Is it possible to keep my old number?
On December 1, 2013, the corresponding decree on changing the operator without changing the already familiar phone number came into force.
In order to use a new, but already popular service, you will need to write an application at the service center of the mobile operator to which you have decided to switch to service. The period for transferring from one operator to another is carried out within eight days from the date of writing the application. After the transition is completed, the selected new mobile operator will issue you a SIM card, but keeping the familiar number. A message will be sent to your phone indicating that you are receiving services at the new rates. The cost of the service is purely symbolic - only 100 rubles. But at the time of the transition, there should be no debts on your current account, otherwise the operation will be impossible. You need to know that the service is provided free of charge if the old operator has not transferred your number to the new operator 8 days after you wrote your application. If you nevertheless decide to switch from one mobile operator to another, it is worth considering that the service is possible within only one region (only the Moscow region, only the Rostov region, and so on).
The nuances of switching from one mobile operator to another
Today, transition services are provided by the following mobile operators: MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Rostelecom and Tele2. Other mobile operators have not yet shown readiness to provide this service. To compare the number of operators that are ready to provide the transition service with those that are not ready, it is worth knowing that there are about 70 mobile operators in Russia.
You can switch from one operator to another no more than once every 70 days, so it is better to think carefully and weigh the pros and cons of this procedure. It should also be noted that if you switch to a new package, but keep the old number, you may not be able to connect while roaming, and other unforeseen issues may arise. But you will be notified in advance of all possible inconveniences that may arise when using the old number with a new operator, before the transition is made.
If the transition from one operator to another is successful, from the moment you receive a new SIM card, you can already use all the services of the new operator, while keeping your favorite number.
Subscriber reviews
Perhaps, such a service can best be described as changing the operator while maintaining the number, reviews of subscribers who have already gone through the process of transferring the number to another cellular company.
Today, if we analyze the latest reviews of people moving from one cellular company to another operator while maintaining their existing number, we can note that the quality of this process is gradually improving. Reviews about such operations as changing the operator while maintaining the number from Megafon to Beeline are rather positive. Subscribers note the convenience of filling out an application to change an operator through a special section on the company’s official website, the availability of free delivery of a new SIM card and a client agreement by courier.
Another positive point is that operators, if you believe the reviews, have become more responsible in complying with the statutory deadline for transferring a phone number. A small number of complaints are received regarding confusion in applications or when verifying subscriber personal data between operator companies.
There are also negative reviews. The most common comments are:
- When connecting a new SIM card, problems with communication, SMS delivery or Internet access may occur within a few days. As a rule, to solve the problem, subscribers have to contact the technical support of the operator servicing the SIM card.
- Employees of the subscriber department, when filling out an application for transfer while maintaining the number, do not warn about the need to maintain a positive balance of the “donor” SIM card during the eight-day period provided for transferring the phone number.
- In some regions, they often slow down the process by not providing information about confirming the client’s personal data.
- Online filling out an application for the provision of the NMP service of an existing number is currently only valid for some large cities. In other populated areas, the subscriber has to contact the operator’s communication salon (office) to fill out an application.
Replacement while maintaining number
But many clients do not want to lose their number. When you receive new data, you will have to notify everyone you know about the change. The procedure is not easy and is associated with certain difficulties.
How to replace an MTS SIM card with a micro SIM card while maintaining the number? Need to:
- Check the address of the nearest office.
- Come to it and ask to exchange the card.
- Employees will accept a request to complete the procedure.
- In the future, the client will receive a modern element for use.
Disadvantages of this option:
- You need to come to the salon in person.
- Spend a certain amount of time completing the process.
- Only the owner can request an exchange upon presentation of a passport.
The advantage is that old cards are replaced free of charge. Due to this, the client does not have to pay for the procedure and saves money.
Is it safe to store contacts on a SIM card?
Using SIM card memory to store contacts is one of the oldest methods. This is exactly how all users saved phone numbers, long before it became possible to save numbers in the phone’s memory, as well as synchronize data with cloud services.
However, today this is far from the only, and no longer the most convenient, way to store important data. That is why you can hear different opinions about which option is the most convenient and safe.
No one will deny that contacts for each cellular subscriber are the most important data, the loss of which can be a nightmare. And when buying a new phone, everyone transfers their contacts first.
Let's figure out how reliable and convenient it is to save contacts in SIM memory.
Storing phone numbers in the SIM card's memory is convenient because to access them, you just need to have any phone. If you insert a SIM card into another phone, all contacts will be available. And it doesn’t matter at all whether you bought a new phone or simply installed a SIM card in another one if yours is dead.
But this option for storing contacts is not without its drawbacks. So, if your phone or SIM card is lost, stolen, or the SIM card is out of order, then you will not be able to save or copy all contact phone numbers from the old SIM card to the new one when replacing it. All data on the SIM card is not saved when it is replaced with a new one.
That is why it is recommended to use not only the main, but also an alternative method of storing data. This will allow you not to lose important information in any situation.
Switch to Tele2
Separately, it is worth mentioning the transition, while maintaining the number, to Tele2, an operator that is not one of the Russian top three, but has already gained some fame in our country with its relatively democratic pricing policy.
To switch to the service of this operator with your phone number, the subscriber will have to personally write an application at the Tele2 office (communications salon). Further, the procedure is not much different from the examples already given: the subscriber to whom the SIM card is registered needs to come with a passport to a communication salon and write an application and sign an agreement with the company. On the same day he will be given a SIM card.
After this, within 8 days the subscriber should receive an SMS indicating when the phone number will be transferred, and he will need to rearrange the SIM card in his phone. During this period, the subscriber is obliged to liquidate debts to, if any.
After turning on the Tele2 SIM card, the subscriber’s number may be unavailable for some time, but no more than half an hour - this is usually warned about in advance when concluding a contract.
The feasibility of storing data on a SIM card
The use of available storage on a mobile operator's chip is one of the oldest methods, when mobile devices did not offer the ability to record a contact in a local number book or virtual storage. But in the current period, this method is rapidly being forgotten, and discussions regarding the most convenient and reliable way to save subscriber data are coming to the fore.
It is impossible to deny that the greatest value in a smartphone is the SIM card with stored information, the loss of which is extremely undesirable. Even when purchasing a new device, only the operator chip and, possibly, microSD are adopted from the previous one.
Good to Know: What is the penalty for using an illegal SIM card?
It remains to be determined how convenient it is to use the operator card memory for storing contacts. In reality, this concept turns out to be practical, since all the information is firmly tied to the retrievable part, which can be placed in another device along with all the numbers.
However, the method of localizing the number book on a portable chip is not without nuances, since if the device is lost, any opportunity to get back all the data, even with the help of an operator, is automatically lost. Therefore, in addition to the main method of storing information, it is advisable to use alternative solutions such as virtual storage in order to always have access to important information.
Are contacts saved when replacing a SIM card?
There are several options for storing contacts, allowing you not to worry that the numbers in your address book will disappear or be accidentally deleted. Many users include saving contacts in the SIM card memory as this is not only convenient, but also reliable.
However, a SIM card, like any other electronic device, can break down and you will need to replace the SIM card.
We tell you whether the contacts saved on the SIM card are saved when it is replaced with a new one, and how you can save phone numbers when you change, lose, or malfunction the old SIM card, or when connecting a new phone number.
Operators' liability
Changes to the Federal Law “On Communications”, namely in Article 46 of this law, provide for the liability of a cellular communication company for violating the deadlines for transferring a telephone number. Thus, if within the required 8 days the transfer of the subscriber’s telephone number is still not completed, the operator who has violated the deadlines for transferring the number to another company is obliged to provide the client with the opportunity to use cellular communications free of charge until the moment when the operator is actually changed while maintaining the number.
How to protect yourself from losing contacts?
Now you know that despite all the advantages of using a SIM card as a place to store contacts, it is not ideal, although it may be the most convenient option for you. After all, if you change a SIM card, then the contacts are not saved - when replacing a SIM card, only the old phone number, tariff, services, and money on the balance remain on the new one.
That is why it is always necessary to have a backup option that allows you to save important information. We tell you how to protect yourself by creating a backup copy.
A backup copy of contacts does not necessarily mean storing an address book in a cloud service. However, this option is one of the most convenient.
If you copy your contacts to the cloud, you can access them not only from your phone, but also from any other device. So, you can log into your account through a computer or laptop to view your saved phone numbers. Also, if necessary, you can automatically download your contacts to your new smartphone.
However, if you are not a fan of using remote options for storing important information, you can use other methods of obtaining a backup copy.
For example, you can simply copy the numbers to your phone's memory. In this case, as we described in detail above, the subscriber will be able to save phone numbers if he has changed the SIM card.
Life hack: this option of transferring contacts to a new SIM card will help not only when you change the SIM card to a new one, but also the numbers remain if you decide to change the cellular operator by switching with your phone number.
Why do you need a map?
The SIM card allows you to access the operator's network. Its main element is the chip in the central part. This is where important information is stored for future use.
If you purchased a card a long time ago, you may have problems with compatibility with new smartphones. Manufacturers widely use the micro SIM format, many have switched to nano.
What are the purposes of such optimization?
- Now the case is monoblock and SIM cards are inserted into the tray. This fact affects the design.
- It is possible to reduce the amount of space occupied.
- More efficient use of space inside the case.
- Optimize component placement.
- Place two cards instead of one.
- Get rid of excess plastic that has no practical function.
But how to replace a SIM card with an MTS micro SIM card? This procedure is very easy to cope with; all you need to do is set aside some free time to visit the office.
