The status of your SIMs and the actions you take impact the resulting billing.
In this article:
Device States and Billing Process
- You have previously activated (provisioned) a SIM that was assigned to your account (in SIM inventory).
- This activation step, whether it was simply provisioned or simultaneously moved to an active-bill state, enables the SIM to use the services on the network for which it was configured.
- The SIM's state can change over time.
- The active states include Provision, Bill, and Suspend.
- The SIM can also be deactivated by changing its state to Cancel.
The diagram below shows the states that a SIM/device can have in the billing system. This state diagram also illustrates a few of the actions that change a device state.
Video Overview: Device States and Billing Process
SIM/Device States, Actions, and Corresponding Fees
The table below provides the definitions of each state, the actions, and fees related to those states and actions.
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Device States |
Actions |
Fees |
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Initial The state of a SIM/device, containing an Aeris SKU radio module (“module”), which has not been identified as belonging to any specific customer and which has not been previously provisioned on the Aeris Network. A SIM/device remains in the Initial state until you move it into to the Provisioned or Active-Billed state. |
Initial State Fee There are no charges while a SIM/device is in the Initial state. |
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Activation/Provision The act of assigning new identification credentials to a SIM/device (in the Initial or Cancelled state) containing a module as belonging to you, assigning a Rate Plan, and storing that association, so the SIM/device is registered on and managed by AerPort. |
Provision Fees If specified in the SIM/device’s assigned Rate Plan, a Provision Fee may be applied at the time of Activation/Provisioning. |
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Reprovision The act of renewing previously assigned identification credentials to a SIM/device (in the Cancelled state), assigning a Rate Plan and storing that association, so the SIM/device is registered on and managed by AerPort. During Reprovisioning, Aeris attempts to re-assign the previously assigned network identifiers (and device name) to a SIM/device as long as a SIM/device retains its original radio module identifier (the ESN or MEID) and a predetermined amount of time (e.g. twelve months) has not elapsed since a SIM/device entered the Cancelled state. |
Reprovision Fees If specified in the SIM/device’s assigned Rate Plan, a Reprovision Fee may be applied at the time of Reprovisioning. |
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Provisioned The state of a SIM/device that has been activated/provisioned, or made live, on the Aeris Network and can now by recognized and managed by AerPort. A SIM/device remains in the Provisioned state until it is moved to the Active-Billed state (by your deliberate action or by its assigned threshold triggers being exceeded) OR Cancelled state (only by your action). |
Provisioned State Fees While in the Provisioned state, an Access Fee is not charged. |
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Provisioned State Transport Service Billing Rates While in the Provisioned state, a SIM/device is permitted a defined amount of traffic over a defined number of days to support testing and other pre-installation activities (as specified in its assigned Rate Plan). Upon exceeding any of these thresholds, the SIM/device is automatically moved to the Active-Billed state (also known as defaulting). |
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Activation The act of moving a SIM/device from the Provisioned state to the Active-Billed state, or from the Initial state to the Active-Billed state. |
Activation Fees For a SIM/device with an assigned post-paid Rate Plan and if specified in the Rate Plan, if the SIM/device is moving from the Initial or Provisioned state for the first time, then a First Bill Activation Fee is applied. Otherwise a Reactivation Fee is applied. |
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Active-Billed The state of a SIM/device that is live on the Aeris Network and which is being charged per the Active-Billed State Billing Rates. The Active-Billed state is the most common state for a SIM/device. A SIM/device remains in the Active-Billed state until it is moved to the Suspended state OR Cancelled state (only by your action). |
Active-Billed State Fee Active-Billed State Transport Services Billing Rates While in the Active-Billed state, the SIM/device is billed according to the fees specified in its Rate Plan. For a SIM/device with an assigned post-paid Rate Plan, the Access Fee is pro-rated for the number of days the SIM/device was in the Active-Billed state during the billing period in which the SIM/device entered the Active-Billed state, whether from the Provisioned, Suspended, or Cancelled state. |
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Suspend The act of moving a SIM/device from the Active-Billed state to the Suspended state. |
Suspension Fees If specified in the SIM/device's assigned Rate Plan, a Suspension Fee may be applied at the time of the Suspension action. |
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Suspended The state of a SIM/device temporarily removed from the Active-Billed state while remaining under a post-paid Rate Plan and continuing to be live on and managed by the Aeris Network. A SIM/device remains in the Suspended state until it is moved to the Active-Billed state (through your deliberate action or by its assigned threshold triggers being exceeded) or Cancelled state (only by your action). |
Suspended State Fees Upon entering the Suspended state, the Access Fee is prorated to the number of days the SIM/device was in the Active-Billed state during the transition billing period. |
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Suspended State Transport Services Billing Rates While in the Suspended state, a SIM/device is permitted a defined amount of traffic over a defined number of days to support off-line activities (as specified in its assigned Rate Plan). Upon exceeding any of these thresholds, the SIM/device is automatically moved to the Active-Billed state. |
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Unsuspend The act of moving a SIM/device from the Suspended state to the Active-Billed state. |
Unsuspend Fees If specified in the SIM/device's assigned Rate Plan, a Unsuspend Fee (interpreted as a Reactivation Fee) may be applied at the time of the Unsuspend action. |
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Cancel The act of moving a SIM/device from the Active-Billed state, or Provisioned state to the Cancelled state. |
Deactivation Fees If specified in the SIM/device's assigned Rate Plan, a Deactivation Fee may be applied at the time of the Cancel action. |
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Cancelled The state of a SIM/device that is no longer registered on and cannot be managed by AerPort. A SIM/device in the Cancelled state cannot communicate, or be communicated with. However, a SIM/device in the Cancelled state, if powered on, will continue to exchange ANSI-2000 protocol traffic with the network. Thus, it is an Aeris requirement that SIM/devices in a Cancelled state be powered off or removed from the network in some fashion. A SIM/device remains in the Cancelled state until it is moved to the Provisioned or Active-Billed state (only by your action). |
Cancelled State Fees Upon entering the Cancelled state, if a SIM/device was on a post-paid Rate Plan, the Access Fee is pro-rated for the number of days the SIM/device was in the Cancelled state during the transition billing period. |
Definitions of Device States, Status Change Actions, and Related Terms
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Device States |
Definition |
|---|---|
| Active-Billed State | The Active-Billed state is the most common state for a SIM/device. While in the Active-Billed state, the SIM/device is billed for service according to the fees specified in its Rate Plan. |
| Cancelled State | The state of a SIM/device that is no longer registered on the Aeris Network. A SIM/device in the Cancelled state cannot communicate, or be communicated with. If the SIM/device was on a Post-Paid Rate Plan, the Access Fee is pro-rated for the number of days the SIM/device was in the Cancelled state during the transition billing period. |
| Initial State | The state of a SIM/device, containing an Aeris SKU radio module (“module”), which has not been identified as belonging to any particular Customer and which has not been previously provisioned on the Aeris Network. |
| Provisioned State | The state of a SIM/device that has been provisioned on the Aeris Network.
The SIM/device remains in the Provisioned state until it is moved to the Active-Billed state (through your deliberate action or by Rate Plan triggers being exceeded) or Cancelled state (only through your action). While in the Provisioned state, an Access Fee is not charged, but the SIM/device is billed for all traffic at the Provisioned State Billing Rates specified in its Rate Plan. |
| Suspended State | The state of a SIM/device removed—usually temporarily—from the Active-Billed
state, while remaining under a Post-Paid Rate Plan. Upon entering the Suspended state, the Access Fee is pro-rated to the number of days the SIM/device was in the Active-Billed state during the transition billing period. While in the Suspended state, the SIM/device is not charged an Access Fee, but is charged for all traffic. The SIM/device remains in the Suspended state until it is moved to the Active-Billed state (through your deliberate action or by Rate Plan triggers being exceeded) or Cancelled state (only through your action). If a Suspended state SIM/device is moved to the Active-Billed state, an Un-Suspend Fee may be applied, and the Access Fee is pro-rated for the number of days the SIM/device was in the Suspended state during the transition billing period. If a Suspended state SIM/device moves to the Cancelled state, a Deactivation Fee may be applied. |
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Status Change Actions |
Definition |
|---|---|
| Activate (or Reactivate) | The act of moving a SIM/device from the Provisioned state to the
Active-Billed state or from the Initial state to the Active-Billed state. An Activation Fee may be applied—either a First Bill Activation or Reactivation Fee depending on the specific activation request. For Post-Paid Rate Plans, the Access Fee is pro-rated for the number of days the SIM/device was in the Active-Billed state during the billing period in which the SIM/device entered the Active-Billed state. |
| Cancel (or Deactivate) | The act of removing a SIM/device from the Aeris Network, which moves the
SIM/device into the Cancelled state. SIM/devices may be deactivated at any time.
In other words, they can be moved from any current state (except the Initial
state) to the Cancelled state. A Deactivation Fee may be applied. |
| Provision | The act of identifying a SIM/device containing a module as belonging to a
particular Customer and Rate Plan and storing that association in the Aeris
Network. A Provision Fee may be applied when the SIM/device is provisioned. |
| Reprovision | The act of restoring a SIM/device currently in the Cancelled state to the
Provisioned state. Reprovisioning restores the SIM/device to the Provisioned state. Note that the original device name is also re-assigned to the SIM/device. There is no fee for Reprovisioning a SIM/device. |
| Suspend | The act of moving a SIM/device from the Active-Billed state to the Suspended
state. A Suspension Fee may be applied when the SIM/device is suspended. |
| Unsuspend | The act of moving a SIM/device from the Suspended state to the Active-Billed
state. An Unsuspension Fee may be applied when the SIM/device is unsuspended. |
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Related Terms |
Definition |
|---|---|
| Aeris Approval | Use of the Aeris Network is conditioned upon approval of:
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| Renewal Date | The date on which:
Either of these can be based on annual or multi-year terms. |
| Data Rounding | Packet (e.g., 1x OnDemand) data usage is rounded up to the next KB according to the rounding rules identified in the Rate Plan. |
| Data Rounding within Pooling | Included packet (e.g., 1x OnDemand) data usage is aggregated (pooled) for all
SIM/devices that share the same Rate Plan and Report Group. At the end of each billing period, Total Data Traffic is calculated for all SIM/devices in the same Rate Plan and Report Group and rounded up to the next KB according to the rounding rules identified in the Rate Plan. If the rounded data amount exceeds the available data volume in the pool, then an Overage Fee is applied according to the Rate Plan. Available pool data expires (is no longer available) only after the Deactivation of the last SIM/device in the Rate Plan and Report Group pool. |
| Invoice | A statement from Aeris for each billing period. It itemizes the fees owed to Aeris, calculated using the Customer Rate Plan(s) and these standard billing terms and conditions. |
| Post-Paid Rate Plans | Monthly Access Fees are billed one month in advance and Traffic Fees are billed one month in arrears. |
| Rate Plan | The fees associated with a SIM/device operating on the Aeris Network. |
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Report Group |
A collection of SIM/devices, specified by you, whose billing information is aggregated for invoicing and reporting. |
| Total Packet Data Traffic | You are billed for all packet data sent to and received from a SIM/device, including actual user data plus other data that may be added to transmit the user data. For example, TCP/UDP overhead, retries (application and/or TCP), and failed session establishment attempts. |