Activating iPhone outside the US

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Muggs2017 Author

Level 1

8 points

Activating iPhone outside the US

Hello, I am temporarily living in South America for a work assignment but still have my phone service with AT&T. I recently put in to upgrade for the iPhone 8 with AT&T and will be receiving it soon. My concern is, will I be able to activate the phone properly while I'm in South America? The iPhone is completely legal, not hacked or anything like that. AT&T gave me a number I could dial to activate the phone or they said I could switch the sim from my iPhone 6... any guidance would be helpful... thank you!

iPhone 8

Posted on Oct 2, 2017 5:27 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Level 10

229,504 points

Oct 2, 2017 5:39 PM in response to Muggs2017

Switch the SIM; it is the safest way. The SIM is already activated, so you won't have to go through activation again. Normally I would suggest activating the SIM that comes with the phone, but that is a little riskier if you are out of the country.

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Answer 2

Muggs2017 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 2, 2017 7:52 PM in response to KiltedTim

Hi! Yes I mean to activate it with AT&T and I am currently on an international phone plan to mitigate risk of paying high phone bills. I just wasn't sure if since it'a an AT&T phone it needs to be activated on their network first before the phone can work on another carriers network internationally.

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Answer 3

Oct 2, 2017 5:47 PM in response to KiltedTim

AT&T has a pretty good roaming plan now. For $10 a day you can extend your domestic data plan to cover international data usage.

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Answer 4

Muggs2017 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 2, 2017 7:50 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thank you for the information! The store clerk also suggested switching the SIM.

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Answer 5

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,966 points

Oct 2, 2017 5:41 PM in response to Muggs2017

If you mean activate it on AT&T, if your cellular plan with AT&T has international roaming with data, you should be able to. Be aware that the data charges could get extremely high if you're not careful. You will NOT be able to use it on a local carrier. The phone will be locked to AT&T.

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