Activating a new SIM card

[KasingK]

Do I have to activate a new SIM card right away, or how long can I wait before the card expires? The reason I asked is that I want to switch over to Public Mobile from another carrier on my second phone. I want to purchase the SIM card first and wait for my other carrier pay-per-use to exhaust first before porting my number over to Public Mobile.

[KasingK]

Thank you. You're a great help!

[gblackma]

Dial *#06# to get your imei number @KasingK 

[KasingK]

Thank you for your detailed instructions. I checked out the "Choose a phone number" section and noted that I am required to provide the "ESN/IMEI/MEID number or your account PIN". Can you let me know what are these and where can I find them?

[Daps]

@KasingK  In case you didn't see it, public mobile is having a flash sale this weekend

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/FLASH-SALE-Get-your-second-month-FREE-w...

Be sure to register with your new email by Monday night. And you'll get your second month (30 days) free as long as you activate by September 11th.

[gblackma]

@KasingK you can buy the SIM now and wait until your other service expires. If you are porting your number, your old providers account must be active to port.  The port will close it once its completed.  May I suggest that you buy your SIM card from Canadian cell supplies https://canadiancellsupplies.com/collections/latest-products/products/public-sim-card currently they are $3.99.

Here's 4 articles on activation and porting and the Refer a friend reward  if you need them:
1. What you require to activate https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-help/articles/what-you-need-to-activate
2.How to activate https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-help/articles/activation-account-set-up
3.How to port https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-help/articles/choose-your-phone-number
4. Refer a friend https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-help/articles/the-refer-a-friend-reward

[KasingK]

Thank you for your super quick response. You're Great!

[esjliv · Accepted solution]

Hi @KasingK ,

Your SIM card will not expire, but please see below:

"When you activate a prepaid subscriber identity module, or "SIM," card for a phone, the call, text and Internet credit you purchase expires after a certain period of time, as specified by the mobile carrier. The SIM card itself never expires, as the SIM serves only to allow the handset to identify the cellular network."

In fact, sometimes people have extras just to have around. You never know when if you lose your phone you may have to activate another SIM for your phone number OR just have an extra to offer up for a friend to refer!