Seen a hot gadget?  Tell Us   
Subscribe to Gearlog Update
Our FREE email newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Email: 
Format: 
Contact Us  
Sites We Like
Categories:  
three-sims.jpg Lots of people want an iPhone. But many of them don't want AT&T service. Maybe they're with T-Mobile. Maybe they're foreigners. Have you wondered what happens if you pop the iPhone SIM card out of an iPhone and put another in its place? Head to the jump for pix and an explanation.

I also tried to put the iPhone SIM into a non-iPhone - the Motorola RAZR V3xx. With the iPhone SIM, the RAZR could make calls and send texts, but when I tried to browse the Web, it told me that I was on a pay-per-KB plan and should probably sign up for Media MAX.

 

Okay. The brief answer is that if you put a non-iPhone SIM into an already activated iPhone, you will get an error message and will not be able to make calls, but you'll be able to use all the iPod functions and the Internet (Web browsing and e-mail) functions over Wi-Fi just fine. However, you have to activate the phone with a correct SIM first.

If you take out the SIM, this is what you see: a "no SIM" message.

no-sim.jpg
A non-AT&T SIM - in this case, an international "Explorer" SIM I use to test phones sometimes - gives you this message.

non-cingular.jpg
A non-iTunes AT&T SIM - in this case, a 3G SIM with Media MAX - will give you this message. non-itunes.jpg

| Stumble | Digg | del.icio.us | Slashdot
Posted by: kiran
June 30, 2007 3:08 PM

Hey! I heard someone say that we can browse using WiFi with a T-Mobile sim? Did you try that?

Thanks :)


Posted by: Sascha Segan
June 30, 2007 3:18 PM

I browsed with Wi-Fi using the Explorer SIM. It works fine, but you MUST ACTIVATE THE PHONE WITH A PROPER AT&T SIM FIRST.


Posted by: Charles
June 30, 2007 3:35 PM

Ok, so I wonder if I read the "approved" provided SIM and re-hexed my T-mobile SIM and then tried to get approval via the normal process, if I can get my T-SIM to work full time... ;-)


Posted by: jackson123r
June 30, 2007 4:11 PM

the iPhone looks amazing, and it probably feels amazing in the palm of your hand, too. It's sleek, curvy, shiny, and sexy,with on-screen icons and buttons that just ooze and drip class.

www.mp4-converter.net/zune-converter/


Posted by: metch
July 1, 2007 7:09 PM

Hi,
So if I live out of the US, how can I be able to use the IPHONE? is it possible as I already ordered The IPHONE 8G :(. any one can help plssssssssssss


Posted by: Sascha Segan
July 1, 2007 8:22 PM

Wishing don't make it so, people.

If you activate it with an AT&T SIM and then put in your T-Mobile SIM, you will not be able to make calls. You will be able to use Wi-Fi and iPod features.

If you live outside the US, once you activate the phone with an AT&T SIM, you will be able to use the Wi-Fi and iPod features. You will not be able to make calls with a non-AT&T SIM.


Posted by: Steven
July 2, 2007 1:22 AM

So, I can't take an iPhone with me and use it with the SIM from my European provider. Bummer. On the other hand, it looks like Apple and ATT just saved me and all those people I see swapping SIMs in their phones during intercontinental flights 600 bucks.


Posted by: Jason Gleason
July 3, 2007 12:18 AM

I live in Montana and have a Motorola Razr Phone serviced through Alltel. Montana does not have ATT wireless at all and I really want an iphone. Would I be able to take the Motorola Razr SIM card activated by Alltel and place it into an iphone? Would I get all the services?


Posted by: Sascha Segan
July 3, 2007 9:52 AM

Alltel doesn't even use SIM cards at all, they're a CDMA provider.

Sorry, buddy, you can't get an iPhone.


Posted by: Jose Olegario
July 3, 2007 10:53 AM

Hey! I'm from Mexico, and here ATT doesn't exist is there a chance I can use it with Telcel or Movistar?


Posted by: Apul Shah
July 4, 2007 5:41 AM

I live in Kenya, East Africa. We have 2 mobile providers here. Will iphone work here if I activate it with a local SIM card?


Posted by: Sascha Segan
July 4, 2007 12:47 PM

No and no. It's AT&T or nothing. Only AT&T. For now, at least; hackers are working on it.


Posted by: NavyWings
July 5, 2007 7:11 PM

Jason,

according to AT&T's coverage map: http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/ it has partner coverage in most areas of Montana. If they're a partner, any phone activated on their network should work fine and be charged in network rates. I'd ask a rep if i were you.


Posted by: Mario
July 6, 2007 5:57 AM

Hi everybody, I live in Italy. Any news about iPhone for the european market?
thanks


Posted by: kayla
July 7, 2007 12:23 PM

okay, i have a cingular dash ATT SIM card. can i put it in the iPhone? or do i need a totally new sim card?


Posted by: Andreas
August 12, 2007 4:30 PM

thx guys for letting me know that iphone cant work with non-ATT provider. This sucks. Apple should know this problem from the beggining, and produce an international iphone (with an independent SIM card provider). Well for sure, if they are not doing something about it, the marketing surely will go down the hill very soon. Since everybody travels in and out US.
I also heard that some ATT users been using this phone outside US, and got radiculously massive int roamings when they return back.
Oh well..


Posted by: Andreas
August 12, 2007 4:34 PM

MArio,

i m also waiting here in Poland. I heard it's out already in UK, but still again with vodafone contract. At least that's what i hear.


Posted by: Louis
August 23, 2007 12:03 PM

Here's an idea:

Get your iPhone, activate it with a pre-paid account, and if you use other provider's sim cards, you will still be able to use your WiFi, and hence you can use Skype.

Check this link:

http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/skype/skype-on-iphone.asp


Posted by: duder
November 8, 2007 11:31 PM

i need help imma get an iphone but i have a crapping fone buts its from at&t if i put my phone sim cardwould it work?


Posted by: kevin mcmorrow
April 29, 2008 11:16 AM

hey i had an iphone and then go a new AT&T phone with the same number as the old iphone...can i take the SIM card out of my new phone and put it back into my iphone?


* = required
    Remember Me?
  


         
    Ziff Davis Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters | RSS Feeds | Tech Shop | Tech Encyclopedia | PC Downloads | Tech Webcasts | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | Ziff Davis Media International
1UP | AppScout | Cranky Geeks | DigitalLife | DL.TV | ExtremeTech | Filefront | GameVideos | GearLog | GoodCleanTech | My Cheats | PC Magazine | PCMagCasts | Security Watch | Smart Device Central | TechnoRide | What's New Now |
Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Copyright © 1996-2008 Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. DigitalLife is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Media Inc. is prohibited.