cell phone switcharoo--how to pull it off?

[slag]

I have a 3g iphone through AT&T. Contract expires next September but I'm eligible for an upgrade in April. I've really got my heart set on going with an EVO on sprint though.

My wife has no personal cell phone but wants one. She's been using the stock company one with no text or anything and wants her own. I'd like to transfer my iphone in her name and give her a new number while I use my old number with the EVO and get new Sprint service in my name.

Is it possible to do these things and not incur the wrath of the cell phone gods?

 

[Pliablemoose]

It's called porting your number, and it's pretty simple, just talk with your carrier, tell AT&T you want a new number for the iPhone, then tell Sprint to port your old number to your new service...

 

[slag]

It's called porting your number, and it's pretty simple, just talk with your carrier, tell AT&T you want a new number for the iPhone, then tell Sprint to port your old number to your new service...

Is there a grace period I have to do this? I mean, if I get a new number for the iphone, what happens to my old number? Is there a period of time where only I have rights to it so like a week later I can still call Sprint and have the number available?

 

[rudeguy]

She could assume (take over) your contract but then she would have your number.

Another option would be to port your number over to Sprint and then as soon as that goes through, call ATT and get a new number on your iphone for your wife. That would keep your existing contract and upgrade schedule intact. As long as its on the same day, you should avoid any weird ETF billing and the like.

 

[kaerflog]

Heres the tricky part.
When ported my number from Sprint to Tmobile, my Sprint account was terminated immediately.
Of course I had the sero plan.
I wanted to port my number over to Tmobile and still keep my sero plan with a new number and the CS said that was not possible.
Maybe Sprint just wanted to get rid of all their sero members which was why they told me that.

So call your ATT and ask them if you port the number over to Sprint, will your ATT be terminated. I'm guessing not since ATT have no reason to terminate you as a customer.
If ATT said they will terminate your account and make you sign a new one, tell them to screw off.
Your wife can just sign up for Tmobile new prepaid plan of 1500 combination of talk & text for $30. Then you can use your iphone 3G on that just unlock it.

EDIT: oh I forgot that you are under contract until next sept.
I see no reason why ATT wouldn't let your wife take over with a new number.

 

[rudeguy]

that's why I said to call ATT right after the port goes through. If its the same day, they can fix anything that does happen.

 

[s44]

Maybe add an extra AT&T line for her new number before porting your original? That should make terminating your entire account more difficult.

that's why I said to call ATT right after the port goes through.

Actually I'd go a step further and do the port at a helpful AT&T store (if you can find one, and yes they do exist). That way they can clean up any issues right away in person.

April is a long way off, btw. There's likely to be another generation of phones by then.

 

[rudeguy]

Maybe add an extra AT&T line for her new number before porting your original? That should make terminating your entire account more difficult.


Actually I'd go a step further and do the port at a helpful AT&T store (if you can find one, and yes they do exist).

Then he would be looking at an activation fee and would have to change to a shared plan which would more than likely extend his contract.

ATT are jerks about this stuff.

 

[rudeguy]

Maybe add an extra AT&T line for her new number before porting your original? That should make terminating your entire account more difficult.


Actually I'd go a step further and do the port at a helpful AT&T store (if you can find one, and yes they do exist). That way they can clean up any issues right away in person.

April is a long way off, btw. There's likely to be another generation of phones by then.

the port isn't handled at store level

 

[s44]

the port isn't handled at store level

I know, but whatever happens to his account after can be sorted out there.

 

[Raduque]

Port-outs generally cancel the line that's being ported, and it's unlikely that you'll be able to port out the number, keep the line, and get a new number.

It would take an activations rep to do a re-activation with a new number, and that's if you can talk the CSR rep into talking the activations rep into it, and if the activations systems are setup for it.

 

[Kelvrick]

I've never had AT&T and I'm making some assumptions about cancellations and porting. Maybe other members can expand.

1: Get new AT&T line (not shared under a family plan). Maybe even under her name if the the current contract is under your name. I'm thinking they should be able to switch numbers between two willing accounts.
2: Have AT&T switch the numbers on the account so that the iPhone has whatever new number that came with the new line.
3: Have new line (with old number) ported over to Sprint and cancelled under the 15/30/whatever day return period.