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  1. #1
    Mike S.
    Guest

    In article <[email protected]>,
    George <[email protected]> wrote:
    >I got the following from Airvoice (prepaid Cingular GSM reseller):
    >
    > > You can purchase an Unlocked 850/1900 mhz GSM phone from
    > > any cell phone store. You can either use a Non-Active
    > > Cingular 64k sim card or a Non-Active Airvoice Sim card.

    >
    >Could someone tell me what a non-active SIM is?


    One that does not have phone number associated with it in the carrier's
    computer database.

    >Also, if possible I would like to get a used phone for this prepaid
    >service. Is it likely that a locked phone would also work, provided
    >that it's locked to Cingular?


    Yes.

    >And if I were to find a used Cingular GSM phone with the SIM still
    >in it, would there be a way to make the SIM non-active if it isn't
    >already?


    No. Once activated a SIM card cannot be re-used.






    See More: What is a non-active SIM?




  2. #2
    Mike S.
    Guest

    Re: What is a non-active SIM?


    In article <[email protected]>,
    George <[email protected]> wrote:
    >In article <[email protected]>,
    >[email protected] says...
    >
    > >> I got the following from Airvoice (prepaid Cingular GSM
    > >> reseller):

    >
    > >> > You can purchase an Unlocked 850/1900 mhz GSM phone
    > >> > from any cell phone store. You can either use a
    > >> > Non-Active Cingular 64k sim card or a Non-Active
    > >> > Airvoice Sim card.

    >
    > >> Could someone tell me what a non-active SIM is?

    >
    > > One that does not have phone number associated with it
    > > in the carrier's computer database.

    >
    >Ok.
    >
    >If I go down to Wal-Mart and buy a Motorola C139 Cingular
    >Go-Phone for $30, will the SIM that's in it be non-active,
    >or will it already have a phone number assigned?


    For mass-market purchases, the phone number is assigned when you activate
    the account on the Cingular web site - since the retail package is sealed.
    However, the bar code on the package containing the phone's IMEI number
    must be scanned by the retailer so that Cingular does not flag the phone
    as "stolen" and blacklist it.

    HOWEVER if you buy the same kit at a Cingular store, or order it on the
    Cingular web site, the SIM will already be activated with a phone number
    assigned when you receive the phone.

    >Is there a reasonable chance that that SIM will be 64k?


    Yes, that is all they have been shipping for the last 2 years.

    >Is there any chance that the C139 itself (not the SIM) will
    >be locked not only to Cingular, but also to Go-Phone use,
    >which would make it unusable with Airvoice prepaid even on
    >the Cingular network?


    GSM phones themselves are not locked to specific carriers, although specific
    setup for non-voice functions like data access, web browsing, or multimedia
    may require additional setup if the phone is not branded by the carrier whose
    network it is used on.

    I have no idea who "Airvoice" is or what their relationship to Cingular
    prepaid may be. Once you are talking about a reseller or rebrander, there
    is always the possibility of a hidden "gotcha" that only they know about.

    >Is there any other reason why this phone might not work on
    >Airvoice? I'm not sure I'm gonna find anything cheaper,
    >even on Ebay.


    The compatiblity lies in the bandplan and the SIM card. If the phone uses
    the frequency bands that the carrier uses, and the SIM card can be
    activated and registered on the carrier's network, that's all you need.






  3. #3
    Jeffrey Kaplan
    Guest

    Re: What is a non-active SIM?

    It is alleged that Mike S. claimed:

    > GSM phones themselves are not locked to specific carriers, although specific


    Yes, they are. Or rather, they can be. When you get a phone from
    Cingular (or T-Mobile), it's locked to the carrier, it will not work
    with a SIM from another carrier. Unless you unlock the phone.

    If you get the phone from the manufacturer or an unaffiliated retailer,
    you can get one that is not locked to a carrier and thus can be used
    with any tech-compatible service provider.

    > setup for non-voice functions like data access, web browsing, or multimedia
    > may require additional setup if the phone is not branded by the carrier whose
    > network it is used on.


    My data/web access settings were downloaded into my unlocked phone when
    I told it to get the network settings. I was expecting it retrieve
    only the voicemail settings, and it got my full data setup as well.
    Sweet, I didn't have to manually enter them after all.

    --
    Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
    The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

    Peter's Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord, #77.
    If I have a fit of temporary insanity and decide to give the hero the
    chance to reject a job as my trusted lieutenant, I will retain enough
    sanity to wait until my current trusted lieutenant is out of earshot
    before making the offer.



  4. #4
    Mike S.
    Guest

    Re: What is a non-active SIM?


    In article <[email protected]>,
    Jeffrey Kaplan <[email protected]> wrote:
    >It is alleged that Mike S. claimed:
    >
    >> GSM phones themselves are not locked to specific carriers, although specific

    >
    >Yes, they are. Or rather, they can be. When you get a phone from
    >Cingular (or T-Mobile), it's locked to the carrier, it will not work
    >with a SIM from another carrier. Unless you unlock the phone.
    >
    >If you get the phone from the manufacturer or an unaffiliated retailer,
    >you can get one that is not locked to a carrier and thus can be used
    >with any tech-compatible service provider.


    OK. I can see how that came out wrong. I am well aware of SIM subsidy
    locks, and have personally unlocked all of my phones because of this
    issue. In the case of the OP, he was concerned that a Cingular GoPhone
    would work only on their prepaid network and not on that of a reseller
    that also uses Cingular phones, SIM cards, and towers. My reply was
    fashioned with that specific consideration in mind. Of course, Cingular
    phones are SIM-locked, but the point is that a Cingular phone should work
    on any Cingular plan.





  5. #5
    Mike S.
    Guest

    Re: What is a non-active SIM?


    In article <[email protected]>,
    Jeffrey Kaplan <[email protected]> wrote:
    >It is alleged that Mike S. claimed:
    >
    >> GSM phones themselves are not locked to specific carriers, although specific


    In retrospect I need to further correct that.

    GSM Tracphones are entities unto themselves. This is because they have
    customized firmware that keeps track of account minutes within the phone
    itself, rather than let the carrier do all the work as with most other
    prepaid arrangement.

    People have managed to unlock GSM Tracphone handsets but find, even after
    getting the phone to accept the SIM card from another carrier, that the
    phone doesn't allow you to make calls.





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