• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Do you have to activate a phone when you get it?

J

JohnJSal

Android Expert
Hi all. I should be getting my new phone today, and this is my first time with a GSM carrier so I don't know how different it is from CDMA. With Sprint I always have to call and activate it. How will it work when my T-Mobile phone arrives? Will it just work with the SIM card, or does it require an activation?

Thanks.
 
JohnJSal said:
Hi all. I should be getting my new phone today, and this is my first time with a GSM carrier so I don't know how different it is from CDMA. With Sprint I always have to call and activate it. How will it work when my T-Mobile phone arrives? Will it just work with the SIM card, or does it require an activation?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hello JohnJSal. Is your new device on a prepaid basis, or is there a data plan in place which you've contracted with T-Mobile?
 
Once your SIM is active you can just pop it in a different phone and go - no need to activate a handset as it's the SIM that is linked to your account. But if it's a new account I'd expect them to want you to contact them to activate the SIM (best to make sure it reaches the customer before going live), though I don't have experience of that particular operator.

I'd be surprised if there there isn't a "getting started" card of some sort with it to tell you what to do.
 
If you bought the phone from Tmo and signed up for the plan at the same time, there's a good chance the sim is already activated with your plan and you don't need to do anything. That's the way my Galaxy S4 came a few weeks ago. I had a pre-paid acount but signed up as a new post-paid account when I bought the phone.
 
Atma said:
If you bought the phone from Tmo and signed up for the plan at the same time, there's a good chance the sim is already activated with your plan and you don't need to do anything. That's the way my Galaxy S4 came a few weeks ago. I had a pre-paid acount but signed up as a new post-paid account when I bought the phone.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what happened. I called to activate but she told me it was already activated. All I had to do was put the SIM card and battery in the phone and it worked. It was never that easy with Sprint! :)
 
JohnJSal said:
Yep, that's what happened. I called to activate but she told me it was already activated. All I had to do was put the SIM card and battery in the phone and it worked. It was never that easy with Sprint! :)
Click to expand...
Alot of things in Tmobile are much easier than Sprint. ;)
 
I bought a new HTC One from T-mobile store yesterday for $650 w tax.

He ask for my phone number. He did something I dont know what on the screen and pay with my cc.

It is unopened. Take it home. Pop in my SIM card from Nexus 4 and turn it on and thats it.

I have the $70 unlimited prepaid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom