Just a sim card

[Jeff0575]

If I buy just a sim card how do I activate it so I can use it in any gsm phone. How do I activate it on the AT&T go network for the 50$ unlimited plan??

[CeluGeek]

You have two options:

1. Go to an AT&T-owned store, buy a SIM card and activate service there. Some stores may charge you for the SIM but many will give you the SIM for free if you buy some airtime.

2. Buy an AT&T SIM from eBay or some other site and when you get it, go to the Go Phone activation page to activate service.

The disadvantage of the first method is that you cannot just take an iPhone with you and have it activated. Almost any other phone will be OK, but AT&T doesn't want its employees activating iPhones on prepaid.

You cannot buy just a SIM from AT&T's website.

[Jeff0575]

Do you recommend any sim card sellers?

Also we are talking about go phone service correct? Prepaid not post paid.

[CeluGeek]

I don't know specifics about SIM sellers. Maybe someone else can chime in? And yes, I was talking about Go Phone (prepaid) service.

[Jeff0575]

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...id=agzlxnY_IYv

According to that link I can buy a AT&T sim online is this what I am wanting. So once I buy that and a gsm phone I'm all set? Also I want to bet a basic go phone and then I want the option later to change phones using the sim I will buy. Or am I missing something.

[Jeff0575]

And I should activate the sim first before putting into a phone?and this allows me to put the card into any gsm phone?

[CeluGeek]

I stand corrected; you CAN buy just a SIM directly from AT&T!

When you activate the SIM, you'll be asked for a number on the SIM card and an IMEI number on the phone. You can enter your phone's IMEI as long as it isn't an iPhone, or just enter fifteen zeros for the IMEI. For the SIM card you have to provide the correct number for you SIM or else the activation won't go through.

As for the concern of the SIM getting locked to one phone, if the SIM they send you looks like the one pictured on the website, you won't have to worry. The SIM cards that get locked to the phone you activate it with are the ones shipped with Go Phone phone packages. These "evil" SIM cards are orange and have the Go Phone logo.

[Jeff0575]

So what do I tell AT&T store that I want sim for?

[Jeff0575]

?????????????????

[FAC3L3SS]

You don't have to tell them anything. Just say you've not picked out a phone yet. They genuinely don't care, so activate it with some airtime, head home and toss it on your phone of choice and enjoy.

I bought my GoPhone SIM from amazon for like $6 and was fine.

[peachtreedreams09]

I paid $2.35 for a sim card on Amazon. It came in 3 days. It's just a plain SIM card, not a Go Phone branded SIM card.

[geoprizm]

İ activated it in my e71 giving out genuine imei.İt didn't work of course.
İ had asked a similar question on another thread but did not get this much info so consider yourself lucky.

[Bob859]

I have bought AT&T SIM cards on Ebay for less than $2, including shipping.

[Pabster]

Unless something has changed you can activate using an IMEI of all 0's. I always do.

[wlo8]

I stand corrected; you CAN buy just a SIM directly from AT&T!

When you activate the SIM, you'll be asked for a number on the SIM card and an IMEI number on the phone. You can enter your phone's IMEI as long as it isn't an iPhone, or just enter fifteen zeros for the IMEI. For the SIM card you have to provide the correct number for you SIM or else the activation won't go through.

As for the concern of the SIM getting locked to one phone, if the SIM they send you looks like the one pictured on the website, you won't have to worry. The SIM cards that get locked to the phone you activate it with are the ones shipped with Go Phone phone packages. These "evil" SIM cards are orange and have the Go Phone logo.

Will 15 zeros work on the activation page for sim cards that has the "go phone" logo on it?