 BuzzDar
join:2006-01-28
West Frankfort, IL | Others Will Follow. I think all other carriers will follow suit soon enough. | |
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GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
| Re: Others Will Follow. said by BuzzDar  :I think all other carriers will follow suit soon enough. I wonder if Verizon & AT&T will settle before their lawsuits come to court?
Sounds like a fair deal for those looking to go elsewhere.
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Internet News
My BLOG
My Web Page | |
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| | stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13 | Re: Others Will Follow. Now if we can impose a corollary duty to activate a CDMA phone from another provider. | |
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| | jimk
Premium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC
 ·AT&T Southeast
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | Verizon doesn't lock phones. You can access the programming menu, and switch the phone to another carrier. Then, you can load their PRL (preferred roaming list) and the phone is now activated. This only works if the new carrier will let you use the phone in the first place. Alltel works the same way.
Verizon does install proprietary firmware that has ties to services such as Get It Now which will obviously stop working on a different carrier, but basic phone functionality will work.
If you can reprogram the phone (CDMA) or just insert a SIM card and go (GSM), the phone is not locked to the carrier. If the phone is locked, you would need a special password to get into the programming menu or to allow it to take a SIM from a different carrier.
I'm not sure about the handful of world phones (with GSM) that Verizon has. I do believe those might be locked on the GSM side, but I have also heard that they can be unlocked after your account is in good standing for a certain amount of time. | |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
1 edit | said by GOLFnSUN :said by BuzzDar :I think all other carriers will follow suit soon enough. I wonder if Verizon & AT&T will settle before their lawsuits come to court? Sounds like a fair deal for those looking to go elsewhere. Ok, so they unlock their phones? Now what? Pay a ETF to leave? Morons.. Go to Verizon? Idiots... Only to have someone from VZW tell them, no, you can't use another branded phone on OUR network, locked or unlocked.. Not that they would do this, I've never been stupid enough to try. But I think Sprint should do this. Drop it's ETF's. PERIOD. However, if you get a phone at a discount (rebates, etc..), if you leave before your 1 year or 2 years is up, you pay a retro amount for the phone. So, these people buying a 500.00 phone might think twice before jumping ship after a few months. There has to be some common ground where the company isn't taken for a ride and nor is the customer. Would people pay extra per month to be on a month to month plan and pay FULL price for a phone? No.. because we Americans want 120% customer service, a free product and for the company to PAY us to us THEIR services..  | |
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n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
·Optimum Online
| T-Mobile While I find T-Mobile to be an overall good provider, they definitely have an outrageous ETF and I for one refuse to enter in to another contract with them (M2M is fine by me) until they prorate it or otherwise adjust it. Not that I would cancel BUT it is always unsettling having such a dagger hanging over your head. The thought that I would incur the full ETF plus be required to return my equipment (as my contract back in 2005 was written) if I had to cancel on day 364 of a 365 day contract is quite a bit unsettling.
As for unlocking, that IMHO is a non-issue. Any T-Mobile customer can get the unlock code for their phone from CS after three months of service and an account in good standing. I got the unlock code for my Motorola V330 three-and-a-half months into my one year contract without any problem.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
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quetwo
That VoIP Guy
Premium
join:2004-09-04
East Lansing, MI | Re: T-Mobile T-Mobile is the only one in the USA that will give you the unlock code without a fight. AT&T CSR's will tell you "it is technically impossible to move your GSM phone to any other provider." | |
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Jim Gurd
Premium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI
·Comcast
| Re: T-Mobile said by quetwo :T-Mobile is the only one in the USA that will give you the unlock code without a fight. AT&T CSR's will tell you "it is technically impossible to move your GSM phone to any other provider." Not true. I've had at&t (and also when they were called Cingular) unlock phones for me with no trouble. I had a spotless payment record with them though so that may have been a factor in their willingness to provide unlock codes.
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We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company.
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CurGeorge8
join:2005-05-02
Pittsburgh, PA
| Yea but .... where will you take it. Ok, so you get your CDMA handset from sprint unlocked ..... Just what do you plan to do with it.
The only other CDMA carrier that I'm aware of that will let you use any handset is Cricket. I know with VZW and I'm pretty sure that with Alltel, you can only use devices on an approved list.
So yes, while its nice you can get your CDMA phone unlocked, I really don't see a lot of benefit to the consumer. CDMA carriers have complete control over what devices they allow on their network. | |
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not quite right
I'm not cool enough to be a Mac person
join:2001-06-23
Puyallup, WA
| Re: Yea but .... where will you take it. said by CurGeorge8 :Ok, so you get your CDMA handset from sprint unlocked ..... Just what do you plan to do with it. Same thing I was thinking.
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"Not many people know this, but I happen to be quite famous." | |
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mlerner
Premium
join:2000-11-25
Nepean, ON | Re: Yea but .... where will you take it. Seriously, couldn't agree with you guys more. Who started this pointless lawsuit anyway? | |
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Da Geek Kid
join:2003-10-11
Mclean, VA | take it the other crappy provider called Verizon and have them lock the phone again...  | |
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| dbatten
join:2001-01-09
Riverview, FL | Alltel does not have an approved device list.
They just will not provide support for activating non Alltel branded phones. I have activated other carrier's phones many times. | |
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jlsdev
@cox.net
| said by CurGeorge8 :Ok, so you get your CDMA handset from sprint unlocked ..... Just what do you plan to do with it. The only other CDMA carrier that I'm aware of that will let you use any handset is Cricket. I know with VZW and I'm pretty sure that with Alltel, you can only use devices on an approved list. So yes, while its nice you can get your CDMA phone unlocked, I really don't see a lot of benefit to the consumer. CDMA carriers have complete control over what devices they allow on their network. And changing that (complete control) will be the next step in ending this ridiculous idiocy and giving control to the owners of the phones, where it belongs - Only in Amerika... | |
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| | cmaenginsb
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-19
Palmdale, CA | Re: Yea but .... where will you take it. And then phone prices go up and the whiners don't understand why. | |
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Da Geek Kid
join:2003-10-11
Mclean, VA
| Re: Yea but .... where will you take it. said by cmaenginsb :And then phone prices go up and the whiners don't understand why. Pure Unadulterated BS. Price hike will just move people to other companies such as myself... | |
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JE
Can I Taste It? Mmmm
Premium
join:2000-12-15
Brooklyn, NY | Exactly. Guess who wins here? SPRINT!!!! | |
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| raderator
join:2003-07-22
Conklin, NY
 ·PHONE POWER
| said by CurGeorge8 :Ok, so you get your CDMA handset from sprint unlocked ..... Just what do you plan to do with it. The only other CDMA carrier that I'm aware of that will let you use any handset is Cricket. I know with VZW and I'm pretty sure that with Alltel, you can only use devices on an approved list. So yes, while its nice you can get your CDMA phone unlocked, I really don't see a lot of benefit to the consumer. CDMA carriers have complete control over what devices they allow on their network. Page Plus Cellular, the best prepaid service out there. Airvoice is also good if you buy a $50 PIN which lasts a yr. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Yea but .... where will you take it. said by raderator :said by CurGeorge8 :Ok, so you get your CDMA handset from sprint unlocked ..... Just what do you plan to do with it. The only other CDMA carrier that I'm aware of that will let you use any handset is Cricket. I know with VZW and I'm pretty sure that with Alltel, you can only use devices on an approved list. So yes, while its nice you can get your CDMA phone unlocked, I really don't see a lot of benefit to the consumer. CDMA carriers have complete control over what devices they allow on their network. Page Plus Cellular, the best prepaid service out there. Airvoice is also good if you buy a $50 PIN which lasts a yr. Is there ANYONE out there in prepaid land that DOES NOT expire your minutes period?
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
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SteveLV702
Premium
join:2004-04-22
Henderson, NV | Move Sprint onto Verizon ya I can see it now the person that brought this Lawsuit goes to Verizon to activate the phone and Verizon refuses and this person files a Lawsuit now against Verizon. | |
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joako
Premium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| Already possible It's already possible to get the unlock code for your phone. Each time you call to activate a phone they will give you the code (they just say press xyz on your phone) with very little social engineering its possible to get the code. Call sprint and tell them each time you try to check your voicemail the phone dials 200-000-0000 they will say press ##123456# the number in # is the unlock code. You can use it to change various settings on the phone. I change the vocoder from EVRC to 13k to greatly improve call quality.
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Am Heimcomputer sitz' ich hier, und programmier' die Zukunft mir | |
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RandomSCGVBV
Not authorized.
Premium
join:2006-04-07
Virginia Beach, VA
|  So we get the MSL. Then what?
And if you're tech-savvy enough to overcome these obstacles, you probably don't need Sprint to voluntarily give up the MSL.
The only thing this accomplishes is skipping the step where you wheedle the code out of tech support or hook the phone up to a USB cable to find the MSL yourself. So a class action saved some wannabe-hackers 5 minutes each. Big whoop.
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The preferred international spelling is "moustache". | |
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| stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13 | Re: So we get the MSL. Then what? You're forgetting the attorney fees the suit netted for the firm. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: So we get the MSL. Then what? said by stufried :You're forgetting the attorney fees the suit netted for the firm. yep. they're really the only ones that win in a class action.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
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dib22
join:2002-01-27
Kansas City, MO
| Exactly... I think the term "unlock" is kinda funny with CDMA. The devices have never been the problem (as many point out above alltel and cricket allow any ESN onto their network).
The real news here is it seems Sprint will let any CDMA ESN/MEID onto their network now! All the cool phones from Korea can now get on their network! Look for a slew of Sprint users sporting some rad handsets
I am not sure that verizon will open their database to non verizon esn's.
Simply using the MSL code to program your number into a cdma phone wont let it be on another network... the network has to allow the ESN to join the network. | |
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| | CMoore2004
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Jonesville, MI
| Re: So we get the MSL. Then what? Where do you get the part about Sprint allowing any ESN on the network now? I haven't seen that on any site where I've seen this story.
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Charter 5M | Windows XP MCE SP2 | Mobile AMD Athlon 64 4000+ | 1.5GB RAM | ATI Mobile Radeon X600 128MB | 120GB HDD | |
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dib22
join:2002-01-27
Kansas City, MO | Re: So we get the MSL. Then what? well then I am lost... cdma phones have never been locked.
the only think locked on cdma providers is the equiptment database... aka you can't get an esn that they didn't provide onto their network. | |
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springuser
@alorica.com
| »ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPBo···8SH61A80
Sprint said it will share the unlocking code with all current and former subscribers once their phones are deactivated and their bills are paid. The company also will add information about the locking software and how to obtain the unlocking codes in the list of terms and conditions of service given to new customers, and instruct its customer service representatives on how to connect a non-Sprint phone to the Sprint network.
I think that is it... however notice that AP typoed Sprint as Spring several times. | |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs: | T-Mobile T-Mobile will give one an unlock code for a phone every three months. I have done it twice and I only use ToGo pre paid. | |
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in TO
@rogers.com
| thats great if you are in the US the carriers in Canada won't follow, because there is no pressure on the carriers to unlock a device that you've bought from them at full price or one that won as a prize (my personal fav) that's why i love seeing "gray market" devices flood in and take away from dirty rog.. Canadian carriers! | |
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Sprint Unlocks Phones to Settle Lawsuit