What happens to my iPhone when my contract runs out & I get Gen 2 iPhone?

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Level 1

97 points

What happens to my iPhone when my contract runs out & I get Gen 2 iPhone?

Right, my iPhone was activated last November when it was launched over here in the UK. I'm assuming once activated, I can change the sim card in the iPhone and it should work alright? I haven't tried switching sim cards before but don't see the point of paying for the monthly contract and also paying for a pay & go sim.

So when my O2 contract ends in May 2009, am I right in thinking that i'll be able to give my iPhone to my wee sister and she can put her Pay & Go O2 sim in it and work away, whilst I take out a new contract for the 2nd Gen iPhone (assuming that there will be one).

If this is the case, everyone will be looking on ebay next year to find genuine 2nd hand unlocked iPhones that will work with their sim cards without a contract. True or false? 🙂

15.4"  MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo 2GB, Mac OS X (10.5.2),  iPhone 8GB (1.1.4)

Posted on May 13, 2008 4:21 AM

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Answer 1

dherron Author

Level 1

97 points

May 13, 2008 5:50 AM in response to Glorfindeal

Ok, so activating a new iPhone and keeping/transferring your existing phone number over to it deactivates the sim card in your old iPhone.

So what would happen if I bought a new iPhone, and activated the sim card in it and kept the new phone number? What would happen to the old iPhone with it's original sim card? Does O2 deactivate the phone number at the end of a contract? making the sim card useless?

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Answer 2

dherron Author

Level 1

97 points

May 13, 2008 7:15 AM in response to dherron

Ok - I've learned a wee bit from another post.

If I remove my 'old sim card' from my iPhone, I can insert it into a 'new iphone' and activate the new iPhone with my old sim card & number.

I can then insert the 'new sim card' into my 'old iPhone' and activate it, but this suggests to me that my old iPhone will enter another 18 month contract?

Would I be right or wrong or is there no way of telling until someone's contract actually ends and see what happens regarding the iPhone or O2?

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Answer 3

May 13, 2008 7:39 AM in response to dherron

This really depends upon your carrier agreement. In the US, if I got a new iPhone and did not want to activate 2 lines, I would just activate it using my existing phone number (using the old or new sim card, it wouldn't matter). If I planned on adding an additional line with the new iPhone, then I just activate the new iPhone with the new number.

Glor

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Answer 4

dherron Author

Level 1

97 points

May 13, 2008 8:02 AM in response to dherron

It just sounds like this at the minute...

If anyone wanted to have/use my iPhone when my contract ends - they would simply have to enter another contract!

By the time my contract ends, my iPhone will be in pretty used condition with scratches, blemishes and who do you think will want to pay contract prices to use a secondhand grubby iPhone?

Will we be stuck with iPhones that will be useless in a years time? unless someones willing to pay for a contract to use the old 2nd hand iPhone (it's a bit like some offering you to buy their old Nokia 3310 (Remember them!?) and asking you to pay at least £35 a month to use it!) by the time this happens no one will want the Gen 1 iPhone because it will be outdated by other devices.

Maybe i'm wrong, but i suppose we'll just have to see if O2 offer a deal to current iPhone contract holders when a new decive is launched or our contracts end.

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Answer 5

Netrok

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2008 11:50 AM in response to dherron

How is this different from every other cell phone you've ever owned? We all bought the iPhone knowing full well that we'd have to either attempt to turn around and resell it or ditch it. What your asking for is a bit unrealistic.

I for one knew exactly what would happened and purchased screen protectors, a rather robust case for my iPhone and already have someone willing to take it off my hands when the new version comes out.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never heard of trading in phones for much of a discount unless it was damaged.

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Answer 6

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

May 13, 2008 1:39 PM in response to dherron

How is the iPhone different than any other cell phone? I've ebayed used Startacs, Samsungs, Kyoceras, Palms, etc. If no one wants the phone, I donate it to charity. I don't know about the UK but there are a number of charities in the US that will take old, working phones.

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Answer 7

May 14, 2008 4:34 AM in response to dherron

I purchased my iPhone last June on launch and it is still in near pristine condition. The screen won't scratch and I've always maintained it in a case to protect it from drops. I don't believe I'll have any problems selling it on ebay once the 3G comes out.

Glor

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Answer 8

leecab

Level 1

60 points

May 14, 2008 9:13 PM in response to dherron

It seems to be a 5 / 6 months cycle a new iphone version shows up. I would not worry about the next gen, probly the battery would needed to be replace by then or sooner at a price

o2 same carrier just different Tariffs with bolt ons 🙂

lee

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Answer 9

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

May 13, 2008 4:26 AM in response to dherron

In the US, the SIM has to be an iPhone SIM. I don't believe your sister would be able to put her current SIM into your iPhone and have it work. She would need an actual iPhone SIM.

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Answer 10

May 13, 2008 4:33 AM in response to Tamara

The new iphone will come with its own sim. if it works the way the current one does, you just activate the new iPhone using the old cell number, which deactivates the old iphone.

Glor

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