clarification

[l4jcpr8h]

I just purchased a verizon inpulse phone at walmart with the hope of using it as a replacement for my contract phone thats not going to last to long. I quickly found out that it has to be activated as a prepaid for 6 months first. All I want to know is when they it has to be activated as a prepaid for 6 months does that mean I get a number for it? or do they mean activated like when they scan the esn at the register when i bought it. I'm just worried that if I put a prepaid number on it I won't be able to put my contract number on it in 6 months and I'll be out $100 because I won't be able to return it.