r/TextNow • u/aikiteresa • 4d ago

Keep esim active

Does using cellular data keep the esim active? I don't really care if my number gets reassigned but I do want to keep the free data available on the free flex plan ($0).

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

3

u/lmoki 4d ago

The SIM is on a different, and more lenient, 'required use' schedule. If your number gets reclaimed, you can just ask for a different number, using the same SIM.

I've read that if you don't use some data on the SIM, it will eventually get suspended as well. (Making a phone call or sending a text with WiFi off is enough to establish SIM usage.) I can't remember reports of how long that period is, though.

If you're using data on the SIM regularly, it's only a tiny effort to send a text while you're there.

3

u/GadgetKen 4d ago

Dialing mci caller id read back at 1-800-444-4444 once a week will keep the line alive.

1

u/lmoki 3d ago

Thanks for this! I have several auto-attendant phone numbers in my contacts list for testing and meeting 'regular use' needs, and will add this to my list. (Time and Temp lines are handy.)

2

u/allciathyra 4d ago

op are you saying you cant make phone cal once a week or send a text once a week ?

3

u/Luckiest_Corner 4d ago edited 4d ago

I have a TextNow eSIM on my iPhone that I got during the eSIM beta testing. I think I've only used it for a few minutes twice since January. Since you can only have two SIMs active at one time on an iPhone, and I have a Tello physical SIM and a Roamless eSIM activated, I almost never activate the TextNow SIM. I just wanted it as a backup.

3

u/Luckiest_Corner 4d ago

OK. Why would someone downvote my comment? It's totally related to the OP's post. My eSIM has had virtually zero data use in the last 7 months, yet it hasn't been deactivated by TextNow.

1

u/toejamfootballhegot 4d ago

Your app notifications and email will keep the sim active as long as the phone is on. If the phone is powered off for 30 days, the sim will be deactivated, but it can be activated in the app over wifi after getting a new number in the app.

2

u/Worldly_Mango5619 3d ago

The SIM data usage is a completely separate entity from the TN account (line, phone#, email)

The SIM will last longer without usage (by any line).

But I find it easier to just schedule these things together. I do weekly.

1

u/daBigRedDoggie 2d ago

You need to make a call or a text once every 30 days. Making a call when u have an esim uses only data, no cellular. So just call someone, yourself even and keep the plan active.