Can I move a T-Mobile SIM card to another T-Mobile device?

November 9, 2011 9:03 AM

Can I purchase a prepaid T-Mobile phone from, say, Walmart, activate it with a plan, and then put that SIM card into my older off-contract T-Mobile phone and expect it to work?
posted by speedgraphic to Technology (5 answers total)

Best answer: Yes. You don't need to buy the phone, though. You can get the SIM only for $10 with $5 of calling credit. Just walk in to any T-Mobile store.
posted by wierdo at 9:05 AM on November 9, 2011

As far as I know, yes. I have had success going the other way -- buying a prepaid T-Mobile phone and using my normal (postpaid) T-Mobile SIM card in it. (Great way to get a dirt-cheap "backup" phone.)
posted by neckro23 at 9:05 AM on November 9, 2011

Best answer: Seconding that there's no reason to buy the phone - I have taken off-contract mobile phones into the store and gotten a SIM card and a prepaid plan. They don't care.
posted by muddgirl at 9:06 AM on November 9, 2011

I have found that it's usually cheaper (or the same price) to buy a phone as it is to buy the SIM. But yes, this absolutely works, I've done it more than once.
posted by mskyle at 9:30 AM on November 9, 2011

Best answer: I recently bought a prepaid SIM card kit on Amazon, activated it online at T-Mobile and started using it in a T-Mobile phone within minutes. (I really wanted the new unlimited data plan for $30 and T-Mobile stores can't activate on that plan). So if getting to a store is a hassle, you do have a cheaper, but more involved option.
posted by eunoia at 9:55 AM on November 9, 2011 [1 favorite]