Do you know the steps to switching cellular carriers?
I ordered the new Pixel XL phone by Google, and I ordered a Project Fi SIM card to go with the new phone. Project Fi works in my area, and it is much cheaper than what I’m paying for cell service now with AT&T.
I want to keep my old number.
When I ordered the SIM card with the new phone, I thought it would walk me through the steps to set up the new service, but it did not. Does that happen after the phone arrives?
I’ve had AT&T for many years, so this will be the first time I’ve switched.
What happens next?
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10 Answers
What you are doing is ‘porting’ your number.
Read this link
It’s a pretty simple process – you give Project Fi permission to request the number from AT&T. AT&T releases it. It may take a ouple days depending on how much assholeishness AT&T wants to be
Your new carrier has to get the number released by ATT.
@elbanditoroso beat me to it. FCC guidance here.
@Dutchess_III Fi is Google’s mobile service. It only works with their recent Nexus and the new Pixel phones.
I’m wondering if there is a physical store he can go to for help programming the phone. There is a lot more to it than adding the phone number. You have know how to “break into” the programming to do it, and also enter the SID (System ID) and various other things….although the folks he ordered it from may have entered all of that before they shipped it.
Also, before ATT will release your number you’ll have to be current on the bill and cancel the service.
Maybe things aren’t that complicated any more but I’m not an expert any more.
Transferring stuff from my old Samsung phone to my new Pixel phone will be simple. I use Google for everything, so all I have to do is put my password for my Gmail account in, and Google does all the work.
Thanks for the link to the Project Fi FAQs. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to check Google first. Oh well, I like hearing from jellies.
Hi! I switched from AT&T to Project Fi when I bought my last phone. When the SIM card arrived and I booted up the phone with the SIM card in it for the first time, I was guided through a process in which I was able to transfer my number without speaking to any humans. It is truly a great time to be alive.
@Mariah That’s exactly what I’m hoping for!
How has your experience been with Project Fi?
Great! I am on wifi most of the time, so I pretty consistently use just 1 gig of data per month – my bill is about $30, which is like half of what AT&T was charging me. I also have had no troubles with coverage, but I’m in a major metropolitan area so I’m sure that would be true of any carrier here.
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