[PATCH] iface-modem-3gpp: add SubscriptionState property

[Bjørn Mork]

Dan Williams <dcbw at redhat.com> writes:

> Actually no.  Normal case here in the US is that you can walk into any
> drug store or supermarket and buy a plastic packaged phone with SIM
> inside.  You take it home and open it up, go to the carrier's web site
> and type in the ICCID and your home address, and then they provision it
> with the right telephone # and everything after a few minutes.  For
> CDMA, same kind of procedure, you have to go their web site and type in
> the MEID and then do some other stuff, and then finally after about 5
> minutes you get an SMS that says it's provisioned.
>
> I think this is the same procedure I used when I got a Lidl Mobile
> (emobile) SIM in Berlin last time I was there; I had to go to their web
> site to complete the setup.
>
> Is that not the way things work elsewhere?  Do they just print the phone
> # inside the phone package?

I only know the Norwegian market, but I do believe most of Europe have
similar regulations making that procedure impossible.

Most people will want to keep their phone number even if they buy a
locked phone with a subsidized subscription.  The operators are required
to support this.  Normally you won't get a SIM at all, unless you need a
new one for some reason (changing operator, lost the old one, physical
size changed etc).  If you want a new SIM, you will receive it in an
envelope with the PIN and PUK codes, and the shop will register the new
ICCID on your existing subscription.  Your old SIM will automatically be
cancelled once you start using the new one.

> Or do you always have the person that sells it to you do something
> with it?

Yes, if a SIM is involved.  But you can usually buy a phone without any
SIM at all, and just use whatever SIM you've got as long as the operator
is the same (or you buy the phone unlocked).

It was possible to buy a complete "anonymous" subscription a few years
ago like you describe, with a SIM and voluntary self-service registration.
But this is not allowed anymore due to abuse. It was a very popular
service among criminals....  You now have to show some sort of ID to get
a SIM card, and your name and address will be registered by the shop or
operator giving you the SIM.


Bjørn