And also myths that for some reason continue to be believed.
What reasons could there be for replacing the SIM card? In RuNet you can find dozens of articles about the shortcomings of old SIM cards, most of which are mythical. In this article, we talked about the possible real disadvantages of old SIM cards, and also remembered several invented ones, which it is high time to forget about.
Changing an old SIM card in a communication store
Old-style SIM cards, which were installed in push-button phones for a long time, are today called miniSIM. Unfortunately, they are no longer suitable for modern smartphones; they use new formats - Micro and Nano. Those who decide to replace an ancient device with a convenient gadget will inevitably encounter this problem. But there is no need to buy a new SIM card. After all, most operators are ready to replace it with an updated version while maintaining the number completely free of charge.
How to do it:
- Take with you an old SIM card and a passport or other document proving your identity (it must be issued in your name). If a friend (relative, parents) bought the card for you, you will have to go with him. You can find out about the procedure for re-issuing a SIM card to another person, but this is not possible with all operators.
- Contact the nearest service center of your mobile operator. The consultant will give you a short application form to fill out, then remove your old SIM card and issue you a new one with the same number saved.
- Before going on a trip, copy the contacts from your SIM card (if you have one). They will not be saved after replacement. But all links to the number will be preserved (mail, bank card, mobile applications, SMS information from stores).
Operators told how often you need to change SIM cards
Arseny Shcheltsin, CEO of ANO Digital Platforms, told the Prime agency that smartphone users need to change their SIM card once or twice a year.
“First of all, you should be alert to the deterioration in the quality of communication and the Internet - short-term disconnections or a poor signal. As a rule, this is also accompanied by rapid discharge of the gadget; it spends a lot of energy switching between 3G, 2G and 4G,” the expert said.
Gazeta.Ru asked for comments from mobile operators to find out whether the “old” SIM card really worsens the performance of the smartphone.
The MTS press service stated that each SIM card has certain restrictions on the number of possible authorizations in the network that occur when the smartphone is turned on and off or exited from airplane mode, however, new generation SIM cards do not require frequent replacement.
“Even with very active use, when the SIM card is often moved from one device to another, it works for at least two to three years,” said a representative of the MTS press service.
The company noted that users of old-style SIM cards are still forced to replace them: “The number of SIM cards that do not support the LTE standard among MTS users is minimal, and this is perhaps the only category for which we would strongly recommend replacing the SIM -card to a newer one.”
The quality of communication is determined by the development of the operator’s infrastructure, and not by the validity period of the SIM card, Tele2 representatives say.
“A SIM card is a “storage” of mobile network parameters that allows a phone or smartphone to configure itself with the operator’s equipment. Typically, when introducing a new communication standard, the operator releases a new generation of SIM cards that supports the new network. For example, when a user changes a 3G smartphone to a 4G device, he needs to replace the SIM card with a new one so that it works on the 4G network. However, technology updates occur infrequently (every few years), so there is no need to change the SIM card every six months,” Tele2 said.
“When used correctly, the lifespan of a SIM card is limited only by technical characteristics, for example, the need to replace it to support new generation communication networks,” MegaFon’s press service told Gazeta.Ru.
— All the company’s SIM cards have been manufactured with support for 4G networks for many years. The SIM card itself is just an electronic module responsible for registering a subscriber on the network, absolutely safe for the user and technically not much different from the chip of a plastic bank card.”
The Beeline press service did not respond to Gazeta.Ru’s request.
Telecommunications experts, as well as operators, were surprised by the proposal to change SIM cards once or twice a year. Denis Kuskov, CEO of the analytical agency Telecom Daily, said that such frequent replacement is pointless.
“The most important thing is that this will not improve any effect. If the SIM card is really old and there are some restrictions that do not allow you to provide truly high-quality service, you need to change it, but you don’t need to do this every six months. Very old SIM cards definitely need to be replaced, since they do not support 4G and do not provide a high-speed Internet connection,” said Kuskov.
Leading analyst of Mobile Research Group Eldar Murtazin also expressed doubts about the advisability of frequent replacement of SIM cards:
“This is absolutely unnecessary, old SIM cards do not degrade the connection. They either work or they don’t, there is no third option.”
Murtazin believes that only old-generation SIM cards should be changed, since the new ones provide more opportunities, but the archaic nature of the SIM card does not affect the quality of cellular communications.
“There are no problems with communication quality when using the same SIM card for several years,” says MForum Analytics analyst Alexey Boyko.
“At the same time, it is worth understanding that a SIM card is not just a piece of plastic, but a relatively complex microelectronics product: a microprocessor, memory, input/output controller. Microelectronics does not stand still, so over the years, operators have been acquiring new types of SIM cards, their filling changes, as a rule, in the direction of expanding memory. For example, in China in 2021, SIM cards with a built-in memory capacity of up to 128 GB appeared - on them, like in the built-in flash memory of a smartphone, you can store, for example, photos, videos and music,” the expert recalls.
Thus, we can talk about a certain obsolescence of the hardware of SIM cards over the years.
This means that it actually makes sense to occasionally replace the SIM card with a new one. Of course, not once every six months or a year, but once every 2-3 years is quite appropriate, Boyko explained.
“Sometimes you have to replace a SIM card, but as a rule, there are more objective reasons for this than the fact that six months or a year have passed since it was received,” summed up the interlocutor of Gazeta.Ru.
Self-cutting SIM cards
Let's assume you don't have the opportunity to visit a phone shop, but you need to use the phone. In such a situation, try to cut the SIM card yourself. The new cards already have the required dimensions marked on a plastic base, so it is convenient to take them out from there by simply cutting off the places where the staples are located with a knife. The situation is worse if the SIM card is a very old model.
These cards have a chip that no longer fits into the Nano's dimensions (70% of smartphones have such slots). So you can only cut it to Micro. There is a sample millimeter on the Internet.
- Mark the card with a pen where you want to cut it. It’s better if you already have another microSIM and you simply circle it and place it on top.
- Carefully cut out the plastic according to the drawing, preferably with nail scissors or a thin blade.
- Do not touch the chip - the slightest scratch on it and the SIM card will stop working.
How to hack a social media account from an old number
Many social networks require a phone number to be linked to your account, and instant messengers cannot be used without it. This is a great way to save your data, because two-factor authentication codes are sent to your phone. On social networks, it is still not difficult to go to someone’s page using an old number, and then send out the famous “request for help” to your friends.
Two-factor authentication helps, but the verification code may come to the old number
Don’t forget to unlink your old number from messengers to avoid problems: just enter your phone number in the messenger search to find out a lot of new things. Try to turn off the display of the real number, leave a nickname.
Why unlink your phone from your account?
Changing your number today is more stressful than moving. After all, our phone is connected to many Internet resources: social networks, bank cards, Google accounts, email, online stores, games, applications on a smartphone.
Operators reuse old numbers. So, if the number is inactive for 1 month to six months, it is canceled, the contract with the subscriber is automatically terminated and re-issued for sale. A complete stranger can gain access to your money, personal life and achievements. And the operator will not bear any responsibility for this. Therefore, simply throwing your SIM card in the trash, even if it is cut, is not enough.
Maintaining digital hygiene:
- Unties the phone from everything you remember. In most cases, this can be done without even leaving home.
- We warn everyone on the contact list that you will no longer be reached using the old numbers.
- If you receive strange calls and messages on your new number, contact your operator to establish the validity of the agreement with the previous owner.
SMS does not arrive: main reasons
There are many reasons for this malfunction, and they are well known.
- Invalid subscriber number entered. Oddly enough, this is the most common reason for SMS not being sent. This can happen with a new number that you have not yet added to your phone lists. For example, you can skip the leading numbers +7 or 8.
- Overload on Megafon equipment. This happens during mass gatherings of people, for example, at major competitions, mass celebrations or concerts. If base stations in a given location cannot cope with the flow of calls and messages, then communication interruptions are possible.
- Prohibition of sending or receiving SMS in the phone settings or tariff options. Or even a simple SIM card blocking.
- The phone's memory is full, when it is no longer enough to save even one text message.
Why notify about a number change?
It is always worth remembering the likelihood that the number will go to scammers. Your relatives and friends, without knowing it, risk becoming their victims or “leaking” confidential information about you. Inform your loved ones about the change of number in a personal conversation or through a video call so that they can make sure that it is your decision.
Also try not to leave your phone number as a contact number on marketplaces if you are engaged in online trading. Get a separate number for this.
If you receive calls from unknown people after changing your number
You bought a new SIM card, haven’t told anyone your phone number yet, and you’re already getting calls from collectors, spammers and some strange people with stupid requests. Congratulations! The previous owner of the card thoroughly “inherited” the number during use.
How to proceed:
- Tell collectors and anyone with questions about money that you don’t know anyone, and you just bought a SIM card at a mobile phone store.
- Tell spammers asking for services that you did not consent to the processing of your personal data, and threaten them with a police report.
- Install the Spam Blocker application on your phone; it will not allow calls to you that are not from the phone book.
Lack of settings on mobile device
This happens rarely, but sometimes you may encounter the fact that the phone simply does not have a setting for the SMS message processing center. It appears there the moment a new SIM card is inserted. This is a regular phone number to which all text sms are sent. So, sometimes, as a result of a failure, this number is not copied into the phone’s memory from the SIM card.
In this case, you can enter it into the gadget manually. This number is different for each region of Russia. You can find it on the Megafon website, in your regional section, or simply enter a request in Yandex like “Megafon message processing center in Moscow.” The number can be changed by dialing the command *5005*7672*[SMS center number]+Call button.
You can simply find out this number using the command *#5005*7672#+Call button.
