Yeah, thx for the help.
In case it helps anyone I'll describe my experience.
I applied to join EE and at the time entered my PAC code.
The system said my number would change within 24 hours
(It wasn’t stated - but plainly that’s 24 hours AFTER the new EE SIM is detected on the EE network)
I received the EE SIM - I put it in an old iphone to connect it.
I did try to enter the PAC again on the PAC form at EE.co.uk, as described in my initial post above, but it would not work, I could not click "next" - it wasn’t clear why but I'm guessing that’s because the swop was in progress as my PAC was entered earlier during my EE application).
I wish I had received clear instructions on what to do when porting a number in a SIM only situation - so here are mine for anyone who is stuck:
1: Apply for EE online, add PAC code on the 'sign up' webpage
2: When EE SIM arrives put it in a phone so it is registered "on the system" [In my case I could put it in a spare old iphone, let it connect, then turned that phone off. (I guess you COULD also put it into your main phone and then remove until the port happens)
Why turn the phone off? If the number had ported to the SIM whilst in that old iphone, it would become "my" phone and, if ON, receive texts, which messes up iphone text history - any texts received during the time whilst the SIM is in there do not then appear on the "main" phone, I've found.]
3: Keep your old provider's SIM in your main phone until it stops working (which indicates that the number has been ported.)
4: Transfer the EE SIM to the main phone you'll be using, there should be no disturbance to the service AND you'll have all your text history too.
Only glitch I have now is that Google dual step verification texts are not being received. Maybe Google needs to catch up, my workaround is to set up the Google Authenticator app.
Good luck and enjoy EE, I'm rather pleased to have iPhone "visual voicemail" again. It’s a nice feature and Vodafone and Virgin didn’t support it.
neilBar
