in non pay table then it won't activate. Try it out, then your tbolt off and turn it back on. The first 10 seconds upon boot you won't have signal or data. Then it comes on. It's like the same as a prl update *228. Anyways I'm getting off track here's the deal. Your phone has a seperate entity from your sim card. Both need to be clear to activate.
Morkai Almandragon said:
They lied to you. I have exchanged phones never changing the sim.
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This is true. If you have the Thunderbolt and the Charge or any other VZW 4G LTE phone you are able to swap the sim back and forth.
you only have to replace the sim card if you cahnge your number or activate the device he sim can only be used with 1 phone number. The serial number of the sim card and the ESN of the phone both must match in the VZW system or it will not connect to the towers. I have to replace them all the time. So no you could not use a lost,stolen, or non payment phone on the network, phone still essentially a paper weight or spare parts.
I was under the impression that the sim was only applicable to LTE-level functions. The phone's main functionality is still mostly CDMA based and those functions can still be shut down if the phone is stolen. To my understanding, simply inserting the sim card into the tbolt does not just activate and associate the phone to your account. There's still an operator you have to call, right? With Tmo and att, inserting a sim card activated the phone without calling someone or going into a store.
The SIM is a RUIM which eliminates the need for an ESN swap the the best of my knowledge. I started with a LG VL600 air card and then got a thunderbolt. I was issued a new card at that time but I can swap between devices and it works without a problem. Once June 15th I fully expect this to stop working.
Anyone else experience issues with swapping their SIM from their old phone into the G2X? I have reseated mine from my N1 into the phone 3 times, and each time I boot it says I have no SIM card. Pulling my hair out!
I went from an N1 to the g2x and i had the same problem so here is the deal...
the g2x is a 4g phone and it required a new sim card version so i had to trade in the sim card that i have had since my i got my razr in 2005...
so disclaimer to anyone who buys the phone outright, you have to have an updated sim card... just go into tmobile and they will give you one...
mines wont check for sim card at all it keep saying no service even without a sim card it usually say no sim but it just say no service can someone help plz plz plz
Fyi make sure it is a corporate store. Otherwise it could cost ya $20. Customer care might even be able to mail you one...not sure. If your near Chicago I would just give you one of my extras.
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I reused the sim from my N1 and have had no issues but it was probably a newer version sim since I just got it beginning of last year.
If you have an old T-Mobile phone lying around, try inserting your SIM into that, and using it, then re-insert it into your G2X.
Alright I opened it up and it looked like the antenna cable was a bit frayed near the tip, I attached a few pics. It was connected though so not sure :/
http://imgur.com/i2oH9,5LnGx,n97wZ ( three images)
I have the same issue.
Mint condition G2X does not detect my sim card reads "error while trying to connect to network"
I am running CM 7.2 I have wiped everything and reflashed still no luck.
Add one more to the pile...
I also recently began having this problem, but my device previously worked fine.
I have tried Restoring to Factory V21Y with Mar 11 Baseband
Flasing a GB Based ROM & Stock Kernel
Flashing CM9
Flashing CM10
Entering *#*#INFO#*#* Phone Info and modifying frequency band (No Go).
At one point I was able to read the Phone # from the SIM card, but couldn't get a lock on Netowkr. I can visually detect T-Mobile and ATT in Mobile Networks.
I have tried this with 4G Enabled SIM Cards and older T-Mobile SIM Cards.
I have tried Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, & ATT SIM Cards.
I have tried using None APN's, the TMo/Simple Default APN's, and Modified APN's for Straight Talk & Family Talk.
No avail.
Any ideas?
I had the same problem. A new SIM card fixed it.
RE:
Core Memory said:
I had the same problem. A new SIM card fixed it.
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Click to collapse
I gave my friend my old G2x because she was switching from AT&T to TMobile. She went to the TMobile store and got a new SIM card and her old AT&T number transferred to it. It works on her old iPhone but when I insert the SIM card on the LG G2x , it keeps saying 'no SIM card inserted'....do i need to flash a certain baseband on it and/or setup a custom APN for it? I am on the stock ROM thats rooted...
Any help is much appreciateed
Sorry for not replying until now but I rarely visit here anymore. My G2X had a bad Sim card which a new Sim fixed. I just had to wait until the network could authorize with it.
Since the droid charge uses a sim card, can I still switch to it form another verizon phone via the website? Like this: http://www.ehow.com/how_5046976_switch-phones-easily-verizon-wireless.html
I currently have an Iphone and I want to buy a droid charge off-contract and switch to it.
My guess is you have an AT&T iPhone since the Verizon iPhone doesn't have a SIM in it. The 4G LTE phone(s) as of right now its just the ThunderBolt (we are still waiting on the Droid Charge, LG Revolution and the Droid Bionic) all use a 4G LTE SIM, but that is only for LTE their current voice calls are on 3G which is CDMA and doesn't use a SIM.
So if you were swapping one 4G LTE Verizon phone to another yes you could the same SIM but not otherwise.
I have the verizon iphone. Since the charge uses a sim card, I was wondering if I could still switch from a verizon phone that does NOT use a sim card (the iphone).
i'm not talking about switching sim cards. On the verizon website, you can switch phones by inputting the ESN/MEID of the new phone.
I hope I made myself clearer (probably not).
You would need a new sim card. The sim cards are 1 time use so if you activate the iphone you will need a new sim to activate the Charge again.
I am a bit confused on this. The Verizon iPhone takes a SIM card, that isn't something I had heard before. In either case if the VZW iPhone takes one, it would be a 3G only SIM and the Charge requires a 4G LTE SIM.
I have also read from a user who had the ThunderBolt and took his 4G LTE SIM out and put it into the Charge and it worked for them. That I also found odd since it was supposed to be a one time use, per phone which seems like a waste, but its Verizon.
Its not per phone. The sim is a one time activation that once deactivated it can never be activated again. You can swap the sim to other devices but if you ever deactivate it it can never be used again.
RaptorMD said:
The Verizon iPhone takes a SIM card.
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The verizon Iphone does not take a sim card, only the AT&T one does. That's the problem. I am hoping that I can buy a new verizon sim card and have my current number transferred to it.
Verizon will give you a new SIM for free when you activate a 4G phone (currently TBolt or Droid Charge) and will transfer your number to it. You can then swap the SIM between different 4G phones without having to call Verizon, do *228, or any other maneuvers-- it just works.
However, if you ever switch back from your 4G device to a 3G device on the same number, your SIM will become "retired" and you need to go get another one from Verizon (again, free, at least so far) if you want to switch back to a 4G phone. Or, they will mail you a SIM.
What will happen? Will the phone activate just like on AT&T? I know you cant switch back and forth with an iPhone since its all 3G CDMA etc... but will the sim chip change that? Can you hot swap?
It should, from what I heard, work like any other GSM phone.
So yea, your SIM should make you be able to make calls, text and data on the Charge.
Yes you are correct
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You still must register the device in their system. However, once you do, its all activated.
Is there a reference, like a white paper or a tech spec that can actually answer this question? This Tbolt is not the first Verizon phone I've had with a SIM card, and just like this thing, they worked just fine without the thing. How do calling functions transfer with the card when it has nothing to do with the SIM card or LTE?
loonatik78 said:
Is there a reference, like a white paper or a tech spec that can actually answer this question? This Tbolt is not the first Verizon phone I've had with a SIM card, and just like this thing, they worked just fine without the thing. How do calling functions transfer with the card when it has nothing to do with the SIM card or LTE?
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Click to collapse
Per Verizon Website:
http://support.vzw.com/clc/faqs/VZAccess/4g_sim_card.html
Yes. You may activate any 4G LTE device that has been certified by Verizon Wireless to be compatible with our 4G LTE network, including devices not purchased directly from Verizon Wireless. Simply activate your 4G SIM card on a Verizon Wireless price plan.
I don't see anything that say you have to activate the device only the sim card.
psufan5 said:
What will happen? Will the phone activate just like on AT&T? I know you cant switch back and forth with an iPhone since its all 3G CDMA etc... but will the sim chip change that? Can you hot swap?
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I have done this numerous times. Just insert SIM and you can instantly make a test call.
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