How to Transfer Time From a Phone
Many wireless network carriers, such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, offer prepaid plan options in addition to their long term contract subscription options. Prepaid cell phone plans work on a pay-as-you-go basis. Customers must purchase a preset allotment of service minutes prior to actually using a network's service. When the minutes run out, more time must be purchased to continue to use the network's service. If you have a prepaid plan and you want to switch cell phones, but stay with the same network carrier, oftentimes you can transfer unused time from one phone to another by transporting a phone's SIM card.
Instructions
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Remove the SIM Card from the Phone
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1
Turn off the cell phone you would like to transfer minutes from.
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2
Release the phone's battery cover lock. On some cell phone models, this is accomplished by simultaneously pressing down on the battery cover while pushing forward until the lock is released. On other cell phone models, there may be a switch, latch or button which releases this lock. Take off the phone's battery cover.
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3
Take out the phone's battery. On most cell phones, the phone's SIM card holder is located within a sub-compartment of the phone's battery compartment. Remove the SIM card from the SIM card holder. Be careful not to touch the gold contacts located on the front of the SIM card or you may damage it. Place the SIM card on a clean, flat surface with the gold contacts facing up.
Transfer Minutes to New Phone
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4
Turn off the cell phone you would like to transfer minutes to.
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5
Release the phone's battery cover lock and take off the battery cover.
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6
Take out the phone's battery. Remove the SIM card currently installed in the phone, if necessary. Place this SIM card in an envelope or plastic bag for safe keeping in case you decide to use it later.
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7
Insert your current SIM card into the new cell phone with the gold contacts facing down.
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8
Reinsert the phone's battery. Put the battery cover back on. Turn the phone on. You should now be able to use the available minutes from the old cell phone on this new cell phone.
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Tips & Warnings
With some prepaid cell phones, the account balance is stored in the phone rather than the network carrier. In this instance, transferring the SIM card from one phone to another won't work to transfer cell phone minutes. Instead, check with your wireless network provider. Some prepaid wireless network providers may allow customers to transfer minutes from one phone to another phone on their account via an online service tool or through customer support.
If the cell phone you are transferring minutes to is locked to another network carrier, you'll have to obtain the SIM unlock code for the new phone before it will accept the new SIM card. For example, if you are transferring a T-Mobile issued SIM card into an AT&T branded phone, the AT&T branded phone must be unlocked in order to work with the T-Mobile SIM card.
References
- Photo Credit cell phone image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
