Sim card swapping

[LowTech]

I've been looking into MVNO's and their BringYourOwnDevice programs. Of course my phone is not one that they want to accept. Its not that old, and running on Verizon's CDMA network.
So I'm interested in something that I've heard of, but found very little info on, sim card swapping.
I would be using the MVNO w/ someone else that would have an accepted device and uses the same type of sim card, a nano. So my thought was to activate my card in that phone and then swap it to mine.
Does anyone have any experience w/ that?
I figured that w/ the knowledge bank of rebels we have here I might actually get some real info. [emoji16]

 

[tx2sturgis]

It depends on whether the phone you want to use the SIM card in is:

A) an unlocked phone, or voluntarily unlocked from the carrier

B) GSM capable

C) compatible with the cellular radio bands that the SIM card will try to activate on

You will still (probably) need the new carrier to send the APN settings to the phone, and it may or may not work as soon as they see the ID (IMEI) of the non-capable or non-compatible phone. Sometimes the APN settings can be entered manually, BUT it still may not work if none of the above conditions are met.

 

[wayne49]

There may be legitimate reasons why they can't accept that device on their network. CDMA v. GSM is one.
You may go through your switcheroo and find that doing that violates the terms of contract. Then the MVNO kicks your buddy off their network. Or maybe you end up having to buy an acceptable device and be stuck paired with your buddy for no reason.

 

[LowTech]

It's unlocked, and we would be using a Verizon network through someone like Spectrum, or Visible. So basically the LTE that we're on now.

So its really about the OS not being able to talk to their system well? What else about my "little handheld computer" would make it incompatible?
There are other phones that are older, but still work for their network.

 

[highest_vision]

I've been using an MVNO for about six years, although my CDMA phone predates CDMA sim swap. My phone is dying, so I have been looking at options, including used phones. What I have read is that the ability to use a phone, or not, may boil down to testing. The company may not know that your phone will work, so they do not support it. The note about a phone being unlocked is true. There are plenty of folks that get into programming and what not with mobile phones and get around these things. I am not that person. It may be really easy! There is something called rooting, which gives you much greater control of that device. It would be like using DOS on Windows or terminal in Linux. You also may find that the phone works fine with no shenanigans. Can you find out if this model has been used by that provider before?

Have fun!

 

[Tom_M]

I've been looking into MVNO's and their BringYourOwnDevice programs. Of course my phone is not one that they want to accept. Its not that old, and running on Verizon's CDMA network

CDMA is going away soon so your best bet would be to get a new phone. Visible which is owned by Verizon has an unlimited everything plan for $40/month with no added fees or taxes. They have a ZTE smart phone for $49 or free if you trade in your old phone. They recently introduced a service called "Party Pay" that can bring your monthly fee down to $25. Here's a link to their site:

https://www.visible.com/

 

[LowTech]

CDMA is going away soon so your best bet would be to get a new phone. Visible which is owned by Verizon has an unlimited everything plan for $40/month with no added fees or taxes. They have a ZTE smart phone for $49 or free if you trade in your old phone. They recently introduced a service called "Party Pay" that can bring your monthly fee down to $25. Here's a link to their site:

https://www.visible.com/

A little confused here, if CDMA is going away soon, why would I get another phone that runs on Verizon's network (CDMA)?

 

[Tom_M]

Phones may be capable of receiving CDMA for backward compatibility. One situation would be when roaming and you are linked to a non Verizon tower where CDMA is still being used. A Verizon MVNO phone does not roam, so you will be out of luck connecting to a competitor's tower.

From Verizon's web site:
"We are moving all devices to our HD Voice LTE network, which offers superior coverage and performance compared to previous generation networks.  Starting January 1, 2020, Verizon will no longer allow any CDMA (3G and 4G Non-HD Voice) 'Like-for-Like' device changes."

https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-218813/

 

[LowTech]

OK, understand that. I've been on LTE phones for the last couple.
Currently I'm using the best, and maybe only, rugidized phone that Verizon offers, though it is one model back.
Its rated for "global", water proof, shock proof, etc. At least at the standard that phones are rated.
Kind of makes it hard to consider trading in for a $50 phone. [emoji6]

 

[tx2sturgis]

Oh, well why didnt you say so!

It should work...the unlocked global GSM multi-band ruggedized phones with a single or dual SIM slot AND GSM will usually work on any of the mainstream networks.

You pays yer money and you takes yer chances, but I bet it will activate and work just fine. All of the ones I have tried work great.