Activating an iPhone PAYG SIM, and what happens after 12 months?

KevinM

A thousand apologies for asking what I am sure are a couple of very basic PAYG questions, but I have never had a PAYG phone before, let alone a PAYG iPhone...So, here goes.

I bought an iPhone 3G PAYG SIM (off Ebay), which is unused, and not activated, and I believe that once I activate it, and top it up with (at least) £10, I will get mobile internet from it for 12 months without having to top up again.

Basically, it is to use in my unlocked MiFi (from 3).

So, Q1. How do I actually activate the SIM? Do I need to just pop it into a working, activated iPhone and top it up? or is there something else I need to do?

Q2. My current iPhone is a contract one. Do I need to change the APN settings in the Network settings section on my phone to PAYG settings?

Q3. Do I need to top up using a credit/debit card, or can I go to a store an purchase a £10 top up voucher with cash and use that?

Q4. The reason I ask Q3 is that after the initial "free" 12 months internet, if I used a credit or debit card to do the initial £10 top up, will O2 start charging that card automatically with £10/month from month 13 onwards, or will the SIM simply stop working?

Like I said, I am sorry for such basic questions, but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin.

boo_star

So, Q1. How do I actually activate the SIM? Do I need to just pop it into a working, activated iPhone and top it up? or is there something else I need to do?

As far as I'm aware stick it an iPhone and top up.

Q2. My current iPhone is a contract one. Do I need to change the APN settings in the Network settings section on my phone to PAYG settings?

Only if you plan on using the SIM in your iPhone.

Q3. Do I need to top up using a credit/debit card, or can I go to a store an purchase a £10 top up voucher with cash and use that?

You can use any top-up method.

Q4. The reason I ask Q3 is that after the initial "free" 12 months internet, if I used a credit or debit card to do the initial £10 top up, will O2 start charging that card automatically with £10/month from month 13 onwards, or will the SIM simply stop working?

You will lose the Web+Wifi bolt on until you top up £10, if you take too long in topping up the sim will become inactive (can't remember how long this takes, certainly over 3 months.)


Please note however that using the iPhone SIM in anything other than an iPhone is against the T&C's and they WILL catch on eventually. I stuck one in an o2 dongle, they didn't catch on straight away, took them a month or two. They sent me a text telling me to put it back in an iPhone or lose the facility, sadly I hadn't used the dongle for some time so only saw the text message when I plugged it in for some reason and by that point it was too late to place it in my iPhone.

I don't know what happens if you put it back in an iPhone after they send the text, wait a bit then stick it back in your other device. I would imagine they would not be best pleased but whether they will just send a text asking to to put it back in your iPhone again or remove the Web+Wifi I couldn't say.

KevinM

Thanks very much for the helpful reply.

I will see how much time I get out of the SIM in the MiFi dongle. Even if I only get 2-3 months, it only cost me a £10 top up.

Cheers,
Kevin.

boo_star

Fair enough but what did you pay for the SIM?

Last time I looked on eBay they were going for at least £30.

The overall cost might be something to consider.

Oscar_The_Grouch

Why not do the following:

1. Get a 3 PAYG iPhone sim (clicky). Scroll down to the bottom of the page - they're free
2. Shove £10 on it
3. Have, according to their add "free texts and internet - lasts for 90 days".

That way, £40 gets you 3 internet for your MiFi for a year.

parallax_20

Oscar_The_Grouch wrote: »

Why not do the following:

1. Get a 3 PAYG iPhone sim (clicky). Scroll down to the bottom of the page - they're free
2. Shove £10 on it
3. Have, according to their add "free texts and internet - lasts for 90 days".

That way, £40 gets you 3 internet for your MiFi for a year.

If this is anything like their standard PAYG sims, I doubt the free £150Mb would last anyway near 90 days in a Mifi adapter.

I've still got an iPhone PAYG sim I purchased off ebay for about £2.50, nice if it had worked for longer. The bolt-on was turned off after a month. I have no idea how they would detect it was not in an iPhone. I guess there must be some IMEI identification on network sign on. The alternative is just to get a 3 PAYG and pay the £5 for the internet bolt-on or if you can get your hands on a T-Mobile PAYG sim (normally sold with phones) with free 6months internet and then its only £20 for the another 6months is a pretty good deal for just data. The call rates are crap though