Old Guy & Technology: How can I make use of this old iPhone?

June 8, 2017 5:31 PM

A friend of mine just gifted me a used iPhone 6 in great shape. So how the heck can I use it? (Please speak slowly in English)

Pretty much what it sounds like: I now have, in my possession, a used iPhone 6, in excellent condition. A happy turn of events, as I just dropped and cracked my old crappy Android. I can turn the iPhone on. It prompts me for a SiM card—which, obviously, I don't have. In fact, I can't even swipe to unlock the screen without first entering said card.

A quick Google search for "How to activate a used iPhone" seems to suggest...that it's impossible. Or at least, extremely daunting. Lots of talk of "unlocking," "jailbreaking," and other shady maneuvers that seem to require paying a stranger on the Internet lots of money for uncertain results.

Is there a legit way to make this phone my own? I've been using a crappy Android, on Republic Wireless, for the last five years—and happily paying only $30 per month I might add. I've learned I *cannot* bring an iPhone to Republic, so that's out.

Is this simply an issue of taking the phone to a T-Mobile store and asking them to activate it? I need a new phone STAT, and, if I can make this iPhone work, I'll be in great shape.

Things to consider:
- I'm clumsy and impatient with technology in general, so looking for the simplest, most pain-free way to get this phone going. Any hassle-heavy suggestions will be lost on me.

-Looking for the cheapest monthly plan possible, talk and text. Maybe a bit of data, but extremely low requirements.

- Never used an iPhone. But I have a MacBook Air and an iPad. Does that at least get me in the Apple family?

Any advice appreciated!

posted by sureshot to Technology (8 answers total)

The equivalent of Republic for iPhones is Cricket. My partner uses them, they are fine. Here is their Bring Your Phone page. They have a $30 plan.

A few questions:

- Is it a 6 or a 6s? (the process for getting the IMEI varies)
- Do you want to keep your old phone number?
- Did this phone belong to your friend (i.e. you know it's not stolen, and they might have the IMEI number)?
- Could you get a loaner SIM just to see if you can turn it on right now etc?

The easiest thing is to call your friend "Yo do you have the IMEI for this phone?" and then enter it on Cricket's website and wait for them to send you a SIM card.
posted by jessamyn at 5:41 PM on June 8, 2017 [4 favorites]

They'll give you a SIM at a Verizon store if you tell them you want to bring your device to their prepaid plan. Then you can activate on their website (maybe even on the spot? I can't remember). Take a look at their website and see if you like their plans. The cheapest is about $45 for 3 MB (with autopay), unlimited talk and text in the U.S. Others will probably have advice about even bare-bonesier plans, but this is one method that will work.

(with great effort do i restrain myself from objecting to the wanton use of "gifted" for "gave")
posted by praemunire at 5:53 PM on June 8, 2017 [1 favorite]

I was just given and iPhone 6. I already have 3 phones so using is just on wifi and for music. I was able to open it and start using it with a dead sim card. There just has to be A sim card in the slot, not a working one.

Then, go to Cricket or wherever you can get a plan you are comfortable with and port your old number over to them. They will give you a sim card. It may take a day to get your number ported over.
posted by AugustWest at 6:02 PM on June 8, 2017

If you're near an Apple Store I'd highly suggest going in - if your old phone has a SIM in it they can help you swap it, get you set up, and maybe show you the basics if you're used to android. They're generally quite helpful and some of these things are way easier to explain or get the hang of in person.
posted by revertTS at 6:36 PM on June 8, 2017 [4 favorites]

I can't help with the phone, but came to recommend Ting. When I was looking for a provider, it was the only one I could find that would allow you to use a smart phone without a buying a data plan. My bill is always less than $30. You pay for just the services you use, so YMMV.
posted by she's not there at 10:58 PM on June 8, 2017 [1 favorite]

> It prompts me for a SiM card—which, obviously, I don't have ... I just dropped and cracked my old crappy Android

Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but I would expect you to take the SIM out of your previous phone and put it into the new phone.
posted by richb at 2:17 AM on June 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

My wife and I have been using Tracfone's smartphone-only plans for several months now, since our previous super-cheap prepaid provider went belly-up. Initiating service was a miserable experience, but that was probably because we were porting numbers from a company that was falling apart and clearly didn't know what it was doing. Since them it has worked very well. The best deal for us is a plan that's $23.75 (plus tax and 911 fee) for 500 minutes/ 500mb/ 1000 texts, that is good for 60 days rather than the typical monthly renewal period, and minutes and data both roll over. The base service is domestic only, but you can buy international minutes separately.
posted by jon1270 at 3:35 AM on June 9, 2017

As a happy Cricket customer (doing a multi-line plan with them) jessamyn's advice above is good!

One small correction though - the iPhone 6 actually has the IMEI number on the rear of the phone, etched in tiny numbers. Use that on the Cricket Bring Your Own Phone site and go from there.

Sounds like you were happy with an inexpensive plan and want simple and pain-free, so there you go.

PS - welcome to the iPhone world; while it certainly has its quirks and isn't perfect. it has a lot going for it FWIW.
posted by scooterdog at 3:45 AM on June 9, 2017