I recently ordered a new phone through amazon wireless for an existing line on an ATT family plan. I'm curious how they decide to charge the ETF...I don't plan on canceling the line or anything but I'm trying to figure out the following:
Will they charge me the ETF if I don't activate the SIM card that came with the phone but instead use the old one (to save on the ATT 'activation/upgrade' fee)?
or conversely
Will they charge me an ETF if I use their new SIM card in my old phone (old phone is not a smart phone and thus doesn't have a data plan edit: this would be for another line.) and instead sell the new phone?
Thanks!
Related
So I'm cheap. I do not want to pay an extra $30 for data on my fuze. Shortly after buying my fuze, I immediately called up AT&T and asked them to turn off data, because my phone was constantly trying to connect to 3g, and from previous experiences I know it will rack up my bill since I am without a data plan.
Anyway I've been searching around because data on this phone would be nice to have when I am outside of wifi. I noticed how at&t offered prepay data on select go phones for between $10-20 per month (Link http://www.phonenews.com/att-gophone-prepaid-adds-data-only-option-3381/. I thought sweet! But then what about voice and texting? I need voice and texting, and it would be nice to stay on my family's plan since I am not paying for it.
Then I started reading about dual sim's and dual sim adapters and thought what if I could have my current sim (unlim. voice, unlim. text, no data) and add in the 2nd sim card of one of those special prepay data phones and have my fuze run off of that for 3g data.
I have read with dual sim adapters it sounds like you have to switch between the 2 of them, so would that mean I could use only one at a time? Meaning if I am on the second data only sim, I could not receive texts or calls until I switch back to my main sim?
If this configuration could work simultaneously than it would be PERFECT. But if theres anyone out there with more insight, please let me know. Thanks
first of all. 3g is not only data. 3G is basically a faster connection (that also includes phone calls). [unless i'm wrong, this is how I understand 3g]
second. I don't think there is a dual sim adapter for the touch pro, but it also kind of makes the phone look horrible (assuming it's connected to some port since there is no room for another sim card).
Only specific phones can handle dual sims like KIRF iphone nano so it's not really worth it to save 10 bucks a month since you'll be spending money anyways, to get this adapter of yours.
I think there is finally a dual sim adapter for the touch pro...
Check this out:
http://www.simore.ch/en/two_sim_cards_in_one_mobile/dual_sim_card_gold_1.php
wow. That's kinda crazy to see that you have to cut up your sim card to fit it inside the dual sim adapter...
mike3000 said:
So I'm cheap. I do not want to pay an extra $30 for data on my fuze. Shortly after buying my fuze, I immediately called up AT&T and asked them to turn off data, because my phone was constantly trying to connect to 3g, and from previous experiences I know it will rack up my bill since I am without a data plan.
Anyway I've been searching around because data on this phone would be nice to have when I am outside of wifi. I noticed how at&t offered prepay data on select go phones for between $10-20 per month (Link http://www.phonenews.com/att-gophone-prepaid-adds-data-only-option-3381/. I thought sweet! But then what about voice and texting? I need voice and texting, and it would be nice to stay on my family's plan since I am not paying for it.
Then I started reading about dual sim's and dual sim adapters and thought what if I could have my current sim (unlim. voice, unlim. text, no data) and add in the 2nd sim card of one of those special prepay data phones and have my fuze run off of that for 3g data.
I have read with dual sim adapters it sounds like you have to switch between the 2 of them, so would that mean I could use only one at a time? Meaning if I am on the second data only sim, I could not receive texts or calls until I switch back to my main sim?
If this configuration could work simultaneously than it would be PERFECT. But if theres anyone out there with more insight, please let me know. Thanks
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Interesting thought. Bad news is they won't work simultaneously - however you can have the autoswitch every hour or so if you wanted.
Personally I'm not sure its really worth the effort. First off, you have to buy the adapter - which is going to cost you close to 100 bucks, then you'll need the gophone and it's sim-chip and the monthy prepay on that. By the time you add all this up you might as well just blow the 30 bucks on a data plan and save yourself the headace.
However the ability to now have dual sims in the FUZE is great. I suppose if you traveled a lot it could prove quite handy.
I recently purchased a used Motorola Droid Ultra to replace my current Droid Bionic. I am on Verizon and went to the local corporate store to obtain a nano SIM for the Ultra. The SIM provided was not NFC and when I went on-line to activate with the Verizon website, I received an error that the SIM card was not compatible. I ordered a new NFC SIM from the website and am awaiting its arrival. Here are two questions that I have concerning the new NFC SIM.
1. Once activated in the Ultra can the NFC SIM be removed and activated in the Droid Bionic using a nano to mini SIM adapter? If so, can I just swap the NFC SIM or do I need to go on-line and input the MEID and NFC SIM ID? By the way, I do realize that the NFC SIM would not give the Bionic any new powers with relation to NFC.
2. Is it possible to leave the old mini SIM in the Droid Bionic and simply reactivate using the Verizon Website for times that I want to use the Bionic instead of the Ultra. I have read elsewhere that there is some kind of deactivation after some time period whereby the old SIM is dead and cannot be reused on my account or any other account. Does anyone know if this is true and if so, what are the timeframes?
Thanks, in advance, for any help on these questions.
hikersc said:
I recently purchased a used Motorola Droid Ultra to replace my current Droid Bionic. I am on Verizon and went to the local corporate store to obtain a nano SIM for the Ultra. The SIM provided was not NFC and when I went on-line to activate with the Verizon website, I received an error that the SIM card was not compatible. I ordered a new NFC SIM from the website and am awaiting its arrival. Here are two questions that I have concerning the new NFC SIM.
1. Once activated in the Ultra can the NFC SIM be removed and activated in the Droid Bionic using a nano to mini SIM adapter? If so, can I just swap the NFC SIM or do I need to go on-line and input the MEID and NFC SIM ID? By the way, I do realize that the NFC SIM would not give the Bionic any new powers with relation to NFC.
2. Is it possible to leave the old mini SIM in the Droid Bionic and simply reactivate using the Verizon Website for times that I want to use the Bionic instead of the Ultra. I have read elsewhere that there is some kind of deactivation after some time period whereby the old SIM is dead and cannot be reused on my account or any other account. Does anyone know if this is true and if so, what are the timeframes?
Thanks, in advance, for any help on these questions.
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"NFC SIM" just means it's got a NFC secure element on it, to facilitate Isis payment transactions.
Otherwise, swap it around at will. I do both Android and iPhone development at work and I'll bounce between an iPhone 5 or my Droid Maxx depending on what project I'm working on that day. I routinely swap the (NFC-enabled) nano-SIM between my Maxx and my iPhone 5 without trouble, so I can't imagine why you'd have any trouble with an adapter in your Bionic.
I believe they have fixed the deactivation period issue. I know when I did some device shuffling on my account even a year ago, it seemed that if you "deactivate" a SIM, it's put on hold for ~24 hours, and then after that point it can be used again. That was contrary to my experience back in 2011 where it was most definitely the case that if you deactivated a SIM it was pretty much burned for good.
yay pie said:
"NFC SIM" just means it's got a NFC secure element on it, to facilitate Isis payment transactions.
Otherwise, swap it around at will. I do both Android and iPhone development at work and I'll bounce between an iPhone 5 or my Droid Maxx depending on what project I'm working on that day. I routinely swap the (NFC-enabled) nano-SIM between my Maxx and my iPhone 5 without trouble, so I can't imagine why you'd have any trouble with an adapter in your Bionic.
I believe they have fixed the deactivation period issue. I know when I did some device shuffling on my account even a year ago, it seemed that if you "deactivate" a SIM, it's put on hold for ~24 hours, and then after that point it can be used again. That was contrary to my experience back in 2011 where it was most definitely the case that if you deactivated a SIM it was pretty much burned for good.
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Thank you for this information. This was what I was thinking but have not tested the NFC SIM in the Bionic. My understanding is that it is basically identical to a standard nano SIM with some extra information to support secure NFC transactions via Isis wallet.
I did determine that I can continue to use the Bionic in WiFi mode both with and without the old SIM card installed. If no SIM is present, you get a warning on bootup and can then function as usual on WiFi. With the SIM installed, it shows network strength but, of course, no calls or data. I am interested in leaving the card in the Bionic because it is a booger to swap. It requires removing the back, the battery, and SD card to just get to the SIM which then does not seem to want to slide out. My thought was to just use the online activation tool without swapping the SIM if I need to go back to the Bionic for a period of time. If anyone has a similar experience with using this method for swapping phones, it would be great to know.
So I'm still rocking the Galaxy S3 with unlimited data on Big Red. My contract was up about a month ago and the are 3 other lines on my account (4 smartphones total). The 3 other smartphones DO NOT have eligible upgrades, only mine does and those phones are on a 2 GB per month data plan.
I have looked into different loopholes to keep unlimited data and get a new phone and as of right now I only know of two options: 1) Buy the phone at the regular, off contract price and 2) Some people have had luck purchasing the phone through Best Buy and keeping their unlimited data plan.
Here is my question on another option I am thinking might work....?
One of the smartphones belongs to my wife. Transfer my upgrade to her and let her purchase the new phone under her phone #. One she receives the phone, she uses it for a short period of time (1 day, 1 week, ever?) and then I just factory reset that phone and call in and register activate it under my phone number and put her phone back on hers. I don't see how it would be very different than me buying a phone from someone on a site like Swappa and activating it as my own.
Does anyone know if this is possible or if this scenario will work?
In the UK, is it possible to purchase a true PAYG SIM card for use solely with data? I've learnt that SIM cards advertised as 'PAYG' are misleading as they are in fact 1 month contracts. I narrowed my search down to a PAYG SIM card from Three, I put £10 on there only to discover that Three prohibit it being used solely for data, it has to be used for phone calls only. Waste of time and money that was. I want to put a PAYG SIM card in a 3G dongle connected to a car stereo / head unit. It will be very low usage - maybe £10 or £20 per year, hence why I do not want to spend out on monthly top-ups.
You could try GiffGaff, they run on O2's network.
Iv'e actually used GiffGaff on my phone for a couple of years now (although I've used it with a monthly "goodybag" but these are optional, you wouldn't need one for light usage).
You could probably get a GiffGaff SIM Card, pop some money on it, don't buy a goodybag, and then...
Mobile Internet:
Mobile Internet is charged at no more than 20p a day (up to 20MB). If you go over 20MB, you'll be charged extra at 20p/MB.
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Cheers,
Shockfire.
shockfire said:
You could try GiffGaff, they run on O2's network.
Iv'e actually used GiffGaff on my phone for a couple of years now (although I've used it with a monthly "goodybag" but these are optional, you wouldn't need one for light usage).
You could probably get a GiffGaff SIM Card, pop some money on it, don't buy a goodybag, and then...
Cheers,
Shockfire.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, I'm now the happy user of a GiffGaff SIM card in my 3G dongle
I found something interesting and I had to share. At Walmart they sell those portable hotspot devices ( specifically mine's ZTE z291dl ) but their data plans are crazy IMO. For 5gb it's like $50! And it has a data cap! I've got a S6 edge ( g925a ) with a BYOP ST nano sim. Using a micro sim card adapter (one size larger) I can put that in the portable hotspot and now my data is unlimited. The only annoying aspect is when I need to use my phone I have to switch the sim card back into my phone.. No throttle on the hotspot. When I put the SIM back in my phone the data is throttled (if I'm over) . But I can still switch it back and forth, kind of a pain but I can just connect my phone to the hotspot. NO MORE THROTTLE ON DATA.
I have to add, I tried putting my girlfriends regular straight talk sim card in it and it didn't work. My conclusion, it needs to be a BYOP sim card. The phone I have (S6 Edge) was originally from at&t.
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