How to migrate to a new cell phone when the old one doesn't have a SIM card?
June 3, 2010 9:14 AM Subscribe
How to migrate to a new cell phone when the old one doesn't have a SIM card? Bonus, must not talk to US Cellular.
I have a friend (really!) that has a a 'glitched' US Cellular account where they have been billing him ~$10 a month for service for years. His old phone is nearly dead and he'd like to migrate to a new one. I thought this would be easy, but his old phone is so ancient as not to have a SIM card. He's concerned that talking to US Cellular would result in more conventional billing. Are there other businesses that could create a SIM card for his number from the information on the existing phone?
I have a friend (really!) that has a a 'glitched' US Cellular account where they have been billing him ~$10 a month for service for years. His old phone is nearly dead and he'd like to migrate to a new one. I thought this would be easy, but his old phone is so ancient as not to have a SIM card. He's concerned that talking to US Cellular would result in more conventional billing. Are there other businesses that could create a SIM card for his number from the information on the existing phone?
US Cellular has a CDMA-based network instead of GSM, therefore none of their phones have SIM cards. The only legit way to switch phones is to call them up and tell them the MEID or ESN number for the new phone. There might be a way to program a new phone with the ESN from the old phone through a crazy process like this.
posted by zsazsa at 9:25 AM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by zsazsa at 9:25 AM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
I used to work for US Cellular, their phone's don't use sim cards at all. The phone has to be programmed with their number, and the cell network has to be updated with the unique ID of the phone. To get a new phone working with their network you'll have to interact with them. I'm not sure about any current policies regarding old service agreements, but when I worked there I know that some people still had plans dating back to when the had service with Cellular One. It may be possible for your friend to get a new phone and keep his old plan, but to get a new phone working he will definitely need to talk to someone at US Cellular.
posted by borkencode at 9:28 AM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by borkencode at 9:28 AM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
It looks like US Cellular is CDMA as well.
posted by k8t at 9:25 AM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]