Use prepaid sim card in a postpaid phone?

[bones123]

I have an extra new phone that I purchased from At&t that I am not using on my postpaid account, but I would like to use it as a prepaid phone. At&t rep told me that this is not possible because the prepaid phones are "built" differently from those used on postpaid accounts. Does anyone know if it is possible to use GoPhone prepaid sim card (eg, the ones they sell online) in this postpaid phone that I purchased from AT&T? Thanks!!

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by bones123

I have an extra new phone that I purchased from At&t that I am not using on my postpaid account, but I would like to use it as a prepaid phone. At&t rep told me that this is not possible because the prepaid phones are "built" differently from those used on postpaid accounts. Does anyone know if it is possible to use GoPhone prepaid sim card (eg, the ones they sell online) in this postpaid phone that I purchased from AT&T? Thanks!!

Yes you can use your prepaid SIM on your postpaid phone.

[RadioRaiders]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Yes you can use your prepaid SIM on your postpaid phone.

Normally that's true.

Originally Posted by bones123

At&t rep told me that this is not possible because the prepaid phones are "built" differently from those used on postpaid accounts.

Some pre-paid phones have some special billing mechanism built into the phone and can only be used with their specific SIM cards. I'm not aware if ATT GoPhone uses this or not. If the ATT rep says that, then maybe they do. Best thing would be just to stop in a store and try it.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by RadioRaiders

Some pre-paid phones have some special billing mechanism built into the phone and can only be used with their specific SIM cards. I'm not aware if ATT GoPhone uses this or not. If the ATT rep says that, then maybe they do. Best thing would be just to stop in a store and try it.

Good point, but at&t does not. I used my prepay SIm with my at&t postpaid V557 & also my unbranded 6131. If I am not mistaken I think Ellen had her Tilt on prepay also.

I believe Net 10 phones are set up the way you mentioned

[RadioRaiders]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Good point, but at&t does not. I used my prepay SIm with my at&t postpaid V557 & also my unbranded 6131. If I am not mistaken I think Ellen had her Tilt on prepay also.

I believe Net 10 phones are set up the way you mentioned

Ah yea, NET10 is the one with that funny billing system. You're right, ATT should have a "normal" pre-paid billing system (where you can freely swap phones). I wonder why this ATT rep said this thing about their pre-paid phones being built differently then?

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by RadioRaiders

Ah yea, NET10 is the one with that funny billing system. You're right, ATT should have a "normal" pre-paid billing system (where you can freely swap phones). I wonder why this ATT rep said this thing about their pre-paid phones being built differently then?

Let's see:

a.. That is what they are trained to say.

b. They want the OP to buy a prepay phone & not use an existing one.

c. Both a & b.

[jakesmobile]

Damn there are some real ___ sales reps in this line of work, I never was trained to say that to customers. Also right on our price sheet it says any phone can be used as a go phone

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Good point, but at&t does not. I used my prepay SIm with my at&t postpaid V557 & also my unbranded 6131. If I am not mistaken I think Ellen had her Tilt on prepay also.

Charlyee, You are correct. I was using an AT&T 3G prepaid SIM card in the postpaid Tilt that I had, with no problems what so ever. I had the $19.99 unlimited data "pick your plan", and never had any extra charges for data.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Good point, but at&t does not. I used my prepay SIm with my at&t postpaid V557 & also my unbranded 6131. If I am not mistaken I think Ellen had her Tilt on prepay also.

I believe Net 10 phones are set up the way you mentioned

And Tracfones as well. These two are the only GSM prepaid phones in the US that I know of that play this trick.

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by jakesmobile

Damn there are some real ___ sales reps in this line of work, I never was trained to say that to customers. Also right on our price sheet it says any phone can be used as a go phone

a lesson on ethics from someone wanting someone to help him hack an iphone that someone "gave him" lol...

Anywayz

but seriously...that rep more than likely said that bc they didnt know any better...but if they did know, they probably wanted you to let them activate it there.

[walkguru]

for whatever its worth, ive bought several prepaid phones from att, and used them with my regular sim cards. no problums.

[hme83]

I have one phone that I bought as a prepaid phone from Cingular (a little over a year ago), one phone I bought from at&t as a post paid upgrade (several months ago) and two phones that were purchased elsewhere unbranded/unlocked. I have no problems switching the prepaid and post paid SIM's between any of the phones - all of them are fully functional with either type of account SIM.

At the time I bought the prepaid phone, a Corporate store sales rep also insisted to me several times that it absolutely would not work to use a prepaid phone with my postpaid SIM.

[Particular]

Yes,
You can use on prepaid SIM card in a postpaid phone