How to Buy an iPhone 5s to Activate on Ting

Do you want to activate an iPhone 5s or 5c on Ting? Do you know where and how to buy one? Here is everything you need to know.

It is now possible to activate the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on Ting. Although the major carriers are currently launching the iPhone 6, because Ting is a Sprint MVNO, Sprint does not allow them to activate the latest generation of Apple iPhones. Only until one year after the initial release does Sprint allow iPhones to be brought to Ting.

Another issue to contend with is the fact that you cannot buy an iPhone 5s or 5c directly from Ting at this time. Ting does offer refurbished iPhones for sale in their online store, but only the iPhone 5 and older. To get an iPhone 5s or 5c now, you will have to buy your phone through a third party seller.

Since the iPhone 6 has just been released, prices for last generation 5s and 5c will likely come down significantly in the next month as a large number of devices flood the market.

If you are a new customer or will be adding a new line to your account, you should definitely take advantage of the device swap program:

Sell any AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile device and we will credit you an extra 30% of your proceeds to cover the cost of a comparable Ting-compatible device.

Where Do I buy a Ting iPhone 5s or 5c?

To buy an iPhone 5s for Ting you can get one from eBay, Amazon, Craigslist, Glyde, Swappa, or anyone who is selling a Sprint iPhone 5s or 5c that meets the below requirements. Shop around to try to find what you are looking for at the best price. Below are links to iPhones that filter out everything but the required Sprint versions:

Amazon - check out the "other sellers" section to see more selection and prices.
iPhone 5s
iPhone 5c

eBay - make sure you buy one that has a "clean/good ESN" and is not "iCloud locked."
iPhone 5s
iPhone 5c

Glyde
iPhone 5s
iPhone 5c

Swappa
iPhone 5s
iPhone 5c

You can buy one from almost anywhere, but to bring an iPhone 5s or 5c to Ting it must meet all the following requirements:

• Originally sold by Sprint. In other words, it must be a Sprint branded device - iPhones from other carriers will not work.
• One aspect of being a Sprint model is that they are CDMA variants. "Unlocked" or "SIM unlocked" iPhones are GSM versions that do not use the same frequencies and will not work on Ting.
• It cannot be reported lost, stolen, or currently active on someone else's account. Being eligible for activation and not reported lost or stolen is often expressed by sellers as a phone with a "clean ESN or IMEI" and "not iCloud locked." If you are buying from eBay, Craigslist, and even 3rd party sellers on Amazon you need to make sure of this. 
• You must have a UICC SIM card installed for activation (this enables LTE data), model #SIMGLW416C, that you can buy directly from Ting here. 

Now that you have your iPhone, the next step is to activate it on Ting. If you are a new customer you can get a $25 credit on your account by using this link immediately prior to activating your first Ting device.

How Do I Activate the iPhone 5s and 5c on Ting?

1. Insert the Ting SIM card and then turn on the device.
2. Go to https://ting.com/go on a computer to begin the activation process.
3. On your iPhone find the MEID and ICCID by going to Settings → General → About and scroll down until you see the MEID and ICCID numbers.
4. Enter the MEID and ICCID when prompted and then follow the instructions to port in your existing number, create a new number, or swap out an existing device on your account.

Are you still having trouble or not sure what to do? Ask in the comments section below or go to the official Ting iPhone FAQs page. If this page has been helpful, please share it or hit the +1 button below.