Activate Gobi 3000 for service, self-activation possible?

[schester]

What exactly is involved with activating the Gobi 3000 card for WWAN service? I have to call Lenovo to do this?

I have 3G service set up with Sprint. I'll have an X220 with Gobi 3000 preinstalled. Can't I just bring up Access Connections like I do for WiFi, input my Sprint username and password, and off I go? I have to activate the card first? What does this involve? Could someone please explain what the whole activating the card involves and why this is necessary? Can I do this myself without any headaches? I read somewhere I have to call Lenovo or something to accomplish activation, why is this necessary?

Thanks, appreciate any help understanding this

[ausmike]

hi sch*;
I am not sure so much for SPRINT; but I have ATT + Verizon cards (both working and interchangeable) on TWO LAPTOPS - X220t & W420s . I just added my SIM into the slot and it recorganised it - reboot and use

I have a 'dongle' for Sprint.
I just downloaded "sprint smartview" from their website; installed it while the dongle was plugged in and it was set to use.

AFAIK - I dont think there is anything to 'activate' in the GOBI CARD (nothing Lenovo would or can do) as its already 'unlocked & ready to use'. from factory. ALL YOU need to do is add the SIM or ADD the USER ACCOUNT details. In sprint - you cna do this in the SMARTVIEW applications (well am assuming you already have a DATA account already setup with sprint)

Hope this helps
Cheers

[EOMtp]

Sprint ... Gobi 3000 ... WWAN ... activate the card first? What does this involve?

Calling and giving Sprint the MEID of the card.

[schester]

Calling and giving Sprint the MEID of the card.

Now this makes sense to me. But my computer has directions to call LENOVO to activate my card (only option presented). This is basically why I posted, cause I couldn't find any self-activation option nor a Sprint-activation option. Since my Sprint service already exists, I don't understand why I would need to call Lenovo.

I'd like to self-activate the card if possible. the Lenovo directions just don't present this option to me. Has anybody self-activated their card? How do most people activate their Gobi card?

[Harryc]

Call Lenovo and ask? I suspect it is just so that they can offer you a promotional rate.

[ausmike]

Sh*;
Hope things got sorted out for ya.
Last time I had to call lenovo about the smae thing (msgyou getting) .... seemed like NOONE @ Lenovo Tech Support NOR lenovo CSer knew anything about such things. Than later I found out that the "FREE 30 days offer"/Cheaper rates etc etc - all those things were in combination with Intel & Microsoft & CLEAR Commincations. They all expired in 2008/9 sometime AFAIK

Seems a few pple who have done "restore/recvovery' to as 'factory ship' have been trying to get these offers ...However ; back in 2008/9 time I did fianlly get someone in CLEAR (carrier like sprint etc) who knews about the "lenovo offerings' but then it was ONLY VALID if you signed up and PRERPAID for first 6mths of a 12 month contract - for unlimited use!!
didnt seem like a 'deal' to me ... so I just let it be!

Good Luckl