5 ms·

Americans don't know that because their phone companies forbid that practice. AT&T doesn't even bother to move your SIM card from your old iPhone to your new i

by gnu8 15y ago

Americans don't know that because their phone companies forbid that practice. AT&T doesn't even bother to move your SIM card from your old iPhone to your new iPhone when you upgrade, they just give you a new card.

michael_h 15y ago
That's not correct. I've used my phone on multiple carriers just by swapping the SIM card - and when I upgraded my phone, they used my existing SIM card.
kamjam 15y ago
Really, they give you a new sim on upgrade? I can understand this if you are upgrading TO an iPhone since you need a micro SIM, but rather pointless otherwise. I think I've had the same SIM card for about 6-7 years now!
- nmcfarl 15y ago
  My experience with AT&T is they've always given me a new SIM, when buying a new phone from them, but I've also bought raw sim's from them with no problem. I think they just write the "New Phone" script for their employees, with a new sim, so the steps,are always the same. Less chances to mess things up when there are less choices.
- CraigRood 15y ago
  Older sims dont have 3G capabilities either. (Not sure why)
  - kamjam 15y ago
    Mine is defo new enough that it supports that! Anyone know if you need a new sim card to support 4G services?
    - CrazedGeek 15y ago
      IIRC, yes, at least for AT&T's LTE -- HSDPA (and HSUPA, HSPA+, etc) will work just fine with a 3G SIM (since they're just souped-up 3G).
  - jerrya 15y ago
    This is something weird that I've discovered too. I am now on T-Mobile (from AT&T) and there are all sorts of T-Mobile features that may or may not work depending on what SIM card you have in your phone. And if they don't work you have to get a new SIM card (that is not guaranteed not to disable other features.) What!? That seems to be the weirdest thing ever. What is going on?
  - gergles 15y ago
    Older sims are missing the USIM "applet" that contains the data necessary to negotiate with UMTS networks.
cowpewter 15y ago
When I switched from my old MotoRAZR to the iPhone, I used the same SIM. Just popped it in and I was good to go. My SIM still has the Cingular logo on it!

by gnu8 15y ago

michael_h 15y ago

That's not correct. I've used my phone on multiple carriers just by swapping the SIM card - and when I upgraded my phone, they used my existing SIM card.

kamjam 15y ago

Really, they give you a new sim on upgrade? I can understand this if you are upgrading TO an iPhone since you need a micro SIM, but rather pointless otherwise. I think I've had the same SIM card for about 6-7 years now!

nmcfarl 15y ago
My experience with AT&T is they've always given me a new SIM, when buying a new phone from them, but I've also bought raw sim's from them with no problem. I think they just write the "New Phone" script for their employees, with a new sim, so the steps,are always the same. Less chances to mess things up when there are less choices.
CraigRood 15y ago
Older sims dont have 3G capabilities either. (Not sure why)
- kamjam 15y ago
  Mine is defo new enough that it supports that! Anyone know if you need a new sim card to support 4G services?
  - CrazedGeek 15y ago
    IIRC, yes, at least for AT&T's LTE -- HSDPA (and HSUPA, HSPA+, etc) will work just fine with a 3G SIM (since they're just souped-up 3G).
- jerrya 15y ago
  This is something weird that I've discovered too. I am now on T-Mobile (from AT&T) and there are all sorts of T-Mobile features that may or may not work depending on what SIM card you have in your phone. And if they don't work you have to get a new SIM card (that is not guaranteed not to disable other features.) What!? That seems to be the weirdest thing ever. What is going on?
- gergles 15y ago
  Older sims are missing the USIM "applet" that contains the data necessary to negotiate with UMTS networks.

cowpewter 15y ago

When I switched from my old MotoRAZR to the iPhone, I used the same SIM. Just popped it in and I was good to go. My SIM still has the Cingular logo on it!