Does sprint use sim cards for iphone?

This blog post titled “Does sprint use sim cards for iphone?” will provide you with the details of using a Sprint SIM card in an iPhone. It also includes network carriers used by Sprint, Steps to use the Sprint sim card on iPhone, and How to Activate your Sprint SIM on a new device

Does sprint use SIM cards for iphone?

Yes, Sprint uses a SIM card for iPhone 6, iPhone 7, and any other new iPhone models. Because these phones are compatible both with CDMA and GSM technologies, such phones have sim card slots. But iphone4 and older models don’t have a sim card slot as such phones use CDMA technology.

Is Sprint T-Mobile now?

Yes, the Sprint brand has officially been discontinued and is successfully acquired by T-Mobile. If you have network-capable phones then it can take advantage of both CDMA and GSM services. This is possible because of the roaming agreements between T -mobile and Sprint. 

If you have an older Sprint phone which supports only CDMA networks then it will not work properly with T-Mobile’s GSM services. In this case, you need to upgrade the phone device. 

Network carrier used

There are two network carriers, namely GSM and CDMA.

 T-mobile is a GSM network carrier and Sprint is a CDMA network carrier. GSM is second-generation cellular technology used for mobile voice and data services. CDMA is code division multiple access.

What is GSM? 

GSM is second-generation digital cellular technology initially developed by “European Technical Standards Institute (ETSI)”. To create a common European mobile standard, a standardization group was established in 1982, named GMS.

What is CDMA?

CDMA stands for code discussion multiple access. In the CDMA technology, many users share the same carrier frequency. In CDMA, a share of bandwidth, as well as time, is achieved.

CDMA users have their pseudo-random codeword, which is orthogonal to other keywords. The signal detection is more difficult in CDMA compared to GSM. This is because CDMA has inbuilt encryption.

How to get a new sim card?

You can just buy a new Sprint device and get a newsprint SIM card with it. The device will have a SIM card that connects it to the Sprint network.

You can either buy the Sprint phone online through the official Sprint Website or you can just visit the Sprint store.

While getting the device, go through all the plans, offers and choose the one that suits your work and is also economical.

What if you are upgrading to a new Sprint device?

When you upgrade your Sprint device, you do get a SIM card along with it if at all the previous Sprint Sim card is not compatible with the new phone.

You may take support from the Sprint service to transfer the old Sim card to the updated Sprint device in some cases.

Can you move/port your Sprint SIM number to another carrier?

If you want to port your Sprint sim number to another carrier you need to take support of Sprint to port to a new carrier and new device successfully.

 Get the Sprint SIM card for your device (bought from a different carrier)

Just like other carrier services, even Sprint allows you to bring your device which might be from a different carrier or not bought from Sprint to switch to Sprint.

Even if the device is from another carrier or might have been bought online, you can still move to the Sprint network and get a Sprint SIM card.

Not all devices are compatible with Sprint SIM as all services work on different telecom standards and frequencies

You can visit Sprint or contact their customer care service to confirm the compatibility of your device with the Sprint SIM.

Some devices are carrier locked which can only work on a specific carrier service that sold them.

Before moving to Sprint contact your previous carrier to help you with the unlocking process.

How to switch to a Sprint SIM card

If you are planning to switch to the Sprint network with your old device, first you need to check If the device is compatible with the Sprint network.

To check the compatibility just visit the official Sprint website.

It’s a simple 4 step process:

  • First, check the compatibility of your device with the Sprint network. On the website the entire list of domestic phones is given, you can scan through the list and confirm. If you do not find your device on the list you can visit the Sprint store for more details.
  • After confirming that your device is compatible with the Sprint SIM, buy the Sprint sim kit from the Sprint store or online.
  • Once you have ordered your SIM choose the best plan for your device
  • Now take your device and the SIM kit to the Sprint store to get it activated.

This feature is now available for only domestic devices. In some cases, even if the device is compatible, you may not get the full experience if the device has network bad limitations. The device needs to be unlocked by the current carrier. The device’s IMEI should be clear.

How to activate Sprint SIM card:

  If you have a new Sprint SIM you can easily activate it for your device to function correctly. Activating a SIM card is important as it stores a lot of important data related to your cell phone and payment details.

  Mostly Sprint SIM cards come with the device but you can purchase them separately and activate it

   You can you the following steps to activate your Sprint SIM

  •  First note down the serial number of your SIM card, you can find this on the lower part of the SIM card. This information is required for the network provider to activate the SIM card.
  • Insert the SIM card into the mobile device and power on your cell phone.
  • Now call “*2” To call Sprint, you can speak to a Sprint representative by following the prompts. The sprint person will guide you through the activation process. Once activated, end the call.

How to Activate your Sprint SIM on a new device

If you have bought a new device and you want to swap it with your account, you need to follow a few guidelines

  •  Keep the box safe and charge your phone.
  • Take note of the activation code present on the box or you can dial *#06# to find it.
  • While your phone is charging back up all the data that you want by going to the official Sprint website sprint.com/backup. You have a “how-to guide” to help you with the steps.
  • Create My sprint account, if you have it already, just sign in.

                        Even after following all the steps, some services of your device might not get transferred to your new one. You might need to re-establish it once you finish the activation

 

What are the requirements for SIM Registration?

When you want to activate and register your sprint SIM you need to keep a few thongs in mind

  • Keep the device fully charged If you are doing it on your phone, and make sure there are no interruptions during the entire process.
  • Keep your IMEI (International mobile equipment identity) ready.  Dial “#06#” to get the IMEI of your device.
  •  You need to be a sprint account owner to activate the Sprint SIM online, by logging in using your Sprint Credentials.

Are all iPhones compatible with Sprint? 

The iPhones which are making use of the GSM service of T-Mobile and AT&T, are compatible with Sprint. This is because these iPhones use a  SIM card and Sprint also offers a new SIM card. 

But Verizon phones make use of CDMA technology. So these phones are not compatible. In the case of CDMA, there is no option to put a SIM card, so these phones are not compatible. 

But some newer Verizon’s iPhone 5supports both CDMA and GSM technology. So these phones are compatible. 

Is it possible to use a CDMA iPhone with Sprint?

 Network Carrier sprint, Verizon makes use of CDMA. Since there is no slot for GSM cards, these older iPhones cannot be directly used with the Sprint. 

But you can flash the phone so that it will be compatible with sprint. The term flashing is related to reprogramming the phone. It is similar to unlocking a GSM device. The flashing is used for CDMA devices. But flashing the phone is a third-party operation. 

Can I put the already activated Sprint SIM card in an iPhone? 

If you have an already activated Sprint sim card then it will work smoothly with iPhone 6, iPhone 7, and any other new iPhone models. 

  • Call customer care for transferring the service to your new iPhone.
  • The older phone must be switched off during the process. 
  • You should have an IMEI number handy to carry out the transfer process smoothly. 
  • You can use a Wi-Fi connection during this transfer process because the data package will not work on the new iPhone. 

How to check the compatibility of your phone using IMEI? 

Even if you have an unlocked phone, you need to check the compatibility of your device on the Sprint network. Use the IMEI number to check whether your device is compatible with T-Mobile or not. 

How to check IMEI? 

To check the IMEI number of your device following steps are used. 

  • From the Home screen, select Main Menu.
  • Scroll to and select Settings.
  • Scroll to and select Phone Settings.
  • Scroll to and select Phone info.
  • Scroll to and select Version info.
  • Scroll to and view the IMEI.

Use phone settings to get the number. Here’s

  • Android
    Go to” Settings and  click on “ About Phone”, then select the option ” Status.”
  • Windows phone
    Go to Settings > About, then More information.
  • iPhone
    Go to Settings > General, then About.

 Or

On the dial pad screen, press *#06#, and you will see the IMEI. Some phones require you to press the send key after the code.

Once you have the IMEI number you can directly go to https://imei.net/carrier/t-mobile-imei-check/ enter your IMEI number there and click on check.

How does IMEI help service providers?

GSM uses subscriber identity module cards to store subscribers’ information. Customers can easily switch the SIM card from one device to another and start making calls without any problem. It helps operators identify valid customers and disable the devices from their end if reported lost or stolen.

IMEI is a hardcoded lock-in by the manufacturer; it helps the carrier understand the capabilities of the device; it helps the provider to get the device to a nearby tower for connection.

If you lose your phone or if it gets stolen, IMEI will help you make sure the person who stole it and that person won’t be able to use your device. The device can be denied service to any cellular network even if the SIM is changed.

Below are other Sprint articles you may be interested in:

Are Sprint and T-mobile the same?

Does Sprint get good service?

Does Sprint throttle their unlimited data?

Conclusion:

This blog explains to you all the ways by which you can put a Sprint SIM card in an iPhone. This blog gives you details about checking compatibility with the Sprint network and steps to activate your phone with the Sprint network. 

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQS): Does sprint use sim cards for iphone?

Can you put a sprint SIM card in an unlocked phone? 

Yes, you can use a Sprint SIM card for a domestically unlocked phone. On the official Sprint website there is a list of all the devices which are compatible with Sprint SIM cards, once unlocked.

What is stored on Sprint SIM?

The Sprint SIM card can store contacts, a few text messages, and some other carrier-related information. Other media files and documents are not stored.

 Can I use a Sprint SIM card in T-Mobile phones? 

If the device is unlocked, you can use your sprint SIM card with T-Mobile phones. 

Is Sprint T-Mobile now?

 Yes, the Sprint brand has officially been discontinued and is successfully acquired by T-Mobile as of August 3, 2020. 

How to check IMEI? 

To check the IMEI number of your device following steps are used. 

  • From the Home screen, select Main Menu.
  • Scroll to and select Settings.
  • Scroll to and select Phone Settings.
  • Scroll to and select Phone info.
  • Scroll to and select Version info.
  • Scroll to and view the IMEI.

 You can find the number in your phone’s settings. Here’s

  • Android
    Go to Settings > About Phone, then Status.
  • Windows phone
    Go to Settings > About, then More information.
  • iPhone
    Go to Settings > General, then About.

 Or

On the dial pad screen, press *#06#, and you will see the IMEI. Some phones require you to press the send key after the code.

Can Sprint give you a new SIM card?

 Yes, if you are upgrading your device and your old sprint SIM is not compatible with the new device, Sprint will provide you with a new one.

References:

What the T-Mobile and Sprint Merger Means for You

JULIAN CHOKKATTUGEAR08.31.2020 

https://www.wired.com/story/t-mobile-sprint-merger-guide/

Can Sprint Customers Switch To Tmobile

 Query https://howtodiscuss.com/t/can-sprint-customers-switch-to-tmobile/82179?amp=1

How to Buy a Sprint SIM Card, By Steven Melendez, June 1, 2019

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-buy-a-sprint-sim-card

 T-Mobile Support, Devices

https://www.t-mobile.com/support/devices/sim-cards

Sprint is now T-Mobile, Bring your device

https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/bring-your-own-phone.html

Networkbees, How to Activate Sprint SIM Card Online

Some things to know regarding SIM Cards when activating an unlocked Device on Sprint By Shaen DE Cesari

https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/11/29/some-things-to-know-regarding-sim-cards-when-activating-an-unlocked-device-on-sprint/

How to Activate a New SIM Card on a Sprint Phone

https://forums.tomsguide.com/faq/how-to-activate-a-new-sim-card-on-a-sprint-phone.21628/