BMW/Motorola phone needs activation

I have a Motorola StarTAC Model 8410018736, SN ********** in a 2001 BMW 540i. The phone was deactivated by the previous owner in October 2005. He was told it could be reinstated by his server SBC. I bought the car in November. Neither he nor I could get SBC or ATT or BMW to activate it. The phone can still call out, but reaches an automated message "We do not recognize this number as an authorized user". This phone does not have a removable board under the battery. I have open SBC/ATT accounts. Is there anyone who can make it work?

A StarTAC?...you're the 1st person I heard outside of my dad who still wants to use that phone. It's just a thought, but why not get another phone? If ATTWS can't reactivate the phone, then perhaps you can't at all. IDK...perhaps others will correct me.

Was SBC/ATT the original carrier to activate the phone? If you know for sure, it would be helpful. The model number you gave me didn't help me find any results on google, and I removed your serial number from the post for security reasons, too much info can be a bad thing. I'm going to keep looking for info, and if I find out this phone is TDMA there MIGHT be a way to activate it through a prepaid carrier.

Honestly, TDMA doesn't give good service anymore because the network is barely maintained. It will work for 911 even deactivated, but probably doesn't have GPS like newer phones so you better know where you are if you have to use it! Plus, you'd have to be somewhere with TDMA service.

Thanks, Brad. Sorry for the delay. Been on a trip. The original carrier was Southwestern Bell, which became SBC/ Cingular, and merged or was bought by ATT. So the continuity thread is there. I am a rank amateur at this and had to look up TDMA. I think it must be TDMA because BMW told me the phone was obsolete. But I have an ATT phone much older than this and it works. I would gladly buy another phone, but it is not available. This one has a receptacle that plugs into the car. It then uses the car battery, antenna and steering wheel controls. The phone book shows on the dash and calls are controlled by buttons on the dash or on the wheel. There is a mike above the windshield and the radio speakers complete the hands free system. I hear that BMW may make a replacement, but the cost will be in the thousands and I don't need it that badly.

Jokerjo,

The deal is that Cingluar only maintains CURRENT TDMA accounts as long as the people that have them, wish to have them open or until they no longer service the area their in. Cingular is not opening any NEW TDMA accounts, because they are in the process of phasing out the TDMA towers.

You do have the option of changing over to the GSM system, and getting the same thing in the car, just setup with a GSM phone and Bluetooth. But alas (I like using that phrase), it's not going to be cheap, even if you do an aftermarket intergrated phone system.

But BMW does offer an intergrated add in,Bluetooth phone system for their cars, and there are a number of aftermarket systems as well just having a Bluetooth enabled phone and headset for a lot less.

There are prepaid carriers who resell airtime on Cingular's old TDMA network. I had a TDMA prepaid service once and all my friends complained that I sounded like I was shouting at them through a tunnel. Still, if you are really interested in activating an obsolete phone on an obsolete network, check out some TDMA prepaids like Locus® Mobile™ GSM (make sure you click the TDMA tab near the top of the main page, as the site defaults to GSM service).

EDIT: ARGH you're right, Bear! They're not selling TDMA anymore, hmph. Well, I guess I can throw this old v60i out the window, I'll never be able to activate it again. Not a bad phone for its age.