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

[minidre]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

Im coming from the Galaxy Nexus as well. Believe the SIM (4G LTE) will fit without any modification.

Are you sure it will fit Epacy? I've tried to search for what size SIM the S5 uses and I have been finding all sorts of different answers, most of them between micro and nano. Does anybody here have an S5 that can confirm is a regular SIM from the Gnex can fit into the S5? thanks =]

 

[SmashedPumpkins]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

Not quite sure I follow as she's already been using her phone for over a year (so it's already been activated). Given the FAQ on the Verizon page, it doesn't look like I can use someone else's sim for a new phone for myself:

------
How can I get an NFC SE SIM card?

If you have an NFC-capable 4G LTE device and don’t already have an NFC SE SIM card, you can get one in any of the following ways:

Order online
Select your NFC-capable 4G LTE device on the My Device page in My Verizon.
Click Get NFC Secure Element SIM in the About My Device section.
Confirm your shipping address.
Click Complete Order.
You have completed the steps to receive a new NFC SE SIM card.
Call Customer Service at (800) 922-0204
Visit a Verizon Wireless store
Notes:

You can only get an NFC SE SIM card if you're the Account Owner or an Account Manager. Learn more about account roles.

You wouldn't use her SIM card. The SIM card is what's activated, not the phone. You can take any phone into Verizon's store and have them place a new SIM card into the phone and activate that SIM card to your phone number. Your gf's SIM card will still work but she simply won't have a phone. Once the new phone shows up, put her SIM card back into her phone and put your SIM card into the new phone. As far as Verizon is concerned, you bought the phone on ebay.

I don't know what SIM card the S5 takes and I don't know how the Verizon NFC SIM card changes this. Assuming the S4 and S5 share the same SIM like the S3 and S4 did, it should work.

 

[brshipman]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

well...pulled the trigger on the M8. so far everything has gone through. will keep you posted.

 

[alxarambula]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

The Galaxy S5 takes a Micro Sim card. The HTC M8 takes a Nano Sim card.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[shutuplegs]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

I added an S5 to the cart and I'm getting this error when I check out.
My full upgrade date was over a month ago yet it tells me I'm not eligible yet. I thought it may be a BB error but I get the same results at Amazon.

 

[Epacy]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

Are you sure it will fit Epacy? I've tried to search for what size SIM the S5 uses and I have been finding all sorts of different answers, most of them between micro and nano. Does anybody here have an S5 that can confirm is a regular SIM from the Gnex can fit into the S5? thanks =]

I will know for sure in the morning, when my phone is delivered. I have seen a pic of the SIM in the S5 and it looks identical.

 

[Epacy]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

Are you sure it will fit Epacy? I've tried to search for what size SIM the S5 uses and I have been finding all sorts of different answers, most of them between micro and nano. Does anybody here have an S5 that can confirm is a regular SIM from the Gnex can fit into the S5? thanks =]

Galaxy nexus most definitely has a micro SIM, as does the S5. Should fit flawlessly.

Verizon Galaxy Nexus review

 

[CharlesH]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

I haven't seen the issue addressed of getting the Verizon (really Assurion) insurance when doing the activate-on-dumb-line-switch-to-UDP-line scenario.The docs seem to say that you can only get the Assurion insurance on new phones (upgrades or full retail). But in our scenario, the situation for the UDP line is essentially bring-your-own-phone, and would seem to be not eligible for the insurance, outside of Verizon's occasional "open enrollment" periods.

 

[CharlesH]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

If you buy the new phone at a Verizon store, you are pretty much forced to go through the steps of activating it on the dumb phone line, walking out of the store, putting the dumb phone back on the line, and activating the new phone on the UDP line, right? As I understand it, they will insist on doing the activation on the dumb phone line in the store? And you don't dare risk your UDP by telling them to "upgrade the dumb phone line, but please activate the new phone on the UDP line".

 

[dss2000]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

If you buy the new phone at a Verizon store, you are pretty much forced to go through the steps of activating it on the dumb phone line, walking out of the store, putting the dumb phone back on the line, and activating the new phone on the UDP line, right? As I understand it, they will insist on doing the activation on the dumb phone line in the store? And you don't dare risk your UDP by telling them to "upgrade the dumb phone line, but please activate the new phone on the UDP line".

That has been the general experience of those posting on this thread though a few have said they were able to leave without activating it. I usually recommend avoiding the Verizon store as much as possible as many times (but not all) they try to scare you saying that it won't work, refusing to do it, give you mis-information to make you start to have second thoughts. I suspect there is something in their commission schedule that prompts them to do this because the only time I've experienced this kind of misinformation / pressure / intimidation is when a commission is involved.

In regards to warranty I usually have the full total care on the line and it stays on there when I put the phone on. On occasion that I've actually had to use it they will search to verify that it is one of their phones originally and not some phone you got from ebay. I just tell them the truth that I got the phone for line ### ###-#### and that it's now on line ### ###-####. They do some computer search on the serial # and confirm that its okay. If you don't have it I think you have like 14-30 days to add it on.

 

[Justintoxicated]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Ok so i ordered a new M8 and S5, I'll be keeping the M8 and giving the S5 to my Dad. I bought them both on dumbphone lines.

The M8 uses a nano Sim card so I'm guessing I will need to activate the phone under the Dumb phone account before transferring it over to the UDP line? I believe my current phone has a mico sim not a nano so I don't think I can just plug that one in.

 

[PlagueDoc]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Hello all, I have been lurking in this thread for a long time learning as much as I could from it. It was thanks to THIS thread that I was able to keep my UDP while upgrading to a Note3 from Razr Maxx. As a thank you for all the information I learned, I decided to signup and share what worked for me to keep my UDP

As of 4/13/14 THIS METHOD WORKS


Line A: Razr Maxx with UDP

I signed up for a new line online (line B) and chose an in-store pickup, selecting the Note 3 and phone of choice. Next day I went in to verizon store, got the phone, activated it in store and left to go home. Got home, powered down both Razr Maxx and Note 3. Switched SIM cards, powered Note 3 on and it worked. Powered on Razr Maxx and it worked as well.
Result: Brand new Note 3 on old line retaining UDP confirmed by viewing of account online.
Next step: I opened up a chat with a verizon rep online and asked them to put Line B on a "fake ID" so I wouldn't have to pay for data. They found one and now Line B is $10 a month.

End Result: New Note 3 with UDP and a spare line only paying $10 a month.

Hope this helps.

 

[Crippldogg]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

New guy here and looking to ditch the iphone and go android. Here's my problem, I have an iphone 4 with verizon's UDP and it's my only line. I was looking to switch my wife to verizon as well. Any chance I could upgrade my phone without buying outright and keep my udp and add a line to my account so she could get one as well (taking advantage of the buy one get one)? Thanks

 

[wekurtz74]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Could you please explain what you mean by "fake ID"? Thank you.

Also, I have a somewhat similiar situation. Two lines (s3s) with UDP, no other lines. My idea was this:

Add two new lines to BOGO either M8 or S5, Then
Switch new both lines over to older flip phones I have lying around, then
obviously, activate the new m8/s5 on the UDP lines.

If this can be done, the price of 2 lines @$10/month are still cheaper than two Full price purchases -- two phones for the full price of one over the 2 year period, plus you can do the trade and transfer from the existing UDP lines to the new lines as soon as those are available.

Anyone have any thoughts, recommendations or comments on this idea?

EDIT: I forgot to mention, that I have looked at the thread and have seen what to do when adding just one new line, but I dont think I saw anyone talk about doing the BOGO for two lines, and I wanted to see what people thought or experinces people had before trying it.

 

[PlagueDoc]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Could you please explain what you mean by "fake ID"? Thank you.

Also, I have a somewhat similiar situation. Two lines (s3s) with UDP, no other lines. My idea was this:

Add two new lines to BOGO either M8 or S5, Then
Switch new both lines over to older flip phones I have lying around, then
obviously, activate the new m8/s5 on the UDP lines.

If this can be done, the price of 2 lines @$10/month are still cheaper than two Full price purchases -- two phones for the full price of one over the 2 year period, plus you can do the trade and transfer from the existing UDP lines to the new lines as soon as those are available.

Anyone have any thoughts, recommendations or comments on this idea?

A fake ID is essentially a fake phone. Every line HAS to have some sort of phone on it. And every phone has an ESN number, essentially a number that is tied to that particular phone. I had no other (basic)phone to put onto my spare line. Had I kept the Razr Maxx on the spare line, I would be spending $30 a month on data that isnt getting used. A fake ID puts an ESN number of a basic phone on the spare line so I would be only paying $10 a month.

In your case, if you opt for the BOGO, on the 2 extra lines, the older flip phones would serve the same purpose in your case as the fake ID did for my case.

And yes,from what I have read and understood from this thread, the method you described would work.

 

[PlagueDoc]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

New guy here and looking to ditch the iphone and go android. Here's my problem, I have an iphone 4 with verizon's UDP and it's my only line. I was looking to switch my wife to verizon as well. Any chance I could upgrade my phone without buying outright and keep my udp and add a line to my account so she could get one as well (taking advantage of the buy one get one)? Thanks

Hi new guy. If you read my post right above yours, it will describe a situation similar to yours.

I would recommend. You get the buy one get one, use new phone A and switch it to your (iphone4) line. New phone B will go to your wife. Now, if you get the buy one get one, you will have an extra line to deal with, contact verizon, and ask them to put a "fake ID" or "ghost phone/ESN" on that extra line, that way you will only be paying $10 a month.

 

[Lodingi]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

The simplest thing would be to order a Galaxy S4 on line 3. During the online ordering process it will ask you to select a data plan and select the cheapest one like $10. The plan will be pending and won't actually take effect. When the phone comes just activate the new phone on your line 1 with UDP. Go online and select activate a phone on your line 1, it will ask for the MEIN and the number on the SIM that comes with the phone. Once done you will have your new S4 on line 1. The data plan you selected for line 3 will never go into effect and the pending order will eventually fall off. It is not really necessary to activate and deactivate the new device on the dumb phone line before putting it on the unlimited data line.

Interesting. I always thought you had to activate the phones on the lines they were ordered, before doing the swaps. Can we confirm this? Thanks.

 

[bupp]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price

@mykl376 First, thanks for posting and updating on your experience. I'm doing the exact same deal with 2 Bionics to Samsung S4's.
I'm hoping to replicate the same process as you. So try the cut down Bionic sims which will not work, then try the Samsung micro-sims. It just doesn't make sense to me but I'm going to try and follow every step since it worked for you? Maybe your Bionic Sims were cut incorrectly and the Samsung micro-sims just worked for you? I'm thinking of taking the sims to Best Buy and have them cut it for me. Anything else I need to watch out for? I'm getting nervous now, especially with 2 phones on a family plan- but worst case scenario I can always return the phones and go back to my previous UDPs, right?

I had a Bionic and had a much easier time than mykl376. Very surprising, but that's the way it happened. Trimmed my SIM down and it's been working great since. Not using the new SIM at all.

 

[Justintoxicated]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Ok so i ordered a new M8 and S5, I'll be keeping the M8 and giving the S5 to my Dad. I bought them both on dumbphone lines.

The M8 uses a nano Sim card so I'm guessing I will need to activate the phone under the Dumb phone account before transferring it over to the UDP line? I believe my current phone has a mico sim not a nano so I don't think I can just plug that one in.

Can someone tell me if I need to activate both phones when I get them before changing the M8 over to my UDP line? I'm thinking I should have just purchased in the store since I got home to find the S5 backordered. The sim cards are differnet sizes right so I will need to use the new sim card which means I need to activate the phone on my previously dumb account?

Interesting. I always thought you had to activate the phones on the lines they were ordered, before doing the swaps. Can we confirm this? Thanks.

I believe you can swap sim cards IF they are compatible.

 

[PlagueDoc]

Re: [Instruction] How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Can someone tell me if I need to activate both phones when I get them before changing the M8 over to my UDP line? I'm thinking I should have just purchased in the store since I got home to find the S5 backordered. The sim cards are differnet sizes right so I will need to use the new sim card which means I need to activate the phone on my previously dumb account?

IIRC, people on this thread have said both you do and do not need to activate the new phone before moving to UDP. If I were in your shoes, I would activate the M8 on the other line BEFORE moving it to the UDP line, just to be safe. It doesn't take that much longer and I would have the added peace of mind.
As for the SIM card, I have read 3 things: 1. You can use a new SIM card. 2: You can use a SIM card cutter/ template to cut the Micro SIM down to the Nano SIM size. 3: You don't have to mess with the SIM cards at all and just activate the phones online.



I believe you can swap sim cards IF they are compatible.