iMessage and changing sim card

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › iMessage and changing sim card

alikat

369 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

Trusted

Topic # 147329 16-Jun-2014 13:54

Hoping someone can help me with this. Probably a total n00b question, but next week I'm going to the USA. I have my AT&T sim card ready to go. If I change my sim card from my present vodafone one, which is tied to my imessage, to my AT&T one, which hasn't been used yet - will I still get imessages sent to my vodafone number while I'm away or will they vanish into the abyss?

SaltyNZ

4411 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1924

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1066637 16-Jun-2014 13:59

I've heard some horror stories, but personally never experienced an issue. Just make sure you reactivate iMessage again after you put the new SIM in.

iPad Air + iPhone SE + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

gehenna

4478 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1066641 16-Jun-2014 14:12

Turn iMessage OFF prior to changing the SIM. Turn it ON when your new SIM is in.

Do the same when changing back to the original SIM. That should cover you.

PhantomNVD

2467 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 667

Reply # 1066644 16-Jun-2014 14:19

gehenna: Turn iMessage OFF prior to changing the SIM. Turn it ON when your new SIM is in.

Do the same when changing back to the original SIM. That should cover you.

as stated here, turning iMessage OFF apparently sends a 'msg' to Apple servers to deactivate their iMessage link to your phone/number, and this should 'unlink' the local number before you go.

with Vodafones $5-a-day deal, wouldn't it just be easier/cheaper to keep the vodafone sim in (unless you're making lots of 'overseas' US number calls?

alikat

369 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

Trusted

Reply # 1066650 16-Jun-2014 14:35

PhantomNVD:
gehenna: Turn iMessage OFF prior to changing the SIM. Turn it ON when your new SIM is in.

Do the same when changing back to the original SIM. That should cover you.

as stated here, turning iMessage OFF apparently sends a 'msg' to Apple servers to deactivate their iMessage link to your phone/number, and this should 'unlink' the local number before you go.

with Vodafones $5-a-day deal, wouldn't it just be easier/cheaper to keep the vodafone sim in (unless you're making lots of 'overseas' US number calls?

I still want to be able to receive iMessages at my Vodafone number while I'm away, so don't want to deactivate that. Wish I had a plan that I was eligible for the $5/day a deal, but I'm on an old plan that still has eight months to run until the contract is over. But even 28 days, at $5/day, still works out cheaper to use an AT&T Sim.

Dynamic

2397 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 701

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1066653 16-Jun-2014 14:37

You could always buy a cheap mobile when over there and turn off data roaming on your iPhone, relying on WiFi for iMessage.

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2600
Inactive user

Reply # 1066657 16-Jun-2014 14:39

Use whatsapp

PhantomNVD

2467 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 667

Reply # 1066886 16-Jun-2014 18:33

alikat:
PhantomNVD:
gehenna: Turn iMessage OFF prior to changing the SIM. Turn it ON when your new SIM is in.

Do the same when changing back to the original SIM. That should cover you.

as stated here, turning iMessage OFF apparently sends a 'msg' to Apple servers to deactivate their iMessage link to your phone/number, and this should 'unlink' the local number before you go.

with Vodafones $5-a-day deal, wouldn't it just be easier/cheaper to keep the vodafone sim in (unless you're making lots of 'overseas' US number calls?

I still want to be able to receive iMessages at my Vodafone number while I'm away, so don't want to deactivate that. Wish I had a plan that I was eligible for the $5/day a deal, but I'm on an old plan that still has eight months to run until the contract is over. But even 28 days, at $5/day, still works out cheaper to use an AT&T Sim.

turning imessage off WON'T stop texts coming, only "iMessages" from a non-sim device... maybe try turning off using imessage from the phone number itself?

my iMessages have the number greyed out from 'unticking', but if you are wanting to try it out before leaving, turn OFF iMessage remove the sim, and then turn it back ON... this should allow iMessages to your AppleID email/icloud email(s) but not the actual phone number, then the phone will get texts/calls from the AT&T and get iMessages from the regestered emails?
(vodafone numbered txt would wait until they timed out, so might need a sim-swap every couple days to 'collect' your VF sim txts too?)

jtan

122 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 1066935 16-Jun-2014 19:04

Personally I think that the best set up for iMessage is to have it associated with your E-Mail address (primary iMessage account) as opposed to a phone number (secondary iMessage account/address). You can configure it to receive messages sent to either address on your iDevice, but choose a default account to send new messages from. That way if you change simcards you should be able to receive iMessages fine from your contacts (as your number may change but not your E-Mail address) - it also makes it easier if you want to iMessage off multiple Apple devices (now or in the future) such as off an iPad or Mac.

As for your current problem now though, the solution offered already should do the trick. :)

PhantomNVD

2467 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 667

Reply # 1066938 16-Jun-2014 19:09

jtan: Personally I think that the best set up for iMessage is to have it associated with your E-Mail address (primary iMessage account) as opposed to a phone number (secondary iMessage account/address). You can configure it to receive messages sent to either address on your iDevice, but choose a default account to send new messages from. That way if you change simcards you should be able to receive iMessages fine from your contacts (as your number may change but not your E-Mail address) - it also makes it easier if you want to iMessage off multiple Apple devices (now or in the future) such as off an iPad or Mac.

As for your current problem now though, the solution offered already should do the trick. :)

interestingly, although you CAN choose the default "send" address to NOT be the phone number, the receive address will always use the phone number to default... though as above, the actual iMessage account IS tied to your Apple account, so turning iMessage off +change sim and turn back on takes it with you to a new number as you want it to :)

Peppery

752 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

Trusted

Reply # 1066983 16-Jun-2014 20:14

If you've got a spare old iPhone lying around you can move your VF SIM into that, add it to your iCloud and activate before you go, and put your AT&T SIM in your regular one. It doesn't need a data connection, but now you have two mobile numbers linked to one Apple ID and iMessages to both will be delivered to both devices.