Hello everyone, I'm trying to switch from Verizon to Sprint and I outright own my Verizon S7 Edge. Sprint is saying my device will not work on their network, and that I must sell my phone to them (for $400) and purchase a new Sprint S7 Edge. Verizon has confirmed the phone is fully unlocked. Has anyone else had this issue? Sprint is saying the reason they can't do it is because they cannot add the device to their inventory, and it sounds like they don't accept any Verizon phone. Is there any recourse here, or would I really have to sell my phone?
Skrip037 said:
Hello everyone, I'm trying to switch from Verizon to Sprint and I outright own my Verizon S7 Edge. Sprint is saying my device will not work on their network, and that I must sell my phone to them (for $400) and purchase a new Sprint S7 Edge. Verizon has confirmed the phone is fully unlocked. Has anyone else had this issue? Sprint is saying the reason they can't do it is because they cannot add the device to their inventory, and it sounds like they don't accept any Verizon phone. Is there any recourse here, or would I really have to sell my phone?
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Best bet is to trade a sprint s7 edge for yours.
I was wondering the same thing recently. I can potentially get a very inexpensive S7 edge, but it's verizon. I want to stick with Sprint, but I don't know if there's a way to completely unlock/convert the phone over to the sprint network.
I don't know if it's as easy as unlocking and swapping the SIM, or if theres some underlying Verizon software that needs to get flashed over, or if it's a hardware issue.
I am wondering of you flashed the unlocked firmware if then it would work. I have read people using that ROM with ATT and theoreticallly the unlocked Firmware/Phone should work with all American providers
Just give them yours, why not? I mean, you're already leaving a better company both call and data wise all around so what else can you lose lol.
Sent from my SM-G935P using XDA-Developers mobile app
Skrip037 said:
Hello everyone, I'm trying to switch from Verizon to Sprint and I outright own my Verizon S7 Edge. Sprint is saying my device will not work on their network, and that I must sell my phone to them (for $400) and purchase a new Sprint S7 Edge. Verizon has confirmed the phone is fully unlocked. Has anyone else had this issue? Sprint is saying the reason they can't do it is because they cannot add the device to their inventory, and it sounds like they don't accept any Verizon phone. Is there any recourse here, or would I really have to sell my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was with T-Mobile for 11 years and I thought I had bad coverage. Until I switched to Sprint. Sprint is horrible! When they say they will buy your contract out up to $650, most of it is BS and you end up getting stuck with a huge bill from your former provider. I would highly and I mean highly recommend that you don't go to Sprint. Now after looking back I think T-Mobile is the best because you can scream all you want to at no extra cost. And you can also tether your phone to your computer or other products so you can use that internet and they give you 7 gigs at no extra charge. At Sprint, you have to pay for tethering and there is no free streaming. I'm so pissed at myself I could scream! I want to go back to T-Mobile so bad but they screwed things up with the money they gave me for the phone and the buyback it didn't even cover half of the $1,100 equipment installment plan from T-Mobile. Don't do it! Also comma when you call T-Mobile you get to speak with somebody in the US every single time but when you call Sprint they can even transfer you to the US you end up speaking to somebody in the Philippines that has no clue what they're doing
---------- Post added at 05:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:58 AM ----------
kennypow3rs said:
Just give them yours, why not? I mean, you're already leaving a better company both call and data wise all around so what else can you lose lol.
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Don't do it. They do not give you even close enough to pay off your other phone with the other provider. My note that I had a old 5:50 on and they gave me 215 trade in and now I'm stuck for 2 years with incredibly bad service
I worked for sprint for 5 years as a Lead Tech. Sprint will absolutely not activate a verizon, or any other device on their network. Every Phone Sprint buys goes into a master MEID/ESN list. Only phones on that list can be activated. I have never seen them make an exception, not once.
94tbird said:
I worked for sprint for 5 years as a Lead Tech. Sprint will absolutely not activate a verizon, or any other device on their network. Every Phone Sprint buys goes into a master MEID/ESN list. Only phones on that list can be activated. I have never seen them make an exception, not once.
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he is right. sprint will not activate any phone other than a sprint phone unless it is a nexus. its not that they can't its just them making money. they can add a nexus to the list they should be able to add a verizon, but they won't. they have total control of what phones run on the network just like verizon does. its the cdma technology that makes it possible
kennypow3rs said:
Just give them yours, why not? I mean, you're already leaving a better company both call and data wise all around so what else can you lose lol.
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Click to collapse
A hundred bucks a month from his phone bill?
I've looked everywhere for the answer to this question. I know that the Verizon phone comes unlocked and can work on all GSM carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T) but does it also work on Sprint? Or does it not have the CDMA bands that Sprint uses?
It does have the bands and everything needed to work on Sprint.... But to activate it Sprint would have to manually add it to their system and they won't do that.... It was a pain when the Nexus 6 came out of you bought it from Google
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
So what can I do to get them to manually add it?
Dublegrind said:
So what can I do to get them to manually add it?
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I wonder this too? I have a t-mobile that I flashed to unlocked and they say they can't add it... a bunch of BS...
does anyone know if sprint s8 can be used on verizon?
All u have to do is chat with sprint and buy one of there byod sim cards. Had a similar problem with a moto g4 i bought for my mom on her sprint account.
Assuming that the verizon s8 doesnt have a boa on a line that has not been paid.
I also took my wifes iphone 6 from sprint to verizon than to straight talk with verizon sim.
Hi guys.. So I bought a Samsung Galaxy S8 from Best Buy Mobile last month. I had to use sprint because at&t (my fav. carrier) would not finance me on the phone. I was told if I paid off the phone I could switch carriers. So that's what I did. Sprint even unlocked it. Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Is it true that I am stuck with sprint?! I have horrible coverage in my area and I can't even use the internet and such unless I'm on a wireless connection. What can I do? Please help!
Did you try putting in a non sprint sim?
If it is SIM unlocked, just flash the unlocked (G950U1) firmware on it.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
KARVEGA79 said:
Hi guys.. So I bought a Samsung Galaxy S8 from Best Buy Mobile last month. I had to use sprint because at&t (my fav. carrier) would not finance me on the phone. I was told if I paid off the phone I could switch carriers. So that's what I did. Sprint even unlocked it. Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Is it true that I am stuck with sprint?! I have horrible coverage in my area and I can't even use the internet and such unless I'm on a wireless connection. What can I do? Please help!
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Click to collapse
If the Sprint unlocked your phone, then it won't hurt inserting another sim in it. Theoretically speaking it should work and if it won't, then flashing is another way of making it work.
KARVEGA79 said:
Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
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Who are these ignorant people telling you this and why are you listening to them?
1) Verizon also uses CDMA, so having CDMA is the reason it WOULD work with Verizon.
2) All the carriers in the U.S. get the same phone. All the bands needed for a specific carrier are activated when the SIM card is installed. The only reason it wouldn't work is if Sprint had not unlocked the phone after you paid it off. It would be locked to Sprint to prevent you from not honoring the purchase agreement. And even then it would be blacklisted on Sprint network, if you didn't honor the purchase agreement.
3) if inserting the SIM card for another carrier doesn't automatically change the firmware, then do what this guy said:
lancemoreland said:
If it is SIM unlocked, just flash the unlocked (G950U1) firmware on it.
Guide for Flashing Standard Firmware, Carrier Switching, and Flashing Unlocked Firmware
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
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Sprint, at&t and even verizon said my phone wasn't compatible even after I told them sprint unlocked it. I had no idea about all this cdma, gsm crap when buying the phone. I have never had a decent phone like an S8. All my phones have been cheap prepaid phones since now due to the fact no one would ever finance me for one. I was SOO freakin surprised and happy when someone actually agreed to finance me, I figured I could pay off the phone and then switch. After paying off the phone is when these companies said it was incompatible. Weird thing is I went to IMEI.info and it says it IS compatible and IS unlocked for sure. I then went to at&t online and after typing in my imei number it also said it was compatible. I'm so confused. I am going to take it up to at&t tomorrow and see what happens when I buy and insert a sim card. If it turns out to be sim locked is there a way to bypass this? I truly have paid the phone off and after doing so I asked sprint (on the phone) to sim unlock it, they said they did.
Please do not listen to the idiots at the mobile companies. There is ZERO difference in the S8, ZERO!!!!! If It's not sim locked it will work on ALL carriers, both cdma and gsm.
If It's still sim locked, some people have had success paying a third party to provide a code. But I would try sprint first since They said it should be unlocked.
My guess is that it will work fine with another sim card.
I would either flash the att firmware or the unlocked firmware on it.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
KARVEGA79 said:
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
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Click to collapse
I would flash the unlocked firmware on the phone. Will get rid of bloatware. No reason to backup sprint firmware, Its everywhere.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
ChazzMatt said:
Who are these ignorant people telling you this and why are you listening to them?
1) Verizon also uses CDMA, so having CDMA is the reason it WOULD work with Verizon.
2) All the carriers in the U.S. get the same phone. All the bands needed for a specific carrier are activated when the SIM card is installed. The only reason it wouldn't work is if Sprint had not unlocked the phone after you paid it off. It would be locked to Sprint to prevent you from not honoring the purchase agreement. And even then it would be blacklisted on Sprint network, if you didn't honor the purchase agreement.
3) if inserting the SIM card for another carrier doesn't automatically change the firmware, then do what this guy said:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
KARVEGA79 said:
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
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Click to collapse
You said you purchased that phone from Sprint directly. It's a snapdragon. Exynos is in the international version, which Sprint does not sell.
rkennison said:
You said you purchased that phone from Sprint directly. It's a snapdragon. Exynos is in the international version, which Sprint does not sell.
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I purchased it from Best Buy Mobile, had to sign with sprint because no other carrier would finance me.
KARVEGA79 said:
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you bought it from Sprint (or even just used it on Sprint), then you have a Snapdragon 835 S8. Only the Snapdragon variants have CDMA bands for Sprint and Verizon. Only the Snapdragon S8/S8+ variants are sold by carriers in North America -- so they can be cross compatible with Sprint/Verizon/AT&T/T-mobile/Canadian carriers. That's why whoever told you this nonsense is so ignorant.
If you had IMPORTED an Exynos variant from like England, then you would be limited to AT&T or T-mobile. But you have the "universal" Snapdragon model. Now the Exynos variant has an easily unlocked bootloader, which is a reason people import them, but that's another topic altogether.
As long as your Snapdragon 835 S8 is SIM unlocked (you have paid for it in full, and Sprint says they have unlocked it), you can take it to any other carrier or even an MVNO (like Straight Talk) and use it.
---------- Post added at 08:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 AM ----------
KARVEGA79 said:
I purchased it from Best Buy Mobile, had to sign with sprint because no other carrier would finance me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you used it on Sprint, you have Snapdragon 835. Only the Snapdragon S8/S8+ variants have CDMA bands for Sprint and Verizon, in addition to LTE bands.
---------- Post added at 08:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 AM ----------
KARVEGA79 said:
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
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Click to collapse
Thor2j said:
Please do not listen to the idiots at the mobile companies. There is ZERO difference in the S8, ZERO!!!!! If It's not sim locked it will work on ALL carriers, both cdma and gsm.
If It's still sim locked, some people have had success paying a third party to provide a code. But I would try sprint first since They said it should be unlocked.
My guess is that it will work fine with another sim card.
I would either flash the att firmware or the unlocked firmware on it.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Since you phone is paid off, when you go to AT&T, try AT&T Prepaid (formerly called GoPhone). It's really for people who already own their phones.
Same high speed data off the same low-lag data servers used by "contract"/postpaid AT&T customers (with one exception, which I'll warn you about),
same in-store AT&T customer service as contract/postpaid AT&T customers,
same AT&T SIM card as contract/pospaid service. (The store may have SIM cards labelled "AT&T Prepaid", but underneath it's the same AT&T SIM card. If they try to charge you for one, tell them you want the FREE AT&T SIM card. It's the exact same thing.)
Make sure you go to an AT&T corporate store, not a "franchise" store. At the AT&T corporate store they will even give you free AT&T SIM card to use for AT&T Prepaid. (Franchise stores will try to sell you SIM cards.)
The advantage is AT&T Prepaid is much less expensive service than "postpaid" AT&T (contract service). Since you already own your phone in full, all you need to pay for is monthly service. You don't need to pay extra each month so you can get a "free" upgrade to a new phone in 2 or 3 years. (Not free, you are really paying for it with extra fees each month.)
You would want the $45/6GB plan on AT&T Prepaid. Do not fall for the $60 "unlimited" plan. The $45/6GB plan gives you plenty of UNCAPPED high speed data/unlimited calls/unlimited texts. Whereas the $60 plan caps your data speeds at 3mbps to compensate for it being "unlimited". AT&T Prepaid uses same data servers as their AT&T postpaid customers and I get ping speeds often less than 30ms, most often 26-29ms, which is fantastic low lag speed. (Lower pings are better, lower ping speed = less lag). If you go to even a service like Cricket (owned by AT&T, but you won't see any AT&T logos anywhere), they use proxy server farms and you often get triple digit ping speeds (high lag). This is also why Cricket has to use a DIFFERENT SIM card from regular AT&T. Higher ping speeds make it seems like your download speeds are much slower than they are.. due to LAG. Plus Cricket caps ALL download speeds at 8mbps. Until AT&T Prepaid (formerly called GoPhone) introduced their $60 "unlimited" plan, ALL their plans were uncapped high speed data. They didn't cap download speed at all. But now they have started capping speeds with the $60 "unlimited" plan. So STAY AWAY FROM THAT.
With the $45/6GB plan, if you autopay each month, you can save $5 and only pay $40 per month. So, $40 per month for 6GB data, with UNCAPPED low lag data straight from AT&T. Don't let them charge you for a SIM card! AT&T Prepaid uses the exact same SIM card as "regular' AT&T.
If you decide you don't like it, for whatever reason, you can switch to "regular" postpaid AT&T. But since I always pay for our phones in full, I like to save on monthly service. Although there are tons of MNVOs with prepaid service, they all use proxy servers with high lag (high ping speeds). Even AT&T's own Cricket is configured as an MVNO, to compete with MNVOs like Straight Talk. But AT&T Prepaid is not. It's "pure" AT&T, but at budget prices -- which AT&T uses to compete with actual carriers like T-mobile and Sprint.
You can "bring your own phone" , which in this case is your fully paid for Galaxy S8.
How do I know which ones are the corporate stores and which are the franchise stores? I'm looking at the St. Louis map now. Some say at&t authorized retailer and then some just say at&t.
I have a sprint model and I unlocked it.
It works with T-Mobile and gets LTE
It works with att and gets LTE
It works with Verizon my current carrier now and also gets LTE
Highly recommend flashing the unlocked software if you go this route the sprint software with non sprint SIM cards is very annoying.
Sheon849 said:
I have a sprint model and I unlocked it.
It works with T-Mobile and gets LTE
It works with att and gets LTE
It works with Verizon my current carrier now and also gets LTE
Highly recommend flashing the unlocked software if you go this route the sprint software with non sprint SIM cards is very annoying.
Click to expand...
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It worked! Thank GOD! In my room now I get -90/-100 with att and had -100/-125 with sprint. It is using HSPA and I can't find LTE on here to switch over. It stays on 3g, it never goes to 4g or LTE, how can I fix that?
So please tell me what I need to do to delete the sprint crap on here and put att on it. Thanks guys.
Not being rude, but you've been told many times on here What to do , reread the posts.
Follow the directions, we can't spoon feed every little thing.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3625817
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
Ok, so I want to do the prerequisites - check.
Then just do the carrier switching part and I'm done right?
Do I do all this with the sim card installed or not installed?
Sorry, this is my first time doing this.
Ok, I did what the guide said. During the flashing standard firmware part after clicking start is said FAIL! SHA256 is invalid. I ended up going back into ADB, rebooting and trying a different att firmware download and now the phone works. Weird thing is, I don't see alot of the apps that I had on an old phone with go phone and 4g LTE is not working, it's not even an option. What should I do if I want to wipe clean the phone to stock samsung android, not stock sprint as I bought it. Then I could insert the new go phone sim and it will install those apps and turn on 4g LTE? I'm learning guys, slowly but surely. I love this kinda stuff, so please bear with me here.
KARVEGA79 said:
How do I know which ones are the corporate stores and which are the franchise stores? I'm looking at the St. Louis map now. Some say at&t authorized retailer and then some just say at&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.att.com/maps/store-locator.html
Authorized retailers are code for "franchise stores". They are not owned by AT&T nor run by AT&T. They do not have actual AT&T employees and they will nickel and dime you for every little item, like SIM cards. Whereas "corporate" AT&T stores will give you free AT&T SIM cards.
When AT&T Prepaid was called GoPhone, event the AT&T stores sold a GoPhone SIM card "kit" that had various sizes SIM cards with plastic shims for $15 -- which was totally unnecessary. I just told them, "NO, I want a FREE AT&T SIM card which fits my phone." And at the corporate stores they have to give it to you. AT&T and AT&T Prepaid (formerly branded as GoPhone) uses the EXACT same SIM cards. It's just they had some "labelled" as GoPhone but underneath it was the exact same thing.
3or 4 years ago, I had a friend buy a brand new Samsung Galaxy phone "on contract" INSIDE an AT&T corporate store, then immediately paid it off with his credit card, and switched to GoPhone -- all in the same visit -- and they did NOT even touch his AT&T SIM card inside his phone. It's just an internal AT&T accounting change. Now GoPhone has been re-branded as AT&T Prepaid to make it less confusing.
Anyone know how to get VoLTE to work on cricket, with a non-branded cricket phone? Cricket is telling me it has to be a Cricket-branded phone. Does that mean specific IMEIs or could I just install Cricket S8 software?
Also, does anyone know if VoLTE will work on Straight Talk using Verizon's network? Thanks for any help.
rlsyoung said:
Anyone know how to get VoLTE to work on cricket, with a non-branded cricket phone? Cricket is telling me it has to be a Cricket-branded phone. Does that mean specific IMEIs or could I just install Cricket S8 software?
Also, does anyone know if VoLTE will work on Straight Talk using Verizon's network? Thanks for any help.
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Click to collapse
I would think flashing the cricket firmware and csc would be enough as they are not lying the prscess to convert a non cricket BYOD is rough I Tried on a verizon LG G5 And still never got it working properly
TheMadScientist said:
I would think flashing the cricket firmware and csc would be enough as they are not lying the prscess to convert a non cricket BYOD is rough I Tried on a verizon LG G5 And still never got it working properly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try this. Do you happen to know if Cricket is 950u or 950u1? I can only find AIO (cricket, i believe) for 950u1. Would I need to change the CSC if I use official cricket firmware?
rlsyoung said:
I will try this. Do you happen to know if Cricket is 950u or 950u1? I can only find AIO (cricket, i believe) for 950u1. Would I need to change the CSC if I use official cricket firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe so on the csc but there is 950u1 and u2 you have to look in your settings to see which you are on the u1 or 2 is the bootloader version f it is u2 U cannot flash any U1 firmware
Verizon prepaid was great with VoLTE BYOD. All 3 of my family's phones worked (HTC U11 unlocked, iPhone 6, Samsung J7 Verizon). It was beautiful sound quality. I had to ditch Verizon, because, despite having a strong signal, 4G LTE data performance was very unpredictable. Sometimes my download speed was essentially zero at my home, even though I had 5 bars. One morning during a power outage, I had a good strong signal, but I couldn't bring up a single website using the HTC U11. The Verizon branded Samsung J7 wasn't much better. I called Verizon prepaid support a couple days later, and they had me do the usual ridiculous insulting troubleshooting where they try to blame the user/device. Also, I did hate that there was no visual voicemail app for Verizon on prepaid plans (makes no sense). That being said, I went back to Cricket in order to get normal LTE data performance, even though I get one bar of signal at my home. Now, back on Cricket, the sound quality has returned back to horrible when I call home from work, but data is pretty good. Also, I cannot stand that my unlocked HTC U11 cannot use the hotspot functionality on Cricket without my paying extra. The HTC One A9 my family member uses can serve a hotspot, probably because it's S-OFF and rooted. Verizon prepaid allowed anybody to serve out a hotspot for free. Today I tried an experiment. I called home using Google Duo. My phone and my family member's phone have Duo installed. The sound quality was incredible and sounded just like HD Voice. Essentially, it was a workaround to get VoLTE. The phone at home was on WiFi, and I was using 4G LTE. So, my poor-man's HD Voice will end up carving out bytes from my data allowance. I don't know when and if Cricket will open up all VoLTE capable phones like Verizon did. It bugs me that Verizon had this weird data issue, because Cricket seems to be game playing even more than T-Mobile and Verizon do. I was tempted to try T-MOB again, but they have this ridiculous policy with their prepaid family plan where you have to make a deposit that they keep for a year. Who does that?
I've done a bit of digging and I can't seem to find a clear answer here. Does the boost variant need to be on boost service for a year for it to be unlocked? I thought flashing a custom rom bypassed the SIM locking but I do not get any sprint service with AICP, nor will sprint allow me to add the device to my account (it obviously shows up as locked to them). Is there a step I'm missing or am I SOL? Thanks!
Photonik said:
I've done a bit of digging and I can't seem to find a clear answer here. Does the boost variant need to be on boost service for a year for it to be unlocked? I thought flashing a custom rom bypassed the SIM locking but I do not get any sprint service with AICP, nor will sprint allow me to add the device to my account (it obviously shows up as locked to them). Is there a step I'm missing or am I SOL? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that only works to use it on a GSM network. Sprint owns boost, and it may be the CDMA radio that's locked. So I don't think that's going to work.
Unfortunately I think you're right. Thanks for the input, hopefully I can still return the phone and get a sprint branded version.
Yes, Sprint, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and most other Sprint-based Prepaid carriers know the IMEIs registered to the devices. Sprint knows your device is supposed to be used on Boost Mobile and will only allow it to register with Boost service. Even if it's unlocked, you can only use it on Boost unless you use a carrier that's not owned by Sprint, like Verizon or US Cellular or some GSM carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile.