iPhone 4

[ssanders79]

Here is a link to Apple's support site documenting the procedure required to use an iPhone without cellular service (essentially an iPod Touch). It requires a SIM card, but you will aready have an extra as the iPhone 4 uses the new mirco sim card.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3406
iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS
You can use any SIM card associated with the carrier that your device supports to activate the phone. Simply place a SIM card from the last carrier with which you used your iPhone into the device, and activate it. Then remove the SIM card. You can now use the iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS as you would an iPod touch (Wi-Fi only, no cellular service).

Note: You can use the activated SIM card from your new iPhone to do this.

To re-activate an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS that displays the "Connect to iTunes" screen:

Insert a SIM card from the carrier with which you used your phone. Note: If you are using the same carrier, you can use the activated SIM card from your new device to do this. If your device is unlocked by your carrier, you can use any SIM card.
Connect the iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS to iTunes on a computer connected to the Internet.
iTunes will then activate the device. You can remove the SIM card at this point and use the iPhone as if it were an iPod touch.

Additional Information
Note: It may be necessary to repeat this process after updating or restoring the iPhone operating system.

 

[TMcDwyer]

I think I am going to make the leap. I have a 3G and my contract is up in July so I know I am eligible for the upgrade.

As for using my old phone as an iPod...we have an old 2G iPhone that my kids play with all the time and we have NEVER had a problem with it. I am hoping to do the same with my 3G so they can play their apps in the car and not get sticky fingerprints on Mommy's new toy!

 

[WdwforLife]

I have a question for anyone who has switched to ATT from another carrier.

I am currently still on a family plan with my mother and sister from years ago and now that the new iPhone 4 is coming out I wish to leave Verizon and join ATT. Of course I would like to keep my current number.

Now, I've talked to several ATT representatives (both at a retail store and on the phone) plus I've researched it online and everyone says that in order for ATT to successfully and easily transfer your number you must provide your current provider account # and the pin # so ATT can verify it's your account and gain the necessary permissions to transfer the number.

My mother, however, is one of those crazy, paranoid people who thinks everyone is out to get her and she is hell bent on NOT giving out her pin to anyone. She honestly things the guy at the ATT store is going to steal her account information and do god knows what with it. All she will give me is her account # and the last 4 digits of her social security number insisting that after speaking with several Verizon representatives, ATT does NOT need her pin. Instead she says there are other ways to transfer the number.

All the ATT people I have talked to have said they require the pin and that without it it could take a while and be quite a hassle. Now, has anyone who has transfered over needed their pin? I just don't want to be holding up the line Tuesday morning because my mom requires a 3 way call with ATT, Verizon and herself in order to give out her pin #. No lie.

Has anyone successfully transfered their number without their pin?

 

[MM32830]

I have a question for anyone who has switched to ATT from another carrier.

I am currently still on a family plan with my mother and sister from years ago and now that the new iPhone 4 is coming out I wish to leave Verizon and join ATT. Of course I would like to keep my current number.

Now, I've talked to several ATT representatives (both at a retail store and on the phone) plus I've researched it online and everyone says that in order for ATT to successfully and easily transfer your number you must provide your current provider account # and the pin # so ATT can verify it's your account and gain the necessary permissions to transfer the number.

My mother, however, is one of those crazy, paranoid people who thinks everyone is out to get her and she is hell bent on NOT giving out her pin to anyone. She honestly things the guy at the ATT store is going to steal her account information and do god knows what with it. All she will give me is her account # and the last 4 digits of her social security number insisting that after speaking with several Verizon representatives, ATT does NOT need her pin. Instead she says there are other ways to transfer the number.

All the ATT people I have talked to have said they require the pin and that without it it could take a while and be quite a hassle. Now, has anyone who has transfered over needed their pin? I just don't want to be holding up the line Tuesday morning because my mom requires a 3 way call with ATT, Verizon and herself in order to give out her pin #. No lie.

Has anyone successfully transfered their number without their pin?

I can't speak about the porting process from Verizon to AT&T but I can tell you my experience in the reverse situation. Last month I decided to dump AT&T and go to Verizon. All Verizon needed from me was my AT&T phone number, AT&T account number, EXACT billing address and the last 4 of my Social Security number.

After Verizon processed the port request, I was told it would take anywhere from 2 to 24 hours for the number to port over to Verizon and I would get a text message from Verizon when the number was ported. I left the Verizon Wireless store and in less than 5 minutes my number was ported.

Now, perhaps things are different at AT&T. If so, I may have a solution. Have you mom change her pin just before you request AT&T to port over your number. As soon as the port goes through, your mom can change the pin back to what she has right now. This way, AT&T won't have access to her account after the port goes through.

If you mom isn't agreeable to doing this, then it sounds like you can still port your number but "it could take a while and be quite a hassle". Certainly not the end of the world.




____________________
Armand

 

[WdwforLife]

Now, perhaps things are different at AT&T. If so, I may have a solution. Have you mom change her pin just before you request AT&T to port over your number. As soon as the port goes through, your mom can change the pin back to what she has right now. This way, AT&T won't have access to her account after the port goes through.

If you mom isn't agreeable to doing this, then it sounds like you can still port your number but "it could take a while and be quite a hassle". Certainly not the end of the world.
___________________
Armand

Yeah. I already suggested that. Her response? "I'm not going to give my pin to some *expletive deleted*." "Mom, he's not a *expletive deleted*! He's just doing his job!" "I know he's just doing his job." "Well then why are you calling him names!?"

Looks like I'll have to go the hard way. Thanks though.

 

[Willow1213]

I work in an AT&T retail store and I can tell you that you will need your pin #. What will happen is, if you give the system only the acct # and and last 4 of ssn it will go though the system but the port will never complete. Now, you will have plenty of time to get it sorted out between the 15th and 24th if your mom insists on that 3 way call. It can be done that way, especially since you are putting in the request so early.

On the 15th, we will be so busy I will have no time to remember, write down, or care at all about your mom's Verizon acct info. I am sure the same
can be said for the reps in your local store.

 

[medicjch]

What is anyone's experience with pre-ordering from Apple? How does that work? Does the phone just show up at your door ready to go? I guess my main concern is that I don't want to mess with my contract (other than the 2 year extension). I'm really wanting to keep my unlimited download for the moment.

 

[TMcDwyer]

What is anyone's experience with pre-ordering from Apple? How does that work? Does the phone just show up at your door ready to go? I guess my main concern is that I don't want to mess with my contract (other than the 2 year extension). I'm really wanting to keep my unlimited download for the moment.

I plan to pre-order from the Apple store and I was under the impression that I would pick it up at the store when it comes in.

 

[medicjch]

I don't have an Apple store close, so I was going to try to pre-order via the website and have it shipped to me. Does anyone have any experiences with this??

 

[TMcDwyer]

Does anyone know if the Apple stores are opening early tomorrow?

 

[Califgirl]

I currently have Sprint and am going to pre order an i-phone tomorrow and switch to AT&T. I want to transfer my current phone number over to the new i-phone. What's a "pin" number and where do I find it.

I currently have an individual plan, not a family plan, but I am creating a family plan with my husband who already has an ATT account. Does he have a pin number? Where do we find that?

 

[Willow1213]

I'm upset now. We were just told that employees are not allowed to order the new iPhone 4 until July 1st. I know it's only a few weeks, but still.

Update: Turns out they are not following the same upgrade rules for employee accounts either. They were being so nice to push upgrades forward for anyone eligible before 12/31 and has a current iPhone. Well they aren't going to honor that for employee accounts. So now I have to wait until Nov 20th or pay $400.

 

[TMcDwyer]

I'm upset now. We were just told that employees are not allowed to order the new iPhone 4 until July 1st. I know it's only a few weeks, but still.

That stinks.

 

[Willow1213]

I currently have Sprint and am going to pre order an i-phone tomorrow and switch to AT&T. I want to transfer my current phone number over to the new i-phone. What's a "pin" number and where do I find it.

I currently have an individual plan, not a family plan, but I am creating a family plan with my husband who already has an ATT account. Does he have a pin number? Where do we find that?

You have a PIN with Sprint, a 6 digit # you can find it by logging in to your account online. Sprint requires you have a pin, with every oter carrier it is optional. It provides an extra layer of security to prevent people from accessing your account. AT&T calls them passcodes, but they serve the same purpose.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I have a question for anyone who has switched to ATT from another carrier.

I am currently still on a family plan with my mother and sister from years ago and now that the new iPhone 4 is coming out I wish to leave Verizon and join ATT. Of course I would like to keep my current number.

Now, I've talked to several ATT representatives (both at a retail store and on the phone) plus I've researched it online and everyone says that in order for ATT to successfully and easily transfer your number you must provide your current provider account # and the pin # so ATT can verify it's your account and gain the necessary permissions to transfer the number.

My mother, however, is one of those crazy, paranoid people who thinks everyone is out to get her and she is hell bent on NOT giving out her pin to anyone. She honestly things the guy at the ATT store is going to steal her account information and do god knows what with it. All she will give me is her account # and the last 4 digits of her social security number insisting that after speaking with several Verizon representatives, ATT does NOT need her pin. Instead she says there are other ways to transfer the number.

All the ATT people I have talked to have said they require the pin and that without it it could take a while and be quite a hassle. Now, has anyone who has transfered over needed their pin? I just don't want to be holding up the line Tuesday morning because my mom requires a 3 way call with ATT, Verizon and herself in order to give out her pin #. No lie.

Has anyone successfully transfered their number without their pin?

I just changed carriers the beginning of May. I did it at an AT & T store and they just had ME sign into my US Cellular account on their computer and then they did whatever they had to do to get my number transferred over.

 

[WdwforLife]

I just changed carriers the beginning of May. I did it at an AT & T store and they just had ME sign into my US Cellular account on their computer and then they did whatever they had to do to get my number transferred over.

Yes well I will be unable to bring my mother to the ATT store tomorrow and she absolutely refuses to disclose her pin #. So I am going to have to do what someone else said and have her make the call herself some time between now and the 24th and straighten this out. *sigh*

 

[DiRTyBuNNy]

I just changed carriers the beginning of May. I did it at an AT & T store and they just had ME sign into my US Cellular account on their computer and then they did whatever they had to do to get my number transferred over.

Could of waited and got yourself an Android phone

--DB

 

[WdwforLife]

I just got off the phone with my mom. I wish I had recorded the conversation. She's seriously paranoid that they're going to go in and steal her identity. She's also talking like she's some kind of cell phone carrier expert because she's "done this twice personally". Yeah with Spring and Verizon. AT&T could be set up differently. And it's just a convenience, I told her, so you don't have to wait an undisclosed period of time for the port to go through.

She was dropping all sort of profanity bombs against AT&T. She really thinks it's ridiculous they require her pin. She is absolutely against it and nothing can change her mind.

Then when I told her that I could sign into the account with her pin so the employee wouldn't see it she got all mad because "Ooooohhh. They do it ONLINE?! So AT&T can't pick up a $#^&#@& phone and call Verizon??? So it's for THEIR convenience!?" Honestly, people don't know the insanity I have to deal with.

She's also currently on the phone with AT&T asking them about their porting policy and if there's any other way. She's the kind of woman that will argue with an employee in a check-out line over a coupon that expired 3 months ago. She wants everyone to bend the rules to suit her. It's a global company. They have their policies and their employees are obligated to follow them. But she wants them to bend over backwards for ONE person out of a billion because she doesn't like the way they do things.

 

[fupresti]

I have an iPhone 3GS I bought in September and I was a little bummed about not being able to pick up an iPhone 4. That said, I was meeting with my AT&T rep today about an iPad related project we are working on and mentioned I wanted one but could not get one due to having 15 months left on my contract.

About an hour after he left, I got an email from him informing me my account was now eligible for an upgrade

Knowing people does have it's privileges

 

[MM32830]

Not wanting to add fuel to the fire, I have to wonder why AT&T requires a pin to port a number while Verizon Wireless does not.

Actually, it normally would not be an issue if you were porting a number on an account that would then be closed at the old carrier. However, in this case, your mom will be keeping this account so she has a right to be paranoid. I'm not saying she's correct, just that she has a right. After all, it is her account.

Like someone said earlier, you could also look at the Android phones at Verizon. I did and I was sold. I now have a phone that I believe is as good as the iPhone on a carrier that is far better than AT&T.

I'm not saying I didn't like my iPhone. I really did like it. I just didn't care for AT&T and the service coverage they offered. If the iPhone ever came to Verizon Wireless, I would seriously consider it when it was time to upgrade.


________________
Armand