yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] Kensai:
Well that's what I was also wondering about. I can still upgrade dummy phone and swap to my unlimited, no? I thought that was patched...our was the weekend special patched?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] sacnotsack:
It was the weekend special that was patched. You should still be able to upgrade your dummy phone then switch. That's what I did late early last week.

Sent from the HTC One and only
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] BreakingVZW:
I'd call and just verify that's an option. I don't see why it wouldn't be doable but it IS Verizon we're talking about. I've done it before myself but I didn't have unlimited data I wanted transferred.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] Donsell:
I know a lot of people have been over this process, I just want to make sure I get things right.

My wife and I have each have smart phones, both eligible to be upgraded both unlimited. My son has a feature phone, eligible for upgrade in January.

I transfer my upgrade to my son's line. Get the One, activate it on his line then transfer it back to my line and reactivate his feature phone on his line.

Then I do the same with my wife's smart phone.

At the end, are the 2 smart phones both unlimited and on contract for the next 2 years and my son's phone still eligible for upgrade in January?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] bsbuggs:
That's exactly correct..just move slowly when choosing the new data plan for dumbline...there is an option to move to the share palms..obviously stay away from that..
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] taz1458:
Just want to clarify this before I try it this weekend. I'm planning on going to Walmart to do this. I have 3 unlimited lines and 1 dumbphone line. Call Verizon transfer upgrade to dumb line. Go to Walmart, use upgrade on the dumb phone line. Activate it on that line. Take sim card out, activate dumb phone back on original line, then a activate new phone on whatever line. That all I need to do?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] replica9000:
I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with Walmart making changes to my account.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] taz1458:
Should be pretty easy I'd think. Couldn't I just call Verizon and have them transfer the upgrade then use it there on the dumb phone line? I'm actually trading the one I get. It's a dollar at Walmart and 100 at Verizon. No thanks.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] Cares:
What you should do is ask Walmart if they can do an alternate upgrade and tell them you're trying to keep your unlimited data. I did this 3 times, twice with Best Buy and once with Costco. All 3 times they understood what I was doing and knew how to do it. They couldn't care less if you kept unlimited or not and they just want credit for getting your phone upgrade/renewal.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] TidusWulf:
Verizon can't move upgrade eligibility to another phone number. the upgrade is simply tied to the contract date, and contract dates are tied to phone numbers, not phones themselves. Walmart should be able to do an "alternate upgrade" however, where it extends the contract of the unlimited phone but puts the new equipment on the basic phone. then you can call verizon and move the phones around as they belong. this will get you your upgraded phone on the phone number you want while keeping unlimited. I worked for Verizon. calling to ask for moving contracts around is an impossible request and you'll be wasting your breath.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] graptharshammer:
I just got back from Best Buy in East Hanover, NJ, and FAILED.

I was working with the manager for their mobile dept. The guy was on my side since we talked a bit about common interests. I explained in clear detail and even showed him this thread (he's also an xda troll), and he told me there's no way to do this. He went into his system and got to the point where he says he's 100% stake-his-life-on-it-positive I'll lose my unlimited if I take one step further and he backed out. He even spent 45 minutes with me as he called VZW Corporate to see if there was any way at all to do an Alternate Upgrade and have it not trigger the loss of unlimited.

Scenario:

line 1: iPhone 4 w/ unlimited. Upgrade eligible.

line 2: iPhone 4S w/ LIMITED. Not upgrade eligible.

Tried to alternate upgrade 2 with 1's upgrade. Wanted to get the Note 3.

I even showed him this thread and he said he didn't want to be responsible for me losing unlimited.

/sigh
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] isdnmatt:
Well the guy was wrong. Was he guessing you would lose unlimited? Because there will be a clear warning in the Best Buy system saying that the line will lose unlimited. If the warning is not there, then you will not lose it. When I did it, he didn't even touch my main line after clicking "Alternate Upgrade" at the bottom of the screen. Everything was done on the receiving line and there was nothing to lose.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] graptharshammer:
He said there wasn't an "Alternate Upgrade" button. He continued to say he's done this "a million times" and every time he's seen every line involved lose unlimited. I even showed him this thread and let him see the successes (and recent ones). Now I just want to get it done and know if Verizon Wireless's site will permit me to help myself.

I get freaked when I get to the "Transfer Upgrade" point because that is not the same as "Alternate Upgrade" which I keep seeing everyone in this thread refer to.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] isdnmatt:
Transfer Upgrade is the same. Alternate is just what the stores call it apparently. Transfer it to the line that doesn't have unlimited and proceed through check out. What did he say when he saw the successes?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] graptharshammer:
He told me to ask those posters to give me the exact stores / locations they were successful at and call them, regardless of where they were, and storyboard test it.

i.e.

"Hi, I'm about to head down there and here's what I'd like to do. I'd like to Alternate Upgrade from my phone with unlimited to a limited line, etc."

And see if the stores themselves confirm they can pull this off. He genuinely didn't believe it was possible and disbelieved everything he read on XDA (again, a site he goes to and reads. His S4 was definitely rooted and ROM'd). I just didn't want to push the issue anymore and, seeing the queue of 6 people behind me, decided to just go home and start researching if I can do it myself on the site. All I lose is the $100 credit if I turn in an old smartphone that can still power on. I can live with that.

So, I guess here goes. "Transfer Upgrade" on VZW site it is...
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] graptharshammer:
Sorry for double-posting, but thought I'd post an update. I went via the site and Transfer Upgrade seemed to work. I applied the VERIZON30 coupon, as well, so I saved $90 which takes some of the sting off losing out on $100 for old-phone-trade-in at Best Buy.

I guess the moment of truth comes when I receive the device next week. I need to activate it on the limited line, then I need to switch it to my unlimited line and go to the store for a new SIM card? I've read that 4G -> 3G and vice versa aren't a problem.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] rockingout92:
I work at an Indirect Verizon store and I am still able to do this. If there is more than one line on the account, you're golden.

Line w/Upgrade has Unlimited Data? No issues for us at all...

1. Select the Alternate Upgrade option in our system.

2. Send the new phone to the other line (that you don't care about, this line will lose unlimited if it still has it).

3. Sign the contract, activate the phone on the "other line".

4. After this is done, perform a simple ESN swap, putting the new phone on the unlimited line.

5. Profit.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] :
I was lucky enough to upgrade when Verizon's site had that glitch a couple weeks ago :) good luck!
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] TidusWulf:
reseller stores that use the EROES or Iconic Portal (premium retailers who specialize in verizon ONLY) should be capable of alternate upgrades, but places like Best Buy and Walmart have proprietary contract software and this might be way they're unable to make the necessary change.

When I went to best buy to do an alternate upgrade, I watched the screens go by and there's definitely some extra restrictions in place, and it's unfortunate but not imposible to beleive that they're incapable of doing it the way you want it. you'll just have to buy your phone somewhere else, and if you want the blue one, too bad :(
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] BelievingThomas:
My father-in-law is old school and he's on my plan "he don't even have data" I upgraded his plan on Verizon web to a 2gig. upgraded his phone and when it came in I activated from online to my unlimited plan and cancelled his data. Hope this helps.

BoneStock S-Off Unlocked Verizon One now Free
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] graptharshammer:
To close the loop, I received the phone tonight and did exactly as told:

1. Transfer Upgrade from unlimited line to limited line.

2. Receive phone in mail.

3. Activate phone on limited line.

4. Go to store to Device Transfer (it wouldn't let me use the site)

Success! They kept the SIM that came with the device and issued me a new one for free. I thought I had to pay $20 for a new SIM card, but apparently not at this store. This was all done at an official Verizon Wireless store.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] TidusWulf:
the only time I've ever had a phone company charge me for the sim card was when I signed up for new service and there wasn't an activation fee (so basically, the SIM card WAS the act fee).

it surprises me how people are willing/expecting to pay $20 for that 10c piece of plastic.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] thrgk:
I would double check.. I could be wrong I believe Amazon makes you keep it on line for 181 days.. Maybe I'm mistaken with another one.. I'm on the go now so further research is needed for sure..

is this true? If I upgrade my dumb line to the note 3 and then activate it, then after activation switch the note 3 to my unlimited line and dump the data plan on the dumb line, will amazon make me pay or no?

---------- Post added at 05:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:02 AM ----------

I would double check.. I could be wrong I believe Amazon makes you keep it on line for 181 days.. Maybe I'm mistaken with another one.. I'm on the go now so further research is needed for sure..

is this true? If I upgrade my dumb line to the note 3 and then activate it, then after activation switch the note 3 to my unlimited line and dump the data plan on the dumb line, will amazon make me pay or no?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] disconnecktie:
If they say they will charge you for transferring the line then they definitely will. I would use the best buy method to keep your unlimited data. Just do the upgrade normally through the website. Then when you have to select the data plan choose keep existing plan. When you go to checkout your plan shouldn't change. Then select the option to pick up at the store and you won't even have to wait for it to ship. As for paying for a sim... I called Verizon and asked about that because a store tried to make me pay for a sim and only non corporate stores do that.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] zetsumeikuro:
I tried picking it up in store and the guy tried taking my unlimited data off. I was like ya no bai, then went home and ordered it online and had it shipped to me. It comes in tomorrow and hopefully all I have to do is just add it online and I'm good to go.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] disconnecktie:
Oh crap. I guess that depends on who you get. At least you didn't lose it.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] zetsumeikuro:
Yeah I would of raised hell if he changed anything on my plan when I told them no.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] disconnecktie:
Yeah man I know that's right. Sorry that didn't work for you. That's what my wife did and it worked even after they told me over the phone it wouldn't.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] zetsumeikuro:
It's all good bro! I'm getting my one in the mail today and I'll just activate it online!
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] CharlieGulf:
Thanks for this great thread, especially the step-by-step instructions, and confirmations of success.

I have an HTC Droid Incredible (original 3G version) with unlimited data, which does not have a SIM. Since I assume all new Verizon 4G phones have a SIM, can I still do the upgrade shuffle online with a "dummy phone", on another line, and then activate it in place of the Incredible? How would this work? The dummy phone also does no have a SIM.

Would an LG Accolade be an acceptable dummy phone? It has no data plan ("Pay As You Use" $1.99 per megabyte), just a $9.99 per month line access charge.

Thanks,

CharlieGulf
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] disconnecktie:
You don't need to do a dummy line. Just do the upgrade on the best buy site.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] CharlieGulf:
I was under the impression that the "keep unlimited plan" had been closed on sites like Amazon and Best Buy, but if they haven't then I'll definitely consider them. However, there seems to be more positive feedback for the method in this thread, and it involves only one company, Verizon, so I'd still like to know the answer to my question for reference later.

Thanks,

CharlieGulf
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] disconnecktie:
That loophole was closed by Amazon and Verizon as far as I know. I just used the best buy loophole on black Friday to get a blue HTC one for my wife.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] replica9000:
Basically you take a line you already have that doesn't have unlimited, whether a dumb phone or smart phone, and upgrade that line. Your new phone will become activated with a sim card on that line. You then can transfer that phone to the unlimited line, where you get a new sim card for that line.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] CharlieGulf:
Thanks. Do I need to get that new SIM at a Verizon store, or can I order it anywhere online? Is there a way to reuse the old one?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] replica9000:
I did the upgrade at a Best Buy location, then went to VZW down the street to get the new SIM cards. Both the Rezound and DInc2 I replaced had the MIni SIMs, so they had to give me new Micro SIMs. Then they put the old dumb phones back where they were originally, and the SIMS for those lines just get tossed out.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] pjd2011:
This is what I had to do. I put up the good fight. I actually didn't think about doing this and the Verizon rep was the one who told me. (Shocker!)

My family plan had 4 phones. 3 with unlimited data 1 with 2gb. 3 available for upgrade. I now have the 3 phones with unlimited data STILL and 2 upgrades remaining. Not sure how it worked out three phones kept the data but I'm not complaining.

I hated giving the VZ people a hard time earlier in the day as it worked out but for as much as we pay I want my data even if I don't use it! It's the principle behind it!!
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] karn101:
I get that same error. If I can't get it to work tomorrow, I'll just call them.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] PapaSmurf6768:
This is the exact situation I'm in, I think I'm gonna try this tomorrow...
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] DHowett:
I waited a bit longer but still had no luck via the website. I called customer service and they quickly activated the non-unlimited line's old phone again and had us reboot both devices. Now I've got the HTC One on the unlimited line and working fine and all seems back to normal on the non-unlimited line. Not that I really think it matters, but I gave the customer service people a story about how I didn't have time to figure out how to use the new phone at the moment and wanted to temporarily go back to my old phone, but couldn't reactivate it via the site...

So in summary, I transferred my upgrade to the non-unlimited line, upgraded to the HTC One, and activated it on the non-unlimited line. Then I called Verizon, had them reactivate the old phone onto the non-unlimited line again, and then activated the HTC One on my line and kept the unlimited data plan. Success!
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] karn101:
Awesome! Did you have to give them the ESN again or did they just pull it up in their system? I'm at work and don't know the ESN by heart of my dummy line.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] DHowett:
They pulled it up on their system, activated it, and I didn't have to provide anything. Good luck!
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] karn101:
Just called. They're closed. I'll try again after work. Thanks for the heads up!
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] starbiker99:
( transferring my upgrade and keeping unlimited)

I have tried this almost every day for the last few weeks with the Galaxy S4 and no luck however it worked this morning with the HTC ONE. I guess that is my new baby!!! I guess I will switch between the S3 and this one.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] poly2012:
You have to know the right people

If you have a dumbphone line, you can use the upgrade from your line, transfer it to the dumbphone, then switch back the phone to your line. I got mine today and kept my unlimited data. You have to know the people tho. the store i went to did it, but they're 3rd party.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] Rebel908:
If you're willing to stand your ground, you can get pretty much any store (Verizon or 3rd party) to do it. My success has come with Best Buy.

The one thing that everyone who is doing the upgrade by either using a dumbphone's upgrade or transferring your upgrade to a dumbphone is that it MUST be activated on the dumbphone line first. It absolutely has to. After its activated, you can program the dumbphone back onto the line and pop your sim into the new device and viola.

I haven't tried the shuffle yet, but I'm probably going through Best Buy to get it done, I've had much more success with them.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] forstergis:
Can you buy a cheap dumb phone, month to month plan to use to keep unlimited data using the described swap method?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] GillRigged:
I called today (yesterday, actually) and the first rep I got said that if I Transfer An Upgrade I will still lose Unlimited Data on the line that I transferred the upgrade on. This makes no sense whatsoever. What would be the point in having this option then? I figured the guy was new and gave it another go. Sure enough, I was right. It's Alternative Upgrade and yes, I have been through this before. You have to activate on the line that you transferred the upgrade to and then reactivate it on the line with Unlimited Data. Thank God, cuz, we have FOUR of five lines with Unlimited Data that also get $20/mo credit on each of them ($80 off total). Yeah, $40/mo total for Unlimited Data on FOUR lines.

As for the VivaMovil (or whatever its called) is a no go. It explicitly says that if you have unlimited data that you will lose it (see pic):
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] forstergis:
I have two data cards and 1 smartphone. 1 data card and smartphone have unlimited. I used to be able to use upgrades on data cards, but new policy prevents that now. What defines a dumb phone? I.e. can I add a no data flip phone to my account now to use the described merthodf to keep my unlimited on my smartphone line? I want the one, currently have rezound.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] GillRigged:
The dumb phone has to be data capable. So no, a flip phone won't work (to the best of my knowledge) but your Rezound would work just fine.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] jonhern:
if both phones have the same size SIM card you can skip a lot of those steps. After it's activated at the store just go home and switch the SIM cards. Did this the last two times with the s3 and now the HTC one to keep unlimited on my line.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] ihavenolife008:
Doing mine today. Buy AND ACTIVATE on another line, THEN swap. This is how it had to be done when I got my S3. The "Transfer Upgrade" still counts as a direct upgrade in their system so it will kill your Unlimited. When I did that, I asked if they could just do it for me, got attitude, then said i'll order online and do it myself, to which they came back with a completely different attitude, good times.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] shevanel42:
Do I actually need to swap a SIM card, or can I just call VZW and have them reactivate the dumb phone? My dumb phone is 200 miles away from where I would be purchasing the One.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] ihavenolife008:
When i did it with the S3 like that in the store, they actually activated the other phone for me again, since it was half hour away. so they can do it for you, but i wouldn't rely on that. may have to do it online, but also dialing *228 or whatever it is on the phone you can activate by entering the phone number its supposed to be attached to, and i think just the last 4 of SSN of account holder, so thats another option if you can get ahold of and explain it to who has the phone.

edit: sorry you mentioned a SIM. in that case the SIM should slide into the new device, then just activate the dumb phone the old way. if it has a sim also for 4G, as long as they don't activate a new SIM you should be fine. VZW and SIM cards get weird and stuff doesn't work how it should.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] shevanel42:
Basically I'm doing the 3 way shuffle with my line on unlimited (HTC Thundertrash), my mom's LG Octane and the One (obviously). Using her line for the upgrade, and she's 200mi away. I want to upgrade her phone online, pickup near me, and then I need to activate her phone back for her.

So she can just *228 and enter her phone number and social and it should be all set, then I can just take the SIM out of my Thundertrash and put it into the ONE and be all set? Or do I need to do all of this online?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] ihavenolife008:
Guy in the store just activated mine and reactivaed old Incredible for now, so i got someone helpful. I do not believe the SIM cards are the same size, the One uses the mini or something. In my case it was a quick swap from S3 to One. But for getting my GFs (S3) and Moms (Rezound) situated it will be a pain in the ass as they'll both need new SIM cards. Noted this and went back to store, got a different person and told i have to activate the phone right there to get a SIM... so you may have some trouble there bud.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] force1stiptopped:
I was told by the rep in-store that by doing the upgrade swap, I would be charged some kind of charge-back in the amount of the ETF if the phone did not stay on the line it was upgraded on for over 6 months..?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] antp121:
Lie. The line just has to stay in service.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] karn101:
Were you in a corporate store? Because this is a lie.

Dumb phones don't have SIMs. You don't need the phone for them to activate it on the line (they have the ESN saved) but before the phone can be used your mother needs to do *228 then option 1.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] got556:
Freaking Walmart employees. Was up in the air with either the One or S4 and Walmart has MDK S4's for $150 so I was gonna do that route via alternate upgrade on a dumb phone line. Both employees told me I will lose my unlimited lines even though I'm transferring the upgrade from an unlimited line to the dumb phone. I told them they're wrong. I asked them to at least try it to see what happens and they both looked at me like I was retarded. I let them know I will be calling their store manager when I left and mentioned that employees working the cell phone area should probably be a little more knowledgeable about the job/services they are providing. Both of them were total stuck up assholes from the get go....and I am a federal correctional officer so it takes a lot for me to lose my patience and earn that name from my standpoint. Ill try again tomorrow as that's a great price on an MDK S4. They didn't have any HTC One's in stock and not sure I can go with this phone now that HTCDev no longer is an option.
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] barski:
If I perform the upgrade from a dumb phone line then switch the HTC One to my unlimited line then re-activate the dumb phone will my dumb line still be stuck with a data plan? Or, in theory, should my bill stay the same?
[Verizon HTC One (M7)] got556:
No the data will drop off and you will be back to your $10 or so a month plan for the dumb phone.