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Using 2 SIM Cards

Discussion in 'GENERAL Wireless Discussion' started by conscience4u2, May 29, 2008.

  1. conscience4u2

    conscience4u2 New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Alabama
    My Phone:
    Samsung Blackjack
    Wireless Provider(s):
    AT&T
    The SIM card from my cell phone obviously holds all the information for my contacts that are stored in my address book.

    Over the years when any of us in my family have upgraded our phone, they just sent a new
    SIM along with the phone, and we have collected several SIMS because of this.

    I took one of my old SIM cards (the SIM card says "unregistered" as of right now) and copied my information from my address book there as well.
    I'm using the other SIM card sort of as a back up source to make sure I don't lose my address book contact information if something happens to the one I am using now.

    The only thing I can't do now, using the old SIM, is to make a call.

    What I'm curious about this,,,,,

    What happens when you lose your SIM or damage it ?
    Do you call your provider or go see them and tell them what happend to the SIM ?
    Then they do what ?
    Disable the one you damaged or lost ?
    How is that done ?
    How can they tell which SIM you are using ?
    Thanks for the help.
    4u2
    :confused:
     
    #1 conscience4u2, May 29, 2008
  2. Jay2TheRescue

    Jay2TheRescue Resident Spamslayer
    Super Moderator Senior Member

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    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    My Phone:
    Pixel 4a 5G
    Wireless Provider(s):
    AT&Tingular 310-410
    With GSM phones it is the SIM card that holds your information that identifies your phone to the cellular network. Once a SIM card is deactivated the carriers will not reactivate it again. If you loose or damage your SIM card your carrier will reissue you a new card.

    Most often I do not get a new SIM card when I upgrade. When I do get a new SIM card I always put my old SIM in my new phone first, and copy all the contacts to the phone. Then I put my new SIM in and copy all my phone memory entires to my new SIM card. This way you do not loose numbers when you upgrade.

    Once I forgot my phone at a friend's house. When I returned an hour later to get it, nobody was home. I stopped by my local AT&T store where they gave me a new SIM card to use. I put the new SIM in a spare phone I keep in my car, and I was up and running again. Later I picked up my phone, and transferred my phone book entries to my new SIM card.

    -Jay
     
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    #2 Jay2TheRescue, May 29, 2008
  3. charlyee

    charlyee Ultimate Insanity
    Super Moderator Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Hello & Welcome to WA.

    If you lose or damage your SIM card you contact your provider.

    If you have a good relationship with them, they will give you a new one free of charge, if not they will charge you $25 I believe. Not sure on the amount, never paid for one.

    Each SIM card is unique to one number, so as soon as they activate your new one, the old one is automatically disabled they don't have to do anything to it.

    I am not sure what you mean by "How can they tell which SIM you are using?" Since only one card will be active, you can only use that one.

    Does this help? :)
     
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    #3 charlyee, May 29, 2008
  4. conscience4u2

    conscience4u2 New Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2008
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    Location:
    Alabama
    My Phone:
    Samsung Blackjack
    Wireless Provider(s):
    AT&T
    *Thanks guys for taking the time to explain !*

    Charlyee,
    Thanks sooo much for answering the questions I wondered about. Having a clear explanation really helps me to better understand the things I wasn't sure about.

    Since the provider won't reactivate any of the old SIMS that we have lying around from the upgrading we've done, I guess I should throw them away, especially since they're of no use to me, Right ?

    "I am not sure what you mean by "How can they tell which SIM you are using?" Since only one card will be active, you can only use that one."

    What I meant by that was,,,
    Is the SIM registered to my account with some type of a specific number ?
    (I know there is a number on each one of them I have.)
    So, I'm guessing that when they activate the SIM, they take the number on it and link it somehow or other to my account. Would this be correct ?

    Anyway, I basically have the answers I needed, and again, I appreciate both yours and
    Jay2TheRescue's help on this.
    Take care.
    4u2
     
    #4 conscience4u2, May 30, 2008
  5. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
    Super Moderator Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    My Phone:
    iPhone 13 Pro Max, XS Max
    Wireless Provider(s):
    Verizon (since 1994)
    The answer is yes. The number on this SIM card is what they use to activate it. If it's not in their system, you'll might see "unregistered SIM" on the phone's display (not all phone show this the same way).
     
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    #5 M in LA, May 30, 2008
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