How to change your Tracfone number?
By
HuutiMoney
This blog post will help you to change the Tracfone number. It gives you an idea about the things to be kept handy before changing the Tracfone number. It also provides the steps to transfer the Tracfone number.
How to change your Tracfone number?
The simplest method to change your Tracfone number is to call customer care at 1-800-867-7183.you need to provide the following details.
- Your zip code.
- SIM card number
- IMEI number of your device.
- The current phone number.
What is a Tracfone?
Tracfone is a mobile virtual network operator. That means Tracfone doesn’t have its towers, but it makes use of other wireless network towers. It operates services by using the towers of T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint.
A brief history of Tracfone
Tracfone wireless is a well-known prepaid service provider. It is abbreviated as TFWI (TracFone Wireless, Inc.). Tracfone is a contract cell phone service provider. It is an MVNO and it makes use of other wireless network towers. It has rights to use the towers of T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint.
Verizon acquired TracFone Wireless in 2021, presently TFWI is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications. Earlier TracFone service was limited to their own branded phones. Because these phones were locked to the Tracfone service provider by using an internal SIM.
In 2013 Tracfone started the” bring your phone program”, under which subscribers were able to put Tracfone SIM cards in a compatible CDMA phone like Verizon CDMA. In 2015, Tracfone extended this service for compatible GSM phones.
Tracfone wireless network also operates several other services including straight talk, simple mobile, total wireless, net ten wireless, total cellular, etc.
Key features of Tracfone
Some important key features of Tracfone are as follows
- It offers a no-contract prepaid cellular service.
- Operates on major network carriers including AT&T, Verizon and Verizon, and T-Mobile.
- Offers 4G LTE and 5G data speeds.
- Under “bring your phone program”, you can keep your old phone number.
- Provision of Wi-Fi calling.
- Provision of visual voicemail.
- Offers multi Month discount.
Pros of Tracfone
Some of the important pros of Tracfone service providers are as follows.
- No contract prepaid cellular service and no activation fees.
- The least expensive cell phone plans start at $7 per month and $20 for three months.
- Faster data and phone connections using major network carriers including AT&T, Verizon Verizon, and T-Mobile.
- Cost-effective plans for moderate data usage.
- Supports mobile hotspot.
- Offers “Bring your phone service”. You can continue using your old phone number.
- Provision to carry over-usage credits for all plans provided that your service is active.
- Cheap international calling as per the plan limits. You can add the countries using the Global card.
- Offers three virtual Mexican phone numbers with no extra charges. So that your friends from Mexico can call you using the local calling rate.
- Offers customer care service by phone or chat.
Cons of Tracfone
Some of the cons of Tracfone are as follows.
- Cell phone plans are complex.
- Expensive for heavy data users.
- Does not offer international text messaging.
- Video streaming at DVD quality.
Things to be kept handy before changing Tracfone number
You need to know the following things in order to change the Tracfone number.
- IMEI number of your device
- SIM card number.
What is International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)?
IMEI is a special identifier associated with Global Mobile Communications System (GSM) phones IMEI is used to identify a device on a cellular network. GSM phones are assigned with 15–17-digit identifiers. It is your device’s social security number. It identifies the device uniquely and the network it is being used on.
How to get the IMEI number of your phone?
The simplest way is, you will get an IMEI number on the label of the mobile battery. If it is not clear then use the following steps to retrieve the IMEI number of your AT&T phone.
- Dial *#06# on your phone device.
- Click on the “settings” and then click on “General”.
- Click on the “change device” link then select your device and enter “find IMEI number”.
- The article will be displayed for your device, follow the instructions.
Information provided by IMEI
IMEI tells you plenty of specifications about the device like
- Brand
- Mobile phone model
- Date of purchase
- year of release
- Warranty
- Kind of device -iOS /Android
When you make a call the IMEI information along with the phone number reaches the service provider.IMEI provides only device-related information and not any personal information of the owner. But it does provide a location and some network-related information.IMEI can also retrieve the call logs as when you make a call using your device the SIM sends the IMEI number with the phone number to the telecom operator
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 hardcoded 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 won’t be able to use your device. The device can be denied service to any cellular network even if the SIM is changed.
How to get a SIM card number?
Take out the SIM card from your device. On the sim card, you can see the series of numbers starting with 89, it is the SIM card number.
Does it cost money to change the number?
You don’t have to pay anything to change your Tracfone number.it is a free service offered by Tracfone. In a year you can change your Tracfone number four times and you can also choose the number.
How can you transfer the Tracfone number?
The different ways to transfer a Tracfone number are as follows.
- Online transfer
- Call to Tracfone customer care number
- By using the customer support live chat option.
Online transfer
The following steps are used to transfer a Tracfone number using the Tracfone website.
- Open the official website of Tracfone.
- Using your credentials log in to your account.
- Select the option “Activate phone, add or buy airtime”
- To get the drop-down menu, click on “Activate the phone” on the subsequent page.
- Click on the option “Transfer number”
- By agreeing to the terms and conditions, click on the option “continue”.
If you are switching to the new network provider then you need to click on the option “Transfer number to the different provider”.If you want to transfer your number to a new phone then you need to enter the model number and brand of the phone.
Call to Tracfone customer care number
The simplest technique to transfer your number is to call customer care support at 1-800-867-7183. The representative will help you to transfer the number.
By using the customer support live chat option
The Tracfone provides a facility for live chat. This is also a quick option to transfer your number.
How can you port a number to Tracfone?
Porting is preferred if you want to keep your existing phone number. Your phone device must be unlocked and compatible with Tracfone. Most of the CDMA and GSM phones are compatible with Tracfone. Many MVNOs that run on the major network are also compatible with Tracfone. You can port your number to Tracfone under the “BYOP’ (Bring your phone) program.
What are the eligibility criteria?
- The cell phone should not be reported as blocked or lost.
- An account concerned with the device must be active.
- Depending upon prepaid or postpaid plans, the device should satisfy all necessary unlock requirements.
- All your bills must be clear.
Can I activate my old Tracfone number?
You can activate your old Tracfone number by using the following steps
- Open the official website of Tracfone.
- Log into your account.
- Select the option “I have a Tracfone phone”
- Enter the IMEI number of the phone.
- Read and accept the terms and conditions.
Below are other TracFone Wireless articles you may be interested in:
How to port number to Tracfone?
Conclusion:
This blog post addressed the topic, “How to change your Tracfone number?” Here we understood the process by which you can change your Tracfone number. This article outlined different methods used to transfer the Tracfone number.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to change your Tracfone number?
What is the main difference between T-mobile and Tracfone?
T mobile is a major cell phone carrier. T-Mobile makes use of its network. It has roaming agreements with other major carriers to improve the network coverage.
Tracfone does not have its towers. It is MVNO(a Mobile virtual network operator). The Tracfone uses four major carriers, namely Verizon, AT& T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. But you don’t have a choice to move from one network carrier to another.
Is a Tracfone SIM card compatible with unlocked GSM phones?
Tracfone makes use of a SIM card. So you can easily switch to the Tracfone network from other network carriers. If you have an unlocked GSM or CDMA phone then you can use a Tracfone SIM card.
What are the pros of Tracfone?
Some of the important pros of Tracfone service providers are as follows.
- No contract prepaid cellular service and no activation fees.
- The least expensive cell phone plans start at $7 per month and $20 for three months.
- Faster data and phone connections using major network carriers including AT&T, Verizon Verizon, and T-Mobile.
- Cost-effective plans for moderate data usage.
- Supports mobile hotspot.
- Offers “Bring your phone service”. You can continue using your old phone number.
- Provision to carry over-usage credits for all plans provided that your service is active.
- Cheap international calling as per the plan limits. You can add the countries using the Global card.
- Offers three virtual Mexican phone numbers with no extra charges. So that your friends from Mexico can call you using the local calling rate.
- Offers customer care service by phone or chat.
What networks does Tracfone use?
Tracfone does not have its network towers. It operates the services by using four major networks; AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. If you are a Tracfone subscriber then depending on your phone and location you will be using one of the major networks.
What are the cons of Tracfone?
Some of the cons of Tracfone are as follows.
- Cell phone plans are complex.
- Expensive for heavy data users.
- Does not offer international text messaging.
- Video streaming at DVD quality.
What are “As you go on plans”?
These plants are available in 60, 90, and 365 days increments. If any subscriber purchases a particular plan and uses all the Talktime in the first few days then for the remaining days they will not be able to make or receive any calls. But to handle such situations one can always use the least top-up options.
References :
How to Change a TracFone Number
By Nick Davis
How to Transfer Tracfone Minutes to Another Tracfone Number
By LaoA
How to Switch a TracFone Number to Another TracFone
By Maya Walker
Guide to Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
How To Transfer Your Tracfone Number
And Keep Your Minutes
How to Port a Number to a Tracfone
By Angela Reinholz