Communications technology is forever changing, and our phones with it! Most of us tend to get a new phone every few years or so. Have you recently bought a new phone? Well then, lucky you 🍀
The SIM card, the heart of your modern phone, is often overlooked. Let’s celebrate the SIM card and go through everything that you need to know about why you might need a new one to go with your new phone, how you can activate it, and some other wonderful tips. It doesn't matter why you need a replacement SIM card, they are free of charge, and you can order online or pick up in any Three store. Just remember to bring ID!
Reasons to get a new SIM
- Sometimes it’s just because they get old. Like any microchip, the circuits become run down and over-used. The plastic material may warp due to the normal heating of the phone, or even the heat from the phone being in your hand. We recommend getting a new SIM every 18 to 24 months.
- If you have recently received a new phone as a present or as an upgrade, then it is more than likely time for a new SIM as well. Most new smartphones require a Nano SIM, and you might have one in your old phone, but it's still a good idea to get a new one. Maybe you have a standard or Micro SIM card and your new phone is Nano – in this case, you will definitely need to change the SIM.
- Unfortunately, you will need to replace your SIM if you have lost your phone or it was stolen. Before you replace your SIM though, you should contact us ASAP, so we can temporarily bar your number to avoid any unauthorised usage. At this point, we should also stress how important it is to insure your phone!
Keeping your contacts, videos and photos
Contacts: First off, do you have an Android phone? Then you should remove your contacts from your old SIM, as this is going to be deactivated. Android smartphones allow for both importing and exporting contacts from your SIM, however with iPhones, you can only import from your old SIM. Have a look at the following links to help with your SIM contacts.
Android: https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android
iPhone: https://support.apple.com/en-ie/HT202340
Back up: There are a few ways to do this and it is all down to a matter of preference. I’m an Android user and find that syncing and backing up my phone with my Google account works like a charm. For iPhone users, it’s as easy as syncing to the iCloud. Even moving from Samsung to iPhone, or any type of phone is a simple task, as all of the instructions come with your new phone on start-up.
Another handy tip here is to connect your old phone to your PC/laptop and transfer all of your photos and videos over there.
You are almost there!
Activating your new SIM card on Three couldn’t be simpler, just go online and activate your new SIM card. (If you are a Three Business customer, you will need to contact our Web Messaging team, who are available from 9am to 7pm Monday - Friday and 9am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.)
There are three straightforward steps to activating your SIM. You will need to set up your account type, security questions, and contact details. To do this, you will need the long serial number from the SIM card packaging, and this will begin with 89 353.
SIM replacement normally takes 2-4 hours to fully process, and if you request the SIM replacement after 8pm, it will not be processed until the following morning. You will have service on your old SIM until the new SIM is active. In some cases, when the service on your old SIM drops, you will need to restart the phone with the new SIM in it.
Why hasn’t my new SIM activated?
Sometimes you might have a typo in your details and this will create an error, meaning that your SIM activation won’t go through. You will receive a notification of this, and you will need to submit the online form again.
Other times, especially around Christmas and new phone launches, there might be a delay due to the number of SIM activation requests that we get. The length of time can vary between 24-48 hours. But remember, you will have service on your old SIM until the new one kicks in 👌
Have a different question? Why not search the 3Community, or start a new topic with your query? Remember, the 3Community never sleeps 😊
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