Activated BYOD SIM with new number, can I now port an existing number to this SIM?

[FareakyBobster]

I thought that we were talking about Straight Talk.

We are. But since most of us seem to have ATT sims for Straight Talk, the limitations should be the same. I have never done it, but a ATT CS agent just told me I could port in a Verizon number and keep my existing SIM card. Straight Talk says this is impossible, although they can assign another random number to an existing card.

[kanishk]

Porting a number on an active sim is nothing to do with ST technical capabilities but to do with their policy of not doing it.

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[KrisM77]

Once Straight Talk assigns a telephone number to a SIM card, a new number cannot be assigned to that same SIM card. Letting the service expire does not change the requirement for a new number, new SIM card. The only thing one can do with a SIM card which recently passed the service end date is to reactivate it with same number.

I had them change my number on the one SIM card. Quick and easy.

ST tmo SIM on a tmo Sam Galaxy S 4G which is GSM.

[maestroteague]

As mentioned, it's not a technical requirement of GSM phones or sims. It's just ST's policy. My wife did exactly what you are wanting to do, only on tmobile's $30 plan. She activated the sim, was assigned a number, tried it out a few days, then ported her number to that same sim card. But as a rule, ST won't do that.

[FareakyBobster]

I thought that we were talking about Straight Talk. Receiving a text message tells you nothing about the actual telephone number. Were you able to dial that telephone number from another telephone successfully or were you able to use your telephone to dial another number and see the Calling Line ID?

Yes, each number worked to send and receive calls/sms. I did not like the prefix they were giving me, so I kept trying back at different times trying to get one I liked. After I used up my 4 free changes, I decided to port in a number I had with another provider. They said no problem, but after a few minutes they told me I needed a new SIM card. Now I keep an extra sim on hand incase this ever happens again.

[KrisM77]

Now I keep an extra sim on hand incase this ever happens again.

I've been thinking I should do that just in case some weirdness happens... I do keep simplemobile, redpocket, and h2o on hand but those are virtually free.

[FareakyBobster]

As mentioned, it's not a technical requirement of GSM phones or sims. It's just ST's policy. My wife did exactly what you are wanting to do, only on tmobile's $30 plan. She activated the sim, was assigned a number, tried it out a few days, then ported her number to that same sim card. But as a rule, ST won't do that.

My issue was they said it would not be a problem, but it didn't work. My account got hosed and caused me to lose my 6 month credit. I finally ended up doing a chargeback and started over with a new SIM, because nobody could get my account fixed, not even the executive customer service guys. Straight Talk is great IF you never need to deal with their support.

[KrisM77]

My issue was they said it would not be a problem, but it didn't work. My account got hosed and caused me to lose my 6 month credit. I finally ended up doing a chargeback and started over with a new SIM, because nobody could get my account fixed, not even the executive customer service guys. Straight Talk is great IF you never need to deal with their support.

That's why I would never pay any phone company more than a month in advance.

[FareakyBobster]

That's why I would never pay any phone company more than a month in advance.

I would never do it again either. Honestly, I dont trust them with my credit card number at this point and have been buying the 1 month cards from walmart.com. I am extremely happy with the service I get for $45, but I really wish they would improve their website a little more so that I never need to call CS again. As of now, almost everything besides paying the monthly fee requires a call to CS, and they break more then they fix most of the time.

Also, I wish they sold the BYOD sims at walmart. ST sim + cheap unlocked phones in stores could really help change the game.

[friendlybiker]

Does anyone have list of android phones that are compatible with ST's BYOD program? as i understand it, it must have a SIM card and be gsm, not cdma.

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[Endeavor]

1. They do sell the AT&T BYOD SIMS at Walmart.com. This is a recent development. I don't know if they have them in the store.

2. There is a technical reason why, in SOME CASES, you cannot assigned a different number to a SIM card. I have never been able to get anyone to give me a precise answer as to why. There are some cases where you can, but there are some where you can't. I suspect that ST has decided that its representatives, who are mostly offshore workers, cannot be trusted to correctly decide when it can be done and when it cannot be done, and so they've just decided never to allow it.

Alternatively, if may be that changing the # on a SIM card involves some kind of fee (paid by ST to AT&T), and that ST has simply decided that they'd rather go with the cheaper option, even if it is more inconvenient.

And again alternatively, it is possible that the lack of ability to change phone numbers relates to ST's use of locked SIMs in their normal phones. They built their entire operation around those types of phones and NOT BYOPs and E71/E5/6790/ZTE MERIT, all of which use unlocked SIMs). It may be that they simply don't want to make an exception to their systems..

I would never do it again either. Honestly, I dont trust them with my credit card number at this point and have been buying the 1 month cards from walmart.com. I am extremely happy with the service I get for $45, but I really wish they would improve their website a little more so that I never need to call CS again. As of now, almost everything besides paying the monthly fee requires a call to CS, and they break more then they fix most of the time.

Also, I wish they sold the BYOD sims at walmart. ST sim + cheap unlocked phones in stores could really help change the game.

[Endeavor]

There's a whole thread on this, but here's my short summary of good choices:

1. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus. $349 direct from Google. Works with ST AT&T SIM and ST T-Mobile SIM.
2. The Motorola XT910 GSM RAZR (international version). $350-$400 from several online retailers, including Amazon.com.
3. The Motorola Defy (Unlocked international version), $170 from Amazon.com. Make sure that the version you buy supports 850 Mhz WCDMA/HSDPA.
4. If you're going to use an AT&T SIM, any AT&T Android Phone, including the prepaid phones.
5. If you're going to use a T-Mobile SIM, any T-Mobile Phone, including their prepaid phones.

Does anyone have list of android phones that are compatible with ST's BYOD program? as i understand it, it must have a SIM card and be gsm, not cdma.

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[friendlybiker]

Thanks for the info, it's a great starting point for me.

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[Endeavor]

Personally, I like the interface on the Motorola phones much better than the Samsung.

I'm also considering the LG Viper HD. You can buy that for $399 from AT&T and Amazon, or through an Amazon reseller for about $320.00. SilentJudge uses that phone and he presumably likes it.

[friendlybiker]

Bought the Galaxy Nexus, great phone, from the Google Playstore. E Waiting on the AT&T sim card.

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