Noob Question

[farhaat2007]

When you unlock your phone to upgrade to a custom rom , does that mean that the phone is unlocked and can be used for other carriers like verizon?

[robsta]

Wirelessly posted (HTC Touch Diamond: HTC-P4600/1.2 Opera/9.50 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en))

Yes and no, cdma doesn't work like gsm in that regard. It is up to the carrier to activate another carrier's phone on their network. Verizon might do it, call them and ask. I know Sprint won't activate anything but a Sprint branded phone.

[kkk222]

You unlock it only to install custom roms. Some phones MAY BE used on other carriers with the same technology (CDMA), but only Verizon and Sprint use it.

[JQuill]

Originally Posted by kkk222

You unlock it only to install custom roms. Some phones MAY BE used on other carriers with the same technology (CDMA), but only Verizon and Sprint use it.

Alltel, and Bell, also use CDMA technology. Flashing a phone to a different carrier is a process in itself, use the forums google search it works very well.

[whitey10tc]

Originally Posted by kkk222

You unlock it only to install custom roms. Some phones MAY BE used on other carriers with the same technology (CDMA), but only Verizon and Sprint use it.

Originally Posted by JQuill

Alltel, and Bell, also use CDMA technology. Flashing a phone to a different carrier is a process in itself, use the forums google search it works very well.

Some of the carriers are easy to accept Foreign ESN's but some take some work.
CDMA providers in the US are as follows
Verizon - accepts foreign ESN
Sprint - Does not accept foreign ESN
Metro PCS - accpets foreign ESN
cricKet - accpets foreign ESN
Alltel/Verizon - accpets foreign ESN
US Cellular - accpets foreign ESN
and many other regionals like Pocket -(accpets foreign ESN) etc, etc.
and way to many MVNO to list FYI Sprint has 2 prepaid CDMA divisions and at least a dozen MVNO's.
Canadian CDMA
Bell
Telus
Public Mobile
and many MVNO's

[MrObvious]

Verizon doesn't accept foreign ESNs.

[whitey10tc]

Originally Posted by MrObvious

Verizon doesn't accept foreign ESNs.

It has been done and ther is alot of Threads about Verizon's "open" policy over at HoFo.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...ght=Sprint+ESN
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...ght=Sprint+ESN
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...ght=Sprint+ESN
and there a 193 more just like these. People have done it you just need to keep trying until you get the right person. Through my 15 yrs of dealing with cell phones The only CDMA provider I know of that absolutely won't is Sprint.

[MrObvious]

Yeah but most reps won't do it. They used to be able to just by *228ing the ESN into their system but they fixed that hack.