I'm selling my two off contract iPhone 4's.. I am wondering if it's necessary to remove the sim card, or sell it with the phone?
iPhone 4, iOS 4.3.2, 4.3.3
That's up to you. iPhone stores no data on a sim card, & the only data there is your account info...useless to anyone if the sim is deactivated. Some potential buyers(hackers mainly) prefer to get a phone with the deactivated sim still in the phone...makes hacking the phone easier.
Surely the SIM cards would be useless to the buyer as you would be terminating your data/call plan with your carrier, thus either changing numbers or porting to your new phone. You say the iPhones are off contract, does that mean they are locked or unlocked to a carrier, if locked you would need to advise the buyer who they are locked in order that they can establish service with the carrier.
Hackers like getting phones with the deactivated sims still installed because it makes activating the phone easy. Otherwise they have to obtain a sim from the carrier the phone is locked to...something they generally don't want to do. In some cases it can make selling the phone easier.
The Huntress wrote:
Surely the SIM cards would be useless to the buyer
Not if you're a hacker.
Very true. I was working on the basis that the buyers would be responsible individuals but sadly I guess there is no way of telling these days. Quite sad really.
I actually didn't realise that, it's a really useful piece of information to know. Thank you for sharing, its greatly appreciated.
You're welcome. With iPhone, since no data is stored on sim card, no big deal.
sell iPhone without sim card?
