iPhone 3GS sim swap with iPhone 3G? OK?

The SIM card used with an iPhone is activated with the iPhone - the SIM card is "married" to the iPhone's IMEI number. When you purchase the 3GS for your wife's line/number, the activation at the store when the iPhone is purchased will be with your wife's line/number, and the subsidy paid by AT&T for the 3GS will be associated with your wife's line/number. It isn't as simple as switching SIM cards.

Even with a Family Plan, the subsidy paid for a phone with a line/number under a Family Plan is associated with that line/number. Your iPhone 3G was subsidized by AT&T for your line/number, so you have to fulfill the requirements before you are eligible for another subsidy for your line/number.

You can contact AT&T about this. If your wife signs a new two year contract for your iPhone 3G when your iPhone 3G is activated with her line/number, they may allow you to purchase the iPhone 3GS at AT&T's subsidized price signing a new two year contract for your line/number at that time.

swapping sim cards should not be an issue I borrowed my friends 3g for a week after breaking mine cause he was leaving the country

I still have a first generation iPhone that is no longer activated. I can't just insert the activated SIM card from my iPhone 3G into my first generation iPhone and start using it for phone related services. Maybe this changed with the iPhone 3G.

ok so i bought the 3g a little while back i used my moms upgrade to get it. The iphone data plan gets put on her plan. So when i got the phone and activated with my number we both had the iphone plan.
Two plans only one iphone Easiest way to fix this is by going to a att corporate store. Dont call att they are clueless. When we went to the store it took 5 mins to get the iphone data plan removed from my moms plan.

I have the 1st phone and the 3G. I can switch my SIM between either phone and they work perfectly fine. Of course, I have to have the 3G data package. When I first tried switching SIM's, I was forced to re-activate my old phone. That kicked me into the $20 non 3G data package, which I suspected could happen. When AT&T notified me that I was not on the 3G plan, I made a phone call and they reset my account to the 3G package. No problem for them, you just have to be on the $30 plan. Then you can use either phone whenever you need to. Gives me the option to switch to a backup phone if needed, plus it make software upgrades very easy. I like the flexibility. Works for me. If you try it, your data plan will show up in your account info if you are wondering if it is correct. Check it and just make sure you have the 3G plan and you're done.

When I first tried switching SIM's, I was forced to re-activate my old phone.

This is what I was talking about. You had to re-activate your first generation iPhone with the SIM card from your iPhone 3G, followed by contacting AT&T to switch your data plan back to the rate for the iPhone 3G. After doing these things, now you can use either iPhone with the same SIM card, but you are using the same line/phone number between the two.

This OP's situation is a little different - two different lines/numbers, and he is trying to fool the system making AT&T think his wife will be using the iPhone 3GS purchased at AT&T's subsidized or discounted price with her line/number followed by simply switching phones and SIM cards. This probably won't be a problem with a two line Family plan, but IMO it is probably better to contact AT&T about this in advance.

I have the same situation. I called ATT and told them what I want to do. They were fine with it and it will work. They said they would have to put my wife's number on the sim card I get out of the 3GS but there is no issues with doing this.

Now this was one Rep on the phone. I still want to stop by the ATT store and make sure.

Good luck on the store being of help. They were of no help to me whatsoever, but the individual I contacted on the phone for AT&Twas very knowledgeable and helpful, and it worked out as discussed.

I'm in exactly the same situation, down to the "wife has the 2g".

He's not talking about dropping the 3G though - he's giving it to his wife, so they will fullfill that contractual obligation over the next year. He simply needs the phone numbers swapped.

AT&T better get used to this question because it's going to come up a lot. I'm sure "hand me down" upgrade chains are very common with family plans.

It should be easier - there's no difference in the "plan" between the 3G and 3GS.

He would be "cheating" the system only if he tried to keep his wife on the cheaper 2G data plan while upgrading his line to the 3GS. But that's not his intent - his wife is getting the 3G.

So, PaulB99, when you say "it will work" do you mean that simply switching the SIM cards will work? I am in this EXACT same situation.

Thanks

I plan on doing something similar. Im adding a line to my plan for my wife and switching it to a family plan. I will get her the 3gs, data plan, and everything, then switch the SIM in my current iPhone 3g to the new phone and hers in my old phone and everyone will be happy! She is cool with using just the 3g!

It is the consensus that this is going work, right?