Put existing Virgin SIM in new handset?

I have a Virgin PAYG phone on direct debit.

If I buy a new, unlocked phone from a non-Virgin source can I simply
put the Virgin SIM in the new phone, switch on and start using, or do I
have to ask Virgin for anything to 'marry' the sim to the phone?

I suspect the answer is it will work out of the box but think it's wise
to confirm before shelling out some hard-earned! ;-)

Thanks!

Pete

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› See More: Put existing Virgin SIM in new handset?

Peter Boulton wrote:
> I have a Virgin PAYG phone on direct debit.
>
> If I buy a new, unlocked phone from a non-Virgin source can I simply put
> the Virgin SIM in the new phone, switch on and start using, or do I have
> to ask Virgin for anything to 'marry' the sim to the phone?
>
> I suspect the answer is it will work out of the box but think it's wise
> to confirm before shelling out some hard-earned! ;-)
>
> Thanks!
>
> Pete
>
>

It will work out of the box but you may have to reset your voicemail
number by dialling 222.

BC explained on 04/12/2008 :
> Peter Boulton wrote:
>> I have a Virgin PAYG phone on direct debit.
>>
>> If I buy a new, unlocked phone from a non-Virgin source can I simply put
>> the Virgin SIM in the new phone, switch on and start using, or do I have to
>> ask Virgin for anything to 'marry' the sim to the phone?
>>
>> I suspect the answer is it will work out of the box but think it's wise to
>> confirm before shelling out some hard-earned! ;-)
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Pete
>>
>>
>
> It will work out of the box but you may have to reset your voicemail number
> by dialling 222.

Brilliant! Many thanks!

Pete

Yes

"Peter Boulton" <peter@data*nospam*perceptions.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have a Virgin PAYG phone on direct debit.
>
> If I buy a new, unlocked phone from a non-Virgin source can I simply put
> the Virgin SIM in the new phone, switch on and start using, or do I have
> to ask Virgin for anything to 'marry' the sim to the phone?
>
> I suspect the answer is it will work out of the box but think it's wise to
> confirm before shelling out some hard-earned! ;-)
>
> Thanks!
>
> Pete
>
>

"BC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> It will work out of the box

............. as long as it isn't locked to another network!


--
J B

On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 22:39:42 UTC, "J B" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "BC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > It will work out of the box
>
> ............ as long as it isn't locked to another network!

....and the OP said: "If I buy a new, unlocked phone..."

--
Bob Eager
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

"Bob Eager" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 22:39:42 UTC, "J B" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> "BC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> > It will work out of the box
>>
>> ............ as long as it isn't locked to another network!
>
> ...and the OP said: "If I buy a new, unlocked phone..."
>
>
It would be OK if locked to T Mobile, as they don't GID1
Sim lock their phones, a Virgin Sim would work.

Tony

on 04/12/2008, Peter Boulton supposed :
> I have a Virgin PAYG phone on direct debit.
>
> If I buy a new, unlocked phone from a non-Virgin source can I simply put the
> Virgin SIM in the new phone, switch on and start using, or do I have to ask
> Virgin for anything to 'marry' the sim to the phone?
>
> I suspect the answer is it will work out of the box but think it's wise to
> confirm before shelling out some hard-earned! ;-)
>
> Thanks!
>
> Pete

Hello, OP here with an update! Got the phone (Benq e72), put the
Virgin PAYG SIM in, booted up, and although it can read my stored phone
numbers off the sim it cannot connect to Virgin and it cannot find any
networks. The phone just says 'Searching...' where it should say
'Virgin'.

I have learned that there are 2 kinds of sims. 32kb ones and 64kb
ones. It seems my sim is an (old) 32kb sim. Is this the reason why it
won't work? (It works fine in my old Nokia 1600, of course!)

Virgin have kindly agreed to send me a 64kb sim for my mobile number at
no charge, which I will try in the phone. I really hope this works as
the phone is very nice, Virgin have cancelled the 32Kb sim, and no
doubt if I have to return the new phone I'll have the same problem in
reverse - i.e. new sim won't work in old phone!

For anyone coming to this thread hoping for a solution to a similar
problem, here at least is how to identify whether your Virgin sim is
32kb (pre 2006) or 64kb (post 2006):

There is a serial number next to the gold chip on the SIM. If it
starts with any of the following you have a 32Mb SIM:

270
280

The newer 64Mb (="3G") SIMs start with:
155
156
161
162

Whatever happens, I'll repost the result of receiving the 64Mb SIM when
I receive it.

If anyone thinks I'm barking up the wrong tree with this as a solution
for making my unlocked Benq e72 work with Virgin mobile please shout!
Thanks!

Pete