Can I get a specific SIM number?

Can I choose my own SIM number?

Man, picking a phone number is a pain. I tried with Mint Mobile last year, 2023. Nope, you’re stuck with what they give you. Complete crapshoot. It was some random number, totally unusable. Ugh.

So I switched to US Mobile. Same deal, right? Wrong! They let you choose a number from a pool of available options. It was still a little limited, but way better. I actually found one I liked, relatively close to my old number.

I was so relieved. Finding a number you like is a weird thing to stress about, but it is. Area codes matter, too, especially for local business contacts. You don’t want a random area code if you’re trying to seem local. Seriously. The whole process, though… was confusing, lots of clicking around their site.

My current setup? One phone, two numbers. Google Voice for work, a US Mobile number for personal use. It’s pricey though.

• Mint Mobile: No number choice.
• US Mobile: Limited number choice but better than Mint.
• Google Voice: Added for work, it’s separate.
• 2023 Experiences: Reflect current year information.
• Cost: Dual numbers are expensive.

Can I choose my SIM card number?

Nope. Your SIM number’s a lottery ticket you never bought. It’s pre-assigned, a digital fingerprint the network slaps onto your phone. Think of it as your phone’s social security number, but way less useful for getting loans. It’s unique, like your nose (unless you’re one of those identical twins, then, uh, nevermind).

• Your number is your destiny! (Or at least, your network’s destiny for your phone)
• It’s essential – like oxygen…for your phone calls.
• It’s the key to the kingdom – the kingdom of texts and endless cat videos.

Seriously though, you’re stuck with what they give you. This isn’t like picking your own license plate number. It’s more like inheriting an aunt you’ve never met– you’re stuck with her quirks.

My friend Mark tried changing his, once. Back in 2022. He wound up with a bill the size of small car. Don’t ask. Just trust me on this one. It’s a fixed feature. Deal with it. Think of it as a unique snowflake – because you definitely can’t change it! I did get a new phone number last week, though. That was fun. Now that’s something to choose!

Can I request a specific mobile number?

Ugh, okay, this reminds me of last year. So, I needed a new mobile number. My old one was a mess.

I really wanted something easy to remember, ideally with my birth year, ’92, in it. I mean, who doesn’t?

I remember spending like an hour on the carrier’s website, their phone number look-up tool was the worst. Seriously, so slow! I was at home, in my kitchen in Brooklyn, around 7 pm on a Tuesday. Man, I was hungry, but also determined.

• Frustration Level: High
• Snack Consumption: Zero (Big mistake!)
• Number of Attempts: Too many

I tried so many combinations, everything was taken. Seriously, like EVERY single one. I thought people were crazy.

Finally, I just called them. Speaking to a person was so much better. The lady on the phone, her name was probably something normal like Susan, actually checked their system directly.

• She put me on hold for like, ten minutes – torture!

And guess what? She found a number with ’92’ at the end, and it wasn’t in use. Woohoo! “Sold!” I shouted, probably too loud.

I felt so relieved. It’s weird, I know, getting excited about a phone number, but it’s kinda a big deal, right? Anyway, the whole thing taught me that talking to a real human is always better than using those dumb automated tools. Seriously. It’s now 2024 and it’s still the same stupid game.

How do I find out if a phone number is available?

Ugh, phone numbers. So annoying. Finding out if one’s free? 2023’s gotta have a better way than that clunky website, right? I swear, technology! It should be instant.

My friend, Mark, had this whole thing with getting a new number for his business, “Mark’s Marvelous Muffins,” and spent ages trying to find one he liked. He ended up paying some service – ridiculous! He said it was fast though.

Checking availability directly with carriers is the way to go. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile – they all have their own systems. It’s not always user-friendly, I’ll grant you that. But, it’s reliable.

• AT&T: Online account management is their best bet.
• Verizon: Their app is pretty good for this.
• T-Mobile: Check their website – that’s my personal preference.

I hate those third-party sites claiming to check numbers. They’re sketchy. Give me official sources, always. Seriously. Don’t trust anything less. Privacy is HUGE. I’m super cautious about that.

What about those area codes? I need a new number in 310, hoping to find something good. Maybe I should just use a random number generator. Nah. Too many issues. I’m so done with this.

Number portability is a thing too, right? You can often keep your current number when switching providers. But the availability check is separate from that. Don’t mix those up! Got to remember that.

How long does a phone number stay inactive?

Okay, so phone numbers, right? It’s a crapshoot. No one really knows for sure how long they sit there unused. I heard a year, maybe? But it’s totally random. My aunt’s number, she hasn’t used it since 2021, and it’s still hers. Crazy, huh? But then my cousin? His number got recycled super fast, like two months tops.

It depends on the provider, too. Verizon, AT&T, those big guys? They probably reuse numbers quicker than smaller companies. I bet Cricket Wireless hangs onto them longer. You know, for whatever reason. It’s total luck of the draw, really.

Bottom line: there’s no set time. It could be weeks, it could be years. Seriously! Don’t count on it staying inactive for any specific time. People get new phones all the time. Numbers get reassigned. That’s just how it is. Think of it like a hotel room- eventually someone else needs that space.

• No fixed timeframe exists for phone number recycling.
• Carrier-dependent: Larger providers might reuse numbers faster.
• Purely speculative: Predicting the reuse time is impossible.

My friend Sarah, she lost her number after only three months. She was not happy. Three months! It was a T-Mobile number, if that matters. And my old number from 2022? I think someone else has that now. I can’t even recall my previous provider, to be honest. Anyway, yeah, it’s a gamble. Good luck with that.

What happens when a phone number is deactivated?

So, you deactivated your number, huh? Big whoop. Think of it like returning a slightly used library book – except the book is your phone number, and the library is your phone company. They’re practically dancing a jig because they get to re-sell that bad boy.

Prepare for a deluge. Yep, the new owner? They’re inheriting your digital baggage. It’s like buying a used car and discovering the previous owner left their entire sock collection in the trunk. Only instead of socks, it’s spam messages and calls from your ex-wife’s llama-breeding aunt.

What happens next is a comedy of errors.

• Random texts: Expect everything from pizza coupons to cryptic political messages. My cousin got a whole series of “urgent” texts about a Nigerian prince’s sudden wealth. Hilarious.
• Calls from the beyond: Prepare for awkward conversations with people who think you’re still their… well, you. My uncle’s dentist once called my old number, it was weird.
• The number is recycled: It’s a phone number, not a vintage car. Your carrier doesn’t care about sentimental value. It’s a commodity. They want to make money. Duh.

This isn’t some arcane ritual, it’s basic capitalism. Think of it as a phone number reincarnation. Karma, baby, karma. Except instead of enlightenment, you get annoying robocalls.

Honestly? It’s a wild ride. One minute you’re happily deleting your social media, and the next you’re wondering why someone’s asking for your grandma’s secret chili recipe (which, by the way, is a killer recipe — she uses a surprising amount of anchovies). This happened to my friend Sarah! It’s all very weird.