I just switched to Verizon, and I have a few questions...?

Depending on whether or not you bought it in the store or not it's activated when you receive it. Your old at&t phone is trash unless you think in the future you might go back to them. Usually if you go to the verizon store they can transfer the phone numbers from one phone to the other. At&t phones have a sim card and Verizon ones don't so that makes it a little tougher.

You should ask Verizon how to keep your old number. I would think that was part of signing up. On my Verizon phone, all you do is call *228 and pick either program phone or update roaming. You can donate your old phone to women's shelters, etc. Check in your own area. Just reprogram your old phone or call Cingular and ask if they have a donation program.

1) When I got my phone, it took about 30 minutes. I activated it at the Verizon store though.

2)You can cancel that plan, wait till the contract ends, whatever you want to do.

3) Manually. Enter in contacts one by one. I dont know if cell phone cards (the kind that are inside most modern phones that save contact data and other settings) can be put into phones from other services.

You're welcome.