Activation requirements prepaid phone

In case, you are a business customer, you should then call in order to activate your SIM card. This way, you will be connected to the customer care of this carrier. Follow the recorded voice commands and within no time, you will be connected to a real person who is actually the customer care representative.

Once you reach this professional, you should let him or her know that you want to activate your Verizon SIM card. If this information is correct, you can be sure that your SIM card will be activated within a few seconds. Besides contacting customer care, you can now activate this SIM card by using an app.

For you to do this, you should ensure that your device of choice is connected to the internet. Having done this, you can now tap on the My Verizon app on your smartphone and then sign in. Thereafter choose the type of device and the OS if it is not detected automatically. Once this is done, the phone will be activated.

Tap Next, review the message and then tap Next. Choose one of the following options:. Choose a plan and then choose the desired plan option and then tap Select plan. You can then tap continue and keep scrolling. This way, you will be able to activate your Verizon SIM card.

Apart from the above-mentioned two methods, it is possible to activate your SIM card online and be able to enjoy Verizon cellular services. For you to do this, you should connect your device to a Wireless network or hotspot and then open Verizon Activate or Switch Device page. Once this is done, you should then log in with your User ID or mobile number. In case you have not yet registered your phone number, you should click the Register button and then enter your digit mobile number given by this carrier.

However, if you registered in the past and forgot the User ID or password, you should click on Forgot your info and follow the prompts that will follow. Here, you will be able to see a list of devices whether you are using an old account or a new one.

Ideally, you should ensure that you have this number on the SIM card receipt or on the card itself. In case you have the SIM card on your phone you should follow the instructions given by this carrier. You can readily find them in the middle of the page, where you will find the number as well.

Thereafter, follow the instructions that will follow. It is important to note that your actions after checking the SIM ID will vary depending on your card and the phone you are using. Once you have completed the setup on your screen, you should now be able to use your phone. If you have to switch out the SIM card, ensure that your device is switched off and then remove the current SIM card and then replace it with the new one in order to complete the activation process.

First and foremost, the process of activate your Verizon Prepaid phone is generally simple and straightforward. However, the best way to activate your Verizon prepaid phone is to have it done at the point of purchase. That said, this does not mean that you cannot do it at home. Such is usually the case if you bought the phone through an online retailer. As long as you follow these instructions you will be good to go. Before activating your device, you should prepare it first by installing the SIM card that came with the prepaid phone.

Once you do this, you should not rush to insert your SIM first. It is important that you write down the 20 digit number on the card as you will need this information for you to activate the device. Once you have these details, insert the SIM and then close the tray.

If your device did not have enough charge, you can charge it first and then carry out the activation process later. Although the setup process is typically quick, having sufficient charge will guarantee good results. As you purpose to activate your prepaid Verizon device, you need to have another phone to make an activation call. This is because your current phone is not activated and as such, it cannot dial out at all. Here, you can ask your friend to give you his or her device for a few minutes.

For you to make an activation call, you should dial You will note that this call is normally automated and normally requires you to follow a few prompts in order to move the call forward. Here, you will be asked the type of device that is being activated, and the SIM number on the device. You should ensure that you enter the right details for the activation process to be successful.

It is important to note that Verizon at this point has everything required for the phone setup. Enter your Verizon PIN or credit card information so as to send and confirm the payment. Thereafter, you will be able to receive a phone number and security code. Jot these details down for the final activation process. Finally, turn on the device and connect it to the internet through a Wi-Fi network.

The phone will walk you through the final steps so as to activate your Verizon prepaid phone. When that happens, you can buy more minutes immediately or within a time limit.

Or you can just stop using the phone. What are the advantages of prepaid cell phones? How do the calling plans work? And, who are the carriers? Check out the next page to find out more about prepaid cell phones.

How much you know about cell phones and what they do? Test your knowledge with our Cell Phone Quiz! The main advantage of prepaid cell phones is the combination of freedom and control that they offer. With a prepaid cell phone, you're not locked into a multi-year plan with a set number of minutes per month during specific calling times, additional charges if you exceed the limit and a costly fee if you break the contract.

You're free to talk whenever you want, as long as you want, until you run out of minutes. And you don't have to pay a monthly bill. Talking more one month and less the next makes no difference, and leftover minutes roll over from one month to the next. Plus, if you want to change to a different type of plan, a prepaid phone gives you the freedom to switch whenever you want.

Because they don't require a contract, prepaid phones are fast and easy to buy. They also are available at many locations, ready to use immediately and even disposable.

Cheap, anonymous prepaid cell phones have helped make text messaging a political tool in the Philippines where more people use cell phones than landlines. Activist groups can reach millions of subscribers instantly with virtual grassroots campaigns that include messages to organize protest meetings, political quotes forwarded to hundreds of friends, organized messaging to government officials and links to downloadable political ringtones.

Because the prepaid phones cannot be traced to their users, government opponents and disgruntled citizens can send political messages without fear of reprisal [source: United Press International ].

While a prepaid cell phone offers many advantages, it also can present problems for its users. One of the biggest problems is the cost per minute, a serious disadvantage for anyone who talks a lot on a cell phone. With increased interest in the prepaid market, prepaid phone rates have dropped and plans improved.

In most cases, however, per-minute rates still usually are lower with traditional contract plans [source: TMCNet ].

Expiring minutes and service -- The minutes you buy for your prepaid cell phone may come with an expiration date of 30 or 90 days. If so, you'll lose them if you don't use them by then. You also may need to buy minutes regularly to extend the activation period.

Unexpected fees -- With a prepaid cell phone, you won't pay monthly taxes or termination fees as with traditional plans, but you may find other unexpected fees -- or higher fees than you'd expect for extra services. You also may be charged for roaming, sending text messages or photos, downloading ring tones or games and accessing the Web [source: CNET ].

Limited features -- You probably won't find the latest, most sophisticated features on the average cheap prepaid cell phone.

It probably won't be a picture phone. It also won't have Internet access or the ability to share videos. However, some companies are offering more high-tech phones. Virgin Mobile , for example, offers phones ranging from basic to those with mobile Web, camera with flash, audio and picture messaging, Bluetooth wireless and mobile instant messaging and e-mail.

Untransferrable phone number -- If you switch to another phone carrier, you probably won't be able to transfer your prepaid phone number. Worse yet, if you allow your prepaid cell phone to deactivate by not using it or buying minutes within the prescribed time, you'll probably be assigned a new number when you reactivate it. That means having to notify everyone about your new number [source: HubDex ].

Next, let's take a closer look at prepaid cell phone plans and how to go about finding the right one for your needs. Prepaid cell phones offer anonymity, and that's not something everyone likes -- particularly law enforcement agencies. In Texas, a state senator has introduced a proposal that targets gang members and would bring cell phone users out into the open.

If it becomes law, the proposal will require prepaid phone buyers to show a state ID and sellers to track the sales.

Buyers would be limited to three cell phones at a time. Cell phone manufacturers and carriers would need to retain phone records for use in criminal investigations [source: Business Week ]. When you start looking at prepaid cell phone plans, you'll find a lot of variations. You can, for example, buy a phone with basic service and then just add minutes as you need them.

You can select a more high-tech phone with added features and services, and you can buy larger bundles of minutes to get them more cheaply. You also can choose a prepaid phone contract that's almost a hybrid of a prepaid plan and a traditional monthly plan. Let's take a closer look at examples of each. Calls cost 10 cents per minute to or from other Virgin Mobile phone numbers and 20 cents per minute to everyone else.

You have to sign up for the plan with a credit card or checking account number, but you can cancel at any time. The cheapest plan provides anytime minutes at 15 cents each, while the most expensive plan offers minutes at 11 cents each with unlimited mobile-to-mobile and night and weekend calling.

As with TracFone, payment is automatically deducted from a credit card or checking account. Start with the plan, not the phone, experts advise. Then look at the service quality you can expect to receive from the plan in your area.

Finally, whether you choose true pay-as-you-go or a monthly plan, look closely at charges as well as minute rates. These may include:. Once you've picked your plan type, the next decision is which provider to use. Let's look at that next. Prepaid cell phone providers can be classified as mobile virtual network operators MVNOs or traditional wireless carriers.

The MVNOs focus on the prepaid phone business, leasing space on traditional carriers' networks rather than having their own. Here are some strengths for each of these prepaid cell phone providers, based on reviews and surveys by consumer experts:. Virgin Mobile -- Feature-rich plans with competitive pricing. Ranked highest in J.

Powers' survey of wireless prepaid customer satisfaction, scoring particularly well in service cost, account management, initial activation and service plan options. Readers Choice award from PC Magazine for highest ratings among prepaid carriers based on impressive plans. Boost Mobile -- Targeted at youthful users; strong on in-demand features like push-to-talk PTT walkie-talkie capabilities and a camera phone with MP3 player and video recorders.

Reduced-rate evening and weekend calling. It was ranked second highest in J. Powers' survey of wireless prepaid customer satisfaction. TracFone -- Simple pricing and easy to use; inexpensive phones, carry-over minutes, screen view of number of remaining minutes. Recommended by WirelessGuide. Some plans offer unlimited text messaging and unlimited nights and weekends.

Traditional cell phone providers have done business mainly through long-term monthly contracts with customers. However, they also are stepping up and sweetening prepaid offerings to get a piece of this growing market. Here are some strengths for each, again based on surveys and reviews. Ranked above industry average in J. T-Mobile To Go -- Sidekick with camera and keyboard and Motorola Razr phones, plus a wide array of phone features, including free incoming text and picture messaging and competitive pricing.

Highest rating from PrepaidReviews. Verizon INpulse -- Same good quality and customer service as the traditional plans; large selection of phones including keyboard-equipped LG and Motorola Razr; unlimited calling at night and to other Verizon phones. Readers Choice award from PC Magazine for highest ratings among prepaid carriers based on superior call quality. Rated best for frequent talkers, based on low minute rate, by WirelessGuide. Maybe you'd like to use a prepaid cell phone for calls to or from other countries.

Go to the next page to learn more about international prepaid cell phones. How prepaid users buy additional minutes: 36 percent buy a card at a local retailer and 36 percent buy through the provider's Web site.