Do you have to get a new SIM card?

[darkcyber]

I have friend that purchased the HTC Thunderbolt and kept it about a week and didn't like it because she was having problems with her email and text messaging and Verizon would not take the phone back because she threw away the box. So, she has switched back to AT&T and has it for sale cheap and I am buying it from her. Now, to my question. Will I have to get a new sim card from Verizon to use this phone?

 

[WormDoes]

As long as the phone is deactivated and wiped clean (factory reset) I don't think you'll have an issue using the SIM included. I could be wrong, though. Best bet is to call CS and ask them.

 

[moondrius]

From what I was told once a sim is activated it can not be reactivated on another line. You probably need a new sim.

 

[xkingofgodzx]

Yes you will need a new sim card.

 

[Yeahha]

Is it like that for all SIM cards, I purchased a used D2G and used the SIM no problem, when I got the TB she got the D2G and has been using it no problem.

 

[darkcyber]

Well, I did call VZW CS first and the tech lady said it would require a new sim card and VZW would send one to me for free. But I just wanted to hear it from folks in here that actually know and use this phone. I was thinking surely there was a way to use it without having to switch sim cards, but I guess not. I am actually getting this one for my sister (new sim card for that) and if she decided she didn't like it, then I thought I might get it and play around with it, but then that would mean another sim card

 

[xkingofgodzx]

Is it like that for all SIM cards, I purchased a used D2G and used the SIM no problem, when I got the TB she got the D2G and has been using it no problem.

There is a difference between a global sim card and a 4g LTE sim card. Dont ask me the difference between the obvious, but you need to get a new 4g sim card if you deactivate the phone.

 

[Yeahha]

Wierd, I wonder why VZW is now going to SIM cards they seem to cause more trouble than help, and I doubt they will be like the SIM cards on other networks where if you replace your phone you can just pop it out and use it on a different phone.

 

[moondrius]

LTE requires a sim and yes you can just swap sims with lte enabled verizon phones.

 

[WormDoes]

Is it like that for all SIM cards, I purchased a used D2G and used the SIM no problem, when I got the TB she got the D2G and has been using it no problem.

Same here for one of my friends, I assumed it would be the same for the TB, guess I was wrong

 

[darkcyber]

There is a difference between a global sim card and a 4g LTE sim card. Dont ask me the difference between the obvious, but you need to get a new 4g sim card if you deactivate the phone.

Thanks for the info.

Another question. Say I get a new sim card for phone number 123-456-7890 and activate the phone and then she decides she does not like it and goes back to her Droid X. I take the TB and get a new sim card and activate it on my phone 123-456-0987 and use it. Then my sister wants it back, would the sim card she used still work, since it was activated to her phone number? I know, crazy explanation, but just curious if a sim card will still work on that same number once it has been activated.

 

[boilator]

LTE requires a sim and yes you can just swap sims with lte enabled verizon phones.

You are right but... whatever phone # was activated on that SIM card cannot be erased. If you want to change the number on a SIM card you can't at this time, you'll need to get a 'new' SIM card.

Lator

 

[th325]

They are a one time activation, I deactivated mine for a few days to use my eris before selling it, and I had to get a new one. Only off for 2 days. Hope this helps.

 

[darkcyber]

They are a one time activation, I deactivated mine for a few days to use my eris before selling it, and I had to get a new one. Only off for 2 days. Hope this helps.

I don't fully understand your answer. By one time activation, do you mean you activate the sim card one time to one phone number and then you can switch back to that phone and sim card later? i.e. if I activate sims card #1 to phone number A and then decide to go back to my Droid X and then later come back to the TB with sim card #1, will it work with that card again?

 

[nkd]

Once a phone is activated on a sim that sim can not be reactivated period. Trust me been there done that. if you want the sim under your number you need a new sim and the old sim is pretty much garbage.

 

[nkd]

I don't fully understand your answer. By one time activation, do you mean you activate the sim card one time to one phone number and then you can switch back to that phone and sim card later? i.e. if I activate sims card #1 to phone number A and then decide to go back to my Droid X and then later come back to the TB with sim card #1, will it work with that card again?

To my knowledge if you deactivate a sim you can not reactivate it again. Once you switch phones you need a new sim everytime you switch phones. Once a sim is provisioned and than number is shifted to another phone and you wanna go back to thunderbolt you need a new sim. However if you had 2 LTE phones you can switch the sim in those phones and your number and info will carry over to the new phone.

 

[jreed2560]

They are a one time activation, I deactivated mine for a few days to use my eris before selling it, and I had to get a new one. Only off for 2 days. Hope this helps.

Exact same thing happened to me.

 

[jreed2560]

Is it like that for all SIM cards, I purchased a used D2G and used the SIM no problem, when I got the TB she got the D2G and has been using it no problem.

The reason for this is that you don't actually activate the sim in the Droid 2 unless you put the phone on a global plan.

 

[darkcyber]

To my knowledge if you deactivate a sim you can not reactivate it again. Once you switch phones you need a new sim everytime you switch phones. Once a sim is provisioned and than number is shifted to another phone and you wanna go back to thunderbolt you need a new sim. However if you had 2 LTE phones you can switch the sim in those phones and your number and info will carry over to the new phone.

Why in the world does VZW do that? Why not just make it to where you can use the same sim card again? Frankly I think this sucks and really makes me not like this phone now

 

[mcdoub1986]

I have a Thunderbolt as well and I just went on the Verizon site a few minutes ago and changed my number. AFter you request a new number it takes about 5-10 minutes after you turn your phone off for it to recognize the new one. When my phone didn't work at first, I called support and they told me I needed a new Sim Card but you don't. You can just change ur number through the site. I think its a new type of sim card or something. Hope this helps

 

[chris2k5]

Just found out about this 1 time activation thing...So once you activate a SIM and use it then deactivate and go to a different phone, you'll need a NEW SIM once you want to go back to the Thunderbolt...

Kind of ruins the point of a SIM doesn't it?

 

[brizey]

Just found out about this 1 time activation thing...So once you activate a SIM and use it then deactivate and go to a different phone, you'll need a NEW SIM once you want to go back to the Thunderbolt...

Kind of ruins the point of a SIM doesn't it?

Why would you deactivate it? That is the point of a SIM--the SIM is activated, not the phone it is in, so you can move it from phone to phone. The issue is that these SIMs are LTE specific, so they can only be used in LTE phones.

A similar kind of thing happened when Nextel went from "two digit" to "three digit" phones--you needed a new type of SIM.

Edit:

Here is Verizon's FAQ on the SIM: http://support.vzw.com/faqs/VZAccess/4g_sim_card.html
(In particular, look at items #8 and #12)

 

[chris2k5]

Why would you deactivate it? That is the point of a SIM--the SIM is activated, not the phone it is in, so you can move it from phone to phone. The issue is that these SIMs are LTE specific, so they can only be used in LTE phones.

A similar kind of thing happened when Nextel went from "two digit" to "three digit" phones--you needed a new type of SIM.

Edit:

Here is Verizon's FAQ on the SIM: Answers to FAQs
(In particular, look at items #8 and #12)

You don't get the situation or I wasn't clear:

1. I got a Thunderbolt at the Verizon store and they put in the SIM and activated it for me.

2. I missed my iPhone so I activated my iPhone thus it made my TB unactivated.

3. Now I want to use the TB and tried calling Customer service to reactivate it. They told me that since I went back to iPhone, I need a new SIM. You need a new SIM every time you switch away from the TB.

 

[Sketchr]

You don't get the situation or I wasn't clear:

1. I got a Thunderbolt at the Verizon store and they put in the SIM and activated it for me.

2. I missed my iPhone so I activated my iPhone thus it made my TB unactivated.

3. Now I want to use the TB and tried calling Customer service to reactivate it. They told me that since I went back to iPhone, I need a new SIM. You need a new SIM every time you switch away from the TB.

Right. That's to avoid 2 devices active on one phone number at the same time. As per FAQs you can remove SIM from TB and place it in the Charge or Revolution ~ essentially making the TB "inactive" w/o the SIM. But since iPhone is 3G and has its own micro SIM, they need to inactivate your SIM from 4G if you choose to start using that iPhone.

 

[chris2k5]

Right. That's to avoid 2 devices active on one phone number at the same time. As per FAQs you can remove SIM from TB and place it in the Charge or Revolution ~ essentially making the TB "inactive" w/o the SIM. But since iPhone is 3G and has its own micro SIM, they need to inactivate your SIM from 4G if you choose to start using that iPhone.

iPhone doesn't have a SIM. The point is, they should've just let me keep my SIM and be able to reactivate it whenever I want just like reactivating a phone with an MEID #. It seems stupid to have to get a new SIM card every time I want to use my TB.