Preconfigured SIM

[Luddite]

Sell SIM cards configured with plans (10 day text only for example) that have an active account thus eliminating activation aggravations.

Customers then just log into the self serve account and change the account data to their personal settings. Of course, the only element they must change is the account password if the account uses their shopify email address.

[imm1304]

This actually sounds great!

Quick setup when ordering the sim card, charge the first 10/30/90 day amount that the customer chooses.  This gives PM customer service a few days that shipping takes to go over each account and verify that they work.  So when the customer receives the sim card, it always works on delivery.  

For security reasons, an activation step should be added, i.e. after receiving the sim card, go to a webpage and enter security code that was emailed to the customer to start service.  

[Martin]

Hello,

I hate to be the naysayer here, but a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. In this scenario, it's security. How many posts have we read where an OP does not remember one's secret question, its answer, and one's email address? In an ideal world, preconfigured cards would be exactly that - ideal - but we live in a world with fallible people, making mistakes and forgetting information. This is not to denigrate OPs; it's called being human.

Food for further thought!

[Luddite]

@Martin OK then send the SIM out with a generic account email address and password; eg. 1234@publicmobile.ca pw: Il0vePM; (last 6 digits of SIM)@publicmobile.ca pw: (last 6 digits of SIM)

Only risk is getting to the incorrect mailing address. Of course does not preclude someone forgetting to where they requested delivery. 

[Martin]

Hi @Luddite, Assuming that your post was not in jest, only the second example seems doable, if one were forced to make a choice.

[Luddite]

@Martin Would I jest?? Maybe this is business we could start up and charge a $5 fee? Would PM ship me 1000 SIMs?

[Martin]

Hi @Luddite,

Why not put your idea in the Public Lab? It may grow legs (figuratively), and become an idea endorsed by all customers.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[Griff]

@LudditeI think this is a good idea but I wouldn't go with the idea of the SIM's being sent with generic emails and passwords. When I went to Europe over the summer I actually bought a prepaid SIM from a company called Lebara that had a kiosk right in the airport and the SIMs were all sold with the plans pre-activated and that all went very smoothly.

When you buy a prepaid phone with TELUS for example it comes with a "10 activation credit" the page recognizes this credit by entering the IMEI of the device included in the package. Being as Public doesn't primarily deal in selling handsets. I would suggest they instead ship the SIM card and include a second piece inside the packaging with an activation code that gives the right amount of credit and selects the plan for the customer. The rest of the activation process would be the same as buying a non-plan loaded SIM. 

[makkahn28]

I do admit, I find this to be informational. I admit, I'd rather have the sims pre-programmed with apn settings edited, and maybe have the client decide on the actual plan itself, instead of this version, to be honest