Converting a Sprint CDMA phone into a Verizon CDMA phone

[doowopman]

Hi Everyone.

I'm new to this site and am trying to find out if it's possible to change a sprint CDMA Nokia phone into a Verizon CDMA phone. I have a fixed hands free cradle in my car that will only accept certain Nokia models that have the same bottom connectors as the Nokia 3589i. I have found a very nice Sprint camrera phone made by Nokia that I would like to use on the verizon network

Can anyone help? Many thanks

[wgray8231]

Originally Posted by doowopman

Hi Everyone.

I'm new to this site and am trying to find out if it's possible to change a sprint CDMA Nokia phone into a Verizon CDMA phone. I have a fixed hands free cradle in my car that will only accept certain Nokia models that have the same bottom connectors as the Nokia 3589i. I have found a very nice Sprint camrera phone made by Nokia that I would like to use on the verizon network

Can anyone help? Many thanks

I think you will need the unlock code.

[doowopman]

Originally Posted by wgray8231

I think you will need the unlock code.

Hi and thanks for the info. Do you have any idea how Imight obtain this code?

Thanks again

[wgray8231]

Originally Posted by doowopman

Hi and thanks for the info. Do you have any idea how Imight obtain this code?

Thanks again

I've never had a sprint phone, so I wouldn't know. Have you tried searching the forums or posting in the Sprint users forum?

[twopiece]

Something I found online:

"Technically it can be done, as Sprint and Verizon use the same technology and frequencies (800 analog and 800/1900 digital). The reason why converting a VZW phone to Sprint is "not possible", is because Sprint seems to keep track of the exact ESN numbers of phones that were issued for its network. So if you try to activate a VZW phone on Sprint, Customer Service can see that it is a non-Sprint phone, and that's the end of that.

Verizon does let you activate a Sprint ESN on its network, but is looking like that won't be the case much longer. Apparently VZW is building its own database of VZW issued ESNs.

BTW, for either conversion VZW<->Sprint, you may have trouble getting all settings converted to the other network, such as voicemail access numbers, data network settings etc. Just a pain in the behind."

[wgray8231]

Originally Posted by twopiece

Something I found online:

"Technically it can be done, as Sprint and Verizon use the same technology and frequencies (800 analog and 800/1900 digital). The reason why converting a VZW phone to Sprint is "not possible", is because Sprint seems to keep track of the exact ESN numbers of phones that were issued for its network. So if you try to activate a VZW phone on Sprint, Customer Service can see that it is a non-Sprint phone, and that's the end of that.

Verizon does let you activate a Sprint ESN on its network, but is looking like that won't be the case much longer. Apparently VZW is building its own database of VZW issued ESNs.

BTW, for either conversion VZW<->Sprint, you may have trouble getting all settings converted to the other network, such as voicemail access numbers, data network settings etc. Just a pain in the behind."

At least VZW isn't going to start locking their phones. I like being able to use the service menu. An ESN database, that sucks.

[agentHibby]

Originally Posted by wgray8231

At least VZW isn't going to start locking their phones. I like being able to use the service menu. An ESN database, that sucks.

When did VZW stop locking phones?? I had a friend go to Salt Lake Metro store to get his phone unlocked so he could change NAM1 on Samsung N-300.

[wgray8231]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

When did VZW stop locking phones?? I had a friend go to Salt Lake Metro store to get his phone unlocked so he could change NAM1 on Samsung N-300.

So he can change NAM1 from his phone now? I didn't realize that could be done. Wouldn't the system still need to know the ESN for the phone even if you changed the NAM?