2/24/23: As 16GB is for everyone now, you don't have to jump through hoops of temp number, you can directly port and order online, but make sure you don't provide a CC which can be charged upon activation. Once you place order you SIM card will me be shipped without any charges to CC. But the activation kit says once you insert SIM and activate, your card will be charged. So you have few choices for not getting charged. 1. Provide a temporary CC with limited balance 2. There is lock Credit card feature in some credit card, this is will be prevent any authorizations temporarily, so lock your CC before you activate. Then apply Prepaid refill to pay. However I had an issue with port, I've to call couple times to get activated so that I could login to online account.
Because this is an AT&T thread there is a few things you need to know before joining:
Good News! All AT&T Prepaid plans now include access to the AT&T 5G Network. *5G Compatible device/5G Branded Sim Card Required, device must be on AT&T's Whitelist to qualify. For eSim: 5G Device is required for 5G service on eSim.*Note: Your device may need a software update to be fully 5G compliant on AT&T.
Does your phone work on AT&T? This PDF in the link below shows what devices are AT&T VoLTE Certified/Approved and Whitelisted on the network.
NEW! Updated August 22nd, 2023: https://www.att.com/scmsassets/su...etwork.pdf
*Note: AT&T compatibility list may update at any time. Xiaomi devices are now banned from AT&T (did not get AT&T VoLTE Certification/Approval), select Huawei/ZTE devices still allowed. 5G Requires device capable of transmitting and receiving a 5G Signal/5G branded Compatible Sim Card.
AT&T Network Status as of March 2023:
5G+: This network is live and is expanding. When you see 5G+ this means your either connected to C-Band(n77) or mmWave. mmWave speed averages between: 600mbps - 1+ Gigs per second. C-Band speed averages between: 60mbps - 460mbps.
5G(NSA/SA): 5G Non-Standalone is where the carriers pair 5G tech with 4G LTE to provide fast data speeds. 5G Standalone is 5G that is on it's own and does not need LTE to work. *Note: At this time AT&T does not offer their 5G standalone(SA) core to customers, all 5G that is not mmWave is Non-standalone.
5Ge/4G LTE: 5Ge and 4G LTE are the same with a slight difference. 5Ge areas have Next evolution Carrier Aggregation/Back haul upgrades, areas that are LTE only have limited Carrier aggregation or only 1 LTE band broadcasting.
4G(HSPA+): This network has been retired and is shut down.
3G(UMTS): 3G UMTS has been shut down and no longer exists, In select Markets AT&T has re-farmed 3G's old spectrum and added it to 5G "n5" to boost speed and capacity.
2G(2G/EDGE/GPRS/GSM): This network had it's sunset date in 2019, it is shut down and no longer exists.
Sim card SKU's that do not support 5G+: 4453A, 4488A, 72290. Sim cards that were purchased from Straight Talk are based on 4488A and do not include 5G/5G+ support.
Sim card SKU's that do support 5G+: 6471C, 6531C, 6533C, 6661A, 6818B. eSim: 6969C.
*Note: For some devices, AT&T requires that you be on the latest Software Update to get all features working on the AT&T network including VoLTE specific features. Make sure that your phone is completely up-to-date for the best network experience.
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$300 + local taxes/fees on top ($20-$30 for most) if you pay directly with CC -- less hassle when activating but you might pay more if you're in a high tax area
You can look for ATT Prepaid refill cards on sale to save some money -- you can buy from Target website for email delivery in which case Target does not charge any taxes/fees (you can save at least 5% with Target RedCard or more if its also on sale)
*** A lot of people have trouble porting their number and getting 16gb promo when using "keep my number" option on initial order since they have to call CS for help with initial activation/port (this in an online promo so not available over phone or in-store) -- calling CS for initial activation/port might drop 16gb promo (you'll only get 8gb standard) and there's no easy way for them to give it to you afterwards:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
Best option is to get a new temp number when ordering service -- just make sure the new temp number is from the same area/region as your regular phone number that you're going to port later.
For service zip code use a zip code from where your regular number is originally from -- ATT Prepaid's outdated system seems to have trouble porting numbers from different markets.
For example: if you have a Chicago number but currently live in NYC then make sure you get a new temp Chicago number when ordering/activating prepaid service. Do not get a new NYC number as their prepaid system won't be able to port a Chicago number on top of NYC number later on since the numbers are from different markets/regions.
Once your new temp number is activated you should see 16gb under line usage section (8gb bonus + 8gb standard) then you can call port activation center @ 888-898-7685 to have them port your regular number over -- let them know you just activated new prepaid service with a temp number and now you want to port your regular number over
** eSIM online activation makes it easier to get new temp number from same region and also pay with refill cards:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
> eSIM online activation works for iPhones and maybe some new Androids (enter your EID and eSIM IMEI to see if activation page accepts it or not)
> If it doesn't accept your Android phone then you can choose to have either physical sim or eSIM card shipped when placing your online order, or just pick one up from an AT&T store or other retailer that sells AT&T Prepaid SIMS then use the AT&T Prepaid activation site https://www.att.com/pprepaid/activations then port your number later
Physical sim activation online (like with ESIM above) with using the temp number option with a physical sim picked up from an retail location (AT&T Store or department store like Walmart.
SIM/ESIM is active as soon as you hit continue after entering your email on the AT&T (short codes work even if your service isn't active) Prepaid Activation Portal https://www.att.com/prepaid/activations
Pop the physical sim into your phone and find the number or go into your cellular settings for the esim. Just use the temp phone number to register the account https://www.paygonline.
** ATT Postpaid or ATT MVNO currently then you'll need to port twice -- once to VZ/TMo based carrier to get off ATT network for few hours then port again to your new ATT Prepaid 16gb plan:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
>> TMobile has $10 Connect prepaid plan + $10 sim = $20 + taxes/fees (you can also try eSIM: https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
>> Visible (Verizon) is $5 if you have $25 back on $30 Visible service offer on your Chase/BoA/USBank card (you'll need compatible phone to activate service)
>> Tracfone (Verizon) $1 sim kit from Target/Walmart/BB/Amazon + $15 Tracfone prepaid smartphone plan (Target website has email delivery)
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When the sim arrives just activate it pay for service
if you are on att postpaid or cricket just go into a store port this number to tmobile for about 20 total go home with the new tmobile plan
call 1888 port activations and just port tmobile number onto new plan
done
gotta spend some money to save some money
the timing of porting out to tmobile is not important
- iPhone 13 eSIM activation
- 16gb annual plan
- Paid with $300 refills (bought few weeks ago for $256)
- Ported number from Xfinity mobile (Verizon)
Used laptop for online eSIM activation:
https://www.att.com/prepaid/activ...ivate.html [att.com]
- Entered EID (last 4) and IMEI2 used by eSIM (not the physical sim IMEI)
- Entered original service zip code for where my number is from (that way temp number is from same region)
- Selected $300 16gb plan
- ATT eSIM profile showed up on my phone settings so I accepted it
- It finished activating service with new temp number
- Got text message link to create online account and security pin so I did that using phone browser
- Laptop browser was sitting on payment page so I closed it
- Opened new browser and logged into my new online account
- Showed $300 due so I applied my refill cards to start service
- Updated online profile settings with my name and current address
Called ATT port dept @ 888-898-7685 using home phone so call wouldn't drop
- Entered temp number and got transferred to a rep
- Told her I just activated prepaid service with a temp number and wanted to port my regular number over
- Gave her temp number and security pin so she could access my account
- Gave her Xfinity port info (phone/account/port pin/name/address)
- Took a few mins for port approval
- Restarted phone and eSIM updated with my reg number
Call took about 10 mins -- Xfinity account took about 30 mins for the line to show "deactivated" (number port was fully completed)
$25 Monthly Plan
Payment Due $300.00
Due Date Jun 18 2023
Current Add-Ons
Purchase Blocker
Discount Reward Offer: 8GB Data
Data
Discount Reward Offer: 8GB Data
8 GB of 8 GB Remaining
Plan Data (includes 0 KB Rollover Data)
8 GB of 8 GB Remaining
Text Unlimited
Talk Unlimited
Purchase Blocker Active
1-always start off with a new number- always - make sure it's in the same zip code as the number you are porting in
2-if you do the above it's much simpler to just call 1-888 port activations to port you old number onto your new number
3-if you are with att postpaid att prepaid cricket or any other MVNO that 1888 is not able to port directly use the intermediary step of signing up at a tmobile store with the 10 dollar line plus 10 dollar sim to port your old
number above and then you can port it by calling 1888 number it's instantaneous
if you don't follow the above steps you will be turning in circles
the att store will not help as this is an online deal, the rep at 611 is going to state they open a ticket when they really do not or if they do they say it's resolved
they will open a new line that does NOT have the promo
Bottom line you need to be a NEW customer and in att prepaid's eyes you are NOT a new customer unless you come from a non att branded carrier
follow the steps that others and I have outlined and you will be fine
AGAIN do NOT check the box to have your number ported when you order the sim!
Ask for a NEW number!
Or else you might end up with your number being held
hostage by att prepaid!
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- Ordered 2x of the prepaid cards from the link on this posting. When ordering, I selected a new number. The cards arrived in a couple days.
- Ordered 2x of the T-Mobile $10 prepay plan (and 2 sim card kits) for $40 total. When ordering, I selected a new number. These arrived in a couple days.
- Installed the new t-mobile sim card into my phone & it activated instantly. Then I set up an online account and created a pin/etc.
- The pin you create here is the same as the port authorization pin code. Should be a 6 digit pin.
- Called the T-Mobile Prepay Port number at 1-877-778-2106, they were able to port my AT&T postpaid number over within minutes
- Have your AT&T "wireless account number" ready. This is NOT the number on your AT&T bill. The number on your bill is a bundled account number representing any/all AT&T services you may have (phone, internet, TV, etc). A quick call in to AT&T's customer service was able to get me the actual wireless account number.
- Have your AT&T port authorization pin code ready. You can generate this by logging in to your AT&T postpaid account.
- If you're porting multiple numbers, it will be the same pin code.
- Installed my new AT&T prepay sim card & it activated instantly. Then I set up an online account and created a pin/etc.
- This created an AT&T prepaid account with the new/temporary number assigned from AT&T.
- The first phone I did this with, it charged my credit card instantly as soon as I put the sim card in. On my 2nd phone, I had to log in to the AT&T prepay account online and add my credit card to fund the account.
- Now that your phone number has been ported to T-Mobile, check to make sure your phone number is eligible to port back to AT&T. It might take a few minutes: https://www.att.com/wireless/tran...ur-number/
- If your phone number here shows up as not eligible, then you're going to have problems.
- From your AT&T prepaid phone, call 611 for AT&T customer service, and press 0 to speak to a rep. Ask for a port request & you'll have to provide the agent with the t-mobile account number & pin code from earlier.
- Both times I did this, the agent told me "the port will be completed in 3-4 hours". This is crazy and these ports can be done almost instantly.
- After giving your information to the rep, when they tell you it will take XX hours, kindly ask to speak to someone in the actual port department. You may have to go to a supervisor first, but be persistent and eventually if you can get ahold of someone in the actual port department, they will process your port with you on the phone & its so quick your phone will actually disconnect after they are done & your number will be ported.
Special thanks to all the members on this thread who have shared their experiences & tips on how to get this deal! I've been an AT&T postpaid customer & have had the same phone number for 20+ years... so the thought of porting my number off postpaid, then to t-mobile, then back to prepaid seemed scary/daunting at first, but in the end it was worth it! The entire process took a couple hours total, with me doing 1 phone number at a time.For what its worth, after 2 failed attempts to switch from postpaid to prepaid at physical AT&T stores, I did this entire process online & never left the house.
locked postpaid phones will work on att prepaid
make sure it's the same market area code as your current one
make sure it's the same market area code as your current one
- Under mobile number selection it'll have your current address as "Place of primary use"
- Click on the little pencil icon to change your primary use service address
- Enter old address so you can select new number from the same market as your regular number that you'll port later
- Under mobile number selection it'll have your current address as "Place of primary use"
- Click on the little pencil icon to change your primary use service address
- Enter old address so you can select new number from the same market as your regular number that you'll port later
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