Swapping SIM between GS3 and GNex (VZW) - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III

On Verizon, I recently upgraded from the Galaxy Nexus to the Galaxy S3 and I have a question about sim cards. When switching to the GS3, all I had to do was take the sim card out of my GNex and put it in my GS3. It worked flawlessly with no activation problems and I kept unlimited data.
However, I still have the GNex and it is working fine without a sim card on WIFI. But what if I'd like to use the GNex again for a couple of days? Can I simply take the sim card out of the GS3 again and put it back into the GNex? Do I have to power off one or both phones to do this properly? And does it matter what rom(s) I am running on either phone, is the sim affected by this?
And finally, I assume VZW does not charge an activation fee to switch between phones like this, do they? I know I had to pay a fee to activate the GS3, but I think that's because I used an upgrade and renewed the contract, right?

Travisimo said:
On Verizon, I recently upgraded from the Galaxy Nexus to the Galaxy S3 and I have a question about sim cards. When switching to the GS3, all I had to do was take the sim card out of my GNex and put it in my GS3. It worked flawlessly with no activation problems and I kept unlimited data.
However, I still have the GNex and it is working fine without a sim card on WIFI. But what if I'd like to use the GNex again for a couple of days? Can I simply take the sim card out of the GS3 again and put it back into the GNex? Do I have to power off one or both phones to do this properly? And does it matter what rom(s) I am running on either phone, is the sim affected by this?
And finally, I assume VZW does not charge an activation fee to switch between phones like this, do they? I know I had to pay a fee to activate the GS3, but I think that's because I used an upgrade and renewed the contract, right?
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You should be able to go into your Verizon account online and switch as you want to. As long as it's on your account should be fine

All you have to do is swap the SIM card. I do it all the time between my S3 and MAXX.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

Related

Can I just put iPhone 4 sim in it?

I want a Samsung Infuse. Can I get an sim adapter and just swap my sim card from an iPhone 4 to the new Infuse. I have unlimited data (and don't want to mess it up) and will be buying Infuse off contract at Best Buy but want to make sure the "4G" will work.
Thanks in advance!!
dawgfan said:
I want a Samsung Infuse. Can I get an sim adapter and just swap my sim card from an iPhone 4 to the new Infuse. I have unlimited data (and don't want to mess it up) and will be buying Infuse off contract at Best Buy but want to make sure the "4G" will work.
Thanks in advance!!
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Click to collapse
um well if there is an adapter maybe but you can just get a new sim. it has nothing to do with the data plan. you wont lose unlimited data and att will grant unlimited to anyone that once owned an iphone on any smart phone. you can only lose it if you request to change it and even if you lose it they made a decision to let old iphone users get it back, there was some time it was imposible to get back but the policy changed.
I really just want to be able to swap sim cards at will. I'd rather not chance calling AT&T and having a rep lose my unlimited.
I was wondering if someone has done what I want to do successfully.
dawgfan said:
I want a Samsung Infuse. Can I get an sim adapter and just swap my sim card from an iPhone 4 to the new Infuse. I have unlimited data (and don't want to mess it up) and will be buying Infuse off contract at Best Buy but want to make sure the "4G" will work.
Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You can get an adapter off Amazon for like 99 cents + shipping. Or, if you are feeling particularly resourceful, you can do what I did and make your own adapter. You can find templates online which would probably be easier than what I did, which was to trace the shape I needed on the sim card holder (looks like a credit card) and cut out what you need with an exacto knife. Worked like a charm until my adapter came.
You will keep whatever data plan you have in place. In fact, AT&T does not care if you move your sim from phone to phone, as long as you keep paying your bill.
Synner12 said:
Yes. You can get an adapter off Amazon for like 99 cents + shipping. Or, if you are feeling particularly resourceful, you can do what I did and make your own adapter. You can find templates online which would probably be easier than what I did, which was to trace the shape I needed on the sim card holder (looks like a credit card) and cut out what you need with an exacto knife. Worked like a charm until my adapter came.
You will keep whatever data plan you have in place. In fact, AT&T does not care if you move your sim from phone to phone, as long as you keep paying your bill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 they couldnt care less, you wont lose the plan, as that can be moved to other smartphones if you already have it. but since you need the sim for both phones the adapter makes the most sence. activating a new sim will likely deactivate the old one.
Yep, got my Infuse a few days ago and have been doing just that - using a sim adaptor with my iPhone 4 sim. Everything works fine, been switching back & forth with both phones. I also discussed it with the sales guy when buying the Infuse and he told me it was no problem.
When i got a new phone over my iPhone 3G they sales rep gave me a sim card but told me not to use and just leave the phone in airplane mode.
Also dont worry about losing data it will grandfather down to you so you should be ok
im switching from an iphone 4 to the infuse next week and would like to a link to this sim adapter on amazon if anyone could provide it please. Thanks I'm completely new to this stuff :x
you dont even need an adapter, just slide it into the right spot and it wont move, ive used the same iphone sim for the last year in 4 different phones and never had a problem.
flipwalter76 said:
you dont even need an adapter, just slide it into the right spot and it wont move, ive used the same iphone sim for the last year in 4 different phones and never had a problem.
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Click to collapse
I am using an iPhone 4 sim with my Infuse. Seems like everything is running fine. I've thought about getting a 4G sim but it doesn't seem as if I need to.

Paying extra for Sim card?

The other day I was at Frys to look at the SR. They had the black one for $139.99. I looked at the tag and it said that they charge an extra $7 for the sim card.
I've been with att for almost forever and I don't think I've ever been charged for the sim card. Is this something new or is this something that Frys is doing?
Lets say I bought the phone and didn't buy the sim card from them, can I still use my old "3g" card and get the LTE speed if I am in a LTE area?
U have to call at&t if u u do that because you will have no data. They have to know you bought an lte phone or your data will not work at all. Alsoi went to at&t the gave me an lte sim card for free. But i dont think your 3g sim will work at all. Needs to be a 4g sim
silver03wrx said:
U have to call at&t if u u do that because you will have no data. They have to know you bought an lte phone or your data will not work at all. Alsoi went to at&t the gave me an lte sim card for free. But i dont think your 3g sim will work at all. Needs to be a 4g sim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sim card has no bearing on data type. Just let att know you upgraded to an lte phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
-Kevlar- said:
Sim card has no bearing on data type. Just let att know you upgraded to an lte phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Not fully true, you have to get a new sim, they are called "4g" sims. or just you can just say plan sim card. also if you go to an att corp store you can get one for free!
Never go to a authorized retailer tho!!1 they will eff you stuff up!! ha
But you do need to get a new one to get faster internet speeds!
also you don't have to tell AT&t just use the phone for a day then they will send you a text saying, we see you're using a smart phone. to better server you we'll add the internet 2gb plan."
but if you want to start using the internet right away just call
Correct me if important wrong, but i think it matters what sim you have. I was on my old sim card and couldn't get LTE speed. Went to rogers bought an LTE sim...now on LTE speed.
Sent from my SGH-I727R
So I can put my 3g sim card on it but won't get LTE and just go to the att store and pick up the 4g card for free?
Saelee said:
So I can put my 3g sim card on it but won't get LTE and just go to the att store and pick up the 4g card for free?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oi, people these days...
Call AT&T and have them provision your line correctly, they have to add the LTE data plan for the radio to get LTE access.
It really doesn't matter what SIM you use, as long as they provision it correctly, but it is good to get a new SIM when you get a new phone... so yeah.
Only time you need a new SIM is on Verizon, for their LTE. ^^
You do need a new sim. If you were to plug in an older SIM, you would be able to text and make calls but you would have no data. If you go to an ATT store, they will replace your SIM with the LTE one for no charge, regardless of where you bought the phone. If you buy the phone from ATT they will do it when you get the phone. I have sold 3 skyrockets and none of them had worked with the older sims including my own. I do not know about other carriers and can only speak about ATT phones. I do not know about whether frys has to pay att per activation or for the sim cards, so that may be why they have to charge 7 dollars. If you do not want to pay the 7 dollar frys fee, then get the phone, head to the ATT store, then replace the SIM for free.
Even if ATT provisions the line correctly, the phone will not pick up the non lte sim card. I worked with the ATT sales tech on the day the skyrocket came out. He provisioned the line, plugged in my old sim, and it wouldnt pick up LTE. Then he realized they need to use the brand new stack of SIM cards, set up the new sim, plugged it in and I had blazing fast LTE.
jason.hamilton said:
You do need a new sim. If you were to plug in an older SIM, you would be able to text and make calls but you would have no data. If you go to an ATT store, they will replace your SIM with the LTE one for no charge, regardless of where you bought the phone. If you buy the phone from ATT they will do it when you get the phone. I have sold 3 skyrockets and none of them had worked with the older sims including my own. I do not know about other carriers and can only speak about ATT phones. I do not know about whether frys has to pay att per activation or for the sim cards, so that may be why they have to charge 7 dollars. If you do not want to pay the 7 dollar frys fee, then get the phone, head to the ATT store, then replace the SIM for free.
Even if ATT provisions the line correctly, the phone will not pick up the non lte sim card. I worked with the ATT sales tech on the day the skyrocket came out. He provisioned the line, plugged in my old sim, and it wouldnt pick up LTE. Then he realized they need to use the brand new stack of SIM cards, set up the new sim, plugged it in and I had blazing fast LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true...
-sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket
Att does have 4g sims but they still say 3g. But yes u do need the correct sim to get lte
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
There's no such thing as an "LTE SIM Card". Plain and simple.
Normal size SIM cards are SKU 70357. Micro SIM cards are SKU 70290.
That's it folks.
The data plan is what has to be changed. For example, I took the SIM out of my Inspire and put it in my Skyrocket demo and got no data until I manually changed the IMEI to the Skyrocket.
Same SIM card, but a new data plan.
Oh, SIM cards are actually $25 and $35 for micro SIMs. Agents and ARs can charge if they want. COR stores shouldn't charge you, however.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Since we're on the topic of SIM cards and the data plans they use, I've got a couple questions I'm hoping you guys can answer:
I have an iPhone 4s which has my grandfathered unlimited plan. When I throw my 4s SIM into my skyrocket, I get 3g speeds (have to play with APN settings). Now, I don't have LTE in my area yet but with all this news of LTE springing up, I'm thinking it's coming soon. Here's what I want to do. I want to be able to switch from 4s to skyrocket freely without having to contact ATT everytime.
My questions:
1) Should I move my skyrocket to my main line to get a new sim to get LTE then cut it so it fits my 4s too?
2) Will the SIM work correctly in my 4s after changing to the LTE data plan?
3) Can I call att and have them switch my plan to LTE using the current microsim?
4) Will the 4s SIM and all the functionality work after making the change?
I'm hoping someone went through this already so I can get good advice. I may just have to be the guinea pig if not.
I don't know about you guys, but I am pretty sure my iphone 4s's micro sim isn't an lte sim card, and it works perfectly fine as long as it's positioned correctly.
For data, all you have to do is configure the media net apn
Edit: missed the guy's post above me, whoops!
I just got a Skyrocket today and I swapped my Infuse simple into it and it has been working perfectly. I am not in an LTE enabled area but the next time in am down in Manhattan I will test the speed.
Infused with Android DNA

3G AT&T

Purchased the 3G version off Ebay, and went to At&t in the US to get a data plan activated but they couldn't activate it. Something about it not being in their system yet - so they couldn't set it up. Has anyone had this issue?
Thanks,
Jim
Yes. I tried to get a data plan on mine the other day and was told that the only data only plan they could put on it was the 5gb plan for $50. If I wanted to get less data I was told I would need a voice plan. All I want is some prepaid data for every now and again when I travel.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1
Activate in a cheap dumb phone and move it over? Nobody uses Google anymore?
mi7chy said:
Activate in a cheap dumb phone and move it over? Nobody uses Google anymore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can a 3g owner confirm whether this phone has a SIM or microSIM? If youve already gotten one from ATT, which dumbphone did you buy?
It uses a REGULAR sim card. I've been been swapping my T-Mobile and AT&T regular sim cards in and out all this week.

[Q] Nexus 5 with AT&T GoPhone

i currently have a nexus 4. i walked into a retail att store and asked for a microsim card and they handed one over free of charge. first off, i'd like to clarify if this sim will work in a nexus 5. is there an LTE specific sim that i'll need? or can i just swap from the n4 to the n5?
second, i'm currently using the $60/month gophone plan. i had to spoof an s4 imei with customer service in order to get proper hspa+ speeds. can i just leave everything as is (assuming my sim is good to go for a simple swap) and i'll get LTE speeds? well, not leave quite everything... i assume i'll need to switch from the phone to the pta apn, but other than that, will i be good to go?
i wanna be sure my transition to the n5 goes as smoothly as possible.
You should be good to go.
If they provisioned your current micro SIM for an S4 then you would already have the LTE SOC associated with that SIM.
All you need to do is pop in your SIM once you get the Nexus 5 and enter the right APN and you should be set.
What I'd watch out for though is when they do an IMEI sweep, if AT&T can read it as a Nexus 5 (or a generic smartphone) they will provision your account as such and you'll be put on a 3G data plan (which is the default for a smartphone they don't carry). This will cause you to have to get a new SIM and have customer service provision your account as an S4 again.
Full disclosure, I'm a former AT&T store manager (left a little over a year ago) and I've seen this sorta thing happen before. If you're on go phone, unfortunately you don't have as much leeway as a post paid customer when it comes to both customer service in store or over the phone. Personally, I'd tell them you had an LG G2 (D800) as the model number will be pretty similar, so that can help you get swapped back easier should they screw up your account.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Verizon S3 on Straight Talk

Just received my SIM card from straight talk for the i535 all I did was go to straight talk web site activate the phone using the phone imei number then start phone with SIM card installed> Once SIM card was activated I restarted the phone and had LTE with no need to setup APN settings.
I just shut off the verizon service right before setting up the phone on ST so I do not know if thats has effected anything but hopefully it doesn't.
Also I had to contact Straight Talk using their facebook page to get the SIM card and it was shipped for free.
highspeedfelon said:
Just received my SIM card from straight talk for the i535 all I did was go to straight talk web site activate the phone using the phone imei number then start phone with SIM card installed> Once SIM card was activated I restarted the phone and had LTE with no need to setup APN settings.
I just shut off the verizon service right before setting up the phone on ST so I do not know if thats has effected anything but hopefully it doesn't.
Also I had to contact Straight Talk using their facebook page to get the SIM card and it was shipped for free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know, I get my sim card from straight talk tomorrow. I didn't imagine it was that hard to setup. You did the smart thing and went to facebook, like an idiot I called them and it took well over a week for them to send it
From my CM11 S3
ShapesBlue said:
Good to know, I get my sim card from straight talk tomorrow. I didn't imagine it was that hard to setup. You did the smart thing and went to facebook, like an idiot I called them and it took well over a week for them to send it
From my CM11 S3
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Click to collapse
Oh it took them a while to send it to me also. I had even told them to cancel it and thats when I went to Verizon. I was told at one point that the SIM cards should be in stores around December 5th,
highspeedfelon said:
Oh it took them a while to send it to me also. I had even told them to cancel it and thats when I went to Verizon. I was told at one point that the SIM cards should be in stores around December 5th,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea the kit they sell at Walmart doesn't currently include it only the T-Mobile and AT&T sims which we can't use. Mine will Thankfully be here today
From my CM11 S3
Can you explain what you mean by "shut off Verizon services*?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
A0425A said:
Can you explain what you mean by "shut off Verizon services*?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he's saying is he had a VZW phone on VZW and cancelled his service to go with Straight Talk I believe
canodroid15 said:
What he's saying is he had a VZW phone on VZW and cancelled his service to go with Straight Talk I believe
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Click to collapse
That's correct. I am now with straight talk with a VZW S3
All I had to do was get the sim card from straight talk and call them to activate it. It was a pretty simple process
From my CM11 S3
So you didn't have to hack the phone or anything?? Verizon is CDMA and Straight Talk is GSM, how did that work? Especially without setting up a new APN?
Oh and did you get the AT&T or TMobile sim? I think straight talk still has the option for either.
jayjr1105 said:
So you didn't have to hack the phone or anything?? Verizon is CDMA and Straight Talk is GSM, how did that work? Especially without setting up a new APN?
Oh and did you get the AT&T or TMobile sim? I think straight talk still has the option for either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does but straight talk told me the AT&T and T-Mobile sims won't work for this phone. They sent me a CDMA specific sim card, and cmda phones will indeed work on straight talk, not every single one but most
And no I didn't have to do anything with the phone, didn't have to edit apn settings or anything. I'm still running off the Verizon network
From my CM11 S3
ShapesBlue said:
It does but straight talk told me the AT&T and T-Mobile sims won't work for this phone. They sent me a CDMA specific sim card, and cmda phones will indeed work on straight talk, not every single one but most
And no I didn't have to do anything with the phone, didn't have to edit apn settings or anything. I'm still running off the Verizon network
From my CM11 S3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, Straight Talk has Verizon SIM's now??? Meaning Verizon is one of their MVNO's? I always thought it was just TMobile and AT&T and Tracfone leased off Sprint for CDMA based phones.
jayjr1105 said:
Wait, Straight Talk has Verizon SIM's now??? Meaning Verizon is one of their MVNO's? I always thought it was just TMobile and AT&T and Tracfone leased off Sprint for CDMA based phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tracphone owns straight talk for one. It's a straight talk sim... But they piggy back off all 4 networks. VZW, ATT, TMobile and sprint
From my CM11 S3
Deleted
Sent from my SGH-I747, SCH-s968c, or my Exhibit2 4g from somewhere in BAMA!
What type of speeds you getting with straight talk on the 4G LTE VZW network? Speedtest?
bigstack said:
What type of speeds you getting with straight talk on the 4G LTE VZW network? Speedtest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you referring to me?
I was. However I hooked my Old S3 up for a family member. I can confirm that the VZW S3 will get 4G LTE on the Verizon network with the CDMA Sim that comes with the starter pack. Ran a speed test at full signal strength and had an initial burst for ~9-10 mbs and stabilized at ~5mb both up and down. This is way more than the user of the phone will need but also not a bad number.
For comparison sake my personal phone on a VZW unlimited plan still gets 40+ mbs during speed tests in the same location. Appears that ST is speed limited but at 5mbs still more than 99.9% of users will ever need/notice at one time.
bigstack said:
I was. However I hooked my Old S3 up for a family member. I can confirm that the VZW S3 will get 4G LTE on the Verizon network with the CDMA Sim that comes with the starter pack. Ran a speed test at full signal strength and had an initial burst for ~9-10 mbs and stabilized at ~5mb both up and down. This is way more than the user of the phone will need but also not a bad number.
For comparison sake my personal phone on a VZW unlimited plan still gets 40+ mbs during speed tests in the same location. Appears that ST is speed limited but at 5mbs still more than 99.9% of users will ever need/notice at one time.
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Click to collapse
Yea I'm not worried about speed as I'm 99% of the time on wifi so I could care less now. The initial starter pack didn't come with the CDMA sim. Card which is a pain but now it does
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2
Quick question for those that have done this already - I have just ordered the Galaxy S3 I535 from walmart because i'm cheap and it was on special - Would it be wise to at least activate the phone on Verizon and entering the details on ST's site to make sure it will work before getting the sim or just ordering it (they are on special right now for .99c) I'm glad they are doing the CDMA sims because i had read that folks were only getting edge for data using the AT&T sims and was prepared to limit myself to being on the Verizon prepaid plan and just sucking it up...
warlordxxx said:
Quick question for those that have done this already - I have just ordered the Galaxy S3 I535 from walmart because i'm cheap and it was on special - Would it be wise to at least activate the phone on Verizon and entering the details on ST's site to make sure it will work before getting the sim or just ordering it (they are on special right now for .99c) I'm glad they are doing the CDMA sims because i had read that folks were only getting edge for data using the AT&T sims and was prepared to limit myself to being on the Verizon prepaid plan and just sucking it up...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its the prepaid version it may not work, the prepaid version doesn't utilize a sim card where as the contract version does
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2
Thanks Shapes it's the prepaid but i'll wait til it gets here and check it out
warlordxxx said:
Thanks Shapes it's the prepaid but i'll wait til it gets here and check it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably a good idea. I'm truly unsure if it will work or not. I have the S3 contract version and it works great on straight talk. Another user informed me the prepaid version doesn't utilize a sim which in most cases at least for VZW means no 4G
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2

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