How to See All SIM Contacts on an iPhone
By Lara Webster
Subscriber Identity Module or SIM cards are microchips inserted into cell phones on some networks, including AT&T. A SIM card not only identifies your phone to the mobile network, but sometimes saves information, such as contact phone numbers. While the iPhone does not save its contact information to a SIM, it is able to import and then display the information previously saved to a SIM from another phone. Importing SIM contacts from your last phone to the iPhone means that you won't have to manually enter each contact.
Step 1
Unwind part of a paper clip and insert the end into the hole on the iPhone's SIM card tray. The tray is on the side of iPhone 4 devices and the top of iPhone 3G and 3GS models. Apply pressure until the tray pops open and lay the SIM card from your old phone into the tray. Replace the tray in the phone.
Step 2
Open the "Settings" application on your iPhone's homepage. Tap "Mail, Contacts, Calendars" from the "Settings" menu.
Step 3
Scroll down the page to the "Contacts" section. Tap "Import SIM Contacts." If your iPhone has MobileMe, CardDAV or Microsoft Exchange enabled, select where you would like to contacts to be saved. If you don't have any of these programs, iPhone will save the contacts in your address book.
Step 4
Open the program where you directed the contacts, or the address book, to view the SIM contacts.
References
Tips
- Contact your service provider regarding activation of your phone. Inserting the SIM card will not begin service--iPhones require specific data plans that can only be set up via your cell phone provider.
Writer Bio
Lara Webster has been writing professionally since 2009. Her work has been featured on Relationships in the Raw, The Nursery Book, Spark Trust and several travel-related websites. Webster holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in mass communication and media studies, both from San Diego State University.