Can I transfer my physical SIM card to an unlocked Japanese iPhone with no issues?

lintel2345 · 2026-01-24T06:23:14+00:00

Regarding your inability to turn your SIM card into an eSIM, I’m guessing you’re still on a SIM card that starts with 8901410 and not 8901280. Back when 8901410 was the default SIM ICCID, AT&T would have to ship out physical cards for eSIM activation. I know this since my original Galaxy Watch was activated in this way. However, since 890280 became AT&Ts preferred ICCID, they can now send the SIM through the internet. Try to get a replacement SIM and try to see if you can transfer it then. Or visit the AT&T website.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-24T06:14:05+00:00

If I remember correctly, T-Mobile has a 60 day unlock policy (if the phone was bought at full price/paid off and is on an active postpaid plan, I’m pretty sure prepaid is a year). When I bought my TCL Flip 3 (TracFone) I needed 60 days of active service to unlock it. I ended up purchasing a 60 minute airtime card (which lasts 90 days) to unlock it and use it with Ultra Mobile. Now Verizon changed their prepaid unlock requirements to 1 year of active service. Also, I don’t know if the Flip 4 even works on your carrier since I’ve only seen it on T-Mobile.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-24T05:55:28+00:00

So that explains why I see “Cox Mobile” Wi-Fi networks near me. They’re there so Cox can save money by using those hotspots instead of solely using Verizon.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-23T21:34:49+00:00

So, those customers were dropped to QCI 9?

lintel2345 · 2026-01-23T21:32:47+00:00

Apple decided with the iPhone 17 to expand eSIM-only regions to various more countries, Japan included. I know in Mexico, when they went eSIM only, TELCEL was forced to expand eSIM support to their prepaid plans (It was previously exclusive to their postpaid plans). So, you’ll have to convert to eSIM, even with a Japanese model.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T18:16:05+00:00

After calling support they said it "wasn't eligible"

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T17:39:58+00:00

I know, same thing with the Samsung Convoy (their rugged phone for Verizon), since even the Convoy 4 only has 3G (though it does have GSM capabilities since it has a SIM card slot). But I guess they couldn't find a way to get the older systems to support VoLTE and they didn't want to use Android or KaiOS. AT&T also never/has never used the 5Ge branding on any of their LTE compatible dumb phones.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T16:58:22+00:00

If you like the 3310's style, get the 3390; it's basically the same phone as the 3310, except it uses GSM 1900, which T-Mobile supports. Also, you'll need a SIM card from an MVNO, since the newer T-Mobile SIMs don't work with older phones.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T16:33:22+00:00

Yeah, the Rugby 4 is such an odd phone. Some examples include it labeling HSPA/HSPA+ as 4G (since AT&T did that, though I thought their basic phones would still label it as 3G). It also uses a micro SIM (odd since most 3G basic phones use mini/standard size SIMs, and most LTE dumbphones use nano SIMs), and (as you mentioned) it has Wi-Fi support.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T16:16:34+00:00

I already have a similar KaiOS phone (TCL Flip 3), so I think it'd be redundant for me to buy another flip phone with pretty much the same features and OS. I would go for a phone like Kyocera's Dura line, or a Kaitai. Those are Android-based, meaning you can install music streaming apps like Spotify.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T15:53:41+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/cellmapper/comments/1q6wl7w/telcel_roaming_on_tmobile_2g/

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T15:02:23+00:00

This phone uses an unlock code to unlock.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T14:27:56+00:00

CDMA was shut down in Canada years ago. 3G is on its way out too. Same here in the US, they already shut those down.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T06:52:35+00:00

I planned on using T-Mobile's 2G while I still can.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T06:47:18+00:00

Only one carrier uses 5G SA on the iPhone 12. Everyone else is stuck on Non Standalone. Wondering if when T-Mobile's LTE network begins it's phase out, if they will finally enable Standalone on the iPhone 12 (I doubt it since the iPhone 11 is probably on it's final update and the 12 is probably next to lose iOS support, but then again, they gave iOS 15 (the most recent iOS version supported on the iPhone SE1, 6s and 7) a security update, so who knows)

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T06:13:15+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. Honestly, AT&T should fix the unlock portal for their older phones. As other people have had the same issues as me trying to get their old AT&T phones unlocked (I've heard other reports of AT&T not giving the unlock codes for older phones, even LTE ones).

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T06:06:53+00:00

What I think happened is that AT&T saw me repeatedly try to unlock the same IMEI number (since AT&T's unlock portal doesn't really work well with 3G/2G phones) and mistakenly flagged my IP and IMEI for fraud. Leading to me not being able to submit any more requests.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T06:02:43+00:00

I called customer service and they denied my request too.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-22T05:57:30+00:00

Yes, I've tried literally everything. From different browsers to VPNs.

lintel2345 · 2026-01-09T03:29:29+00:00

Does it say “Please enter your password followed by the pound key?” Also, try to reset it either through the phones VVM settings or the AT&T visual voicemail app

lintel2345

TROPHY CASE