It is likely a plan to shut down 3G service. While you can use the phone now, you will have difficulty connecting to cell service in the future because the phone companies are eliminating 3G wireless transmission. For iPhone users, the last 3G phone was the 5s in 2013, eight years ago. The spectrum will be used for the increasing number of 5G users.
Kelly On 2/8/21, Vicky Collins <[email protected]> wrote: > Has anyone ever had this happen before? I'm not sure whether it was just a > technical glitch or if it could happen again or what, as I never got a > straight answer from the person I did the online chat with at AT&T. > > As I've mentioned previously, since my only internet is on my phones or via > personal hotspot with my phones, and I can only backup my iPhones to iCloud > using my Nokia 6 Android phone, I proceeded to put my SIM card in that Nokia > 6 and backup one of my phones yesterday. But, this time, although I tried > several times after enabling the hotspot feature on the Nokia, I just > couldn't seem to get the backup on the iPhone to complete. I then finally > noticed a message on my Android phone, a free message from AT&T that said > something like: 7535 AT&T free msg. We're always looking for ways to connect > you to what you love faster than ever before. That's why we are taking steps > to upgrade our network. We're sorry but the phone you recently tried to > activate won't work. Don't worry. We can help you upgrade at > att_com/upgradehelp. Retiring 3G network. > > I then removed the SIM card from that phone and put it back in my iPhone 7, > but I could no longer make calls or access the internet with that SIM, not > even when I put it in my iPhone SE 2020 and gave it a try. > > Using my other phone line, it took me a bit to look around in the My AT&T > app and online at their web site to finally find the message that that > particular phone line had been suspended due to an unknown phone, and that I > either needed to give AT&T a call or do a chat with them to get things > resolved, so I opted for the online chat. > > It took a bit of time, but my phone line got reactivated, he told me he > would waive the $30 activation fee, and then he told me something like to > not remove the SIM card again or it would stop my service again. When I > pressed him about always being able to move the SIM between my phones in the > past and that I needed to use the Nokia phone to do the iCloud backups for > my iPhones and that I had other iPhones that I would also use from time to > time, he said he would check further and then told me I could swap my SIM > and use it with my Nokia 6. I haven't yet tried the Nokia again, though, not > wanting to risk that just yet. Oh, and while he told me it could take up to > a half hour to reactivate the number, it was actually done within about five > minutes and I was able to use the same SIM card, although I was afraid I > would have to wait and have them send me a new one. > > In case anyone is interested, I'll paste a copy of the chat I had below, and > I've hopefully removed all of my account information. Also, if some of this > doesn't appear to read quite correctly, it could be because I've opted to > open the message containing the copy of the chat on my U2 Mini and all the > line breaks and things may not have transferred over: > > Reference Number: 731940635884434720 > DATE/TIME: 2021-02-08 07:05:15 > Your chat transcript: > PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE - All replies are automatically > deleted. > AT&T : Hi, I'm AT&T's automated virtual assistant. How can I help you today? > > Me : I need to reactivate my xxx number that got suspended because of an > unknown device. I'm guessing it happened because I, as I have done many > times before, put the SIM card in my Nokia 6 so I could use the hotspot > service on that device to backup my Apple devices to iCloud. > AT&T : > We found the following information which could be helpful: > How do I transfer my number to a new phone? > > Me : That did xxx help in this case. > AT&T : > Hmmm. Could you rephrase your question? Virtual Assistants understand simple > questions best. > > Me : I need to get the suspension lifted from my device. > AT&T : > Choose a topic to chat about: > Billing, usage, plans & device settings > Payments > Troubleshooting & repairs > Online account & sign-in help > International support > Shopping > Order status > > Me : Billing, usage, plans & device settings > AT&T : > Please tell us your first name. > Me : Vicky > AT&T : > Thank y.. You will now be connected to a specialist for account support. > Roy : Hi! My name is Roy. I'm happy to help! Please give me a moment to > review your request. > Roy : I am Happy to have you on the chat, I will help you with your concern. > > Me : Thank you so much. > Roy : To make sure I have the most accurate information for you today, I'm > going to ask a few quick questions. > Me : Okay. > Roy : Are you logged onto your account? > Me : Yes. > Roy : Can I get your permission to access your online account? > Me : Sure, yes. > Roy : Thank you, Vicky > Me : You're welcome. > Roy : Let me quickly pull your account. > Me : Okay. > Roy : Sure, I will help you with the reactivate the line. > Me : Thanks.. > Roy : You're welcome. > Roy : Meanwhile I am working on it, As a friendly How was your weekend? > Me : Just fine, thanks. Yours? > Roy : Good with friends. > Roy : Could you please confirm me the line number of the reactivation > device? > Me : removed number > Roy : Thanks for the info! > Me : Sure, I had to go look to make sure of the number as I normally don't > call myf.. > Roy : I am sending the request to reactivate the line. > Me : Okay, thanks. > Roy : You're welcome. > Roy : Just checking to see how it's going? > Roy : sorry for the typo. > Me : Okay, and no problem. > Roy : I have successfully sent the request to reactivate the line number > removed. > Me : Thanks, when will it be activated? > Roy : It will activated within half an hour, Then you can on your device. > Me : Oh, okay, thanks, guess I had better turn off the device for now. I had > it on, but then turned it off and back on once you said xx had been > reactivated. > Roy : The reactivation has been done. Please insert the sim after half an > hour. > Roy : And then you can on your device it will perfectly working:) > Me : Actually, when I went to turn it off again, I found it was already > working. I just tried using Siri as well as the weather app to make sure. > Roy : Wow, That really cool. > Roy : Just to recap, We ahve discussed about the suspension and I have > helped you with the reactivation of the device line. Is there anything else > I can help you with? > Roy : Meanwhile, just a friendly reminder, you can use the my AT&T app to > view or pay your bill, make payment arrangement, and even upgrade your > device. > Roy : I want to thank you for being extremely patient with me today. > Me : Yes, indeed, thanks. Now I do have a couple of other questions, if you > don't mind.. First, is there going to be a $30 charge for the reactivation? > And, second, is this going to happen every time I move my SIM around? See, > my only internet is via my phone and personal hotspot, as I have elected the > two lines with AT&T and not gone with the Spectrum internet, and I need to > use an Android xxxxx to backup my iPhones. > Me : No problem about the wait time. I'm just glad the phone could be > reactivated without having to wait for another SIM. > Roy : No worries about the reactivation charges, Quickly go ahead and waive > off the reactivation for you from my end. > Roy : Would that be okay for you? > Me : Yes, thank you so much. > Roy : Cool, Let me quickly go a head and waive off the reactivation charges. > > Roy : Give me a moment. > Me : Okay, thanks. > Roy : You're welcome. > Roy : I have successfully waived off the reactivation fees of $30 for you > from my end, And please log off and log in to see the reflected credit on > your account. > Roy : Once you remove the SIM from the device, the service will be > disconnected. > Roy : So, For the next time do not remove the sim form the device. > Me : Okay, thanks again, and I'll check that when we're through here, or > maybe I'll check with the app on my xxx number, as I'm using the personal > hotspot feature on the xxx number to chat with you on the computer. > Roy : That cool, you are on the Unlimited Elite plan. > Me : In regards to removing the SIM, is this something new? I mean, using my > Android xxxxx 6 device, I just upgraded three of my four iPhones to the > latest iOS version just a week or two ago. And, too, although I'm using an > iPhone 7 and SE xxxx now, I do have the iPhone SE xxxx and iPhone 12 Mini > that I will use at some point, and I don't want to run into this issue again > if it can be avoided. > Roy : So that the plan you have is enrolled with the 30gb of hotspot. > Roy : If you get new SIM for same line and if you reactivate that you will > not have any reactivation fee charges. > > > Roy : Give me a moment to review on it. > Me : Right, the same plan for each of my two lines. I tried using just one > line, but then I would sometimes get cut off the internet with the hotspot, > so I got a second line so I could use the internet without being interrupted > and still receive phone calls. > Roy : Let me check that for you. > Me : Sure, thanks. And to confirm, the question is am I no longer able to > swap my SIM cards between devices as I have been able to do for years now? > Roy : I do understand you, no need to worry you can use the new device under > same line number and I assure you that you will not have any service > interruption > Me : Then what caused the problem with my Nokia 6 yesterday? > Roy : Just now I checked that You will also have an option to swap the SIM > cards between the devices. > Roy : That must be some of the technical error so that caused for you. > Me : Actually, regarding my Nokia 6, from the text message I got yesterday, > I gather AT&T thought that device was too old to use. But how am I supposed > to know that beforehand? Or maybe that was a technical error after all? > Roy : As I noticed that the Nokia 6 is for the 4th, 3rd generation device. > Roy : But you can use the Nokia 6 device and it will work. 4g can be used. > Me : Okay, thanks. > Roy : You're welcome. > Roy : Just to recap, We have discussed about the device network and I have > help you with that and waived off $30 as reactivation charges from my end. > Is there anything else I can help you with? > Me : No, that's it. Thanks so much. > Roy : Happy to help! Thank you for choosing AT&T. We appreciate your > business. > Roy : You have been an amazing customer! > Roy : Take care and Be safe, You have been the good customer. > Roy : Please click 'X' on top right corner of this chat window to end the > conversation. > Me : Okay, thank you, and you take care as well. > Roy : Okay, Bye. > > > > ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and Globe logo > are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone > list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: > [email protected]. 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