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Hey all,
I had a question about cell phone sim cards, specifically AT&T cards.
I recently lost my Phone, and while I do have a Back-up, I don't have a sim card. I was wondering if it is possible to buy a sim card online, from ebay for example, and use that in a back-up phone and still get the same service I had before.
I originally thought I'd just have to go through AT&T, but apparently it costs about 30 dollars to get a sim card through them, whereas I can get one online for a dollar.
Any insight would be helpful.
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The SIM card pretty much IS your phone number, as far as I know. Getting one through AT&T sounds like the only option.
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I'm pretty sure the SIM card stores all your personal information, the easiest way to get a free one is to do a renewal of your contract and get a free phone. Did not know it costs 30$ though, might have to pay it if you don't want to renew or waiting for a better phone.
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a sim card is not linked to exactly one specific phone number, but a sim card is linked to your provider. So, if you want to keep your at&t deal, you will have to get a new sim card from at&t. They can deactivate your old sim card so it won't work anymore, and they can link your old number to your new card. But it has to be an at&t card. It is not possible to buy just any sim card and type "i'm an at&t customer and xxxxxx was my phone number" into some field to make it work just as before.
Your sim card is just what its name says: Subscriber identity module. Through your sim card, at&t knows who you are. So they know which number to assign to the phone and whom to charge with fees. If you buy any sim card, at&t can not identify you anymore, so nothing will work. And if the other sim card was from another provider, your phone wouldn't even attempt to register with at&t anymore.
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The SIM card is what gives your phone service. You'd have to at least go to AT&T and get it activated or something, idk any of the specifics, but it definitely will not work if you just pop it into your phone w/ no service to that card.
Just read the person above me. D:
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If you lost your phone, it's vital you call your phone service provider and have them disable your SIMM ASAP, because whoever stole/pick-it up can ring up huge charges on your account. The service provider will usually also offer to replace the SIMM for about $10-$20, and it'll be in the mail about a week or so.
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i use at&t wireless -
1) lost a sim card
2) went to their store, got a new one easily (was told no charge)
3) was charged anyway
4) called them to complain and they reversed the charges
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If you walk in to an AT&T store, they'll probably hook one up for free, to be honest.
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On November 22 2010 10:23 PH wrote:
If you walk in to an AT&T store, they'll probably hook one up for free, to be honest.
nah i walked into one the other day, and they told me 30. Getting one online seemed weird, like how could it possibly work. Anyway, it's not like i can't pay, I just rather wouldn't
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Well when I worked for ATT 3-4 years ago they were 25$ and that's pretty much what they cost everywhere. I worked at a franchise store so we bought them for 15$ each in bulk from a supplier. I havent been in the loop for a while but 1$ sounds fishy to me.
Echoing others so far, yea the sim (subscriber identity module) card is exactly that. Without it your phone has no identity and usually can't even turn on without a card in it.
All they need to do is scan the SIM number of the new card to your account and attach your number to it and it should work.
Most phones have a save to card/save to phone option for saving contact info. Some have both at the same time in case one or the other gets lost. Hope you saved your info
good luck
PS- I can't remember if this was true for non prepaid sims as well, but I remember that simcards become inactive by default after 6 months or something and that ATT can't/won't activate a sim you didn't get from them. If the sim doesn't say ATT or Cingular on it it wont work either.
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When I use to work for Receivables Management inside AT&T, we charged $20 for a new sim card but sometimes the store would give them out for free. Just depends who you're dealing with I guess. I wouldn't recommend buying off eBay though. That's just my opinion.
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EPT
