Anyone experienced in SIM cards?

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello,

Could someone with some knowledge please help me with a SIM card please?

I have purchased an Asda Mobile SIM card for 50p from themselves, and also got a £10 top up voucher, yet to be activated. I have placed the card in my old phone but it comes up with 'Inactive SIM'. Reading the instructions, it says to call 2732 to activate the sim, but it won't let me call the number. I want a new number with this SIM as it says if you want to keep your number, then you need to ask your previous operator for a PAC code, but I don't want to. It says if you want a number, then you'll be asked for a PIN number (and gives the default number on the manual) then your new number will appear on the screen, but I don't even get that option.

My partner then tried it in his phone, taking out his Vodaphone SIM card and putting this one in, and he can't even dial 2732 as it comes up with 'rejected operator'.

Is there something I am missing here?


Any help would be appreciated


James.

 

[NLC1072]

Hello,

Could someone with some knowledge please help me with a SIM card please?

I have purchased an Asda Mobile SIM card for 50p from themselves, and also got a £10 top up voucher, yet to be activated. I have placed the card in my old phone but it comes up with 'Inactive SIM'. Reading the instructions, it says to call 2732 to activate the sim, but it won't let me call the number. I want a new number with this SIM as it says if you want to keep your number, then you need to ask your previous operator for a PAC code, but I don't want to. It says if you want a number, then you'll be asked for a PIN number (and gives the default number on the manual) then your new number will appear on the screen, but I don't even get that option.

My partner then tried it in his phone, taking out his Vodaphone SIM card and putting this one in, and he can't even dial 2732 as it comes up with 'rejected operator'.

Is there something I am missing here?


Any help would be appreciated


James.

Sounds like you are trying to put the SIm into a locked phone, this means the phone you have can only use the one operator that you bought it for use with say vodaphone.

You can get phones unlocked, but at a price depending on the phone, or you can buy a cheapo £10 phone on a network you like...

 

[Crossover]

Rejected operator does sound like the phone is locked and won't accept SIMs from any other provider.

I'm not sure if Inactive SIM suggests the same or otherwise, and may just be because the SIM hasn't been activated yet (which I don't think is unusual with new SIM cards)

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I don't think you can activate an inactive SIM, I think you will have to call Asda Mobile from another SIM/phone.

 

[D2022]

I don't think you can activate an inactive SIM, I think you will have to call Asda Mobile from another SIM/phone.

Your right, an Inactive sim is one thats been unused for a period of time so the operator has cut it off the network, or they haven't registered it on their end in the first place so it will be useless. Calling and asking ASDA to do it from another phone may work, but they might not be able to activate it anyways.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Thank you guys, I'll have to try it when I get it unlocked going to do that first before anything else.

Odd if it's been inactive due to being unused, maybe because it's been sitting on a shelf so long before I actually got it?

 

[D2022]

Odd if it's been inactive due to being unused, maybe because it's been sitting on a shelf so long before I actually got it?

It happens, when I used to be payg ( many many moons ago now ) I got a text from Vodafone saying I hadn't made an outgoing call or text for a month and if I didn't the sim would be cancelled, I ignored it and sure enough, the next day it was cut off.

 

[sonic2009]

What model/make is your phone & where did you purchase it from?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[heart-of-wessex]

What model/make is your phone & where did you purchase it from?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

I have no idea where its from, its my mums old phone. Had it for ages, its a Sony Ericsson K750i. I had a SIM only contract with 02 on it, then I got a smartphone with a new contract, and I'm returning to PAYG

 

[Harbon 1]

Phones are all locked onto their network when made for an operator to sell. You need a code to put into the phone, or a computer program and the correct equipment to unlock it. Take it to any independent phone repair place, and they'll charge a fee depending on how complex the unlocking is.

 

[Crossover]

I suspect the k750i is probably unlocked but it sounds like the other phone is locked to a network

 

[sonic2009]

If the K750i was originally on Vodafone then the Asda sim will not work, something to do with the network. Will have a look later when i get in.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[Harlesden]

Could I just ask if anyone has ever succeeded in getting a "3" phone unlocked other then by contacting the network itself? Last year I tried all six unlock outlets in my immediate area - most of them advertising "any phone unlocked" - and none of them could unlock my "3" phone. After trying another three outlets in an adjoining area I gave up in frustration. I stamped on the phone, cut the SIM in half and put the whole lot in the bin.

 

[MCR247]

Hahaha stamped on the phone

 

[sonic2009]

3 network cannot be unlocked don't ask why, but i've tried before to unlock and i was told it was something to do with the security settings.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[Crossover]

If the K750i was originally on Vodafone then the Asda sim will not work, something to do with the network. Will have a look later when i get in.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

The OP says it was used with a SIM only contract from O2. Thus, I'm not sure the phone will be locked to any network in particular.

If the OP can use another network SIM in it, such as a current Vodafone one, this would also conclusively show it was unlocked

 

[Donny Dave]

And after my dealings with T-Mobile today, avoid them at all costs ....

Long story short, someone has setup a phone contract in my name, I ring them to find out about it, and they don't want to know ....

 

[9K43]

If the K750i was originally on Vodafone then the Asda sim will not work, something to do with the network. Will have a look later when i get in.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

I have the same phone which cost £3 on ebay,I also run this phone on an ASDA Sim Card, with no problems.

ASDA use Vodaphone .

I like the ASDA cos the calling rates are very good eg 50p/p/m and £5 top up last me forever.

 

[mirodo]

50p/min very good? I assume that's a typo?

 

[jon0844]

If you are getting Inactive SIM then I'd say the handset itself isn't locked. If it was locked, you'd be invited to enter an unlock code (not PIN) for the phone before getting to this stage. [Edit: The second phone, on Vodafone, clearly was network locked]

I suspect the SIM is inactive, for whatever reason. Now when first inserted in a phone, it would attempt to register on the network. In theory, even if unregistered, the network might automatically begin an activation process - but if it's still not working now (two weeks on) then there's another problem. Calling Asda would be the only way to fix things.

You definitely wouldn't be able to make a call (even to customer services, or a short code to activate the SIM) until you can register on a network.

It is possible to restrict SIM cards to work only on specific IMEI (handset serial number) ranges, so you could say the K750i (a phone released in 2004/5?) is too old and trying in another phone may work - but that's doubtful as there's no reason for Asda to want to restrict the SIM at all.

Finally, newer SIM cards are a bit different to the ones available years ago (different voltages) but they're designed to be backwardly compatible. Funnily enough, my mum recently tested an old Orange SIM out in an old phone she had - a Sony Ericsson W800i, the Walkman version of the K750! And it worked just fine. There is a way to enter the network/engineering menu on a Sony Ericsson that will let you view any locks in place by the way - I can let you know if you need it, but think the problem is down to the SIM itself.

 

[9K43]

You are quite correct, the ASDA sim is or was 10p/8p for landline calls and mobile

I have used ASDA Sim card in the Lanzarotty with on worries.

50 p for a Sim.