new owner of used iphone - how to activate phone?

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Level 3

705 points

new owner of used iphone - how to activate phone?

Hi,
My firend upgraded his iphone, and sold me his old one.
I guess he transferred his phone number to his new iphone.

I'm an existing At&T customer, and now would like to transfer
me old number to my new (used) iphone.

The instructions say to connect the iphone to a mac, and follow
the instructions. Well, I connected the iphone to my mac.
Updated the software. Restored to factory defaults. Synced
ical, mail. But so far it has not asked me to activate
the phone.

How do I activate a used iphone to be my new phone?

G4 iMac, G4 eMac, G4 tower, G5 tower (2), MacPro, 15" MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Mar 4, 2008 3:17 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Ansuz82

Level 6

8,285 points

Mar 4, 2008 3:18 PM in response to dknightd

You need to get a new SIM card from AT&T. Once the new SIM is inserted, you will be prompted to activate the phone. There will be an option for existing AT&T customers.

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Answer 2

Jennifer_B

Level 4

1,760 points

Mar 4, 2008 3:18 PM in response to dknightd

dknightd,

Did your friend give you a new SIM card with your new phone? If not, you may have to run down to AT&T and pick one up so you get the activation prompt in iTunes.

Hope this helps,
Jennifer B.

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Answer 3

dknightd Author

Level 3

705 points

Mar 4, 2008 3:35 PM in response to Jennifer_B

Thanks for the information. I'll go to the at&t store and get a new sim card.
Do you think they'll charge me - seems these days everybody likes to
charge me for things 😟 Hopefully they will let me add a data plan to my existing voice plan (I've got an old cheap plan that suits my phone needs just fine).
I guess I'll find out . . .

(It is tempting to try move the sim card from my old phone to my new iphone - but I suspect it is better to start fresh. . .)

This iphone still has his old sim card in it. (he had lost the phone, bought a new one, then found the old one which is now mine)

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Answer 4

Jennifer_B

Level 4

1,760 points

Mar 4, 2008 3:36 PM in response to dknightd

dknightd,

The data plan will be added through iTunes, no need to get that added in the store. Make sure AT&T does not try to activate the SIM card before they give it to you.

Hope this helps,
Jennifer B.

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Answer 5

mhornet18

Level 2

170 points

Mar 4, 2008 3:37 PM in response to dknightd

Using your current card will not work. You have to have a new one from AT&T. This is just how the iPhone works. No getting around this.

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Answer 6

dknightd Author

Level 3

705 points

Mar 4, 2008 5:15 PM in response to dknightd

Looks to be working now. thanks

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