[Instruction] How to get a new phone and keep (legacy) Unlimited Data on Verizon

Re: Still a bit confused

Greetings again!

I am trying to figure out how to keep the UDP on our account.

We have a a Verizon plan called the Nationwide Talk Share 700

Line 1: iPhone 5 / UDP / upgrade available
Line 2: LG Cosmos Touch/ No Data plan (Basic phone) / upgrade available

Both lines have been out of contract for many months and I want to upgrade my Line 1 iPhone 5 UDP to an LG G4.

Is the best way to go to simply purchase the LG G4 from Best Buy and have it shipped to the house....then remove the iPhone 5 card and place it in the LG G4 when it arrives?

Thanks very much....I have been through the slickdeals site and this one and simply fried my brain..

I believe this is the way to go about doing this in MY situation......



Correct?

Thanks,

Mike

That would work, but you need a SIM adapter. The iPhone uses a nano while the G4 uses a micro.

Posted via Android Central App
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Close. For #6, you enter both the IMEI and SIM numbers that come with the phone.

Posted via Android Central App

Thanks again dusoccer! The irony is after all this now I'm debating whether or not to wait until the SGS7 comes out. I'm almost right in between release dates (SGS6 - 4/2015 and SGS7 - 3/2016). I guess the gamble being will VZW change their policies between now and then. I guess worst case I can get an SGS6 cheap if they do block out all the available options.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Read through a lot of posts and found A LOT of different configurations and options for upgrading :p This is what I am looking to do:

700 minute/month plan
Line 1 : iPhone5 - TDP - No upgrage
Line 2 : iPhone6 - UDP - UPGRADE
Line 3 : iPhone6 - TDP - No upgrade
Line 4 : S5 - TDP - No upgrade

Want to upgrade Line 1 to iPhone6 and keep line 2's UDP. Is it as simple as going online to VZW and "switch upgrade" from Line 2 to Line 1. Order an iPhone 6 under line 1 (now eligible from upgrade switch) and then just activate it when it arrives (ship to home)? Or do I have to order the phone (VZW online?) under line 2 (clicking through the all of the "yes I know I will lose UDP") and when it arrives DON'T turn on or plug in and pull sim card from line 1 i5 and place into new i6 and turn it on then?
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Read through a lot of posts and found A LOT of different configurations and options for upgrading :p This is what I am looking to do:

700 minute/month plan
Line 1 : iPhone5 - TDP - No upgrage
Line 2 : iPhone6 - UDP - UPGRADE
Line 3 : iPhone6 - TDP - No upgrade
Line 4 : S5 - TDP - No upgrade

Want to upgrade Line 1 to iPhone6 and keep line 2's UDP. Is it as simple as going online to VZW and "switch upgrade" from Line 2 to Line 1. Order an iPhone 6 under line 1 (now eligible from upgrade switch) and then just activate it when it arrives (ship to home)? Or do I have to order the phone (VZW online?) under line 2 (clicking through the all of the "yes I know I will lose UDP") and when it arrives DON'T turn on or plug in and pull sim card from line 1 i5 and place into new i6 and turn it on then?

It's as simple as transferring the upgrade to line 1 and activating it on that line when the phone arrives.

Posted via Android Central App
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

It's as simple as transferring the upgrade to line 1 and activating it on that line when the phone arrives.

Posted via Android Central App
I do the regular phone activation using the sim that ships with the phone? Or do I need to swap the sim cards from the i5 to the i6? As I'm not switching it back to the UPD line that I took the upgrade from there is nothing else to do after that, correct? It just seems too easy... and something that they wouldn't make this easy.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Hello All,

I've just read through hundreds of threads hoping to figure out how to keep my UDP. Here's my situation:

Current Plan: Verizon's 700 Shared Nationwide Talk & Text

Line 1: iPhone 5 w/ UDP - Upgrade Eligible
Line 2: Samsung (basic/not a smartphone) w/ no DP - Upgrade Eligible
Line 3: Motorola (basic/not a smartphone) w/ no DP- Upgrade Eligible

Tried to do the BB method but it said it was "no longer available" ... was this because they're out of that particular phone or because Verizon is no longer offering it this way?? Please help! Thank you in advance :)
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

It's easy. What new phone do you want?

Posted via Android Central App


Thanks dusoccer10 and Profelec for the responses. I was considering Note 4 or lg g4 at this point or are there others outside of the Verizon realm I should consider perhaps for less than $300? I know the note 5 is days away but might be more expensive then I like as i assume it will be going for top dollar.

Profelec I didn't know that method still worked and have seen mention of it. Will it work for the phones i mention above?
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Thanks dusoccer10 and Profelec for the responses. I was considering Note 4 or lg g4 at this point or are there others outside of the Verizon realm I should consider perhaps for less than $300? I know the note 5 is days away but might be more expensive then I like as i assume it will be going for top dollar.

Profelec I didn't know that method still worked and have seen mention of it. Will it work for the phones i mention above?

The G3 has a micro-sized SIM card. As long as the new phone has the same size, it's very easy to upgrade. The good news is that both the Note 4 and G4 use a micro-SIM. My guess is that the Note 5 will use a nano. Now, it's still possible to get a Note 5, just the steps will be slightly different.

If you decide to get a Note 4 or G4, just do the following:

Through Best Buy
1.) Order the phone you want using the upgrade on Line 1 and have it shipped to home
2.) When the new phone arrives, do not turn it on or try to charge it
3.) Remove the SIM that comes with the new phone and destroy it
4.) Power off the G3 and remove its SIM
5.) Take the SIM from the G3 and put it in the new smartphone
6.) Power on the new smartphone and give it a couple of minutes to activate

Through Verizon (this can also be done through Best Buy)
1.) Transfer your upgrade to Line 2 and order the new smartphone having it shipped to home
2.) When the new phone arrives, do not turn it on or try to charge it
3.) Remove the SIM that comes with the new phone and destroy it
4.) Power off the G3 and remove its SIM
5.) Take the SIM from the G3 and put it in the new smartphone
6.) Power on the new smartphone and give it a couple of minutes to activate

If you decide to get a Note 5, just let us know. Steps 1 and 2 will be the same, but everything else will change.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

I've used the Best Buy method a few times now. Nothing went wrong, as far as I can tell.

However, I noticed something most curious last week.

Verizon was running an open enrollment for the Total Equipment coverage. I logged into my account to check it out.

It showed me the cost to add TEC to my lines:

Line 1 (unlimited data) smartphone: $11 (upgraded transferred to another line 2014, Best Buy method)
Line 2 (no data) dumbphone $11 (upgraded 2014, Best Buy method)
Line 3 (no data) dumbphone $11 (upgraded 2014, Best Buy method)
Line 4 (no data) dumbphone $9 (upgraded 2013, Best Buy method)

All 4 lines are still under 2-year contracts because all have been used to get news smartphones via the Best Buy method.

I don't get how lines 2/3/4/ came up as $11 or $9 as the prices of the TEC. I assume Verizon's internal system still those lines as having smartphones on them? (despite the fact that I put the dumbphones were ALWAYS active on them because I always throw out the SIM cards that came with the new smartphones)

Is this something to be concerned about?

Just wondering. :)

You are correct in that Verizon's system sees them as smartphone lines even though billing does not. Welcome to some of the issues that come up with using a basic line for an upgrade. If you want to insure the 3 basic lines, you'll need to use a 3rd party rather than Verizon.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Hello All,

I've just read through hundreds of threads hoping to figure out how to keep my UDP. Here's my situation:

Current Plan: Verizon's 700 Shared Nationwide Talk & Text

Line 1: iPhone 5 w/ UDP - Upgrade Eligible
Line 2: Samsung (basic/not a smartphone) w/ no DP - Upgrade Eligible
Line 3: Motorola (basic/not a smartphone) w/ no DP- Upgrade Eligible

Tried to do the BB method but it said it was "no longer available" ... was this because they're out of that particular phone or because Verizon is no longer offering it this way?? Please help! Thank you in advance :)

What phone do you want?
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

I do the regular phone activation using the sim that ships with the phone? Or do I need to swap the sim cards from the i5 to the i6? As I'm not switching it back to the UPD line that I took the upgrade from there is nothing else to do after that, correct? It just seems too easy... and something that they wouldn't make this easy.

Just do the regular phone activation that comes with the iPhone 6. The SIM that ships with the phone is coded for the tiered data plan since the upgrade was used on Line 1 even though the upgrade originated on Line 2.

Of course, based on the phone you already have on the line and the one you want to upgrade too, it is even easier than that. Both the iPhone 5 and 6 use a nano-sized SIM. When the new smartphone arrives, just take the SIM from the iPhone 5 and put it in the 6. This will activate the new smartphone. If you use Verizon's online activation, the computer system will direct you this way.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

The G3 has a micro-sized SIM card. As long as the new phone has the same size, it's very easy to upgrade. The good news is that both the Note 4 and G4 use a micro-SIM. My guess is that the Note 5 will use a nano. Now, it's still possible to get a Note 5, just the steps will be slightly different.

If you decide to get a Note 4 or G4, just do the following:

Through Best Buy
1.) Order the phone you want using the upgrade on Line 1 and have it shipped to home
2.) When the new phone arrives, do not turn it on or try to charge it
3.) Remove the SIM that comes with the new phone and destroy it
4.) Power off the G3 and remove its SIM
5.) Take the SIM from the G3 and put it in the new smartphone
6.) Power on the new smartphone and give it a couple of minutes to activate

Through Verizon (this can also be done through Best Buy)
1.) Transfer your upgrade to Line 2 and order the new smartphone having it shipped to home
2.) When the new phone arrives, do not turn it on or try to charge it
3.) Remove the SIM that comes with the new phone and destroy it
4.) Power off the G3 and remove its SIM
5.) Take the SIM from the G3 and put it in the new smartphone
6.) Power on the new smartphone and give it a couple of minutes to activate

If you decide to get a Note 5, just let us know. Steps 1 and 2 will be the same, but everything else will change.

Awesome! Thanks for the steps. To get the g3 that I have currently moved over to the other line is there anything special I need to do? We don't have a sim card or anything for it and since it is tied to a dumb phone (that doesn't exist any more) will verizon send us a sim card to use in this phone? I know this line wont be unlimited but think I can do like a 2gig per month thing perhaps. changes to this line shouldn't affect the line with unlimited data i don't believe right?
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

so just to confirm my options.. looking to upgrade line 1s s5 to s6.

line 1 s5 UDP Upgrade eligible
line 2 iphone 5c TDP no upgrade

I need to order online and ship phone to my home.

1. use upgrade on line 1. destroy the sim it comes with. cut my sim with cutter. put cut sim into phone and turn on.

2. Transfer upgrade to line 2. when phone arrives destroy sim with comes with. cut my sim with cutter. put cut sim into phone and turn on.

3. The other way is using the IMEI and SIM numbers to activate the phone on line 1.

If i do option 3 do i transfer the upgrade or leave it on line 1?
Should i bother with 3rd option if i already have a sim cutter?
Are both option 1 and 2 an option or did i misunderstand something along the way?

Sorry for being a nuisance.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Awesome! Thanks for the steps. To get the g3 that I have currently moved over to the other line is there anything special I need to do? We don't have a sim card or anything for it and since it is tied to a dumb phone (that doesn't exist any more) will verizon send us a sim card to use in this phone? I know this line wont be unlimited but think I can do like a 2gig per month thing perhaps. changes to this line shouldn't affect the line with unlimited data i don't believe right?

I completely missed the upgrading of the basic to a tiered line. In this scenario, it's even easier than before assuming you want a Note 4 or G4:

1.) Transfer the upgrade from Line 1 to Line 2 at either Best Buy or Verizon online. Order the smartphone, select the amount of tiered data, and have it shipped to home
2.) When the phone arrives, just activate it as normal. This will convert Line 2 to a new tiered data line and will not affect the unlimited data plan on Line 1.
3.) Wait an hour to make sure the new phone works as expected. Test data, calls, and texts.
4.) Power off the new smartphone and the G3.
5.) Swap the SIM cards between the two smartphones and then power them both on. This will activate the G3 on Line 2 and the Note 4/G4 on Line 1

If you decide to get a Note 5 or a current year Samsung, those phones are now using nano-SIMs. In this scenario, you'll still do steps 1-3. After that, you'll take both phones to a VAR and have them switch the lines.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Going from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6

My guess is that the particular style you wanted to order is currently out of stock. This happens when Best Buy does it's $100 off deals on a new 2 year contract. My guess is if you tried a different color, it would show in-stock.

Once you order the new iPhone, the standard Best Buy method will work no problems.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

so just to confirm my options.. looking to upgrade line 1s s5 to s6.

line 1 s5 UDP Upgrade eligible
line 2 iphone 5c TDP no upgrade

I need to order online and ship phone to my home.

1. use upgrade on line 1. destroy the sim it comes with. cut my sim with cutter. put cut sim into phone and turn on.

2. Transfer upgrade to line 2. when phone arrives destroy sim with comes with. cut my sim with cutter. put cut sim into phone and turn on.

3. The other way is using the IMEI and SIM numbers to activate the phone on line 1.

If i do option 3 do i transfer the upgrade or leave it on line 1?
Should i bother with 3rd option if i already have a sim cutter?
Are both option 1 and 2 an option or did i misunderstand something along the way?

Sorry for being a nuisance.

Those three ways would work; though, some things for you to think about:

1.) If you go option 3, you'll need to transfer your upgrade to Line 2. You cannot use Line 1 directly or you'll lose unlimited.
2.) Option 1 cannot be done through Verizon. Best Buy is strongly recommended for option 1.
3.) Options 2 and 3 can be done through either Verizon or Best Buy.

If you do any of these methods, you'll end up with a pending activation on the line. This will fall off within a month, but will prevent you from making any plan changes or contacting Verizon for any help/issue.

The good news is that there is a "legal" way for you to upgrade that will not leave a pending activation. Assuming you have access to Line 2's smartphone, just do the following:

1.) Transfer the upgrade from Line 1 to Line 2 and order the S6 from either Best Buy or Verizon. Have the phone shipped to home.
2.) When the new phone arrives, log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch device"
3.) Follow the directions to activate the S6 on Line 2 (you'll end up using the SIM in the 5c, but I want you to follow the directions in the computer system).
4.) Wait an hour to make sure the S6 works as expected.
5.) Power off the S6 and remove its SIM card. Put this SIM card in the 5c.
6.) Turn on the 5c and give it a couple of minutes to activate
7.) Log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch device"
8.) Select Line 1
9.) Choose "activate a device that has been on the account before"
10.) Select the S6 and type in the IMEI and SIM numbers (use the extra nano-SIM that shipped with the S6)
11.) Follow the rest of the directions to activate the S6 on the unlimited line

If you do this method, you can easily contact Verizon if something comes up or a plan change needs to be made.
 
Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

My guess is that the particular style you wanted to order is currently out of stock. This happens when Best Buy does it's $100 off deals on a new 2 year contract. My guess is if you tried a different color, it would show in-stock.

Once you order the new iPhone, the standard Best Buy method will work no problems.

You're the BEST dusoccer10!

I was finally able to order the phone today via BB. So just so I am clear ... when my iPhone 6 arrives, I power off my iPhone 5, remove the SIM card, destroy SIM card from new phone, place SIM card from iPhone 5 into new phone, and power on? ... What about the 2 year "contract" that you agree to when purchasing the phone? Will this include the minimum data plan required when purchasing a smartphone (i.e., $30 plan)? I've read several instructions, some related to SIM/IME?? and others saying to activate the new phone then switching, so I'd like to make sure I do the right thing when my phone arrives.

Thank you in advance for the amazing advice you are providing us all!