bvertz
02-09-2008, 11:06 PM
I learned a lesson today when upgrading from 8 MB iPhone to the new 16 MB iPhone. I told the geniuses at the Apple Store that my partner wanted to use my old 8MB to replace his Moto Razr. When I first called, they told me that they would take the SIM out of my old 8MB, and switch it with the SIM in the new 16MB. However, when I got to the store, the sales rep didn't think it was necessary to switch the SIMs (and thought it might void the warranty if they did).
They told me to take the new 16MB home, activate it with iTunes, and then the old 8MB would de-activate. They said that once the 8 MB de-activated, my partner could simply connect it to his laptop and (re-)activate it with iTunes.
They were wrong.
Activating the new 16MB went according to plan. But when we connected the 8 MB to my partner's laptop (after restoring factory settings), the activation screen never came up on iTunes. I called Apple, and they put me through to AT&T. AT&T told me that I would have to buy a new SIM chip ($27) and install it in the old 8 MB. So I made another trip to the mall.
When I got to the mall, the AT&T store installed the new SIM. It was much easier than I thought. (I am someone who would never modify the phone like I have seen online. Still, this procedure was not too nerve-racking, and you could probably do it at home for yourself with a paperclip.) Fortunately, AT&T did not charge me for the new SIM. They told me to go home and activate the old 8 MB using the new SIM.
When I got home, iTunes generated an error message, saying that it could not activate the old 8 MB with the new SIM. I called Apple, who put me through to AT&T, who told me to call iPhone support (800-My-iPhone). When I called, they were able to walk me through the last few steps. You have to clear the iPhone memory by holding down the home button and the power button simultaneously, then restarting the phone. It worked fine, and now I have 2 active iPhones in my household: my new 16MB and my partner's 8MB (which used to be mine).
Overall, not a perfect experience, and it took 5 hours of back-and-forth, but it all works great now. And, I didn't lose much when synching my new 16MB except for email passwords, WiFi WEP key, and pairing code for my HandsFreeLink.
Now I just hope the warranty is still good. The old 8MB was only 3 months old (a Christmas present from my partner, who didn't want one until he saw how much I liked mine).
They told me to take the new 16MB home, activate it with iTunes, and then the old 8MB would de-activate. They said that once the 8 MB de-activated, my partner could simply connect it to his laptop and (re-)activate it with iTunes.
They were wrong.
Activating the new 16MB went according to plan. But when we connected the 8 MB to my partner's laptop (after restoring factory settings), the activation screen never came up on iTunes. I called Apple, and they put me through to AT&T. AT&T told me that I would have to buy a new SIM chip ($27) and install it in the old 8 MB. So I made another trip to the mall.
When I got to the mall, the AT&T store installed the new SIM. It was much easier than I thought. (I am someone who would never modify the phone like I have seen online. Still, this procedure was not too nerve-racking, and you could probably do it at home for yourself with a paperclip.) Fortunately, AT&T did not charge me for the new SIM. They told me to go home and activate the old 8 MB using the new SIM.
When I got home, iTunes generated an error message, saying that it could not activate the old 8 MB with the new SIM. I called Apple, who put me through to AT&T, who told me to call iPhone support (800-My-iPhone). When I called, they were able to walk me through the last few steps. You have to clear the iPhone memory by holding down the home button and the power button simultaneously, then restarting the phone. It worked fine, and now I have 2 active iPhones in my household: my new 16MB and my partner's 8MB (which used to be mine).
Overall, not a perfect experience, and it took 5 hours of back-and-forth, but it all works great now. And, I didn't lose much when synching my new 16MB except for email passwords, WiFi WEP key, and pairing code for my HandsFreeLink.
Now I just hope the warranty is still good. The old 8MB was only 3 months old (a Christmas present from my partner, who didn't want one until he saw how much I liked mine).